by Warren Ray
Amber stared out the window into the darkness while bouncing her right leg. Winters reached for her right hand and squeezed it. She turned her palm up and grabbed on.
“You good?” asked Winters, in a low tone as he leaned toward her.
“A little nervous.”
“Me too.”
“Not sure what to say to her?” asked Amber.
“Yep. What about you?”
“The same, actually.”
“Really?”
“She’s your daughter, but she believes the lies about my friend and Captain.”
“Just tell her the truth. She’ll see your sincerity.”
“You think?”
“Absolutely.”
“I hope you’re right.”
Winters hoped he was right as well.
Bassett slowed down before taking a right on Jefferson Avenue. Winters knew they were close to the Marina and let go of Amber’s hand. Three blocks up, Bassett turned into an empty parking lot and drove to the docks. Scar pulled in behind them, and everyone got out and grabbed their gear. Bassett’s tactical tomahawk hung on the front of this belt. Hollis took his SR25 rifle out of the carrying case. He was an avid hunter and shooter and had tricked his rifle out with a flash suppressor and a night-vision scope. Meeks decided to take Nate’s Mossberg 500 shotgun with him. He carried a belt of double aught shells around his chest. The rest carried M-4’s with plenty of ammo.
Everyone’s nerves were on edge, so the conversation was limited to the operation only. After picking out a couple of nineteen-foot boats, Burns, who had experience with boats, hot wired them and they took off toward Grosse Pointe. It was 0100 hours and it would take at least thirty minutes to get there. They planned on a 0200-hour attack and needed to give Elliott and Nordell plenty of time to set up.
The water was calm and the night sky was clear, the crescent moon gave off just enough light that they were able to see each other in the boat without wearing their night-vision gear. The two boats traveled side by side, as they slowly made their way toward the mansion where the estate lights shined in the distance.
Winters pulled out his radio. “Elliott.”
“Here, Captain.”
“You in position?”
“In about ten.”
“Copy,” said Winters.
He then turned to Hadley and Hollis who were in the second boat. They were going to stay out in the water and cover their six. The young Texan would spot for Hollis with the night-vision binoculars and pilot the boat. “Keep your distance, Hadley.”
“I will, Captain.”
Burns veered the boat toward Gaukler Point and aimed it to the south side of the estate where foliage would hide the boat. Scar scanned the estate with the thermal goggles as they passed by it.
“We’ve got two tangos standing at the back entrance smoking a cigarette. So far, I only see two others walking the grounds.”
Burns navigated the boat to the shore behind a large thicket of trees and Bassett hopped out to tie it off to a branch. He then squatted down and surveyed the area. Everyone grabbed their gear before joining Bassett on shore.
It was a hundred yards to the back entrance where two floodlights lit up the backyard. However, the lights only illuminated about seventy-five feet out and had a sharp cut off at the furthest reach of the beam. This was ideal for the team, as they wanted to come around the estate by the shore.
Bassett grabbed a pair of night-vision binoculars to look for any motion sensing lights. Not seeing any, he flashed the team a thumbs up. They then stole away, hugging the shoreline, before taking cover behind a couple of trees fifty feet directly behind the mansion.
The team patiently watched as the two Jijis on the patio finished their smokes. While they waited to see what pattern the two guards walked on their rounds, Winters reached for his radio and contacted Elliott telling them they were in position.
After ten minutes of observing the guards, Basset turned to Winters. “Stay here, while I take these two out.”
Bassett pulled out his tactical tomahawk and knife and bolted toward the first Jiji. He closed in within seconds, striking the man across the neck knocking him over. He then swung down hard to finish him off before racing toward the next guard. This one turned around at the last second before the axe cut into his skull.
Scar and Meeks moved to the dead and dragged them to the shore.
Winters and Amber joined them and they all ran to a far back entrance that Thomas had promised to leave unlocked. Bassett turned the handle and opened the door. He entered a dimly lit room and stood for a moment to listen for any activity. Convinced most of the staff was sleeping, he motioned to them to the back staircase. Bassett, Winters, and Amber scooted up the steps leaving Burns, Scar, and Meeks to stand guard.
By studying the map of the house before they left, Bassett knew where Cara slept. He peeked down the darkened hallway before heading to her room.
Winters thought his heart was racing before, but now that they were at her door, his heart pounded so loud he thought everyone could hear it. He took a couple of deep breaths before turning the knob. He slowly opened the door and could see his daughter lying on the bed sleeping.
Chapter 81
The last thing Cole Winters wanted to do was scare Cara, but he had no choice and put a hand over her mouth before waking her. Also, he wasn’t sure if he could trust her, knowing she came here on her own volition.
Cara opened her eyes and began to squirm around to break loose.
“Cara, settle down, don’t move.”
She didn’t listen and tried to break free.
Winters motioned for Amber to hit the lights.
Cara blinked a few times to adjust to the light and once she did, her eyes widened when she recognized her father. She jerked her eyes to Bassett and Amber and then back to her father who continued to cover her mouth.
“Cara, honey, please, don’t scream out, okay?” whispered Winters.
She nodded.
Winters slowly loosened his grip.
