Ghostwalker 08 - Street Game

others to give him complete attention. “This plan is very detailed and involved for a number of reasons. Each piece has to fall into place for it to work. No one take chances. If in doubt, walk away from your assignment and call it in. We’ll switch to our other procedures. You cannot be spotted. If they know we’re about to take him, my guess is they’ll kill him.”
    Paul sucked in his breath audibly.
    Mack shrugged. “If they lose him, he’s of no further use and he becomes a liability instantly. They have to kill him. They have strings back to them that can be followed and the last thing they want is for anyone to identify who they are. And God help Colonel Wilford if this leads back to him.” His gaze locked with Jaimie’s. “You can do this?”
    “Oh yeah. If I’m right, I’m already halfway there. I think whoever is threatening Sergeant Major is the one trying to hack into my computer.” She leaned over and touched Paul’s hand. “I know I can do this, Paul.”
    He nodded and gave her a brief, nervous smile.
    “Whitney’s the one trying to hack into your computer,” Mack said. “I don’t want him to know you’re on to him.”
    Jaimie shook her head. “Not Whitney, Mack. Someone else. Someone who likes what Whitney’s doing and has condoned it, but doesn’t want his experiments exposed—or himself, particularly himself.”
    Mack frowned. Why would Sergeant Major send Brian and Kane on suicide missions and suppress evidence against Whitney? he asked her telepathically, not wanting anyone else to hear him.
    I think whoever this is aided Whitney to begin with and now they’re trying to cover their ass. By choosing Kane and Brian, they throw more suspicion onto Whitney, Sergeant Major, and Colonel Wilford. They’re distancing themselves even while they protect him. Whitney isn’t going to kill one of us, Mack. We’re his creations. He’ll experiment on us, and if we die during the process, that’s just science to him, but he wouldn’t throw any of us away.
    “Damn it, Jaimie,” Mack snapped aloud. “Did you for one moment think this might have been important enough to tell me? Now’s a hell of a time.”
    “I tried to tell you before, when I was doing the back-trace,” she replied calmly.
    “And don’t swear at me. I’m not one of your soldiers.”

    192

    Javier snorted and then sobered, coughing a bit when Mack pinned him with piercing eyes. Ethan helpfully pounded his back.
    “This is going to be tight. We have to work it by the numbers. Javier, he knows you’re going to slip the earpiece into his pocket, so he’ll be looking for you. Don’t be too obnoxious and draw attention to yourself. We’ll need you moving in and out of the crowd.”
    “I know what to do,” Javier assured. “I won’t blow it. Sergeant Major is family.”
    “I’m talking about not getting killed here. You never think anyone can get to you.”
    Javier sent him a small grin. “I know what you’re saying, Mama, and I’ll be careful.”
    Mack sighed and shoved his fingers through his hair until it was nearly standing up in spikes. “There will be thousands of civilians. Innocents. You all know the rules.
    We want Sergeant Major out of there. He’s our primary, but we cannot risk civilians.
    Kills have to be clean and quiet if they’re necessary.”
    They nodded.
    “Javier, once you’re in that coffee shop, you work fast, but if Jaimie’s threatened at any time, get her out of there. Don’t worry about Sergeant Major or any of us. Get her clear and keep her safe.”
    Javier threw a quick, taunting grin toward Jaimie. “You got that, little sister? I get to order you around.”
    Mack leaned close. “Get this, Javier. She doesn’t come out of this with one scratch on her. Not one.”
    Javier threw his hands into the air. “I got it, Top. I’m all over her.” He winked at Jaimie and then wiggled his eyebrows suggestively.
    That earned him another glare. Javier laughed. “You got it bad, boss man.”
    “You’re going to get it bad in another minute,” Mack threatened, but the dire warning lost a lot since the others were laughing at him. He knew when to give it up.
    “You all know what to do. We’ve done this a hundred times. Let’s bring him home safe. Take your positions.”
    His team nodded and began to drift away. He caught Jaimie’s arm. “Once you’re in the coffee shop, Jaimie, you’re exposed. You’re a sitting duck if they realize what’s happening. Position