Out front, beyond the derelict pickup, a car and a panel truck—her heart began to race as she recognized that truck—were pulling to a stop.

14.

14.

“Everyone get out on the street side of the truck,” Baker said into the cell phone as he pulled to a stop behind the panel truck. No point in advertising how many men he’d brought.

He opened his door and jumped out to take charge. He could almost hear the blood singing through his veins, coursing through his limbs, tingling in his fingertips. This was Sam Baker’s element, this was when he felt most alive.

“Remember,” the Arab said, leaning over from the passenger seat. “You must not harm the woman.”

“Yeah,” Baker said. “I hear you.”

He’d been hearing that since they’d hit the LIE. He knew all about it. Muhallal had made that a condition from Day One. Fine. They wouldn’t hurt the girl.

But the guy… that was a different story.

Especially since Baker had got the word about Mott and Richards. When they still weren’t answering their phone, he’d called Chuck and sent him to limp over to check on them. Chuck was glad for something to do. He wasn’t much good for anything else, what with his right arm in a splint and his knee in a straight brace—courtesy of the guy in the house.

But Chuck had been pretty shook up when he called back. Mott and Richards were dead. Head shots. Looked like hollow points.

Baker had heard of blind rage before, but never had experienced it until tonight. He’d been so pissed, and screaming so loud, he’d almost put the car in a ditch.

Not that Mott and Richards didn’t deserve to be dead. Really—how dumb were they, first to get gassed, then to get whacked out in the open? Served them fucking right.

Bad enough that guys he knew had been offed, but they’d bought it while they were working for him. That was a bitch slap to Sam Baker. He could not let this guy live to talk about it.

But he could make him squeal like a pig before he died.

His six remaining men, Kenny and the rest, were out of the van and donning their vests and checking their weapons by the time he got there. He pointed to the big black guy who was kneeling, tying his shoe.

“Briggs. Go check the car. Just to be sure. This guy’s tricky, so be careful or you could end up like Mott and Richards.”

As Briggs hefted his Tec-9 and trotted toward the Chevy, Baker turned to Perkowski and pointed to the utility pole. “Perk. Climb up there and cut the phones.” Then he pointed to Barlowe. “Take DeMartini and cover the rear.”

Briggs returned as they took off toward the backyard.

“Car’s okay,” Briggs said.

“Hey, look.”