“Looks like she’s reloading. I think we should give this another minute. Possibly two. Just to make sure she’s out,” said Rudd, checking his watch. “Sounded like she just worked you guys over pretty hard. The last thing we need is another body to deal with.”

“We didn’t take any fire,” said Walsh.

“She just emptied an entire magazine,” said Rudd. “Fifteen rounds. I counted them.”

“Not at us,” said Walsh.

“Then who the hell was she—” started Rudd, a grim thought interrupting. “Can you see the driver’s side of Gray’s sedan?”

“Not without getting shot,” said Walsh.

Rudd had the same problem. To view the car, he would have to cross the back of the van, exposing himself to Gray’s proven shooting skills. Unfortunately, he needed to know, sooner than later, whether his suspicion was correct. If he was right, they had no choice but to speed things up, as Walsh had suggested. Rudd leaned the dart rifle against the side of the van and handed his radio to the man crouched next to him.

“Be right back.”

He rushed to the opposite side of the rear bumper and took a quick look around the corner of the van, confirming his suspicions. At least a dozen holes peppered the side of Gray’s car—all concentrated on the trunk area.

“So much for an easy night,” he muttered.

Gunfire erupted before he turned to leave. Rudd dropped flat against the cold asphalt and drew a small semiautomatic pistol from a concealed ankle holster. He turned on his side and took a two-handed grip on the pistol, keeping it pointed at Gray’s position. He’d heard two quick shots, neither aimed at him from what he could tell. No yelling from any of his people, so she’d either missed her target or instantly flipped someone’s lights off with a headshot.

He kept his pistol aimed in Gray’s direction, praying that she’d pass out. CONTROL had been explicit about taking her alive; however, Rudd had no intention of letting her shoot him to meet that mission requirement. He’d fire first and hope she survived. If she didn’t, he’d undoubtedly take her place in the interrogation room, struggling to answer some difficult questions. He’d be lucky to leave that room alive, but at least he’d have a chance. The possibility of him staring down the barrel of Gray’s pistol at this range and surviving was nearly nonexistent.