by Geri Foster
Rye nodded. “My thoughts exactly. Let’s keep an eye on that area right there. That small hut. It’s a good ten to fifteen feet away from the nearest dwelling. An excellent place to hide the hostages.”
Sully joined them at the screen. His eyes widened. “Damn, you might be right. They’re guarded by so few people. That’s unusual.” He turned back to Rye. “Do you think they would be that careless?”
Rye shook his head. “They aren’t being careless, they’re being cautious. If you study that aerial view you’ll notice the hut, while away from other dwellings, would be difficult for us to get to. There’s nothing around it which will make it difficult to breach.”
Sully rubbed his chin. “What do you think we should do? I’m against us going in guns blazing. They’d kill the hostages without a moment’s hesitation.”
“I’m thinking if we go in the middle of the night and managed to extract the hostages we might be able to get them out of there.”
Rebel spoke up. “But one thing you should consider, Bravo One. We don’t know what kind of physical condition the hostages are in. We may not be able to move them. That could get us into real trouble.”
“Sully?” Rye asked. “The last time you communicated with the guy holding them hostage, what did he say about their physical condition?”
“When we communicated with the hostages,” Sully said, “and Harper demanded proof of life, the two sounded like they were okay. I asked if they had any injuries and they claimed not to. Now I don’t know if they were told to say that or it’s actually the truth. And I don’t know how we can find out.”
Comrade pointed to a nearby building. “We’re going to have to go on recon.”
“We don’t have time for that,” Sully yelled. “The exchange is in two days. If we did get in there and check and they should find out we’re there, everything will blow up in our faces. We’ll never get those hostages back, and don’t forget this is my mission.”
“Both of you are right,” Rye said. “But we have to take the chance, Sully. It won’t do us any good to go in there to extract the hostages only to learn they’re injured and can’t be moved. You surely understand that, don’t you?”
“Are you confident your men can get in there tonight and get out without being noticed? Everything would depend on that.”
Rye looked at his men. “What do you guys think?” He didn’t want to make a judgment call for them since he hadn’t worked with them before. “Do you think we can make it?”
“Hell yeah,” Roper said with a fist pump.
Comrade nodded. “It’s what I’m good at.”
Rebel grinned. “You know I’m up for it. Nothing beats a little moonless raid.”
Rye admired that his men were so willing to go on a mission even with the limited knowledge they had. Eager to follow him without question. The trust they showed for his judgment humbled him. While Sully couldn’t quite bring himself to let go.
Rye turned to the Comm operator. “I want pictures of the surrounding area going out ten klicks. I want to know everything that moves in the village. And I want you to locate the big guy. If he’s doing a money swap, my guess is he isn’t far away.”
“On it, I’ll have it ready by the time you leave.”
Rye patted Comrade on the back. “Okay men, you know what to do now. It’s rock ‘n’ roll time. Let’s get our gear together and be ready for anything.”
Rye had arranged for a helicopter to drop them six klicks from their objective. They’d jog from there to the small village. Even if the hostages were in good shape, they wouldn’t take them out tonight, more planning would be needed to get them out. But he had to get a feel for the place. And he had to plan a way out once they secured the hostages.
He went looking for Harper and found her near the Coke machine. He approached her cautiously. “I want you to make it where no calls can leave this compound. I don’t trust Sully and I won’t be betrayed again.”
“I can do that. Isn’t he going with you?”
“We’re ready to go and Sully is sitting at his desk. He look ready to go to you?”
“Don’t you trust him?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure who I can trust.”
Her lashes lay softly against the smoothness of her face. “I guess I fall into that category.” Her gaze rose to his mouth and her face crumbled with disappointment. “I’ll make sure no calls connect.”
“Thank you,” he said, then turned and walked away. Rye hated leaving things like this between them, but his survival skills told him not to trust anyone. Not after what he and his Team had been through.
He and the three other SEALs reached their destination as the sky above them blackened into midnight. Complete darkness surrounded them. Without the night vision goggles, they wouldn’t have been able to see anything. Luckily they made out what lay ahead of them.
Rye held up his fist. “Let’s communicate with our mics from here on out. Keep it low and keep it tight. Remember this is just a recon. We have to be back here at 0300 for our ride back.” He checked his watch. “That doesn’t leave much time.”
Comrade moved up to take the lead. They all drew close realizing they could be seen standing, as nothing, natural or manmade, stood between them and their objective. They were completely exposed. It was as if the few buildings of the village had just cropped up out of the hardened earth.
“I want one man to stay back as cover. This goes sideways we need a shooter to help us escape,” Rye instructed.
“I’m your man,” Comrade called out raising his hand. “I’ll cover you.”
They crawled close to the ground as they grew nearer the village. Rye raised his fist again for them to stop. They lowered their heads and listened. It seemed strange to see people up and moving around at this hour of the night. But only the men. He assumed the women and children were asleep.
This told him every man in the village acted as a lookout. They were waiting for Rye and his men to make a move. And the Afghans hoped it would be the wrong move. Rye couldn’t let that happen.
