“I don’t agree,” said Berg. “He’s been one step ahead of everyone from day one. He busted the team following him from his apartment. He detected all three of the operatives you placed outside of the Airbnb town house. And he anticipated the ambush a few blocks away from the town house.”

“Not soon enough,” said Rich. “They survived because we rescued them.”

Marnie stepped onto the walkway, immediately drawing their attention. “We survived because of Devin’s quick thinking. He was able to assess threats from multiple directions and make a split-second decision about what to do next. The right decision. It bought us enough time for your team to respond.”

“My concern is with the direct-action side of future operations,” said Rich. “We don’t always have the luxury of separating combat from the surveillance.”

“Devin can hold his own in a gunfight,” said Marnie. “I saw that firsthand.”

“And I’m absolutely useless in any kind of fight,” said Berg. “But nobody is trying to sideline me.”

“That’s because you’ve always understood your role,” said Rich. “I’m worried about Devin getting in over his head if he starts swimming outside of his area of expertise.”

“What about me?” said Marnie. “I’m just a former Marine helicopter pilot.”

Rich shook his head. “The same goes for you. I can’t have two nonoperators in the middle of a covert raid. It puts my people at risk. You know how this works, Marnie. Imagine flying into a heavily contested landing zone while you’re taking fire from multiple directions—”

“I don’t need to imagine. I’ve been there,” said Marnie. “And we didn’t sideline new pilots. They flew the same missions as the rest of us.”

“Sure. But in a dual-control helicopter, an experienced pilot could take over at any time,” said Rich.

“How is this any different?” asked Berg. “In this case, the ratio of experienced operators to inexperienced is more like four to one.”

“It’s different,” said Rich.

Berg shrugged. “Some circumstances and missions may be different, requiring the sole use of your veteran operators, but tonight’s job doesn’t meet that threshold.”

“And when it does?” asked Rich, nodding at Marnie.

“Neither of us is suicidal, and we’re well aware of our limitations,” said Marnie. “I know I’m speaking for Devin when I say that he won’t be sidelined without a damn good reason. Same for me.”

“You go where Devin goes,” said Rich.

“Exactly,” said Marnie. “This is personal for him.”

“That’s a big part of what worries me—about both of you,” said Rich. “Too many attachments. Karl, you can’t tell me this doesn’t worry you, too.”