by Dale Cadeau
“James, we don’t have time for this.” Clay broke into the conversation. “We need to know now.”
“Look, I’ll make a deal with you. The sheriff here will make sure that we do.”
“How do I know I can trust the sheriff?”
Jake growled when the guy questioned the sheriff’s honor, but Devlen ignored his partner and looked the guy straight in the eye. “Son, this is my county. I dislike drugs as much as you seem to. Whoever is at fault will bear the full wrath of the law. Son, I was a Navy SEAL and served my country before joining the police force in Detroit and then as the sheriff here. You can trust me to do the best for this country and that is keeping drugs out.”
“Okay, but only if one of these men stay with me. I don’t want everyone getting away if this runs south. Also, if I tell you this, how are you going to get around my partner? He seems like a livewire, I don’t know him that well, just met up when I arrived in the States. General Brown set in all up. All we did was follow orders.”
James thought about his concerns for a moment. “Chase is going to take your place. We want this to end with no casualties. None on your side or ours.”
“Time is running out. I will stay with this guy until you get back,” Clay said. “Okay, now spit it out.”
The guy sighed. “The cabin is about five miles down the fifth side road. You will come to a fork in the road go to the right and it will be about 100 yards down the fork. You will see a blue mailbox with ‘Reeves’ on it. Park to the right side of the front door. His name is Richard, don’t know the last. Your friends can be found behind a locked door, second door on the right side of the main room.”
“Okay, let’s move,” James said getting up.
“Can’t I have my hands uncuffed at least?”
“Not yet,” Clay said. “The Deputy Jake and I are going to take you straight to the station for debriefing. What’s your name anyway?”
“John MacDouglas.”
“Okay, Chase, did you hear all that?” James looked to Chase, who was standing beside the open passenger door.
“Yes, I got it, and I’m ready. Let’s go.” Chase turned and walked to the van and started it up. The deputy left with the operative inside. James and Angel joined Tony and Gage in the SUVs. At James’s signal, Chase led the other trucks out to the main street and a short distance to the fifth side road.
This is it, Chase said to himself. Sam’s training would be put to the test with no safety net this time. He knew that the guys would have his back if anything went wrong, but it was up to him to make sure that those first few minutes of contact went smoothly with no hiccups. He knew he had it in himself to do this and do it right. He just hoped that someday Sam would find out and be proud of him. Chase berated himself. Why was he thinking of Sam now? He had to get his head off her and into the mission.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Grant finally got the spring sharp enough that he thought it would do some damage if needed. Charlie had sat near the door listening for any movement their way.
“All’s quiet. Do you really think they will come for us tonight?” Charlie asked Grant as he took a washcloth from the bathroom, stuffed the hole in the window, and pulled the curtain. She wanted to be away from this cabin and the men who kidnapped them, but selfishly she didn’t want this time with Grant to end.
“I think it’s going to have to be tonight, tomorrow is the drop-off.” Grant sat on the bed and hid the spring under the pillow at his side. “At least now we have something to defend ourselves with. It’s not much, but I’m sure if placed right that it can do its job.”
Charlie shivered. “That sounds very bloodthirsty of you. I never thought of you that way.”
“Remember, I was in the army and we have to use everything at our disposal. It’s them or us over there. I guess after a while, you just do what you can to survive and not think about the blood. It’s just another color of war.”
“I guess you’re right, but I really don’t want anyone to be hurt. We’re not at war with whoever took us.”
“No, you can’t call it war, but it’s close. They are taking away our freedom and that’s what we fight for every day.”
“So when do you think they’ll come? When we’re asleep? Maybe we should take turns tonight staying awake so one of us is ready all the time.”
“Charlie, all I want you to be ready for is to barricade yourself in the bathroom. I will keep watch tonight.”
Charlie frowned. She hated to think of their last night spent together with a door between them. “That doesn’t seem fair, I would like to do my part, and I’ve rethought hiding in the bathroom. I need to be out here to help you. I can’t leave you all alone to take on whoever.”
