by Dee Davis
“I’m not going to endanger the operation,” Annie said, her eyes shooting daggers at Tom. “It’s the only chance my son has. All I’m asking is that you let me be there. I promise I’ll stay in the background.”
“Well, I vote no,” Tom said. “Not that any of you are going to listen to me.”
“You realize that our primary objective is to stop Ashad?” Avery asked.
“I do.” She nodded.
“And you’ll do exactly as you’re told. Stay in the background. Out of sight. And out of the line of fire.”
“Unless I’m needed.”
Nash couldn’t help but admire Annie’s strength as she stood up to his boss. Avery wasn’t the type to give in to civilian requests. And no matter how much experience she’d had, she was still technically an outsider. But she’d stated her case well, and Tyler had provided solid support.
“All right. You’re in. But only as an observer,” he said, his tone brooking no argument.
“Hang on,” Jason said, interrupting the moment. “Drake’s online.” He gestured them over to the computer, and the five of them stared down at the satellite photo on the screen, a flashing blip showing Drake’s location. Jason hit a couple more keys and a small window at the bottom of the monitor opened to show video feed directly from Drake. “He’s live.”
“Drake, can you hear me?” Avery asked.
“Loud and clear.”
“I assume Rivon’s reached his destination?” Avery queried.
“Exactly. I’ve sent Jason the coordinates.” Jason tapped the blinking light on the satellite photo in response. “I’m currently about half a mile back. Didn’t want to take a chance on them monitoring our conversation. But they’re holed up in a house about two miles off Thompson Road between Graystone and Hastings-on-Hudson.”
“How isolated?” Nash asked.
“Completely. It’s fenced off, with a gravel road that leads down to the house itself. It’s surrounded by thick overgrowth on three sides with a lake pretty much lapping at the foundation at the back. Can you see it?”
“Yeah, Jason’s got it onscreen,” Avery confirmed as he shifted the view and zoomed in on the rooftop of the house Drake was describing.
“Have you seen Adam?” Annie asked, her face tight with worry. “Is he all right?”
“No. I haven’t been able to make visual confirmation. Couldn’t get close enough. Figured it was better to wait for backup. But if I was going to kidnap someone, this is exactly the kind of place I’d bring him to.”
“What about personnel?” Avery asked.
“Unconfirmed. Once we’re ready to move, maybe I can get some help from satellite and infrared.”
“Shouldn’t be a problem,” Jason said.
“Great,” Drake said, “so all I have to do is wait here until the posse arrives.”
“That’d be me,” Nash said, picking up a backpack containing assorted gear and com equipment.
“Glad to hear it. Although I’m a little surprised. Figured Avery’d have you babysitting.”
“I don’t need babysitting,” Annie said, her words clipped.
“Actually, she’s coming along for the ride.” Nash tossed the bag to Annie, and she caught it one-handed, swinging it over her shoulder, their teamwork coming automatically, as if they’d never been apart.
“And Avery agreed to that?” Drake’s surprise carried over the line.
“I did.” Avery broke in. “But only as an observer.”
“Good luck with that,” he said. “Listen, company’s coming. It’s probably not related, but I’d better go dark. You guys need to get a move on. And Nash, bring some firepower. Assuming we’re really dealing with Ashad, I’ve got a feeling these boys mean business. Over and out.” There was a moment’s silence and then static as the video screen went blank.
“Guess it’s time to get a move on,” Nash said, already moving toward the door.
“Annie,” Avery called as she started after Nash, “see to it that you don’t make me regret my decision.”
CHAPTER 11
Ready to rumble?” Nash asked as he dropped to the ground beside Drake.
The two of them were hidden in a copse of trees on a small rise just above a dilapidated house. It was flanked on the left by a weathered outbuilding and on the right by what looked to be a farmyard dumping ground. A rusting tractor, an abandoned pickup, and myriad barnyard implements lay half-buried in overgrown weeds and grass as the first pale fingers of dawn appeared on the horizon.
