by Ali Vali
“You can’t win,” he said as he dropped to his knees and placed his hands behind his head. Devin removed the earwig the guy wore and handed it over. “Give me a ping if we’re still a go,” someone said, and she placed a pistol against his forehead while Devin cuffed him. “Repeat, are we a go?”
“Man his station and tell me what channels he’s on,” she said, and the guy who’d been sitting next to the man on his knees turned his head in that direction. “Don’t make the mistake of joining your friend here.”
“Here you go, ma’am.,” Another young guy gave her a tear sheet.
“Send a ping over this channel, then cuff that bastard as well and get them the hell off my bridge,” she said of the man who’d hesitated.
“Captain, one of the targets just went off-line,” the radar leader said.
“Killer, your team is clear, and we’ll send coordinates since the target beacons are being cleared. Make sure they’re all eliminated.”
“With pleasure, Captain”
“Tiger One,” she said, holding her breath a moment longer than usual before exhaling.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and that was all.
The answer, though, was enough.
* * *
The group stopped again, and the heat even at night was enough to make them sweat like they were in a sauna. Berkley wiped her face and sat as she rolled her tongue around her mouth. She was thirsty, but she could wait until they reached a safe rendezvous point. Everything seemed to hurt from her hair down, but she pushed not to fall behind.
“Here,” Wiley said, handing over a canteen. “How are your ribs?”
“My ribs are okay, but my kidneys will be pumping blood for a while along with my urine.” She took a sip of water, and it hurt to swallow. “Can you believe I was standing that close to that bastard, and you couldn’t get a shot off?”
“Believe me, I wanted to before he went off on you, but it would’ve brought all those assholes down on us and you three.” Wiley drank after her and handed it back. “Don’t worry, though. The captain has plans of her own, and they include him not getting away.”
“She holding up okay?” Making Aidan go through all this again was causing her to hurt more than any blow she’d taken.
“You know the most important thing I’ve learned after Aubrey came into my life?”
“What’s that?” she asked, stifling a moan when she straightened her legs.
“They’re strong women on their own, which means they can stand on their own and hold us up as well.”
“So she’s okay?”
“She’s dying inside, but she’s doing her job, and because she is, we’re walking out of here with you. You’re as lucky as I am in this life. Aidan wouldn’t accept any scenario that didn’t include all of us getting out of that place, and she told Command exactly that.”
“The second that door opened I knew I’d put her through hell again, and that was worse than a bullet to the head.” She took one more swallow and handed the canteen back. “My other question is, how’s retirement?”
“You need a hobby to keep you sane. At least I did, but the kid and wife part are great.”
“You fish or something?”
“I paint and dabble in some stuff. Don’t worry. I’ll help you adjust.” Wiley gave her a hand up and smiled when she slapped her gently on the cheek.
“Dabble?” she asked, curious about that one word.
“Time to go, Cletus,” Wiley said and chuckled.
Baylor’s men had cleared the next section, and the ones behind them had given the all-clear, which got them walking again. She motioned for Harvey and Jin to follow her, and she took Baylor’s back. She placed her hand on his shoulder, which caused him to lift a fist for an all-stop.
“Listen,” she said when Baylor turned around and gazed at her in question. The sound of jet engines was faint, but they were there. “How far away are we?”
Goose stepped closer and checked their position. “Two clicks and change, ma’am.”
“It’s our guys,” she said, and Baylor nodded. “Let’s keep going and get ready.”
“Ready for what?” Goose asked.
“Captain Sullivan is about to rain hell down, and we can get out of here in the chaos. The only problem we’ll have is if they have any jets that will bomb the shit out of their perimeter to stop our retreat. I’ve already had a bad day, and I don’t want to add to that by having any type of artillery dropped on me.”
“Let’s go,” Wiley said, and they started again. “We need to find another spot to catch our ride out of here, Baylor. The area we agreed on is compromised.”
“This thick cover goes on forever,” Baylor said as he continued walking.
The first explosion sounded like it had gone off right next to them. She couldn’t feel the heat of the fireball that rose in the distance, but it lit up the area for miles. “We need to find a space big enough for a helicopter to land. We need two, but they don’t have to land together.”
Baylor got their long-range radio out and handed it over. “Code name Zookeeper.”
“Zookeeper, this is Wayward,” she said, thinking Cletus wasn’t a good idea.
“Go ahead, Wayward.” The sound of Aidan’s voice made her smile. “You’re running way late.”
“True, but I took candy from strangers. You can fuss later. We need a ride home.” She pointed in the direction they’d been walking and got the team moving. There was only so much good luck in one lifetime, and she’d used more than her share. Another set of explosions rocked the area, and they picked up the pace.
“Where?” Aidan asked.
“We’ll send coordinates as soon as I see a spot with enough clearance to land.” A string of helicopters was closing on their position, which made everyone drop and take cover when Baylor put up his fist, then flattened his hand. She cut the connection to Aidan and the Jefferson, not wanting to give away their position if that was possible.
“Wiley,” Baylor said as she lay next to Berkley. “Do you have eyes on them?”
