by Ken W. Smith
* * *
Jessie ended her broadcast as the Pope started his address. She sat down in the co-pilot’s seat next to Michelle.
“Jessie, grab that set of binoculars on the console. Scan the crowd for possible suicide bombers.”
“You’re kidding, right?”
“No, I’m not kidding.”
“Oh shit,” Jessie said. “Roger, can you scan the crowd with the remote camera?”
“I’m already on it,” Roger said.
“Michelle, are you okay?”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean. We learned Kathleen murdered your father,” Jessie said. “Doesn’t that make you mad?”
“I suspected it for some time. But, yes, it infuriates me to hear Kathleen say it with her own voice. The thing that really makes me mad is that she’s also responsible for killing my brother.”
“How’s that?”
“She orchestrated the kidnapping. That means she’s also responsible for attacking our team in Pakistan. One of her men shot the rocket that blew up General Andrew’s jeep. The shrapnel from the explosion killed Michael.”
“I’m so sorry,” Jesse said. “I know what it’s like to lose a brother and a husband. Plus, we almost lost Jay. I’m glad Kathleen’s going to pay for her crimes.”
“Keep scanning the crowd. We aren’t out of the woods yet.”
“Michelle, call Jay,” Roger said from the back of the plane. I spotted a red laser target on the Pope’s head. There’s a sniper!”
“Everybody, there’s a sniper! We need to warn the Pope!”
* * *
Jay stopped in his tracks. He was one hundred yards from the podium when Michelle’s words came through the microphone.
Jay repeated the warning, “Natalie, Gia, there’s a sniper!
“I’m on it,” Gia said as she grabbed Bishop Ramirez and pushed him to the floor of the podium.
Natalie heard the alert and spread the word to the other secret service agents who shuffled the President off the podium. She looked up at the Pope and saw the red laser dot on the back of his head.
“No,” she yelled, diving toward the Pope.
Natalie hit the Pope in mid-air and wrapped her arms around his back. Then she felt a heavy punch as the bullet slammed into the back of her body armor.
Momentum carried Natalie and the Pope off the stage. They flipped over in midair, and the Pope landed on top of her. Natalie heard the crack in her neck as she landed under his body weight. A sharp pain exploded down her spine. Then she passed out.
* * *
Jay followed McCoy and Mack through the crowd. The twin giants threw people out of their way like they were rag dolls. Jay heard the shot and saw Natalie fall off the stage with the Pope. When Jay arrived at the stage, local police had already cordoned off the platform. But when the police saw their jackets, they let them through.
Gia and Bishop Ramirez huddled over Natalie, who laid motionless in the grass. Jay knelt next to Gia, who held Natalie’s hand.
Natalie’s eyes flickered for a moment. Gia squeezed her hand, but Natalie didn’t respond.
“She wants to say something to you, Jay,” Gia said.
Jay placed his ear next to Natalie’s mouth.
“I’m sorry, Jay,” she said in a faint whisper. “I can’t feel anything.”
“It’s okay, Nat,” Jay said. “Help is on the way. You’ll get through this.”
“Jay, it’s hard to breathe. I’m getting cold. You know how I feel?”
“Of course. You’re the bravest person I know.”
“No, about you. I always loved you. It wasn’t a workplace fling.”
“I know. I love you too. Natalie. I’m sorry it didn’t work out.”
“Me too,” Natalie said as her final breath seeped out of her lips.
Jay kissed her gently and stroked her cheek. Then he said a quiet prayer for her and shut her eyelids.
* * *
The sounds of gunshots brought Jay back to reality. “What’s going on?” he said into his microphone.
“We’ve cornered the sniper and an accomplice in a high rise next to the park,” Cabral said.
“McFarland!” Jay said as he jumped to his feet. “Gia, stay with the Bishop and the Pope. McCoy, let’s go. Where’s Mack?”
“He already left.”
* * *
Five minutes later, Jay crouched in a stairwell on the fifteenth floor of an apartment building. Ernesto Cabral knelt next to him with a map of the building.
