“Did our inside source say anything about other dignitaries in the building?”
“No. Our inside source said the building was quiet until the last twenty minutes. I’m texting her now.”
“Does she know who is in the convoy?” There was a pause as Dr. Hennigan assumed Ms. Wilson texted with the agent on the ground.
“Sorry,” Ms. Wilson said. “Our agent was tasked with helping security in the atrium area. She was unaware of anyone leaving the grounds.”
Dr. Hennigan thought for a second about how best to proceed. She ran through a range of different scenarios and settled on one that seemed to be the best. “Ms. Wilson, where can we set up an ambush?”
There was a delay as Ms. Wilson did something on her end. Almost immediately, the image of a frontage road appeared on her tablet with a red X. “This position seems defensible and would enable you to box them in.”
Dr. Hennigan looked at the image and decided it made the most sense. “Send the details to the other vehicles.”
She glanced into the back window to watch as two SUVs took an immediate exit ramp. The three front vehicles made their way around before stopping in the middle of the street. Two of the cars blocked the road under an underpass. The FBI convoy would have little-to-no time to maneuver before they saw them.
When Dr. Hennigan’s team came to a stop, she radioed for everyone to get out and prepare for an ambush. She lowered her balaclava as she exited the SUV, Dr. Hennigan yelled at one of her operatives, “Pull out the M203s. I want the first vehicle immobilized the second it’s around the bend, then immediately converge on the others.”
Each vehicle had an M203 rocket grenade launcher retrofitted to work with Raytheon’s new seventeen-inch rocket dubbed The MiniGriffin. The MiniGriffin carried an eight-pound warhead, unlike the thirteen-pound warheads of the much larger and less portable Griffin missile systems.
An agent Dr. Hennigan didn’t know suddenly asked, “Rules of engagement, sir?”
“Necessary force to retrieve the asset. Once we have the asset, everyone will disburse and return to The Complex.”
“Understood, sir,” the agent said.
Dr. Hennigan heard her relay the orders to everyone on their commlinks. “Dr. Hennigan?”
“Yes, Richardson?”
“We are coming up upon our turnoff in forty-five seconds. Once we do, the FBI caravan will be cornered. We expect they’ll notice immediately.”
“Fine. How close are they to us?”
“Seconds, probably.”
“I don’t like probably, Agent.”
“Twenty seconds, ma’am. Confident, ma’am.”
“Okay. We’re using the MiniGriffins to immobilize the front vehicle. Do the same with the back. Expect resistance. Minimize casualties. Our focus is on retrieving the asset.”
“Understood, ma’am. Exiting in nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three, two, one.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Ethan
Ethan knew something was wrong when he heard Agent Harper’s voice over the car’s intercom.
“We have a tail,” the agent said.
Ethan felt the shockwave as the first SUV in their convoy lifted off the ground and hurdled through the air toward the side of the road. He leaned to the right to see around the driver. Three black SUVs blocked the road.Is that a missile launcher?
The driver of their SUV took evasive action, breaking the vehicle and flipping it into a U-turn. The small rocket flew toward them. His body whipped against the seatbelt as the SUV tumbled. Various items in the vehicle flew around the cabin like miniature projectiles hunting for a target. He couldn’t hear himself or anyone screaming in the car over the sound of the vehicle crunching and scraping against the pavement. The SUV finally came to a stop on its side. Ethan’s body hung, suspended by his seatbelt.
He looked to his right and saw Blayne leaning against the door, which was now on the ground. Blayne looked dazed. The vehicle’s rolling must have reopened Blayne’s wound because blood seeped through Blayne’s shirt. Ethan took inventory of himself and tried to figure out if he was okay. He blinked twice and moved every part of his body. He felt numb, but he wasn’t sure if it was the vehicle rolling or the shock.
“Are you okay?” Kira yelled from behind them.
