by C. G. Cooper
TRAVIS (whispering): What happened?
Cal grabbed a piece of paper and pen from the desk and scribbled: It’s West. He’s got J’s parents.
Travis nodded and grabbed his own cell phone. He speed-dialed the emergency number for the SSI alert system. Within minutes, the entire internal management team would be assembled in the war room and the quick reaction force would be mobilized.
Cal turned his attention back to the call.
CAL: What do you want?
DANTE: I guess I don’t need to formally introduce myself. By the tone of your voice, it sounds like you already figured that one out.
CAL: What have you done with Jess’s parents?
DANTE: Oh, nothing yet. Just a couple of bruises. Old man wanted to fight back so we had to smack him around a little.
CAL: I swear if you touch them…
DANTE: Now let’s not start making promises you can’t keep, hero boy. How about we get down to business before I have to cut this call off.
CAL: What do you want?
DANTE: I want you, Mr. Stokes. So here’s the deal. I want you to come meet me and some of my friends. If you act nice we’ll exchange you for the husband and wife. If you call the cops or do something stupid, they die.
CAL: How do I know you’ll keep your word?
DANTE: You don’t, but what other choice do you have? From what I’ve read online you’re the hero type. I seriously doubt you’ll let these old-timers die.
What other choice did Cal have? At the moment, he couldn’t think of another option than to agree.
CAL: OK. Where do I go?
West relayed the address and Cal wrote it down.
CAL: What time do you want me there?
DANTE: Let’s say one AM. That way we’ll have the place all to ourselves. Come alone.
CAL: I’ll be there.
DANTE: See you then, hero.
The phone went dead and Cal stood and stared out the window. The moon was almost full and he could clearly make out the surrounding trees. The forest seemed eerily calm, as if anticipating the impending confrontation.
TRAVIS: What did he say?
CAL: He says he’ll let them go if I give myself up.
Without a direct reply, all Travis could do was nod. He knew it was better not to give an opinion until the team had gathered.
TRAVIS: I’ve already alerted the headquarters staff. They should be gathering in the war room right now. Let’s go see if we can figure this out.
Cal managed to grab his notes and followed his cousin out the door. Doubts swirled in his mind as he tried to focus on some kind of solution. How did I not see this coming?
Chapter 18
Williamson County, TN
Dante replaced Frank’s cell phone on the kitchen table and turned to his prisoners. They were sitting on the floor flanked by two of West’s men.
DANTE: Looks like your boy is gonna pay us a little visit. You both behave and you might get to go home.
Frank glared at the gang leader through hate-filled eyes.
FRANK: You leave Cal out of this, you murderer!
DANTE: Now, now, grandpa. That’s no way to treat your host. Don’t make me put you to sleep again. Better yet, how would you like me to give your lady a little time with a couple of my boys here?
FRANK: You touch her and I’ll kill you!
Dante responded with a kick to the man’s stomach. Frank doubled over and retched on the floor.
DANTE: Now, see what you’ve made me do? Like I told you before we took you out of your house, you keep your mouths shut and you just might make it out of this. If not, I can’t make any promises.
He shrugged to accentuate his point, as if the choice were completely out of his hands.
Frank looked up again and put his arm around his quietly sobbing wife. She’d already been through so much with Jessica dying. Why this too?
DANTE: Now we’ve only got a few short hours to wait. My boys will take you back to the master bedroom and tie you up so you can get some sleep. I’ll come get you when the time comes.
West waved a casual dismissal and the two guards pulled the prisoners to their feet and took them to the back of the house.
Dante turned back to the window and repeated the phone conversation over in his head. He’d always had the ability to find the calm within the storm. His analytical brain outshone any of his competitors. Many had underestimated his talents. His was a gifted mind that catapulted him up through the ranks. That, coupled with his ruthless tactics, would see him rise once again.
My time of redemption nears.
+ + +
The SSI inner circle gathered in the secure conference room down the hall from where Cal and Travis had just been. Each member walked in quietly and waited for the information. This was not their first emergency session.
Travis took a seat at the head of the table and the rest arrayed themselves close by. Cal stayed standing as he continued to pace the length of the room.
TRAVIS: Cal, why don’t you give everyone a quick rundown of the conversation you had with West?
Cal did in a tone that suggested his mind was already searching for possibilities.
