3. The Stake Out

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They dashed around the debris and the two of them reconvened at the back door. Maxim was dressed in all black. He wore a turtleneck, jeans, boots, and gloves. Antwan hiked the lengthy black zipper of a khaki jumpsuit up to his chin.

"That's what you're wearing? In the field?" Maxim admonished.

"It was my anniversary before it became a mission, Max, and I think you should think about what is under this jumpsuit..." Antwan teased.

"Twenty pounds of Kevlar and an armory of razors and knives, I'd wager." Maxim chortled.

"Damn right." Antwan confirmed. "Let's go."

They did not bother to secure the gaping hole in their dining room. Antwan, instead, trailed a vial of copper blood onto the burgundy rug under the table and knocked over a few vases in the den. Maxim turned up the volume of the downstairs television up to an obnoxious level. Antwan lifted the window over the kitchen sink and launched himself to the ground. He landed with ag runt while Maxim, noiselessly, lifted his body over the sink. He lowered himself on to the ground and signaled his husband to follow him.

Antwan nodded and the two of them set off at a jog. Maxim pointed to a sizable light fixture fastened to the corner of their transitional style home and Antwan understood. They kept low to the ground and cut wide arcs in their manicured lawn. He unlatched a concealed lock—obscured by a colorful birdhouse—and Antwan pushed a small section of the wooden fence aside. Maxim allowed the barrel of his gun to lead the way into the passage as he and Antwan slunk into the woods beyond their suburban alcove.

"Head for the Honeymooners." Antwan said. "They're on vacay until next month."

"Cliff and Eden are on vacation again?! What are we doing wrong?" Maxim whispered.

Antwan gave him a nudge and the pair trudged through the murky woods in silence. Maxim did not question his husband when he stared off into the towering trees. He simply let him gaze until he whispered an order.

"Left." Antwan whispered. "No... other way..."

"How do you know where we're going?" Maxim called.

"I marked the trees with Radiant Squid Ink." Antwan explained. "Eagle did a biology project on bioluminescence last month. I took advantage. Keep up, old man."

Antwan pinched his cheek and Maxim squinted after him as he sauntered off into the winding shadows. A high stone wall came into view and Antwand handed Maxim his picnic basket as they approached. Maxim dropped to bended knee and Antwan climbed up on his leg. He launched himself onto the wall and straddled the stones. He held out his hand and Maxim offered him the picnic basket before he bounded up the rough stone wall. He dropped into the neighboring yard with Antwan beside him and his husband aimed a middle finger at him.

"You never accept my help." he pouted.

"I'm sorry, baby." Maxim conceded. "You're right. I could lean on you a little more. May we continue?"

"Get the cameras." Antwan growled.

Maxim busied himself with the fuse box after Antwan disappeared through a narrow window and the electricity of the luxurious house faltered when Maxim used his copper blade to slice through a blue wire.

"Get in here, negro!"

Antwan's gloved hand dangled out the window. Maxim threw a leg over the low windowsill and crawled into a well-organized laundry room which smelled of clean linen. Maxim steeled his nerves as he drank in the refreshing scent.

"This won't be like Singapore." he said.

"Agreed." Antwan said. "Secure the perimeter."

"Set up for a long night." Maxim finished.

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