Page 211 of Renegade
Both men hurried to the next device. Forrest cut the red wire on the second unit. The display went dark. They repeated it for the third and fourth devices.
Silence filled the room.
“Excellent work.” Greystone turned off the flashlight. “That was intense.”
“I was sweating bullets,” Forrest said. “We had three seconds left.” He lifted his laptop. “Team, check in.”
One by one, each of them reported in. Every red wire had been severed and all the units had been successfully disarmed.
“Jesus, that’s gotta be stressful,” Greystone said.
Forrest smiled. “It’s got its moments, but I love it.”
Greystone extended his hand. “Damn good job.”
“We’re gonna be awhile,” Forrest said as he shook it. “We’ve got to remove each unit from the building.” He got on his phone, ordered his team to bring in several Total Containment Vessels to put the explosives in for transport.
“Where are you headed?” Forrest asked Greystone.
“I gotta let my team know it’s safe to bring the President back.”
Outside on the sidewalk, Greystone tapped the comm. “Austin, you there?”
“I’m so relieved to hear your voice.”
“They did it,” he said, relief pouring out of him. “They disarmed the units. And the canine teams cleared the buildings, including the Pentagon and the White House.”
“You did it!” He could hear the pure joy in her voice. “Congratulations. You must be so relieved.”
“It’s a good feeling.”
“Is it safe to return?” she asked.
“It’s safe,” Greystone said.
“Let me tell Evelyn,” she said. “Evelyn, the threat has been removed.” After a few seconds, Caroline said, “She’s letting the President know.”
“Come on home to me, baby. We got some celebrating to do.”
“That sounds perfect,” she replied. “Absolutely perfect.”
Caroline ended the conversation, and Greystone watched as the EOD team brought the bomb transport containers into the building.
He lived life on the edge, but this was cutting it close, even for him.
CAROLINE
Caroline flickedher gaze out the window as a jet streaked past.
What was that?
She leaned over, her focus out the small window. When she didn’t see anything for several seconds, she breathed deep.
I’m seeing things.
Then, the jet shot past again. It didn’t look like any military aircraft she’d ever seen.
“Did you see that jet?” she asked Evelyn.
