Page 124 of Cross Down
Ned says, “Agreed.”
I’m standing behind the open trunk. I close the lid so my view isn’t obstructed. I say, “Ned, set up at the front of the car. You’ve got the engine to protect you.”
Ned frowns but moves over. “What’s going to protect you, John?”
I remove the full magazines from the ammo pouches, put them on the closed trunk lid for easy access. “Why, the full resources of the FBI, that’s what.”
He takes the shotgun, reaches into his coat pocket, stacks up some twelve-gauge shells in the gap between the windshield and hood.
The vehicles are coming closer. The two police cruisers are now driving side by side. A Tahoe is in the center, followed by a pair of Suburbans.
My hands are cold and my mouth is dry, but other than that, I feel good.
I say, “Time?”
“Since you last asked? One minute later.”
“Okay.”
They come closer, and I say, “If they speed up like they’re going to ram us, you aim for the tires, I’ll aim for the drivers.”
“Got it.”
I can hear the engines of the approaching vehicles. Hard to believe that in one of them is the general who started this wave of terror and who’s using that false flag operation to overthrow the government of the United States of America.
The lights keep flashing.
The convoy keeps approaching.
I clear my throat. “Ned?”
“Yeah?”
“It’s been an honor and a privilege working with you and having you as a friend.”
No answer for a second. Then Ned says, “Jesus, a moment like this, you want to get me choked up and teary-eyed?”
I laugh. “Sorry.”
“Okay.”
I say, “They’re almost here.”
Chapter
155
Inside the Tahoe,Grissom looks up from his papers and says, “What the hell is going on?”
“We’re slowing, sir,” Kendricks says.
“I know that,” Grissom snaps. “Find out why and fix it. We don’t have time to screw around.”
“Yes, sir,” she says, and she opens the door and gets out after the Tahoe comes to a stop.
Grissom looks at his watch, irritated. About five minutes before noon. They’re two blocks away from the White House and this happens? Unacceptable.
He takes a deep breath. It’ll be all right. He’s been driven up this route scores of times, and he’s positive this time will go as smoothly as the rest.
