*
“It’s five to two.” Kyle stared at his watch. “Why aren’t we getting out of the car?”
Marc sat in the driver’s seat, dressed as a chauffeur. “Technically, we were just waiting here until it came time to drive out through the shipping container lot over there.”
Lizzy’s teammate was a genial man and tended toward a bit more easy conversation than either Lizzy or Gabriel Diaz. Despite using more words, Kyle was finding that Marc didn’t actually answer his question any more than Lizzy did until he was ready to.
Tricky conversationalist.
“All right, why are we waiting?” Kyle was trying to be patient but he was reaching his limit.
Marc was looking around them, studying the other cars and surroundings. “Surveillance cameras are all disabled, as far as I can see. Doesn’t look like Lizzy’s work though.”
“No? Is that bad?” Kyle leaned forward to peer through the tinted windows.
“Not necessarily.” Marc tapped a small radio set against the dash. It wasn’t a part of the car and didn’t look like a model Kyle had seen before. But then, he didn’t spend a lot of time noticing what was in the front of most car service vehicles. “We all break silence in a few minutes. There’ll be a set of orders and we’ll have confirmation about whether we’re proceeding as planned. If Lizzy doesn’t check in at that time, then we worry.”
Two minutes never passed so slowly.
At exactly 2:00 a.m., the radio came to life.
“Diaz here.”
Marc lifted a handset and spoke into it. “Lykke here. We’re in position.”
“Scott here.”
Kyle sat back, relief flooding through him. Everything was going to be okay if she was out there.
Diaz’s voice came across and it was grim. “We’ve run into a delay here closing up the charity event. Edict decided to pay us a visit. Guessing they anticipated you’d try to meet up with the team but they missed you. Ash and I are a minimum of thirty mike out. You’re going to have to stall.”
Kyle tried to swallow past a hard lump in his throat. Could they? “Who or what is Mike?”
Marc turned his head to answer over his shoulder. “Mike is minutes. Radio protocol tends to have us use ‘mike’ for minutes and ‘sierra’ for seconds. It’s a military thing.”
“Negative.” Lizzy’s voice was low and urgent. “They’re here. I have eyes on one older businessman, three bodyguards and our two targets. This situation will not remain stable for thirty mike. It’s going to be over in ten or less.”
Diaz was for a moment. “Scott, are you in position?”
“A-firm.” Lizzy was getting quieter or Kyle was having trouble hearing past the rush of his own blood in his ears.
“Can you provide cover?” Diaz asked. “We’re en route. Will cut the time as much as possible.”
“Copy that. Break,” Lizzy responded again. “Lykke. Proceed with the exchange.”
The semblance of a trade. Kyle for his family. Once they were safe, Lizzy would provide a distraction so he could get back to the car too. Marc would drive them away.
Marc put the car in Drive. “Affirmative. Diaz, confirm your position. If we have to, we’ll reroute to rendezvous with you.”
“Copy.” Diaz responded. “We’ll provide support as soon as possible.”
Marc turned his head to speak over his shoulder again, suddenly dead serious. “Slight change in plans.”
Kyle took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Lizzy said nothing ever works out the way it’s been planned. That’s why you don’t make complicated ones.”
That surprised a chuckle out of Marc. “Well, that’s close enough to truth. We’re very practiced at making field decisions. Too much can happen too fast and everything has to be done on the fly. I wouldn’t try this if Lizzy wasn’t out there.”
“She’s good.” Kyle was certain of it.
“Very.” Marc confirmed.
Then Marc was putting the car in Park again. “Let me get out first, then you. We’ll hear the man out and make the exchange. Just don’t get into their car and try to stay clear of their people. Don’t let them get hands on you if you can help it. Let us do the rest.”
How did they live their lives like this? He took the wild thought and jammed it in the back of his mind. He could think about it later, if he survived. It was time.
The car door opened as Marc leaned in. “Ready for you, Mr. Yeun.”