“What are you doing here?” she asked in a rough tone.
“Well, hello to you, too,” whispered Winters.
“Why are you here?” asked Cara wondering when she should start screaming for help.
“I’m here to take you away.”
Cara sat up and rubbed her eyes. “Why, so you can kill me like you killed mom.”
“Oh, honey, I didn’t kill your mom. She died of cancer. I loved your mom and I love you. It’s all a bunch of lies.”
“So, you’re like not murdering and raping women.”
Winters looked deep into her eyes. “No, of course not.”
“It’s true, Cara,” said Amber. “If it wasn’t for your dad, I’d be dead right now.”
“I don’t understand,” said Cara.
Amber moved to the bed and said, “Honey, just know that everyone has been lying to you about everything. Your dad has saved more lives than you can imagine.”
Winters spoke next. “We came to rescue you because you’re a prisoner here.”
Cara cocked her head. “No, I’m not.”
“Cara, I can assure you that you are. Mordulfah planned on raping you in front of me.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because this isn’t the first time I’ve been here.”
Cara gave him a puzzled look.
“He’s mad at me because we rescued a bunch of girls he kept here as sex slaves. So, he wants to get even with me and he’s using you to do it.”
A light seemed to come on in her head. “He has girls down in the basement right now.”
Winters looked over at Bassett then back to Cara.
“Where? Which room?” asked Winters.
“The first door on the left after you pass the bathroom.”
“How many?”
“Two girls. They’re twins.”
Bassett whispered into the radio to Burns. He then looked at Winters. “We need to go.”
Winters turned to Cara. “Put some clothes on, Honey.”
Cara hesitated for a second before sliding out of the bed. She knelt down and pulled on a pair of jean shorts, then laced up a pair of gym shoes before grabbing her stuff, but then stopped. “We need to get my friend, CC.”
“What?” asked Winters.
“My friend, CC, she came with me. She’s in the next room. I can’t leave her.”
Winters knew she was right, but grew anxious because the longer they were there, the more likely they were going to arouse suspicion. He knew Burns would get the girls out of the basement, but was now concerned about three extra passengers.
They all flipped down their goggles when Bassett turned the light off. He opened the door and looked both ways before stepping out into the hallway.
Cara pushed ahead of Bassett to CC’s door. “Let me tell her.”
Bassett looked at Winters who gave him a shrug.
Cara opened the door and whispered. “CC, are you awake?”
Winters stood in the doorway and watched his daughter go to the bed to wake her. It took a second before she woke up and turned over. As soon as she did, Winters instantly didn’t trust her.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“CC, my daddy is here to rescue us.”
“What?” she asked in an elevated voice.
“Shhhhh, don’t wake everyone. We’re prisoners here, CC.”
Winters could see the short haired blonde girl look toward the dark hall at him. Her eyes widened when she realized what was going on. She then reached over to the nightstand, grabbed her knife, and thrust it into Cara’s stomach as she screamed out for help.
Winters jerked his M-4 rifle up and pulled the trigger exploding CC’s head against the headboard. He then bounded around the bed to Cara and scooped her up in his arms as blood poured down her side. She cried in agony. His heart sank and he wanted to comfort her, but they needed to leave before tending to her wound.
“Daddy, why?”
“I don’t know, Cara.”
Winters stood up. “Let’s go.”
Bassett was already at the top of the stairs and Amber brought up the rear. A Jiji came down the hall behind them and Amber fired a three shot burst taking him down.
Winters lunged down the stairs two at a time. He reached the bottom and turned to see Amber right behind him.
Bassett peeked around the corner and bullets slammed into the doorframe. He angled his M-4 and emptied the magazine. He grabbed his radio when Burns called out.
“You got one headed your way. Meeks is chasing him up the stairs.”
A shotgun blast rang out and then another. Meeks pumped the gun again, expending a shell and loading a fresh one. A large man, dressed in black, crawled up the stairs on his hands and knees. Meeks rushed up behind him and fired one last time.
Meeks looked up at Bassett and gave him a nod. He then turned and motioned his hand forward. The twin girls ran up the stairs pushing their backs against the wall to skirt around the dead man. Scar and Burns followed behind them guarding their escape.
They saw Cara bleeding in Winters’ arms but didn’t ask what happened.
“I’ve got gunfire around the corner,” said Bassett. “Scar, you lead them, take out those floodlights. Burns and I will cover our six.”
Bassett and Burns began firing around the corner as Scar led them out the back door. Amber took charge of the twins and ushered them behind Scar. Meeks followed behind Winters as they ran across the backyard. Scar tried to take out the floodlights but began taking gunfire from an upstairs window.
Chapter 82
The sound of gunfire got Nordell’s attention. His thirty years of Marine Corps experience told him a single gunshot was always followed by many more. He nudged Elliott and told him to get the men ready. He would wait for Winters’ signal before launching a salvo towards the mansion.
Nordell had set up his squad in the woods that bordered the estate, four hundred yards away from the mansion. Another squad waited off to the right to cover their flank and a company of another hundred covering their exit. He wasn’t taking any chance of getting trapped and would keep that company in place as a back up only.
