DANDELION-Berg and Gray just entered town house. 100% positive ID. Have 6 members of team standing by with breaching kit and weapons. Advise how to proceed.

The number at the top of the screen changed several seconds later, followed by a reply.

Is Young in town house?

UNICORN-Yes. Young, Berg and Gray.

Kill Young. Abduct Berg and Gray. If only feasible to abduct ONE, take Berg and kill Gray. Advise of results when complete. Will pass directions to safe house for delivery. Acknowledge receipt of this order.

The number changed again. They weren’t taking any chances.

STARWARS-Order received.

Execute orders immediately. Authorization code CARWASH.

CARWASH was the code the other members of the team would receive via text. He’d have to recite the code to prove that he’d received authorization to deviate from their previous order to locate and follow Devin Gray and/or Karl Berg. It was a crude method that still left a lot of room for abuse. He could essentially tell the team anything he wanted, and they wouldn’t have any way to verify the actual orders.

“Read this,” said Rudd, handing the phone to his wife.

She gave it a quick look. “Call Logan. We need to move quick, while they’re standing around making introductions. I assume Young has never met Berg before.”

“Yep,” said Rudd, grabbing his satellite phone and pressing the push-to-talk button. “Put me on speakerphone,” he said to Logan, doing the same.

“You’re on speakerphone,” said Walsh. “We all just received text messages.”

“CARWASH. CARWASH. Berg and Gray just entered the town house. CONTROL gave me the green light to hit the town house,” said Rudd. “We’re going to try and take both Berg and Gray, but if grabbing both of them starts to go sideways, we kill Gray and take Berg.”

“What about Young?” asked Walsh.

“We kill her right away,” said Rudd. “We don’t need any Marine heroics.”

“We’re ready to roll,” said Walsh.

“Get everyone set and move up to the corner,” said Rudd. “You’ll have to be my eyes when I back across Fait Avenue. I won’t be able to see the cross traffic.”

“I’m already on the move,” said Walsh. “No traffic right now. I’ll keep you posted.”

“Let’s do this,” said Rudd, starting the Durango. “Breach kit is in the back seat.”

“We’re at the corner,” said Walsh.

He glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Walsh’s Pathfinder pull into place at the intersection.

“You ready?” he said.

Jolene had already drawn her compact stainless-steel revolver. “Quit talking and start driving.”

Rudd maneuvered the Durango out of the tight space and lined up with the intersection using the backup camera screen on the center console. His phone chirped, followed by Walsh’s voice.

“You’re all clear.”