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closed in on the agent from behind and finished him with a barrage of fire。
〃Oh； God！〃 Avery saw it； too。 He and Longley looked at each other and each knew what the other thought。 They won't get them； not while I'm alive。
〃Shaw。〃 The radio…telephone circuit crackled with static。
〃We are under attack。 We have officers down；〃 the wall speaker said。 〃Unknown number of it sounds like a fucking war out there！ We need help and we need it now。〃
〃Okay； stand by； we're working on it。〃 Shaw gave quick orders and phone lines started lighting up。 The first calls to go out went to the nearest state and county police stations。 Next； the Hostage Rescue Team group on alert in Washington was ordered out。 Their Chevy Suburban was sitting in the garage。 He checked the wall clock and called Quantico on the direct line。
〃The chopper's just landing now；〃 Gus Werner answered。
〃Do you know where the Ryan house is？〃 Shaw asked。
〃Yeah； it's on the map。 That's where our visitors are now； right？〃
〃It's under attack。 How fast can you get there？〃
〃What's the situation？〃 Werner watched his men out the window； loading their gear into the helicopter。
〃Unknown we just rolled the team from here； but you may be the first ones in。 The munications guy just called in； says they're under attack； officers down。〃
〃If there's any additional information； get it to us。 We'll be up in two minutes。〃 Werner ran outside to his men。 He had to shout at them to be heard under the turning rotor； then ran back to the building； where the watch officers were ordered to summon the rest of the team to the HRT headquarters。 By the time he got back in the chopper； his men had their weapons out of their duffles。 Then the helicopter lifted off into the approaching storm。
Ryan noted the flurry of activity outside as the British officer from the kitchen ran outside and conferred briefly with the Secret Service agents。 He was just ing back inside when a series of lightning flashes illuminated the deck。 One of the agents turned and brought his gun out then fell backward。 The glass behind him shattered。 The other two men both dived for the deck。 One rose up to fire and fell beside his rade。 The last came inside and shouted for everyone to lie flat。 Jack had barely enough time to be horrified when another window shattered and the last security man was down。 Four armed figures appeared where the broken glass was。 They were all dressed in black； except for the mud on their boots and chests。 One pulled off his mask。 It was Sean Miller。
Avery and Longley were alone； lying in the middle of the yard。 The Brit watched as a number of armed men checked the bodies of the fallen agents。 Then they formed into two groups and started moving toward the house。
〃We're too bloody exposed here；〃 Longley said。 〃If we're to do any good at all； we must be back in the trees。〃
〃You go first。〃 Avery held his revolver in both hands and sighted on a black…clad figure visible only when the lightning flashed。 They were still over a hundred yards away； very long range for a handgun。 The next flash gave him a target； and Avery fired； missing and drawing a storm of fire at himself。 Those rounds missed； too； but the sound of thuds in the wet ground was far too close。 The fire shifted。 Perhaps they saw Longley running back to the trees。 Avery fired another carefully aimed shot and saw a man go down with a leg wound。 The return fire was more accurate this time。 The Secret Service agent emptied his gun。 He thought he might have hit another of them when everything stopped。
Longley made it to the trees and looked back。 Avery's prone figure didn't move despite the gunmen fifty yards away。 The British security officer shouted a curse and gathered the remaining people。 The FBI liaison agent had only his revolver； the three British officers had automatic pistols； and the one Secret Service agent had an Uzi with two spare magazines。 Even if there weren't people to protect； there wasn't anyplace to run。
〃So we meet again；〃 Miller said。 He held an Uzi submachine gun and bent down to pick up another from one of the fallen guards。 Five more men came in behind him。 They spread out in a semicircle to cover Ryan and his guests。 〃Get up！ Hands where we can see them。〃
Jack stood； with the Prince next to him。 Cathy came up next； holding Sally in her arms； and finally Her Highness。 Three men spun around when the kitchen door swung open。 It was Sissy Jackson； trying to hold some plates while a gunman held on to her arm Two plates fell to the floor and broke when he jerked her arm up。
They have a maid。 Miller remembered； seeing the dark dress and the apron。 Black； handsome woman。 He was smiling now。 The disgrace of his failed missions was far behind him。 He had all his targets before him； and in his hands was the instrument to eliminate them。
〃You get over here with the rest；〃 he ordered。
〃What the hell 〃
〃Move； nigger！〃 Another of the gunman； the shortest of the bunch； roughly propelled her toward the others。 Jack's eyes fixed on him for a moment where had he seen that face before 。 。 。
〃You trash！〃 Sissy's eyes flared in outrage at that； her fear momentarily forgotten as she wheeled to snap back at the man。
〃You should be more careful who you work for；〃 Miller said。 He gestured with his weapon。 〃Move。〃
〃What are you going to do？〃 Ryan asked。
〃Why spoil the surprise？〃
Forty feet away； Robby was in the worst part of the house to hear anything。 He'd been washing his hands； ignoring the thunder when the gunfire had erupted at the home's deck。 Jackson slipped out of the bathroom and peered down the corridor to the living room； but saw nothing。 What he heard was enough。 He turned and went upstairs to the master bedroom。 His first instinct was to call the police on the telephone； but the line was dead。 His mind searched for something else to do。 This wasn't like flying a fighter plane。
Jack has guns 。 。 。 but where the hell does he keep them 。 。 。？ It was dark in the bedroom and he didn't dare to flip on a light。
Outside； the line of gunmen advanced toward the woods。 Longley deployed his men to meet them。 His military service was too far in the past； and his work as a security officer hadn't prepared him for this sort of thing； but he did his best。 They had good cover in the trees； some of which were thick enough to stop a bullet。 He ordered his only automatic weapon to the left。
〃FBI； this is Patuxent River Approach。 Squawk four…zero…one…niner； over。〃
Aboard the helicopter； the pilot turned the transponder wheels until the proper code number came up。 Next he read off the map coordinates of his destination。 He knew what it looked like from aerial photographs； but they'd been taken in daylight。 Things could look very different at night； and there was also the problem of controlling the aircraft。 He was flying with a forty…knot crosswind； and weather conditions deteriorated with every mile。 In the back the HRT members were trying to get into their night…camouflage clothing。
〃Four…zero…one…niner； e left to heading zero…two…four。 Maintain current altitude。 Warning； it looks like a pretty strong thunder cell is approaching your target；〃 the controller said。 〃Remend you do not exceed one thousand feet。 I'll try to steer you around the worst of it。〃
〃Roger。〃 The pilot grimaced。 It was plain that the weather ahead was even worse than he'd feared。 He lowered his seat as far as it would go； pulled his belts tighter； and turned on his storm lights。 The only other thing he could do was sweat； and that came automatically。 〃You guys in back； strap down tight！〃
O'Donnell called for his men to stop。 The treeline was a hundred yards ahead； and he knew that it held guns。 One group moved left； the other right。 They'd attack by echelons； with each group alternately advancing and providing fire support for the other。 All his men wore black and carried submachine guns； except for one man who trailed a few yards behind the rest。 He found himself wishing that they'd brought heavier weapons。 There was still much to do； including removing the bodies of his fallen men。 One was dead and two mo