Off the Grid (A Gerrit O'Rourke Novel)

by Young, Mark

  “I got this far, didn’t I? With all your money and all your connections.”

  “And look at you now. Deep underground. Tied up in my interrogation room with nowhere to run.”

  Joe straightened in the chair, trying to convey confidence. “You think I’m alone? That others don’t know where I am?”

  “You mean like the rest of your team back in Albuquerque? The ones my guys are moving in on right now as we speak?”

  Fear made Joe’s pulse spike. They knew where Gerrit and the others were hiding? He lowered his head for a moment. No, they couldn’t know that because they couldn’t track the probes Willy sent out. Joe was sure of that. He’d built the protections into that program himself. “You’re just blowing smoke, Kane. My people are too smart to get caught.”

  “And yet, here I am looking at their leader, Joe O’Rourke, aka Joe Costello, aka Frank Malone. The guy they thought too smart to get caught. In handcuffs. In my cell.”

  Almost involuntarily, Joe pulled the cuffs. They rattled as he tugged. “You didn’t track me down through technology, Richard. You used plain old-fashioned bribery. Somebody snitched on me right here in town.”

  Kane leaned over, inches away from Joe’s face. Looking him in the eye, Kane whispered, “And how do you know I don’t have somebody on the inside? Somebody keeping watch on your band of do-gooders right now?”

  Joe glared back. The man seemed very confident. Did they have a Judas in their midst?

  He tried to rid himself of that thought. He knew the people he worked with. They had eluded Kane and his henchmen for many years. Each of them had been tested by fire and passed unscathed. They could not be traitors.

  Then he thought of Gerrit and the contact Beck sent. Jack Thompson had been used in the past, and he always checked out. Joe was the one who sent him to Beck.

  Could he be wrong? If so, Joe had put Gerrit and the others in harm’s way. Kane and his people would finally be able to wipe out all resistance.

  He prayed that Kane might be bluffing, that the team in Albuquerque might be protected. All he could do for the moment was hope for deliverance. He didn’t know how long he could hold out.

  Joe knew from bitter experience his lack of courage. Chicago had taught him that disappointing lesson a long time ago. He hoped time and resolve might have changed him. He would know the answer very soon.

  Chapter 45

  Albuquerque, New Mexico

  Collette glanced at the text message and smiled.

  One down. Just a few more to catch and they would leave this godforsaken city.

  Gerrit and the others would be wary when Joe O’Rourke failed to report in. No matter!

  Now, she enjoyed this psychological advantage over her enemy. Their leader captured, cut off the head, the body dies. The others might start running once they found out. At the very least, she and Kane had the tools to plant fear in their targets’ minds.

  She glanced at her watch. Midnight. Her techies advised the probes had ceased hours ago. Maybe they’d given up. Seen that this place was impenetrable. She toyed with creating an impression there was a weakness somewhere, let them think there was a way in. Catch them in a trap.

  After mulling it over, Collette discarded the idea and decided to continue with her current game plan. Control, tighten security, and be ready to pounce if these fools tried to get inside.

  Checking her sidearm, Collette moved from the security office and began to make inspections. Two men appeared at her side and acted as her escort. She turned to one of them. “Let’s make one last inspection to make sure everyone’s in place. Then we’ll pull back until daylight. If they are going to attack, it will be sometime between now and dawn.”

  She moved through the lab, eyes darting, searching for any weakness. That’s when I would hit. Hit the enemy just before dawn.

  Gerrit peered down at the schematic Willy pulled up on the computer. “You sure this is the place they have their research stored?” He pointed to a large, rectangular room in the very center of the building.

  “I’m telling you, Mr. G., this is it.” He pointed around the circumference of the targeted room. “Look at this wiring and the security installation they’ve implemented. Everything points to this spot. All their security is built around this one room.”

  Gerrit gave a slow nod. “You have the portable drive Joe gave you?”

