“What’s the plan?”

“Officers are asking everyone attending the event to vacate the site as fast as possible. Most of them are parked nearby and shouldn’t have any issue getting to their cars.”

Over the man’s shoulder, Brent watched the crowd begin to stream toward the parking area as black-clad figures appeared from several directions in the distance and surged toward the picnic area.

Further debate with Eve about her harebrained scheme to flush out Al would be pointless.

Al was coming to them on his or her own.

Pulse skyrocketing, he took Eve’s arm. “We have to get Ms. Reilly out.”

“A cruiser is waiting in the parking lot.” The lieutenant waved over the officers on security duty, who closed in around them. “Let’s move.”

He took the lead, while Brent stayed close to Eve as the officers tightened the circle around them and set a fast pace toward the lot.

In four minutes, they should be safe.

But four minutes was an eternity in a volatile situation—and much could go wrong.

So until they were in the car, on the road, and speeding away, the danger remained.

And at this juncture, all he could do was pray they’d make it to safety.

They’d waited too long.

Eve was getting away!

Buzz glared at the small cluster of officers bunched around her as they left the tent and hustled her toward the parking lot—and the large contingent of uniformed officers between her entourage and the encroaching black bloc force.

His fellow Antifa supporters, who’d split up to come in from different directions, continued to march toward the picnic site, but with their target on the move, no one seemed sure what to do.

“Follow the speaker!” He called out the command and ducked low, leaving his group behind to work his way into a cluster closer to Eve.

It was time to hurl those smoke cartridges and create chaos, slow down her exit.

As if they’d read his mind, the group leaders began lifting their hands.

Within seconds, smoke began to swirl through the air.

Yes!

He had three minutes to carry out his mission.

“Hurry! Close in on the speaker, keep her from leaving!” He grabbed the arms of the two people closest to him. “Link up!”

They did as he instructed, while a dozen people managed to muscle past the police and block off access to the patrol car waiting for her.

The cluster of officers around her stopped. Unholstered their weapons.

Not good.

Dan had assured him he’d be able to complete his task and get out before the confrontation turned nasty—but no one had expected a leak would alert the cops that Eve could be at risk or the heightened police presence.

Should he give up? Abort his mission?

No.

He was too close to back off.