by M A Comley
“Yes. Let’s do this. I’m so glad you’re here with me. I couldn’t do this without you, Giles.”
“Nonsense. When the chips are down, you’d be able to get out of the biggest scrapes going.”
“I’m not going to argue with you.”
A bullet flew past the right side of her head. She let out a scream.
“Get down. We need to get to that building. Keep low and weave. Don’t—whatever you do—run in a straight line. You’ll be dead within seconds.”
“And that’s supposed to reassure me?”
“We don’t have time for this. Move it.”
Kayli weaved, darting left and right, some larger weaves intermingling with smaller ones. It wasn’t long before they reached cover.
Giles hugged her. “You did brilliantly.” He unhitched the kitbag from his shoulder, tossed it behind her then skirted forward close to the edge of the building, his gun in hand.
“Do you really think they’ll send out a search party for us? Or were you just saying that to comfort me?”
He shrugged without looking at her. “Pure conjecture at this point. All we can do is sit it out here until the sun comes up and then make a move.”
“Really? Wouldn’t it be best to move under the cover of darkness?”
He looked over his shoulder and grinned at her. “It would be, but I didn’t think you’d be up for that.”
“Stop treating me like a girl and start bossing me around if you have to. I’m out of my comfort zone here, I admit, but I’m no wuss, Giles—you know that.”
“I know. Duly reprimanded. Let’s see if the rebels show their faces first.”
She peered over his shoulder and gulped. “Shit, is that what I think it is?”
“Yep. It was only a matter of time before they took to their vehicles and came after us.”
“I could do with a gun to help you fend them off.”
He chuckled. “When was the last time you used a gun?”
“Hey, I’m Taser-trained. I just didn’t tell you guys.”
He raised an eyebrow. “That’s good to know, so your aim must be fairly good then.”
She slapped his back. “Cheeky sod. I might be a bit rusty, but when it comes to the crunch, I bet I could outshoot you.”
“Ssh... less banter, serious heads on now,” Giles whispered.
The vehicle approached at speed and stopped within thirty feet of their position. Giles placed his hand behind him, forcing Kayli back.
She scanned the immediate area, seeking something she could use as a weapon. A large plank of wood was a few feet away. She scurried towards it and dragged it back. Giles gave her the thumbs-up for using her initiative.
“Stay back. They’re getting closer.”
Kayli gulped as she tried to calm her erratic heartbeat. She heard the men shouting in their native tongue.
“There are only two of them,” Giles whispered. “We’ve got this.”
As the men’s voices grew closer, Kayli’s hand tightened around the lump of wood. She was prepared to do anything to help her brother. Once he started shooting, he would be giving their position away. That was the time she needed to prepare herself for the fight.
“Looks like they’ve split up,” Giles whispered over his shoulder. “Last thing I want to do is start shooting at one of them.”
“Use this.” She placed the wood beside him. Giles edged forward a touch and swiftly pulled his head back. He lifted the wood and stood up. Kayli remained where she was but searched around her for something else she could use as a weapon. There was nothing close by except a few fist-sized rocks. She shuffled forward to retrieve a couple then swiftly returned to her position.
One of the rebels muttered something under his breath. Her own breath caught in her throat—if she could hear him, he could probably hear her. Giles stepped out in front of the man and immediately struck him several times with the piece of wood. The man’s gun went off in the melee. There was no ensuing tussle between Giles and the rebel because when she looked down, she saw the wood was covered in blood, and there was a small hole in the man’s forehead where a nail had struck him. She sighed then sucked in another breath as they waited for the second rebel to appear. His footsteps came closer, then he shouted at his mate.
Giles dipped his arm around the corner and shot at the rebel. The man cried out but not before he managed to fire off a couple of rounds. Giles pinned himself against the building. When he thought it was safe, he poked his head around the corner and gave Kayli the all-clear signal.
She followed him over to the bodies, shame and compassion her prominent emotions. Giles kicked the men’s bodies, looking for some kind of reaction, but there was none.
“Kayli, get my bag. Can you manage to carry it?”
