Chapter 309

“Ted, this may go to hell in a hand basket,” stated Jason frankly. “I don’t know how we’d be able to tell Paula and the girls if anything ever happened to you. It might be better if you waited down the hall.”

“You can tell them that I went out like a man,” responded Ted quickly. “How would I be able to face them if I hid in some corner and one or more of you were badly hurt? It works both ways, so don’t try to change my mind. We’re in this together.”

“Let me say this, Ted. You’ve shown more courage and discipline than a lot of the officers I’ve served with,” responded Jason. “You’ll do.”

At precisely three, the door to the auditorium swung open and four men in dark clothes walked into the room. They were followed by a tall thin man dressed in an extremely expensive suit. Five more men followed him into the room. They took up positions behind the man in the suit as he took a seat at the table across from Steve.

“This meeting is totally unnecessary,” began the