by Alex Siegel
The team swept through the house at a run. They found the subject cowering in the back corner of a laundry room. The young man was just wearing a bathrobe, and he hadn't even tied it closed.
"Kevin Price?" Stony said.
The man's face was white from fear. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"We're federal agents. You stole a file from the Forensic Center earlier today. Tell us about it."
Kevin grimaced.
Stony shoved him against a wall using the shotgun. "I promised I wouldn't break your legs. Don't make me go back on that promise."
Stony heard water splashing and smelled fresh urine.
"I give up!" Kevin squeaked. "A man came to the office this afternoon."
"Describe him."
"Big guy. Hairy. Huge beard. Sunglasses and a hat. He was wandering through the hallways when he found me. He wanted information about a John Doe who died last November, but those files are confidential."
"Yet you cooperated," Stony said.
"He gave me gold coins. Solid gold coins! Besides, nobody cares about protecting the privacy of a bum who died last year. It's not like I was interfering with an active police investigation. I looked up the information in the computer and gave him a printout. Then he gave me more coins to delete the records and destroy any paperwork."
"The surveillance camera caught you walking out with a file."
"I threw it in a dumpster," Kevin said. "It was just a few pages anyway. The medical examiner declared the death a suicide without performing a full autopsy. The body was never identified."
"So you read the report."
"I was curious why it was a big deal, but there was nothing strange in the report. The Forensic Center processes anonymous corpses all the time."
"I only need one piece of information," Stony said. "Where is the grave?"
"The new county cemetery up by Millington. It's where all the indigent burials happen these days."
"What's the exact address?"
"Intersection of Raleigh-Millington and Duncan."
Stony turned to Mia. "Call headquarters. Tell them we're on our way. We'll probably need a scrub team up there. It could get messy."
Chapter Fifteen
Isn't that adorable, Orcus thought.
Six little children were lying on the ground in the Shelby County Cemetery south of Millington. Taut ropes went from their wrists and ankles to stakes set deep in the ground, permitting them to wiggle just a little, like a worm on a hook. Burlap sacks were wrapped around the kids' heads, blinding them and muffling their fearful cries. He had cut off their clothes just to add to their sense of helplessness.
Orcus smiled. It's a great night.
Raleigh-Millington Road ran along the west side of the cemetery. Farmland was to the south, and a residential neighborhood bordered on the east.
He jogged north towards a patch of forest. The dark night made the trees look like a solid, black mass. He didn't dare use his flashlight though. A bright light might attract a curious neighbor.
When Orcus reached the tree line, he whistled softly. Sixty pit bulls came out of the shadows and stood in a neat line like perfect soldiers. Their tails wagged with excitement.
One dog at a time, he placed his hand on their warm foreheads. Hide in the darkness, he commanded. Attack when you see the strangers. Kill.
When Orcus was done, the dogs went back into the trees.
He ran back across the quiet graveyard. The stolen motorhome was parked on the grass very near the children. The massive green and white vehicle was almost the size of a semi-truck. Its weight was pressing the tires into the soft ground.
He pulled open the door and climbed inside. He had to risk using his flashlight, but he kept the beam pointed down. He walked to the back of the motorhome.
Blocks of C-4 and boxes of dynamite filled the bathroom. There was enough explosive to kill anybody within a hundred yards, even if they were exceptionally tough. He flipped a switch, and a timer started counting down from three minutes. When it reached zero, a network of motion sensors would activate. Anybody who tried to approach the children or the motorhome would set off the bomb.
Orcus carefully closed the bathroom door. He ran out of the bus and headed southwest on foot. He glanced over his shoulder at the children one last time.
Then he fled. He still had a long journey ahead of him.
* * *
"How close are we?" Stony yelled.
"About a mile from the target, sir!" the helicopter pilot replied over the engine noise.
"Close enough. Put us down!"
The helicopter descended swiftly and landed on the field of a farm. The harvest had already happened, and the field was just bare dirt.