“Thought maybe you weren’t coming,” Drake said with a grin.
“Hey, you know I never miss a party.”
“Where’s Annie?”
“Back with the SUV. Avery’s orders. But thanks to Emmett’s magic, she’s linked in by com. Annie, can you hear us?”
“Yeah, I’m here. And I feel totally useless.”
“I don’t know,” Drake said, “I always feel better knowing someone’s got my back.”
“I thought that was my job,” Nash protested. “Anyway, Annie, you promised Avery you’d stay in the background. That was the deal.”
“I know,” she sighed. “But I don’t have to like it.”
“So consider yourself the backup backup,” Drake said.
“So what’s happening?” Annie asked. “Any action from below?”
“Not since Rivon went in.” Drake shook his head. “That’s his car on the left. The blue sedan.”
“And the others?” Nash motioned to the two SUVs parked near the shed.
“No clear idea about owners. But I’ve seen at least two men besides Rivon. They were checking the perimeter.”
“I’m assuming they’re carrying?”
“Both with LMGs. M-249s if I had to call it,” Drake said, offering Nash his field glasses.
“So they’re playing for keeps.” He scanned the area slowly, mentally noting possible locations for cover. “What about inside?” he asked, returning the glasses.
“I haven’t been down there yet. Figured it was best to wait on you.”
“Not up to facing machine guns on your own?” Nash quipped.
“Yeah, right,” Drake grunted, then sobered as a shadow passed in front of the house’s front window. “Looks like maybe we’re about to get another gander at the ground patrol.”
The front door opened, and a man moved onto the porch, machine gun draped over his left shoulder.
“Annie, you getting this?”
“Yeah, I can the see the man from here.”
“Doesn’t seem to be worried about anything,” Nash said. “Guess he doesn’t know he’s got company. Jason, you there?”
“Roger that,” Jason’s voice crackled into his ear.
“You got a body count for us?”
“Not yet,” he said. “I’m still waiting for the satellite to move into position. There’s no hurrying three tons of extraterrestrial titanium.”
“How much longer?”
“Maybe two minutes,” Hannah chimed in. “Hang on. The satellite’s downloading the image now. Looks like two clusters of heat. One in the front and one in the back left corner. I’m zooming in.”
They waited, Drake still watching the house through his field glasses. The rising sun washed the compound in pale morning light, the shadows from the trees and rocky hills effectively camouflaging the perimeter topography.
Below them, the guy on the porch performed a cursory visual search of the area, his gaze passing, uninterested, over the copse of trees where they lay hidden. “I’ve got one hostile in sight,” Drake reported. “Armed, but no threat at present.”
“So how many others are there?” Nash asked. Static crackled in his ear. “Hannah, you there?”
“I’m here,” she said. “Jason?”
“Present and accounted for,” he acknowledged. “Probably just a hiccup in the communications hookup. Everything seems to be fine now.”
“So what have you got?” Nash asked again.
“Looks like you
’ve got three warm bodies in the front of the house. Not counting your man on the porch. And two in the back.”
“Anyone else? In the back, outside, maybe?”
“Nothing I can see,” Jason said. “Hannah, you got anything different?”
“Nope. Annie, can you see anything more from your vantage point?”
“I’ve got nothing new.”
“Well, it looks like you guys have your work cut out for you,” Hannah said. “Assuming one of the thermal images is Adam, that leaves five hostiles. Four of whom are probably loaded for bear.”
“Whatever the hell that means,” Drake mumbled.
“Carrying enough ammunition to kill a bear,” Hannah answered, ever the literalist.
“Well, idiomatic lesson aside, we know that at least two of them are toting M-249s. I can see one. And Drake IDed the other. And we know that Rivon was carrying in the park. Annie, it was a Beretta, right?”
“Yes. And as far as I know that’s all he was carrying.”
“So that’s three confirmed with weapons. And the odds are good the others are armed as well,” Jason said.
