Jack showed Hector the 3-D schematic. “Kennedy Space Center, circa 1970—every air duct, crossbeam, and drainpipe. What do you think?”
“Looks good.”
“Naw, I mean about this whole scenario. They assassinate JFK and hours later we’re tracking them to the space center? What are they after?”
Hector shook his head. “Keep your eyes and ears open. Whatever it is, we’re not gonna let it happen.”
“Think it might be Apollo 13?”
Hector scanned the 3-D model again, and then skimmed the mission debrief, “It is the next planned launch. They performed a successful lunar landing and gathered information on the Fra Mauro region.”
“Doesn’t sound like a critical target. What’d they find—moon rocks and gray dust?”
“Call Jessica. Have her check–”
A tap on the door broke the sentence in half. Jack’s near perpetual smile vanished. The motel was nearly vacant, and they weren’t expecting visitors. Jack moved to the window. Peered through a crack in the blinds. Hector drew his gun.
Another tap.
Jack motioned that it was safe. Sliding away from the window, he mouthed that it was the motel manager. Hector paused at the door until Jack was ready, and then he pulled it open. The motel manager appeared as though he’d been roused from a mid-day nap.
“Just got an urgent message–”
A glint of sun reflected off something atop the opposite roof of the “U”-shaped motel. Hector grabbed the manager and pulled him into the room as two high-energy blasts hit the doorframe and dissipated through the walls. Shoving the manager toward the bed, Hector dove for cover as another shot made the window shudder.
He grimaced. “They found us!”
