by Mel LeBrun
“Heavily sedated in the other room,” Martin answered. Josh hadn't said two words since they arrived.
“Do we have any idea where Katie is?” Michael asked.
“I have four possible locations. They're all in Germany, but the clock is ticking. They're only holding locations before the girls are sold or shipped off to somewhere else.”
“How much time do we have?”
“Less than thirty-six hours.”
“When do we leave?” Michael asked.
“Not soon enough,” Josh finally spoke even though he wouldn't look at anyone. Everyone shared that sentiment.
“Our flight leaves in three hours,” Martin answered.
Michael nodded. “I'll get packed.” He looked over at Jessica who was sitting with Helen. She had one arm wrapped around her shoulders and the other squeezing her hand. “You can stay here if you want. I won't be long.” Jessica nodded and rubbed Helen's back.
Michael returned in a little less than a half hour with his bag packed, ready to go. Jessica prepared something for them to eat while he was out so they wouldn't have to leave on an empty stomach. No one really felt like eating but they downed what they could.
After the light dinner, Martin and Josh began loading their bags into the car. Jessica approached Michael, looking concerned.
“I'll be fine,” Michael assured her.
“Will I hear from you when you land?” she asked. “Or when it's over, so I'll know you're safe?”
“You're going to worry the whole time if I don't get in touch, am I right?”
She shrugged. “I could lie and say no.”
Michael smiled then reached out and caressed her cheek. “You're a terrible liar.”
“I know.”
He wrapped his arms around her and tenderly kissed her lips. “As soon as I get a phone, I'll message you with the number.”
She kissed him back. “Thank you. Please be careful.”
He grinned. “I'm always careful.”
“Now who's the liar?” she retorted.
He kissed her again and squeezed her tightly before tearing himself away. The men left for the airport while Jessica stayed with Helen and spent the night to make sure she would be okay.
Chapter 3
Their flight landed in Dusseldorf, Germany after a brief stop in Amsterdam. Martin, Josh, and Michael wasted no time getting to work. They got plenty of sleep during the ten and a half hour flight and were ready to go once they landed. Martin rented a car with the help of Michael, who spoke fluent German, and the three were soon on their way.
“Where's the first location?” Michael asked.
“Not far, but we're meeting someone first,” Martin said. “I have a contact here who is going to go with us. He knows the area and agreed to help. His name is Luca Weber.”
“What does he do?” was Michael's next question.
“He's kind of like an arms dealer,” Martin answered. “Deals mostly with very specialized and specific weaponry and technology.”
“Like sniper rifles with night vision scopes?” Michael asked, thinking back on the rifle Martin had given him two years ago when he needed his help.
Martin chuckled, realizing Michael made the connection. “Yeah.”
Josh had hardly spoken since they left Martin's house. He sat quietly in the backseat. Martin and Michael knew he was having a difficult time with the situation. It was just as trying for Martin, but he was better able to distance himself from his emotions. Josh was more sensitive and it was harder for him to do that.
After a brief stop to buy disposable cell phones, they soon pulled up to a small bookstore. Martin entered the store alone. A few minutes later he emerged. On his heels was a short man with thinning blond hair and deep blue eyes. Martin got back in the driver's seat and the man following him sat in back with Josh.
“Guys, this is Luca.” Martin introduced him. “Luca, this is Michael and my cousin Josh.”
Once the pleasantries were out of the way, Luca spoke to Martin with a pleasant German accent. “I found out some more information on your niece. At least I'm pretty sure it is her.”
“What is it?” Josh asked anxiously.
“An American girl was smuggled in. She is being held at this location.” He handed Martin a piece of paper.
“How exactly did you get this information?” Michael asked.
“I called in some favors.” He paused. “And maybe threatened a few others.”
“So you owe Martin, too?” Michael turned to him with a grin.
“Doesn't everyone?” Luca joked.
“I appreciate this, Luca.” Martin thanked him as he put the car in reverse.
“Can we just get going?” Josh's patience was wearing thin.
“Take it easy, Josh,” Michael admonished him.
“I'd like to see how easy-going you'd be if it was Jessica in there,” Josh snapped.
Michael shut his mouth. Josh was ready to blow and he didn't want to send him over the edge.
A minute passed and Josh calmed himself down. “I'm sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” Michael consoled him.
“I just can't stand the thought of...” He couldn't say it. He was in agony over what might be happening to Katie.
“Don't think about it,” Martin urged him. It was what he himself was desperately trying to do.
Josh ran his fingers through his hair and stared out the window. Michael glanced back at him and then exchanged a look with Martin. They drove in silence until they finally came upon the location where Katie was supposedly being held. It was a large farmhouse. A giant barn sat in the back of the property line along some woods. The house was settled in the middle of a sizable field. Approaching it without being spotted would be very difficult. There was hardly any cover, only a couple large trees scattered between the barn and the house.
They parked down the street. Luca pulled two pairs of night vision binoculars from his bag. He handed one to Michael and the other to Josh. They looked around the buildings. There were two guards circling the house, one standing guard in the driveway and two more by the barn.
