“No food,” she said.
“What about water?” Grey asked.
“We’ll have to use the bathroom,” Sydney replied. “I’d be gone for too long, same for Car. I’ll drink later. I’ll be doing alotof drinking later.”
Grey walked to the edge. “Hal, who’s using this press box?”
“The Naval Academy folks are in this one. West Point’s across the field.”
Sydney joined Grey at the edge, peered down at Hal. “I can’t have anyone in this press box.”’
Hal’s eyes widened. “Oh, boy. That’s not gonna fly.”
If anyone opened or shut the press box door when she fired her rifle, that would jolt the platform. It could affect the trajectory of the bullet, it would most definitely affect her concentration, and it could have devastating results.
“Nobody in this booth,” Sydney pushed back, then glanced at Grey. “You gotta make that happen.”
“I got you,” Grey said.
“The press box stays locked,” Sydney added.
“Love how calm you are, Syd,” Caroline said.
“Nerves of steel,” she said dryly. “Gotta keep it together. So, I’ll need BLACK OPS posted on either side of this building. If someone decides it would be super cool to climb up and say hey, it’ll turn into a hot mess real quick.”
“Done,” Tank said. “What else?”
“Spotters throughout the stadium.” She started pointing to various locations. “At least ten, but the more help I have, the better. And the most important thing… I will need confirmation. I will not—I repeat—I willnotopen fire if we don’t have a one-hundred-percent confidence level. I’ve got a perfect track record that I amnotscrewing up today.”
Tank extended his hand to her. “I got you, both of you.”
The second Sydney placed her gloved hand in his, she felt complete. A peace settled into her bones, a transfer of energy happened between them. From the intense gaze in his steadfast eyes, it was as if he felt it too.
Tank extracted four comms from his pocket. “I’ll set up one channel for everyone, then a separate one for Sydney, Caroline, and me. I don’t want interference for Sydney.”
“Thank you,” Sydney said.
After they fitted the comms into their ears, Tank said, “Let’s get it done.”
Fist bumps all around before Greystone said to Caroline, “Sydney asked for you because you’re the best at what you do.”
Caroline nodded once before the men climbed down, leaving the sisters alone on the platform.
“I know the real reason you asked me to stay here with you,” Caroline said.
“You’ve been my rock, Car. You joke about my bossing you around, but if I’m about to take someone’s life, I trust you over everyone.”
“No,” Caroline said. “I think if things go wrong—really wrong—you want us to spend our last day together.”
“Take that back,” Sydney snapped at her. “Nothing will go wrong and this isnotour last day together.”
Caroline pulled her into her arms. “I know you. You’re a true warrior with a smooshy center. If there’s a job to do, you can count on me.” Caroline broke away. “Let’s play a game of I Spy.”
“Car—”
When Sydney would get anxious and her PTSD would return, Caroline would distract her.
“One game,” Caroline pushed back. “Then, we’ll get you set up.” She glanced at her watch. “We’ve got time.”
