Ghostwalker 09 - Ruthless Game

program, one that would al ow them the best ability to save lives and serve their country—and maybe it would have been, had it not been run by a madman who had not only enhanced their psychic abilities but had also changed their DNA, adding the animal enhancements he thought would make them al supersoldiers.
    There was Gideon Carpenter, a man who would be their savior in any crisis. He had eyes like a hawk, could shoot the wings off a fly with hands as steady as a rock. He would protect them from great distances, and so far, Mack had never known him to miss. Before he could get into position, they would need to have information and the rooftop of his choice cleared.
    Ethan Myers lay on his bel y, eyes locked on the structures ahead, his body streamlined for climbing. The man could go up a building like a spider, clear the rooftop, and be gone before anyone ever knew he’d been there. He waited, coiled to react, as steady as they came.
    Mack glanced to the man on his right. Kane Cannon was the fifth man making up their team of rescuers. Kane had always been with him, from the streets of Chicago, col ege, every type of Special Forces training available to them as wel as the GhostWalker experiments and additional field training.
    Kane always guarded his back, and he knew exactly what Mack was thinking. He shifted his weight subtly, tel ing Mack he was ready. He was invaluable, a man who literal y could see through wal s and into buildings. He could lay out the position of the enemy in seconds.
    Our informant should be in the third apartment, bottom floor, corner building, Mack sent telepathical y to his team. You’re up, Kane. Make certain she’s alone. Sergeant Major is sure the information could not have been obtained by anyone other than a GhostWalker. This is an unknown and could be a trap.
    Kane shoved upward with his hands, and his feet went smoothly under him in a practiced move. He ran low, muscles warm and fluid, sending him across the open feet of desert to the entrance of the al ey Javier had gone through. Smel s assailed him: urine and alcohol mixed with cooked meat. He slipped inside the dark shadow of the al ey and instantly became part of it. He moved, shrouded in silence, knife in hand, as he approached the street.
    The scent of death was strong. Dim light spil ed a foot into the al ey from the street. He crouched low and careful y searched out the darker shadows. A body lay crumpled against the base of the building, in the darkest spot. Kane crouched beside him. An automatic weapon was stil in his hand, and the body was warm. His neck was broken. Javier had encountered an enemy and quietly disposed of him. There was no communication device, which meant either he wasn’t part of a guard detail or Javier had taken the device.
    Sighing, Kane rose and stepped to the very edge of the al ey where he could scan the buildings across the street. Seeing through a building always took a tol . Javier had to be in position to cover him. He waited, counting the seconds.
    Men with guns seemed to be in every doorway, patrol ed the rooftops and along the long balcony of the second story. They were out in force, and few people dared to take to the streets. He spotted some teens throwing knives and trying to look tough at the end of the street, closest to the desert. Javier was distinctive. He swaggered with his cool confidence, showing them al how it was done and giving advice. It seemed impossible that he could insert himself into a group on the lookout for strangers, but Javier always managed—and out in the open.
    You’re a go, bro, Javier’s calm voice stated.
    Kane didn’t hesitate. He’d learned to rely on his team members in any dangerous situation. He al owed his gaze to sweep through the buildings, searching out their package as wel as their informant’s apartment. X-ray vision was real y al about sound. Ultrawide radio waves passed through wal s to capture images, al owing Kane to “see” behind the wal s of a building. Kane could generate those waves, but it took energy—lots of energy and focus.

    capture images, al owing Kane to “see” behind the wal s of a building. Kane could generate those waves, but it took energy—lots of energy and focus.
    He spotted two potential hostages, both female, in the second-story apartment directly across from them. They appeared to be tied to chairs, ten feet into the room, back to back.
    The package is on the second floor, third apartment from the left.