“Three houses down. Across the marsh. Across the beach. Far side of the pier.”
“How many?”
“Two. Enhanced GPS. Secure tracking by OPAQUE. Silent running.” Josh kept his eyes on the security screen. “Looks like CT is setting up.”
“Got it.” Mitch pushed the speaker button again. “Drake, we’re going out on a Q40. You track us and stay in touch. I’ll head us straight across the Gulf. Once I find a safe island, I’ll wait for your signal.”
“On it. Good luck.”
Luck and training were all any of them ever had. He pulled Liz next to him and positioned them by the door they’d be exiting. Her hand felt small in his, but she gripped with a strength he doubted she even knew she had. The look she gave him as she quickly nodded indicated she’d do whatever he said.
“I have a question,” she said, taking a half step back. “What’s does Quantum40 mean?”
“First of all, OPAQUE means Operation Protector Agent Quantum Elite. Quantum—Q40—means it’s one of our specially designed pieces of equipment.”
She cocked her head to the side, mockingly lifting the corners of her lips as she shot him a demanding spill-the-beans look. “Nice try. Now. Whatisa Q40?
“Let’s just say it’s an upgraded PWC.”
“You mean like a WaveRunner?”
“Not exactly.” He always hated being the one on the receiving end of pointed questions. But since he’d already figured out Liz was a smart, serious, and searching type of person, he might as well answer her question. “Yeah, it’s basically got the same style, but this baby’s got state-of-the-art technology. Sleek aerodynamic body design. And technological capabilities for the next century.”
“Sounds like something the government or the military would want to know about,” she said.
“OPAQUE works hand-in-hand with the FBI, CIA, military, and on and on. If it’s in the U.S. interest, it’s our interest. And vice-versa.” He grinned. “Does that answer your questions on the Q40?”
Biting the inside of her cheek as she nodded, she lifted her eyebrows. “Now, about you and me riding one together…uh…”
“Nothing to it. Just like riding a motorcycle without wheels across the water.” He decided not to tell her how fast the thing could go. How a zero-turn was the latest upgrade. Or that its energy core was pushing infinity.
“Maybe I should tell you that—”
“Tell me later.” He glanced at the agents waiting for his signal. “Time to go. Everyone, take your place.”
Josh kept staring at the security screen. The others scattered to their spots. Keith stood directly behind Mitch and Liz, ready to bring up their rear.
Mitch checked his gun one more time then patted the knife strapped against his thigh. All they had to do was flat-out run for a hundred-fifty meters without being shot, stepping on an egg-laying turtle or a scavenging gator. Never mind the no-see-ums, pests that would eat them alive as they ran through the marsh and across the beach.
Cat rushed to the door with an extra gun, handing it to Liz. “You said you can shoot.”
“Yes.”
“It’s loaded.” Cat grabbed a small pump bottle from the side table and sprayed Liz. “The guys are already slathered up with pest repellent. This’ll help you with the no-see-ums.”
Liz tucked the small pistol in the side pocket of her shorts.
Mitch tugged her close and gave Keith and Josh the thumbs-up. “Ready. Go.”
Josh shut down every light in the house and on the perimeter as he and Liz and Keith darted out the door, across the patio, and into the yard next door.
CT would know something was going on. They’d be confused. They’d regroup. They’d move out into the open without knowing. Josh would pop the lights back on. Confuse them again. Easily target a few of them.
Everything would be only seconds. That worked. A few seconds might be all that was needed for them to make it into the marsh. The marsh and mangroves could hide them from CT’s line of sight, but not from the GPS. They’d for sure have their tracking system lit up—just like OPAQUE.
Mitch didn’t let go of Liz’s hand and barely slowed his pace for her, although going through the undergrowth hindered them anyhow. Keith’s movements synced with their own—his counterpart would do what was necessary to keep them safe. The three of them bunched together before heading across the beach to the pier.
“Liz, you ride with me. Make yourself small and hug my back.” Mitch pointed to the Q40s on the far side of the pier. “CT will think there’s only one of us.”
