she must have a pistol or a knife. They’ll have to get close for either to be effective. If someone darts from the crowd toward me, your people should have more than sufficient opportunity to take them down.”
“We don’t know that Al is part of the black bloc group. This person could be a hired sniper—and a proficient marksman can hit the T-zone”—he traced a line with his none-too-steady index finger between her eyes and down her nose—“from very far away.”
She swallowed. “You think Antifa hires snipers?”
“Never underestimate the enemy.”
Her brow knitted . . . and then she shook her head. “No. If they’re somehow trying to pin this on Steve, we know he isn’t a sniper. It’s someone in the group hiding under cover of black attire and the crowd.”
No surprise that she’d found the flaw in his logic, but it had been worth a try. Because he really hated to resort to the easy solution—asking the president of the Young Republican group to cancel the remainder of the event as a matter of public safety. The man had been amenable to that suggestion earlier, according to the lieutenant hovering near the entrance to the tent. It was a viable option.
But he’d rather not pull rank on Eve. That kind of high-handed tactic could undermine their relationship. Best case, she’d come to terms with the situation on her own and decide to walk away. After that, they could have her out of the park in—
“We’ve got movement at the perimeter.”
As one of the officers at the edge of the tent relayed that terse observation, the lieutenant joined them. “We have to leave. The Antifa folks are heading this direction.”
Brent gritted his teeth. The time for talk—and negotiation—was over. If Eve hated him for taking control, he’d have to live with the consequences.
At least she’d be alive.
“What’s the plan?”
“Officers are asking everyone attending the event to vacate the site as fast as possible. Most of them are parked nearby and shouldn’t have any issue getting to their cars.”
Over the man’s shoulder, Brent watched the crowd begin to stream toward the parking area as black-clad figures appeared from several directions in the distance and surged toward the picnic area.
Further debate with Eve about her harebrained scheme to flush out Al would be pointless.
Al was coming to them on his or her own.
Pulse skyrocketing, he took Eve’s arm. “We have to get Ms. Reilly out.”
“A cruiser is waiting in the parking lot.” The lieutenant waved over the officers on security duty, who closed in around them. “Let’s move.”
He took the lead, while Brent stayed close to Eve as the officers tightened the circle around them and set a fast pace toward the lot.
In four minutes, they should be safe.
But four minutes was an eternity in a volatile situation—and much could go wrong.
So until they were in the car, on the road, and speeding away, the danger remained.
And at this juncture, all he could do was pray they’d make it to safety.
They’d waited too long.
Eve was getting away!
Buzz glared at the small cluster of officers bunched around her as they left the tent and hustled her toward the parking lot—and the large contingent of uniformed officers between her entourage and the encroaching black bloc force.
His fellow Antifa supporters, who’d split up to come in from different directions, continued to march toward the picnic site, but with their target on the move, no one seemed sure what to do.
“Follow the speaker!” He called out the command and ducked low, leaving his group behind to work his way into a cluster closer to Eve.
It was time to hurl those smoke cartridges and create chaos, slow down her exit.
As if they’d read his mind, the group leaders began lifting their hands.
Within seconds, smoke began to swirl through the air.
Yes!
He had three minutes to carry out his mission.
“Hurry! Close in on the speaker, keep her from leaving!” He grabbed the arms of the two people closest to him. “Link up!”
They did as he instructed, while a dozen people managed to muscle past the police and block off access to the patrol car waiting for her.
The cluster of officers around her stopped. Unholstered their weapons.
Not good.
Dan had assured him he’d be able to complete his task and get out before the confrontation turned nasty—but no one had expected a leak would alert the cops that Eve could be at risk or the heightened police presence.
Should he give up? Abort his mission?
No.
He was too close to back off.
Around him,