by C. G. Cooper
“So what are you doing to find them?”
“We got their room number from our contact at the hotel. We’re about to go take a look inside.”
“Call me as soon as you know.”
Ponder slammed the phone down. He was losing precious time. The snowstorm was really constricting his timeline. Pretty soon he’d have to recall his men. He only had a handful of contractors working security at his home base. He’d need the full contingent for the buyer’s arrival and to deal with any possible incursion from the SSI team. Maybe it was time to trigger his back-up plan.
After consulting his small journal, he picked up the secure phone again and dialed a number. It connected after one ring.
“Yeah?”
“Jack, I need a favor.”
Chapter 7
Camp Spartan, Arrington, TN
3:46pm CST, September 27th
Travis Haden was on the phone when Marjorie “The Hammer” Haines, SSI’s lead attorney, walked into his office. Wearing her usual form-fitting office attire, Haines was always impeccably dressed in clothing that enhanced her already attractive form. Most people underestimated the beautiful brunette. Not only was she a lion in the courtroom, The Hammer was also an accomplished martial artist. She’d bested many of the toughest of SSI’s operators in practice sessions or wager-inspired sparring.
She motioned for him to end the call. After apologizing to the caller, he hung up the phone.
“What’s up?” Haden asked with concern. It wasn’t often that Haines came into his office unannounced.
“We’ve got a little…situation. I just got a call from my source at the FBI. It looks like they’re about to conduct a little unofficial investigation on us.”
Travis frowned. It’s wasn’t that he’d never expected the request. Hell, after the Black Knight affair a few years ago most of the security contracting companies had been investigated in some form or fashion. SSI had thus far avoided the FBI’s scrutiny by maintaining the proper transparency and cultivating the relationships needed to keep the company out of hot water.
What concerned Travis was SSI’s covert wing. They’d operated outside the laws for years, protecting a country that still seemed unaware of their presence. Living and breathing their founder’s concept of Corps Justice, SSI quietly intercepted threats that normal law enforcement couldn’t handle. Each operation could only be sanctioned by Travis or Cal. Secrecy was key.
Had someone tipped-off the FBI? Cal had only recently saved the President’s life in an operation in Las Vegas. They’d worked directly with the President and the Secret Service to keep the entire affair quiet but that didn’t mean anything. Somehow secrets always got out. It was directly proportional to how many people actually knew the secret. The Vegas incident was still fresh. Did the President have a turn of conscience?
“Do you have any details?”
Haines shook her head. “Nothing yet. My contact says we should be getting the subpoena within the hour.”
“Shit. This couldn’t have happened at a worse time. Where will they start?”
“From what I heard from some friends, they’ll start digging into finances and operations. They want to make sure income and expenses match.”
“Is there any way they can trace us back to any of our clandestine ops?”
“I don’t think so…at least not on paper.” The look on Haines’ face told Travis she was holding something back. He gave her a ‘give it to me’ hand gesture.
“I didn’t want to say anything until I had a chance to think about it more, but I’m concerned that we’ve got a mole.” She let the comment sink in. Marge could see by the look on Haden’s face that he found the idea pretty far-fetched.
“You’re kidding, right?”
“Think about, Travis. Neil gets kidnapped then not days later we have the FBI breathing down our necks. That can’t just be coincidence.”
Travis didn’t know what to think. Ninety plus percent of the employees at SSI were former Military personnel. They’d each been exhaustively vetted mentally, physically, financially and through intense background checks.
“Okay. Let’s assume you’re right. What do we do now?”
“While I deal with the FBI, have Higgins and Dunn start doing an internal search.”
Dr. Alvin Higgins was a former CIA employee and psychologist. Despite his chubby appearance and jolly charisma, the good doctor was a master interrogator. He’d revolutionized the techniques used by American personnel (both physical and chemical) that now produced tomes of vital intelligence for the American government. Although he abhorred most physical violence, Higgins marveled at the capacity and the inner workings of the human mind. If there was a man that could extract information without laying a finger on a captive, it was Dr. Higgins.
Todd Dunn was SSI’s head of security. Where Higgins was outgoing and genial, Dunn was introspective and serious. A former Army Ranger, Dunn was all about business and always vigilant.
Travis nodded. If anyone knew how to be discrete it was Higgins. Tag teaming with the burly Dunn, the two would find the mole soon. “What are you gonna tell the FBI about where Neil, Cal and the rest of his team are?”
Haines shrugged and smiled. “I’ll let you know as soon as I know.”
+++
Within twenty minutes Dr. Higgins was executing his plan. They’d talked about the possibility of having a traitor in their midst before. Luckily, thanks to Higgins’s experience in the federal government where mole hunts seemed all too common, SSI had a plan in place for just such a scenario.
“I’ll take care of it, Travis,” Higgins said in his fatherly tone.
“You’ll let me know what you find out right, Doc?”
“Certainly, my boy. Just give me little bit of time. These things have a way of working themselves out.”
Travis wasn’t too sure. Since his time with the SEALs he’d become accustomed to working in an elite environment. Amongst warriors it was absolutely unspeakable to betray your brother’s trust. That gave Haden an idea.
