EDGE OF SHADOWS: The Shadow Ops Finale (Shadow Ops, Book # 3) (4 page)

“I’m sure Ms. Prospero was too busy alerting the Metro SWAT and Bomb Squad and helping to defuse the bomb to babysit a man she believed was dead,” Billy said, wincing as his exasperation broke free of his self-control. But, damn it, didn’t they see the big picture here? Rose and the Team had literally saved thousands of lives—including the fat asses of the politicians sitting here in judgment over them. And now, they wanted to crucify her for not being able to be in two places at once?

“Isn’t it proper procedure to ensure a threat is completely neutralized before moving on? Now we have one of the Preacher’s disciples running loose, and Lord only knows what mischief he might be up to. All because Ms. Prospero didn’t follow protocol.”

“Ms. Prospero had to focus on the imminent threat—the Preacher and his bomb. Also, that wounded man who escaped is the least of our worries. We have indications that not every scheme the Preacher had planned was on the hard drive we obtained. Which means there could be a number of his disciples out there planning retaliatory strikes. That is why it is in the country’s best interest to wrap these hearings up as quickly as possible so that I, Rose Prospero, and our team can be returned to active duty and get back to the work of protecting this nation.”

Silence. Well, at least he had their attention. All eyes settled on Billy. Most of them glaring. Except Susan Payne’s. Hers were crinkled as if trying to hide an encouraging smile. Nice to know they still had one senator in their corner.

“Sir,” Arkansas said in a pompous drawl, “
we
are the ones who decide what is in this country’s best interests and who can best protect it.” He slammed his copy of the report shut.

“I think it’s becoming clear,” Michigan put in, “that Rose Prospero may no longer be the person who can best fulfill that duty.”

Hell, they were back to putting the blame on Rose. Billy glanced at Susan for help.

She spoke up, trying to buy Billy and the Team time. “There’s no need to rush to judgment. I think we need to have the NSD’s final audit results of Ms. Prospero and her team prior to making our ruling.”

“I’d also like to hear from Ms. Prospero directly,” Michigan added. The rest of the committee nodded their agreement.

“Very well,” the chairman said. “We’re in adjournment until tomorrow morning, nine o’clock, at which time we will hear from Rose Prospero.” The gavel banged down, echoing through the room.

Billy couldn’t help but wonder if it was his team’s death knell. And Rose—she could be facing life in prison for treason if the committee wasn’t satisfied with her answers or if the NSD paper-pushers decided she’d used the wrong color ink or too many damn paper clips.

He stood and nodded his thanks to Susan as he waited for her and the other senators to leave the chamber, his face a mask. Well, hell. Spend your entire career risking your life for your country, and this was the thanks you got.

Chapter 3

National Mall, Hirshhorn Sculpture Garden

Lucky cleared his throat as he stared at the photo of the bomb on the school bus. “Well, I guess the good news is your plan worked. And the bad news—”

“Is that my plan worked,” Rose finished for him. “What are you carrying?” she asked as she drew her Beretta.

He pulled out a Glock, .40 caliber. “Not that it’s going to do us much good. That bomb is rigged for remote detonation.” He should know. Until last week, he’d been one of the ATF’s best demolition experts. “Maybe I should—”

“Don’t even say it,” Rose told him. “KC, what kind of numbers we looking at?”

“Four anime bubbleheads getting off the bus. All armed, looks like semi-autos and Tec-9s.”

Great. In addition to worrying about a bomb, they had to worry about kids caught in the crossfire of automatic weapons.

“One staying with the bus at the front door. Two coming toward the carousel, above you on the west side of the garden. Wait. There’s one more, wearing a lion’s head mask, coming from the east. He’s carrying a bunch of balloons.” Incredulity colored her voice. “What kind of freak show is this?”

“Don’t let the costumes and props distract you,” Rose instructed. “Are any of them carrying a detonator?”

“Can’t see any, which means I can’t take any of them out—could be a dead man’s switch, rigged to blow if their heart rate drops.”

