Page 127 of Trapped
He laughed. “You do understand what the word retirement means, don’t you?”
It was my turn to laugh. “Retirement is for officers.”
“Ooh Rah,” Jay added his two cents.
“Hooyah,” Kroup and I answered the call.
“Men,” Cate said from the back seat.
There was nothing small or incapable about Catelyn Maxwell, but she looked tiny compared to the three giant special forces guys on her team. The guys at SSI swore she could handle going in with us, but I had my doubts.
To make things worse, I had to worry about Jay taking himself out of the fight if she needed help.
“You good back there, Three?” I asked Cate.
“Other than having to listen to the dick-measuring contest between you three, I’m right as rain.”
I laughed, still scanning the area to the right of the car. “Just checking. Did you do anything like this in the FBI or Marines?”
“Yes, and no. I’ve raided buildings with a team of agents. But nothing this complex.”
“Just keep your eyes open, your ears peeled, and if something clicks under your foot, don’t move.”
“Asshole.” Jay smacked the back of my head without taking his eyes off the surrounding forest.
“Jay, it’s his job to make sure I’m ready. And as the only non-spec op guy on the team, I can’t blame him for being worried.”
“Who said I’m worried?” I asked.
“Your tone. Your body language. You checking on me every fifteen minutes.”
“More like ten,” Kroup corrected her.
“Way to have my back.” I shot him a look to convey my annoyance. Which he didn’t see because his stayed focused on the road and trees.
When Jay said “I’ve got movement” Kroup tapped the brakes, slowing us to a crawl.
“What do you see?”
The SUV came to a full stop. Havoc’s head popped up over the back seat, ready for action.
“Vehicle,” he pointed, “through the trees, about thirty yards.” A clearing provided us with a line of sight.
Jay lowered the window, lifted his rifle and aimed in. “He’s armed. I have a clean shot. Awaiting orders.”
Kroup drew his pistol and watched in front of us. Cate and I did the same. I scanned to the right while she watched behind us.
“Even if he lets us pass without engaging, he’ll warn Perpura.” If he hadn’t already.
Kroup was right. There was no reason for a man to park along the road, holding his rifle at low ready.
“He spotted us.”
“Send it.”
The silencer minimized the percussive blast, but the sound still filled the cab.
“Target down.” After waiting to make sure the guy was alone, Jay pulled his rifle in and rolled the window back up.
