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“We’re coming too,” I said. “In fact—”
“No,” Julius said sharply.
He spun on his heel, then pulled a duffel out from under the table. Fuck! He’d already packed! I couldn’t believe I hadn’t seen it already.
“Julius,” Duncan began, “you can’t just—”
“I’ve negotiated a single slot on Archon’s team, at least until they can get us to our own men. As we speak they’ve got a jet fueled up on the Echo ramp at Calabro. It leaves the moment I get there.”
I scowled. “And just howareyou getting there?”
Julius glanced at his watch. “There’s a Sikorsky landing about a half-mile from here in seven minutes.”
“They’re sending a chopper just foryou?” I breathed.
“No, but the client is,” he said, tossing his bag up on the table. He undid one of the big black zippers. “Again, you’re underestimating how important this target is. No expenses spared.”
He pulled out a large satellite phone — newer than any digital model I’d ever seen before — and thrust it into Duncan’s hand.
“Frequency’s already set. Sit tight and wait on word from me.”
“You want us to justsithere?” Duncan snapped.
“Yes.”
“Take one of us with you,” I jumped in. “And once Delilah’s back, the other can—”
“It’s only one slot,” said Julius, “one seat. And you wouldn’t believe the hoops I had to jump through to get it.”
He zipped the duffel bag closed again, and his expression softened. “Look, I know you want in,” he said. “But for right now at least? It’s better this way. The two of you need to be here for Jace and Courtney. And someone needs to look over the Shop.”
I stared down at the satellite phone in Duncan’s hand, wondering where it had come from. What kind of people we were dealing with.
“I’ve got a good mind to knock you out with this thing,” said Duncan, hefting the phone a few times. “And take your seat on that jet.”
“You wouldn’t even get close,” Julius said evenly. “I’d snap your arm clean off, in the middle of your backswing.”
Duncan looked entirely unfazed. “Wanna try?” he snarled. “Let’s try.”
I stepped between them before it came to blows, because itwouldcome to blows if I allowed it to go on. Luckily, there just wasn’t enough time for this kind of pissing contest.
“Besides,” Julius added, throwing the bag over his shoulder. “You don’t even know where the chopper’s landing.”
He threw his arms through the loops on his duffel and headed toward the door. As heavy as it looked, I had no doubt he’d make the Sikorsky with a few minutes to spare.
“Fine,” Duncan called out. “Go. But hey, if you’re really gonna do this?”
Our friend halted in the doorway for a moment, then eventually craned his neck to look back. “Yeah?”
“Don’t screw it up.”
