by C. G. Cooper
To complicate matters even more, the door they’d found behind the rotating shelving in the walk-in pantry was built like a bank vault. From what they could tell after a cursory examination, the steel door was some five inches thick. One of the assault teams was already trying to cut through the door. West had covered his tracks well.
TRAVIS: So here’s the plan: the assault teams will stay here and keep trying to cut through this damn door. Willy, you stay with them and lead the way in. The rest of us will jump in the two helos and take a look around. There’s an exit somewhere, we’ve just gotta find it.
ANDY: What about Cal?
TRAVIS: The best we can do is find him fast. There’s no telling what West has planned for him.
+ + +
Cal remained silent as they neared their final destination. West wheeled his guest into what looked like a butcher shop mixed with a crude third world hospital clinic. Cal could feel the cold air and smell the residual stench of some kind of meat. The dolly came to a stop.
CAL: Where are we?
DANTE: This is my own private interrogation chamber. Over there, you can see some of my tools. Picked up the trade from this ancient voodoo man in New Orleans. Taught me some good tricks to get men talking. Really useful when you think one of your boys is a snitch.
Cal stayed quiet as he gazed around the room. He noticed an old rusted bedspring in the corner anchored to the floor and ceiling. Next to it was a pair of car batteries with cables. Next to the cables was a bench with an assortment of knives and tools. Everything looked well cared for and well used.
CAL: You want to tell me why you’re going to torture me?
DANTE: It’s called revenge, brother.
CAL: It’s not enough that you killed my fiancé?
DANTE: You killed my crew AND you crippled my business. I owe you.
Cal wasn’t getting anywhere with his questions. He needed to try something else. When in doubt try the frontal assault.
CAL: For a guy as smart as you, I’d think a pussy move like attacking a harmless couple was a dumb move.
DANTE: What are you talking about?
CAL: Shit, Dante, I heard you were a pretty smart guy back in the day. I guess all that dope you’ve been slinging gets harder and harder to say no to.
DANTE: You don’t know a think about me, motherfucker.
CAL: I know about your dad and how he died. I know about how your mom gave you up when you were a kid.
Dante stopped what he was doing. His eyes went wide then flashed with anger. He also registered a touch of unease in response to Cal’s comment. How could this white boy know that? It was never in the papers. He’d made sure his past had been buried a long time ago. It was amazing what he could snag with a couple quick break-ins.
DANTE: You made that up.
CAL: Oh really? Then ask me how I know that you’ve got a really high IQ and that up until the age of ten you were doing well in school.
DANTE: Who have you been talking to?
CAL (laughing): You dumb shit. Obviously there are things about me that you don’t know.
DANTE: You better watch your mouth. Looks like you forgot who’s in charge.
CAL: Really? I’d say in the next couple of minutes my boys are gonna be coming through that door over there.
DANTE: Who the cops?
CAL: No, asshole. Tell you what, why don’t we leave it as a surprise?
West stared hard at his prisoner. He honestly couldn’t tell if he was being bluffed or not. This underground facility was his most secure location. Was it possible that it could be breached?
DANTE: You know why I don’t believe you?
CAL: No, why?
DANTE: Because I designed this place myself. Oh I forgot. You were passed out when we passed through not one but three doors built like bank vaults. It’ll take days to cut through that shit.
It was Cal’s turn to look confused. Was Dante telling the truth? Either way, one of them would be right soon. Cal could only hope that his friends would find him soon.
Chapter 22
Main House, N.O.N. Compound, Williamson County, TN
MSGT TRENT: Six, this is Big Dog.
TRAVIS: Go ahead, Big Dog.
MSGT TRENT: We’ve got a little issue here. We got enough of a hole cut to see through the other side with our fiber optics. Looks like there’s another door on the other side some ten feet down the passageway.
TRAVIS: You’re kidding me.
MSGT TRENT: You know I wouldn’t do that, Six.
TRAVIS: Alright, keep working and we’ll do the same. Let me know if you have any other ideas. Six, out.
Travis looked to his companions and gave them the news. West was surprising them at every turn. What looked like a straightforward mission now felt like a complete cluster-fuck.
TRAVIS: Anyone else have any bright ideas?
ANDY: I think we need to start by getting half of your teams roaming the countryside. Who knows, they may get lucky and find the tunnel exit.