  Willy pulled out a USB drive and gave it to Gerrit. “This kind of memory storage will soon be obsolete, you know.”

  Gerrit slipped the drive into his pocket. “Remember my background, Willy. Did my doctoral thesis on how much will change in ten years. We are already into that future.”

  Jack strode into the motel room. “They’re ready for us, Gerrit. Time to move out.”

  Willy rose and thrust out his hand. “Good luck, Mr. G. And take care of Al.”

  Alena came in just as Willy finished the sentence. “It’s more like I’ll be taking care of Gerrit. Like always.”

  Gerrit gathered his things. The war is just starting, Alena. Don’t start bragging now. Still plenty of time to fall flat on your face and die. He fought the urge to make a retort.

  Looking sheepish, Willy grimaced. “I just meant—”

  “I know what you meant, Willy.” She leaned over and kissed his cheek. “I’ll be okay.”

  He looked over at Gerrit. “I mean it, Mr. G.”

  “I know. We’ll watch each other’s backs. See you when it’s over.”

  Willy and the others climbed into the van Jack had supplied. Gerrit closed the door and waited until Jack brought his car alongside.

  Alena and he climbed into the backseat as Jack took off, heading for the edge of town. The colonel glanced back. “Can’t believe I’m chauffeuring a lieutenant around. Boy, times have changed.”

  “So has the war, Colonel. Hard to know which side you’re on anymore.”

  “Amen to that. We should make contact with the bird in about five. You all set, Marine?”

  “Yep. Locked and loaded.”

  Jack gave a smug smile. “That’s want I want to hear.” The colonel eyed Alena in the rearview. “Want to wish you both a lot of luck. They will be waiting for you.”

  Alena met the colonel’s eye. “Don’t believe in luck, sir. God will protect us if it is His will. And if it is not His will…that’s fine with me.”

  Jack looked over at him and then back to her for a second before turning his attention ahead. “Whatever toots your horn, lady. Just be careful.”

  Alena stared out the window.

  At times like this, Gerrit just put everything out of his mind except the mission. Never pondered about the what-ifs. Living and dying became just something that happened. Actions he had no control over. Right now, wasting time on concepts was counterproductive to the mission. Alena’s statement, however, seemed almost fatalistic—whatever will happen will happen. She appeared to accept whatever God dished out.

  Life or death. Good or evil.

  He and Alena seemed worlds apart. He could never relinquish control over his own destiny if given a choice. And if control were taken away, he’d just fight to get it back. Alena seemed willing to accept whatever came her way. It bothered him to see how this might translate into survival tactics in combat. He needed her willing to fight to the death if need be. Passive acceptance was not an option.

  He would have to watch her carefully.

  Up ahead, Gerrit saw muted lights through the darkness. As they pulled closer, he whistled under his breath. “I never saw one of these in Afghanistan.” A sleek, lightweight helicopter, equipped with rockets and vertical propellers, sat poised on the landing pad.

  Jack glanced in the rearview mirror again. “A prototype that Defense is testing for combat—particularly for Special Ops. It’s fast, leaves a minimal heat signature, and offers unbelievable maneuverability. Between this bird and Willy’s computer, we can drop you on the roof in seconds and pull away before their ground sensors even start recording movement. They
will not know what hit them when you touch down.”

  “They’ll signal you when Alena and I are clear of the bird?”

  “That’s right. Then me and Redneck will move in to cover you from the ground while Willy does his thing.”

  “Just give us body heat locations as quick as you can. Need to know where they’re stationed in that building.”

  “You got it. We’ll light them up before you touch ground floor.” He caught Gerrit’s look in the mirror. “And the tools you need are in the truck. Got enough firepower in there to start your own war.”

  Gerrit smiled. “That’s exactly what we want them to think. Before they have time to react.”

  Jack nodded. “Just like old times, huh?”

