The Serpent's Kiss

33

In the command center, Agent Cortez was in communication with the helicopters and airplanes triangulating on The Serpent’s cellular phone signal. Matt Gray paced as best as he could, a walkie-talkie in his hand. He had set up sharp-shooters all around the perimeter of their one hundred yard area, which encompassed part of the University Health Center, Detroit Receiving Hospital and the Medical Library. He was in direct communication with Agent Samuel Woldencourt, who was coordinating the take-down with the Detroit P.D., his agents, and the SWAT team.

Cortez said, “The Serpent’s on the move.”

“Where?” Gray rushed to Cortez’s shoulder.

“Still in our area—”

”You got it?”

A voice came over the radio. “Signal is moving in a southwesterly direction within the grid. I repeat, southwesterly direction… we have eleven targets, I repeat, eleven targets in that grid. Locking on.”

“Request a visual,” Gray said.

“Nighthawk 6,” Cortez said. “This is LFA 2. LFA 1 requests a visual.”

“Locking on, LFA 2. Nighthawk 6 out.”

“LFA 2, this is Nighthawk 3. Coordinating… five, four, three… Nighthawk 6, this is Nighthawk 3. Do you have lock?”

“Target is in muted green, carrying red duffel bag. Confirm. Nighthawk 6 out.”

“Nighthawk 3 confirms. Target is wearing green and carrying red duffel bag, moving on a southwesterly direction. I repeat, moving in a southwesterly direction. Nighthawk 3 out.”

“Nighthawk 1 here. Target is confirmed. Triangulation locked on.”

Matt Gray, voice tense, clicked the walkie-talkie. “This is LFA 1. We have a confirmed lock. Target is wearing green and carrying a red duffel bag, moving across grid in a southwesterly direction. Do you have a visual?”

“LFA 1, this is Blue Team Leader. I have a visual. Green scrubs. Red duffel bag. Moving in a southwesterly direction across grid. Subject is armed. I repeat, subject is armed.”

Gray nodded. “Blue Team Leader, take him.”

“LFA 1, this is Blue Team Leader. I confirm. Subject take-down. I repeat, subject take-down.”