“I don’t think they’re for us,” Wiley said, looking through her scope. “No markings and flying too high for a search team.”
“It’s Chandler, and none of our ships are close enough to pick them up on radar.” Berkley saw her hope of retirement flying away with the birds overhead. If it was Chandler and he’d escaped, they’d have to start this all over again. “Give me the radio back.”
“What are you thinking?” Baylor asked.
“That I’m done letting this guy win,” she said, and he handed it back. “Zookeeper, I need to talk to your attack dogs.”
“Go ahead,” Aidan said, and the click meant she’d made the connection.
“Vader,” she said, and it took a minute for him to respond.
“Good to hear your voice, my friend, but we’re ass deep in bogies.”
“Head in the game then. Killer, you finish your run?”
“Go ahead,” Killer said as a few more explosions went off.
“Can you spare a few birds for an errand?” It was still too dark to see anything, but she could hear them now, and it sounded as if Wiley was right. There were at least fifteen of them, and they were hauling ass.
“Always ready to do a favor for a friend,” Killer said.
“Mark these coordinates,” she said, and Goose read them off. “Anything on radar?”
“Negative. Are they flying super low?” Killer asked.
“They’re in loose wing formation, and they’re headed to the coast. We can’t let that happen,” she said, hoping Aidan was listening in. “Our snake head is on the line here.”
“Poncho, peel off and check it out,” Killer said.
“No problem,” Poncho said. “Are you sure they’re headed to the coast?”
“It’s the only location that makes sense. They’re headed west, but don’t let them land without an escort.” She waited for his answer, but another thought came to her. “Did the entire co
mpound get destroyed?”
“We marked everything except the house we figured was Chandler’s,” Baylor said. “Unless the fire of the explosions took it out, it’s still standing.”
“You want to split up, or do we all go?” Wiley asked, stopping when she and Baylor guessed what her next statement would be.
“We stay together,” Harvey said as he drank some water. “The only thing we’ll need is some guns in case anyone’s left on the ground. Don’t you think?”
“I will go,” Jin said.
“We’re going back then,” Baylor said, and Berkley hoped this wasn’t another colossal mistake.
* * *
“God damn it,” Dick Chandler said as they flew with the last remaining troops he had that were available to board. If anyone was on the ground, he was counting on them to get out on their own. There couldn’t have been too many, since the cowardly attack had come late enough that the destruction of the barracks took his forces in their sleep. The only readily available survivors were the marines who were hunting the escaped hostages and the Lapry brothers’ unit who’d been guarding Ji Woo Min’s house.
“These fuckers are going to pay,” Robyn said as he held a small towel to his forehead. His son had shown so much valor by spending the attack hiding in a shelter under the house.
“The subs are waiting, sir. We can evacuate you and Robyn, and regroup once you’re underway. We might have to move our base of operations, but we have plenty of options to choose from,” Mark Lapry said as he piloted the helicopter. “We still have enough men serving to keep up the pressure.”
“Did you destroy all the equipment?” he asked Robyn, ignoring Mark for now. The bag at Robyn’s feet contained the backups from all the computers, but the actual units had to be destroyed, and that was his son’s main job.
Robyn stared at him as if he couldn’t believe he’d asked him that. “Of course. Did you make sure Mom boarded another helicopter?”
“She’ll be on the next flight,” he said and thought Robyn would strike him. “She didn’t want to come at all, but I’ll have her taken out forcibly if I have to.” Actually, he was tired of Ruby and all her damn whining all day about her children, like he didn’t understand how devastating it was to lose Jeffery and Rachel.
“I’m sure you’ve been forceful enough lately,” Robyn said, and Dick’s hand twitched from not slapping him.
“Once you’re married, you’ll realize that whoever your wife is can’t always come first, and she needs to learn how to be a good partner by whatever means are necessary.” He blew out a breath and stared at Robyn until he looked away. “If you don’t want to be that kind of man, go back to Olivia Michaels’s America and pray I don’t crush you.”
Chapter Twenty-six
The group led by Baylor took the same route back, and Wiley stopped at the men they’d killed and gathered their weapons and clips. “They won’t need them anymore,” Berkley said as she handed a rifle to Jin.
“What do you go back for?” Jin asked as she cradled the weapon with the barrel pointed toward the ground.
“For the answers none of our prisoners have wanted to share with us,” she said, and waved Baylor on. The way back didn’t seem as far, and the fires still burning led their way closer. “There’s a chance Chandler left evidence behind as he made his getaway. If it’s still there we’ll carry it out.”
“You are very interesting person, Berkley,” Jin said, and bowed her head slightly as if showing her respect.
“My mother did her best to raise us that way, and my father expected us to do the right thing even when it wasn’t the easiest option. I think we have that in common, only, from what you’ve told me, your mother taught you those lessons.”
They took cover at the edge of the clearing, and Wiley climbed to reach the best nest available. “Anything moving?” she asked Wiley by radio.
“Seems quiet, but I’d advise not just walking in like lost tourists.”
