“I’ll let Rennell know it might be time to run interference.” Tanner added sarcastically, “Though I wouldn’t want to bother him.” He phoned Rennell. “I can’t promise you Volkov is in either one of those trucks coming toward us, but they’re in a big hurry if it interests you.”

“Oh, yes, it definitely interests me. Get up on that ridge and put Mallory and our guys on alert. Volkov or not, it’s time to start the action anyway.” Rennell ended the call.

Rennell quickly adjusted the sights of his Barrett MRAD sniper rifle and rolled over onto his stomach. With the gun barrel extended before him, he shimmied under a bush and surveyed the ridge. It was a good spot. Maximum visibility with minimum exposure. He looked though the scope. Volkov’s men were doing a fairly good job of staying out of sight, but he knew they were scattered across the ridge.

Time to draw them out.

He pulled out his phone to make sure Maria had finished her job. A one-word text from her was on the screen: CLEAR.

He activated the app, which showed him the placement of the explosive charges. Each point glowed green on the screen.

He pressed the first one.

BLAMM!

Just as he hoped, it sounded like a gunshot. The first one was to put Volkov’s men on alert, a moment to wonder: What the hell was that?

Rennell pushed another dot on the screen.

BLAMM!

And another.

BLAMM!

That should send them diving for cover, taking positions.

He peered into the scope. There was no wind, so any movements in the brush were surely the men.

He smiled. Three swaying bushes on the hillside.

He squeezed off three quick shots.

BLAMM! BLAMM! BLAMM!

Two men tumbled from their hiding places.

He made another go at the third. BLAMM!

The third man stood and slumped over the bush, holding a gushing wound on his neck. He lost consciousness.

Rennell set off two more of the charges. BLAMM! BLAMM!

Come on, guys. Fire back…

He set off another one. BLAMM!

Suddenly shots were coming from all directions.

That was more like it.

Rennell’s tactical sunglasses made it easier to see muzzle flashes on the hillside. Zero in, and…

BLAMM-BLAMM-BLAMM-BLAMM!

Four more guys down.

He set off a couple more charges to keep the others from homing in on his location.

Another volley of gunfire, which only served to reveal more muzzle flashes and more moving bushes. He took aim.

BLAMM-BLAMM-BLAMM!

At least two more down. Maybe a third.

He fired again. BLAMM! BLAMM!

Definitely a third. The man slid down the hillside headfirst.

Rennell looked over the scene once more. Had he gotten them all?

“Don’t move.”

Shit. The voice came from behind him.

“Drop the gun now or you’re dead.”

Rennell dropped his rifle.

“Now turn over and stand up.”

Rennell rolled over. A red-haired young man was holding an assault rifle in one hand and a walkie-talkie in the other. He spoke into the walkie-talkie. “I got him. What do you want me to do?”