“The sniper’s on the roof. We have him surrounded, but he’s fighting back. Two of my men are dead, and another is on his way to the hospital.”
“I thought there were two?” Jay said.
“Yes, but we don’t know where the other man is. He slipped away.”
“That has to be McFarland,” McCoy said. “He’s a slippery bastard.”
Two more gunshots rang out from a floor below them.
“Come back!” someone yelled.
Jay sprang to his feet and ran down the stairs, pulling out his rifle as he ran. McCoy and Cabral followed close behind. Then, Jay saw a flash of black leave the stairwell onto one of the floors.
Jay vaulted over the railing onto the landing below and yanked the hallway door open. A man dressed in black kicked an apartment door open and disappeared inside.
“Shit, I hope nobody’s home. We don’t need a hostage situation!”
Jay slid to his knees outside the door as bullets splintered the door above his head. Jay aimed his gun at the door and was about to shoot when Ernesto yelled, “No, there may be people inside.”
Jay grabbed a flashbang from his pocket, reached up and grabbed the door handle, pulled the pin, and threw the grenade in. A large flash of light followed. McCoy reached over Jay and yanked the door open while Jay stayed low and crawled through the doorway. Two young children stared back at him from under the kitchen table. Jay waved to them to come forward.
“Is anybody else here?” Jay asked in Portuguese. “We’re with the police.”
“Yes,” a dark-haired girl about ten years old said. “My mother is on the balcony.”
“Okay, go out the door. I’ll get your mother.”
Jay looked through a glass sliding door and saw a pregnant woman lying on the floor.
“I got her,” Ernesto said. “Find our suspect.”
Chapter 49
The heat of the sun bore down on CJ as he focused intently on the sniper on the adjacent rooftop. The gunman was dressed in a police-style uniform, so CJ needed permission from local authorities to shoot.
Ivan was a living legend in the world of snipers and paid assassins. Nobody else would take a contract to kill the Pope. Not once, but twice.
CJ spotted the muzzle flash before he heard the shot. Madman confirmed the distance, wind speed, and angle of descent, while at the same time, CJ made his adjustments while focusing on his target.
Without warning, Ivan whipped around and fired in CJ’s direction.
CJ flinched as a police sniper on the rooftop twenty feet away from him collapsed.
When he refocused, Ivan was gone.
* * *
Jay saw the door to a bedroom on his left and a small bathroom on his right. He pointed towards the toilet, and McCoy ran in.
“It’s clear,” he said.
Jay approached the bedroom. He saw a bunk bed against the far wall with clothes and toys littering the floor. He heard a door open and dropped to his knees as bullets smashed through the closet door. Jay returned fire with two quick bursts. He heard a grunt and the rifle fall to the floor.
Jay jumped up and grabbed the closet door. McFarland jumped out and slammed Jay in the chest, knocking him to the floor.
Jay punched McFarland in the face, and blood flew from his nose.
McFarland hit Jay back on the side of the head with a vicious right.
Jay landed an uppercut. McFarland returned with a quick jab to the face, splitting Jay’s l
ip. He threw another punch, but Jay grabbed his arm and slammed it to the floor.
Jay punched McFarland several times and rolled over on top of him. McFarland kicked him off, then jumped on Jay. He pulled a large knife out of his belt and slashed Jay in his left arm.
Jay screamed and punched McFarland again. McFarland raised his knife above Jay’s head and plunged down. Jay grabbed his wrist, stopping the knife inches from his neck. Jay stared into McFarland’s steely gray eyes as he struggled to keep the knife’s point from piercing his skin. McFarland smiled as he pushed down closer and closer.
“You know, this is not personal, Mendes,” McFarland said. “Even though you abandoned me in Mosul.”
“Would you have preferred I allow twenty school children to die?”
“No, but then you crushed my arm and shot me.”
“You started the shooting by killing a great guy.”
“It was all part of the battle plan.”
