“Works for me,” Nelson nodded.
“What about me?” Veronica asked.
“Rogue.” He answered without giving it thought.
“Rogue? Is that supposed to be an insult?”
“Nope. It’ll remind you of who you were and how far you’ve come.”
“What brought you to us,” Boomer added.
“I like it, Ronnie,” Pearson told her.
“Rogue it is then. I’ll wear it proudly,” she said looking at her team.
“Let’s get this done,” Boomer said keying his mike. “Boomer.”
“Ricochet.”
“Gunner.”
“Dragon.”
“Rogue.”
“I’ll ride with ya,” Ricochet told her. “I’ll keep down in the back. Once you’re parked and out of the car focus will be on you. I can leave the car without any trouble.”
“We’ll take the other car. They can drop me off a couple of blocks away,” Boomer said.
They all climbed into their vehicles. Rogue and Ricochet headed out first with the rest of the team following five minutes behind. It was important that they didn’t look conspicuous.
“Okay, Rogue, take it nice and easy. We don’t want ya lookin’ like you’re in a hurry.” Ricochet told her over the radio so the rest of the team could hear.
“Roger,” she responded.
“Everyone make sure they keep in constant contact. I don’t wanna lose sight or sound of any of ya,” he said, more to the rookies than to Boomer.
“Affirmative,” they both responded.
He could hear her taking deep breaths and releasing them slowly during the ride. He could talk to her, try to calm her, but his gut told him to let her work it out herself. He could make all kinds of promises to her but unless she built her own confidence up it wouldn’t make any difference.
“We’re here,” she said in a monotone voice.
“Keep it natural. Don’t look around the streets. Don’t act like you’re waiting for something. Check your weapon.”
When the car door opened his skin prickled and his gut clenched. Not a good sign. Something wasn’t right. He thought about calling her back and making her drive far away.
“You got a visual on her?” he asked Gunner and Dragon.
“Affirmative. Nice and clear,” Dragon responded.
“Once she’s in the builidin’ count off thirty seconds and then give me the word.”
“Roger.”
“Boomer, you all set?”
“Set,” he replied in a whisper.
“Rogue, we’ll lose visual with you for a while so keep us informed if there’s anythin’ weird.”
“Roger.”
Her reply was just a breath but enough for him to hear.
“She’s in,” Gunner informed him.
He reached up and grabbed the door handle, releasing it slowly and pushing the door open only an inch. His palms were sweaty and he struggled to keep his breathing slow and normal. Usually he was ice during an operation, but not this one. This one involved someone important to him. How that importance became so vital was beyond him.
“Go,” Gunner’s voice came across his radio loud, clear and sure.
He pushed the door open, rolled out onto the sidewalk and pushed the door closed. Keeping low, he made his way to the front door and entered, backing into the shadows of the narrow hallway.
“I’m in. Rogue, everythin’ okay? Click once for yes.” He waited, holding his breath until the one click sounded. “Makin’ my way up.”
“Oh God, no.”
Her wispy, terrified voice sent chills through his body. Something was wrong.
“What is it?” he asked, climbing the first set of stairs, forcing himself to stay calm. When she didn’t reply, he picked up the pace. “Rogue, talk to me.”
“They’ve been here,” she whispered.
“What do you see?”
“There’s two nooses now, one with a big sign that has my picture on it.”
Her voice was quavering. She was loosing her composure.
“Suspicious-looking dude headed your way, Ricochet. He’s looked over his shoulder twice now and keeps playing with something in the waistband of his pants. My guess is a gun,” Dragon informed them.
“Boomer?”
“Got him. Nice catch, Dragon. Your call, Rico.”
“Let him come. Gunner, once he’s inside give yourself thirty and follow. Stay in the shadows, don’t let him know you’re there.”
“Roger that.”
“Whoa, target two coming from the other direction. Man, these guys don’t know how to blend in. He’s acting more nervous than the first.”
