Page 63 of Seamus: Unconventional
Me: I laugh holding my mic. When I calm, I answer since no one else does. “Roger, Freedom. I’ll let the handlers know that all Clubs need our protocol or at the least a heads-up on where communication can be achieved.”
Freedom: “Fuckin’ hell. Sorry, Boss. I just got that your Club procedures is my training tomorrow. I’ll do this better on the next Op.”
Me: “You’re doing fine, Brother. I’m still giving the handlers a short list for inter species Ops because we may not see you for months.” She laughs without an answer. Tony laughs too. I shrug. We watch Shadow incapacitate and secure the Lieutenant and MB the general. The general canceled the meet and greet cocktails because of the security delay. The presentation will happen on time, then cocktails for those that can stay. This works better for us as no one expects to see any higher ups before the presentation. None of the general’s military force are invited to the presentation and even their inside security is lower tier. I advised using their reactions against them and Cort agreed with no questions. On the board, Ben said Putam agreed. He’s a seer so I feel good about this change. There are three more higher ups but they’re not tactical. One is money, one some union guy that’s freight, the other a go between for pharmaceutical.
Asa: The little VP waves at me. “Pres Seamus, IT have truck. Not surprise. Purpose to keep Badass away.”
Me: I bend and read from his board. “Eejits. They were wrong.” I point up to the main board where Prometheus and Shadow have the union and money guys down. “Light, get Shadow on anything NeuroVision. I didn’t see anything on it from the list.”
Asa: “Web have ABSZ on research. Boss Shadow get there?”
Me: I nod. “He’ll hook to their server.” He nods and goes back to his typing. It was on purpose. That company has to be the general or someone working with him to divert K-9s to the private lab. They weren’t military but they made sure two were chipped. “Fuck. The general knew. I turn to Light. “Did he see a partner?” They’ve been there for a full week.
Light: He sends me negative. I ask how. Understanding he doesn’t want to voice this or I feel that in there. ‘Judge Op.’ Shit, the Op that landedme back in the chair. I think back but he stops that. ‘PD, private militant force.’
Me: “Son of a bitch.” He sends it is shut down but the general was making plans. “Partners?” His all K-9 has me ripping. Burn it down works for me. He watches without an answer. “MB, …”
Cort: “Brother, he’s not hurting us, as a matter of fact, he’s drooling on the floor right now. Thatfireword means something more than many would understand but just about everyone that hears your voice will understand. Federal Marshals are waiting, no one going in that presentation will come out free and clear. Affiliation carries weight.”
Me: “Fuck!” I whisper it but want to challenge the right I know he is. Audio record isn’t where shit like that should be. “MB, we need the room bar service is held in confined.” I cannot challenge the POT of Badass West and pointing out his gaff, on record, is not an option.
Cort: He sends a saluting emoji to the chip.
MB: “Roger, Boss.” I see his hand signs and smile. He knows but isn’t talking about it.
Me: We watch Shadow’s Alpha Team incapacitate and drag hall stragglers behind doors. Asa is marking the rooms on a building schematic. Twenty-eight minutes and finally we get last call.
Asa: “Last to list, Pres Seamus. Security move to stand. All feed release to real time.”
Me: “Protector, Enforcer, Alpha and One move to next positions. Light, jam the building. Jack, stand by for the call.”
Freedom: “PT1, Go.” She doesn’t yell it but her team moves and moves fast. Security is down then gone in seconds. Freedom is running but I don’t see anyone in the hall.
Me: I look to the side and see she’s twenty away from the presentation. It’s a decked-out cafeteria set up with a stage but there are no Security inside. I flip and see the partners. Chaps and Tony laugh. I clear my throat seeing the last laser flash. “Hazmat, I’m gonna miss you if you leave. Good job, Brother.” The last of the Security get dragged inside and the partners walk out. Hazmat chuffs but doesn’t stop. I hold my mic. “Get that up for me, Tony” he does and I’m bent holding a laugh in. They took turns, one shoots the next drags but everyone got a turn and not one fuckin’ security guy paid attention to the blue lights flashing.
Chaps: “Why are they smiling going in?”
Light: He sends a flashing disco ball. We all laugh. They thought it was a party break for them.
Me: “Freedom?” Her feed shows the floor. Her hand waves in a move on motion so I do. “Jack, make the call.”
Jack: “Roger. Pres is calling. This is the quietest big Op I’ve been on. It ran like clockwork even with the surprise. Just sayin’, Brother, I’d have burnt it down.”
Cort: “Marshals pulling in. No one is burning anything.”
Me: “Roger, Boss. I think that’s his response to the fire talk of earlier.”
Jack, Asa and voices I don’t know sound off in my ear.
Light is doing the exaggerated head shake.
Cort: “I’m a Dickass.”
The quiet can only be from everyone set to mute. This room is laughing but I don’t hear it in my head. I watch Marshals enter with my jaw clamped shut.
***
My eyes roll hearing another chopper. Katie laughs. “The new partners need this. Are you sure we shouldn’t go to Alpha?”
