“Probably,” Hawkins said. “I don’t think there’s much they can do with the lamb chops and baked potato that’s on the menu. The mint jelly and carrots are something else. I’d pass on the salad and salad dressing. Ask for an unopened bottle of soda pop and forgo the coffee. Or let them pour it but don’t drink it. Sam’s going to cut out early pleading a headache. I’m going to leave when dessert comes out. Slick will stay with the rest of you and just pretend to drink the coffee. We’re probably being paranoid, but that’s an agent’s life. Paranoia pays off in the end. Okay, let’s go inside. We need to map out a strategy for the paintball game tomorrow. We can talk while we eat.”

It was Slick who outlined the plan for winning the paintball game. The others burst out laughing. They continued to giggle, and occasionally a loud guffaw could be heard erupting from Hawkins’s lips. The other trainees watched them nervously. Even those in the kitchen could hear the mirth. At one point, Kyros felt compelled to punch the intercom to report to his son.

“Let’s face it, none of us have a prayer of winning. The staff has done this forty times and won most of the games. They have the edge because they know the forest, and we don’t. A map isn’t really going to help us. I also think there’s going to be a last-minute change of plans. We aren’t going to double up the teams. It’s going to be each team defending itself. If you look at that scorecard posted on the door, every year it’s six teams instead of three. I think he’s going to switch up at the last second,” Hawkins said.

“Eric came out on top in our analytical class at the Academy. I think we should go with what he’s saying and prepare for that eventuality,” Sam said. “It really isn’t going to make that much difference to us. In fact, I think it’s better if it’s team versus team versus the staff. We know our strengths and our weaknesses. The others are a question mark. Guys, I’d like us to win,” Sam said.

The first three Rainford wives looked at their leader. Confidence rang in Olivia’s voice when she said, “Then we’ll win!”

Kayla turned off the jamming device inside the little transistor in her pocket, compliments of her cop brother. Knowing that their duffel bags would be checked, she’d concealed it on her person, banking on there being no body searches. She smiled at everyone. She looked sharply at Sam to indicate it was time for her headache to appear. A second later Sam offered up her apology and left the dining hall.