“We’ve fought worse odds.”
“Yeah, and the last time Emmett wound up with a bullet in his groin.” Jason’s tone was light, but there was a note of concern as well. “Maybe you should wait for backup.”
“Nah,” Drake said, watching as the guy on the porch flicked his cigarette butt into the bushes and went back into the house. “We’re better off with the original plan. Surgical strike. In and out. Grab the kid before they even know we’re here. If we encounter trouble, we’ll fall back. But we need to at least establish that the boy is here.”
“Nash?” Hannah queried. “What do you think?”
“I’m with Drake. Better to go in now,” Nash said, sobering at the thought of Annie’s child down there all on his own. “Annie?”
“I haven’t got an official vote, but you know what I want. Adam. Now.”
“Okay then,” Drake said, “it’s a go. Jason, we’re counting on you and Hannah to be an extra set of eyes.”
“Globally speaking,” Hannah said. “Anyway, whatever the capacity, we’re here.”
“I’m thinking our best bet is to head for the back of the house. You still seeing two people back there?”
“Affirmative,” Jason said. “They’re pretty much still in their original position.”
“And the guys in front?”
“Still there. Two stationed near the windows,” Hannah replied. “Annie, can you see them?”
“Shadows maybe?” she answered. “But not positive confirmation.”
“They’re there,” Hannah said. “Possibly on sentry duty. And the other two are still inside center. Most likely out of visual range.”
“All right then.” Drake nodded. “On my mark, we go.”
“Good luck,” Annie whispered as Drake signaled Nash to move out.
The two of them started to make their way down to the compound, using rocks and trees for cover. At the bottom of the rise, they moved into the junkyard to the right of the house, careful to keep positioned so that each was watching the other’s back. Nash squatted behind the back axle of an old flatbed Ford, flecks of rusty turquoise clinging tenaciously to what was left of the frame.
Ahead of him, from the shelter of what looked like a plow, Drake motioned toward the back of the house and the edge of a window just visible behind a clump of overgrown rhododendron.
Nash nodded and then followed as Drake began to make his way to the east side of the house. From somewhere in the distance, a dog barked. Nash froze, waiting to see what, if any, reaction there would be from inside.
The compound remained quiet.
“Everything okay?” Annie whispered.
“We’re fine,” Nash said. “It was nothing.”
“Just a dog,” Drake confirmed as he moved into place behind a large oak tree about three feet from the rhododendron. Motioning Nash forward, he crouched low, ready to provide covering fire if necessary.
But again nothing moved, the bucolic scene belying the true nature of the situation at hand. “Not sure I see the appeal of a rural life,” Nash said as he dropped down beside Drake.
“Rest and relaxation?” Hannah quipped, but her words were cut off by another burst of static.
“Hannah?” Nash said as the noise retreated into silence. “Jason? Annie? Can you guys hear me?”
“We’re here but we’re picking up some kind of interference,” Hannah said, her words backed up by strong static. “Could be someone’s picking up our signal. Better we sign off. You know the drill.”
“Roger that,” Drake said, already reaching up to switch off his headset.
“Maybe it’s just because we dropped below the line of the trees.” Nash waved toward the spot they’d just vacated. “It’s possible the hills are interfering with transmission.”
“Either way it looks like we’re on our own.”
“Wasn’t much they could do anyway.” Nash shrugged. “If we switch to the local channel we ought to at least be able to talk to each other without risk of anyone uninvited listening in.” He reached up to twist the tiny dial on the com-link’s base. “Can you hear me?”
“Yeah, you’re coming through fine.” Drake nodded.
“Annie?” Nash asked. “You there?” Static filled his ear. “She doesn’t know to switch channels.”
Nash nodded. “At least I can signal her that we’re okay.” He reached into his pocket and produced a penlight. Pointing it toward the hilltop where Annie was concealed, he flashed twice. “Hopefully she’ll see it.”
