by Ken W. Smith
“The drone exploded. It killed Victor and injured a dozen other people.”
“Where’s Roger?”
“Roger’s okay. Pretty messed up from the shrapnel. He’s here at the hospital on another floor.”
“Jay, my leg feels weird. There’s a sharp pain in the sole of my foot. Can you take a look?”
Jay froze. He didn’t know what to say or do.
“What’s the matter? Can you look at my leg?”
“Jessie, you suffered several major injuries last night. You had internal bleeding and a bad infection. Unfortunately, they had to do major surgery to save your life.”
“Do you mean it’s in a cast? Can you lift my blanket so I can see it?”
“No, it’s not in a cast.”
“What are you trying to tell me, Jay? What’s going on?”
Jay couldn’t put his feelings into words, so he pulled the blanket off her leg. A bloody gauze bandage wrapped the stump of her leg above the knee.
Jessie peered at her leg without saying a word. Instead, she squeezed Jay’s hand as she processed her new reality.
“Where is it, Jay? Who took my leg? Are they going to put it back on?”
“No, Jess, they couldn’t save it.”
“What do you mean?”
“The leg was too damaged to save. The doctors gave me no choice.”
“You mean you gave them permission to cut off my leg?”
“Yes, I had to,” Jay said. “You were dying.”
Jessie stared at her stump for a long moment. “Can I touch it?” she said. “Why does my ankle hurt? It’s not there. Oh God, why did this happen to me?”
Jay sat on the bed next to Jessie, holding her as she mourned for her leg. She cried until her tears ran dry.
* * *
Doctor Chin watched from the doorway. When Jay stood up, she stepped into the room. A nurse followed her.
“How are you doing, Jessie? My name is Doctor Silvie Chin. I operated on you last night.”
“I’m okay, I guess,” Jessie said wiping the tears from her cheek with a tissue. “Shocked and scared. I don’t understand why my foot hurts even though it isn’t there anymore.”
“Your brain plays tricks on you. We call it phantom pain. It’s common with amputees. Do you feel any pain from the amputation?”
“No, it throbs a little bit, but otherwise, it seems okay.”
“The bomb damaged your leg beyond repair. We focused on your internal bleeding to keep you alive. By the time we focused on your leg, it was too late. It developed a bad infection.”
“What do I do now?” Jessie said. “How long do I have to stay in the hospital?”
“We’re fighting the infection with antibiotics. Tomorrow you will meet with people from physical therapy and prosthetics. Then, when you can travel, we will transfer you to Cape Cod.”
“Oh dear,” a woman’s voice said in the doorway. “What happened to my baby?”
“Momma,” Jessie said. “When did you get here?”
Jay’s mother, Maria, walked into the room. Marty Hernandes followed her in.
Jay stood up and hugged the sixty-seven-year-old family matriarch. Then, he moved out of the way so his mother could hug Jessie.
“Jay, are you doing okay?” Marty said. “The press is going wild. They’re demanding your arrest for the shooting in Boston.”
“I saw the earlier reports, but I turned it off. The FBI cleared me. It’s Kathleen. She’s generating the hype to drive ratings. Where’s Gia?”
Marty pointed to the door. Gia slept in a chair across the hallway from the private room.
“Heck of a security guard,” Jay said. “She let you walk right in.”
“Yea, I’m a real threat,” Marty said, laughing. “She’s had a long night fending off reporters.”
“What do you know about the bomb?”
“It was a weird bird drone. Jessie found it in a pile of debris. But we don’t know anything else. Her friend Roger is here in the hospital. He might be able to shed some light.”
Jay and Marty stepped out of the room.
Jay knelt next to Gia and shook her shoulder. She opened her eyes to see Jay staring at her.
“What the fuck,” Gia said. “Did I fall asleep? I’m so sorry. How’s Jessie?”
“It’s okay,” Jay said. “Jessie’s doing fine. Marty and I are taking a walk. Would you mind keeping an eye on my mother? Tell her we’ll be back in a few minutes.”