The enemy sat in two fields, one directly in front of them and the second to their right. He wasn’t too awfully worried though because of the two badass SAWs with him. The high fire rate was enough to eviscerate whatever got in their way and usually scared the living hell out of anyone else. He also had the grenade launcher with two RPG’s at his disposal. He was itching to engage, but would patiently wait for Winters’ signal. Better they escape than to blow it all to hell. Regardless of his covert position and weaponry, they were still behind enemy lines and would only be able to hold on for a short while before the enemy, with their superior numbers, would overrun them.
When the gunfire rang out, Nordell looked through the night-vision binoculars and saw movement in the tents sitting in the field in front of him. As the level of fire increased, more men moved out of the tents and gathered in small groups. They were wondering what was going on inside the mansion. Nordell knew exactly what had happened. His friends were exposed and in danger, but he didn’t worry because he had a lot of faith in Corporal Bassett getting them out of there.
He could distinguish the AK-47 rounds now coming rapidly from the back of the house. He smiled knowing his friend, Hollis, was lining up his first shot. He turned his head slightly and waited for it. The familiar crack of Hollis’ rifle then echoed through the air. More of Hollis’ shots rang out and Nordell had, no doubt, that every one of them hit their mark.
Chapter 83
Scar led everyone behind a tree as a barrage of gunfire rained down from inside the house. He then heard a shot ring out from the lake and knew Hollis was now in action. The shot blew through an upstairs window taking out a Jiji. The next two shots extinguished both floodlights. The enemy was blind, so Scar motioned everyone to move out.
Winters tried to comfort his daughter by whispering how much he loved her and that she was going to be okay. She groaned softly and started to lose consciousness.
Flashlights suddenly appeared and swept across the lawn as men poured around the house and opened fire. Scar could see they were firing blindly in the wrong direction and he signaled to not return fire. He led the group to the water’s edge and hunkered down to keep out of sight. He watched more Jijis pour in from the south side. He turned around to see a barrage of gunfire keeping Bassett and Burns from leaving the back entrance.
Scar reached for the radio and called to Nordell. “Gunny, come in.”
“I’m here, over.”
“They’ve got our exit blocked. Light ‘em up on the south side.”
“Copy.”
Seconds later, non-stop gunfire rang out and the confused Jijis began to peel off back toward the front of the house leaving only a few men to keep an eye on the back. Bassett peeked around the corner to see their opening. He signaled Burns and they tore across the back yard. They waited another few moments while the last remaining Jijis ambled around the back of the house looking for them and soon disappeared around the north side. Scar motioned everyone to move out. They reached the boat and everyone piled in while Bassett untied it and began to push away from shore. Burns started the motor. The boat came to life and he powered it toward Hadley and Hollis.
Scar grabbed the radio. “Gunny, we are away. I repeat, we are away, over.”
“Copy that,”
Winters placed Cara on a bench seat and reached for the first aid kit. He grabbed bandages and lifted her shirt. The wound bled profusely. He placed gauze over her wound and pressed down. He could feel warm blood soaking through the bandage onto his hand. Amber came over to help and placed more gauze on top trying to stem the flow of blood.
Winters put her head on his lap and brushed her hair back.
She kept her eyes on him
Winters gave a little smile.
The boat sliced through the cal
m water and everyone remained silent while staring at their captain comforting his daughter.
“Daddy, I’m sorry,” she whispered.
Winters could barely hear her over the roar of the engine, so he leaned closer. “None of it matters, okay. Just know that I love you.”
Cara started gasping for air and took in a large gulp while looking at her father. Her eyes had the look of an unwitting pawn, remorseful, with a yearning of forgiveness. Winters gave her that forgiveness but wanted the same from her. He helped build the wedge between them and knew he’d never get the chance for her forgiveness as she went limp.
Everyone stared silently as Cara died in her father’s arms.
Winters let out a sigh of despair and closed his eyes trying to wrap his mind around what just happened. A wave of anger swept over him thinking about who was responsible. Mister Hyde began bubbling up to overpower him. He wanted revenge and he would get it.
They reached the dock and Bassett jumped out to tie off the boat. He then reached out to help the twin girls up. Scar and Meeks stood up and waited for Winters to move.
He took a few moments before standing up with Cara in his arms. Her left arm fell from her side and Amber reached over to gently place it on her chest. Winters tripped trying to maneuver to the side and Scar grabbed hold of him.
“Let me help you, Captain.”
Meeks hopped out and took Cara in his arms as Winters climbed onto the dock. He then took her back and walked toward the SUV’s.
Chapter 84
Nordell was relieved everyone was back on the boat and looked around to survey the situation. The enemy had begun to fight back and their advance was getting closer. He still had a squad to the south sitting tight and not alerting anyone to their presence. His company behind him stood ready, but he hoped to be able to keep them in reserve. This enemy knew nothing about tactics and he would take advantage of their inexperience. Now that they were exposed and taking fire, he decided to give them a hurting before leaving. There was no sense in allowing them to keep their strength. Plus, it was payback for the massacre at the churches and the hospital. He raised the binoculars and saw that a large group of Jijis stood by the mansion guarding it.