Sender:That one won’t be initiated without the order from the command, correct? They won’t go early, will they? They will wait on us to initiate?
Receiver:Correct. Why?
Sender:The Ghost was asking me about it. He is more than curious about that mission. He did not like it when you said his “people” would be theultimate “martyrs.” He may become a liability after our mission is complete, and most certainly will if it happens before.
Receiver:You didn’t tell him anything, did you? No locations or targets?
Sender:Of course not. All he knows is what you told him, but it made him concerned. He is a hired gun and cares more about his people than he does ours.
Receiver:Keep him in control. Execute the mission, then eliminate him.
Sender:God willing, it will be done. I’ll contact you when we’re complete.
I finished scrolling through the text, the words on the screen incredible. It wasn’t one or two attacks, it was three, spread out over three continents.
Chapter 60
I heard the door open behind me, the team entering for our 12 a.m. meeting. I looked at Knuckles and said, “Pack your shit. You and Brett are headed to DC. I want you on the first commercial flight available.”
He said, “What happened?”
I looked at Brett and he just nodded, telling me he already knew why he was leaving. I said, “Brett will fill you in on the way, but you’re going to stop a Quds Force attack in DC.”
“You’re shitting me.”
“Nope. Go pack your stuff.”
“Wolffe okay’ed this? I thought he wasn’t too hot on me helping.”
“Let me worry about Wolffe. You just need to get to the Taskforce as soon as possible. Take this computer with you.”
Knuckles glanced at Brett, then said, “Give me the Rock Star Bird, and I’ll get there quicker.”
I chuckled and said, “Good try, but we’re going to need that punching holes in the sky tomorrow. We still have a mission down here.”
He said, “Okay, but you’re pulling off two franchise players for this mash-up from the Island of Misfit Toys. You sure you want to leave this mission in the hands of a psycho with an attitude problem?”
I saw Shoshana glower and chuckled, saying, “Trust me, we’ll be okay. You’ll have your hands full in DC.” He turned to go and I said, “Knuckles, the men you’re chasing murdered Sheriff Marley. DC will want you to be second fiddle, but if you have a shot, take it. No mercy.”
Knuckles face hardened. He said, “My pleasure.”
Brett unplugged the computer from the host connected to the Taskforce and they both left the room, passing Veep as he arrived. He held the door open for them, then said, “What did I miss?”
I said, “A lot. Is the Bird ready?”
“Yeah. Takeoff at eight a.m. No issues.”
I said, “Good.” Before I could say anything else, Shoshana interrupted, saying, “What is this Island of Misfit Toys? If you don’t want our help, I’ll contact the Kidon team. They landed an hour ago, and I’m thinking it might be better if we joined our own side for this.”
I said, “Too late for that. You’ve already committed to be with me, and I need your skill because I’m sending Knuckles and Brett on another threat. One that’s in the United States.”
She shook her head, saying, “Then what was that about being misfits? Why the slur?”
I wanted to kick Knuckles in the nuts. “Slur? What are you talking about? Knuckles just paid you a compliment. The Island of Misfit Toys is a story of a group of heroes that save Christmas. It’s an iconic holiday thing in the US. I guess that’s why you don’t know it.”
She looked at Jennifer, who nodded earnestly. Jennifer wouldn’t lie, and the story was somewhat true, so Shoshana bought it. She thought a minute, then said, “Okay, you told Veep something had changed. What is it?”
I said, “Everyone take a gander at that screen. It’s a Signal chat with a terrorist in the United States. That’s what Knuckles is going to track down. We’re still focused here.”
