Chapter 4
“SEAL One,” Cassidy said. “Do not push east. Second team is waiting behind the black ridge.”
The commander didn’t argue this time.
“Copy, Overwatch.”
Command cut in, angry now.
“SEAL One, proceed to objective. Do not deviate from planned route.”
The SEAL commander looked toward the east ridge.
A muzzle flash blinked from the exact place Cassidy had warned him about.
He keyed his radio.
“Command, planned route is compromised.”
“Negative,” Command said. “Continue mission.”
Cassidy’s hand tightened on the rifle.
Colonel Holt’s voice returned.
“SEAL One, follow Overwatch.”
A pause.
Then the commander answered.
“Yes, sir.”
That was when Cassidy knew the mission had changed.
Not officially.
Not on paper.
But in the canyon, where truth had to move faster than rank, she had become the map.
For the next five minutes, she kept the team alive one breath at a time.
“Two meters left.”
“Hold.”
“Now move.”
“Window on the upper shelf.”
“RPG behind the split rock.”
Every warning came seconds before death.
Every shot bought them just enough room to survive.
The SEALs stopped questioning the unseen woman.
They began moving with her voice.
The commander, Lieutenant Grant Mercer, was the first to understand what she really was.
Not a random shooter.
Not a lost asset.
Not a ghost.
A professional.
A sniper so calm under fire that her voice never rose, even while the canyon tried to kill everyone below her.
But command still fought her.
“Unknown Overwatch,” the cold voice said. “You are not authorized for this channel.”
Cassidy tracked another fighter through the scope.
“Tell that to the man I just stopped from killing your team.”
“You will identify yourself.”
“No.”
“This is a direct order.”
Cassidy fired.
A fighter dropped beside a mortar tube.
She keyed the mic again.
“Then put it in my file.”
Silence followed.
Because there was no file.
May you like
Not one they were willing to admit existed.
Read Part 5 to learn why Cassidy’s name had been erased before.