“I imagine you’ve all noticed that every man in the village is wide-awake,” Rye whispered into his mic. “That tells me we’re not going to be able to walk in there, do a quick check and leave. It’s going to be tricky.”
“Everyone stay here,” Rebel said. “Let me get a little closer so I can understand the conversation. It might give us a better idea to exactly where the hostages are.”
Rye watched as Rebel crab crawled his way to the hut they suspected the prisoners were in. Rebel remained outside, his ear against the building.
“Can you hear anything?” Rye asked. “Any movement in there?”
“Nothing, but some light snoring. My guess is the prisoners are sleeping.”
“Can you get eyeballs on the targets?” Roper asked.
Rebel disappeared and Rye could no longer see him. He diverted his gaze to the men sitting around an open campfire, deep in conversation. Rye wondered what they were discussing, and he worried they may have men on the perimeter watching, waiting.
“It appears they’re pretty relaxed here,” Rebel’s voice crackled over the mic. “I don’t hear the word prisoner and I don’t sense any urgency in their voices. One thing for sure. They aren’t expecting us.”
Rye liked hearing those words. The men were probably thinking they had two days until the exchange, so no need to panic now. But he also wondered if there might be a guard inside the hut with the prisoners. That could prove to be a problem. One to care for the hostages until it was time to move them.
“Eyes on the prisoners yet?” Roper asked. “We need to know if the prisoners are being held in there. It easily could be women and children sleeping. My old lady can snore up a storm.”
“Not yet,” Rebel reported. “There is a window, but a rag is covering it. I’ll see if I can see anything once I manage to get closer. The problem is the house next to it has an open window. Should somebody look out, I’m made.”
<
br /> Rye and the other men held their position, waiting for Rebel to report back. The silence grew maddening at having to remain calm. One wrong move and they’d have to fight their way out and doing so could be more than they bargained for. Karzi could move the prisoners, or worse, kill them.
“Okay,” Rebel said quietly. “There are two people in here, on opposite sides of the room. I can’t see anyone inside guarding them. They are tied by their hands and feet but I can’t see anything else.”
“Roger,” Rye said. “Back out of there and let’s go home.”
They moved silently through the night, confident no one would ever know they were there. The men of the village still sat around the fire engaging in regular conversation.
Soon Rebel caught up with them. “I think they can walk. I didn’t see any bandages or proof of injuries. However, it could be that they just didn’t tend to their wounds or they’re sick or something like that.”
“It’s too bad we couldn’t speak with them. Allow them to report their condition. Then we’d have a better idea of what to expect tomorrow night.”
“Tomorrow night?” Rebel asked. “We’re going to pull this off that soon?”
“Yes,” Rye said, determined to get it over with. “Why should we wait? The following day they’ll be expecting us, or Sully. I think a surprise on our side would be the best way to go.” He glanced down at his watch. “Let’s get back to the pickup site. If we’re not there, it leaves without us. Who wants to hike all the way back to the compound?”
Chapter Eleven
Harper waited for Rye and his men to return. Sleep eluded her and fear mounted in the silence. Strange how Sully had just gone to sleep and, as far as she knew, gone out like a light.
She heard the helicopter land and opened the door, thankful when she saw the entire team returned, with Rye in the lead.
“Did you find anything out? Are the prisoners okay?” Harper asked, shouting above the helicopter noise. “Can they be extracted?”
Rye and the men entered. The guys went into the chow hall to get water. “Rebel was able to get a visual and while it was dark and quiet, he seems to think they were okay. There seemed to be no visible signs of injuries. If they’re not hurt, then they can travel.”
“Are you going after them in two days?” she asked, hating they were talking about something so dangerous and detrimental to their missions.
“No, we’re going tomorrow night. I’ve already set it up with the pilot. A complete repeat of tonight except the chopper is going to meet us three klicks closer to the extraction site.”
“You’re sure the prisoners can travel that distance without assistance?”
He removed his boonies hat and tossed it on the desk next to hers. “I hope they can. It’s their only chance.”
She looked at him and knew something didn’t sit right. “What’s wrong, Rye?” she asked, hoping to get an answer. “What did you see you don’t want to talk about?”
He laughed as he took off his jacket and tossed it on a nearby chair. “You haven’t forgot a single thing you learned about me over the years, have you?”
She nibbled her bottom lip not wanting him to know she’d struggled to keep his memory intact after eight years. “I like to think I remembered the important stuff, like when things aren’t exactly as you say.”
“Just between us, I don’t think they intend to turn over those prisoners.”
Her heart sped up and dread settled in her chest. “Why do you say that? If the guy wants the money, he has to be careful with the prisoners. To kill those hostages could bring the CIA down on Karzi’s head and I don’t think he wants that.”
Rye downed a bottle of water Comrade handed him. “The CIA isn’t going to admit they were even there, much less them being captured by a notorious terrorist.”
Harper knew he told the truth. The CIA, in the beginning, didn’t even want to pay the ransom. Not until Karzi started talking about making a video of cutting off their heads. Then the State Department would have to explain why two CIA spies were in an area they’d promised the UN they’d stay out of. Nobody wanted to stand at a mic, surrounded by reporters, explaining that situation.