“Was raping Olivia part of your battle plan?” Jay said with a snarl.
“No, the rewards of conquest. I look forward to seeing your girl soon. I heard she’s back in Falmouth. She’s bringing some fur seals with her. Oh, did I forget to mention how much I enjoyed slicing the neck of your stupid pet seal?”
A primal scream emitted from Jay’s mouth as he wrapped his hand around McFarland’s wrist with his left hand and twisted, crushing the wrist bones. With his right, he grabbed McFarland’s knife, turned the blade around, and pressed it against his throat. Blood trickled as the knife dug into McFarland’s neck. Still, the former SAS commando held Jay’s hand back, twisting the knife around until he pressed the blade towards Jay’s throat.
Jay dug deep, holding the knife with his right hand while his other hand searched his pant leg.
“If you’re looking for your desert dagger, I pulled it out of your sock while we fought.”
“That wasn’t what I was looking for,” Jay said as he pulled his backup gun out of his pant’s utility pocket. Then, he pressed the barrel against McFarland’s temple, “This was.”
McFarland screamed and placed all of his weight on the knife, but it was too late. Jay pulled the trigger.
The handgun shot was followed by a louder explosion—a blast from a much more powerful weapon. McFarland’s head disintegrated in a shower of blood and gore, covering Jay’s face.
The room went quiet, except for the ringing in Jay’s ears.
Jay rolled over, dumping McFarland’s headless body on the floor. He then wiped the blood off his face with the sleeve of his jacket. He looked up to see a giant man standing over him—a double-barrel shotgun in his hands. Both barrels were smoking.
“You alright?” McCoy said, extending a hand down to Jay.
“I got him,” Jay said.
“Sure you did.”
“I did. I shot McFarland before you did.”
“With that little pea shooter?” McCoy said. “Give me a break.”
Ernesto entered the bedroom with his gun drawn. He saw Jay’s face covered in blood and said, “Oh my God, are you alright?”
“Don’t worry,” Jay said. “it’s not my blood.”
“Jay, are you okay? I heard a gunshot on the radio.” Gia said in his earpiece. “Did you get McFarland?”
“Yes, he’s dead. We’re all clear here.”
“Good, because we have a situation with Bishop Ramirez.”
“Is he okay?”
“I guess so. But the Bishop wants you to come back to the park. Please hurry.”
Jay looked at McCoy and Ernesto. Come on, guys. We gotta go.”
“Wait,” Ernesto said. “You need to wash the blood off your face first.”
Chapter 50
Gia watched in shock as Bishop Ramirez removed his vestment, exposing the suicide vest. He held the bomb’s plunger straight over his head.
“Jay said there was a plan B. Is that you?”
“No, I am plan C. The sniper was plan B. You must bring the Pope to me, or I will detonate this bomb and the five other bombs in downtown Rio.”
“But why Bishop?” Gia asked. “I thought you were a loyal member of his inner circle?”
“I was loyal to God. Now I am loyal to a new leader—The Master. He believes religion is the real evil, and I agree. We cannot have a Pope from an evil country that spreads war around the world.”
“But the college of Cardinals voted him in. If there were any questions about his integrity or faith, they would have known.”
“They did not know him as I do,” Bishop Ramirez said. “We grew up together. Went to the same Catholic high school and seminary. He was my best friend. Then he moved up in the Boston archdiocese, and he left me behind in Fall River.
Jay listened from behind the light stand. He needed to figure out a plan.
“Kyle, are you there?” Jay whispered into his radio.
“Yes, Jay. Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. Do you have control of the helicopter?”
“Yes, I’m flying it away from the harbor.”
“What happens if you cut the satellite link?”
“I lose control, and it crashes.”
“Are you far enough out to sea?”
“Not really. I’m only a mile east of the airport. The helicopter can go in any direction.”
“You need to cut the feed. Now. We’ll have to take our chances with the helicopter.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You tracked Kathleen’s yacht using the satellite link, right?”
