I can get this. Clearly, they’re using standard tech, nothing fancy. They didn’t expect us to be coming after them.
Malichai could no longer see Bellisia in the crowd, she’d slipped inside where she might have a chance of spotting a member of Callendine’s crew. He doubted if any of Callendine’s men would know what she looked like or be expecting her, and she was too fast and too good at what she did. So far, it didn’t appear as if Callendine knew about the GhostWalker program or who was in it.
“There’s suspect number two, James Rodenburg,” Avery said. “He’s moving fast, coming out of door number four.”
Malichai studied his screen to make doubly sure. There couldn’t be mistakes. “I’ve got him.”
Shylah, you’re up, can you take James Rodenburg? Tall, jeans, tee, about thirty-five, he’s to your left, just exited the fourth door. Has a woman and child blocking him at the moment. You need to take him some distance from everyone, and there can’t be any trace back to us. Draden, he’s just now coming out of the fourth door, so the bomb should be close. Find it fast and give us the go-ahead.
He didn’t know Draden’s wife as well as the others, but he did know she was reputed to be an assassin few could match up to.
I’ve got him, Shylah assured. There was absolute confidence in her voice.
Bomb’s here, Draden confirmed. Do not let him walk away.
Shylah was dressed in jeans and a tee as well. Her wild hair was pulled back in a high ponytail and she was devoid of makeup. Freckles spread across her nose, making her look very young. She smiled at several people and her smile was so engaging, it was impossible not to smile back. She didn’t try to hide. She was tall and even memorable. She knew it and she carried herself with confidence. She stayed about fifteen feet behind Rodenburg.
He headed up the street toward the same parking garage Kolt had used. Shylah stopped to look out over the street into a green strip of vegetation just below. She coughed and put her fist over her mouth and turned her head back toward her destination as she took a few steps.
Rodenburg slapped the side of his neck and looked around. His palm came back bloody. Blood poured down the side of his neck to his shirt. He took several steps, not knowing what exactly happened. There was a sting. Nothing else. He found himself on the floor of the parking lot. Several people gathered around him, looking anxious. A young girl bent over him, touched his neck and shook her head.
“I have no idea what’s wrong, someone should call an ambulance.”
Rodenburg wanted to tell them that it would be futile to call for an ambulance. He was fairly certain that they were all at the bed-and-breakfast where guests and cops were burning or already murdered. The world just slowly faded away.
It’s done, he’s down. I’ll be back in a few minutes when I can slip into a crowd unseen.
I’ve got the bomb he left behind. Looks easy enough to dismantle. They gave themselves time to get out. I guess no one wanted to sacrifice their own life for this venture, Draden said.
Get on it, Malichai advised. His gut was churning beyond belief. That was two of the six men Joe had finally confirmed were missing along with Salsberry, Mills and Callendine, all from Callendine’s unit. Two. He needed Avery to work his magic.
“All the way to the other side. Coming out. Carter Jorganson,” Avery announced in that same calm tone he used. The man was a machine sitting in that van and finding the faces in the midst of so many.
Malichai detested what he had to do next. Amaryllis. Carter Jorganson, all the way to the left. He’s coming out of the building now. He’s all in black. Jeans, boots, tee and he’s wearing a distinctive black jacket. He even has black hair. Can you take him without being seen? Callendine can’t spot you or know Carter is being taken.
I’ve got this. Amaryllis sounded cool and very confident.
Malichai had seen her nearly panicked when Owen and his clones had shown up, yet in every other situation she had handled herself with no problem. She hadn’t been able to pull the trigger on Owen, yet she was going after Jorganson as if she had no problem with it. He wasn’t certain what Whitney had done to her to keep Owen safe, but he hoped it was only Owen.
I’ve found the bomb, Gino said.
It’s a go, Amaryllis. Gino has the bomb.
“Keep looking, Avery. There’s three more of these assholes,” Malichai said.
He knew the reminder was unnecessary, but it was all he could do when his butt was sidelined and his woman was out there, going up against a trained soldier. She couldn’t be seen or recognized by the enemy. Both Joe and Ezekiel had assured him, after talking to her at great length, that she could handle herself, but he wanted to protect her. He wanted to be out there in the field, working with them to make certain they kept every one of those innocent people safe.