“Hey, Doc, how about you start with the support staff. Most of our operators don’t even have a clue about what’s going on outside their current mission. Might save us some time and heartache.”
Even though he’d already come to the same conclusion, Dr. Higgins was never one to take credit or condescend. “Good idea, Travis. I’ll start there.”
As Travis left the doctor to his craft and went to find Dunn, he could only hope that the internal investigation wouldn’t tear his company apart.
Chapter 8
Teton Village, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
3:15pm, September 27th
Cal walked into the garage where his men were busy staging their equipment. Some checked weapons as others ensured their cold weather gear fit properly.
“Top, you got a minute?”
MSgt Trent looked up from his conversation. By the look on Cal’s face he knew another wrinkle had just been added. Trent nodded and followed Stokes upstairs.
Ramirez, Briggs and Gaucho were already seated around the dining room table. Trent took a seat while Cal remained standing.
“I just got a call from Travis. It looks like they’re having their own little party back at headquarters. The FBI’s about to investigate SSI.”
To their credit, the men seated around the table remained silent. They knew it wasn’t time for questions.
“Travis and The Hammer aren’t sure what they’re looking for but I agree with them that it’s mighty convenient considering Neil’s disappearance. What makes things worse is it also looks like there might be a mole at SSI.”
Now the gathered warriors looked shocked. Could it be? Could one of their own actually be conspiring to destroy a company they’d all fought hard to build?
Trent was the first to interject. “How sure are we about this, Cal? I mean, this could be bad for all of us.”
“I know. Trav has Higgins and Dunn on it. If anyone can ferret this guy out it’s th
em.”
They all nodded solemly. Each man was well aware of Higgins’s expertise.
“So how does this affect what we’re doing out here?” Gaucho asked, seeming almost nonplussed about the situation back home.
“As usual we’ll have to make sure we stay under the radar. I’ve also recommended to Travis that he keep all updates I send him to his immediate leadership team. No one else really needs to know about what we’re doing,” Cal explained.
“What if we need more firepower, Cal?” asked Ramirez.
“I think we need to try and get this done without asking for more people. Besides, if what they’re saying about this snowstorm is true, we wouldn’t be able to fly anything in anyway.”
These men were all used to working on their own. They knew the risks involved. Not having the ability to call in support would not hinder them from seeing the mission through. They would make do.
“Cal, I know we shouldn’t be thinking this,” Trent started, “but have you considered that maybe Neil isn’t even here? I mean, what if they flew him out of here the second they picked him up?”
“I’ve discussed that with Travis and we’re both in agreement that it’s the risk we have to take. We don’t have anything else to go off of. Besides, if Daniel’s right and some unknown group is out there watching us, that probably means it’s worth it for them to keep tabs on us. I don’t think they’d do that if he was already shipped overseas.”
Trent wasn’t so sure, but he didn’t disagree. They all had to hope that they could reach their friend in time.
+++
Neil rubbed his sore leg for maybe the thousandth time. The pain was getting worse, which meant his captors would be bringing him his pain meds soon. He’d kept a mental time clock since waking in the small cell. At regular intervals a large man with a black mask would silently open the door, place a plate of food along with two pills on the floor just inside the room. There was no need to worry about the prisoner attacking the guard. Without the use of his foot he was effectively immobilized.
After the first delivery, Patel had refused to eat the food or take the medicine. An hour later his jailer had returned as Neil lay shivering and pain-wracked on his small cot. The large man forced Neil’s mouth open with one hand and shoved the two pills down his throat with the other. It was impossible for Patel to resist.
Within minutes the pain had receded. Neil had learned his lesson. Take the pills or live in excruciating pain.
As he counted down to his next meal, Neil thought about his friends. He knew they’d be out looking for him. Would there be any clues left to find?
Deep down he knew it was his fault. For years Travis and Todd Dunn had hounded him about taking along security when he went into public. They’d said he was too valuable an asset to lose. Cal had one day said he was, in fact, a prime asset. He’d always shrugged off the worry. As fate would have it, his father had once been kidnapped and murdered while travelling on business overseas. Would he endure the same fate? Something told Neil that wasn’t the case. They had something in mind for him. Why else would they go through all the trouble of taking care of him?
He wracked his brain thinking of possible ways he could escape, or at least figure out what they wanted from him. Neil knew they would tell him soon. His sixth sense told him it wouldn’t be pleasant.
+++
Upstairs Nick Ponder went over the latest email from his buyers. They’d accepted his counteroffer with some conditions. The mercenary was ecstatic. Pretty soon he’d be rich and never have to worry about petty little jobs again. But first he had to have a little talk with his prisoner. It looked like the buyers wanted to run a test to see that they were getting what they paid for.
Ponder cracked his knuckles as he thought about the coming session. It would be good to be rich again.
+++
Neil’s cell door opened and a huge man with a shaggy black beard and shaved head walked in. Patel knew the boss had arrived.
“You and I need to have a little chat, Mr. Patel,” Nick Ponder growled in baritone.
