Eric’s eyes popped. “Hell, no! I think you women deserve a medal for this little plan of yours. In a million years I never would have thought about such a thing. Look, I want to win this game as much as you do. I think we could all use a win, and it’s damn well time we got some respect. I’m also a little sick and tired of hearing the FBI put-downs. You don’t have to worry about me holding up my end. By the way, the cable car is gone. The helo came back at dawn. I can’t swear to it, but I think it came in around then and left by ten thirty. I know because I went outside to do some limbering-up stretches when I got up. Maybe it means something, and maybe it doesn’t.”

“That’s nice to know,” Sam mumbled. She looked down at her watch. “Time for breakfast. Let’s make it a quick one so we can get back here to prepare. Slick?”

“We’re good to go, Sam. I got up at three thirty and finished a few minutes ago.” She started to laugh at what she’d been doing. The others joined in. Even Hawkins.

Breakfast was quick and fast, waffles with the last of the summer blueberries. Team Three was in and out in twenty-three minutes. The staff breakfast hour had been moved back to five o’clock the same way it was the days of the PT and DT tests.

“Wonder why the other teams didn’t show up for breakfast?” Slick said, a frown building on her face.

“They’re probably inside mapping out their strategy just like we are,” Hawkins said, stepping into his one-piece camouflage jump-suit. He could barely suppress his laughter as the female members of his team donned their respective gear. They held a short, hushed, huddled meeting before they stepped outside. The other teams, along with the staff, were gathering in the compound where a supply of paintball guns, a small mountain of paintballs, and assorted backpacks were displayed.

Pappy brought his whistle to his lips and blew a long steady shrilling sound. Nine members were missing. The members of Team Three looked at one another. Hawkins looked smug. It was obvious that the nine missing trainees had been ferried off the mountain via the helicopter. He loved it when he was right, which wasn’t often with what he considered five know-it-all women.