“Where are they?” Rick asked, the edge in his voice so sharp it was surprising it didn’t cut right through their command center.
The reinforcements they’d been promised hadn’t arrived yet.
“McAllister is on the move,” Melody reported, scanning the security footage she’d intercepted from Jacques Le Jacques’s fortress. “We don’t have any time left.”
“We know what we have to do,” Oliver said quietly, as if it was a truth he didn’t want to admit.
Rick studied his friend, concerned. He hadn’t been the same since they’d gotten onto Le Jacques’s property. He acted like someone who, deep in his bones, knew he’d been here before.
Hesitation was a luxury they couldn’t afford, so Rick made a snap judgment.
“Okay,” he said. “We’re going in.” Oliver immediately reached for his pack, but Rick shook his head. “Not you and me. Me and Melody.”
“What?” Oliver said. Rick had thought he’d look relieved, but instead he looked hurt.
“You stay here and hack the security system. Melody and I will go in and catch McAllister once and for all.”
“I’m okay,” Oliver argued. “I can do it.”
“I’ve seen you look at those monitors,” Rick said. “I’ve seen the way you shake when you see those gators.”
Now Oliver was angry, exposed. “I told you, I can do it.”
Melody looked from Rick to Oliver, then back again. “Guys,” she said. “We don’t have time for this. Oliver, if you say you can do it, I believe you. Rick, I understand why you’re worried, but Oliver’s never let you down, and he won’t let you down now. Also, Oliver wouldn’t know how to hack this security system even if I had days to train him. I need to get you in there, and I also need to be here to coordinate the reinforcements when they come. Now suit up and get out of here. If McAllister escapes on that helicopter and we’re still stuck in this swamp, there will be no saying see you later to these alligators.”
“Fine,” Rick said, putting on his pack and checking his gear.
“I’m telling you, I’m okay,” Oliver said, walking to the door and waiting for Rick there.
Rick tried to be convinced.
But he couldn’t help noticing that Oliver, the possessor of the Doomsday Code, took a really deep breath before stepping outside.