“No, we decided earlier that you would go into the bathroom and stay until everything clears.”
Charlie moved closer to Grant on the bed and took one of his hands in hers. “I can’t do that, Grant. I can’t leave you to defend us alone. They kidnapped me also. I don’t want to be the defenseless woman hiding.”
Grant squeezed her hand. “I know you want to help, but if action is needed, I need to concentrate on it, not worried about you being in the line of fire. Do this for my peace of mind.”
Then she put a voice to what she really feared. “What if you need help?”
“Charlie, I’m trained for this, you’re not. Just go into the bathroom when I say.”
Charlie bit her lip and pulled her hand from Grant’s. “Okay, if that’s what you want.”
“That’s what I want. Now let’s just look forward to another feast from McDonald’s.”
Grant tried to lift her spirits. He knew Charlie didn’t like not being able to help, but he couldn’t have her in the way. Every second would count, and with only the spring as their defense, not much of a chance, either. He couldn’t concentrate on both.
“He’s late tonight.” Both heard the van arrive at the door. With nothing else to concentrate on, they had become very aware of all the noises that they heard. And the van coming and going every day had become a common occurrence like clockwork.
Suddenly Grant heard a yell from the other side of the door and a scuffle. Grabbing Charlie by the arm, he pulled her from the bed and gave her a swat on the behind. “I think this is it, get in the bathroom.”
Grant pulled the spring out from under the pillow and stood near the door. Grant hated being blind and not knowing what was going on. The scuffle continued, then suddenly there was a gunshot and silence. Grant heard the door of the bathroom open and looked at Charlie peeking out. Grant waved her back in as he heard the locks on the bedroom door being opened.
Raising his arm with the spring poised, he watched the door open and sprang at the guy that came through. He was just about to use his makeshift weapon when Charlie yelled from the open door of the bathroom, “Don’t, Grant, it’s Chase. At least I think it’s Chase.”
Grant took the guy to the floor with him and flipped him around so he could see his face. Sure enough, it was Chase. The last person that he had expected.
Chase looked at him. “Yes, it’s me, Chase. Get off me, you big lug.”
Grant rose to his feet and put a hand out to help Chase off the floor. Charlie came out of the bathroom to their side.
“You almost got shot jumping me like that. It’s a good thing that I knew it was just you and Charlie in here.”
“Well, what did you expect? We didn’t know who was coming through that door. It took you long enough.”
James popped his head in the door. “Are you ready to get out of here?”
“When did you get here, James?”
“While you girls were talking in here and getting to know one another. Now let’s go. Devlen has the guy in cuffs.”
“Who’s Devlen?”
“That will have to wait,” Chase said as he gathered Charlie in his arms and gave her a hug. “Sorry that you have to get in the middle of this. I guess you’ll want a raise.”
“Oh, you.
” Charlie hugged him back. “I don’t think I want a raise as much as danger pay.”
Chase laughed and kept one arm around her and led her into the other room, with Grant followed them.
In the front room, they found the second man cuffed and laying on the floor, blood coming from a shoulder wound with a large man’s knee in his back keeping him stable.
“Is that it? Everyone okay?” the large man asked as he pushed himself up from the man then bent down and grabbed his arm and pulled him up to stand beside him.
“All clear here,” Gabe and Tony both said, and Grant could see them at the end of the room, each holding a backpack in their hands. James leaned down and picked up the guy’s rifle off the floor and led the way out of the cabin.
Angel and Brad came around the corner of the cabin.
“Find anything?” James asked him as he reached their side at the bottom of the steps.
“No, nothing. It’s so isolated around here that there is nothing for miles,” Angel told him, holstering his gun back into the case buckled to his side. James did the same with his handgun and led the way to the truck with the rifle in his other hand.