* * *
Roger’s room was on the tenth floor of the massive hospital. Jay waited for a doctor and a group of medical students to finish their exams. When they left, Jay walked inside.
Roger was a mess. A white gauze bandage wrapped around his head, and a patch covered one eye. Hundreds of bandages covered his chest and torso. Nevertheless, he was sitting up in the bed and seemed to be in good spirits.
“Hey Roger, do you remember me?” Jay said.
“Sure, you’re on every news station in town. They’re saying you murdered a priest in cold blood.”
“Don’t believe everything you hear in the news. I can’t tell you what happened, but I didn’t murder anybody. How are you feeling?”
“I’m okay,” Roger said. “I have a fractured skull, and my body’s filled with shrapnel from the bomb. How’s Jessie?”
“She’s going to pull through. It was touch and go for a while. I don’t know how to say this gently. Roger, they had to amputate her left leg.”
Roger stared at Jay for a long moment, tears running down his face. Then he pointed at the closet next to the bed.
“Can you get the bag with my personal items in it? I want to give you something.”
Jay retrieved the bag from the closet and handed it to Roger. He dug through the bag and pulled out a large iPhone X.
“You know someone in the FBI. Can you give this to them? It’s broken, but the video files should still be on the SIM card.”
“If I give it to the FBI,” Jay said. " They’ll keep it as evidence. You won’t be able to sell it to a TV station.”
“I know. I care about catching the person who nearly killed Jessie. I heard a bomb squad officer died. He was from Boston. Did you know him?”
Jay nodded, “We served together overseas. Victor was one of my closest friends.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. When can I see Jessie?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll tell the doctor you want to visit her.”
“Hey, Jay,” Roger reached out and grabbed Jay’s hand as he was leaving. “She’s a great girl. She always says how proud she is of you. You’re a real hero in her eyes.”
“Thanks, Roger. But you guys are the heroes. The videos on the phone might be the big break we’ve been looking for.”
* * *
Jay and Marty stepped out of the room. “Marty, call Mack and tell him about the phone. He’ll send a local agent to pick it up.”
“Okay,” Marty said. Then his phone rang. “Hi, Jill, what’s happening. What? I’m sure there’s an explanation. I’ll call the Coast Guard and start a search. Jill, stop crying. We’ll find him.”
“What’s going on?” Jay asked after Marty hung up the phone.
“Kyle and Brendan are missing. They took my boat last night and haven’t returned. Jillian’s freaking out because a thunderstorm is passing through. I’m calling the Coast Guard station in Woods Hole so they can begin a search. I don’t know where they went.”
As they stepped onto the elevator, Jay’s phone rang.
“Hi, this is Jay Mendes, Maravista Security.”
“Mr. Mendes, my name is Charles Cranmore. I understand you provide private security services?”
“Yes, sir, how can I help you?”
“I received a call a few minutes ago from an anonymous person. He says he is holding my daughter Charlotte and a young man hostage. He’s demanding a million dollars for each of them. I have forty-eight hours to provide the money. If I call the police, he’ll kill both of them.”
“Do you have the money to pay the ransom?”
“Yes, but I don’t want to pay.”
“You know I’m not a hostage negotiator.”
“I don’t want you to negotiate with the bastard,” Cranmore said. “I want you to rescue my daughter. I’ll pay you the two million dollars if you bring my daughter home alive. Can you help?”
“Yes, of course. Now tell me everything the caller said.”
Marty waited for Jay to finish the call, then said, “What was that about?”
“Well, I know where Kyle is. But it’s not good news.”
* * *
Water from the powerful thunderstorm filled the bottom of the Boston Whaler. For some miraculous reason, the small boat managed to stay upright as it rode out the storm. Since the engine died, the bilge pump also died. Carla and Brendan spent the night scooping water from the bottom of the hull. Soaked and cold, Brendan was glad to be alive.
As the sun began to rise in the east, Brendan heard sounds above. Within moments, a white and orange Coast Guard helicopter appeared overhead. A searchlight filled the sky, and within moments a flare landed in the water next to them.