“If not she probably can see us. Which means she knows we’re still good to go.”
“Roger that,” Drake responded, shifting so that he could better survey the surrounding area. “Guess we’re good to go. I’ll hold position here while you check the window to try and hopefully verify Annie’s son’s position.”
“Sounds like a plan, but we’d better move fast. Without our guardian angels we have no way of knowing if those clowns are in motion.”
Nash moved across the open area, slipping underneath the cascading branches of the rhododendron. The area beneath was dank and dark, but it provided the kind of cover that meant he couldn’t easily be detected.
Working his way to the edge of the house, he pushed between overcrowded branches, following the foundation line until he was directly beneath the window. “I’m here,” he whispered into the com-link. “Getting ready to check the window.”
“Copy that,” Drake replied. “Everything’s still quiet on this end.”
Nash twisted until he was between branches and then slowly inched his way up to the base of the window. Then after a silent count of three, he moved the rest of the way, his eyes just above the edge of the window sill.
He squinted as he tried to focus through the grime that coated the glass. He was looking into the kitchen. A dilapidated-looking refrigerator sat in the corner next to an old free-standing gas range. Below him, Nash could just make out the edge of a sink filled with dirty dishes, the remains of a peanut butter sandwich giving credence to the possibility that Adam was indeed inside.
Directly across from the window an open door revealed tantalizingly little of what he supposed was the dining room. The corner of a chair or maybe a table of some kind, and the faded floral print of what appeared to be some kind of drapery. No sign of hostiles, and no sign of Adam.
“The kitchen’s empty,” he whispered as he shifted so that he could better see the right side of the room, “but I’ve got a closed door leading to a back room.” Instinct prickled, and he frowned. “I’m going to try to move around the corner. See if there’s another window.”
“Hold position,” Drake answered, his voice crackling over the com. “I’ve got a hostile coming off the porch. Same guy as earlier.”
Nash dropped down, shifting to try to see through the thick curtain of rhododendron, but the tangled branches blocked everythin
g from view. Frustrated, he leaned back, fingering his gun, waiting for word from Drake. At least there was some comfort in the fact that if he couldn’t see out, no one else would be able to see in. For the time being, at least, his position was secure.
“All right,” Drake said finally. “He’s gone. Bastard only wanted to take a leak.”
“I’ll bet that was a tempting target.”
“No shit.” Drake’s soft laughter filled the com. “Anyway, you’re clear to move.”
“Okay, I’m heading around back.”
Nash crawled forward again, still using the bushes for cover. After about ten or twelve feet, the rhododendron gave way to some kind of holly, the thorny leaves making progress more difficult, even as the dark leaves provided shelter from prying eyes. Swallowing a curse, he made his way around the corner, and in another two feet, reached a second window.
This one was less protected than the first, the holly bush growing thinner as it disappeared into the overgrowth between the back of the house and what appeared to be the lake Drake had mentioned earlier.
Daring exposure, Nash pushed upward until his line of sight cleared the window ledge. The room was darker than the kitchen, the trees behind him casting shadows along the walls and floor. A small bed in the corner showed signs of recent use. Tangled sheets wadded up in a ball against the wall. Across from the bed, a dilapidated table held a surprisingly new-looking game system with a large monitor. The screen showed what looked to be a video game of some kind. Heart quickening, Nash scanned the room again, looking for other signs that the boy might be there, but the room yielded no further clues.
“Damn it,” he whispered to no one in particular, and then froze as the pile of sheets on the bed moved.
First a hand emerged, and then two feet. And finally a head.
Adam.
There was no question that it was Adam. He recognized him from the picture. But even without it, he’d have known it was Annie’s child. He had her hair, her freckles, and the same determined look in his eyes. Nash lifted a hand to signal his presence, but before he had the chance, the door slammed open, a dark-haired man appearing in the opening, weapon in hand. Ducking out of sight, Nash cursed himself for not moving faster. Something was definitely wrong.