"Too many people were starting to suspect Hanrahan. It's better he dies."
"So Stephan is a multi shifter?"
Gabriel just shook his head. "See if the disk has a security map of the shuttle port."
In other words, she thought, don't ask any more questions. She brought up the menu and studied it. After a few minutes, she found a floor plan of the shuttle port. "If they're going to make a switch, they'll have to distract security long enough to do so."
He nodded. "And it won't happen where there are lots of people."
"That cuts out the hanger. The official ribbon cutting's in there."
"It'll probably happen either just before or just after. Have they got entry or exit routes marked?"
She pressed the screen several times. "Yep. He does a walk through the terminal, inspects the Control Center, opens the port, and then shuffles off in his car."
"What's the position of Control Center?"
"Towers at the end of the terminal. Reached by express lift or stairs."
"Ten to one that's where the switch will happen."
She frowned. "They'll have to be quick."
"True. But the lift will only hold ten or so people, and there's nowhere to run once you stop it. Perfect situation."
"Jack still has his mad bomber friend."
"Who will no doubt cause a spectacular disturbance, drawing away the press and most of the security."
"Won't Stephan warn the SIU and the Fed's about the threat? Wouldn't that be enough to stop the visit?"
"They'll up security, but I doubt they'll stop the opening. The PM's waged a major battle against the greens to get these shuttle ports running, and I doubt an unconfirmed threat would be enough to stop him from opening them."
"But the threat is more than unconfirmed. Jack's definitely going to the airport to kill the PM. I heard him say so."
He glanced at her. "I'm afraid the word of a cop under investigation for shooting her partner is not going to be taken seriously — especially when she states that same partner is one of the men behind the threat."
Good point. "So it comes down to us stopping him," she said grimly. "How fast does this baby go?"
"Why don't we find out?" he said, and pressed the accelerator to the floor.
* * * *
Gabriel glanced up as a shadow fell over the security-com he was studying. Without even looking he had a fair idea who the shadow belonged to."Byrne," he said, annoyed, but not entirely surprised to see his brother standing in the middle of the Shuttle Port's' main security center. "What the hell are you doing here?"
Stephan, in his Byrne persona, leaned wearily against the center's outer wall. "Kazdan owes us. I've come to claim the debt."
A debt he could have easily claimed for them both. Given the energy it took to maintain a new image, his brother was a fool to risk coming here when he was still injured. But there was no point in saying anything, because there was no swaying Stephan once his mind was made up. "You stay here. You don't go out there." He pointed to the main terminal below them.
Stephan's smile was one of agreement. "Where's Ryan?"
He split the screen, tuning in to Sam's wristcom. The stairs in which she stood were brightly lit and empty. "In the Control Center stairwell. I'm about to head for the elevator mechanic's room."
"She's alone?" Stephan frowned. "A bit risky, isn't it?
He shook his head. "Kazdan will expect a guard in the stairs, but he'll run if he hears any more than that. He certainly won't expect to see Sam there. Might give her — and us — a slight advantage."
"Let's hope you're right. I'll take over here." Stephan hesitated, his frown deepening as he jabbed a finger at the slender figure in the center of the screen. "What the hell is Lyssa doing here?"