Firestorm: Book III of the Wildfire Saga Read Online Free PDF Page B

looked up, half expecting to see a bright flash, but instead saw smoke curl into the sky as part of the chalet’s roof collapse.   Somewhere inside a fire had started, but the bomb did its job well.   The structure remained largely intact.   By the time he got to his feet, every light on the mountain was out.
    "It worked!" called out Sparky.   "I'm not getting any signals at all—they’re blind and mute.”
    Cooper picked up his rifle from the snow and shot the first surviving guard that ducked his head around the corner of the darkened chalet.   “Go green,” he said switching to night vision.   “Let’s clean house.”

C HAPTER 6

    Skye, Scotland.
    Dunkeith Castle.

    R EGINALD FACED THE COMPUTER terminal and sipped his tea.   He hadn’t received word from the chalet in 42 minutes.   He’d left strict instructions for Rolf to check in every half hour with a simple code.   Rolf was nothing if not punctual—Reginald had to assume there was a logical explanation for the delay in reporting.   For the past 12 hours, Rolf had been signaling all clear every 30 minutes like clockwork.  
    Except now.   Reginald frowned and set the delicate teacup on the counter.  
    He thought for a moment.   He’d covered all his tracks, disposed of his finances, and had safely transported the vials of vaccine serum out of Switzerland.   He’d gone over every detail countless times to prepare for the big move—he felt positive he had missed nothing.
    So—what is it then?   He'd investigated the plane from Rolf's last communication.   It turned out to have civilian markers.   Just a small passenger plane.   Unsatisfied, he drummed his fingers on the marble desktop, watching the blank status display.   A quick glance at his Patek Phillipe Minute Repeater told him it was quarter past the hour.
    Forty-five minutes late.   Rolf where are you?
    Reginald pressed the button to establish a secure communication link between his castle and the chalet.   He waited for the signal to process the encrypted servers at the chalet and picked up his teacup.   The communications link had never taken so long before.   Reginald hit the intercom button and replaced the teacup without having taken a sip.
    " Yes, my lord? " asked Stefan's voice.
    "When was the last time we received communication of any kind from the chalet?"
    Stefan's answer was instantaneous.   “ Forty seven minutes ago, my lord.   I have been trying to reach them for the past seventeen minutes to no avail, sir. "
    "Have we lost contact with any of the security outposts?"
    " No, my lord, " replied Stefan.   " We've received regular transmissions from all the outposts.   It's only the chalet that has had difficulties ."
    "What difficulties?   What was the final transmission?"
    "Transmission reads: ‘experiencing radio communication problems with an exterior guard, sending unit three to investigate’.   After that we received nothing, sir."
    Reginald tapped his chin.   On its own, radio transmission problems weren’t unheard of—radios can fail, especially when used daily in such a harsh environment.   "Where was the last known location of the guard in question?"
    "The north face of the summit, my lord. "
    The north face.   Reginald relaxed slightly.   N othing there but a steep incline and a boulder field.   No way someone could climb up that side of the mountain without being noticed by the guards at the base.   It’s impossible.   "There was no sign of any other trouble?"
    "No, my lord—in fact, as a precaution I sent two roving patrols from the base of the mountain up to the summit to ascertain the situation."
    "When you did you dispatch them?"
    "Approximately five minutes after the loss of communication."
    Reginald sat in silence for a moment.   Good man, Stefan.   The ascent up the mountain would take time, even using off-roaders and lifts.   They couldn't fly up, that would attract too much attention to the supposedly abandoned chalet.