by Alex Lukeman
"Not much cooking," Lamont said.
Ronnie sighed and looked up at the ceiling.
"I don't see anything," Nick said. "Look for a trap door."
Stephanie's voice popped into his ear. "It should be about a third of the way along the rear wall from the end," she said.
"Which end?"
"Sorry. The bay."
"Over here, Nick." Ronnie stood in front of a large stove. Part of a metal manhole cover showed under one corner.
"Let's get this off of there." The three of them pushed against the stove. It barely moved.
"That is one heavy mother," Lamont said.
They pushed again. The stove scraped across the floor until the cover was exposed. There was an odd shaped hole on one side for a key. Nick worked two fingers into the hole and tried to lift. Nothing happened.
"It's locked. See if you can find something to pry it up."
They searched the kitchen without any luck.
"They probably lost that key fifty years ago," Ronnie said. Nick heard the distant beat of rotors. The Marine helicopters were coming in.
"Too bad we don't have a little C4," Lamont said.
"Yeah. We can't waste any more time with this. We'll do it the hard way," Nick said. He spoke into the comm link.
"Steph, send me a picture of the embassy grounds and the building where we are now."
"On the way."
Nick looked at the screen on his phone. He showed it to the others.
"We're here." He tapped the roof of a building in the picture. "It would have been nice to sneak up on them through that tunnel but it isn't going to happen."
"What's this?" Lamont asked. He pointed at the next building over. The embassy was beyond that.
"Offices," Nick said.
"And this?" Lamont pointed at a building directly behind the embassy.
"That's the Chancery," Nick said. "They may have a sentry posted there. Even if they don't, they can see it from the embassy. Hold on a moment."
He keyed the comm. "Selena, do you copy?"
Nick heard an answering cough.
"Can you see the Chancery building from where you are? Don't answer, just cough. Once for yes, twice for no."
Cough.
"Are the bad guys watching the Chancery?"
Cough.
"How many? More than one?"
Cough.
"More than three?"
Cough. Cough.
"Are you okay?"
Cough.
"Hang in there, I'm coming."
Cough.
"How is she?" Ronnie asked.
"She's good. There are two or three watching the Chancery."
They studied the picture on Nick's phone.
"We can make our way down this parking lot behind the offices. They won't see us if we stick close to the wall," Nick said.
A row of tall trees and shrubbery ran at an angle from the corner of the parking lot to the embassy.
"Those trees would give us some cover," Ronnie said. "We could use them to get over to the side of the building."
"It's not much of a plan," Nick said. "I don't see what else we could do."
"Are there windows on that side?" Lamont asked.
"Have to be. Better hope they're not looking. Any other ideas?"
"Nope," Ronnie said. Lamont shook his head.
"Let's boogie," Nick said.
They moved out into the sunlight. The block shaped building that served as office space and quarters for embassy personnel loomed on their left. At the end of the parking lot they could see where the landscaping around the embassy began. Only a corner of the building was visible from where they stood.
Nick spoke into his comm link. "Selena, we're moving in now. Be ready."
Cough.
Sudden sound drowned out thought as helicopters came in low and fast overhead. The engine notes changed as they hovered to drop the Marines.
"Go," Nick said.
They ran the length of the parking lot toward the embassy, staying next to the building wall. They reached the end of the lot and paused. There were three large trees between them and the embassy and some low shrubbery. Several windows lined the embassy wall. Anyone looking out would see them moving across the gap between the trees.
Nick wished he had more than just his pistol with him.
"We're going to need more firepower," Ronnie said. He held his Sig in both hands.
"You read my mind," Nick said. "We'll have to liberate a couple of AKs as soon as we can."
"We might get over there without being seen if we run like hell," Lamont said.
Nick thought about it. "I don't see a better way. Ronnie, you go first, then me, then Lamont. Get up against the building between the windows."
"On my way," Ronnie said.
He took off at a fast sprint. Nick gave him a lead and took off after him. He heard Lamont's footsteps pounding behind. Ronnie passed the second tree and then the third, with Nick a few steps behind. Ronnie reached the building and flattened himself against the wall between two windows. Seconds later Nick and Lamont had joined him.
Nick let out a sigh of relief.
"I'm getting too old for this stuff," he said. He kept his voice low.
"Yeah." Lamont was breathing heavily. "Tell me about it."
"What's next, Kemo Sabe?" Ronnie said.
"Whenever you start that Kemo Sabe stuff, I get worried," Nick said.
"So?"
"I haven't figured the next part out yet," Nick said.
CHAPTER 20
Omar looked at the huddled group of hostages, deciding who would be first. Two of his men had hung a black banner with white Arabic letters against one of the walls. A third man was setting up a video camera.
Selena sat on the floor next to Ambassador Cathwaite. She was unbound. The terrorists hadn't bothered to tie anyone up. Selena couldn't blame them for feeling confident. Holding AKs against unarmed civilians tended to make you feel that way. Two men watched her and the other hostages.
