Page 57 of Make Them Pay

“Orchid’s already reported to her handlers,” Dean continues. “Federal agents are heading to Serafina’s known addresses. But they don’t know about the Havenridge account. It wasn’t in the evidence package because it wasn’t part of the Goldenbell system.”

Everyone looks at me. The evidence package is my work. The financial map is mine. And this account is a gap in it.

“I mapped everything tied to Goldenbell,” I say. “This one isn’t connected at all. No shared transfers, no overlapping activity. She kept it completely separate on purpose, like an emergency fund that would never show up in any investigation of the company.”

“So the feds won’t find it in time,” Arrow says.

“Not before she finishes the transfer and disappears.”

“Then we go,” Poe says.

Every head turns toward him. He’s sitting as straight as he can with IV tape still on the back of his hand and his face a map of damage. His one working eye is burning with the kind of focus that only comes from two weeks in a cell thinking about this exact moment.

“Poe, you can barely walk,” I tell him.

“I don’t need to walk. I need a vehicle, a radio, and a line to the team. This is my crew. She took my crew. She doesn’t get to just run.”

Dean looks at him for a long second, then nods. “All right. Plan. Who does what.”

This is the moment I’ve been waiting for without realizing it. The moment the crew stops being a list of names and becomes a real team, each person doing what they’re best at.

“Arrow,” Dean says. “I need eyes on the bank. Cameras, alarms, anything happening inside. Get me a clear picture before we arrive.”

Arrow pushes off the wall. “I’ll need a clean connection and about an hour.”

“You’ve got forty-five minutes.”

He nods and heads straight for a laptop on the side table, fingers already reaching for the keys like they’ve been waiting for this.

“Knight. Same job as last time. You own the outside. Nobody leaves that bank without you knowing about it.”

Knight gives one short nod. Most efficient communication in the room.

“Gage. You’re driving. Three vehicles. Get the positioning and the exit routes figured out.”

Gage tosses the uneaten protein bar onto the table. “How many ways out of the building?”

“Three. Front door, back service entrance, and the underground parking garage.”

“I’ll need the garage layout. And something heavy enough to block the ramp if she tries to leave that way.”

“Diaz can get you a vehicle.”

Dean turns to Rae. “Your team provides support outside. This isn’t a full raid. It’s an interception. Presence, not force.”

“Rules of engagement?” Rae asks.

“Non-lethal unless she forces it. We need her alive. The evidence package doesn’t do much good if the person it’s built to prosecute ends up dead in a parking garage.”

“Ozzy.” Dean looks over at the couch. Ozzy glances up, clearly surprised to be included. “You’re on communications. You can’t walk right now, but you can listen. Every channel comes through you. You’re the switchboard.”

Ozzy’s hands steady a little. Not completely, but enough. Having a job helps. “Copy that.”

“Poe. You’re in the command vehicle with Ozzy. Strategic oversight. If the situation changes, I want your brain on it.”

Poe nods. He knows the assignment is designed to keep him off his feet while still keeping him in the middle of things. He accepts it anyway. Being left behind isn’t something his pride or his sense of duty would survive.

Dean turns to me last. “Enley.”