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〃Changing of the guard； Jack？〃 Marty observed。 He； too； had packed up his things。 A security officer would check the box before he left。
〃How are you feeling？〃
〃Better； but you can get tired of watching daytime TV。〃
〃Taking all your pills？〃 Ryan asked。
〃I'll never forget again； Mom；〃 was the answer。
〃I see there's nothing new on our friends。〃
〃Yeah。 They dropped back into that black hole they live in。 The FBI is worried that they're over here； of course； but there hasn't even been a hint of it。 Of course； whenever anybody's felt secure dealing with these bastards； they've gotten bit on the ass。 Still； about the only outfit that isn't on alert is the Delta Force。 All kinds of assets are standing by。 If they're over here and they show anybody a whisker； the whole world is going to e crashing in on them。 'Call in the whole world。' We used to say that in Vietnam。〃 Cantor grunted。 〃I'll be in Monday and Tuesday。 You don't have to say goodbye yet。 Have a good weekend。〃
〃You too。〃 Ryan walked out； with a new security pass hanging around his neck and his jacket draped over his shoulder。 It was hot outside； and his Rabbit didn't have air conditioning。 The drive home along Route 50 was plicated by all the people heading to Ocean City for the weekend； anything to get away from the heat that had covered the area like an evil spell for two weeks。 They were in for a surprise。 Jack thought。 A cold front was supposed to e through。
〃Howard County Police；〃 the Desk Sergeant said。 〃Can I help you？〃
〃This is 911； right？〃 It was a male voice。
〃Yes； sir。 What seems to be the problem？〃
〃Hey； uh； my wife said I shouldn't get involved； you know； but 〃
〃Can you give me your name and phone number； please？〃
〃No way look； this house； uh； down the street。 There's people there with guns； you know？ Machine guns。〃
〃Say that again。〃 The Sergeant's eyes narrowed。
〃Machine guns no shit； I saw an M…60 machine gun； like in the Army y'know； thirty caliber； feeds off a belt； heavy bitch to pack along； a real friggin' machine gun。 I saw some other stuff； too。〃
〃Where？〃
The voice became rapid。 〃Eleven…sixteen Green Cottage Lane。 There's maybe I mean I saw four of 'em； one black and three white。 They were unloading the guns from a van。 It was three in the morning。 I had to get up an' take a leak； and I looked out the bathroom window； y'know？ The garage door was open； and the light was on； and when they passed the gun across； it was in the light； like； and I could tell it was a sixty。 Hey； I used to carry one in the Army； y'know？ Anyway； that's it； man； you wanna do something about it； that's your lookout。〃 The line clicked off。 The Sergeant called his captain at once。
〃What is it？〃 The Sergeant handed over his notes。 〃Machine gun？ M…60？〃
〃He said it was he said it was a thirty…caliber that feeds off a belt。 That's the M…60。 That alert we got from the FBI； Captain 。 。 。 〃
〃Yeah。〃 The Station mander had visions of promotion dangling before his eyes but also visions of his men in a pitched battle where the perpetrators had better weapons。 〃Get a car out there。 Tell them to keep out of sight and take no action。 I'm going to request a SWAT callup and get hold of the feds。〃
Less than a minute later a police car was heading to the area。 The responding officer was a six…year veteran of the county police who very much wanted to be a seven…year veteran。 It took him almost ten minutes to reach the scene。 He parked his car a block away； behind a large shrub； and was able to watch the house without exposing himself as a police officer。 The shotgun that usually hung under the dashboard was in his sweating hands now； with a double…ought buck round chambered。 Another car was four minutes behind his； and two more officers joined him。 Then the whole world really did seem to arrive。 First a patrol sergeant； then a lieutenant； then two captains； and finally； two agents from the FBI's Baltimore office。 The officer who had first responded was now one of the Indians in a tribe top…heavy with chiefs。
The FBI Special Agent in Charge for the Baltimore office set up a radio link with the Washington headquarters； but left the operation in the hands of the local police。 The county police had its own SWAT team； like most local forces did； and they quickly went to work。 The first order of business was to evacuate the people from the area's homes。 To everyone's relief； they were able to do that from the rear in every case。 The people removed from their homes were immediately interviewed。 Yes； they had seen people in that house。 Yes； they were mostly white； but there had been at least one black person。 No； they hadn't seen any guns in fact； they hardly saw the people at all。 One lady thought they had a van； but if so； it was usually kept in the garage。 The interviews went on while the SWAT team moved in。 The neighborhood houses were all of the same style and design； and the men made a quick check through one to establish its layout。 Another set up a scope…sighted rifle in the house directly across the street and used his sight to examine the target home's windows。
The SWAT team might have waited； but the longer they did that； the greater was the risk of alerting their quarry。 They moved in slowly and carefully； skillfully using cover and concealment until they were within fifty feet of the target house。 Anxious； sharp eyes scanned the windows for movement and saw none。 Could they all be asleep？ The team leader went in first； sprinting across the yard and stopping under a window。 He held up a stick…on microphone and attached it to the corner of the window； listening to an earpiece for a sign of occupancy。 The second…in…mand watched the man's head cock almost ically to one side； then he spoke into a radio that all his team members could hear： 〃The TV's on。 No conversation； I something else； can't make it out。〃 He motioned for his team to approach； one at a time； while he crouched under the window； gun at the ready。 Three minutes later the team was ready。
〃Team leader；〃 the radio crackled。 〃This is Lieutenant Haber。 We have a young man here who says a van went tearing out of that house about quarter to five that's about the time the police radio call went out。〃
The team leader waved acknowledgment and treated the message as something that mattered not a bit。 The team executed a forced entry maneuver。 Two simultaneous shotgun blasts blew the hinges off the windowless side door and it hadn't even hit the floor before the team leader was through the opening； training his gun around the kitchen。 Nothing。 They proceeded through the house in movements that looked like a kind of evil ballet。 The entire exercise was over in a minute。 The radio message went out： 〃The building is secure。〃
The team leader emerged on the front porch； his shotgun pointed at the floor； and pulled off his black mask before he waved the others in。 His hands moved back and forth across his chest in the universal wave…off signal。 The Lieutenant and the senior FBI agent ran across the street as he wiped the sweat away from his eyes。
〃Well？〃
〃You're gonna love it；〃 the team leader said。 〃e on。〃
The living room had a small…screen color TV on； sitting on a table。 The floor was covered with wrappers from McDonald's； and the kitchen sink held what looked like fifty neatly stacked paper cups。 The master bedroom it was a few square feet larger than the other two was the armory。 Sure enough； there was an American M…60 machine gun； with two 250…round ammo boxes； along with a dozen AK…47 assault rifles； three of them stripped down for cleaning； and a bolt…action rifle with a telescopic sight。 On the oaken dresser； however； was a scanner radio。 Its indicator lights skipped on and off。 One of them was on the frequency of the Howard County Police。 Unlike the FBI； the local police did not use secure that is； scrambled radio circuits。 The FBI agent walked out to his vehicle and got Bill Shaw on the radio。
〃So they monitored the police call and split；〃 Shaw said after a couple of minutes。
〃Looks like it。 The locals have a description of the van out。 At least they bugged out so fas