Phoenix Agenda

d set her plan into motion. From the shadows, she had worked tirelessly to position herself for the ultimat

g kept. There were no guards in sight, but she knew they were watching from hidden cameras, thei

reflecting the dim light of the hallway. The case was her

g out, his words echoing against the walls of

for the sound of the cell door unlocking. After what felt like an etern

ion. "What's the meanin

" the operative said,

"Why would you do that?" he asked.

is about to change," she said. "And

or a moment, then nodd

ix's headquarters, the operative leading the way with a confident stride. A

he asked finally. "What do

calculating. "The Phoenix is divided," she said. "And whe

understanding daw

e pausing to study a map projected onto the w

steps echoed behind them. Mitchel

alone," h

"The others are already catching on to ou

h every step. The operative led them through a series of winding passages

ell swore under his breath, his eyes sca

id, her fingers tracing along the stone wal

ck in the wall, barely

the Phoenix's underground complex, their pursuers closin

urface, a ray of hope in the darkness. "We're almost th

ir. The scent of pine and fresh snow filled their lungs,

visible in the cold night air. They ducked into the cover of a nearby f

ees with the stealth of a predator. They traveled for sever

in the woods. Annette gestured for John to enter, pa

ingle lantern that hung from the ceiling. Annette followed closely beh

e center of the room, rubbing his temples with h

ow," she said. "Until we ca

wing that they w

n only by the crackling of the fire in the hearth an

nd. He knew that they were still in danger, that the Phoenix would not stop until t

part, was lost in

knowing that they could not afford to let their guard down. But the exhau

sleep, his head re

et him sleep. She kept watch, h

over the horizon. Annette roused John from

aching for the gun tucked into the waistband of her p

tte?

d men poured into the cabin. But these w

m were familiar faces—faces that John recog

he said, his

, John," Agen