She read the banner. It was a verse from the Quran about slaying the enemies of Allah. Black banners with verses calling for jihad were never a good sign. Neither was the video camera.
Two of Omar's men were setting charges all around the walls. It was clear they intended to destroy the building. One of the terrorists was standing next to her. She couldn't let Nick know, not right now. Selena wondered if anyone would leave the building alive, then pushed the thought away.
Omar walked over to her. "You, journalist, get up."
She got to her feet. Omar grabbed her arm and marched her over to the video camera. He handed her a piece of paper.
"These are our demands," he said. His breath was foul with the smell of fish. "There is a transmitter on this camera. The images will be relayed on television throughout the world. Read these demands, as they are written. It is, as they say, a scoop for you. Do you understand, slut?"
"Yes." Inside, she seethed. She could kill him before he moved but it wouldn't do any good. His men would cut her down and probably kill all the other hostages as well. "I understand," she said.
The terrorist leader signaled. A bright light came on over the camera. "Begin," he said. "Read the statement."
Selena started reading the terrorist demands. Immediate release of thirty-four Abu Sayyaf prisoners being held for trial by the Philippine government. Recognition of an independent Islamic Republic on Mindanao. Reparations for past offenses by the government in the amount of $100 million, to be brought to the embassy within twelve hours. All prisoners were to be released immediately. If the release was delayed, one hostage would be executed every hour, on the hour. Any attempt to assault the embassy would result in all hostages being executed.
They were impossible demands. Selena knew they wouldn't be met. It meant they would all die if nothing happened to stop it.
She finished reading. Omar stepped in front of the camera and pushed her out of the way. "Sit down, whore," he said. Selena went
back over by the ambassador and sat down.
Omar spoke to the camera.
"You need to know we are serious," he said. "I will show you how serious we are."
He pointed at one of the hostages, a local girl who worked in the mailroom. The camera followed his gesture. He signaled one of his men. "Her," he said. The man grabbed her and pulled her to her feet. He brought her over to Omar and forced her down on her knees.
"No, wait," she said. "Wait."
Omar shot her in the head in front of the camera. Gray matter and bone sprayed out over the room. The body toppled over.
"You have one hour," Omar said to the camera. "If you do not begin releasing my people I will shoot another. Next time it will be an American." He made a slashing motion across his throat. The camera light went off.
Selena felt the ambassador grip her hand.
"Bastard," Cathwaite said. "She just had a baby. Three months ago." Her voice trembled with anger. Blood spread in a wide stain under the dead girl.
Outside the embassy, Nick considered his next move. Selena's voice sounded in his earpiece. She was whispering, but Nick could hear the stress in her voice.
"Nick, do you copy?"
"Affirmative."
"There are twelve of them. They've placed charges all around. They shot a hostage."
"We're outside the building looking for a way in." He paused. "You okay?"
"Nick, these people are crazy..."
Her voice cut off.
"Selena?" he said. There was no answer.
CHAPTER 21
Lt. Colonel Kroger shielded his eyes against dust kicked up by the Sea Knight helicopters as they lifted away. Three Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallions came in after them and settled on the boulevard. They disgorged more Marines and half a dozen Humvees with Browning M2 .50 BMG machine guns mounted topside. Kroger believed in being prepared. From the air he'd seen a column of Philippine Army vehicles speeding down Roxas Boulevard toward the embassy. He placed some of his men and a Humvee across the Boulevard in the path of the oncoming Philippine troops. Others took up positions along the edge of the embassy grounds. Kroger had created an instant buffer zone around the embassy. No one was getting near the building without going through him.
The Philippine convoy was getting close. "Looks like we got here just in time, sir."
The speaker was his XO. Major Clifford Anderson had been Kroger's second in command for the last two years. Both men had served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Both had been under fire many times together. Kroger couldn't think of anyone he'd rather have with him in a potential firefight.
"Better get ready for an argument, Cliff," Kroger said. "The locals aren't going to be happy."
"That's too damn bad," Anderson said. They waited for the Filipinos to arrive.
The lead vehicle was a Kia 450, a medium-sized truck used for troop transport. It was followed by another half dozen similar vehicles filled with troops. Two American-made M113A2 armored vehicles brought up the rear.
"The tracks on those must be doing a real good job on that nice asphalt road," Anderson said.
"Show of force. They probably think they're going to go through the gates with them."
"That's not going to happen," Anderson said. Men wearing olive drab berets and dressed in camouflage uniforms scrambled out of the trucks. They carried modern assault rifles. An officer stepped down from the lead vehicle.
"Showtime," Kroger said. "That's the 1st Scout Rangers, if I'm not mistaken."
"Those are Steyr assault rifles they're carrying," Anderson said. "Good weapon."
"The Rangers are their elite unit," Kroger said. "They even sent a general. Let's go, Major. Time to make nice. Smile."
The two Marines walked over to the Philippine general. Kroger saluted.
"Lieutenant Colonel Kroger, sir."
The Filipino returned the salute. "I am General Narcisco. Why are you here, Colonel? I was unaware permission had been given for American troops to deploy. Your men are blocking my vehicles. I wish to pass."
