“It’s a potential liability,” said Berg. “I just don’t think that liability outweighs the gain. Yet. It’s something we need to keep a close eye on. I’m sure Marnie would agree—and be willing to help make sure we don’t have an unexpected problem at a critical time.”

“I can’t control Devin,” said Marnie.

“Can’t or won’t?” said Rich.

“A bit of both,” said Marnie. “But I’ll do what I can to make sure that neither of us overextends ourselves and jeopardizes any of the missions. That’s the best I can offer at this point.”

Rich barely changed his expression. “That works—for now.”

CHAPTER 37

CHAPTER 37

Devin sat on the floor between the two motel room beds and watched the widescreen monitor on top of the dresser. Marnie sat on the bed to his right, next to Karl Berg, her hands balled tightly on her thighs. Rich stood next to Karl, arms crossed and a focused look on his face. Emily sat on the foot of the other bed next to Scott, her feet tapping a nervous rhythm against the carpet next to Devin’s leg.

The door to the room was cracked several inches, Jared visible outside, leaning forward on the second-floor walkway’s railing. He kept watch over the parking lot and the antenna array attached to the railing next to him. The array was directed northeast, in the direction of the golf course community about two and a half miles away. Everyone looked half-asleep except for Rich. The man had a remarkably boundless amount of energy for someone who had to be in his late fifties.

He somehow hadn’t skipped a beat after going without sleep for forty-eight hours, unless Devin had somehow missed him taking a catnap or two. Marnie hadn’t seen him sleep, either, and the two of them had agreed that either Devin or she be awake at all times to make sure Karl Berg and Rich didn’t alter the plan in some unacceptable or unthinkable way.

In fact, he had insisted on driving the entire overnight route from DC to Indianapolis, leaving Devin exhausted. While everyone else in the SUV had slipped into deep sleep, including Marnie, he spent most of the drive waking every few minutes in the back seat to check on Rich, who would occasionally glance over his shoulder and crack a joke about it. They were curious people, somehow reminding him of his former SSG colleagues in the FBI. Hardened by years of uncomfortable and stressful work—but wired for the job from the beginning.