Stony, Mia, Veronica, and Brian jumped out.
"Stay here," Stony ordered the pilot, "but be ready to move if we call."
"Yes, sir," the pilot said.
The members of the third division ran at full speed, guided by the navigation system in Mia's phone. If the helicopter had landed any closer, the noise might've alerted Orcus. Even a mile was risky.
The team came to a road and ran along the shoulder. Stony's feet pounded on the dirt, creating a quick drumbeat. Running hard after a long, stressful day felt great. He couldn't wait to kill Orcus.
Stony eventually saw the sign for the cemetery up ahead. He raised his hand, and everybody slowed to a silent, cautious walk.
They approached from the south. Stony could already see a big motorhome parked in the center of the cemetery, probably right on some graves. Freshly mowed grass covered the ground. A cluster of headstones showed where bodies were buried, but most of the cemetery was unoccupied. There was almost no cover. Orcus would see any attack coming.
The team knelt behind a bush at the periphery of the cemetery.
"I see kids," Veronica whispered. "By the motorhome."
Stony strained to see in the darkness, but he picked out six little bodies on the ground tied to stakes. He couldn't tell whether they were alive from so far away.
He had brought a pair of night vision binoculars. He turned them on and peered through the optics. The world appeared bright green, and he could see the children much better now.
"They're wiggling," Stony said. "I hope that means they're alive, but we can't take anything for granted. I don't see any sign of Orcus though. Maybe he is in the motorhome, preparing for the ceremony."
"This isn't right," Mia said.
"Of course it isn't."
"No, I mean getting here was too easy."
"We had to drive and fly all over the damn place," Stony said.
"The school teacher, the gold dealer, the horse farmer, the escaped boy, and the evidence technician. They all gave us valuable bits of information, breadcrumbs that led us here. Orcus could've killed all of them before they talked to us. And why did he attack not just one but two police checkpoints in different parts of the state? He could've snuck around the police. I can't believe he's so stupid or reckless." Mia looked out at the graveyard. "He wanted us to come here. It's a trap. The kids are bait. That's why he put them out in the open."
"If that's true, why did he make it so complicated? There were a lot of twists and turns."
"Elaboration is part of deception," Brian said. "If Orcus had simply given us this address, we would know it's a trap. The long trail of clues makes the chase credible."
"Yes." Veronica said. "Mia is right. If we try to rescue those kids, something bad will happen."
Stony looked at the children lying in the middle of the cemetery. Orcus had left them alive to create urgency. Walking away wasn't an option.
"Assuming you're right," Stony said, "let's analyze the trap. If I were in his shoes, I would want to make sure all of us died at once. An area-effect weapon. Explosives or poison gas."
"Explosives are easier to control," Mia said. "Notice how the motorhome is very close to the kids. He could've hidden a very large bomb inside. What sort of trigger?"
"Tripwires?" Brian said. "Laser beams?"
"No." Stony said. "Too unreliable. Orcus was an expert burglar as a young man. He understands how alarm systems work. I bet he used motion sensors. You can buy them at hardware stores, no questions asked. They are battery-powered and can send signals wirelessly. He would just need to place them around the kids. The whole installation would just take a few minutes."
"You sound like you're talking from experience," Mia said.
"I may have used motion sensors on jobs once or twice. Very handy little gadgets."
"Indeed," Brian said. "Is that the entire trap?"
"No," Mia said. "Orcus snatched a shit-load of dogs. Some of them must be here."
"Inside the motorhome?" Stony said.
"How would they get out?" Brian looked around. "I think the forest is more likely." He pointed north. "A canine ambush from the shadows. Orcus used that tactic on the troopers."
Stony looked at the dark mass of trees. "Yes. As soon as we step into the open, the dogs will come running to kill us. They will probably set off the bomb along the way. Orcus wanted to make sure the trap was tripped."