“Heavily guarded.” Michael handed the binoculars to Martin.
“I say we just kill everyone and search the property,” Josh spoke out from the back.
“Not gonna happen.” Michael shot him down. “I'm willing to bet there is a small army in that house and we don't know where the girls are being held. They could get hurt.”
“What do you have in mind?” Martin asked.
“Still working on that.” Michael turned to Luca. “What is this place? It's too elaborate to be just a holding facility.”
Luca took a deep breath, nervous about how Josh might react. “This is an auction house.”
Josh didn't react at all. He just stared out the window. Michael looked back at him. He knew Josh was not coping well.
“Josh.” Michael addressed him, but he just kept looking out the window. “Get your head in the game. We can't do this without you.”
Josh sighed and ran his fingers through his hair. “We could pretend to be a buyer. Find out where the girls are and if Katie is there.”
“That might work.” Martin seemed optimistic.
“I'm afraid it won't,” Luca interrupted. “At least not fast enough to save your niece. The man who runs this place is Felix Meier. He runs operations in Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands. He is very careful about his buyers. It takes weeks to get a meeting and he probably already has buyers in line for the girls here.”
“The tree line,” Josh blurted.
“That's what I was just thinking,” Michael agreed.
“I'm sorry?” Luca didn't understand.
“We'll have to approach from the tree line,” Michael explained. “We can use the few trees between the barn and house for cover as we close in. It won't be easy.”
“Do we have any weapons?” Josh directed his question mostly at Luca since they hadn't brought any weapons with them.
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Luca sighed. “This is another problem. Meier has some of the local police on his payroll. You can get the girl out. They can't exactly file a missing person report on a woman they kidnapped, but you cannot kill anyone. If there are dead bodies, it will get very complicated very quickly.”
“I'll try my best,” Michael said insincerely.
He knew Luca was right though. It wouldn't take corrupt police long to focus on them. Martin and Josh being related to Katie and just arriving in the country would be a dead giveaway. Leaving the country would be nearly impossible if they were wanted for murder.
“I think only two of us should go. Any more than that will be easier to spot. Martin and I will go scout the house and see what we can find,” Michael finally announced.
“Like hell,” Josh protested. “I'm going.”
“No. Your head's not in the game.”
“Michael, you know I can do this. Martin may have had training and can handle himself, but there are only two soldiers in this car and you know who they are. I'm better equipped, and you know it.”
Michael looked back at him and grinned. “That's what I was hoping you'd say.”
Josh let out a sigh of relief.
“Let's go.” Michael opened his door and stepped out, strapping on his small backpack.
The air felt cool and there was a slight breeze. Josh joined him and they started snaking their way to the tree line using anything they could find as cover. Once in the woods, they stealthily moved towards the barn. As they got closer, they could hear the two guards stationed by the door talking. They crept up to the back wall of the barn and took a moment to prepare themselves mentally for what they were about to do. Once they attacked the guards, they were committed. There would be no going back. If things got ugly, they would have to deal with it.
Michael gestured for Josh to go around the side of the barn while he went around the opposite way. They snuck up to the guards, and took them both out at the same moment. They dragged the unconscious men off to the side of the barn and out of sight. They were about to advance on the house when they heard someone cough from inside the barn. They looked at each other and then back at the barn. They stepped over to the door.
“Are you sick?” Michael spoke through the door in German, hoping to get some kind of response from inside telling him who or how many were there. He was expecting another guard to answer but instead heard a woman speaking English.
“What did he say?” the woman asked.
“I think he asked if she was sick?” another woman answered.
Josh and Michael looked at each other, promptly opened the door and entered, closing it back behind them. The women quickly huddled together in fear, not knowing what to expect. Michael handed Josh a flashlight from his bag then grabbed one for himself. He shined his around the room while Josh shined light on the women. They turned away, shielding their eyes from the bright light. Josh panned the room until the light stopped on one girl. She was petite with the trademark Lavene blond hair and blue eyes, just like Martin and Josh. The family resemblance was uncanny.
“Katie!” he exclaimed.
“Who are you?” she asked, blinded by the sharp lights as he rushed towards her.
“It's me, Josh,” he answered, taking her in his arms.
“Josh?” It couldn't possibly be him, she thought.
Michael shined his flashlight on Josh so she could see his face. She was overjoyed when she finally realized it was really him.
“Josh!” She wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed him in a death grip as she gave way to tears. She couldn't believe he was there.
He squeezed her back just as tightly. “We're going to get you out of here.”
“How did you find me? What's going on?” Questions were rushing through her head faster than she could vocalize them.
“Easy,” Michael stepped in. “Let's get out of here first, then we'll talk.”
“Your voice is familiar.” She wiped some tears away. He shined the light on his face. “You work with Josh. You're Michael.”
“Good memory.” Michael smiled. “Martin is waiting for us in the car, so why don't we get going?”
