“But not from the west,” Danny said. “I’ll head here, but I could use a spotter.” He pointed to the top of a fifty-story apartment building a mile west of the target.
“Are you sure?” Sin said. “There is a lot of wind coming in off the water, especially at night.”
Danny opened his can of Grizzly long-cut, pinched off a dip, and stuffed it in his lower lip. “I’m sure. It’s the tallest structure in the downtown area. I’ll have an unobstructed view of the target. I just need a reason to be in that building. The rest you leave up to me.”
“I’ll get you in,” Glenn said. “Same as with the Darth Vader building to the south. Once your team is in, you’re on your own. I can’t even acknowledge that I know you’re there.”
“We wouldn’t want it any other way,” Sin said.
“How do the rest of us move around unnoticed?” Frank asked.
“The first distraction,” Sin said. “Sergeant Glenn has been working overtime on a movie set in Delray. He managed to get his hands on some tape and signs for us to cordon off the area, isn’t that right, Sergeant?”
Glenn smirked. “anything for fellow Marines.” He eyed Danny and dipped the bill of his ball cap.
Danny reciprocated.
When the briefing was complete, Sin thanked Maurice Glenn for his help. “I owe you a steak dinner when this is finished,” she said.
“Take these scumbags off my streets and that will be thanks enough.”
“Will do,” Sin said.
She tapped the side of Glenn’s truck as he pulled out of the parking lot. Turning around, her team was standing in front of her. “Problem?” she said.
“Something’s not adding up,” Fletcher said.
“What’s that?”
“The Hollywood bull gets us close and helps keeps the civilians away from trouble, but what brings the rats out of their home?”
Sin smirked as she straddled her bike. “That’s what the second diversion is for.”
“What second diversion?” Fletch said.
“As soon as we finish here, you’ll find out,” Sin said. Looking out over her team, she continued. “Spotters and snipers, you’re riding with Moesly. Wilson, you take Marcus and head to the Darth Vader building. Danny, you take Holmes and head to your location on the roof of the apartment building.” She turned her attention to Garcia. “You’re on your own on the top of the garage. I want you in place and ready to rock and roll at 9:00 p.m. Buds in, eyes on. Ten-four.
“Ten-four,” they repeated.
She watched as the five of them grabbed their gear.
“Garcia, stay behind. I have another job for you before you take your position.”
“Whatever you say, Boss Lady.”
“I want you, Deb, and Tiffany to take all the movie paraphernalia and head to our target. Tiffany, you know better than anyone I know how to worm your way into places you don’t belong, so you’re in charge. I want a two-block perimeter around the target.”
“Hell, if you flash those pearly-whites, we can probably get some of the tourists to help us set up the no-trespassing signs and tape,” Garcia added.
Deb held up a hand to speak. “But how do we—”
“Leave it to me, Doc,” Tiffany said. “Just follow my lead.”
“No more of that Doc, stuff,” Sin said. “It causes people to ask questions. Until this is over, call her Deb.”
Tiffany nodded. “How will we know when everyone is in place?”
Sin handed her and Deb a pair of ear pieces. “Keep these in your ears at all times. When you’re finished setting up the perimeter, head to the Palm Beach Yacht Club. Stay there unless I need you.”
“The yacht club? I don’t think the members will be too happy about us crashing their party,” Deb said.
“It’s closed for remodeling. Sergeant Glenn secured access for us.”
With her hands on her hips, Deb continued her questions. “How will I know if you or anyone needs medical attention?”
“Your earbuds are connected to all of our mikes. If anyone is hurt, they’ll head in your direction. The target is only a block away. Unless anyone has any more questions, I need you three to move out. Now.”
Sin pointed to the Hummer. “Fletcher, Baxter, Johnson, Stubbs, and Graham follow me. It’s time to meet our second diversion.”
55
Sin rode onto the access road that led to Liberty Airport Center, off Southern Boulevard, just west of I95. She flashed her creds to the security officer at the guard gate, pointed to the Hummer coming up behind her, and rode through. The security officer tipped his hat to her and waved everyone through.
Sin rode past all the high-priced private jets and headed straight for the tarmac. Spotting the C-130 at the far end of the airport, she twisted her right hand, and jetted in its direction. She cut the engine of her bike and threw her leg over the saddle to stand up, the sharp twinge of pain in her thigh reminding her of her injury. She grabbed her quad and squeezed, stopping one pain with another. As she rubbed her thigh, the cockpit door to the still running plane opened downward revealing a set of stairs that extended to the ground. Major Sterling stood in the doorway and exited.
She met Sterling at the bottom of the steps. As she shook his hand, Fletcher’s Hummer pulled up beside them. She glanced back at her men and turned her attention to the Major. “Thank you for doing this,” she yelled over the sound of the plane.
“When I told you I’d be there if you ever needed me, I didn’t actually expect you to call me on it,” he grinned. “Why don’t you introduce me to the men standing behind you.”
“Fletcher, Baxter, and Johnson, this is Major Sterling. Major, I think you already know the other man standing behind me.”
“I’ll be damned,” Sterling said. “I like the look, Director. Even with the guns strapped to your belt, you seem more approachable.”
“I was never here,” Frank said. “Just like you.”
Sterling nodded. “Thanks to whatever magic Sin pulled off, my manifest says I just