“Of course I can.” She picked up the bag, slipped her arms through the straps, and hoisted it onto her back while Giles relieved the men of their weapons and ammunition. “What now?”
Giles patted the men’s pockets and extracted a wallet from one of them. “Sorry, mate. Our need is greater than yours.”
“I never thought we’d have to resort to robbing the dead,” Kayli said, shaking her head in disbelief.
“Get over it, and quickly. Needs must in these parts, sis. Come on. I was actually looking for the keys to the vehicle. They must have left them in the ignition, but the cash will come in handy for buying food.”
“You obviously have it all planned out. I’m out of my depth around here.”
He ran towards the vehicle. “We need to get out of here.”
Kayli, in spite of the heavy load on her back, ran after him.
Once they were at the jeep, Giles removed the kitbag and threw it in the back of the vehicle. “Climb in. I have no idea how far this heap is going to carry us, but we need to get out of here before someone comes searching for those men.”
“Aren’t we supposed to be meeting someone?”
“Yep, let’s get to the airport. I’ll contact our guys from there.”
She placed her hand on his arm as he started the jeep. “Thank you for saving us.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “It’s what big brothers do, isn’t it?”
“Not always. I appreciate it, though.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
The journey was one of the bumpiest Kayli had ever endured. The jeep was a wreck. The seats were ripped, and their lack of padding made her regret her recent weight loss. Maybe Dave was right about her bum being too bony, after all.
Giles chuckled. “Not the smoothest of rides, granted. However, if it gets us from A to B, it’ll do for me.”
“I’m not complaining, I promise. Anything is better than setting off on foot. We’re nearly there, right?”
“Yep, not far. We still need to be careful—there could be rebels all around the airport for all we know.”
“Do you want to dump the vehicle soon? Where were we supposed to meet up with your contact?”
“At the airport. I’ll give them a ring once we’ve stopped.”
Giles drove another five hundred yards and drew up behind a huge hangar. He withdrew his mobile and tapped in a number. “Hey, Jacko. We’re here. Change of plan, though. The pilot crashed and was killed. We’ve got rebels on our tails... Okay, we’re hiding out behind one of the large hangars at the end of the airport. That’s as good as it gets, mate. Can’t give you a more definite location than that... Right, see you soon.” Giles disconnected the call. “It’s a waiting game now. Just remain vigilant.”
Kayli covered her face with her hands. “Oh gosh, do you think we’ve done the right thing coming out here?”
Giles withdrew her hands from her face and held them firmly in his own. “Don’t go doubting the mission, not yet. We’ve had a minor blip. That’s all.”
“Three dead bodies in the last twenty minutes, and you call that a minor blip?”
Giles glared at her and held her gaze. “You need to toughen up, and quickly, love. No s
elf-doubts from here on out. Got that? Remember what we’re hoping to achieve at the end of this mission? We both recognised the dangers before we left the UK, right? Just remember why we’re risking our lives. Mark needs us. Keep that at the forefront of your mind at all times.”
Kayli nodded and extracted her hands from his. “Sorry for my mini-meltdown. I promise not to do it again. I realise I’ve got to toughen up. It’s hard to get past the guilt I feel for leaving the pilot back there.”
He shook his head. “It was better for him to go up in flames. If the men had dragged him out of the chopper, they would have beheaded him and chopped his body to pieces. They’re savages in this part of the world. Half the stories you hear back home in the media are tampered down for the sake of the victims’ families. Trust me, you need to keep on your toes at all times out here. You’re going to have to perfect sleeping with one eye open. I’ll do my best to keep you within reach but there are going to be times when that just won’t be possible, like when you need to go to the toilet. It’s imperative that you’re aware of what’s going on around you every second of every minute. Am I making myself clear?”
“All right. There’s no need to speak to me like that, Giles. I’m not stupid. Sorry for showing emotions because a man lost his life because of us today. It won’t happen again.”
He pulled her into his arms. “No, it’s me who should be sorry. I just needed you to be aware of the truth. If these guys capture you, then...”
“I understand. I’ll do everything I can to ensure that doesn’t happen.”
