Page 16 of Hot & Heavy

"What's your position?"

"We set up a perimeter about half a mile from the target. Cat Three and Cat Four"—meaning JAM and Sly—"went in for a look-see. There are hostiles coming and going… at least three dozen. No Big Rat yet, but he's there. I'd bet my… uh, tail he is."

"What's the gunfire I hear in the background?" Ian recognized the stuttering sound of an AK-47 and other rifle fire.

"A couple of jerk-offs doing target practice. Guess they're bored. They appear to be waiting for something… or someone."

"How about munitions?"

"A stockpile. Everything from Uzis to rocket-propelled grenades."

"Hmmm. Did you alert Garfield?" General Adams at CentCom was Garfield.

"Yep. Will fill you in later." Which meant, in person, or when they had a more secure line. "Seems there's some intel that a big-time roach is coming in, even bigger than the Big Rat." Roach was code for Al Qaeda. "They figure we can nab the whole bunch at one time."

"That's just sweet. Rats and roaches. What do they think we are? Supercats?"

"Nope. Just frogs." SEALs were traditionally known as frogmen from the old days.

Ian grinned. "Same thing. Both super."

"Yeah," Pretty Boy agreed. Ian guessed he was smiling, too.

"Should we come rescue you?" Pretty Boy asked, laughter in his voice. Apparently, not just Cage, but all the guys had been listening in on his conversation with the wild woman, or as much as they'd been able to overhear.

"In a while. For now, tell the other cats to hold their position till I tell you to come back here to the bat nest for further orders." He hoped that Pretty Boy understood that he meant cave when he mentioned bat nest. "Tell Cat Three to continue as point man in my absence."

Pretty Boy must be wondering why Ian, leader of this squad, wasn't planning to join them immediately.

Instead, he asked, "What bat nest?"

"The one I pointed out to you cats near our drop."

"Ahhhh. Are you sure you're not in any trouble?"

"I am in a little bit of trouble."

"A little bit?" Yasmine exclaimed from across the cave. He'd almost forgotten she was here, but there she stood, hands on hips, tapping her filthy foot on the dirt floor. You'd think she was some kind of friggin'

princess, instead of a straggly-haired harridan. "You are in big trouble, I assure you."

"What's going on?" Pretty Boy asked.

"I'm in the bat nest near our drop zone, like I said, and I've got a… um, friend here."

"Are you referring to me? I beg to differ. I am not even close to being your friend," Yasmine squawked.

The woman did like to talk a lot.

"Are you sure you don't need backup?" Concern resonated in Pretty Boy's voice.

"Nope. Nothing I can't handle."

"You'd better not be planning to handle me. Dare to touch me and I will lop off one of your body parts."

Her voice was getting shriller and shriller.

Man, she is a bloodthirsty wench. No wonder she and Jamal are lovers.