“Inexperience.” Boomer rumbled. “That makes our job easy. Want me to take him?”
“If we do that it’ll tip ’em off. We take them inside,” Ricochet decided. “Dragon, keep your eyes open and move in closer. Once Gunner’s in you wait for my word and then you follow. Boomer, what do you want to do? Wait outside or join the party?”
“I’ll play backup. You need me, I’m there, otherwise I’ll watch the outside.”
“Roger. Rogue, I’m four doors down from yours. Walk yourself to the window and stay away. Once they’re through the door we’ll have them trapped.”
“Roger.”
He kept himself close to the wall and waited.
Veronica stepped over debris, ducked away from the nooses hanging from her ceiling and made her way to the window. She was quaking inside, a full-blown earthquake was happening in her body and she couldn’t stop it. The only thing that helped was hearing Ricochet’s voice.
She looked around the ruins of her apartment. It was dark and creepy. Not the cheery room she’d worked hard to make it. Before, she’d always felt light and happy inside the small space, now it made her ill. Her stomach churned and grumbled, chills ran down her arms. She rubbed her hands over her skin trying to chase it away.
A sound startled her. Was it outside in the hall? Was it Ricochet, or was it inside made by someone out for her blood? She backed into the corner trying desperately to dissolve into the darkness. She heard it again, a shuffling, then the sound of something being kicked.
Ricochet was in the hall, she reminded herself. He was here to help her and she needed to help him. Placing her hand on her gun she pulled it out, readying it for use. Her fingers tightened around the butt, her index finger flexing on the trigger. It was time to get serious.
She closed her eyes. Mama, she said inside her head, help me through this. Help us get these bastards.
Hushed whispers sounded at the door, two male voices. She couldn’t make out what they were saying. She prayed the loud pounding of her heart didn’t give her away.
“What the hell are they doin’? They’re just standin’ there.”
Ricochet’s voice was an anchor for her to hold onto. He was there, just like he said he would be. She wasn’t alone, not anymore.
“Boomer, you see anyone they might be waitin’ on?”
“Negative.”
“Gunner, Dragon, you inside?”
“Affirmative,” Gunner replied.
“I don’t like this. Somethin’ ain’t right.”
That’s when she felt it more than saw it, a light shift in the air, like she wasn’t alone in the room. Her eyes darted around frantically searching. The darkness was heavy, like a blanket thrown over her eyes. She needed to see what she was up against.
With her gun set at her hip and pointed toward the door she stepped sideways, feeling the wall behind her with her free hand.
“Who’s in the room?” she asked aloud, hoping Ricochet would understand.
“Fuck. Someone’s in there with her. Our two guys are still at the door.”
“Who are you? What do you want?” she asked in the darkness again.
“Hold tight, Rogue. I got the message,” Ricochet assured her.
“You’ve been nothing but a pain in the ass, woman.”
The disembodi
ed voice came from her side, close. She turned, raised her gun and pointed it at nothing. “Who are you?”
“That’s not important. Who sent me for you is important.”
“Grear,” she whispered.
“Very good. You should have minded your own business.”
His voice was moving as he spoke. She twisted, aiming at the blackness. Where was her team, why weren’t they in here by now?
“My mother’s death is my business,” she countered.
“Don’t provoke him, Rogue,” Ricochet warned. “Dragon, Gunner, get up here.”
“You’ll join her soon enough.” The voice was cold, heartless.
She heard the window slide open, snapped her head around and saw a large dark silhouette standing in front of it. He was reaching for something outside. They were on the third floor, what could he possibly be getting? He was only feet away. She raised her gun and took aim.
Gasping, shuffling and loud thuds drew her attention away from the window and toward the door. It was too dark to see. Distracted, she took a shot to the mouth from the stranger’s fist. Pain exploded in her face. Her body jerked back, stumbling over debris and fell to the floor.