“Is this where you tell me I get to go home now?”
Instead of answering, Ponder walked across the small space, grabbed a handful of Neil’s hair with his left hand and clamped his right hand around Patel’s neck and started to squeeze. With barely any effort, he lifted the smaller man off the cot and up against the wall.
“Now you listen here, you little shit. I’m someone you don’t want to fuck with. If you’re looking for God, I’m him. I could squeeze the life out of your pathetic little raghead body right now.”
Patel didn’t doubt the man. No longer able to breathe, he fought to maintain his consciousness. This guy was incredibly strong.
Without warning, Ponder dropped Neil back on the small cot. Patel screamed as his stump hit the floor. His captor laughed.
“Like I was saying, I am God to you now. Whatever I say, you do. Understand?”
Through gritted teeth and watery eyes Neil nodded. He didn’t have much of a choice. Even at full strength he was no match against the large man.
“I’ll be back in a couple hours with some things for you to do. Get your mind right, and you might leave here in one piece.”
Without another word Ponder left the room. Neil was left to wonder what the sadistic man had in mind.
Chapter 9
Teton Village, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
5:15pm, September 27th
“Everybody ready to go?” Cal asked the sixteen men. Needing to blend in, they were all attired in varied hiking and casual clothing. Each man carried a small arsenal under his coat. Cal had his trusted double-edged blade strapped to his left wrist along with a pistol in his waistband.
They’d agreed that Cal and Trent would be the bait. The Mangy Moose restaurant had an outdoor seating area where the two Marines would grab a table and have a leisurely dinner. Briggs was certain that the enemy would find them soon in the small ski village.
The small teams set off at staggered intervals. Some left in groups of four, others left in groups of two or three. Briggs was the only man to go out alone. The sniper they called Snake Eyes was already making himself comfortable across the quad on the pool deck at Hotel Terra. It afforded a full view of the common area. All the other teams would take up positions at various points in and around the Mangy Moose. The only thing left to do now was wait.
+++
Trapper and his partner sat at the outdoor restaurant attached to the large ski lift. They’d searched Cal’s hotel room earlier in the day and found it completely empty. Ponder had already recalled the other contractors because of the storm. That left Trapper to coordinate the search in Teton Village.
The wiry man kicked himself for not taking out the two Marines when he’d had the chance. It would’ve been so easy that first night. Now it seemed that his quarry was on to them. To make matters worse, the rest of the sixteen man team Ponder’s guys had already confirmed landing at the Jackson Hole airport had also disappeared. Trapper wished someone had listened to him when he’d suggested putting a couple tails on the arrivals after they left the airport. Ponder was so confident that the SSI men would start the search in Teton Village that he’d ignored the suggestion.
Trapper was a veteran of the Army’s military police. He’d gained his nickname by being able to track and trap anyone. There wasn’t a man or woman that he couldn’t find. The only reason he hadn’t stayed in the Army was the ‘questionable’ methods in which Trapper had used to detain his captives. In the end, there had been allegations of abuse and torture. While Trapper knew they could never prove anything (he was also a master at manipulating evidence and witnesses) he felt the writing was on the wall. Certain senior officers had made it their patriotic duty to see him drummed out of the service.
Instead of going out their way, Trapper decided to take early retirement at sixteen years and head to the civilian world. Not long after he’d contacted his old friend Nick Ponder. They’d partied over
booze and drugs, all the while lamenting the Army’s decline as a military force. The next morning over Bloody Maries, Ponder offered him a job with what he’d affectionately dubbed ‘Ponder’s Misfits.’ It didn’t take Trapper long to find out that the majority of contractors hired by the Ponder Group were indeed misfits. Released from active duty for an assortment of reasons, Ponder snatched them up willingly knowing that they had nowhere else to go. As a result, they were only too happy to do his dirty work.
Trapper glanced at his watch. “Five more minutes, and let’s take a walk around.”
His partner nodded silently and finished his coffee. Trapper paid the waitress and minutes later the two men were strolling downhill doing a surveillance sweep toward The Mangy Moose.
+++
Briggs spotted the two men right away. It was hard to forget their mismatched faces. They looked completely nonchalant as they walked down towards Cal and Trent.
Daniel pulled out his cell phone and texted the rest of the team: 2 TARGETS HEADED TO THE MOOSE.
Once he got confirmation from the team leaders, he slipped the phone back in his pocket and stood up. It was time to see who these guys were. He slipped out of the pool deck quietly and headed to the stairwell.
+++
Trapper spotted Stokes and Trent as soon as The Mangy Moose came into view. He nudged his partner. The man looked up and nodded. At least they’d found them again. Now it was time to take up a position and watch.
The two contractors veered to the right and found a spot on one of the outdoor tables maybe a hundred yards away. Trapper casually pulled out a pack of cigarettes and sat down. While he wished there were more people around, at least the darkness would give them some cover. Stokes, on the other hand, was sitting in a well-lit area that afforded Trapper a perfect view.
He and his partner were so intent on their targets that they never noticed Briggs watching them from behind.