Of course. Because anything else would make life too damn easy. Rose turned to Lucky.

“If I get you on board that bus, can you defuse the bomb?”

He glanced at the photo again. “Doesn’t look too tricky.”

“Okay, then. Head for those hemlocks lining the wall on Jefferson Drive. Climb the wall, and you should have enough cover to make it to the rear of the bus. Meanwhile, KC and I will entertain our friends. Keep their attention away from you and the kids.” A mass of red balloons bobbed through the air over the east wall of the garden.

“But—” he protested.

“Now, Lucky,” she ordered. “Move.”

And he was gone. Just in time, too. Lionhead and his balloons appeared at the top of the east steps as two of his anime friends, a blond girl with saucer-sized blue eyes and some kind of space ranger boy, appeared at the west side, trapping Rose in their crossfire.

“Tell me you got a shot,” Rose whispered. KC didn’t answer. “KC? KC, report.”

The two on her right side raised their weapons just as Rose’s phone vibrated again. Another text. This time a picture of KC, arms up in surrender, climbing down from her sniper’s perch on top of the food kiosk near the carousel.

“Rose Prospero,” Lionhead called in a jovial voice as he approached her. “Please be so good as to place your weapon on the ground. We really don’t want to start killing innocent children. But we will, if you insist.”

<><><>

As soon as Billy left the committee
’s chambers, he retrieved his cell. And found two texts forwarded by Rose.

“Son of a—” His curse echoed down the empty marble hallway. He ran, inserting his ear bud and activating his microphone. As he came online with comms, he heard Rose saying, “It’s me you want, not them. Take me.”

Damn woman, always playing the hero. Didn’t she know that was his job? He made it to the front lobby and snagged two sleepy Capitol policemen ready to go off shift. After identifying himself and the situation, he ran for the door with one of them while the other called for the cavalry.

Despite the fact that 99% of their job was manning tourist security checkpoints, the Capitol Police were well trained for hostage-crisis situations. But Billy would feel a whole lot better if his own people took care of business before the uniformed cops arrived.

“I’m coming, Rose,” he said into comms.

“What are those balloons for?” she asked, feeding Billy clues. He listened hard for any response from the hostage taker.

“Hands behind your back,” the HT said. “Meet your worst fear, Rose Prospero. You’d rather die than let anything happen to your people or innocent civilians while you stand by and watch helplessly.”

Guy got that right, Billy thought as he and the policeman clattered down the Capitol steps, trying hard not to look like they were running.

“Lucky, I’m in the game now,” he said through his mic. “Where do you need us?”

“I’m behind the bus on Jefferson, getting the kids out via the emergency hatch. So far, so good, only a few more to go, but I could use some help getting them to safety before the goon at the front spots us. Once they’re clear, I can tackle the bomb.”

Billy sent the cop to Lucky while he kept a beeline toward the Mall. Trying hard to look like just another DC office worker heading to work on a cold Monday morning, he wondered at the hostage takers leaving the bus relatively unguarded—fearful of the bomb detonating soon?

“Lucky and KC must pay for their crimes against our father and brothers,” the HT with Rose continued.

Billy spotted a cluster of red balloons appearing to float at ground level, an illusion because of Rose’s position down below in the sunken sculpture garden.

Which meant he could track her, but they wouldn’t see him coming—if he could find a way to keep their spotters on the ground occupied. Instead of heading across the empty field between him and Rose’s position, he turned toward Jefferson Drive, intending to cut through the trees lining the far end of the path.

“What about all those innocent children?” Rose argued, buying time. “You’ve got us. Tell those two with the Tec-9s to walk away.”

Billy used his cell to warn the Capitol cop about the head count. At least five, armed with automatic weapons.

“I’ve got the bus in sight,” the cop said. “No sign of any suspects. Your man has the kids crawling out into some bushes. But sooner or later, someone will spot the movement.”