“But if they plan to kill them, why haven’t they already done so? What’s the reason to keep the two prisoners alive?”
“You know that as well as I do, Harper.” Rye took a large gulp. “They’re afraid you may ask for proof of life again just before delivering the money, which you would be wise to do. If the hostages are dead then Karzi is screwed. In order to get his money, they must talk. Karzi needs them to assure you that they are alive and unharmed.”
He told the truth. That’s exactly what they would do, and a good reason to keep them alive.
“But why just kill them? Why can’t he just let them go? That is so much simpler and holds less of a chance for repercussions.”
“You tell me, Harper,” Rye said, his left eye narrowed. “Have you ever known these people to be compassionate? You know we are dealing with the Taliban. Chopping off someone’s head on a video could still happen, and they’d get the money as well. Great publicity for their side of the fight.”
“And we’d be caught in the act of lying to the UN, in an area we’re not supposed to be in, with spies on the loose and Americans in danger. The CIA, Homeland security, and the DOJ would take a beating in the press. Americans don’t like when hostages are taken.”
“That’s why we’re getting them out tomorrow. It may dwarf our chance to get Karzi, because once he knows the prisoners are gone, he’s not going to have a reason to hang around. That means, I’ll have to hunt for him separately.”
“Isn’t that Sully’s job?” she asked, stepping closer. “Why don’t you have him take out Karzi? You just worry about the prisoners.”
“Right now, we don’t know where the hell Karzi is and I don’t think Sully wants to go hunting.”
“What can we do?”
He put his arm around her and turned, leading them back toward her area of the compound. “I suggest I take a shower, get between the sheets, and then we’ll talk about it.”
She looked up at him and pulled out of his grasp. “I’m still mad at you.”
He pressed his fingertips to his chest. “Me?” he chided. “I just questioned this whole set up. I needed to know where you stood.”
“And you didn’t trust me enough to know automatically. To believe I would never endanger your life.”
“I know one damn thing for sure, Harper. You didn’t tell me the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. In my line of work, that’s equivalent to lying. You should’ve told me everything that was going on the minute I arrived. You didn’t.”
She jammed her hands on her narrow waist. “I was advised not to do that. You have an assignment to complete and Sully has an assignment to complete and I have an assignment that must be carried out. You know in the intel community we don’t share any more than we have to.”
He gave her a disgusted look, turned and walked the other way. “I wish you would’ve just kept your mouth shut. By now you could’ve joined me in that shower, and we’d be having a good time. But you ruined that by reminding me that I can’t trust you either.”
She ran up behind him and grabbed him, turning him around to face her, anger seeping from her pores. “You wait just a damn minute.”
He stared down at her face, hurt and anger drawing it tight. “You want me to hold on for a minute?” Rye spit out. “I’ve never kept anything from you, Harper. I’ve always been honest and upfront, and you know it. Tell me one time I let you down. One time I didn’t keep you apprised of everything going on.”
“That’s your job. The intel part of this whole situation has to be aware of everything. You don’t. You could’ve gone on your mission and had it completed by now. Maybe on your way home. Instead you inserted yourself into another operative’s job.” She swung out her arm. “What do you want, to rule the whole damn world?”
He
shook his head. “No, I just want to know what’s up.” He pointed to the door leading outside. “Every time I stick my nose out there, there’s a damn good chance it’s going to be blown off. In an area like this, I’m running blind, and any information you give me, I can use.” He gritted his teeth. “I can use it, Harper, to stay alive. Obviously that doesn’t mean anything to you.”
He turned and marched away. She knew it would be useless to go after him now. His anger wouldn’t allow her to reason with him. She turned, heading back to her quarters. Maybe now, knowing he and the men were once again safely in the compound, she might be able to go to sleep, but she doubted it after their argument.
Somehow she had to win back his trust, but she didn’t see how. Had she to do it all over again, she would’ve done the same. Since when did a group of SEALs show up and she spill her guts? Never. That’s when.
He was being unreasonable and they both knew it. He didn’t fool her. Sully’s assignment had nothing to do with him and neither did hers. The reason he acted mad and tense, so ready to fight, was his fear they’d lose those hostages and if they did, it would be something else he would carry on his shoulders. Something else to haul around the rest of his life.
She jumped in the shower, washed quickly, patted dry then put on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt before crawling into bed. Suddenly she wanted to go back to the States. She didn’t want to be in the CIA anymore. She didn’t want to keep secrets, barter with terrorists, never be completely honest with anybody. She wanted a normal life.
She lay there for hours and only when the sun threatened to rise did she doze off. Just before she closed her eyes Harper wondered if Rye’s night might be as difficult as hers.
Chapter Twelve
Rye stared at the screen, watching, studying, hoping he’d find the one missing link. The one proving he rode the right track. But nothing. The village where the hostages were being held remained quiet. Still it gave him the creeps. Yet he continued to look, and hope.