“Yeah, we seem to be dropping members like flies in a jar. Of course some chose to leave, others had no choice.”

“Annabelle, I’m trying to help here, okay? I’m taking a big risk just talking to you about this.”

“Nobody’s asking you to take any risk, Alex. Just go back to your nice, safe federal job.”

“What is it about you that pisses me off so much?”

“My girlish personality?”

“Well, keep this in mind, girly. If Knox is on his own then in Hayes’ eyes he’s become a target just like Oliver. Hayes will take them both out and anybody else who’s standing around.”

“The three of us are willing to take that risk.”

“I know you are, but have you bothered to ask the other two?”

“I don’t have to ask. The fact that they’re with me right now is all the answer I need. Unlike some people.”

Caleb glanced nervously over at Annabelle.

“Okay, just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Yeah, thanks for all your help.” She clicked off and threw the phone down.

“I take it the conversation didn’t go all that well,” Caleb said.

“You can take it that way, yeah.”

“So what did he say?”

“Hang on a minute. There’s Reuben.”

The big fellow was waving to them from the side of the dark road. They pulled over and in a few minutes had loaded the motorcycle into the back of the van. As they resumed driving Annabelle filled them both in on what Alex had told her. At the mention of Hayes’ name Reuben’s face turned a shade paler.

“Macklin Hayes?”

“Yeah,” she said. “Do you know him?”

Reuben nodded. “I served under him at DIA. Also did some fieldwork for him in certain parts of the world, where the good general had a well-deserved reputation of leaving his men out to drown when things went to hell. I happened to be one of his little sacrifices. But no dirt ever splashed on him. Which is why the asshole sits where he does today.”

“Well, he’s apparently after Oliver and Knox now.”

“So Hayes’ plan is to take out Oliver then?” Reuben said slowly.

“But we’re ahead of the dude on that score,” said Annabelle, noting the nervous look on Reuben’s face. “And since he screwed you this would be a perfect way to settle things, Reuben,” she added.

“You don’t settle things with a guy like Macklin Hayes, Annabelle,” he said. “He’s got an army behind him and, while the man’s heart is as black as they come, he’s also smart and cagey as hell. I’ve never known him to lose at anything.”

“Reuben, we can beat this guy.”