NEIL: What about the toy I gave Cal. You think he’ll use it?
TRAVIS: I’d think he would’ve used it by now.
ANDY: OK. Then let’s keep sweeping the countryside and see what we find.
The companions fell silent and continued to look out the windows with their night vision goggles. Each kept toggling back and forth between normal night vision and heat register. Nothing yet.
+ + +
West had gone back to preparing things in the room. Cal was curious about why his captor hadn’t called his goons yet. Maybe they worked off of cell phones and the signal couldn’t penetrate the underground lair.
Cal had one more ace up his sleeve: the weapon Neil had given him. The problem was its deployment would be tricky. He somehow had to get West to use Cal’s cell phone. That would take some coaxing. Think, Cal, think.
An idea popped into his head like a lightning strike. His plan wouldn’t be easy and he’d have to feel some pain first. No matter. It was his only option. Cal gritted his teeth and steeled himself for the upcoming torture. He knew from talking with former POWs that everyone broke eventually. The body and mind could only take so much.
He would have to use that to his advantage.
CAL: Are you gonna get started or do I have to torture myself, you pussy?
DANTE: Almost ready, white boy. You may wanna watch your mouth and enjoy the last few minutes you’ve got.
CAL: Whatever. Any second now my guys will be busting in that door over there.
DANTE: Not likely. The back exit to this place is impossible to find. Plus, this won’t take long. I’ll be leaving your body in here to rot after I’m done with you.
CAL: So are you going to tell me why you want to torture me?
DANTE (grinning): At first it was all about revenge. You see, I can’t let the asshole that put me on the radar and killed my boys get away with it. The second reason came to me a minute ago while you were running your mouth. I’m curious about these so called secrets you say you have. It might be a good investment of my time to do a little digging.
CAL (to himself): BINGO!
Dante moved back to the dolly and pressed his pistol to Cal’s temple.
DANTE: Now I’m going to unstrap you and take you over to the bedspring. You try anything, I’ll shoot you. You got me?
CAL: Yeah.
He released Cal slowly, never removing the gun from Cal’s head. When finished, he ushered his prisoner over to the bedspring that was now connected to the two car batteries. West methodically strapped Cal to the metal frame with zip ties on his ankles and wrists. Cal was spread-eagle, glaring at West and prepared for pain.
DANTE: I’ll start with a low setting. I just want you to get a little taste.
West switched the machine on and Cal heard the buzz of electricity. Next, Dante grabbed the power knob and turned it to the first setting.
Cal’s body seized and his eyes shut involuntarily. This wasn’t going to be fun.
+ + +
TRAVIS: All the teams just checked in. Nothing from the guys scouring the farm. Neil, are you finding anything in those property records?
NEIL: Nothing. Obviously no plans were ever submitted to the local commissions for the building. Looks like he really did it on the sly.
TRAVIS: What about the police records? Any complaints for noise or blasting?
NEIL: Already checked that and no. Besides, this property is just shy of a thousand acres. They could get away with a lot without ever being seen or heard.
BRIAN: What about the topography?
TRAVIS: What do you mean?
BRIAN: I know there’s a lot of land in the hundred year flood plain around here. I would assume that if West wanted a long-term facility he would’ve factored that in. Maybe we can find out which way the tunnel leads by taking away certain portions of the topography.
TRAVIS: Good idea. Neil, pull up all the topo maps with elevation and flood plain data. It’s the only lead we’ve got right now.
+ + +
West had just shocked Cal for the third time. He had yet to ask a single question. It was obvious he was just enjoying seeing the pain register on the former Marine’s face.
Cal, although in extreme pain during each shock, was starting to finalize his plan. It was a strange talent he’d uncovered while on the battlefield in Afghanistan. He’d found that in times of extreme pain and duress, his mind became hyper-focused instead of losing its edge and wandering into the fog. It was what had allowed him to keep going even after being wounded multiple times.
Within this clarity, he remembered hearing stories from former POWs from the Vietnam War and World War II. They’d survived by only divulging snippets of the truth. They’d survived by effectively weaving lies within the truth. Cal was about to try the same tactic.
CAL (panting): Are you gonna ask me any questions or just get your rocks off watching me shake?
DANTE: Man, you must really have a death wish. You ready to die already?
CAL: No. I’m just ready to be done with your bullshit.
