Page 160 of Bonded in Death

“Get food,” Eve called out, still working on the details. “Eat. We’re just waiting on the commander. Jesus, Jenkinson, Potter could see that tie from space.”

“I’ll tuck it into the shirt till we have him, Loo.” And grinning, he fluttered it. “I wore it special. See? A big rat in a little cage.”

A big, glowing, purple rat, Eve noted, in a glittery silver cage. And both on a field of emerald green.

“I see. If I look much longer, I may go blind, but I see. Commander,” she added when Whitney came in. “Please, help yourself to some food, some coffee.”

“I will.” But first, he walked to The Twelve, saying each name as he shook hands. “It’s an honor to meet you all. Though Summerset and Ihave met many times before, let me take this opportunity to thank you, all of you, for your service to your country, and to the world.

“Let me also extend condolences for the loss of your friend. We will bring Conrad Potter to justice. Lieutenant, you have the floor.”

“Yes, sir. As you’re all aware, this afternoon, Conrad Potter abducted this child. On-screen, Peabody. Devin McReedy, age nine. We have full confidence Devin is being held at this location on Riverside Drive, in this area of that location.

“The safety of Devin McReedy is first priority. When EDD has cleared our way and confirms the boy’s location, and Potter’s, we move in, and move in unison, and in silence.”

She gestured to the back of the room. “Helmets in those boxes. Everybody wears one. As we know from earlier today—yesterday,” she corrected, “he has illegal weapons and will fire. He has combat skills and is likely to resist or try to flee. Multiple weapons, and he very likely has some areas of the house booby-trapped.

“Remember, we move in, in unison, in silence, and with care. Baxter, Trueheart, south entrance, Jenkinson, Reineke, north. Santiago, Officer Carmichael, rear—clear the main level, secure any weapons found. An officer on the rear to block any attempt of escape from the doors leading to the deck or the basement walkout. One each on the side doors.”

“Did I get demoted?” Detective Carmichael asked.

“No. When we go in the front—that’s Roarke, as he’ll deal with any last security, and myself—Detectives Peabody, Carmichael, and Callendar will go in behind Santiago and Officer Carmichael. Peabody’s team goes directly to the basement steps, located here.”

She highlighted on-screen. “Down, through this area to this door. If EDD hasn’t already disengaged the interior security and the locks on this door, you’ll have Callendar. If electronic, she’ll disengage. If not. You’ve got the battering ram.”

“Dallas—”

Eve held up a finger when Peabody started to object. “He’s going to want his mother. He’s nine and he’s scared shitless. We don’t know if Potter’s hurt him just for the hell of it. He’s priority one. You have a way with victims, and with children. I want women to get to him first, as he’ll feel safer with women sooner.

“You get in, signal me. You get him out to safety, and call for medical assistance. When you’re certain he’s secure, contact his parents, give them his location. Peabody, I need you to stay with him. He’ll need someone to stay with him until his parents get there, or if needed, to the hospital.”

“I get it. I’ll stick with him.”

“Officers Shelby and Donovan, you will take the attached garage, clear it, and disable the vehicle inside, secure any weapons you find. Secure that interior doorway. Detectives Carmichael and Callendar will also sweep the basement area for weapons once the child is safe.”

“Leaving a few of us out here, kid.”

“No, getting to you. I need you and McNab in the van or on the ground with a mobile until you’re certain there are no electronic traps the rest of us could walk into. More, that the boy would walk into before he’s all the way out. At that time, you will signal, then take whatever entrance is most optimal. If he gets by me, gets by Roarke, secure the doors, box him in. Take him.”

“Well covered, Lieutenant.” Whitney drew her attention. “I trust you don’t expect me to remain in the clear throughout this operation.”

She had intended to have him remain in the van with the excuse of running comms. But she knew that look. “Which position would best suit you, Commander?”

“Correct question. I’ll go in the front, behind you and Roarke. Up the stairs and begin to clear the third floor with you.

“He won’t get by you, or Roarke, but if he does, he’d still have to get by me. You haven’t addressed possible explosives or gas.”

“We have sniffers for explosives. I don’t expect to find any set to blow. He’s not going to blow up the house. He’s got millions invested in it, and money matters to him. For gas, every field kit has a breather. Everyone takes a breather. He does intend to fill that storage room with the same substance that killed Rossi. He will rig that by remote, but I don’t believe he will until after noon tomorrow.”

She glanced back where the remainder of The Twelve sat. “He doesn’t want to kill any of his targets quickly. He wants them to suffer, wants to taunt them. And he’ll want to watch. He won’t engage the gas until he has one of his targets, and the boy locked in, so he can see and hear his former teammates agonize over the dying boy.”

“You’re very right.” Ivan nodded. “Yes, he’d feel a triumph in that.”

“The only thing he’s going to feel is bitter disappointment. Any questions, ask them now. Then we suit up. EDD team, the Commander, Peabody, me in the EDD van. Everyone else—crap. Roarke, do we have a van?”

“It’ll be out front.”

“Everybody else in that. Jenkinson drives.”

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