LITMIR.BIZ

      When he was gone from sight, Laura said to Slick, “I thought for sure he’d notice that I switched the briefcases.”

      “I knew for sure he’d be too busy noticing you,” Slick said, winking at her. “You were perfect, Laura. I knew you would be. I remembered how scared you were that you’d make a mistake. I knew you wouldn’t. You’ve got to learn to trust yourself as much as I trust you.”

      Slick kissed her on the cheek.

      “I’m just glad it’s over,” Laura said, closing her eyes, leaning in and enjoying having her cheek kissed.

      The receiver in Slick’s ear began to crackle.

      “We’re still watching you.”

      Slick laughed.

      “Nice working with you, Commander,” she answered back. She wondered where he was. He could see and hear her every move, but Slick had no idea from where he was observing her.

      “Congratulations on a very successful operation,” the commander said. “You helped avert a crisis and capture a dangerous man who was on the way to becoming an even more serious threat. Now his ass is ours. We’ll take real good care of Bodine from here.”

      “I’m sure you will, sir.”

      Travis had been arrested by the Newark police, but after they were through with him, he’d be turned over to the Feds. The Feds didn’t like terrorists who tried to blow up federal buildings.

      The receiver in her ear crackled one last time. She knew the connection was being broken and that it would be un-traceable.

      Slick pulled it out of her ear, threw it into the street as she had been instructed, and watched as a taxi ran over it, smashing it into useless pieces.

      Smiling, she looked up to the roofs of the surrounding buildings, and the sharpshooters who had camped out there since midnight were giving them a thumbs-up.

      Slick and Laura nodded surreptitiously so as not to give away their positions.

      On the street, a dirty, rusted-out van with ST. MARK’S HOMELESS SHELTER printed on the side pulled up. The van lacked a rear bumper, and the passenger side window was mostly duct tape. The engine, however, maintained a steady healthy rumble. The Critical Incident team that had been stationed on the ground disguised as drunks and street people disappeared inside the vehicle.

      The van pulled away and disappeared into the morning. No one on the street even seemed to notice. It was as if they were never there.

      By the time Slick and Laura looked back up, the rooftops that had been speckled with dozens of men looking through rifle scopes had been cleared, too. Slick had heard the commander once refer to them as Alpha Team. They were probably getting ready for their next mission.

      A major disaster had been avoided quietly and professionally, without panic. And there would never be a news story or report about it. No one would recognize Alpha Team for the heroes they were.

      Perfect. That was just the way they wanted it.

      “Damn, those guys are good,” Slick said with admiration.

      Garbo stood on her hind legs, demanding Slick’s attention.

      “Yes, little girl. You were wonderful, too. You kept Bodine distracted after Laura switched the briefcase.”

      Slick bent down to give Garbo a biscuit, and the three of them started across the street. Slick stopped at a Star Ledger vending machine, bought a paper, and read the headline.