Volume Three, Chapter Two: The Message
The safehouse was a symphony of urgency. Keyboards clacked, phones buzzed, and the air hummed with tension as the coalition worked to process what they'd learned from William Lewis. Penelope Garcia's fingers flew across her keyboard, her usual vibrant demeanor replaced by fierce concentration. Beside her, Sylvester Dodd muttered equations under his breath, working through encryption algorithms.
"It's going live in three minutes," Penelope announced, glancing up at the array of screens before her. "Every major network, plus social media platforms. Once it hits, there's no taking it back."
Gibbs stood by the window, scanning the street below with practiced vigilance. "Good," he said simply. "The world needs to see this."
The files they'd secured before their narrow escape contained more than anyone had imagined: detailed records of the CIA's black operations, the psychological conditioning programs, the list of "assets" like William Lewis who had been broken and weaponized. Names, dates, locations—all meticulously documented by bureaucrats who never expected their work to see daylight.
Olivia entered the room, her face drawn but determined. The meeting with Lewis had left her shaken, but also resolute.
"How is our... guest?" Walter asked, unable to keep the edge from his voice.
"Secure," Olivia replied. "And cooperative, for now." She joined Gibbs at the window. "He wasn't lying about the safehouse in D.C. The location matches intelligence we already had."
Gibbs nodded. "We move tomorrow. But first—" He gestured toward the screens.
"Ten seconds," Penelope called out.
The room fell silent as the countdown reached zero. On every screen, regular programming was interrupted. News anchors looked momentarily confused, then shocked as the documents appeared in their teleprompters. Social media feeds flooded with the same information simultaneously.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we interrupt our scheduled broadcast to bring you breaking news," said a visibly shaken Anderson Cooper. "CNN has received documents alleging extensive illegal operations conducted by elements within the CIA..."
"...psychological torture programs designed to create operatives outside the bounds of law or morality," continued Lester Holt on NBC.
"...William Lewis, the notorious serial killer who terrorized New York, appears to have been one of several 'assets' created by this program," reported a Fox News anchor, her professional composure cracking.
Samara stepped closer to the screens, her expression grim. "It's working. They can't bury this."
"They'll try," Gibbs countered. "Watch."
Within minutes, government spokespeople began appearing, denouncing the leaks as "unverified," "dangerous to national security," and "potentially manipulated." But the documents spoke for themselves, and journalists were already connecting dots, finding corroborating evidence.
Olivia's phone buzzed. She checked it, her expression darkening. "It's Benson. My former squad at SVU is being questioned. They're bringing in Fin, Rollins, everyone."
"Expected," Gibbs said. "They'll try to discredit the source by going after anyone connected to us."
The burner phone on the table rang. Penelope answered, putting it on speaker.
"They've mobilized a joint task force," came the voice of Emily Prentiss, Unit Chief of the BAU. "FBI, Homeland Security, U.S. Marshals. Jack Malone is leading the manhunt."
"Jack's a good man," Gibbs said. "But he follows orders."
"Not always," Prentiss replied. "I've worked with him. He cares about the truth. But his bosses want you silenced, not heard."
"How much time do we have?" Olivia asked.
"Hours, not days," Prentiss said. "I can't help you officially, but..." She paused. "The task force is focusing on the East Coast. They don't know about your current location."
"Thank you, Emily," Olivia said softly.
"Don't thank me yet," Prentiss replied. "Just be careful. These people—they're not playing by any rulebook I've ever seen."
The call ended. Silence fell over the room, heavy with implication.
"We need to move," Walter said finally. "Split up, different directions."
"No," Gibbs countered. "That's what they want. We stay together, we stay focused on the mission."
Sylvester looked up from his computer, face pale. "Um, guys? You might want to see this."
He turned his laptop around. On the screen was a live press conference. The CIA Director stood at a podium, flanked by stern-faced officials.
"These allegations are not only false but dangerous," he was saying. "The individuals responsible have compromised national security and will be treated as domestic terrorists. We have reason to believe they are working with foreign intelligence—"
Penelope cut the feed. "They're playing the terrorism card. Classic."
"It gets worse," Sylvester said, pulling up another window. "They've released photos of all of us. We're on every watch list, every airport, every border."
Olivia's jaw tightened. "So we're trapped."
"No," Gibbs said, his voice steady. "We're just getting started." He turned to face the team. "Penelope, secure us a new communications channel. Walter, we need transportation that won't flag any systems. Sylvester, find us a route to D.C. that avoids major surveillance."
"And Lewis?" Samara asked.
Olivia met her gaze. "He comes with us. We need what he knows."
Outside, sirens wailed in the distance. On the screens, the world continued to absorb the shocking revelations, opinions forming, sides being chosen. The truth was out there now, impossible to contain.
But the most dangerous truths were still hidden, waiting in that safehouse in D.C.
"The message is sent," Gibbs said, checking his weapon. "Now comes the hard part."
Olivia nodded, her eyes reflecting the same determination. "Making them listen."
End of Chapter Two