“All clear,” came through his headphones and Agent Kim gave him a nod. They stepped out of the van and headed inside.

The plan was that HRT were to leave as soon as the building was confirmed empty of threats and return to the local field office until they received word they were no longer needed. Then they could fly back to Quantico.

Shane hoped to be on that plane—especially after Yael’s text. He’d been worried she’d withdrawn again and wouldn’t want to see him once the case was over. Even though it was probably a bad idea in the long run, he wanted to be with her again. Her inviting him over was huge.

His cell buzzed with another text. Pierce was on his way to surgery. Shane hoped the man survived. He wanted him in court. He wanted him in jail and then prison. He wanted him to pay for his crimes.

When and if Pierce was stable, he’d be booked and transported to Virginia. Sloan planned for the task force to start interviewing him as soon as the doctors allowed. So far, the only words he’d uttered had been to demand a lawyer.

Yeah. Innocent men did not draw weapons on federal agents nor demand counsel while bleeding out.

Shane high-fived his teammates as he passed them. They all wore happy grins because they’d finally caught this motherfucker and obtained some measure of justice for Scotty. Not that it would help Grace or their kids, but it beat this guy being on the loose. Shane met Novak in the doorway.

“Nothing obviously hinky,” Novak stated.

The two TacOps agents split up. They were searching for all the electronics which Shane would take back with him to Quantico, including any hidden surveillance equipment, along with looking for anywhere this asshole may have stashed his crypto.

“Where are his computers?” asked Shane.

“There’s an office at the rear to the west. Doesn’t look like he uses it much.” Novak looked impatiently at the door. “We’re leaving the field office for the airport in ninety minutes unless we hear differently.” He headed off with the other operators.

Shane wandered through the house. It was nicely furnished but without any great design statements. Basic middle-class home of a single American male.

Shane found the office where Dexter was already bagging the computer and tech.

Shane took a few photos on his cell and sent one to Yael. The lounge had a worn-out couch and a large-screen TV attached to the wall above the open fireplace. A dusty gaming box sat on the console and even as he spotted it, the other tech guy came over to bag it.