69
Not Without Him
From a remote location, Lawrence Wallace spoke into the mic. “Scorpion, this is Crystal Palace. Give me a status, over.”
The F-18 pilot replied, “Crystal Palace, this is Scorpion. Heading, three one five. Angels, twenty-one. Speed, four-fifty. Just within range-to-target. Master Arm, off. Warning yellow, weapons hold.”
“Roger that, Scorpion. You’re at twenty-one thousand feet, speed, four hundred and fifty knots. Arm the weapon, over.”
“Crystal Palace, Master Arm, on. Weapon is armed. Target is locked on.”
“You are red and tight, Scorpion. Launch on my command. Launch, launch, launch.”
A moment later, “Crystal Palace, this is Scorpion. Greyhound is away.”
***
It was Ames. The man towering above her was Ames. Her father stared into abject death and would not rele