"We have to deal with the dogs first. We can't let them run around in the graveyard."
Stony hefted his AA-12. "I'm ready."
"No guns." Brian shook his head. "The noise will bring the neighbors out. The last thing we need is curious bystanders."
"There may be a lot of dogs."
Brian brandished his long knives. "I'm ready."
"Fine." Stony pulled a combat knife from a sheath on his ankle. "Veronica, stay here and call the PEA. Wait for them to show up. Make sure nobody goes into the cemetery. Mia, do you want to come with us?"
Mia smiled, showing off her white teeth in the darkness. "I wouldn't miss it."
Stony, Mia, and Brian made their way slowly around the perimeter of the graveyard. They were careful to stay out of sight and move silently. Stony used his binoculars periodically but saw only trees.
They finally entered the forest. As the person with the most natural protection, Stony took the lead position. He wanted the dogs to focus all their energies on him.
"You know," he said, "we're going to look a little foolish when we don't find any dogs."
"No need to worry," Brian murmured.
An animal growled in the shadows. Stony hardened his skin reflexively.
Suddenly, dogs swarmed over him, and he couldn't even guess at how many were attacking. The mass of animals knocked him to the ground. Powerful jaws clamped onto his arms and legs, but the teeth couldn't penetrate his advanced armor, much less his impervious skin. He allowed them to pile onto his body.
He didn't bother with his knife because it took too much finesse. He crushed small skulls with his bare hands instead. He bashed in ribs and broke necks. He reached into dogs' mouths and ripped apart their jaws. He hurled their squirming bodies against the trees with enough force to kill.
Just when he was really enjoying the fight, it ended. He ran out of dogs.
Stony stood up. "Mia? Brian?"
"I'm OK," Brian said. "That was fun."
"A dog bit my ear," Mia said sourly. "I just hope I don't get rabies or something."
Stony looked at her with concern, but she was just a black silhouette between the trees. He hoped her hearing wasn't damaged.
"We'll have a doctor check you out," Stony said. "Right now, we have kids to rescue."
The three of them left the forest and stepped into the graveyard. Slightly better light allowed him to see Mia's ear, and it was a bloody mess. Her expression was calm though. She was very good at hiding pain.
Stony turned his attention to the kids. He saw a couple of them squirm, but the ropes allowed very little movement. He imagined motion sensors were all around, hidden in the grass, and perhaps other surprises as well.
"I'm open to suggestions," Stony said.
"We have to deactivate the bomb," Brian said.
"Is that all? Just getting to the motorhome without setting off the bomb will take a miracle. We don't even know where the sensors are."
"I have a plan, but I need a few things."
Stony saw two sedans pull up on the far side of the graveyard. Men and women in blue suits stepped out, and Veronica ran over to meet them.
"PEA agents are here," Stony said.
"I can give them my shopping list," Brian said. "Come on."
Stony, Mia, and Brian ran back around the cemetery. They didn't bother with stealth this time, but they stayed far away from the children. By the time they reached the south side, another car full of agents had showed up.
"Mia," Stony said, "you should get that ear taken care of. The rest of us can handle the rescue."
Mia nodded with an expression of great disappointment. "OK. Be careful." She kissed him on the lips.
Stony gathered the PEA agents together and summarized the situation. They looked towards the motorhome anxiously.
"I want at least half of you out searching for Orcus," Stony said. "He was here this evening, and he might still be in the area. Form teams. You know the drill. The rest of you will keep bystanders out of the cemetery and help us rescue the kids. Brian has a plan."
"Here is what I need," Brian said. "A very long rope, duct tape, pillow cases, a battery-powered circular saw with a diamond blade, and the best bomb expert you can find on short notice."
Stony gave Brian a funny look.
