by Lee Jackson
“Is this it?” the lieutenant demanded.
Eyes shielded from the light by one hand, his voice raspy, Atcho gasped, “I can’t see her face!”
Roughly, Captain Govorov shoved the little girl forward. The lieutenant shone a flashlight in her face. “Is this the right package, José?” he demanded again.
Atcho nodded weakly. The child began to cry. “Yo quiero a mi Papá!”
With one arm, the captain swept her over his shoulder and started back toward the Jeep. The lieutenant leaned toward Atcho. “Now tell us what you know,” he commanded. “Where is Atcho?”
Atcho made no move. The lieutenant prodded him. Atcho still made no reply. The lieutenant kicked him.
Atcho responded. With all his remaining strength, he let loose a furious cry that burned through the passionless, moonlit night. In that instant, he lunged and buried his knife deep in the lieutenant’s chest.
As if on signal, the night exploded with gunfire. Beside the first vehicle, the driver and guard dropped to the pavement, lifeless. The driver of the second Jeep cranked the engine, then slumped as the windshield shattered in his face.
Captain Govorov held the little girl closely. Turning, he walked deliberately back toward Atcho and stared at the lieutenant’s corpse. It lay in a heap in a pool of blood spreading into the dust.
Knife ready to attack again, Atcho crouched next to the dead officer. From the folds of his coat, the captain produced a small pistol and held it next to Isabel’s temple. The firing stopped.
Captain Govorov regarded the ring of men forming around him. With a slight gesture, he indicated the pistol at Isabel’s head. “Atcho,” he called softly, his voice mocking.
Panting heavily, sweat and blood streaming from his tattered clothing, Atcho waited. Hatred burned in his eyes, muscles tensed for the slightest chance to pounce.
“Atcho. It is you, isn’t it?” Govorov’s Spanish was very good. Atcho made no reply. The captain laughed mirthlessly. “Yes, it is you. It occurs to me that I still don’t know what you look like.” He sighed. “The irony is that confirming your looks and the whereabouts of your headquarters was our mission. But tonight, we were too ambitious in modifying your face. I should have given the lieutenant better instructions.”
In a half-crouch, circling slowly, Atcho looked for an opening. Weakness dizzied him and his legs wobbled. Desperately, he shook his head to clear it, and planted his feet more firmly. Through squinting eyes he appraised his position. If he attacked, Isabel would surely die. If he did not, he might never see her again. Almost imperceptibly, he loosened the grip on his knife.
Seeming not to notice, the captain shrugged. “You’re brave,” he said. “For now, you live.” He chuckled. “Anyway, if I were to shoot you, one of your men might put a bullet in my head – your little girl be damned. Besides, you’re far too valuable to discard carelessly.” He sighed. “So you live, Atcho. But we will meet again – I have your daughter!”
With cold laughter, he moved swiftly to his Jeep and yanked aside the dead driver. Pulling Isabel onto his lap, he sat behind the wheel, started the ignition, and with a grind of gears, drove into the night.
With his last vestige of consciousness, Atcho watched the Jeep disappear. Hate welled within him. He slumped to the ground.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lee Jackson is a bestselling, award-winning suspense author. He was an Infantry Officer in the US Army. His first book, Curse The Moon: Cold War Series Book 1, was sold in more than 5 countries. Rasputin’s Legacy: Cold War Series Book 2, was released on July 28, 2017. Lee lives and works with his wife in Texas.
KEEP IN TOUCH WITH LEE JACKSON
Get Updates:
http://bit.ly/2rgNfoa
Email: [email protected]
Website: http://AuthorLeeJackson.com
Facebook: https://www.Facebook.com/AuthorLeeJackson/
Twitter: @Stonewall_77
Visit the blog Lee kept in Afghanistan:
WartimeSojourner.blogspot.com
Get Wartime Sojourner in eBook form, FREE: https://authorleejackson.lpages.co/wartime-sojourner-ebook/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7406574.Lee_Jackson