Page 87 of Very Special Forces

"Noneed. She's dropped seventeen well-placed hints so I have a list.Married life," he finished with a sigh.

"Youlove it," I told him.

Delgadogrinned. "I do. I got a wife and a step-daughter thrown in. Life issweet."

Fletcherand Flaherty looked at each other and rolled their eyes. "If youtwo become as insufferable as this guy when you marry, we're goingto leave," said Fletcher.

"Thatso?" asked Solomon.

"It'sbad enough when Lexi flutters her eyelashes at you when she thinkswe can't see."

"I donot," I said. I waited for them to huff and turn away thenfluttered my eyelashes at Solomon. He blew me a kiss.

"Revolting," said Flaherty without turning around. "Totallyunprofessional. Pass me those binoculars. I want tosee."

Solomonturned back to the roof edge. "Any movement?"

"None. Ijust don't want to look at all this loved up mush any longer," saidFlaherty.

Solomon's cell phone vibrated and he answered with shortacknowledgments then hung up. "That was Maddox. The Feds picked uptheir target two blocks out. There are still two agents in thebuilding across the street but they've moved to a more secure upperlevel of that building hopefully out of the range of any gunfire.They are waiting for the call."

"Whatare they so interested in across the street?" askedDelgado.

"Not ourpay grade," said Solomon.

Since itwasn't my pay grade either, I kept my mouth shut.

"We'reonly here for the fireworks anyway," said Fletcher.

"Hunkerdown. We're in for a long wait," said Solomon.

Wepassed the time, watching and talking softly until Solomon's phonevibrated again. "It's a go," he said after glancing at the screen.A moment later, several armored vehicles rolled past, fanning outas they reached the courtyard and disgorging heavily armedsoldiers. Several soldiers carried a battering ram that they usedto bash through the doors. When the doors were pulled back,splintered and useless, there was a small exchange of gunfire andloud shouting.

A fewminutes passed, then six men were marched out and made to kneel inthe courtyard. Their arms were already secured behind theirbacks.

"Thatit?" said Fletcher. "I expected more."

"Disappointing," agreed Flaherty.

"That'sall they needed to do," said Delgado. "I don't see any casualtiesand the fuss was kept to a minimum. This was a good op."

Solomonnodded. "The danger's over. It's always just when they're about tobreach that's the most dangerous time."

"Doesthis mean all the players are in custody?" I asked.

Solomonshook his head. "These men are hired mercs at the most. The majorplayers are elsewhere."

"Whatnow?" asked Delgado. "Are we out?"

"Weare," said Solomon. "I offered our services to help track down thebuyers but Mitch declined. They want to take the investigation inhouse from here. It's time for us to go home."

"See youtomorrow, boss," said Fletcher. He and Flaherty took off, joggingacross the roof and disappearing through the doorway into thestairwell.

Delgado,Solomon and I followed them and jogged down the stairs. All thevehicles were gone except for one, and our own personal cars. Acouple of Army personnel were monitoring portable screens andlaptops and Major Mitch McAuley stood nearby. He walked over, hishand outstretched and shook our hands. "I owe you," he said. "Bothof you."

"Happyto help," replied Solomon. "There's no debt here."

"We'dall have our heads on the block if it wasn't for your help. I won'tforget this."

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