—Thank you. And thank you for your help in this matter.

—Anything for our friends at the EDC. All right, let’s get this show on the road, shall we? Can we get GSSAP-2 on the big screen, please? Thank you. The target should be in this house right here. The red dots are Delta-3. We have four men in the van across the street. These four will hide behind the pool shed once they get over the fence.

—How long will surveillance last before they breach?

—We’re going in now. We’ve had satellite over since last night. The van’s been there for two hours. There’s been no movement in or out. No lights on. I would give it more time but, given the circumstances, we’ll have to make do with what we have. Plus, we’re going in in broad daylight. Armed men jumping fences in a cozy neighborhood, it won’t be long before someone dials 911.

Boogeyman, this is Mother Goose, what’s your status?

[In position. Status is go.]

—What are their orders?

—Locate and extract a young female, approximately ten years old. Grown-ups are potentially hostile. Use of force is authorized.

—They should also be on the lookout for an American woman in her midthirties.

—Stand by, Boogeyman…Who is she?

—She is an Army chief warrant and a Captain in the EDC. She would not be in uniform. She cannot be harmed.

—Anything else you wanna tell me? Now is not exactly a good time for surprises.

—That is all.

—She better not be holding a gun.

—If she is present, and alive, she would most likely be armed.

[Mother Goose, what’s the holdup?]

—This is bullshit. Stand by, Boogeyman!…Does she know we’re coming?

—She does not.

—I’m sorry for your Captain, sir, but if she points a gun at them, they’ll put her down.

—They cannot. They have to be clear on that.

—And what’s she gonna do when she sees a bunch of guys with M-16s wearing face masks?

—I cannot say.

—You cannot say. Like I said, I’m sorry, but that’s not the mission. If you can’t warn her, you better pray she doesn’t get in the way. My men come first.

—Let me be abundantly clear. Our planet is under attack by alien forces. Our only viable weapon is a two-hundred-foot-tall alien robot in New York City. That woman is one of two people required to operate said robot. I sincerely apologize for the late warning. I was hoping she would make contact. That said, the lives of your men most definitely come second to hers.

—We’re looking for Kara Resnik?

—We are indeed.

—Boogeyman, this is Mother Goose. New intel.

[Oh, great.]

Watch for a female friendly, midthirties in civilian clothing. She is armed and may treat you as hostile. Do not fire, even if fired upon.

[Mother Goose, can you repeat that?]

You heard me.

[Mother Goose, I’m gonna have to—]

It’s Kara Resnik—

[…Roger that, Mother Goose. Relaying orders.]

—What is that on the next street?

—Looks like a man walking his dog. GSSAP control, tag him. Can we shoot this man if need be? Or are you about to tell me Vincent Couture is also missing, with his dog?

—Mr. Couture does not like dogs. You are free to shoot both the man and his pet if you are so inclined.

—Boogeyman, there is a man walking his dog about to turn the corner, coming at you from the west.

[Roger that. We’ll keep an eye on him. Approaching target.]

If anyone is having second thoughts, now would be a good time to say so.

[Mother Goose, this is Boogeyman. Requesting go for breach.]

Breach is authorized, Boogeyman. I repeat: You are go for breach.

[Roger, Mother Goose. Gentlemen, on my mark. Three, two—]

—What was that flash? Are they under fire?

—They’re using stun grenades.

[Clear!…Clear!…]

[Bravo-One, back rooms are clear.]

[Clear!]

[Garage is clear.]

[Roger, Bravo-Two. Front is clear. Checking upstairs.]

[We’ve got your back Bravo-One. Close the doors. Cover the windows.]

[Clear!…Clear!…Clear!]

[All clear! Mother Goose, this is Boogeyman. We have two dead civilians in the master bedroom.]

Roger, Boogeyman. The child?

[No sir. Two adults.]

Is one of them…?

[One Hispanic female, one black male. No sign of Captain Resnik.]

—It must be the parents. They should check the closets, under the beds. The child may be hiding.

—Boogeyman, give me a full sweep.

[Bravo-Two, I want a full sweep downstairs. We’re looking for a tiny human.]

[Roger that.]

—Lieutenant General. My Spanish is far from perfect but I believe—

—Boogeyman, this is Mother Goose. Local police are on their way. ETA three minutes.

[Roger, Mother Goose. Bravo-Two, bedrooms are clean. We found a trap for the attic. Going to take a peek. Exit in two minutes.]

[Downstairs is clean.]

[Holy shit!]

[Bravo-One, everything all right?]

[All good. Just a big-ass rat. Attic is clean.]

[Mother Goose, this is Boogeyman. The house is clean. No sign of target. Requesting instructions on the bodies.]

—Is that it?

—That’s it! She’s not there. Thank you, Boogeyman. Leave them be. Return to nest.

[Roger that, Mother Goose. We’ll be home for dinner.]

Hurry up. It’s meatloaf night. Mother Goose out.

FILE NO. 1576

INTERNAL MEMO—DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

From: Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

To: Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security

Object: El Paso

An estimated sixty thousand Mexican nationals are now gathered on or near the Paso Del Norte Bridge and more people seeking asylum in the United States are arriving daily in Ciudad Juárez. Isolated acts of violence have already been reported on the bridge and their frequency is increasing rapidly.

BORTAC units were deployed this morning at the request of the Port Director. Attempts at clearing the bridge with 37mm gas guns were unsuccessful.

It is the opinion of this office that CBP personnel, even with increased support from the National Guard and local law enforcement, are no longer able to secure the port of entry within current use-of-force parameters.