A Dubious Artifact (A Colton Banyon Mystery Book 6)

by Gerald J Kubicki

  “Roger,” Joe professionally replied. He hit the button to retract the machine gun, but it was already too late. He could see the trail of the RPG as it headed towards him. It took only two seconds for the missile to cross the meadow and slam into the machine gun. The log cabin was rocked by the explosion. The RPG took out the gun and a portion of the roof. Debris fell everywhere outside and knocked over furniture in the great room inside.

  “Got the man that fired the RPG,” Steve spoke into the earpiece.

  “Take him out,” Agent Gamble answered as debris fell around him from the blast.

  Five seconds later, Bob Bloom stood up to address his men. The sniper bullet hit him square in the chest. He went down in a heap. Heller’s bodyguard watched in horror. Men were dropping all around him. Suddenly, he fell to the ground and grabbed his head.

  The Effort men now poured out of the woods.

  “They’re coming,” Loni screamed.

  “Reserves to the North wall,” Agent Gamble ordered. Banyon grabbed several gun magazines and beat Maya to the steps. Even Dr. Behl made it to the platform. Her mouth set in grim determination. Both Previne and Pramilla looked over at the people on the catwalk. “Good luck guys,” Pramilla offered.

  “Don’t waste your ammo until they are about forty yards from the cabin, then give them all you’ve got,” Agent Gamble yelled over the noise. “Eric, what about the Chinese on the South side of the cabin?” he managed over the incredible noise.

  “I think that the Chinese are going to let us kill some of the Effort people before they make their move. I’m all clear here right now,” Eric answered.

  “Joe, come in,” Agent Gamble pleaded, but there was no answer. “Snipers count off,” Agent Gamble ordered. He was satisfied when all three answered. Things were starting to move fast now. He glanced at his watch. It said twelve-fifteen.

  Dr. Behl was so nervous she could not wait any longer. She started to fire at the advancing men. Immediately everyone else on the cat walk opened up creating a deafening roar in the open room. Several Effort men went down, the snipers also dropped more men. The Effort was down to fifteen fighting men.

  ***

  One of his men pointed out two men running towards the West side of the cabin. They were about to shoot at them, when Zao Ping stopped them. He recognized the RPG in their hands and realized that he now had a viable plan to get the artifact.

  “Don’t shoot them yet. Wait until they fire the RPG. Then you two,” he pointed to two of his own men. “You two take them out.”

  “Yes,” replied the men who were now itching for a fight.

  Zao Ping then stood up and motioned for the group on the South side to come to his location. They quickly blended into the woods and circled around.

  ***

  “Something is happening,” Eric announced. “The Chinese on my side have pulled back into the woods and it looks like they are joining their other group on the West side.

  “That’s not a common strategy,” Agent Gamble yelled out. “Unless they know something that we don’t. What could that be?”

  Zao Ping continued his instructions to his men. “As soon as they get ready to fire the RPG, you must sprint towards the hole, wherever it is.

  “How will we know that it is time?” someone asked.

  “When the one holding the RPG kneels to stead his aim, that’s when we go, but don’t bother shooting at the cabin. Instead take out all of the other people you can. It will be just us that should enter the cabin and retrieve the artifact. Kill everyone you encounter. You two,” he pointed. You stay with me. When we reach the hole, you will cover me and keep anyone from entering the cabin.”

  Chapter Sixty-Eight

  “Everyone to the bunker,” Banyon screamed into his earpiece. He had just asked Wolf for an update. The spirit was clearly agitated.

  “Get everyone into the bunker now,” he bellowed. He also added, “I’m sorry Colt, there’s nothing more you and I can do,” but Banyon never heard it as he was already on the move towards the kitchen.

  He grabbed Loni and all but threw her off the catwalk. Maya turned and jumped to the ground. Surprisingly, Dr. Behl stopped shooting and headed for the steps. Banyon looked at the Patel twins and saw them scurry towards the kitchen and the pantry door. Banyon looked around the solid log wall that separated the great room and the kitchen, Eric was there already and opened the secret panel. He began to usher the women down the stairs. Banyon now turned towards Tom and Agent Gamble.