TRAVIS: OK. We’ve got about four hours until Cal needs to be there. The good news is that as smart as West is, he has no clue that Cal’s got SSI assets behind him. Anyone have any questions or comments?
TODD: I think we need a few teams to infiltrate into the area right now. We can take them in low with the two helos we have on site and drop them in about a mile away. Hell, there’s so much farmland out there the launch will be easy. After landing the teams, the helos can take up station and give us some video using their infrared cameras. We should be able to get a damn good idea of who’s with him and the layout of the place.
TRAVIS: OK, get it done.
Dunn grabbed his phone, slipped to the corner, and made the call give clipped, whispered commands.
TRAVIS: What else?
NEIL: I’ll make sure all the teams have multiple drones at their disposal. They’ll each be rigged with non-lethal darts. Might help take out some of West’s friends.
Travis nodded and pointed to Dunn.
TRAVIS: Go talk to Todd and make sure those guys don’t leave without getting as many of your toys as possible. I mean it, Neil. Anything they need.
NEIL: Got it.
Neil got out of his seat and headed over to chat with Dunn.
TRAVIS: Who’s next?
DR. HIGGINS: I know I’m asking the obvious, but have any of you cowboys thought about how young Calvin is going to get out alive?
CAL: I’m not worried about that, Doc.
DR. HIGGINS: I know how you feel. You will, however, be going in unarmed into the lion’s den, as they say.
TRAVIS: Doctor Higgins is right, Cal. It won’t do anyone any good if West gets his hands on you.
CAL: I don’t care about me right now. I need to get them out of there. If that means I go in alone, then I’ll go in alone.
TRAVIS: I know you’re upset, cuz, but you need to take a step back on this one. If you don’t, you’ll be playing right into his hand.
Neil stepped back into his spot and snapped his fingers.
NEIL: Dammit!
TRAVIS: What?
NEIL: I can’t believe I didn’t think of this before. I’ve got a couple of things that might be able to help Cal out.
TRAVIS: You want to elaborate, Mr. Wizard?
NEIL: Let me run down to the Bat Cave and grab a few more toys. It’ll be easier to show you than to explain. I’ll meet you guys outside.
He ran out of the room with an excited, almost childlike, grin on his face.
TRAVIS (shaking his head): I don’t know sometimes with him. Okay, so who else has a brilliant idea? Marge, you got anything?
Haines thought for a second before she answered.
HAINES: Clearly, you guys have the operational stuff taken care of. I’m just trying to think of the aftermath. Anyone give a though
t to what we do with the any bad guys you might capture or, worst case, kill?
CAL: We take out anyone we need to. I’ll deal with the consequences later.
HAINES: I know you’re upset but that’s not how we run around here, Cal. We HAVE to think about the next step. For instance, if we do take prisoners, what do you do with them? Especially if they’ve seen your face. We have to make absolutely sure that S.S.I. is not linked to the rescue.
CAL: Sorry, you’re right. So how do you guys usually do it?
TRAVIS: If it’s something overt like this we usually wear masks or face paint at least. It really depends on the situation. It’ll be hard for you to do that. So the question again is, what do we do with West and his henchmen?
CAL: I know I’m the most amped up about this, but what if, worst case, we just kill them all? I’m not a murderer or anything but these guys asked for it, right?
TRAVIS: True. But then you’ve still have to think about the aftermath. Disposing the bodies is no big deal. Jess’s parents are another problem. We can’t have them blabbing about this team of guys dressed in black coming to save the day.
CAL: I thought Frank and Dad were good friends. Doesn’t he know some of what we do?
TRAVIS: Sure, but not at this level. I guess we just have to be careful about how much we expose them to.
HAINES: I agree. The less they know, the better. If it ever comes to sitting on the witness stand, I want them to have plausible deniability. They need to be able to say they didn’t see anything and don’t know anything.
TODD (looking up from his phone): Hey, Trav. We’ve got the two helos warming up and we’ve got six two-man teams getting ready. I’ve got ‘em suiting up in black with suppressed weapons and non-lethals. Along with night vision and Neil’s toys, they should be good. Anything else?
TRAVIS: Nope. That sounds perfect. Tell them we’ll meet them at the helos in ten minutes.
Dunn nodded and continued to relay his orders through his cell.
TRAVIS: Alright, let’s all go grab whatever gear we’ll need and meet back up outside.
Everyone left the room knowing it was going to be a long night.
