Page 176 of State of Retribution

“Jeez,” Charles said.

“Aren’t you glad you asked?”

“Not so much.”

“Needless to say, avoiding a similar disaster has to be top of mind to Avery and the others on his team,” Sam said.

“Have you heard any more about what’s happening in the Shenandoahs?”Gonzo asked.

“Not yet, but Avery promised to keep me in the loop if he could.”

“I don’t know about you guys, but I’m glad we’re not involved in this mission,” Freddie said.

“Agreed,” Sam said.“For once, I’m more than happy to leave it to the Feds.”

Avery hatedto admit that Ramsey had struck a nerve with his reference to Ruby Ridge.Lessons from that standoff and the one in Waco were hardwired into the DNA of every FBI agent and U.S.Marshal.The last thing any of them wanted was to be associated with something like that.But this situation was shaping up to have many of the hallmarks of those earlier events, with a target who’d been preparing for this showdown his entire life.

He'd read the detailed reports from Sam’s team, and the additional things he’d learned about Offenbach and his mad skills had Avery more on edge than he’d been before.Offenbach had all the advantages, especially since he’d been visiting the Shenandoah camp since he was a child and probably knew every square inch of it.

Avery’s team could prepare for a year, and they’d never catch up to the lead Offenbach had on them.Even though there were hundreds of them, including FBI and ATF agents as well as U.S.Marshals and Virginia State Police, versus one of him, that meant there were also hundreds of opportunities for something to go terribly wrong.They wanted Offenbach taken alive to stand trial, but they knew the likelihood of him emerging from this mission alive was slim.If he wasn’t killed in a shootout, he was apt to take his own life rather than be arrested.

At the mobile command center located a mile from the entrance to the camp, Avery gathered his team to go over the plan one more time before they executed it early the next morning.

“What’re we doing about drones?”Avery’s deputy, George Terrell, asked.

Avery looked to his tactical response coordinator.

“Drone-detection technology and infrared cameras deployed over the site haven’t revealed any devices.”

“He knows how to keep them off the radar,” George said.“Are we prepared for him to use them defensively?”

“We have our drone unit in DC on standby to deploy if needed.”

“I’d say they’re needed,” George said.“If he’ll send them to the White House, why wouldn’t he use them against us?”

“George makes a good point,” Avery said with a sinking feeling.What else hadn’t he thought of?“Let’s get them here and have them ready, just in case.”

While the others disbanded to see to last-minute preparations, Avery glanced at his deputy.“Good call on the drones.”

“I read the info Holland’s team sent over.He scares the shit out of me, Avery.”

“Yeah, me, too.”

Avery returned to his hotel room shortly after midnight, exhausted and as stressed as he’d been in a long time.The first thing he did was text Shelby to see if she was still awake since he hadn’t talked to her all day.He hated missing a whole day with his family and would give anything to be tucked in at home with them rather than preparing for a mission that felt doomed from the start.

He wasn’t sure why he felt that way.Offenbach was one guy.Avery was bringing an army.It was that one guy’s extraordinary skills that made this the most dangerous thing he’d ever be a part of, and that was saying something, considering the things he’d done in his career.

Shelby responded a few minutes later while Avery was splashing cold water on his face and trying to shake the feeling of dread that’d followed him through the long day.I’m feeding Miss Maisie.

Avery called her.

“Hi, honey,” she said softly.“How’s it going?”

“It’s going.Hoping to be home sometime tomorrow if all goes according to plan.”He hadn’t told her anything about where he was going or why so she wouldn’t worry, but after that video had gone public, she’d known what he was working on and who he was after.The thought of a protracted standoff wasn’t one he could bear to entertain.“How’re things there?”

“We had a good day.Noah got to play with the twins this afternoon, which always makes him happy, but he was missing his dada tonight.”

“I miss him, too, and you ladies as well.How’s Maisie?”

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