As she tried to get up she took a kick to the ribs, tossing her back onto the filthy floor. Her breath caught, froze and refused to exit or enter her lungs. She screamed inside her head for Ricochet. Through the agony overtaking her body, she felt a hand on her wrist. When he jerked her up, more pain erupted in her body. She fought to stay conscious as her body screamed for escape from the pain. Her fight left when her body was painfully heaved over her assassin’s shoulder.
Her gun, which was gripped uselessly in her hand, dropped to the floor as the last bit of energy drained from her body. Her last thought before she slipped into painless oblivion was of Ricochet and how she’d let him down.
Gunner struggled with one of the targets, forcing the gun aimed at his gut off to the side and away from him. His fingers dug deep into the shooter’s wrist, disabling his muscles. Dragon cracked Gunner’s opponent on the head from behind, dropping his man to his knees. To finish the job, Dragon put the man in a choke hold until he slumped.
Ricochet fought hand-to-hand with target number two. Every move he made was countered, stopping any serious blows. He could hear scuffling in the apartment. She was in trouble.
“Rogue’s in trouble,” he said into his radio.
The target landed a fierce blow to his stomach. He gasped for breath as he avoided doubling over and kicked out with his leg. Contact was made, shoving the man back into Gunner and Dragon. They each grabbed an arm, holding him.
Ricochet bared his teeth, growled and drove his fist into the man’s face. He could feel teeth and bone give. When the man’s head lolled to the side with blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth he ceased the attack. There were more important things to take care of.
“Secure them,” he shouted running into the apartment. He could see her lifeless body draped over the shoulder of figure. Before he made it to the other side of the room, the target slipped through the window.
It didn’t make sense, was he jumping? They seemed to hang there for a few seconds before they lowered.
“Boomer he’s got her. He’s taking her out the window.”
“I’m on it.”
Ricochet got to the window, looked down and saw the rope lowering them. He could cut it but if he did she’d be hurt, possibly killed if she had injuries already. He whipped out his gun, aimed it at the target and cursed. The man was good. He knew exactly how to protect himself.
When the man reached the ground he draped her around his neck, blocking his head with her body. If Ricochet fired now he’d only hit Veronica. A car screeched to a stop next to him. The back door was flung open. He dived inside with her as the vehicle tore away.
“Boomer, tell me you’re on that vehicle.” They were taking her away. Where? He had to get to her before… He couldn’t finish the thought. No, it wasn’t an option. They would get to her.
“I’m following it.”
As Boomer spoke, Ricochet raced to the door. “Drag ’em inside, gag ’em and lock the door. Then get your asses down to the car.”
Each second that passed took her further and further away from him. Urgency drove him down the stairs. He jumped inside her car and started it. Before he could pull away, the doors opened. Gunner and Dragon dived in.
“Tell me where you are, Boomer.”
He took every turn Boomer relayed over the radio with a death grip on the steering wheel. Cannon needed to be informed of what was going down but there wasn’t time. He couldn’t take his eyes off the road, or his mind from her. If he let her slip from his mind he’d lose her, forever.
Dragon sat in the back with a map and a penlight trying to pick up their location. “This map’s current, Ricochet. It looks like they’re headed toward a wooded section. The key indicates there’s a building there.”
So that’s where they planned to end her life, in the middle of nowhere. “Like hell they will,” he muttered and pressed the accelerator to the floor. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his cell phone and tossed it to Gunner. “Call Cannon. Fill him in.”
“Yes, sir.”
He could hear the kid talking but wasn’t listening to the words. All he could hear was her words before they walked out of her motel room.
Let’s hope it wasn’t your last chance. It’s reality, don’t ignore it.
The fear for her life was becoming overwhelming. His mind drifted back to the first time he met her. She was in danger then, too, but she remained strong. She would this time too. She fought back when the opportunity presented itself. He’d see to it she had the opportunity this time.