Chapter 19
Camp Spartan, Arrington, TN
The assault teams and supporting staff met ten minutes later at the PT field that doubled as an expedient landing zone. Andy and Brian Ramirez were both suited up in identical black utilities. MSgt Willy Trent stood nearby talking with Dr. Higgins and Haines. Todd Dunn was giving the assembled troops their final orders and Travis listened and chimed in periodically.
Neil wandered around the pairs of assault men handing out his goodies. Each pair nodded as they were handed their gift bags. They all knew Neil well and always liked getting to try out his array of new gadgets. These were all highly skilled operators with extensive real world experience. Warriors, one and all.
Cal walked around the group not really knowing where to fit in. He was a key part of the operation, but he still felt disconnected. Everyone else knew their part and none had hesitated to come to his aid. It was in that moment, as he observed the silent preparation of each man, that he finally felt at home. A feeling of peace wrapped itself like a blanket around his body and mind. The clarity of battle suddenly enveloped him. He knew what he had to do.
He stepped up to men that would put themselves in harm’s way and ask for everyone’s attention.
CAL: I wanted to say a couple words before we step off. First, although I think I know the answer, any man that feels uncomfortable with the upcoming mission and the possible repercussions can leave right now.
He looked around at the gathered men and none stirred. No one moved a muscle until someone chuckled. It was Travis. Then the laughs spread to the assault teams.
CAL: Didn’t anyone ever tell you not to volunteer for anything?
The snickers changed to outright guffaws as a smile spread across Cal’s face. One of the men in the back row shouted.
TROOP: We don’t have a choice, Staff Sergeant. You sign our paychecks!
Cal laughed. It was good to be with his family again. Another man in the front row joined in the ribbing.
TROOP #2 (pointing at Travis): Shit, I didn’t volunteer. The recruiter screwed me.
Cal held his hand up for silence.
CAL: As long as we understand each other, I just wanted to say thanks. I feel like I’m back with my Marines.
TROOP #3: Semper Fi, Staff Sergeant!
TROOP #4: Ooh-rah, Staff Sergeant!
Followed by a din of barks and backslapping, the men lined up to shake Cal’s hand. He somehow held in his emotions of gratitude and he looked each man in the eye as they all quickly shook his hand and boarded their respective helicopters.
As the last man boarded, the pilots of each helo looked to Cal, saluted and lifted off.
Travis walked up behind Cal and put a hand on his cousin’s shoulder.
TRAVIS: Well I guess I know what your answer is.
CAL: Yeah. I’m in.
+ + +
It would be a short twenty-minute car ride out to the location West held his captives. It gave them a chance to finalize their strategy.
They had devised a plan that would both keep things simple and maximize their chances of success. Cal would drive MSgt Trent’s truck to the rendezvous point while the others (Travis, Dunn, Brian, Neil, Andy and MSgt Trent) would board one of the returning helos and fly to a nearby loitering area. It would allow them to monitor the situation and provide almost immediate support if needed.
Neil explained his new gadget to Cal and the others as he helped him put it on.
NEIL: Just remember, since this is a prototype you’ll only get one shot with it. It doesn’t have the ability to recharge yet.
CAL: Got it. One helluva way to field-test it.
NEIL: Yeah. You’ll owe me a full debriefing when you get back.
Patel paused as he suddenly realized there was a high probability that Cal would not return.
CAL (cheerfully): No problem. I can’t wait to use it.
He’d seen the change in Neil’s demeanor and wanted to diffuse the sudden tension. Patel relaxed and slapped on his quirky smile once again.
CAL: You’re a genius, brother.
MSGT TRENT: I’d really like to see the look on West’s face when you use it.
CAL: To rehash really quickly: once I get eyes on Frank and Janet, I give you guys the signal and you send the teams in. I’ll take care of West.
TRAVIS: Yeah. Just remember to keep your head down when our boys come crashing in. I told Dunn not to use flash bangs so you should be good there. With any luck, those Baby Birds will take out a few bad guys. Hey, Neil, you got the helo cams up yet?
Neil had resumed his position in front of the numerous computer screens.
NEIL: Almost there. They just called in to say the insertions were successful.
CAL: Can you patch that through your speakers?
NEIL: Just a sec. Got it.
The small group looked over Neil’s shoulder to see the live stream from the two helicopters. They’d positioned themselves at a distance and altitude that wouldn’t allow their locations to be heard from the farm held by West and his crew.