“He seems like a nice guy.” Gutterres stood next to Franks and watched Cueto go. “I figured it was best not to complicate matters by revealing who we work with, though when the Founding Fathers spoke about the separation of church and state this probably wasn’t what they had in mind. So, are we ready to go kick some demon ass or what?”

Franks spotted one of the MCB men standing off to the side, listening, wearing a balaclava and trying not to look suspicious. He frowned. “Go to the truck. Get briefed.” Franks ditched the Secret Guard. The masked MCB agent didn’t try to retreat as Franks headed straight toward him, which confirmed his suspected identity. Franks got right up in his face. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Strayhorn pulled the mask off. “Too bad. I already am.”

Myers had wanted this agent alive to testify before the Subcommittee. Their operation had a very high probability of failure and Franks was expecting casualties. “We need our witness.”

“You’re a witness too, and I don’t see you sitting it out. Besides, I already recorded my testimony and signed an affidavit. It’s been sent. We both know it probably won’t make any difference anyway. Stricken will weasel out of it unless we have something solid.”

“Stay here. That’s an order.”

“I don’t think you’re exactly in good enough standing with MCB authority to be giving orders right now, Pops.”

His first inclination was to club Strayhorn over the head, cuff him, and lock him in the church until the mission was over . . . But technically that might have been child abuse. This whole parent thing was very complicated. “I’ll have Cueto order you to stay.”

“Fine. I resign.” Strayhorn took out his MCB badge and tossed it over one shoulder. “I only joined up because of family curiosity anyway. MCB methods suck. I think the First Reason is bullshit. Now I’m just a civilian out for a nature walk,” he glanced down at the FN SCAR slung across his chest, “with my assault rifle.”

“I’ll have them arrest you.”

“But pursuant to MCB regulation eighty-two section fifteen, you can only detain civilians if you are on a sanctioned operation, which I’m pretty damned sure this isn’t.”

Franks scratched his head. He wasn’t even sure if that was a real regulation. Franks normally had handlers to keep track of the minutiae so he could concentrate on the important things. The rookie was remarkably obstinate. He must have gotten that from his mother.