They pulled onto a dirt road. Boomer’s car was parked off to the side and empty.
“Where are ya, Boomer?”
“Making my way to the building they took her to. It’s an abandoned warehouse. Follow the road, come in slow and quiet. From my count there’s two of them.”
“Grear will be inside waiting.”
“You think he’ll do it himself?” Boomer asked.
“Yep. I think he has a hard-on for her and wants the pleasure himself.”
“Then you better get moving.”
“Let’s go,” he said gripping his gun. “Stick to the woods. When we get close we’ll split up.”
The three of them made their way through the thick underbrush as fast as they could. Seedling trees bent and snapped back as they tromped on them. Small animals scurried around, frightened by the intruders.
Finally they reached the end of the road. Ricochet held up his fist telling them to stop. So this was it, the place they’d chosen to end her life. He wouldn’t call it a warehouse, more like a barn structure with doors. Two large holes in the roof were open to the night sky.
The front was peppered with holes from what he guessed was a shotgun. Probably kids out using the place for target practice. Loose boards hung from windows where the same kids more than likely had crawled through to do their drugs, make out or just party. The place looked like it was ready to collapse. Sagging walls, rickety beams. It was a death trap.
He turned and looked at his two rookies. There was no fear in their stone faces, just determination. He was proud of these two. They had stepped up when one of their team needed them. Now he hoped he could step up and bring them all home alive.
“Boomer, location.”
“Behind the building in the trees. Can’t get a clear view but it looks like the inside is one wide open room. There are lofts and I think I may be able to get in through one of the holes in the roof.”
“Roger that. Okay, you heard where Boomer is. Remember it. Dragon, you take the south end of the building. Find a place to hide and stay put until ya hear from me. Gunner, north end. Same goes.”
“Yes, sir,” they answered before creeping off into the night.
He would take the front. If he could get a look at what was going on a
nd what he was up against he could relay it to the team. Only if Sam were here, she’d be the one infiltrating the building with her stealth. But she wasn’t. It was up to him.
“Don’t give up, baby,” he muttered to himself, not caring if it went out over the radio.
Crawling across the ground on his belly, he made it to a window mere feet from the front door. It seemed to be securely boarded until he reached up and nudged a board loose. Praying it wouldn’t creak, he pushed it aside far enough to see through.
There on the floor in the middle of the room was Veronica. She lay motionless, her hands tied behind her back, her long beautiful hair mussed and knotted, covering her face and fanned across the grungy floor. Two men sat in folding chairs quietly, and pacing back and forth on the phone sounding diplomatic and charming was Grear.
Chapter Fifteen
“I’ll be back later tonight. We’ll meet in my office and discuss it then. That bill is my first priority, senator, it will pass,” the man said.
Don’t count on being anywhere tonight, Ricochet thought to himself. He scanned the area inside. Boomer was right, one big open area. There were, however, darkened areas at each end of the building. He gave one last glance at Veronica and swore he saw her finger twitch.
“Rogue,” he breathed into his mike. “Move your finger up and down if you hear me.”
He watched. Sure enough one finger jerked up and down. She was alive, playing opossum, but alive. Relief made his head spin to the point of having to close his eyes and wait for it to pass. Now it was time to get her out.
He crawled away to one end of the building hoping to find a way into the darkened end. “We’re gonna get ya out, babe,” he told her as he moved.
“She’s okay?” Boomer asked.
“She’s alive and respondin’ to me. I’m gonna try to get into the buildin’. Dragon, look for some loose boards at the other end. If ya can get in, do it and hunker down.”
“Roger that.”
“Gunner, you’re with me.”
Within seconds Gunner was by his side.
“Plan?” he asked.
“No real place to hide except the ends where it’s dark. I’m not sure that’s a good idea. The room seems big and empty. No good place to disappear. Boomer, ya think ya can make it to the roof?”
Ricochet's Rogue (Agent of Mercy, Book Three) Page 20