“I’ve got a better idea.” She radioed Vader and requested another run, but with new coordinates Baylor’s men would paint. They’d be done by the time the team reloaded and refueled the planes.
It took an hour, but the new targets would be on the western-most point of the compound, which would keep them safe from flying debris, but close enough to see any stragglers. Vader’s group gave warning before they started, and they watched as the bombs fell while their jets streaked by.
“I like seeing those from the safety of my seat on the plane,” Harvey said, and she laughed.
“True, brother, but let’s go. Wiley, we’re moving in. Do you see any problems?”
“Nothing yet, but I’ll be watching.”
Baylor was waiting at the back of the big house, and that’s how they all got in as well. The house was relatively untouched, considering the damage to everything else, and all Berkley noticed was the broken windows and items that had fallen over from the power of the blasts. “Baylor, we need to clear this place,” she said.
“How about you let us do that this time,” he said, and Tito, KO, and Goose nodded.
“Thanks. I’m over my quota of being taken hostage for the month.”
The SEALs were methodical in their approach and, after a brief breakout of gunfire, finally shouted for her to come toward the front of the house. The master bedroom held three dead soldiers wearing black uniforms and an older lady who sat on the bed crying. “Ma’am,” she said gently, standing a few feet away. “I need your name, ma’am.”
“Ruby Chandler, and I’ll give you whatever you want, if you help me get my children back.” Ruby fell to her knees and grabbed her hand. “Please, you have to help me. My husband, the bastard, left me here to die.”
“Releasing your children isn’t within my power, ma’am, but I can advocate on their behalf, if you help me now.” She assisted Ruby to her feet and studied her face. The fading yellowish bruise around her eye appeared tender, but her lip was swollen, pulling on the stitches holding it together. “Are you all right, ma’am?”
“I could ask you the same thing, Berkley. That’s your name, isn’t it?” Ruby tried to smile but winced in obvious pain. “My husband has spent the last day screaming about you, so don’t think I know you because I’m part of all this.”
“I understand he doesn’t like me very much, and I’m sure he has his reasons now,” she said to Ruby before turning her attention to Baylor. “We have to move before the Korean forces show up, but I need all the files and computer records before that happens.” She found Ruby staring at her when she turned back around, and she nodded. “If you have any idea of where to start looking, it’ll go a long way in helping your children live.”
Ruby led them to the office, unlocked the filing cabinets, and typed in all the passwords to the computers, and Berkley took the time to change them for later. It was almost too easy, but she didn’t want to stop to analyze the situation since they could review the information in a more secure location. “Call for a ride, and make sure the captain sends some incentive to leave them alone. If the area’s clear, we’ll have them land here. I’m all walked out for the night.”
Baylor called in the request, and she sat with Ruby again. “Does this place have a basement or vault?”
“The vault is behind the picture in the dining room…and yes, there is a basement.” Ruby hesitated after the basement admission, and she quickly picked up her weapon and motioned to Tito.
It didn’t take long before the firefight broke out when the men hiding in the basement came out shooting blindly. “Goose,” Baylor said, and the big guy threw a shock grenade toward the opening that was across from the office. The gunfire stopped momentarily, followed by another shock grenade from Tito. The SEALs kept firing until Baylor called for a cease fire, and the silence returned. A smoke haze hung in the air now that smelled of gunpowder and what seemed to be sulfur.
“How the hell did we miss that?” Baylor said loudly.
“It looked like a closet, Boss,”
Goose said, and Baylor went down and noticed the false door that was now in the open position.
He came out a few minutes after going in, wiping his face and pointing over his shoulder. “All clear, Cletus. Damn good call.”
Ruby had gotten up from the office chair, but Berkley lay motionless in front of the desk, still clutching her rifle. “Tito,” Baylor yelled as he watched Ruby raise the shiny gun and aim it at him. Her head exploded before he could raise his own weapon, and he saw a wounded New Horizons soldier take the shot. The guy fell flat after Goose put a bullet in him. “Cletus, if you fucking die on me after all this shit, I’m going to revive you just so I can kill you myself.”
He rolled Berkley over and saw four shots to her chest, starting in the middle and working downward. The only bloody spot was on the lower left side and at the side of her head. “Is she still breathing?” Goose asked as Baylor felt her pulse.
As if almost wishing it to happen, Goose’s words made Berkley take a deep breath and moan. “That fucking bitch shot me.”
Baylor opened her tunic and saw three bullets flattened on her flak jacket, though the fourth had penetrated right underneath, accounting for all the blood. “Jesus H. Christ, my future children thank you,” Baylor said.
“What?” Berkley asked, still sounding hoarse from getting the wind knocked out of her. “What are you talking about?”
“I told Wiley I had to find you or the captain would rip my nuts off and choke me with them, so thanks. My family jewels and future beautiful children are safe for now.” He pressed the bandage to her side and smiled as he bent down so he could whisper in her ear. “And you’re a lucky bastard. Aidan’s great, and forgive me if I’m wrong. The way you look at her, though, makes me think I’m not.”
“Thanks, buddy. After all this excitement, I’m going to retire and feel lucky all the time.”