By the time Grant made it to the truck behind the sheriff, Chase had Charlie sitting in the back seat and was tucking a blanket around her. Charlie seemed to be snuggling into Chase with her head on his shoulder. To Grant they looked a bit more chummy than boss and employee.
Not saying anything, Grant, with a stony look on his face, got into the other truck with Gage and Tony sitting beside Brad in the backseat. James and Angel got in the front of the truck that Chase and Charlie were in.
The sheriff opened his side door and pushed the guy in the back of his van, then went around and got in the driver’s seat. When everyone was ready, the sheriff led the way out of the driveway and toward town.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Charlie watched Grant get into the other van. He hadn’t said anything to her since the guys arrived. She hoped that it was temporary and when they got to where they were going that he would come and talk to her. Tell her that they were okay. She had noticed his stony look as he watched Chase making her comfortable in the truck.
What did that look mean? Was this a normal look after a mission? She didn’t know, she just hoped that it wasn’t meant for her. Charlie didn’t pay any attention to where they were going. She was just glad to get away from that cabin. The truck finally stopping in front of a red brick house got her attention. Why weren’t they going home?
“Where are we?” Charlie turned her head to look at Chase.
“Shit, I’m not thinking. I guess you want to go straight home?” Chase asked her, looking down on her with concern.
“Well ya—” Before she could say anything more, Chase turned to Angel and James in the front seat.
“I think it would be best to take Charlie straight home. I don’t think you need me for this right now. It’s late and Charlie’s been through enough.”
James turned in his seat and looked at Charlie snuggled up in the blanket. He would have liked to get to the bottom of everything tonight, but looking at Charlie, he could see she was worn out.
“You’re right, Chase, this can wait until tomorrow. Take Charlie home in this truck and Angel and I will grab a ride with the others. We’ll meet tomorrow at the office.”
Chase made sure Charlie was tucked up tightly in the blanket, then slid out of the backseat of the truck and waited as James and Angel got out. He took Angel’s place at the wheel, backed the truck out of the driveway, and took off toward Detroit and home.
The truck that Grant was in with Tony, Gabe, and Brad had barely parked when the other truck backed out and took off down the road.
Well. It looks like their trying to tell me something, Grant said to himself as he got out after watching the truck lights disappear and followed Gabe, Tony, and Brad into the red brick home that they had parked in front of. The sheriff brought up the rear, dragging the guy cursing behind him to the office door.
Once inside the door, Grant could see that it was an office. The sheriff passed them and went to a door off to the side and disappeared with the guy through it.
“So, what’s going on, Grant?” asked Brad, who had taken a seat.
“Why don’t we all sit down and wait until Devlen gets back?” James said to Brad, taking a seat beside him.
All the guys took seats except Angel, who went to a table along one wall that held a full coffee pot and donuts.
“You all want coffee? I sure could use one,” Angel asked them.
“Sure.” James answered for all of them. “And bring the donuts here if they’re fresh. We all missed supper.”
As Angel was handing out the coffee and donuts, Devlen and Clay appeared from the side door. Clay had a wide smile on his face.
“Devlen told me that everything went like clockwork,” Clay said, taking a seat beside James. “Where’s Chase and Charlie?”
“Chase took her home, she was worn out.” Angel told Clay, taking a bite of his donut.
“Nice of him, wasn’t it?” Grant asked sarcastically after taking a sip of his coffee.
“What’s your beef? Aren’t you glad that Chase rescued you?” Brad asked Grant from the chair beside him.
“I could have gotten us out of there on my own with just a little more time,” Grant replied in a cold voice.
“Yeah, Grant, I saw the weapon you had. And you probably could have gotten you both out. But this way was easier, don’t you think?” James asked, turning his head to look at Grant.
“Do you have a problem with Chase?”
“No, I just wished—” Grant stopped and looked at the men looking back at him.
“Ah, I know. You want to continue to be Charlie’s knight in shining armor. Didn’t you?” Clay teased.