  Gerrit shook his head. “Before, I knew who I was shooting at. Now…” He swung the car door open and stepped out as the trunk popped open. Alena came around the other side as he grabbed an assault rifle—an H&K MP5 as requested—and a sidearm, handing them to her. He reached in and gathered the same firepower, then shouldered a backpack that weighed heavily on his back.

  Gerrit slammed the trunk closed, then tipped his head at Jack—standing next to the driver’s door, hands on the roof—before he and Alena crossed the pavement and climbed into a side door of the helicopter. A moment later, the engines fired and blades began to turn. The sound seemed muted and quiet, nothing like the Black Hawks they used overseas.

  His earpiece crackled and Jack’s voice came through. “Son, just remember. This cannot be a military operation. No in-country in the ol’ U.S. of A. That would start a firestorm up on the Hill. That bird will not use its firepower unless absolutely necessary. Torch and burn anything left behind. We can’t leave any evidence.”

  “Roger that, sir. Over and out.”

  The pilot lifted off and the craft immediately shot forward with a burst of speed. They seemed to effortlessly slide through the night toward their destination, the rotors quieter than a silenced gun firing at a target.

  Collette sat in the chair, resting. Her eyes felt heavy and she felt herself starting to nod off. She raised her arm to check the time. 4:30 a.m. Her back felt stiff and her eyes wanted to close for a spell. She shook her head and rose, fearing if she sat here for another second she might fall asleep.

  Looking over at the console, she saw the technician with his head resting on folded arms. “What are you doing?” she yelled, causing the man to jump and fall out of his chair. “This is not the time to fall asleep, you moron. They could hit at any time.”

  A squelch came across Collette’s portable radio, then a man’s voice cut in. “Boss, you’d better come to the front lobby. We’ve got visitors.”

  She angrily pressed her transmission button. “I don’t have time to screen people. You take care of this.”

  “You may want to check it out. We have a medevac helicopter setting down in the parking lot. They think we have a medical emergency of some kind.”

  “Have all units converge there. I want that crew taken down at gunpoint. Search the chopper—now!” If this flight crew worked for the enemy, they’d never leave this place alive.

  Chapter 46

  Gerrit and Alena slid down the ropes and landed on the roof. The aircraft dipped and slipped away into the night. As it quietly disappeared, Gerrit heard another helicopter’s blades noisily beating the night air at the front of the complex.

  “They took the bait, Mr. G. I ordered up one medevac chopper. They are attacking that flight crew right now at gunpoint. Looks like you got your window of opportunity. Better use it quick.”

  Gerrit smiled. “I read you loud and clear. Remember, these transmissions might be monitored.”

  “No way, Mr. G. Joe and I put an encryption on these babies that only God can break.”

  “Fine. Right now, you’re our eyes and ears. Give me a read on any bogies in the area. We’re at the target location and need about five minutes.”

  He turned toward Alena and pointed to a housing vent a few yards away. “There is our way in. I’ll have that removed in a jiffy. Just cover me.”

  She nodded, taking up a position that gave her a full view of the rooftop.

  Gerrit pulled out his tools and had the ventilation cover off several minutes later. “Let’s go.” He lowered himself down the vent. “Just follow my lead. This heads right to the lab.”

  Alena moved to the edge, watching his descent. “Come on, slowpoke. We haven’t all night.”

  He started to retort, then saw her smile. “Just try to keep up, or I’m leaving you behind.” Reaching the ninety-degree angle in the vent, he moved farther into the shaft to give her room. She joined him seconds later.

  “Come on,” she said. “I’m getting old here.”

  He turned without saying a word and moved down the aluminum vent until he reached another ninety-degree turn downward. There was a filtered cover across the face of the downward shaft. Using a penlight, he quickly removed the vent cover and set it aside. “This fast enough for you?”

  She moved past and lowered herself down the shaft. “Here, let me show you how it is done.” In one swift move, she pushed through a second vent cover and dropped to the floor below, rolling to one side. She whispered up, “Don’t hurt yourself, old man.”

  “Nice move. You made enough noise to set off every sensor in this building.”

