another slam. Try again. ' Jay felt a great wave of despair wash over
him. He was going to die. He knew it. No matter what he told them,
in the end, they were going to kill him.
Washington, D.C.
'That's it, that surplus store,' the cop said.
In the big tactical van, Michaels nodded. According to the protocols
for Net Force distress calls established with the police, the local
cops had arrived Code 2--fast, but without sirens. They set up a
perimeter and the local version of SWAT or SERT or whatever was ready
to go in, but Michaels had gotten there before they hit the building,
and he wanted to go along.
The police lieutenant in charge of the scene looked at Michaels's taser
and shook his head.
'Not a good idea, Commander. We know who this guy is that runs the
store.
We're pretty sure he's got enough illegal hardware in there to equip a
third-world army, and he's usually not alone. Your little zapper won't
cut it.'
'I'll stay behind the team. That's my man in there.'
'I'm going, too,' Toni said. She held her own taser.
'What is this, a goddamn parade? Where's the marching band and the
baton twirlers?'
'I can make some calls. Lieutenant, and get the heavy hitters into it
if I have to. My boss can call yours. You want me to do that?'
'Shit. No. Put masks and vests on and stay in the back and the hell
out of the way, you understand? If you get killed, don't bitch about
it to me.'
'All right.'
He looked at Toni. This was not the time to tell her to stay behind,
he could see that, but it was the first thing he wanted to say. Maybe
she was right. Maybe she couldn't work for him. Maybe he was too
protective. He did not want her in there.
'Heads up, people,' the lieutenant said into his com.
'We're going in thirty seconds. And we got two feebs riding the
Caboose. Don't nobody shoot them by accident.'
The lieutenant pulled a pair of spider silk vests with ceramic
interlock armor and the initials D.C.P.D. stenciled in reflective
yellow on the backs.
'Put these on. They'll stop handgun rounds and a lot of rifle bullets.
Grab a gas mask and helmet. We're going in with flash-bangs and puke
gas.'
Michaels nodded.
'Fifteen seconds,' the lieutenant said into the com.
'Go get into position. Behind Sergeant Thomas over there.
And stay behind him.'
Michaels glanced at Toni, and they jumped from the back of the mobile
command post and ran.
Woodland Hills, California
Morrison and Ventura were in their seats in the theater when an 'usher'
