The Serpent's Kiss

88

The FBI’s HMRU helicopter, a Bell-UH-1 Iroquois, or “Huey,” lifted off from the Detroit Medical Center helicopter pad with the HMRU team, Matt Gray, Roger Kandling and Simona Toreanno on board. Once above the buildings, it headed due north.

Matt Gray sat up front next to the pilot. “How long?”

The pilot checked his readouts and said, “It’s about forty miles, so probably 15 or 20 minutes.”

Matt swallowed, looking at his watch. He turned to Simona. “It’s your ballgame. Get The Palace security on the horn and give them an update.”

Simona nodded and began to work the phone. What she thought was: Matt’s isolating himself from screw-ups. If this goes to hell, I’ll be the one responsible.

Beneath them, the city of Detroit slipped by. They raced northward along the river of light that was I-75.