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Tango was still wearing a Cerberus Tactical K9 collar from her deployment.
The collar was equipped with a direct line to Iniquus communications through their specialized satellite system. This system was used when the K9s were out in the far reaches of the world. If their person went down, someone at Iniquus headquarters could still command the K9; they could read the GPS location, and, when the cameras were slotted in place, they could view the area.
Tango didn’t have her camera on that day, and her connection wasn’t enabled.
Powering through a curve in the road, which took all Ethan’s upper-body strength, Ethan chirruped.
Tango climbed onto Clem to sit next to Ethan, close enough that Ethan could press the button. “Sorry about this, man, I’ll get her off in a second.”
Waiting until they were on a straight section of road, Ethan deftly reached over and pressed the button. With the green light glowing, Ethan called out, “Mayday. Mayday. Mayday. This is Ethan Osbourne handling Cerberus K9 trainee TangoPango.”
He waited, heard nothing, then reached for the volume dial and turned the knob.
“Mayday. Mayday. Mayday. This is Ethan Osbourne handling K9 trainee TangoPango.”
To his surprise, a voice came out of the collar.
“Ethan Osbourne, this is Communications and Iniquus headquarters. I read you loud and clear. What is your situation?”
“I am in a limousine heading northeast from Tifton Manor.”
“We have K9 Tango’s coordinates on the map.”
“I am providing security for the estate during a party today. There was—is a possible attempted kidnapping.”
As he said it, a groan came from the back seat, and Ethan checked the rearview mirror.
Mrs. Harcourt blinked at him, the loose end of her belt dangling in her hand.
“Mrs. Harcourt, put on your safety belt, now,” he called back. “Communications. The limo I’m driving was involved in a collision. It possibly has a bent control arm. I can’t drive tactically. I’m barely holding it on the road.”
“Copy. Do you have a license plate or owner identification?”
“This is Amanda Harcourt’s limo. She’s with Harcourt Alabaster.”
“Copy, Harcourt Alabaster. Are there casualties?”
“The subject of the attempted kidnapping seems to be Amanda Harcourt.” He swung his head to look over his shoulder. “Ma’am, were you hurt?”
She looked up at him and caught his gaze in the mirror. She opened her mouth, and a wail came out.
“Amanda Harcourt is in the car with me. I believe she is unharmed but in shock. I am unable to assess until we are in a safe location. The situation is kinetic. Her driver, Clem, was hit by a tranquilizer dart.”
“Osbourne, say again.”
“Clem was shot with what looked like a veterinary tranquilizing dart. He’s in the limo, and he is unresponsive. But I detected breath last I checked.”
“Copy. Clem is breathing but unresponsive.”
“I left the estate unsecured and possibly without communications. There was one unconscious perpetrator to the north of the carriage house. A cartridge—the dart—is on the west side of the drive, next to the front steps. Fifty-three guests are in the house. I told them to barricade in an interior room. There is an unknown number of staff.”
“Unresponsive perpetrator by the carriage house. Do you know why he’s unresponsive?”
“Tactical K9 bites and a fist to the jaw.”
“Copy.”
“Again, inside the house, there are fifty-three guests, and an unknown number of staff. They need protection.”