Josh grabbed her hand and started pulling her towards the barn door. She stopped dead in her tracks and wouldn't go any further. He looked back at her.
“Aren't they coming with us?” she asked, referring to the other women.
Michael and Josh looked around at them. There were at least a dozen other young women huddled together in the back of the barn looking intently at them.
“There are too many.” Michael frowned. “We'll be too easy to spot. We can't risk it.”
“We can't leave them!” Katie protested. “You don't know what happens here.” Her voice broke and tears fell from her eyes.
Josh closed his eyes and hung his head.
Michael looked away and then back at her with a look of deep sorrow. “We know.”
She stared at him in disbelief. “Then how can you leave them?” She was greatly distressed at the thought of leaving those women behind to face that horrible fate.
Michael just watched her and Josh didn't say anything.
“Please. Help us,” one of the women spoke.
“Once we're clear, we'll call the authorities and they will take care of it.” Michael tried to appease her.
“Some of the men who come here are police,” another woman spoke up.
Michael sighed and looked down at the ground.
“Josh,” Katie pleaded.
Josh was caving quickly.
“Michael,” he said strongly, turning to face his partner.
Michael knew what Josh was thinking and he didn't like it. The risks went up exponentially if they brought all those girls out with them. Trying to sneak away from armed guards with a small crowd behind you was generally not a wise course of action. He didn't relish the thought of leaving them either, but was trying to weigh getting away safely against getting away with everyone.
“If anyone can get them out, we can.” Josh spoke to Michael in Arabic, hoping the women couldn't understand.
“It's too dangerous. We could get everyone killed.” Michael spoke back in Arabic.
“The men have let their guard down. We can get by them easily. They may not even notice the women missing until we're long gone,” Josh reasoned.
“And if we're spotted?”
Josh looked down and kicked his foot on the ground. He didn't say anything. The answer was obvious; there would be many casualties.
“We will do whatever you say and we will not say a word,” a woman spoke to them in Arabic, surprising both men. “Please help us.”
So much for having a private conversation. Michael sighed loudly. “Does everyone here speak English?”
“She doesn't.” One woman pointed to a young Asian woman who then became very afraid because of the attention.
Michael spoke to her in Mandarin, but she shook her head. She spoke, but it wasn't Chinese. It sounded like maybe Korean. Neither he nor Josh spoke it. He turned to the woman next to her. “Take her hand. Keep her close to you.” The woman nodded and grabbed the Asian girl's hand tightly, offering her a reassuring smile.
Josh walked to the door and opened it a crack to look out. He spotted a man walking towards the barn. “Someone's coming.”
Michael and Josh stood on opposite sides of the door waiting to see what the man did. When he arrived at the barn, he called out to the two guards who were supposed to be keeping watch. When they didn't respond, he drew his gun and approached the barn door. He called out again then slowly opened the door. He shined a flashlight inside. He took another step while shining the light around. Josh and Michael took him down in a heartbeat, and he was out before he knew what hit him.
“It's time to go,” Josh said.
“Agreed.” Michael turned to the women. “No one says anything and you do what we say. One by one, I want you all to get to the woods behind the barn.” He turned to the woman
who was to help the Asian girl. “With the exception of you. You don't leave her side.” She nodded, squeezing the young girl's hand.
They ushered the women out one by one when the coast was clear. Katie was among the first to go. Once everyone was out, Josh and Michael joined them in the woods. Michael instructed the women to hold hands and form a line so no one would get separated or lost in the dark woods. They slowly began heading away from the farmhouse.
Once they were a safe distance away, Josh called Martin and informed him of the situation. Martin was a little overwhelmed, unsure how they would transport that many people. Luca offered the use of a van, they would just have to go and get it. They told Josh to wait in the woods until they returned.
While they were waiting for the van, they noticed a lot of commotion coming from the farmhouse. Michael pulled out his night vision binoculars and surveyed what was happening. Men were streaming from the house and into the surrounding field with flashlights. A few headed toward the street, but the majority headed toward the woods.
“We need to move,” Michael whispered. “Call Martin and tell him we'll have to meet him someplace farther away. If they see him with a van, it's all over.”
While Josh called Martin, Michael told the girls they had to keep moving and instructed them to hold hands again while they walked farther through the woods and away from the farmhouse.
As they walked, they saw a few vehicles stop on the street nearby. Armed men emerged with flashlights, joining in the search.
“Perfect. They called in more help,” Michael lamented. “This could get ugly.”
“If Martin doesn't get back soon with that van, we'll never get out of here,” Josh added.
“We're going to need a distraction,” Michael thought out loud.
“What are you thinking?” Josh asked.
“I'm thinking the house is unguarded,” Michael replied.
“What do you want to do?”
“Call Martin and get his ETA.” Michael returned the binoculars to his bag.
Josh did as requested. “He's still ten minutes out.”
“All right,” said Michael. “I'm going back to the house to create a distraction in nine minutes. Take the girls and get as far away from here as possible. I'll meet up with you later. Don't wait for me.”