"I'm afraid I cannot allow that, sir. My orders are to secure the area until the situation is resolved."
Narcisco's face tightened under his beret. "You are on Philippine territory, Colonel. You will remove yourself immediately. We will take care of this."
"Sorry, sir, I can't do that. May I remind you that the embassy is United States territory."
"Colonel, unless you wish to find yourself a lieutenant again, you will immediately get your men out of the way."
Behind General Narcisco, his troops had picked up on the hostility between the officers. They didn't look happy. It had been a long time since World War II and Americans were no longer popular in the islands. Anderson saw one of the Filipino officers give a quiet command to his sergeant. Weapons came up to port arms.
"Move out of my way, Colonel," Narcisco said.
"Sir," Anderson said.
"I see it, Major."
Kroger raised his left hand in the air in a prearranged signal. The Filipino troops found themselves staring down the barrels of Marine rifles. Kroger was bluffing. He wasn't going to fire upon troops from a friendly nation, but Narcisco didn't know that. Fifty or sixty Marines in battle dress pointing weapons at you would intimidate most people and Narcisco was no different. He looked at the faces of the men behind the rifles and saw nothing to reassure him. It was a convincing, chilling display of force.
"General," Kroger said, "my orders are to secure this area. I suggest you consult with your commanders as to the best course of action. Your troops will not be allowed to come near our embassy."
"You will regret this, Colonel."
"Perhaps I will, sir. But in the meantime I have my orders."
Narcisco looked at the rifles pointed at him and turned to the officers behind him. "Fall back and deploy the troops across the road," he said.
He stalked away toward his vehicle.
"That went well," Anderson said. "Lieutenant, sir."
Kroger laughed. "We'll let the politicians figure it out. In the meantime, I want your ideas on how we go in there without getting the hostages killed."
"Yes, sir," Anderson said.
"Get those gates open and vehicles ready to go in. If the shit hits the fan I don't want anything slowing us down."
CHAPTER 22
The taking of the embassy dominated the news. In Virginia, Elizabeth and Stephanie watched Selena reading Abu Sayyaf 's demands. Part of her team, in harm's way. They watched the hostage die.
"We have to help Nick find a way in," Elizabeth said.
Steph had put the plans of the American Embassy up on her monitor. The two women studied the image.
"Abu Sayyaf will be watching the ground floor," Elizabeth said. "I don't see how they can get in that way."
"Twelve hostiles," Stephanie said. "It's not enough to cover everything."
"The main focus has to be on the lower level."
Stephanie pointed at the plans. "Nick could get in from the roof. There's an access door and stairs to the top floor."
"That might work, but how do they get up there? There's no fire escape."
"That would be too easy, wouldn't it?"
"They could climb an outside wall." Elizabeth peered at the architectural drawings on the monitor. "There doesn't seem to be much they could use for footholds."
"The windows have blast grills over them," Stephanie said. "They can't get through those."
"The more I look at it," Elizabeth said, "it seems like the roof is the only way in. How about trees? Is there a tree they could climb to put them on the roof?"
Stephanie entered a few commands. An angled, overhead shot of the embassy grounds appeared on her monitor. She zoomed in.
"If they could get over to the opposite side of the building, there's a tree tall enough to get them onto the roof."
Elizabeth spoke into the comm link.
"Nick, do you copy?"
"Copy."
"It looks like there's only one
way in. There's a tree on the south side of the building. You can climb it and get onto the roof. There's access up there."
"Copy. Climb the tree to the roof."
"It's the only way in," Harker said again.
"Copy. Out."
"Doesn't talk much, does he?" Steph said.
Elizabeth laughed.
CHAPTER 23
Selena watched Omar talking to a man carrying a heavy rifle with a telescopic sight. The man nodded. She was whispering to Nick when Omar looked her way. She stopped mid-sentence. Next to her, Ambassador Cathwaite leaned close.
"Who are you talking to?" Her voice was soft. She peered at Selena. "Is that an earpiece? You have an earpiece, don't you?"
"Yes. The rest of my team is outside."
"Your team?"
"It's a long story, Margaret."
"You, shut up." It was one of the men assigned to watch them. "No talk."
Selena took the ambassador's hand and squeezed it. The terrorist was a heavy set man with a scraggly beard and bad teeth. He looked at her, his eyes stripping away her clothes. He licked his lips and rubbed the back of his hand across his mouth.
It wasn't the first time a man had looked at her with desire. But this man's look was filled with more than lust. Selena could feel his eyes, clinging and sticky like summer heat on a humid day. It made her skin crawl.
"Selena." Nick's voice in her ear. "We're going to try and get in through the roof."
She coughed.
"Be ready," Nick said.
If only I wasn't stuck here, she thought. If I could get up to the roof I could let them in.
The terrorist was still looking at her. His AK hung from a strap over his right shoulder. His fingers moved restlessly against the cold metal of the receiver as he licked his lips again.
Selena raised her hand in the air.
"I have to use the toilet," she said.