  “Get off the West wall, now,” Banyon screamed.

  “Can’t,” replied Agent Gamble. “The Chinese are heading straight for the wall. We need to slow them down or no one will make the bunker,” Agent Gamble yelled as he and Tom sprayed the attackers with lead.

  “They’re going to blow the wall with another rocket any second,” Banyon screamed. “Get away from the wall.”

  “Colt, you go and get the girls inside the bunker. Tom and I will hold them off a little longer and be right behind you,” Agent Gamble promised. He turned to Tom who shook his head in agreement as he continued to shoot.

  Banyon ran to the kitchen and had just entered the pantry when he heard Agent Gamble say, “Crap.”

  Chapter Sixty-Nine

  The rocket hit the center of the West wall of the log cabin and detonated. It blasted a three foot in diameter hole in the wall. The concussion blew everything in the room all the way to the East wall, including Tom Cruickskank and Gregory Gamble. They flew like rag dolls and slammed into the wall. It didn’t hurt them as they were already dead from the initial blast. Banyon had been saved because of the strong wall that separated the great room from the kitchen and the heavy metal pantry door.

  After a few seconds, Banyon emerged from the dented pantry door. Dust and debris still floated in the air. He ran into the great room and found both men near the wall. They were bent and broken. He checked for a pulse and found none on both men. Both men were dead. Banyon was stunned with the horror of knowing that he had been involved in the decision of which of his friends would die. If only I had asked Wolf for an update earlier, I could have dragged them off of the West wall and saved their lives.

  “Wolf update?” he cried. He wanted to know how much time he had before someone came crashing through the opening.

  “If you go to the hole right now,” Wolf said in a vengeful voice. “You can pick off several of the attackers. Then you must hurry to the bunker.”

  Banyon grabbed his gun and sprinted to the hole. He wanted revenge, he wanted to kill someone and he did. He fired until he was out of bullets. But he hit three Chinese men as they were about to jump over the railing on the deck. He then turned and ran to the pantry. Only then did he speak into his earpiece.

  “Agent Gamble and Tom are down. They are dead,” he screamed into the earpiece.

  “We’ll keep firing,” one of the snipers replied. The other two snipers chimed in and quickly agreed.

  “Oh, my God,” he heard Maya scream. He knew she was in shock.

  “You get yourself down here right now Colton Banyon,” Loni screamed. He could hear the panic in her voice.

  “Colt, are you sure?” a disbelieving Previne asked.

  “Unfortunately, I’m sure,” he replied sadly. Banyon passed through the pantry door. He slipped on the steps and tumbled down the stairs as he heard another unexpected voice speak into his earpiece.

  “Don’t lock the escape tunnel. I’m on my way,” a familiar voice croaked into the earpiece. It was Gunny Joe. “I’m still alive.”

  Joe had thrown himself through the opening as the platform began to descend and had been knocked unconscious by the concussion. But he was up now. He had two broken ribs and blood was seeping through his white tee shirt as he staggered down the steps and into the kitchen area.

  Chapter Seventy

  Outside was pure chaos. The Chinese, as ordered, went after the Effort men, who were closing in on the hole in the wall. They suddenly realized that someone else wa
s shooting at them. The Effort men turned to fight the new intruders. Soon, it became hand to hand combat as the two lines merged. The snipers kept firing, but only two of them now had sightlines to continue to pick off the attackers.

  Zao Ping was under the deck. His two guards were dead and he had a bullet in his side. They were just climbing over the deck fence when a man appeared in the hole and sprayed them with bullets. I must complete my mission, he thought. He dragged himself from under the deck and peeked into the hole. When he saw the way was clear, he didn’t hesitate and leaped over the wall. The pain he felt as he hit the deck was excruciating, but he launched himself through the hole and rolled up into a firing position. He could see the inside had been devastated, but he only saw two bodies near the back wall. All the others were gone and the artifact gone with them. He immediately decided there had to be an escape tunnel or a bunker and decided to search the bodies for a clue.

