“Holy Mother of Christ, North, some shit just went down.”
Jonah “Steady” Lockhart was normally unflappable. His olive complexion and tranquil nature allowed him to blend into almost any environment with ease. A former member of their SEAL team and Bishop Security operative, he had been monitoring the situation on the docks in Savannah. When Nathan heard his frantic voice, he knew to pay attention. Steady seemed to gather himself. His next words over the phone were a good deal more composed.
“One of the dockworkers is dead. The Armenian with the hand tattoo has donated his brain to the pavement. The other guy? Herc Reynolds? He had overwatch. Someone took out Rigo Mendaz and skedaddled. Reynolds retrieved the rifle and took it with him.”
“Where’s the package?”
“Reynolds has it. It’s a silver suitcase. Inside is a metal cylinder. I’m following at a distance. It’s the middle of the night, and the fucker’s making stops around town like he’s running Sunday afternoon errands. He went to the gun range, the all-night diner. He came out of a boarding house about forty minutes ago with a duffle. Now he’s on the move.”
“He went rogue? Found a buyer?”
“Here’s the thing.”
There was a pause over the line as Steady gathered his thoughts.
“What’s the thing, Steady?”
“Hold on. One more exit and I’ll know.” Steady was silent for a moment, then muttered.
“Oh, shit.”
“Steady, what the fuck is going on?”
“I think he’s coming to you.”
“What?”
“He’s heading for Royal Beach.”
“How could he know we’re here?” Nathan whistled quick and short, rousing the group, and circled his finger in the air. Without speaking, Ren, Tox, Chat, Finn, and Twitch prepared their weapons. Nathan switched the phone to speaker.
“Beats the hell out of me, boss, but Reynolds just made the last turn. He’s definitely headed your way. ETA twenty minutes.”
Nathan’s phone signaled another call. He checked the screen and replied to Steady, “I’ve got to take this. Text me in five with an update.” Nathan switched the phone off speaker and walked into the empty kitchen to take the call.
After speaking to the man Cerberus had inside the Sava organization, Nathan placed another call, this one to his doorman, Leonard.
“Mr. Bishop.”
“I hope I’m not calling too late?”
“Not at all. I’m knee-deep in Midsomer Murders. Makes me homesick.”
“I won’t be back when I had originally planned, so I’m hoping you can handle an errand for me.”
“Of course, sir.”
“I’ll have the details delivered to you at the desk tomorrow. Take Mira out for a nice meal after. On me.”
“She’d love that. Thank you.”
Nathan glanced at the text from Steady as he ended the call and walked back into the main room. How the hell had this kid figured out where they were? Much like Dario Sava, Nathan prided himself on being one step ahead, but this unexpected turn of events had him wondering if he had somehow been outmaneuvered.
“Tox, Chat, come from behind the hedge. Twitch upstairs on overwatch. Ren and I will approach. Finn, stay in the house with Emily. We don’t know what’s in that case, but if he even makes a move to open it, take him out.”
Murmured “copy thats” and nods. The group got into position as a mud-splattered late model Ford F250 turned into the gravel driveway.
Hercules Reynolds grabbed the silver suitcase and jumped out of the driver’s seat onto the grass as two, that he saw, Sig Sauers rose to eye level in the darkness. He cast a quick glance around, caught the slight twitch of the hedges. He lifted his arms away from his body, the case dangling from his fingers, and too many questions in his head to even form one. A brief thought flashed through his head. He was nine and Billy was goading him to jump off a forty-foot rock ledge into the quarry reservoir. Right before he’d jumped, he’d yelled to Billy, you’re gonna get me killed one day! Looked like today was that day.
Just then, the front door burst open. Three dogs came tearing out the door, Maggie Molloy-Bishop hot on their heels. Waving her arms about her head, she yelled, “Hold your fire!” Charlie, a good deal calmer, poked his head out and pointed with his thumb at his wife. “What she said.”
Nathan kept his gun out but pointed it to the ground. Maggie turned to Herc with her hands on her hips and used the only swear word that ever crossed her lips. “Hercules Hamish McManus Reynolds. What the hell is going on?”
Charlie ushered two of the dogs back to their kennels with a swift command. The third dog stayed at Herc’s side. Charlie stepped onto the lawn next to his wife. “Goddamn, that name is a mouthful.” The third dog was now circling Herc and wagging her tail as he bent to pet her.
“And get Crazy Daisy back to bed with the other two.”