“Shit, Clay, don’t put it like that,” Grant said, running a hand over his face. “You make me sound jealous.” Grant’s voice had warmed up some when he realized that he was being a prick.
“Well…?” Clay raised an eyebrow as he grinned back at Grant.
Devlen cleared his throat from his seat behind his desk. “Can we get on with the business at hand? You army guys sure seem to like socializing a lot.”
“That reminds me, Jared and Stan are friends of yours, they’re army, too, like us, and you were a SEAL. How did that happen?” Brad asked Devlen.
“You really want to get into this now?” Devlen said, pulling some papers from a lower drawer in his desk.
“Let me just say that after a while they sort of rubbed off on me. Don’t make me regret it.” Devlen put the papers in front of him on the desk and picked up a pen.
“Okay, now give me the whole story from the start and just the facts. It is getting late and I want to get out of here sometime tonight. I have better things to do than sit here with a bunch of army brats.”
“SEALs are always too serious,” Angel said with a grin, grabbing another donut and biting into it.
“Do you have a problem with that?” Devlen asked, sounding weary, not looking up at Angel as he replied.
“No, we just let down differently. The guys and I are used to joking around after a mission, it takes some of the tension away when there are no other outlets. Over in Columbia we couldn’t drink, wouldn’t touch the woman, so we learned to cope this way,” James spoke up.
“Yeah, sorry for being sharp. We had a routine also to relieve tension. But, I have to get back out on patrol in a couple of hours. I just brought one of the guys off vacation for this and told him it wouldn’t take too long.”
“Sure, you’re right, time is a wasting and we have wives and new babies to get home to.” James sat up straighter in his seat.
“So what are we going to do with these guys? I can’t keep them on ice too long. The other guys that work here will start questioning me as to why they’re in our holding cell and not in the county jail.” Devlen looked directly at James and thumped the pen on his desk.
“We wou
ld like time to question both of them thoroughly. We can do that tomorrow. As you said, it’s late, and the one guy is shot and needs medical attention. I don’t think we are going to get too much out of him until we call in someone to take that bullet out and he rests for a while. What do you guys think?” James turned to the others around him with a raised eyebrow.
“I agree, let’s wait until tomorrow morning. We’ll all be thinking more clearly then.” Clay agreed with the others adding their agreements.
“Will that cause trouble, them staying overnight?” James asked Devlen.
“Shouldn’t be a problem for a couple of days. I’ll just fend off questions and slow down the paperwork. Let’s meet here tomorrow morning at, say around nine a.m. That will give us all day. I’ll make sure everyone is out and about so as not to bother us,” Devlen said, getting up from behind his desk and throwing the pen down on top of it.
“What about the guy with the bullet wound?” Grant asked. He didn’t like the guy, but he didn’t want him bleeding out overnight and not being able to get any answers.
“He’ll be fine. I have a doctor friend that I can call on to patch him up and not say anything,” Devlen said, pulling his cell phone out. “I’ll call right now.”
All the guys stood up and listened to the one-sided call as Devlen talked to someone on his cell. “Hello, Sara. This is Devlen down at the sheriff’s office. Do you think you could take the time to look at one of my prisoners?”
“Only if I buy supper, you say? Well, I don’t know.” Devlen smiled. They could tell he liked whoever he was talking to on the phone.
“You’re hungry, you say. You just got off rounds at the hospital. Well, I guess I could spring for it. When can you get here?
“Okay, Okay, supper will be waiting by the time you get here.” Devlen laughed and closed his cell.
“So, that’s taken care of. Sara will be here within a half hour. I’ll just take a quick look in on Jake and the guys and go out and get supper.”
James stopped in the outside doorway after all the guys had filed out. “I don’t know if I said it before, probably didn’t, but thanks. We could have probably pulled this off alone, but you sure soothed the way and I am grateful. I’m sure that Grant and Charlie will both say the same thing after they rest.”