Page 167 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

She sniggered. “Is that a yes?”

“Speak to Tactical, I want two full units. We know who Marcus has links to so I’m not taking any chances. You can go but I want Max as Lead you understand. You’re not to get anywhere near the scene until it’s cleared and secure.”

“Thanks Brandon.” Maddie said.

“Don’t thank me yet. Cole’s gonna kick both our butts if this thing goes south.” He warned.

“Then let’s make sure it doesn’t.” Maddie said.

Maddie sat nextto Max clenching and unclenching her fists. This was what she hated most about raids, the waiting, the patience. She wasn’t patient, she wasn’t calm, if she had her way she’d be smashing the doors down already.

“Ten minutes.” Max muttered glancing at his watch and then at her.

“I hate this.”

“I know.” He smirked.

“Not you being in charge, I’m fine with that. I hate waiting.” She stated.

“I bet you and Cole are a right laugh to hang out with.” He replied.

“What does that mean?” She asked.

“Well Cole’s one of the least patient people I know but compared to you he’s positively a saint.”

She shook her head sighing.

“Just promise me as soon as it’s safe….”

“Yeah I will. As soon as it’s secure I’ll let you out the van.” He teased.

Fucking Brandon, Maddie thought. He’d made them both call in to agree it, that Maddie was to sit and wait patiently until the sight was secure and everything was A O K before she was allowed out, like she was some irresponsible child, like she wasn’t capable of keeping herself safe.

“We’ve got movement.” Jaz said over the radio and they both glanced at the camera screen. A van had pulled up blocking their view of the lorry.

“Any minute now…” Maddie muttered as someone got out of the cab and walked up to the driver. They exchanged some sort of conversation and then a second van pulled up and four more men got out. They all looked seriously built and Maddie glanced around, happy that they’d come with a enough of the Tactical Support Team to deal with this.

“Let’s do this.” Max muttered. “Maddie stay.” He added and she shook her head.

She knew it was a joke but still.

He picked up the radio and called it. “GO. GO. GO.”

Everyone burst out of their vans, rushing from both sides of the site to surround the men. They turned instantly and started firing.

“Fuck.” Maddie hissed watching from the screen. She saw one Agent go down and picked up her radio to HQ calling for an ambulance but no one responded. She called in again and still nothing. What the fuck, she thought, shaking the damn thing but it did no good. She tried her phone next but there was no reception. Nothing.

More shots fired. It looked like Max and the team we’re gaining ground and then suddenly all the shots stopped. Everything went silent.

And all the while Maddie sat waiting, staring at the screen, but there was nothing, no movement, all she could see where the vans.

“Fuck.” She groaned. She couldn’t just sit there, she couldn’t just wait. She pushed the Emergency Response button sending an alert to HQ even though they’d be an hour away at best from responding.

“Not a chance.” Tony said already knowing what she was about to do.

“I’m not just sitting here and waiting.”

He narrowed his eyes. “You are going to get me killed.” He muttered before heading for the door. “Stay behind me.”

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