“Ditto.” He lifted a handful of her hair. “You’re going to hate me for saying this. I should have brought it up sooner, but maybe you should consider getting rid of your hair.”
She gasped and snatched the clump of hair from his hand. “I can’t do that. It’s taken me years to grow it this long.” Does he realise what he’s asking?
“It gives the game away that you’re female. If you cut it off, then you could get away with being a male, less of a target for them to pick out when the chips are down. It’s your choice, of course.”
A girl parting with her hair at the drop of a hat! Why the hell didn’t he suggest it when we were at home, when I had a pair of scissors to hand? She knew she should listen to him and how ludicrous it was not to consider what he was saying, but her head was all over the place. Nothing about this situation was making her think straight. Mark would kill me. He loves my hair being long. “I’ll think about it,” she replied sullenly.
Giles decided they would be better off away from the vehicle, hiding between the buildings, until his contacts arrived.
Standing in the same position for the next thirty minutes caused Kayli’s legs to burn, but every time she moved Giles ordered her to stay still. When she heard another vehicle approaching, she froze and stared at her brother. Giles placed a finger to his lips. Kayli nodded.
Giles withdrew his vibrating phone from his pocket. “Jacko, is that you? Okay, we’re coming out.” He hung up. “It’s fine. It’s our boys. We’ll be safe now, for the time being anyway.” He picked up the kitbag sitting on the ground beside Kayli.
She pulled at it and said, “You keep the weapons handy. I’ll carry the bag as agreed.”
They emerged from behind the building and walked towards the vehicle. A heavyset man was standing alongside the four-door car that, at a quick glance, looked like a Mercedes. His gaze shifted between Kayli and Giles, mostly falling on her. Despite the chill in the evening air, warmth crept into her cheeks.
Giles shook the man’s hand then pulled him into a manly hug before he introduced her. “I’d like you to meet my skinny blister, Kayli.”
Jacko’s eyes narrowed. “I’ve heard a lot about you DI Bright of the Avon and Somerset Constabulary. One thing before we set off. You’re out of your jurisdiction here and there’s only one person in charge around here. That’s me. As long as you adhere to that, we should get along fine.”
“I appreciate that, Jacko. You’ll have no problems from me. However, if I think of a better solution to a scenario along the way, I will be voicing my opinion. Of course, it’ll be down to you whether you take my advice or not.”
Giles pulled one side of his jacket over his face to disguise his grin and Jacko’s eyes narrowed even more. He took two steps towards Kayli and lowered his face to hers. She gulped.
He thrust out his hand for her to shake and laughed. “I love ballsy women. You and I are going to get along just fine. Feel free to chip in when you like. I’m not promising we’ll take your advice, but we’ll still value your opinion, that is until the bullets start flying—then you keep your mouth shut and follow orders.”
“Sounds like a plan to me. Good to meet you, and thank you for agreeing to help us find Mark.”
“We never leave a man behind, whether he’s still with the army or if he’s moved on to pastures new.”
Kayli smiled. She liked this man. “That’s good to know.”
“Hey, guys. It’s nice that you’re getting acquainted. But, do you mind if we do that elsewhere?” a gruff voice called out from inside the vehicle.
“The troops are getting restless. I’ll stick your bag in the boot. Hop in, the pair of you, and introduce yourselves to the uglier members of the team.”
“We heard that, dipshit. I’ve had more girlfriends than you’ve had shaves, Jacko.”
“Yeah, you might have done, Bandy. Pray tell us, how many of those poor unfortunate women stuck around for a second shag?”
Kayli burst into laughter when she heard the man inside the vehicle curse at Jacko.
Giles whispered in her ear. “If Jacko likes you, then you’re doing well. Get in.” He held the back door open for her, and Kayli slid in beside a man with a closely shaven head. He had muscles on his muscles, and one of his thighs was the size of her waist.
He turned to look at her, and his gaze dropped to take in the length of her body before he held out his hand. “So you’re Giles’s kid sister. I’m Mac. Pleased to meet you.”
“Hi, Mac. Thanks for helping us.”
“Don’t thank me until we get Mark back, then you can buy us all a steak dinner.”