* * *
Stony was hanging onto the end of a two-hundred-foot rope suspended from the helicopter. The aircraft was descending very slowly and carefully as it lowered Stony towards the roof of the motorhome. Brian had bet that no sensors were pointed up, so insertion from above was likely to be safe. Stony was taking no chances though. The sensors detected motion, so as long as he held still, he wouldn't set them off.
He landed on the roof of the motorhome with hardly a bump. Dew covered the slick metal surface. He slowly sat down while keeping a firm grip on the rope.
Once the rope was stabilized, Brian came down from the helicopter. He was belaying to control his speed, and he took his time. Rushing could get everybody killed. The helicopter pilot did a good job of keeping the aircraft perfectly still in the air.
Stony glanced at the children on the ground. They were all moving, at least a little. Sacks covered their heads, but he could see the fabric blowing in and out as they breathed. For some reason, all the kids were naked.
"Stay calm!" Stony called out. "Don't try to move! We're here to rescue you!"
He heard squeals but couldn't make out any words over the helicopter noise.
Brian landed on the motorhome and shrugged off a black backpack.
A third person began her descent from the helicopter. She worked for the Memphis Police as a bomb disposal technician, and supposedly, she was the best available. Her name was Sergeant Pekerman.
Her descent was much clumsier than Brian's, but she slowed down towards the end and reached the roof of the motorhome safely. She had a blue police backpack full of bomb defusing gear.
"Lay down," Brian said. "Don't move."
Pekerman laid down. She was a short, skinny woman, although a full set of blue body armor made her appear bulky. She was wearing a blue helmet and goggles.
Brian took an electric saw out of his backpack. The circular blade was razor thin. He expertly made three straight cuts in the roof, and the sheet metal offered little resistance. He used a screwdriver to very slowly pry up a metal flap.
"This is the dangerous part," he said. "I have to move extremely slowly while I'm in there until I find and disable all the motion sensors."
At an almost laughably slow pace, he put his legs into the hole and lowered himself down. He was holding himself with arm-strength alone for a few minutes. It was an impressive feat. Nobody had more mental and physical discipline than Brian.
"Backpack," he murmured.
Stony handed down the backpack, taking as much time as he liked and a little extra.
; "Wait for me to give the all clear," Brian said, "or get blown up. One of the two."
Stony relaxed. The next part would take a while.
"Are you sure there's a bomb in there?" Pekerman said.
"No," Stony said, "but it's a reasonable theory."
"I'm still a little confused. Why did the kidnapper take the kids?"
"To use as bait. To lure us here." I bet Forneus told Orcus about us, he thought.
"He killed five troopers," she said.
"Just to make us mad."
"I see. Do you people do this kind of thing all the time, whoever you are?"
"It's a different kind of shit every time, but it's always shitty," Stony said. "Now please be quiet. You're not authorized for this conversation."
Despite the exciting situation, he had almost fallen asleep when Brian finally called out.
"Come on down," he said. "It's safe."
Stony went down first. Brian had turned on the lights, and the interior of the motorhome was disgusting. Dog poop was all over the floor. The dogs had also chewed the vinyl upholstery off the furniture.
Pillow cases were taped over various spots, and Stony presumed motion sensors were underneath. He nodded in appreciation. Sensors that detected changes in infrared emissions wouldn't be able to see through fabric, and neither would visible light cameras. Some sensors used ultrasonic pulses, like sonar on a submarine. The pillow cases would also muffle the pulses. Of course, taping the pillow cases in place had taken an enormous amount of patience and courage.
Stony helped Sergeant Pekerman come down.
"The bomb is in back," Brian said.
She went to the back of the motorhome. "Holy fuck!" she said. "The kidnapper didn't screw around."
Stony went back to see for himself. Orcus had created an impressive pile of C-4 and dynamite, enough to demolish a bridge. A detonator module had a flashing red light.
"Can you disarm it?" Stony said.
Pekerman stared at the bomb for a long moment. "I see redundant power sources and a lot of circuitry that worries me. This bomb was built by an expert. If I cut any wire, it will blow."