An Unlikely Hero (1)

by Tierney James

  Tessa stepped around Chase and kneeled down next to the terrorist. She took his hand in hers, feeling his fingers close around her own. It felt limp, cold and clammy all at the same time. Clearly in Jamaal’s current state he didn’t recognize her from a few days ago. Tessa probably wouldn’t recognize her own reflection, she reasoned, if a mirror could be found. “Help the men and then we’ll go. Your friend is not a believer of Allah, only in himself. Paradise will be denied to him.”

  “Now, Jamaal!” Chase shouted. “Or so help me I’ll rub a piece of bacon on my next bullet and put it right between your eyes.”

  The viciousness of the captain’s words drew an angry glare from Tessa. “It’s almost time. Do this last good thing for me.” Uncertainty flooded over her as she felt him gently tug her hand. Lowering her ear to Jamaal’s lips he spoke then took his last breath. She felt the strong hand of Chase on her arm as he pulled her to a standing position. No one ever died in her hands before. Tears pooled but stayed in her eyes. “Fifth floor. Go left. Last office on the right. Hostages are all there too. Maybe more of his men. I’m not sure.”

  Vernon’s eyes widened as he looked over at Chase staring down into the face of his Grass Valley housewife. “Trash can is over there,” he said pointing in another alcove off the main corridor. In an instant both men could hear her heaving into the can. The running of water from a cooler seemed to quiet the nausea in their saving angel.

  “Should we check on her?” Vernon asked as he pulled one of the bodies into the first alcove they’d used as a hiding spot. The only response he received from Chase was a disgruntled look. Something like this didn’t usually rattle the captain. Having a civilian along, an innocent as he liked to refer to them, must be giving him a conscious. In spite of the carnage around them, Vernon couldn’t help but find the situation amusing that the mighty Captain Hunter was at a loss around this woman.

  Tessa reappeared and diverted her eyes as the other two bodies disappeared into the alcove. Crossing her arms and looking up at the high ceiling did nothing to erase the smell and sight of blood smeared on the floor and walls. Bullet casings rolled after Vernon as he dragged another body past her, bumping into other casings. Tessa wondered if she should pick them up or push them to the side or try to hide them. Did evidence make a difference in a situation like this or did the government just send in sweepers to extinguish any trail of guilt? She hadn’t expected the smell. Her stomach rolled as her hands slid to her midriff. Even though everything had transpired in less than ten minutes, Tessa felt as if hours had beaten her down with fatigue. She realized breakfast had been a long time ago. When her eyes fell on the blood trail the two men stepped in on their way out of the enclave, Tessa ran back into the nook for the trash can. How could she be thinking of food at a time like this? Not even heaves came this time. More water on her face helped until she heard another male voice. Frozen with fear, Tessa once again pushed herself into a corner of the alcove, unnoticed and hidden.

  “Looks like you guys have been busy.” The voice, deep and coarse, sounded like a two pack a day smoker. Vernon and Chase slowly turned around, raising their arms and noticing the stairwell door silently closing. They still wore their automatic rifles around their shoulders and chests but knew that the bruiser standing before them would mow them down without the slightest regret.

  “Friends of yours?” Chase asked calmly.

  The man outweighed Chase by fifty pounds and stood some six inches taller. Lean and deadly, he was dressed in camo and a bullet proof vest. His shiny combat boots and good grooming quickly told Chase their newest troublemaker had been a military man.

  “Friends? Hell no. Don’t even like Rabs,” he grinned. “They were getting on my nerves. Essid will probably give you a reprieve if you killed that little skinny ass guy named Jamaal.”

  “Why are you in this?”

  “Didn’t have anything else to do. Business is slow since the economic downturn.” He faked a smile revealing crooked teeth. “Money was good. I have expenses.” The thug eyed them wearily. “I guess you’re thinking I can’t search one of you without getting attacked by the other.” The Enigma men remained quiet. “I thought maybe I’d just shoot one of you first before trying that unless you have a better idea.”

  “Vernon,” Chase raised his chin toward the new man on scene without removing the steely stare down going on between them. Vernon took a step forward, removing the automatic rifle.

