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“Already on it,” Rich called over his shoulder, his cell phone pressed to his ear

Derek opened his padlocked trunk, yanking out his enhanced SWAT gear He had finished suiting up when Rich returned wearing his bulletproof vest and carrying his shotgun

“The New York Field Office is sending reinforce tactical operations with the NYPD”

With a hard nod, Derek turned to Sloane He’d already geared hi to lose And there was no time for nice-ties

“Here’s the deal,” he stated flatly “You’re not FBI You have no authorization You don’t even have protective equipent So I’otiable”

Sloane wanted to argue It ritten all over her face But she didn’t Every second counted Lives were at stake

“Fine I’ll sit this one out” She gripped his sleeve “Derek…be careful”

He covered her hand with his and squeezed her fingers “Don’t worry I’ve got a wedding to look forward to”

Releasing Sloane’s hand, Derek joined Rich, and they inched their way carefully toward theparked cars and trucks for cover They shifted impatiently as they waited for SWAT to arrive

Every minute seemed like an eternity

The security guard leaped to his feet as the four ars marched into the second-floor reception area Reflexively, he grasped for a silent alarm beneath the front desk and pressed it He then raised his quaking arms and inforgested, half begged them to flee before the police arrived

They laughed in his face The leader sent a volley of bullets frouard instantly

Sonal appeared on an alar its alarnored the call for help

No alarm-co dead, in rivers of blood, on the building floor

The museum and its patrons were at the mercy of the intruders