They needed a diversion. “Have your guys run down the street, lights and sirens blazing. Don’t slow near the bus, keep going. It will distract them and make them lower their weapons long enough to get the kids into the Hirshhorn.”

“Got it. My backup will be here in two, and I’ve got four guys in plainclothes coming.”

“As soon as the kids are clear and the HTs neutralized, let my guy take care of the bomb. He’s ATF, the best there is.”

“Roger.”

“What’s wrong? Out of money for handcuffs? You really think you can hold me here, tying me up with balloon string?” Rose continued stalling for time.

“No,” the HT said. “But this will keep you in one place for the time being. Open your palms. It’s a mercury switch tied to the detonator, and I’ve just activated it. Move a muscle, and those kids die.”

Shit. Billy toggled his mic. “It’s okay, Rose. I’m coming.”

She was silent—meaning the HT was still near. He tried KC. “KC, can you report your situation?”

Silence. Damn, if anything happened to KC, how the hell was he ever going to face Chase Westin? The marine and former FBI agent were engaged to be married—would have already tied the knot if the Preacher’s plans to blow up the Capitol hadn’t ruined their wedding day.

“All clear, boss,” KC’s chipper voice finally came through his earpiece. “Heading for the bus and Lucky. Can you believe they only sent one guy after me? Insulting. I have his comms and mask. So far they’re keeping radio silence, but I’ll update you if I hear anything. Lucky, I’m wearing an Anonymous mask.”

Relieved that he had his two best people working on rescuing the kids and defusing the bomb, Billy updated the Capitol cops and turned his attention to Rose. He was almost at the stairs leading to the sculpture garden. The balloons marking her spot were stationary now. But he needed to know how many HTs were with her.

As usual, she read his mind. “Two headed toward Lucky’s position,” she reported under her breath. “Leader is six foot, Caucasian, wearing black shirt and pants and a lion head’s mask. Headed your way.” She paused. “That makes no sense. Why isn’t he backing up his people at the bus? Or his guy with KC? Billy, stop. I think he knows you’re coming. It’s a trap.”

Billy didn’t slow his steps, gaze scanning the area, searching for the man she described. “No sign of him. He must have gone the other way once he was out of your sightline. I’m coming for you.”

“No. This has all been too easy. No one watching the rear of the bus? Sending three after me? Get Lucky out of there, they’re going to blow it. He’s the real target. Move, Billy, that’s an order.”

She had no evidence to back her claim, just more of her damned intuition. But twenty-two years of military training and experience told Billy she was right. Best way to defeat an enemy? Understand what they want and how badly they wanted it.

The Preacher’s people wanted Lucky. Bad. He’d been the one who’d actually killed the Preacher. Blowing a bomb with him there, wounding or killing a bunch of kids along with him, was the perfect way to get revenge.

“Lucky, did you copy that?” Billy asked into his comm.

“Yeah.” The ATF agent’s voice was strained. “Last kid coming out now. You really want me to bug out and leave the bomb?”

Two Capitol Police cruisers screeched past, lights and sirens going full strength.

“That’s your cue. Get out of there, now.”

Billy reached the top of the sculpture garden, still searching for the man wearing the lion’s head mask, when an explosion ripped through the dawn sky.

Chapter 4

As soon as the blast came, Rose moved. She yanked free of her makeshift bonds, shoved the detonator into her pocket as she retrieved her weapon, and ran up the steps toward the bus.

Smoke billowed along the path but no flames. Debris—twisted remnants of the yellow school bus, broken glass, and singed fabric—littered the ground. No blood or body parts, she was relieved to see.

The blast hadn’t been strong enough for the amount of C4 pictured in the photo. Probably a pipe bomb hidden under one of the seats. The C4 was just a dummy, designed to waste their time, draw Lucky into the vehicle.

She tried raising the others on comms, heard nothing in reply. Her head spun with the ringing in her ears, but being below ground level in the garden, surrounded by concrete walls and thick foliage, had protected her. She could only hope Lucky and the kids had found shelter. Shoving her fear about their fate aside, she kept running.