  “Easy, Red,” the gunman said moving the end of his Israeli Tavor Tar 21 weapon to aim at the younger man’s chest. Carefully Vernon laid the rifle on the floor and moved forward locking his hands behind his head. The huge man caught him roughly and spun him around. The search took only seconds as his hands ran over the younger of the two. “Now lie down, spread eagle on the floor.” He carefully stepped forward and kicked Vernon’s weapon aside.

  Vernon locked eyes with Chase, wanting some kind of signal to rebel, but the only message by way of a hooded blink was to do as told. As he lay down he raised his head enough to look down the floor to a shiny metallic light sconce that rose from the floor to about five feet. They lined the hall artfully, probably giving off a transcendental kind of light at night. But the one he now focused on reflected the space of the alcove where Tessa had gone to be sick. He could see a blur which he knew belonged to her. He willed her to stay out of harm’s way knowing full well she probably would be trying to concoct a rescue that just might get them all killed.

  Tessa could see Vernon lying on the floor thanks to the metallic sconce. She could also see the back of the captain and the other man no more than four feet from him. Sucking in her breath and what was left of her courage; Tessa straightened her shoulders and took a step toward the corridor.

  Chapter 28

  Knowing Captain Hunter had compromised his plan merely by showing up gave the Libyan pause. Essid usually possessed a deep calm that others considered unnerving. Standing perfectly still, weight shifted evenly between legs that had been spaced about two feet apart, the only part of him that moved was his dark eyes. As they slid around the room rapidly, attuned to every sigh, shift in a chair, or whisper between colleagues, those eyes now began to show concern. Underneath the thick lashes that women found attractive were dark circles as if he’d not been sleeping. His head bowed just enough to make him look up through eyebrows that met over the top of his nose. The menacing glare finally forced one scientist to ask for her inhaler to ease her ability to breathe.

  Without looking at one of his men, Essid snapped his fingers and pointed to the woman that had her hand on her chest. They had relieved her of it shortly after the takeover. The inhaler, tossed gently to the wheezing woman would seem like a normal gesture on any other day. In minutes the woman relaxed as she quickly tried to wipe a tear from the corner of her eye.

  “Let them go,” Zoric said coldly unaware his friend had arrived. “The kids too,” he said nodding at the Haskin boys. “They’ve done nothing to you. The woman is not well. Release her as a sign of good faith.”

  Essid turned to Zoric stoically then burst into laughter. “Release to whom? No one knows we’re here but your little ragtag bunch. I doubt you shared that with authorities.” He laughed again as he moved toward Honey. She snatched the mop away from Sam. Essid slipped an arm around Honey from the back, kissing her on the neck while never taking his eyes from the Serbian. “I am hoping your captain appears before I blow this place up.”

  “What about us?” It was one of the Russians.

  Essid looked over at the overweight Russian with a full head of gray hair. His face, pocked by acne as a teenager, was flushed and splotchy. “You will die. Here.” He spread his hand out to the Enigma group. “With them.” He looked at Mansur, his half-brother. “Tie their hands behind their backs. We may need to move fast. I want them to be taken to the blast center so there will be nothing left to find.” Essid smiled as he clapped his hands together. “Now if some of you would like to return to Libya with me and assi
st in the current programs of great scientific study I will spare your life,” he said with a shrug. “If not, my men will use the women as they wish before I detonate the bombs. The men will be castrated before we leave.” His tease created a smirk as he looked at their horrified faces.

  Jericho Crawley stood and moved toward the women to comfort them with a gentle pat on the shoulder. “Don’t listen to him,” Zoric warned. “He’s a terrorist that wants to put so much fear into you that your brains stop working as they should.” Zoric could feel Mansur pull his hands behind his back and apply the white flex tie.

  “He’s right!” Sam said as Mansur jerked her hands roughly behind her. She could feel his foul breath on her neck. She tried to twist away only to be jerked back against his shirt, damp from perspiration. “They’re cowards!” She nodded toward Honey. “They’ll sell their souls to the devil for a buck.” Just then Honey took the mop with both hands and swung it at Sam’s midriff. She pushed back against Mansur then sidestepped so that he took the brunt of the blow on his hip. He grabbed the end of the mop with his puffed up sausage fingers and jerked it from Honey. “Thank you, Mansur.” Sam said over her shoulder with a dazzling smile. “I see your manners surpass your illegitimate brother’s.”

