Page 59 of Jep

“Agent Bailey, Cramer, you two good?” he said to the men as he turned over the engine.

They buckled their seatbelts. “Ready when you are,” Cramer said.

Jep drove past the park, then pulled over several blocks away to give them space to enter on foot. The tactical van was in place closer to the park.

“It’s quieter than I expected,” Cramer said as he got out of the car. “I thought they would have picked somewhere with more people.”

“If the park was busy, it would be harder for them to spot us, right?” Em said. “This way, we’ll be obvious. Even in plain clothes.”

“That’s a good point,” Jep said. “It’s easier to be invisible in a large crowd. We’ll have to break up the groups further. I’ll take Em in first to get a look around. It will be easy for us to blend in as a couple. Cramer. Bailey. I want you to approach separately.” He spotted a food truck across the road. “Bailey, get some lunch and have it in the park. Cramer, make a phone call as you get close.” He radioed to Pearce next.

“We’re in position,” Pearce said.

“Good, but there’s been a slight change of plan. I need you guys to strengthen your cover. The park’s too empty. We’ll need to spread out our approach.”

“Copy that.”

“Make sure each of your guys has a good reason for being there.”

“We do. Catching bad guys.”

“Funny. We can’t have anyone blowing our cover on this.”

“Copy that. We’ll give ourselves more backstory.”

“Good. Emery and I are heading in first. Give us ten to fifteen minutes, then approach unless you hear from me. And only talk into the earpiece if absolutely necessary.” He looked at Bailey and Cramer to make sure they were listening.

“We got it,” Cramer said.

Jep put his radio away. “Actually, Cramer, hang on. I’ve got an idea.” He went to the trunk of the car and pulled out a pair of binoculars. “Take these.”

“You want me to hang back? Observe from a secluded location?”

“Nope. You’ve been promoted to a bird watcher. I want someone covering the wooded area toward the back of the park in case we get a runner.”

“Bird watcher it is,” Cramer said. “I bet there’s an app for that.” He pulled out his phone.

“All right,” Jep said. “Let’s do this.”

He took Em’s hand and drew her down the sidewalk.

“You think they’re waiting for us?” Em whispered.

He looked at her with a grin. “We’re not in earshot yet. You don’t have to whisper.”

“Oh, yeah? What about that guy?” She nodded behind her to the jogger that had run past.

“You think they have scouts? Did he do something to rouse your suspicion?”

“Not him. I was making a point. They could have eyes everywhere.”

“Then we better sell it.” He swung their hands. “That’s better.”

“We’re going to bethatkind of couple?”

“The cornier the better.”

“Even acting like this, is hard to settle my nerves, and we’re not even in the danger zone yet. Do you think they’re waiting for us?”

---