“Yes,” Kyle said. “That’s how we were able to link her to the Boston and New York bombings. The satellite link relayed through the seagull drones and triggered the bombs.”
“Exactly. Now I have Bishop Ramirez and five suicide bombers standing in the middle of two and a half million people. There is a remote control helicopter packed full of liquid TNT providing that same relay. I need you to kill the link. Now!”
“Got it, Chief. It’s done.”
Jay stepped out from behind the tower and pointed his gun at Bishop Ramirez.
“Drop the trigger, Bishop. It’s all over.”
“You’re right, Jay. It is over.” Instead of dropping the trigger, the Bishop pushed the plunger down.
Gia screamed.
Nothing happened.
Nobody moved until Ernesto Cabral emerged from behind Jay and grabbed the Bishop’s wrists. “You’re under arrest, Bishop Ramirez.”
Gia ran over to Jay and hugged him. “How did you know they were using the satellite link to trigger the bombs? What if they were directly wired?”
“I didn’t know,” Jay said. “I had to trust my instincts.”
There was a loud explosion in the distance.
“What was that?” Gia said.
Jay looked at the mushroom cloud, “Kathleen’s helicopter going down in flames.”
Chapter 51
Six Months Later
The Federal Medical Center was a stark, modern facility located in central Massachusetts. Jay, Marty, and Mack waited in the lobby for Daniel McPhee to be reunited with his family.
“So Mack, how is this going to work?” Jay said. “Is Daniel going to be free to roam anywhere he wants? Will he need surveillance or protection?”
“No, Federal Marshals are putting him in the witness protection program. He will assume a new identity in a different community. After the trial, he will be free to live where he wants.”
“Why did they release him?” Jay asked.
“The federal prosecutor agreed to drop the charges against him in exchange for his testimony against Kathleen. So he’s able to tie her to the attacks in Boston, New York, and Rio. We conducted a thirty-day psychiatric evaluation, and the doctors say he’s cleared to testify. Then he can go back to a normal life.”
“What’s normal after being held captive for fourteen years?” Jay said. “What does he do? Where will he work?”
“Jillian seems determined to care for him and h
elp him adjust,” Marty said.
“Does she know he’s going into witness protection?” Jay asked, “That she won’t be able to see him until after the trial.”
* * *
Jillian and Daniel waited in a family conference room. The room was stark with gray cinder block walls and a single rectangular table with four chairs. Kyle stared at his cell phone. He mumbled something under his breath, then put the phone in his pocket.
“What’s the matter, Kyle?” Jillian said as she paced back and forth.
“No cell service.”
“We won’t be here long. You’ll be able to talk with your friends when we finish.”
“Mom, what are we going to do?”
“What do you mean, honey? We’re going to be a family again.”
“I mean, it’s going to be weird with Dad in our life.”
“We were a family before he was kidnapped. We’ll go back to being a family.”
“I don’t remember that. I was too small. Is he going to boss me around and tell me what to do? I don’t even know him.”
Jillian wrapped her arms around Kyle’s shoulders and hugged him. She ran her fingers through his unruly hair and smiled.
“He may want you to get a haircut,” Jillian said. “Just saying.”
Kyle laughed, “I’m not talking about that kind of stuff. What I mean is….”
The door opened. Daniel McPhee stood in the doorway in a light gray t-shirt, jeans, and loafers. He didn’t look like the same spirited man Jillian knew before he was kidnapped. Instead, Daniel looked sickly, with shaved hair and pale skin.
“Oh my God,” Jillian exclaimed. “Daniel, I can’t believe it.” She rushed to Daniel and wrapped her arms around him.
He stood motionless for a moment, then hugged her back.
Jillian stepped back to see tears streaming down Daniel’s cheeks.
“Honey, what’s the matter? It’s okay now. We’re back together.”
“I, I, never…,” Daniel stammered as he wiped his face with his hands. “I never thought I would see you again. I was certain I would die before holding you in my arms.”
“Oh, Daniel, I never gave up hope. I mean, we never gave up hope, right Kyle?”