Kayli chuckled. “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
Giles squeezed in beside her. “Shift over a bit. My bum is bigger than yours, sis.”
Kayli moved along the seat so that her leg was touching Mac’s. She mumbled an apology.
“Hey, don’t apologise. I love it when a good-looking female sidles up to me.”
Giles laughed. “Leave her alone, Mac. She’d wipe the floor with you, mate.”
They all laughed. The other man sitting in the front seat swivelled to look at her. “I guess I’ll have to introduce myself. I’m Bandy. Don’t ask. Good to meet you. Keep your head down when we tell you to, and we should all get along just fine.”
“Nice to meet you, Bandy.”
Jacko eased himself behind the steering wheel and drove off. The men’s banter on their journey had Kayli in fits at times. If this was what the camaraderie was like on patrol in the army, she understood now why Mark had found it impossible to adjust to civilian life. She promised to be more understanding once he was safe and back home with her in the UK. Giles nudged her leg and winked at her. She smiled back, reassuring him that the men had made her feel welcome and that she was pretty relaxed about being there with them.
“Can I ask what you guys are doing out here?” Kayli asked.
“We’re in a covert operation to find a group of ISIS scumbags. The main group is on their tails. Giles put in a call a few weeks back to say that our old mate Mark had been captured, and our commanding officer appointed us as your babysitters. That’s it.”
“Babysitters, my arse.” Giles laughed and jabbed Mac in his thigh with his fist.
“It is what it is, mate. Are you regretting going back to civvie street yet?”
“Nope. I’ve got another kid on the way. Life’s all good at my end.”
�
�Awesome news. Fuck, I bet your missus had a right go at your nuts when you told her you were coming back out here.”
Giles sighed. “Yeah, things were a little strained, but she knows how important it was for us to come. She’ll be right when we return home unharmed and with Mark in tow.”
Kayli squeezed her brother’s hand.
“So you’re a cop. How long have you been doing that, Kayli?” Mac asked, obviously the most inquisitive of the group.
“About eight years now. Kind of lose track of time after a while.”
“Take you long to become an inspector, did it?”
“Around five years, which isn’t bad for a woman.”
“You must have something about you then, unless you have an appreciative male superior who enjoys having your pretty face around the place.”
Giles sucked in air beside her. “Ouch, sexist comments like that could get you into big trouble, Mac.”
Kayli shrugged. “I’m used to it, Giles. I used to get a lot of flack from my fellow male officers until my team started coming top every year for meeting their targets. Hey, Mac, for your information, my superior officer is a woman. Don’t think she gives me an easy ride, either. If anything, she comes down harder on me than my fellow male inspectors.”
“How come?”
“She knows how difficult it is being a female officer in the force. It takes balls and determination to put up with all the sexist remarks confronting us from male colleagues who doubt our abilities.”
The men all laughed. “Consider yourself told, Mac,” Jacko shouted. “Now stop winding her up and leave her alone. We’re almost there, guys. It’s a bit of a dive, so don’t expect too much.”
“Don’t worry about it. As long as we’re able to get our heads down for a couple of hours, that’s fine by us. Right, sis?”
“Of course. Not sure I’ll be able to sleep, though,” Kayli replied.
“You will,” Giles assured her.
The car drew up outside a white house that formed part of a terrace. They left the car and entered the gate that opened up onto a drab courtyard. Kayli cringed at the sight of bullet holes in the house’s façade. Does this mean they are sitting targets? She tried not to dwell on that too much and followed Mac and Giles into the house, while Jacko and Bandy brought up the rear. Giles dropped his kitbag on the floor in the first room they entered—actually, it was the only room on the ground floor. The tiled floor with its garish pattern did very little to create a warm and friendly interior. There were no pictures on the walls or curtains at the windows. Every wall was painted white but showed signs of the gun battles that had taken place over the months or years. Piles of dust filled the corners where someone had swept the room but had neglected to clear it up. Kayli resisted the urge to search for a dustpan and brush. She couldn’t be regarded as a domestic goddess by any stretch of the imagination, but the temptation to rid the place of dust set her teeth on edge for some unknown reason.