Page 115 of Fatal Mistake
“Roger that,” Rick said.
“We’re dealing with unknowns here, and we haven’t drilled it,” Max said. “But it’s a strong plan. Anyone disagree?”
No one spoke up.
“Then I’ll coordinate communications from the command post.” He pointed at the warehouse’s south wall. “Kaci, you and Shane do the prelim surveillance and enter through the rear. Cal will signal when you’re clear for takedown.”
They both nodded their understanding.
“Any questions or additional thoughts?” Max asked.
When no one raised any questions, he began gathering up the items and looked up at Cal. “Give me time to get our stand-in agent updated on the plans, and then you can get on the horn with Keeler and confirm the rendezvous.”
* * *
Dulles Airport area
Tara shifted in her chair and dug deep for a smile. When Cal had demanded a live video feed to demonstrate she was alive and in the warehouse, her hope for rescue soared. Oren was no match for the Knights, who she suspected would right now be in their situation room planning to come to her rescue. With their incredible skills, she had no doubt they would succeed.
“Stupid, demanding agent,” Oren mumbled.
Tara opened her mouth to suggest he say that to Cal’s face when he arrived, but she didn’t want to anger Oren. He clicked on his mouse to connect his computer to Cal’s video feed. Tara kept her focus glued to the screen until Cal’s face appeared.
She drank in the sight him, and when she caught a good look at the worry on his face, tears burned in her eyes. She wished he wasn’t so concerned about her, but she was happy to see him in any state, and she forced back her tears so she didn’t increase his distress.
Oren poked her in the back. “Move, Tara. Show Secret Agent Man that you’re alive and well.”
She could raise a hand or a finger, but she wanted Cal to see that Oren hadn’t put the motion sensor in this bomb so when the Knights arrived, they’d know she could move about freely.
She bent forward and to the side, mimicking a stretch. She heard Cal gasp as if he’d expected the bomb to explode.
She smiled at the camera, making sure the realization of her newfound feelings for him carried through. “I’m fine, Cal, and I’m so glad to see you.”
“What’s the date and time?” he asked.
She rattled it off, then added, “I miss you.”
Surprise lit his eyes, his concern momentarily vanishing, but as he opened his mouth to respond, Oren pushed her out of the way.
“Such a touching display of affection that we don’t have time for.” Oren held his phone to the camera, and Tara saw a clock counting down on the screen. “The timer is set. Sixty minutes. No more. Have Nabijah here by that time, or June will go boom. If another sixty minutes passes”—he paused and a sick grin slid across his mouth—“then Tara will go boom, too.”
* * *
Thirty minutes had raced by since Keeler’s clock had begun. An imaginary timer ticked down in Cal’s head as the team finished dressing out in tactical gear at the command post. Thankfully, they’d expected Keeler to set a time limit, and they’d had a chopper standing by to wing them to Dulles. From there it had been only a five-minute drive to the industrial park.
Cal helped Kaci with her combat vest, and the desire to dress out and burst inside the warehouse with guns blazing hit him hard. Of course, he wouldn’t risk Tara’s life to ease the pain in his gut, but the satisfaction of taking Keeler down? That was something he hoped to experience once she was safe.
Max clapped his hands to gain the team’s attention. “Okay, people, let’s move out.”
They stepped forward, heading in different directions, but their movements were in sync in a way that years of working and training together had brought. They reminded Cal of synchronized swimmers who moved in perfect harmony. They’d start with the exterior surveillance, noting any security cameras, trigger wires, or other oddities, and when they reached the back of the building, they’d confirm Tara and Keeler’s location.
Cal waited to hear the first update on the undercover comms unit that had a hidden mic and a minuscule earbud. He’d never been on this end of an op, standing and waiting while it went down without him, and unease ate at him, even though they could easily do the recon without him. If anything went south, he trusted his teammates to lay down their lives if necessary.
The clean, crisp air blew over his face as he looked up at the stars peeking through gaps in the clouds. Tara’s comment at the safe house in Oregon about him being a romantic made him smile despite the active op.
“Tango One and Two in office,” Shane announced.
“Roger that,” Max responded.
