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his dress uniform, colorful ribbons across his chest. It was a new photo and among the medals on his uniform was a Purple Heart. The wound that almost took his life left him with a slight limp. Doctors saved both life and leg, but if you asked J. J. what they really saved was his career.
    The phone rang again, and for a moment Tess's heart skipped with hope. "Hello?"
    "Tess, it's Mac."
    Always first names and informal on the phone. "Yes, Mac."
    "You probably haven't heard—"
    "He called a short time ago. No details of course, just that his trip was extended."
    "Right. I need you on this. Can you handle that?"
    He was being obtuse, but she got the meaning. He wanted to know if she could consult on a mission that involved her husband. Bad form. Bad policy. But sometimes necessary.
    "Yes. I'll have to check with the dean—"
    "Already done."
    She smiled. "Did you ask him or inform him?"
    "Is there a difference?"
    "Not in your world, Mac. Not in your world."

    "YOUR SOURCE IS GOOD?" The thickly padded leather chair made no noise as the man seated in it leaned back and formed a steeple with his fingers.
    "It's good." The man who spoke wore a suit and a yellow power tie.
    "What's being done?"
    "A team is being sent. They should arrive before the satellite makes earth-fall."
    "That's unfortunate."
    "For us?"
    The man leaned over the desk. "For them."

CHAPTER 5
    THE TEAM HAD HABITS. All Spec Ops teams did. One such practice was to sleep as much as possible before a mission. If they weren't planning, they were snoozing. It only took a couple of missions to know sleep was as rare as emeralds. Moyer learned to sleep anywhere and at anytime. The rumor was he could sleep through a flash flood. This evening, despite his best efforts, he proved the rumors wrong. The phone call with his wife unsettled him more than usual. He had no idea why. He had such conversations before, and while they left him sad, he was always able to focus on the upcoming mission. Now all he could do was think of his family.
    He rose from his seat in the C-20 Gulfstream IV and walked the narrow aisle, doing his best not to disturb his sleeping men. He had been seated at the front of the aircraft. It was the second time he and the unit were transported in the customized corporate jet. This plane, like a handful of others, was SAAM designated: Special Assignment Airlift Missions. The Navy, Coast Guard, and Air Force used them for special transport. Usually the passengers included people with stars on their shoulders.
    "Can't sleep?"
    Moyer looked at Rich, his large body pressed into one of the rear seats. "Sorry, didn't mean to wake you."
    "Who said you woke me? An active mind like mine runs all the time."
    "Hmm, that explains why your mouth runs all the time."
    "Hey now, Boss. That was unkind. Accurate, but unkind. If you're not careful, you'll hurt my little feelings."
    Moyer smiled. He was not a man who gave his trust away easily. Those new to the unit knew his trust and admiration had to be earned, repeatedly. Not only did Moyer trust Rich with his life, but that of every member of the team, his family, and the key to his liquor cabinet.
    Rich pushed himself up in the seat. "Care to join me? I'm not doing anything and I'm planning on doing more of it."
    "Thanks." Moyer sat in a port-side leather seat and faced his friend across the aisle.
    Rich stretched. "You know, I could get used to traveling like this. It beats sitting in the back end of a cargo plane."
    "Last year we rode on TP-01 and Air Force One. I think you're getting spoiled." While on mission the previous year, the team traveled on the Mexican equivalent of Air Force One.
    "Some folk just deserve to be spoiled. I'm one of them."
    "Probably."
    "Uh-oh."
    "What?"
    Rich leaned forward. "When you start letting me get away with quips like that, I know something is buggin' you. What is it?"
    "You don't know me as well as you think."
    "Of course I do. Your wife tells me everything."
    "Does she now? I'll have to