Page 43 of Under Fire in Big Sky

“You’ll fail.” A hateful look crossed Audrey’s face. “You’ve no idea who you’re messing with, but you’ll learn. Shepherd is a great man. A visionary. He’ll show you there’s no stopping him. He will win.”

Determination and anger fueled Olivia to prove the woman wrong. “We’ll see about that.”

Chapter Ten

After Trujillo was done grumbling about Olivia’s rogue tactics, Eli was pleased the FBI agent set aside their differences and came through, finding a way to get them to Cedar Breaks quickly. The High Country County Sheriff’s Department didn’t have their own helicopter, but the sheriff did have statutory authority over the search and rescue services and access to the resources within that framework. The sheriff tasked the Montana Aeronautics Division to assist. They found a volunteer pilot and an aircraft for the mission.

All in all, it took them two hours to get into the air, but it was already dusk.

On the helicopter’s approach to the site, the carbon capture pipeline facility came into view. Before seeing it, Eli was aware the pollution pipes would be underground. What he didn’t expect was the sheer size of the aboveground facility. Against the night sky, the industrial complex was brightly lit.

Trujillo spoke with the facility manager, who was going to meet them, and by now, all other personnel should have evacuated the plant. The power plant was a large building that stood out. The lighting emphasized the architecture, multiple massive silo-like structures, tall columns, storage tanks, several smaller units, and big metal tubes, with a maze of pipes running throughout.

His skin prickled in familiar warning. At first, he couldn’t comprehend exactly why.

“Can you do another pass overhead,” Eli said to the pilot, “circling the site before we land?”

“What’s up?” Liv asked him.

“Not sure, yet.”

They had no way of knowing what form of sabotage Shepherd had planned for the facility. But as Eli examined the layout, various large structures and units all connected by a series of pipes, he realized the optimal approach for a terrorist.

And so would someone who was former Special Forces, if that part of Shepherd’s background was true. Although they couldn’t confirm whether it was, they had to operate under the assumption that the new leader of NDR had tier one training.

The pilot finished circling and went to land.

Suspicion solidified into certainty, congealing in Eli’s belly like a greasy knot.

“Shepherd is going to use explosives,” Eli said through the headset that allowed him to communicate with Liv, Trujillo, and another field agent who accompanied them. All heads swiveled in his direction, with the exception of the pilot, but no one responded. “He’s going to blow it up.”

Liv stared at him, the fear in her eyes stark.

“Yeah, we got that,” Trujillo said. “I think it just caught us by surprise. How can you be sure that’s what he’s going to do?”

Because that’s what Eli would do. “It’s the most efficient method that would cause the greatest amount of damage.”

At the hotel, the New Dawn Revolution took measures to avoid killing anyone inadvertently. Olivia and Dempsey were outliers, according to Audrey. With the Rising Rock Resort, they didn’t use explosives. Only limited fires targeting the crucial areas needed for the day-to-day operations of the hotel. In addition to no grand opening, the resort wouldn’t be operational for months.

“But carbon dioxide isn’t flammable,” the field agent, Lenek, said. “A single explosion wouldn’t set off a chain reaction. Wouldn’t it take a ton of explosives spread throughout to take down the entire facility?”

Trujillo nodded. “Also, for Shepherd to get his hands on enough C4 for multiple bombs, it would raise too many red flags. These ecoterrorists keep a low profile.”

“Not unless he managed to get a fake demolition license,” Eli pointed out. That was one possibility. A guy like Shepherd might have access to other resources.

“I doubt Eli is wrong,” Olivia said.

The helicopter touched down inside the gated part of the facility. They removed their headsets and hopped out of the chopper. Two men wearing hard hats met them.

“I’m Bob Johnson, the manager,” the older of the two said. “This is my assistant, Paul. We’re the only ones left at the facility, besides Caleb, who is inside the plant, still shutting everything down.”

“We thought you weren’t up and running yet,” Olivia said.

“Technically, we’re not. We’ve got to go through extensive testing phases before we’re considered fully operational,” Johnson explained. “It’s during this time that we identify optimal operating parameters, improve the capture process, and determine future scalability. We know some in the county don’t want the facility here, but do you really think someone would go so far as to sabotage it?”

“The threat is credible,” Trujillo said.

Johnson blanched. Then he opened a utility bag that was slung over his shoulder. “Everyone should clip on one of these. It’s a multi-gas monitor.” He handed out compact lightweight devices, and they all put one on. “The gauge will provide early warning before concentrations reach dangerous levels.” Johnson turned to Paul. “Go grab enough respirators for everyone. Just in case we need them.”