  She felt him shove her aside and rush toward Honey who had already begun to back up nervously. Mansur was a stocky man, barrel chested and unattractive on every level. But the strength shown in his doubled fists and sudden stride indicated he wasn’t a man to be treated lightly. Honey stumbled as Mansur grabbed her blouse at chest level, jerking her forward to level his fist in her face. Essid gently laid his hand on his brother’s arm and frowned.

  “Enough.”

  The three women at the table began to cry uncontrollably at the altercation, knowing their fate was in the hands of a madman. They reached for Jericho as he slipped an arm around the frailest with the inhaler. Essid turned to them. “Shut up or I’ll give you to my men right now!” he growled impatiently.

  Sam and Zoric saw that the hostages were putting their captor on edge. They glanced at each other and blinked knowingly.

  “You’re pretty tough with women, aren’t you Essid. That your Libyan upbringing or the Muslim?” Zoric snarled.

  Essid tried not to be baited. “Nice try, Serbian. Considering how many Bosnians you raped and murdered I would think you’d feel at ease with us.” He motioned for Mansur and two other guards to tie the hostages to their chairs. “I’ve changed my mind. They are too much trouble. Bind the feet of the men and just the hands of the women.” He tilted his head and smiled at the woman with the inhaler. “I’m sure that my men won’t want to waste time cutting the women loose.” This brought on another round of frightened sobs causing Essid to chuckle like a child.

  One of the women, older and American, tried to resist only to receive a hard slap across the side of her head knocking her from the leather and chrome chair that flipped over on top of her. The guard jerked her up by her frosted hair, slamming her body against the table. After forcing her hands behind her and securing them, he took pleasure in rubbing his body up against her. Jericho stepped toward the man and pushed only to suffer a punch to his gut, collapsing him to the floor.

  “Hmmm,” Essid said as if examining a news brief. “Who knew the old man had it in him. By the way Mr. Crawley, where is that pretty little neighbor of yours? I nearly forgot about her.” He watched the old man crawl on all fours toward Zoric. Lifted up by one arm, the same abusive guard hauled him to his feet before shoving him into a chair. Essid’s eyes went to Honey. “Ah that’s right. She’s with Captain America.” He thought he detected something in the assassin’s eyes although the glazed expression never changed. “Mr. Crawley, what do you think? Is she still alive? Can I expect yet another untimely interference from your rescuer?”

  “Go to hell,” Jericho choked as he tried to straighten his oversized Grateful Dead tee shirt Zoric had loaned him earlier that day at the motel. “You’re not fit to even breathe the same air as her.”

  Essid grinned. “Someone has a crush. Perhaps you can watch my men have their fun if she shows up.” He watched him fidget. “Better yet, maybe you can watch me. I rather like an audience. Right boys?” He directed his comments to the Haskin brothers sitting silently restrained in the corner of the room on the floor. He chuckled happily as their eyes shifted nervously away from him. Suddenly he picked up a glass water pitcher and hurled it across the room at Zoric and Sam who dodged the impact. He turned to the computer person. “My men, where are they? Do you have a visual?” He nodded and rolled his chair to the side to let Essid come in close to the computer. It helped being out of striking distance of Essid’s angry fists as well.

  He watched his men leave the elevator unconcerned and looking up at the high ceiling like they’d never been inside a modern building before today. Essid felt his frustration swell knowing his men were poorly trained and unprepared. Just then he saw the backs of two other men step out and begin shooting. In seconds his people were down. He watched as the Grass Valley housewife moved to the side of Jamaal and lowered her blonde head to his mouth. Then he died holding to the infidel’s hand. Essid felt Honey at his side watching curiously. The bodies were dragged away as the housewife disappeared for the second time into an alcove.

  “Where is Trevor? He went with them.” Honey asked, confused.