  As soon as he reached Agent Gamble’s body, he noticed the earpiece. Ah, communications, he thought and quickly inserted the earpiece into his own ear. He then continued to search the body, but found nothing except some sort of remote key device. He realized the device would open the bunker and smiled. Now, all he had to do was find the door to the basement.

  Suddenly he heard a female voice in his ear. “Colt, where are you? You should have been here already.”

  “I slipped on the stairs going to the basement and sprained my ankle,” Banyon replied. “I’ve got a little limp. I’m near the bunker and will be by the door any second.”

  “We’re coming to you,” she answered.

  “Ah, if I hurry and find the basement, I can get them in the open,” Zao Ping said out loud to no one.

  He sprang to his feet and surveyed the area. It soon became clear to him that the entry to the basement was behind the wall and in the kitchen. He headed that way, carrying his gun loosely. It was an uncharacteristic mistake.

  As he rounded the wall a hand professionally chopped the rifle from him. It clattered to the floor. He immediately went into a defensive position. The hand belonged to Joe Gersch. He had heard the Chinaman speak out loud and setup an ambush. Zao Ping stared at the much taller man in amazement.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” Joe asked.

  Noticing the blood on Joe’s shirt, Zao Ping replied. “You are hurt badly. You can’t stop me, I’m a trained killer.” He then threw back his head and laughed.

  “I’m also a trainer killer,” Joe announced through gritted teeth. “And you are wounded too. So, what do you say — let’s dance — shall we?”

  Zao Ping was unfamiliar with the phrase, but was pretty sure the man meant to fight him. He quickly drew a knife. Before he could plan an attack, Joe kicked out with his long leg and dislodged the knife from his hand.

  “No knives,” Joe said and stood his ground.

  “I prefer killing by hand anyway.”

  “Not this time,” Joe patiently said as he shook his head. He pressed his earpiece. “I’ve got a Chinaman here in the kitchen. You guys go ahead and lock the door this time. We are going to rumble for a while.”

  Zao Ping launched himself, feet first, at Joe. He intended to hit him in the throat. But Joe had studied Chinese fighting tactics and was ready. Because of his much greater height, Zao Ping could not get the leverage he wanted, nor could he leap that high, especially because he was hurt. Joe brushed Zao Ping’s leg away with his long arms and landed a punch right on the bullet wound. Zao Ping cried out in pain and fell to the floor.

  “That all you got, you sissy,” Joe taunted. “I’m going to make you feel a lot of pain before I end your miserable life. You have killed some of my friends and now you’re going to pay with your own life.”

  Zao Ping spun to his feet. He went at Joe with a bull rush. He believed that if he could get inside the big man’s defenses, he could pummel his broken ribs and finish him off. After all, he was China’s best trained killer.

  As he took his third step, a fist smashed into his nose. It broke the cartilage and brought a flood of blood. Zao Ping staggered from the punch and wobbled on his feet. Joe grabbed Zao Ping by his head and drove it into the metal refrigerator. He slumped to the ground.

  “Get up,” Joe ordered as he stood over the beaten man.

  “I want political asylum. You can’t hit me anymore,” Zao Ping muttered through swollen lips. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he talked.

  “Well, our quota is filled for eunuchs,” Joe responded. Zao Ping stared at him without comprehension.

  “What does that mean?” Zao Ping managed

  “No balls,” Joe told him and then kicked him squarely in the crouch. Zao Ping slumped over in unexpected pain.

  Joe then picked him up by the back of his shirt. He grabbed him by his belt with his other hand and launched Zao Ping towards the kitchen aisle like a bale of hay. He flew through the air and landed on top of the marble surface. His momentum carried him across the polished surface, crashing through glasses and plates before leaving the aisle, and driving head long into the open dishwasher.

  Joe could hear the dishes and glasses smashing as Zao Ping finally came to a halt and moved no more. “You need a cleansing,” Joe told the dead man.

  “Bravo,” Joe heard and turned towards the pantry door. Eric was standing there with his machine gun.

