49 |

Outside Dubai, United Arab Emirates

 

Sherrie White stood next to one of two idling SUVs, holding a locator beacon for the cavalry about to arrive from the sky. She had never jumped using a wingsuit, though had trained extensively on how to be inserted into hostile territory via parachute.

This was just an extension of those principals, and she was envious of the team now winging in from international airspace, unbeknownst to the UAE.

She had been collected at the airport by one of the Agency’s contacts, and was now fully equipped with enough weaponry that if caught, would ensure her an extended incarceration in a cold, dark cell.

But that was the job.

A job she absolutely loved.

Her parents had died when she was a teenager, and in college she had been approached by the Agency after filing an application on a whim. Apparently, they liked young recruits who were proven survivors with few family ties.

It was the best thing to ever happen to her. The Agency was her family now, and through it, she had found Leroux, and through him, Kane and Lee Fang. She had her little circle, a cocoon of caring that she had been desperately missing.

And she got to kick ass for a living.

Life is good!

She had a terrific boyfriend whom she loved and trusted, a job that was challenging and exciting, and a few good friends.

The only problem with it was that she could be killed at any moment, her career choice not one that meant someone had her back at all times.

Not like these operators about to arrive.

She sometimes envied the comradery a unit like that must provide, the security of knowing your brothers in arms were there for you at all times, but more often than not, she preferred to be on her own, her only connection to help an earpiece linking her to a security apparatus unparalleled in the world.

“There!”

She squinted at where her partner was pointing, seeing nothing but stars, stars that were brighter than anything she had seen in years, the air clean of pollution, both industrial and light.

Then she saw them, stars that had been twinkling misinterpreted. She smiled as she spotted the first chute, the Delta team she had worked with previously about to arrive.

A chute flared to her right, startling her, the first touching down unexpectedly. She handed the beacon over to her partner then rushed over to greet the first arrival.

“Welcome to Dubai.”

The man removed his helmet, and she smiled in recognition.

“Sergeant Major.”

Dawson shook her hand. “Good to see you again, Agent White. Sitrep?”

“Nothing has changed. We believe they’re still in the room with the hostiles.”

Dawson stripped from his gear as the others landed around them. “Nothing on Professor Karlsson?”

“Nothing confirmed, but a large bag was brought into the hotel shortly after their diplomatic flight arrived. We believe he was in the bag, probably drugged.”

Dawson bundled up his gear then tossed it in the back of the SUV, the others doing the same, all dressed impeccably in suits.

“Well, aren’t we a handsome bunch?”

Niner adjusted his tie. “Some more than others.”

Sherrie flashed him a sexy wink then returned her attention to Dawson. “We’ve managed to book you a room one floor below the target, but unfortunately we couldn’t get you something directly below. It’s about thirty meters over.”

Dawson nodded. “No problem. Let’s get in position before they decide to move them. The last thing we need is a ground pursuit on the streets of Dubai.”