Page 29 of Undefeated Love
“What?” Katlin said around the last bite of bagel.
“Guess where Nikkole is?”
Katlin swallowed then washed down the suddenly arid bread with orange juice. “Where else would she be…in Jack’s bed.”
“Got it on the first try.” Lei Lu leaned back in her chair and forked up the last of her omelette.
“Does that really change anything?” Tori asked as she picked up her plate and returned to the buffet. “We were going in there today, anyway. That just moves up our timetable.” She added more fruit and spiced meat before returning to the table.
“I’m sure Nikkole has already told him that we’re here and that he’s sanctioned.” Nita poured herself another glass of water. “He has to know that we’re here to eliminate him. The question is, will he run before we get there? Is he willing to move his operation somewhere else in the world? He’s been established here for several weeks. This seems to be a much more permanent situation than any of the others.”
“So, what’s the plan?” Grace set her plate and silverware on the return tray.
They’d only driven by his compound once just before dark last night and hadn’t surveilled it enough to decide on a plan of attack.
Katlin began giggling. “Jack is going to open the front gate for us. I am too much of a lure for him.”
“That’s your plan?” Nita stared at her, incredulity filling her face from her dropped jaw to her raised eyebrows.
“Yes. I’m going to walk to the front gate, tell the guard who I am, and that I’m there to see Jack.” She smiled smugly. “Anyone want to place bets as to how fast I’ll get an audience with him?”
“What about Nikkole? I’m sure the minute she hears you’re coming in, she’s going to tell Jack that you’re there to kill him, if she hasn’t already.” Tori pointed out the obvious.
“That’s where you guys come in.” Katlin was making this up on the fly but liked the way this plan was coming together. “As soon as I walk through the gate, you take out the gate guard and hold the perimeter. If Jack goes out a back way, shoot him.”
“You plan to go in armed, right?” Lei Lu confirmed.
“Of course. And if the gate guard tries to take away my weapons, that’s the last thing he’ll ever try.” Katlin shrugged. At that point, she didn’t care about armed collateral damage.
Lei Lu pulled up a satellite picture of the compound. “Tori, this tree is an excellent sniper hide. I don’t see any other gate except for the front that opens for cars and the smaller one to the side for people.”
“I’ll move to this corner and have a ninety-degree arc of visibility.” Grace pointed on the screen to where she’d positioned herself.
Lei Lu pointed to the opposite corner. “I’ll be over here.”
Nita grinned. “And I’ll follow Katlin.”
“Gear up, Ladies. With luck, Black Swan will be in the air by this afternoon.” Katlin smiled at her friends and teammates. She was anxious to get this done and over with.
* * *
Katlin boldly strode to the personnel gate at the Ashworth compound. When the guard paid no attention, she rattled the iron bars. Before he could say anything, Katlin spoke loud and clear. “Would you please tell Mr. Jack Ashworth that Katlin Callahan is here to see him.”
“Ma’am, do you have a blood type card?” The guard handled his machine gun with ease.
Katlin gave him a huge smile. “Take my picture and forward it to Mr. Ashworth. He won’t be happy if you leave me standing here at the gate.” Her long blonde hair hid the communications earbud where each teammate announced they were in position to enter the compound right after her.
“Could this guard be any more stupid?” Nita asked everyone and no one in particular. “We need to kill him to eliminate his stupidity from the gene pool.”
“If he doesn’t hurry up and call Jack, we might not get that opportunity. Jack will take him out for us,” Tori agreed. “I’m tired of waiting for him. I’m climbing the tree.”
The man dug a walkie-talkie from his camouflaged cargo pants and spoke quietly.
“Repeat that name.” Jack’s voice screamed through the receiver.
“Katlin Callahan,” she yelled loudly enough for Jack to hear through the primitive means of communication. “Hello, Jack. I’d like to see you.”
The guard moved closer to the gate. “Katlin? Are you really here?”
