Schism

artificial illumination he could not see much.

A Witiko officer stood a respectful pace behind and to the side of Ray. Further back, two Witiko Skytroops.

Roos did not like Evan Godfrey's order for a message to be delivered to Gordon Knox's dying ears. Still, he would follow the boss' commands as long as those orders did not put his own neck on the line. If that happened… well, Ray always believed in options, particularly when protecting his ass.

Ray did not think Evan realized exactly how dangerous Knox was. Roos, on the other hand, spent years working at the estate, overhearing conversations, and getting to know the people there as part of his role as Evan's mole. He knew exactly how dangerous Gordon Knox was and how well connected. Only Roos' listening devices, the intercepting of intelligence reports, and other acts of cover up had managed to keep Knox from discovering the plot to whack Trevor Stone. Even then, maintaining the secret ranked as a minor miracle, no doubt one Knox could eventually undo if allowed to live.

Roos raised a walkie-talkie and transmitted, 'I said go, you boys listening?'

'Copy that, Control. All points entry in three…two…one…'

…The front door to Gordon Knox's single-story home burst open. Two men dressed in black and wearing night vision goggles moved inside with silenced Mp5 machine pistols at the ready.

On the far side of the home, one panel in the glass Lanai smashed and a small object the size and shape of a hockey puck bounced across the tile surrounding the indoor pool. That object exploded in a flash of light that would have blinded anyone in the room.

A second later, more of the glass shattered and a third commando burst into the sunroom with yet another Mp5 searching for Gordon Knox. The three intruders spoke with each other and their 'Control' via headset transmitters. 'This is Huey, west room clear, proceeding south to clear next area.' 'Duey and Louie splitting. Taking garage and master bedroom.' 'Control copy, boys. Exterior looks clear. Target still inside.'

'Duey' turned left from the foyer and cleared the small dining area. From there he reported, 'Duey here, clear so far, moving south toward garage.'

'Copy that.'

At the same time, Louie moved right from the foyer, slowly opening and entering the master bedroom through one of that room's two entrances. His night vision scope saw the open metal cabinet, a neatly-made bed, and closed double doors that led to the inside pool area, but no sign of the target.

'Louie here, master bedroom all clear. Looks like we got a gun cabinet that's empty. Proceed with caution. Moving west to pool area in case target doubled back.'

'Copy that, Louie.'

The commando who had entered through the Lanai-Huey-moved slowly across a leisure room in the southwest quadrant of the home. He then approached the closed door to the guest bedroom, one hand reaching for the knob while the other steadied his weapon…

…Duey walked into the garage. That area appeared as pitch dark as the rest of the home…until Gordon Knox flicked a switch on his remote control and activated a battery-powered security light.

The sudden glare blinded Duey. He fired his silenced weapon at the glow- thwump, thwump, thwump — shattering one of the two bulbs even as he instinctively turned away from the blinding glow and directly into the barrel of the Benelli. Gordon pulled the trigger. The powerful shotgun blast killed the man instantly, sending him- light body armor and all-flying backward. 'All points, check in,' radioed Control at the sound of the shot. 'Louie, pool area clear.' 'Huey, in southwest bedroom, no sign tango.'

Knox could have exited his home through the garage door and made a clean getaway, but he decided more work remained to be done. He returned inside. As he walked, he balanced the shotgun with one hand while pushing another button on his remote control. He felt a sense of satisfaction that years of paranoia finally paid dividends.

That other battery powered device-the hidden electronic box-sprung to life. This one did not radiate light but, rather, radiated sound…

…Ray Roos stood on the knoll with one hand holding the binoculars, another holding his radio. That radio burst into static then it burst…it burst into…into music.

'In-a-gadda-da-vida, honey,

Don't you know that I love you?

In-a-gadda-da-vida, baby,

Don't you know that I'll always be true?'

…The commando codenamed Huey moved from the extra bedroom into the dinette area with the goal of getting to the garage. He meant to radio Louie to meet him there, but when he activated his transmitter he could only hear music. Rock 'n roll, in fact.

'Control? Louie? Anyone copy? I've got interference!'

Gordon Knox approached the confused killer from behind and drew a hunter's knife across the man's throat. Knox held him up as he gurgled last words, arms flailing as if shimmering to the sound of classic rock playing over his headset.

'Never send I.S. pussies to do a man's job.'

The assassin went limp. Gordon thought the fellow might yet be of some use…

…Ray stared at the radio. The music continued to play, overriding any message to or from the entry team. For that matter, the team might already be neutralized.

The Witiko officer leaned toward the radio and questioned, 'What is that?'

Roos answered truthfully, 'Iron Butterfly,' while his eyes focused on the dark and-seemingly-quiet house. At that point, the Director of Internal Security decided to up the ante. He turned to the Witiko officer and nodded. That officer, in turn, waved to his Skytroops.

Both aliens stepped forward and activated their jetpacks. With a hiss of thrust, they leapt into the sky, more jumping than flying across the two hundred yards between the observation point and Knox's house.

The first landed in a crouch on the beveled roof adjacent to the glass-enclosed Lanai. The second went further, dropping to his knees as he landed hard above the front entrance. He hopped down from the roof to the stoop, raised his long alien Gatling gun-like rifle, and stepped through the battered doorway.

The first Witiko smashed through the glass Lanai and dropped alongside the pool. In reaction to the darkness, the alien activated a small visor on his helmet. Instead of seeing the room in shades of light, the Witiko's visor saw the room in shades of heat.

He walked around the pool to a set of closed double doors. While balancing his gun in one hand, the Witiko slid one open. His visor immediately spied the glowing orange and yellow heat signature of a human being. It took a half-second for his gun to whirl to speed and spit a volley of low-caliber projectiles: the Witiko favored quantity of fire over stopping power. The heat signature bobbled side to side absorbing the rounds…but did not drop or flee. Confused, the alien retracted his visor. In the darkness he saw a man standing like a rag doll. No, one man holding another man… BOOM.

Knox's shotgun blasted the befuddled alien, sending his big silver body to the tile floor of the Lanai with a metallic clang. Gordon then let go of the dead commando he had used for a human shield…

…The second Witiko heard the shot. He walked quietly toward the master bedroom's inner door. Meanwhile, the last remaining human assassin-Louie-left Gordon's den and proceeded cautiously into the kitchen area on his way toward the front of the house…

…Roos paced back and forth on the knoll. The Witiko officer eyed him but said nothing.

The Director of Internal Security considered his third and final option if the Witiko team did not complete the job. That third and final option would require a cover story about fuel tank ruptures and a house fire. Thankfully Knox lived in an isolated locale. That would give Roos the time and latitude to paint a picture for any parties who took an interest in the 'accident'.

He tapped his thumb impatiently and waited for a sign…

…There were two ways into the master bedroom, one being through the double doors from the Lanai where the body of the first Witiko now lay. The other a smaller door leading toward the foyer. Gordon crept in that direction with the aim of sweeping through the living room and toward the kitchen.

He opened the bedroom door and took one step. An alien hand slammed down on his shotgun, spinning it from his grasp.