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He makes the call.
It’s answered before the second ring.
“Turner,” the man says.
“It’s Pope,” he says. “I’ve got an emerging job that’s urgent.”
“How urgent?”
“Like the next ten minutes urgent.”
“All right,” Turner says. “If it helps you and the president, I’m in. Time, location, and target?”
“About ten minutes. The West Wing access gate to the White House, West Executive Avenue. Target is Hannah Abrams, CIA Director.”
A low whistle. “Aiming pretty high, Carlton.”
“You got a problem?”
“No, never did like the CIA,” he says. “A pussy organization if I ever saw one. But you know she’ll be driving up there in an armored vehicle. Sorry, I don’t have a rocket launcher in my possession.”
“That’s all right,” Pope says. “I’ll be at the gate, making sure she gets out of her vehicle.”
The assassin laughs. “It’ll be a hell of a shot, but I can make it.”
“Then do it.”
“Consider it done.”
CHAPTER 125
FROM A VAULT hidden in one of the bedroom’s closets, Liam Grey comes out with a pair of binoculars. Goes to the near living room window and focuses in on the armed men emptying out of the three Range Rovers.
Benjamin says, “What have we got?”
“We got twelve apparent hostiles,” Liam says, watching them spread out. “Well armed. Trained. But no IDs on the vehicles or the men.”
Benjamin says, “Contract force.”
“Yeah.”
Lin says, “Who do you think?”
Liam lowers the binoculars. “Not to be rude, Lin, but I’m pretty sure their paycheck comes from your side of the world.”
Benjamin says, “What are you thinking?”
“Time to arm up,” he says.
To Lin he says, “And you? As one sad former president once said, are you with us or against us?”
Lin says, “With Benjamin.”
“Close enough,” Liam says.
Back to the vault, and in a number of minutes, the three of themare wearing ballistic vests and each is armed with an M4 automatic rifle, with six magazines apiece.
Liam goes back to the window.