  The next images were of Chase and Vernon raising their hands, slowly turning to face the camera. Another figure stepped into view revealing the back of the man called Trevor, one of Essid’s American hires. He had to admit the Americans knew how to train their people. He obviously had refused to follow Jamaal into the elevator knowing that he couldn’t control what would be on the floor when the doors opened. Essid watched Vernon lay down on the floor after scooting his weapon to the side. “Just shoot the captain before he has time to form a plan, you idiot!” Essid said as his arms doubled across his chest. Then he watched in surprise as Tessa Scott innocently stepped out into the corridor to create more havoc. Unconsciously, both leaned in closer to the screen to watch the unexpected.

  Hearing footsteps coming down the stairs, Carter and Joe ducked into the third floor. Waiting for the steps to pass, Carter then stole a glance out the door window to see a huge military type carrying an impressive weapon. He wasn’t Libyan so he surmised the man was another gun for hire. Unfortunately, there seem to be more and more of those since the wars in the Middle East kept bringing men and women home to unemployment. Possessing marketable skills forced some into the protection business or like this guy, the biggest bang for your buck.

  “See what you can find in these labs, Joe.”

  “Like what?” he whispered as he body pushed up against the wall making him look like a cartoon character with an exaggerated belly. “More glass cleaner?”

  “No. First aid kit, cord, candy bars, anything we might use if we find hostages. They’ve got my people too. Hard telling what’s become of them.”

  “I don’t think Al would hurt them, Carter.”

  Carter looked from the window to his new trucker friend with callous indifference. “Your buddies are most likely dead, Joe. Better be prepared for that.”

  “What! Why?”

  “When you didn’t go upstairs with me and Vern, Essid would have come unglued. He’s not exactly a forgiving man with Americans.”

  “Man!” he said shaking his head in fear. “And your friends?”

  Carter shrugged. “The old man is tough but he’s had a rough few days. They’ve beat and starved him then left him to die in a parked car. If Tess, I mean Melanie hadn’t come along he wouldn’t have made it.”

  “And the others?”

  “They can take care of themselves, but for how long I’m not sure. We need to get them back. Now go see what you can find and I’ll make sure our storm trooper doesn’t return unexpectedly.”

  He watched Joe push off with enthusiasm only to lumber away like a beach ball with legs as he tried to pull up his sagg
ing jeans. The door to the lab had a clear window so between looking into the stairwell and over at Joe, Carter tried to formulate his next move. Cracking the door he heard the faint distant sound of rapid gunfire echoing up the stairwell. “Vernon,” he gritted through his teeth. The guilt of leaving such a mild mannered kid to face a military grade gunman blinded him momentarily with rage.

  He liked Vernon. Even though he was nearly twenty years younger than himself, he found Vernon both wise and brilliant beyond his years. After all, he’d out smarted the Pentagon and Langley’s’ spooks on numerous occasions just for fun. Director Clark constantly threatened to tar and feather him if Chase didn’t get him under control. But when you wanted a genius to stop the world in its tracks, just put Vernon Kemp in front of a computer and let him do his magic. His unassuming personality and shyness around women gave him a more human persona. With his long shaggy red hair and surfer attire, he looked more like a beach bum than the artificial intelligence officer at Enigma.

  Carter was a dare devil but when Vernon took him snowboarding at Squaw Valley he realized the kid had nerves of steel and a total lack of the respect for gravity. Carter spent most of the day on his butt until he decided to play it safe and ski. Vernon didn’t seem to notice the terror in Carter’s eyes the first time he did a double flip and offered to show him how to do one.

  If anything happened to that kid someone was going to pay.

  “Carter! I found this stuff,” Joe said pushing the door of the lab open with his elbow so he wouldn’t drop his treasure. He moved up beside Carter. “First aid kit. One Snickers. And,” he fished in his pockets after sitting the items on the floor, “these!”

  Carter looked down at the two black cell phones in Joe’s pudgy hand. “Joe, I could kiss you!”

  Joe took a step back. “Hey, I never figured you for a…”

  Carter took the phones after he handed the gun to him. “It’s refreshing to know that there is at least one person who isn’t aware of my womanizing ways.”