  “How long have you been there?” Joe asked. He knew he was supposed to disable and captured the enemy and show mercy. The bureaucrats would punish him for killing Zao Ping and not reward him.

  “I clearly saw the Chinaman attack you. You were just defending yourself against a vicious killer,” Eric said nonchalantly.

  “He needed to die. He was going to kill all of us,” Joe reasoned out loud. “I had to kill him or die myself.”

  Eric could hear intense gun fire just outside the house. “Come on, we’d better get out of here before some of his friends arrive.”

  “They’ll probably reassign me to Alaska when this is over. My career will be over,” Joe lamented as he entered the pantry and headed down the stairs.

  “It felt good, though, right?”

  Joe had only one answer, “Ooh-rah.

  Chapter Seventy-One

  Banyon and his group headed down the escape tunnel from the bunker. Loni and Banyon were in the lead as she helped him slowly limp downhill towards the exit. Next, came Previne holding Maya tightly and trying to comfort her. Eric and Pramilla surrounding Joe, who was hurt more than he let on, followed, and Dr. Behl, waddling, brought up the rear of the tired group.

  They finally reached the exit door, but Banyon stopped. He had been caught off guard once today and didn’t want it to happen again. “Wolf, update,” he yelled sadly. Both Joe and Dr. Behl thought he had lost his mind and was babbling incoherently. At this point, Banyon didn’t care if everyone could hear him talk to Wolf.

  “The coast is clear. There is no one to stop you. The SWAT team is just about enter the safe house. The threat is over.”

  “Should we continue?” Banyon purposely mumbled.

  “Yes, you still need to protect the fake artifact. I have something more to tell you. Speak to me as the others get into the boat. And, Colt, don’t hit the alarm button until after you have talked to me.”

  Banyon was about to slam the button to notify the Albany police. He quickly pulled back his hand and unlocked the door.

  “You didn’t hit the alarm,” Joe said.

  “No one is to hit that alarm until I say so,” Banyon ordered. The rest of the group just looked at each other and shrugged.

  He pushed open the door and they were suddenly inside the boat house. Banyon looked at the two boats and picked the one on the right, it just large enough for everyone. “We’ll take this one,” he pointed. “Joe can you disable the other one?”

  “I’ll tell Eric how to do it,” he replied with pain in his voice.

  “Good, everyone get into the boat, I’m going to check outside. I’ll be right back,” he told them.<
br />
  “You’re not going anywhere without me,” Loni said. She pushed open the wooden door on the deck and they were outside. “Why are you doing this?” Loni asked.

  “Wolf has more to tell me. I didn’t want Joe and Dr. Behl to hear.”

  “Oh.”

  “Wolf, are you there?”

  “I’m here,” the spirit replied.

  “What else do you have to tell me?”

  “You still have work to do today,” Wolf said. “We have all suffered a lost when Greg Gamble and Tom Cruickshank died — don’t let their deaths be in vain.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I told you that Albert Spitz needs to be eliminated. It needs to be done tonight, Colt,” the spirit told him.

  “Wolf, we are going into police custody in a few minutes. They will be questioning us way into the night — not to mention — that we are very tired, and we have several others with us,” an exhausted Banyon reasoned. “Beside, you said that we could do this tomorrow.”

  “I lied,” Wolf admitted. “You need to get to Spitz tonight.”

  “Why?”

  “Spitz has a Chinese language expert named Wong Ho prisoner in his warehouse. He also has the means to translate the formulas. You must stop him before it is too late.”

  “How’s it that even possible?” Banyon screamed.

  “There will be a man cresting the hill in about five seconds. He is unarmed. He will have the answer. He will give you an item that will make everything clear.”

  “But…?”

  “You must also send Joe Gersch back to the house to help the FBI make sense of the battle and he must let the Chinese prisoner escape. Then, you must let Dr. Behl go as well,” Wolf told the startled Banyon.

  “Someone is coming down the hill,” Loni suddenly yelled to Banyon. She went to her knee and took aim with her machine gun.