The rotor blades churned the water, making it difficult to see the rescue swimmer drop into the ocean. Brendan was thrilled to see the diver crawl over the side of the boat.
The diver took off their helmet and introduced herself as Ensign Jennifer Willows. She asked if they were injured. She then called the helicopter on her radio, and they lowered a rescue chair. Carla got on first, and a few minutes later, Brendan had his turn.
The helicopter landed at Upper Cape Hospital, and Carla and Brendan were brought to the emergency room. Carla’s Dad and Marty met them a short time later.
Brendan told Marty about their adventure and what happened to Kyle and Charlotte as they were driving home. He then reached into Kyle’s backpack and pulled out the iPad used to control the bots. Finally, Brendan found the file he was looking for, the video taken inside the mansion.
“Dad, you have to view this video and get it to Jay Mendes as soon as you can.”
“Why Jay? What does this have to do with him?”
“You’ll see when you look at it. Dad, everybody is saying Jay murdered that priest in cold blood. But I, I mean we, don’t believe them. I want Jay to see this video before anybody else does so he can use it to prove his innocence.”
“Jay’s already been cleared by the FBI. But I’m sure he’ll appreciate watching the video. And by the way, Brendan, you’re grounded for the entire summer, and you’re going to spend it fixing the Boston Whaler and scraping barnacles off the cigarette boat. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Dad.”
Chapter 24
Mansion Island
Jay slipped off the rigid hull inflatable into the waist-deep water. Gia, CJ, and Madman followed him as he waded ashore. He flipped down his night vision goggles and scanned the island. The door to the kitchen was two hundred feet away. A wall surrounded the back of the abandoned mansion, leaving a small service gate as the only barrier to entry.
Jay and his team sprinted towards the gate and slid up against the granite wall. First, CJ cut the rusty chain securing the gate. Then Jay pulled the gate open wide enough for them to slip through.
In between the wall and the back door was a field of overgrown grass. They worked their way through the waist-high weeds looking for potential booby traps. When they reached the house, CJ stopped to check the backdoor. It was locked. He sprinted to the corner of the main house and looked around the corner. When Jay and the rest of the team caught up to him, CJ said, “There’s a black tarp covering the opening where the tree fell into the mansion.”
“CJ, lift the corner of the tarp to let us in,” Jay said. “Madman, follow CJ. Be careful. They could be waiting for us.”
After a few tense moments, Madman reported in, “Chief, the first room is clear. It looks like a library.”
Jay and Gia followed Madman through the smashed window into a wood-paneled room with empty mahogany bookshelves lining three walls. Jay walked across the room, opened the door, and peered around the corner into a vast, empty corridor. There were three doors on the opposite side of the hallway. The main house was straight ahead.
Jay and Gia turned the corner and moved along the hall’s right side while CJ and Madman sprinted across, taking up positions on the opposite side.
The team checked each door, clearing any open rooms.
When they reached the end of the hallway, they entered the large, three-story parlor. It looked exactly like the room Brendan showed him from the microbot video. To his left was a wide staircase leading down from the second floor. To his right was a massive fireplace. Interesting, Jay thought, no cots or personal gear. Was the assault team still here?
A loud crack answered his question.
The bullet blew wood splinters flew from the wall inches above Jay’s head. He dropped to the floor, and used his night scope to scan the room for the shooter. Even though the rules of engagement were now satisfied, Jay didn’t fire back. He didn’t know where the shot came from.
“CJ, can you see the shooter through your scope?” Jay asked.
“Negative, Chief.”
“I want to get into the kitchen on the right. There are two swinging doors on each side of the fireplace. CJ, see if you can move up behind one of those large columns. When we’re ready to move, Madman lay down a quick burst of cover fire towards the staircase. Gia will stay with me.”
“Roger.”
“Three, two, one… now.”
Jay and Gia sprinted towards the fireplace as CJ took up his position behind the closest column.
The kitchen door opened, and a kidnapper stepped out. Jay froze. The man saw Jay and lifted his rifle. Then a shot rang out. The man crumpled to the floor. Jay turned to see Gia lowering her rifle. He gave her a thumbs up.
