Valenti stuck his head in the door and surveyed the faces. Tense, but alert and ready. "Let's go," he said, and they filed out of the apartment. Michael hopped into Isabel's car with Tess; he wanted to keep an eye on her. Alex slid in next to Maria. Max, Kyle, and Josh got into the squad car. They headed toward Milton's house, dousing the headlights as they turned onto his street. Valenti pulled behind a line of trees dividing Milton's property from the neighbor's. Max and Michael took positions off to each side of the house, and Kyle crept around to the back. Alex crouched behind a parked car across the street and adjusted the camera. Isabel and Maria kept their engines running, one heading in each direction. Tess hid behind a bush near the front door.

When all were in position, Josh approached the front door. He placed a small microphone between the wrought iron posts of Milton's porch railing and rang the bell. Milton opened it immediately, but his smile changed to confusion when he realized his guest was not Max, but another government type.

"Good evening, sir," began Josh. "I'm agent Johnson and I've been asked to relieve the agents downstairs." He flashed his badge while still in the shadows and put it away quickly. "May I come in?"

"Uh, of course," stuttered Milton. "I wasn't told you were coming."

"I'm sorry to disturb you. If you'll just show me the way, I won't bother you any further."

Milton led Josh to the basement stairs. "They're down there."

"Thank you." Josh trotted down the steps quickly; he didn't want to give the two agents any more warning than necessary. He knocked on the door to the vault. When no one came to open the door, he knocked again. "Agents! Pierce is outside. He's asked me to relieve you briefly so he can talk to you. He's waiting."

The door opened slowly. "Who are you? I've never seen you before."

"My name is Johnson and I was assigned to work with Pierce in Washington after the bungled fiasco out here. I understand you two were involved in that. Pierce is not happy. I suggest you get outside."

The two agents exchanged glances and slowly moved toward the door. "I'll stay with your prisoner," Josh told them. The men climbed the stairs, clearly nervous about what they were about to face.

Josh entered the small, crowded room and found a lovely young woman curled in a fetal position on a cot in the corner. So this is Max's Liz, he thought. She must be something to inspire that passion and loyalty. I hope this works. He sat down to wait for the rest of the plan to play out.

When the agents came out the front door, Tess went to work. The image of Pierce stood before them, looking very angry. "What are you two thinking to conduct an investigation without my authorization? This is grounds for dismissal! I will not tolerate insubordination on the part of my agents. I want to hear an explanation."

Alex aimed the camera and checked that the microphone was working. Although it looked as though the agents were speaking to no one, he could hear them clearly. "Sir, we knew you were disappointed in the outcome of the original investigation. We thought if we could talk to the Parker girl, she could give us the information we needed to get it opened again."

"Has she cooperated?" asked Pierce.

"Well, not yet. She seems quite loyal to the Evans boy. But we've been working on her and we're hopeful."

"Working on her? What does that mean?"

The two agents glanced nervously at each other. They knew their drugs and equipment had been illegally obtained and they didn't want to add to Pierce's anger, but the evidence would be found easily enough. "We took some essentials from the supply locker. We're trying to loosen up her tongue."