Reign of Evil

It might have remained a standoff, but they forgot to account for Genie during the fracas. Laws watched stone-faced as he came up behind the MP and placed a pistol barrel to the side of his head.

“Drop your weapons or the white guy gets it!”

The goons stepped aside and stared at the African-American squid with a gun to their boss’s head.

“We’re all white, asshole,” said Sir Robert. “Now let me go.”

“Maybe that’s your problem. You had a brother with you, he’d have watched your back.”

Trevor and Walker collected the guards’ weapons and tossed them into the back of their SUV.

Holmes came up and placed a hand on Genie’s shoulder. “You can let the man go, now.”

Genaro Stewart snapped his wrist back and stepped away until he was standing by Laws.

Laws grinned. “The white guy gets it? Did you really say that?”

Genie shrugged. “I couldn’t think of anything else to say. Got their attention, didn’t it?”

Laws laughed. Moments like this were why he loved being a SEAL. “It sure did, man. It sure as hell did.”

Sir Robert snarled at his men and whirled on Holmes. “So this is SEAL Team 666.”

Holmes remained silent.

“Are you going to deny it?”

Holmes smiled grimly. “You don’t have the need to know.”

“Need to know? Do you know who you’re talking to?”

Holmes merely stared at the angry MP, letting the moment draw out until it was Sir Robert who broke it.

He spit on the floor. “You Americans think you can throw your weight around anywhere you want. You wouldn’t be anywhere if it weren’t for—”

Laws couldn’t help himself. “—an Italian discovering North America, a German monk creating the Protestant Reformation, and a handful of dissidents you didn’t want along with a bunch of profiteers who wanted to rape the land? Is that what you were going to say?”

But he knew the response he’d get. So when Sir Robert spun in Laws’s direction, he beamed his very best smile.

Before the British MP could faint from apoplexy, Ian interrupted. “Sir Robert, was there a reason for this visit?”

The MP was sweating from anger. “Just keeping my eye on you. And If I find out you were involved at all in that cock and bull at the museum, I’m going to have your ass.”

Trevor stepped forward, lowering the point of his rifle as he did. “Did you see anything on the cameras?”

“I’m told there was some sort of disturbance.”

“A lot of that going around lately,” Laws said.

Sir Robert pointed a shaking finger at all of them. “Watch yourselves.”

Ian simply nodded. “Yes, Sir Robert.”

The MP glanced around. When his eyes lit on Laws, he shook his head. “Bloody walking talking Wikipedia entry.” Then he turned with his men close on his heels. As they passed, one looked imploringly at Yank, who stood by the rear of the SUV where their guns were held.

He shook his head once, firm. “I don’t think so.”

The goon frowned and hurried to catch up to the rest of the retinue.

The SEALs and Section 9 watched them until they entered the parking lot and climbed into two sedans.

Trevor plopped down on one of the couches. “Big coincidence he showed up right after the operation.”

“Wasn’t a coincidence.” Ian turned to Preeti, who’d remained sitting and out of the way the entire time. “Did he see our prisoner?”

She nodded. “They tried to get into the room, but Genie here wouldn’t let them.”

All eyes turned to the big Navy chief, who, apparently unused to the attention, lowered his eyes and blushed.

Laws patted him on the shoulder. “Way to go, big guy. Ever thought of being a SEAL?”

Genie smiled sideways. “Too broken. Bad knees. I’m support. It’s what I do best.”

“That’s okay,” said Holmes, in a rare moment of open appreciation. “You’re a great asset to the mission.”

Laws chuckled. He just couldn’t forget the words or the white man gets it.

Holmes turned to Ian. “You know what this means, right?”

Ian nodded. “I thought we’d have a little longer, but you’re right; we need to move.” To the room he said, “Pack up your gear and break down the electronics. We’ll take whatever we can. We need to be out of here in an hour. We’re moving to Point Bravo.” Then, realizing he’d just ordered the Americans, he glanced at Holmes.

But Holmes was ahead of him. “You heard him, SEALs. Get your ass in gear.” When he saw YaYa and Walker exchange looks, Holmes added, “You want to sleep, you can do it when you’re dead.”

Everyone sprang into motion, using muscle memories from countless deployments, exercises, and inspections. The need to pack and unpack and prepare one’s gear had been imprinted on their DNA.

Preeti hobbled over to Ian, who was packing sheets into a kit bag. “There’s something I need to tell you.”

“Can this wait?”

She glanced around. “I suppose it can.”

Seeing the conflict in her eyes, Laws interrupted. “Let’s hear what she has to say.”

Ian stopped folding and regarded her. “What is it, dear?”

“The woman in white… the woman who took the pictures in Blackpool… I found out where she lives.”

Ian stared blankly, his jaw dropping slightly. “You what?”