DANTE: Still hoping your buddies are coming to save your ass, huh?
CAL: That’s right. And when they do I’m gonna strap you to this fucking thing and let you go a couple rounds.
DANTE: Hate to tell you this, boy, but that ain’t gonna happen. How about we just get down to the questions. This time we’re gonna play a new game. If I think you’re not telling the truth, I turn on the machine again. If I REALLY think you’re bullshitting me, I’m only gonna beat on you a little bit.
Dante picked up a steel baseball bat from the corner and demonstrated practice swings. His grin returned.
CAL: What, no knives yet?
DANTE: Oh those will come soon enough. So, let’s get to the questions.
+ + +
MSgt Trent pulled at the heavy steel door with all his strength. They’d finally cut around the locking mechanism. Sweat beaded on his brow as the door finally separated from the last bit of steel holding it to the lock.
The door swooshed open and the assault team quickly jumped into the space, guns at the ready, panning for targets.
ASSAULT TEAM LEADER: All clear!
MSGT TRENT: Does it look like the same kind of door as the first one?
ASSAULT TEAM LEADER: It does, Top. You want us to start cutting again.
MSGT TRENT: Do it.
The team leader nodded to his demolitions expert and the man moved quickly to the next door his cutting tools already in hand.
MSGT TRENT (into his mic): Six, this is Big Dog.
TRAVIS: Go ahead, Big Dog.
MSGT TRENT: First door breached. Moving to breach door number two, over.
TRAVIS: Roger. Let me know as soon as you have an idea of what’s on the other side.
MSGT TRENT: Roger, out.
Trent was praying that there wouldn’t a third door.
+ + +
West had begun the interrogation with some basic questions: date of birth, home address, sexual preference, etc… It was obvious that West was building some kind of rudimentary baseline to see if he was lying; sort of a voodoo version of a lie detector test.
DANTE: Time for some real questions. How did you find out about me?
CAL: My company.
DANTE: What do you mean your company?
CAL: I own a company.
DANTE: What kind of a company?
CAL: A consulting company.
DANTE: This is your one and only warning. Stop trying to drag this out. You answer me or I’ll make you answer it. You got me.
CAL: I thought I was doing damn well, asshole.
Without warning, West picked up the baseball bat and took a quick swing square into Cal’s gut. Cal tried to dodge and somehow absorb the blow. His head sagged as the wind was knocked out of him.
DANTE: You’ve got thirty seconds to catch your breath and then you start answering.
Cal could feel his recent gunshot wounds throbbing and threatening to bleed again. He had to stay focused and buy more time. The only problem was: how much more could he take? Hurry up, Trav.
+ + +
ANDY: The best I can see is that the tunnel has to run this way under this ridge line. Any other way, they risk going into or at least skirting the flood plain.
TRAVIS: I’m still not totally sold on the idea.
ANDY: I think West would’ve thought about this. The guy went through Hurricane Katrina and probably the flood of 2010 here in Nashville. He doesn’t strike me as a guy that would take any chances.
TRAVIS: OK. So where does the tunnel dump out?
ANDY: I say we start right over here by the Harpeth River. We might…
NEIL: I just had another idea!
TRAVIS: What?
NEIL: Let’s assume that West is using this place as some kind of drug manufacturing center. Even if he’s able to mask the heat of his power source, he’ll still need to have some kind of exhaust.
TRAVIS: Explain that.
NEIL: It’s like a car engine. All that heat has to go somewhere. The intake and exhaust help keep the engine cooled. If West is using heat lamps, for example, that hot air has to go somewhere. It would be crazy expensive to have a self contained system like they have in a nuclear sub. I’m betting they had to build vents to get the hot air out.
TRAVIS: Then shouldn’t we see them with our heat vision?
NEIL: Not necessarily. The scopes we use are calibrated to see obvious variances, like the difference between a person’s body temperature and the ambient air temperature.
ANDY: But then how do we see people at night when we use the same scopes in the desert?
NEIL: There’s still a difference between your body temp and the air temperature. It’s just that the air’s warmer.
TRAVIS: So how do we find these vents?
NEIL: Let me see if I can patch into the helo’s infrared system and recalibrate it for much smaller variances.
TRAVIS: Alright, but do it fast. The longer we take, the less I like Cal’s chances.