‘In which case this is all a setup,’ Lorne finished for him.
Garth frowned. ‘All right. If it’s a setup, what do you think they were trying to accomplish?’
‘Where’d the order come from to take them down, and the information about their activities?’ Lorne asked him bluntly. ‘I’m not asking you to tell me, because I very much doubt that you can or will volunteer that information. I just want you to think about it.’
‘It came from on high,’ Garth said carefully. ‘You’re saying that those on high ordered the gunmen taken out so as to discredit any suspicions directed at themselves.’
‘Which means,’ Lorne added, ‘that they’ve just raised the ante once more, most probably in retaliation for our change of tactics.’
Garth sat down, looking a bit shaken but otherwise furious. ‘Which leaves us no choice but to do the unthinkable.’
‘You’re considering releasing the gunmen,’ Lorne said in comprehension. ‘Quash it in the media by, say, telling them it was all an exercise-’
‘You should be working for us!’ Garth told him with feeling. ‘I’d’ve thought you’d’ve taken my head off when you heard- the bit about the media is a nice touch; I’m going to use it.’