Free THE GUARDIAN (Taskforce Series) by Marliss Melton

originated.”
    “I thought we were looking for terrorists, not gang members,” Jackson objected .
    “What’s the difference?” Ike sent him a hard look.
    Jackson pondered the question. Gangs and terrorist cells alike emerged out of a sense of social helplessness, its members drawn to the structure and moral order imposed on them, as well as to the sense of belonging. Actually, they had more in common than he’d realized .
    Toby broke the silence. “Don’t forget Ibrahim spent twenty years as a jail chaplain,” he reminded them. “He could’ve converted hundreds of inmates to the NGE.”
    Ike continued to scan the information on his end. “A lot of hip hop artists are Five Percenters,” he announced .
    Jackson remained dubious. “Ibrahim might be a Five Percenter, but aside from this pamphlet all he and Zakariya have ever preached is moderate, mainstream Islam.”
    “Have they ever mentioned Supreme Mathematics or the Supreme Alphabet?” Ike pressed.
    “Not that I’ve heard.”
    The leader scraped a hand over the short bristles of his silver hair, thinking. “I want you looking for more about this Five Percent stuff when you search the place,” he decided.
    “How are you coming with the alarm system?” Jackson asked .
    Ike grimaced. “They have a Cinch Security System, one of the trickiest to override, which is a red flag in itself. Why would they need that in a mosque? Plus it has encrypted end-to-end communications, which means that any kind of sabotage alerts the company to a break-in. That means I have to broker a deal with the company.” Ike didn’t look too thrilled about it. “I’ll let you know when it’s clear to break in. In the meantime, Toby, start monitoring the imams’ sleeping hours, taking note of their rituals. And, Jackson , keep alert to any mention of the Five Percent Nation.”   
    “Yes, sir,” Jackson said.
    Toby nodded.
    “I don’t need to remind you both that the eleventh anniversary of 9/11 is just weeks away.” Ike’s voice turned as rough as sandpaper. “I don’t want any acts of terror happening on my watch. You copy?”
    “Copy,” Jackson confirmed .  
    “Yep,” Toby said.
    “Let’s talk about the journalist,” Ike said in the same terse voice. “You know how I feel about the media.”
    Jackson did know. Ever since MSNBC broadcasted the rumor that Eryn had been abducted by a Navy SEAL, Ike had harbored a deep resentment for journalists, especially since he’d been that SEAL, protecting Eryn from a crazed terrorist, and their live coverage had exposed her location, putting her right in harm’s way.
    “You know Crime and Liberty wrote a huge spread about my involvement in the Yaqubi disaster,” Ike added, referring to the tragedy that had taken the life of nearly every man in Ike’s SEAL squad several years ago. “Do whatever it takes to send her packing,” he said meaningfully .
    Jackson suffered a pang of compunction. He would miss his adrenaline-racing encounters with Lena , but she had to go .
    “I’ll check with you tomorrow.” Ike tapped a key on his end, and their screen went black.
    “In and out like a lightning strike,” Toby commented .
    “Never seen him quite so irritable.” Jackson glanced at his watch. “Let’s get this party started.”
    Toby jumped to his feet. “Hooah,” he said, which, in Ranger speech, meant, hell yeah .
    “I’ll meet you by the car,” Jackson reluctantly agreed .    
    Five minutes later, dressed all in black, the two men slipped into the Crown Vic and rolled stealthily out of the driveway. Toby glanced over at Jackson . “Jack, I’m jealous. I can’t even see you in the dark.” 
    “My name’s not Jack, either,” Jackson retorted.
    Toby just chuckled .
     

 
    Chapter Six
     
    Lena stepped out of the Jeep into pitch-black darkness and eyed the outline of her rental with sudden foreboding. She was positive she had left the porch light on when she went to work, so either the bulb had