A blast of automatic fire erupted from the staircase. Jay dropped to the floor, using the body of the dead kidnapper as cover. CJ and Maman returned fire as Jay and Gia crawled through the swinging door into the kitchen. Then the gunfire stopped.
“Jay, we got the guy on the staircase,” Madman said. “All clear out here.”
“Good job,” Jay said. “Join me in the kitchen.”
Jay pushed the first swinging door open. He swung his rifle back and forth, but the kitchen was empty. The backside of the stone fireplace sat to his left. The cast-iron ovens still in place. There was an enormous food preparation island in the middle of the kitchen, while empty food pantries and china cabinets adorned the walls.
Jay was about to leave when CJ tapped him on his shoulder. He put his index finger to his ear.
At first, he didn’t hear anything. Then faint sobbing. Like someone with a gag over their mouth. The sound was nearby.
CJ pointed to Jay’s right. Oh right, Jay thought, the walk-in refrigerator. Every mansion kitchen had one. Kyle and Charlotte might be in there. But one of the kidnappers could be in there too. Jay had to take the chance and check it out.
Jay motioned to CJ to move up to the large stainless-steel door. Jay crouched low, and Madman slid in behind him, standing up. Gia stayed back, covering the entrance.
Jay nodded, and CJ pulled the door open. Jay swiveled around the corner. Madman followed. On the floor at the back of the refrigerator were Kyle and Charlotte. They sat back-to-back with their knees up against their bodies.
Jay laid his rifle on the floor and approached the pair. They were tied together. Kyle stared at him with a look of horror. He shook his head. Charlotte had the same terrified look on her face.
He pulled a flashlight from his utility belt and looked closer, studying the plastic ties holding their arms. A small red and white wire ran down from the plastic ties. Jay followed the wire. It ran through a small hole in the floor.
“Hi guys,” Jay said. “Don’t move.”
“CJ, take Gia and find a door to the basement. Go down and look for a bomb.”
/> “A what?” CJ said. “Not another bomb.”
“I’m afraid so,” Jay said. “Madman, clear the rest of the mansion. We’re missing two of the kidnappers.”
“I’m moving.”
Gia led CJ down the stairs. The basement was unfinished. Piles of empty wood pallets lay spread around the floor. Empty steel shelves lined the walls. In the middle of the cellar stood three rusty steel barrels. On top of the barrels sat a bundle of dynamite. A small wire hung down from the ceiling.
Gia approached the barrels. Attached to the top piece of dynamite sat a small, yellow sticky note. Handwritten were the words, “Hi Chief… BOOM!”
“Jay, we have a problem,” Gia said on the radio.
“Can you tell if the bomb is on a timer or a detonator?”
“Let me take a closer look. I don’t see a timer.”
“It must be a direct trigger tied to the kids. I need to take a closer look at how the wire is attached.”
“Guys,” Jay said to Kyle and Charlotte. “Please be careful. I need you to scoot your bums forward just an inch or two.”
Kyle and Charlotte both nodded. First, Charlotte pressed her back against Kyle’s and slid her butt forward a few inches. Then Kyle did the same.
Jay laid on his stomach and shined his flashlight in. He could see the wire wrapped around both plastic ties. There wasn’t much slack so that any upward movement would trigger the bomb. Jay needed to clamp it off so the wire didn’t move.
“CJ, do you have a C4 breaching charge in your backpack?”
“Yes, Chief.”
“I need you to roll a small amount into a ball and bring it over to me. About three inches in diameter.”
“What are you going to….”
“Don’t ask any questions. After you hand me the C4, you need to go to the beach and get ready to evacuate. This order applies to everyone.”
“No way, Chief,” CJ said. “We’re not leaving you behind.”
“I’m not asking. I’ll bring Charlotte and Kyle out with me.”
CJ brought the ball of C4 to Jay, then went out the back door. Gia knelt beside Jay and placed her hand on his shoulder. She whispered into his ear, “You’re the bravest man I’ve ever known. Please stay alive.” She left the refrigerator, and Madman followed.