  “We will be long gone before they ever reach us. Now do your thing, jarhead.”

  “You been hanging around Redneck too much. Wait for me. I’ll be right back.” He moved farther down the shaft and reached into his backpack for a few surprises he planned on leaving behind. A moment later, he returned and dropped down the shaft to join Alena. “Well, time to get to work.”

  The lab consisted of a large rectangular room, housing ceiling-high computer servers taking up most of the room. Individual workstations with monitors and keyboards connected directly to the servers.

  He moved over to a series of computer consoles. “You will be glad I took that detour. Now, let’s get down to business.” He keyed his mike. “Okay, Willie, can you read me?”

  “Loud and clear, Mr. G. Now, here’s what you’re looking for.” Willie began to guide him through the log-in codes hacked earlier back at the motel. “Just follow my instructions and I’ll have you out of there faster than—”

  “Cut the jokes, Willy. Just give me what I need to get us out of here.” Gerrit glanced at his watch. Two minutes and counting. He tried to move as fast as the programs allowed.

  Collette nervously watched her security team sprawl out the flight crew at gunpoint. So far, no face she recognized. One flight nurse screamed when they yanked her out of the aircraft.

  Where are Gerrit and the others?

  “Hey, Boss.” Geek Man from the security office.

  “Don’t bother me right now. We have a situation at the front of the building.”

  The man’s voice sounded nervous. “I think you got bigger problems. I just saw sensors triggered in other parts of the building—including the lab.”

  “Could the medevac chopper have set those off?”

  “No, these are centralized—the lab and the roof above the lab.”

  She whirled around and started running. “Check the cameras. Tell me what you find out. I’m coming back to your location right now.” She dashed through the building and threw open the door leading to the security office.

  Geek Man was hunched over the console.

  “What do we have on the camera?” she yelled, causing him to jump. “Time to focus, you moron. They could hit at—”

  The lights blinked on and off. Suddenly, all the screens filled with snowlike flakes as if someone had cut the line and all visuals went dead. Everything went black for a moment until emergency red lights flickered on. The man scrambled back into his chair, frantically hitting the keyboard, trying to reload the system.

  “What happened?” She leaned over him as he worked.

  “I don’t know. It is as if they jammed—”


  The building shook for a moment, a deep blast sounding somewhere off-site. Collette snatched up her portable radio. No response.

  “I think they killed your radio system.”

  Collette rushed to the door. “I’m heading to the lab. If you can raise any security, get them moving in that direction.” She drew her sidearm, pointing at the disheveled technician. “Keep working on that. As soon as you have something—call me if you can.”

  Geek Man, eyes wide with fear, nodded before turning back to the console.

  She dashed into the hallway and ran for the building’s central point—the lab. The main power source appeared to be wiped out, and emergency generators juiced up only selected sites in the structure. She heard a secondary explosion that came from deep within the building.

  A firefight could be heard outside the building as security apparently came under attack. She keyed her mike, calling for anyone to report in. Only an irritating squelch. Still no way to communicate.

  Collette felt like screaming out in frustration. Instead, she ran toward the interior lab, knowing the attackers would attempt to reach that destination. Another explosion shook the building. Were they trying to destroy the whole building?

  She reached the last passageway leading to the primary lab. Impatiently, she tapped in the code for entry, only to find that power to the keypad had been cut off. No power to the lab. Without electricity, the lab security automatically froze up.

  No way in. No way out.

  Unless… She looked at the ceiling.

  Gripping her weapon, Collette raced toward the only roof access. An interior door led to a stairwell to the roof, and that door was almost a hundred yards away. If she could reach the roof, she might be able to catch them before they entered the lab.

  She would be in position to kill them all.

  Gerrit glanced over at Alena before the lights flickered out. “They just got a taste of one of my surprises. Jack and Redneck are about to set off the others.”

  “That knock out their generator?” Alena flicked on a flashlight. “How are you—?”