“I see you.”
He had to admit, it felt damn good knowing the man was there.
Gwen’s hushed voice came to him from a few feet behind. “My breaching strip will give us entry without causing a massive explosion.”
Emmett knew the woman would rather blow the entire door to smithereens. But given their location and time of day, a small charge to disable the handle and lock was the way to go.
To his team, he commanded, “We’ll go straight to the door. Winslow will do her thing, and we’ll make our way inside.”
“Loud and clear, boss.” Draven let him know he understood the orders.
The others gave similar responses and a few feet later, Emmett stopped walking and put up a fist. It was a signal they all knew by heart. One taught to them years before during their various military trainings.
From this point on, they’d be as silent as possible, unless it was necessary to talk. The suppressors on the ends of their rifles and pistols would aid in their efforts to minimize noise.
Emmett motioned toward the door, keeping his body low to avoid being spotted through the uncovered windows. He led his team from the sidewalk to the building’s front entrance. Another fist and their steps came to a halt.
To Gwen, he signaled it was her turn to shine. The woman’s blonde ponytail swayed back-and-forth as she moved to the front and got to work. Within seconds, the breaching strip was in place, and she was backing up a few paces.
A silent signal of her own let them know to duck down and cover their faces before ignition.
Gwen pushed a button on the small remote in her hand. There was a flash, followed by a mild bang. They were in the building within seconds.
The two men Jethro had seen through his scope spun around and began to draw. Their pistols never made it around to point directly at him or his team.
Emmett started to pull his trigger at the same time two succinct shots came through one of the side windows. Both targets jerked before crumpling to the floor with soft thuds, each with a new hole in their head.
“Thanks for that,” he told Jethro through the mic in his ear.
The New Orleans native drawled back a deep, “Kinda why I’m here, ain’t it?”
Emmett’s lips twitched with the urge to grin, but his admiration for the other man’s no-nonsense attitude was fleeting at best. Because Janie was here. He could feel it in his gut.
Two dead guys bleeding all over the floor was all the proof he needed.
“Hey.” Gwen whispered back at him as she squatted down next to the bodies. “These guys are Secret Service.”
Since it wasn’t obvious by the men’s plain clothes, Emmett asked, “How do you know?”
“They’re the ones in the video on Janie’s phone.” She pushed herself up. “They were arguing outside the White House when she was on the tour.”
More questions rolled around in his brain, but their answers would have to wait.
“Let’s move.” Emmett motioned with his hand toward the stairs on his left.
Gwen, Draven, and Lucas headed that way while he and Blake checked out the remaining rooms on the main floor. His heart kicked hard, his pulse racing with a combination of fear and hope. But with each room they cleared, the more crushing his disappointment became.
Come on, sweetheart. Where are you?
The silent plea had barely left his thoughts when Boone’s voice filled the speaker nestled in Emmett’s ear.
“This is Boone. I have two targets secured by the back door in the alley.”
“Copy that,” Emmett acknowledged as his teammates returned from upstairs. “First and second floors have been cleared.”
Which left the basement.
“We’re headed downstairs now,” he relayed for Boone’s and Jethro’s benefit.
