“Sir, we don’t have enough people to breach a fortified structure like that.” The man spit the dust from his mouth. “We don’t even know the layout.”
The team leader sighed and glanced to the sky. “We’re expecting air support shortly.” He looked to the rest of his men. “They’re sending a fully armed Reaper.”
“Holy…” The man swallowed hard then looked to the bunker, judging the distance. “We should probably give that thing room to work.”
“Agreed.” The team leader motioned for the team to withdraw. “Back towards the border. We’ll clean up whatever is left.”
Camp Deric, South of Dallas, TX
STEVE SQUINTED AT the picture on Gregg’s computer as Agent Chesterfield recounted each step of the operation.
“And everybody involved realized that the agency was violating its very charter by operating on American soil?”
Chesterfield nodded slowly. “Yes, but since it was a joint venture with the NSA, they felt they could slip past the legal scrutiny.”
Gregg snorted. “Of course they did. When—”
“Slippy,” Steve interrupted, pointing at the other screen. “Why are the jackboots backing off like that?”
Gregg held a finger up to cut off Chesterfield. “What are you…hmm.” He glanced to Steve, whose face was bright red. “This can’t be good.”
The front door slammed open and Jay staggered in with Bridger and al-Abadi in tow. “I think we’re clear of the hajis.”
“We got another problem.” Gregg turned the screen around. “His team is withdrawing.”
Darren gave them a hopeful look. “Maybe because I gave them the stand down order?”
Jay stared at the screen, his eyes narrowing. He turned to Bridger, “You thinking what I’m thinking?”
Bobby groaned and glanced out the front window. “Is your drone armed?”
Chesterfield shrugged. “I don’t think so. It’s just for seeing what…” His eyes widened. “They wouldn’t dare. Not while I’m in here.” He stared at each man. “Would they?”
Jay squared his shoulders, “Load up! We’re bugging out.”
Gregg stood up and shook his head. “I’m almost to the good part. We can’t…I have to record this. His story combined with our data and we’re all cleared.”
Jay chewed at his inner cheek then turned to Deric. “Tell me you have a blast shelter here.”
Deric shook his head. “Not here.”
Bridger stepped forward. “I’ll lead them off.” He held up a hand to stop Jay. “It’s my fault you’re all pulled into this crap sandwich. I’ll take a Hummer and lead them away. You guys slip into the woods before they send in close air support.”
Roger stepped in through the front door and patted Bridger’s shoulder. “I’ll take the other Hummer. He wouldn’t be in this mess if I hadn’t talked you into going undercover.” He shot Bridger a wink.
Jay shook his head. “I don’t like this.”
“If we make a big enough noise leaving, there’s the slight chance that his team will follow. If we can get them to leave without doing a room to room check…”
“That’s a lot of ifs, buddy,” Steve stated flatly.
“It’s all we have right now.” Bridger stepped back toward the door. “Get his story. Do whatever you gotta do with it.” He pulled the door open and Roger stepped out. “Clear our names.”
The Baba Yaga group watched the steel security door shut behind the pair and none knew the proper words to say.
Langley, VA
COLONEL NELSON STOOD in the operations room and watched the monitor. “I want to know when the drone is close in so—”
“Colonel!” A man stood and held a phone up. “Eyes on the ground state they’re bugging out. They sped off in two Humvees.”
“I want a satellite image of that area, NOW!” Colonel Nelson barked.
The man holding the phone nodded. “Sir, they just left in two different directions. The tactical team needs to know which unit to follow.”
Colonel Nelson cursed and grabbed the technician in front of him. “Do you have a satellite on the area or not?”
“Coming in…mo…mentarily, sir!” the man stammered. He punched the commands into the keyboard and a fuzzy image began to come into focus.
Two vehicles could be seen leaving the compound, trails of dust in their wake. “Tell the tactical team to take the northbound unit. We’ll track the other vehicle via satellite. Let them know that we will need GPS coordinates for the air support!”
“Yes, sir!” The man relayed the message then took his seat, his eyes scanning the area ahead of the vehicles. “Sir, if they stay on their current trajectory, they’ll be entering the city limits in less than five minutes.” He turned worried eyes to the colonel. “Drone is ten minutes out, sir.”
Colonel Nelson cursed under his breath. “I don’t care if these sons of bitches try to hide in an orphanage that is buried in a fucking convent…we will take them out with ordinance if we have to.”
The technician swallowed hard. “Y-yes, sir. Tactical team has eyes on the t…arget vehicle, sir.”
“Tell them to maintain visual. Reaper is eight minutes out.” The vein in Colonel Nelson’s forehead bulged as his blood pressure increased.
“Copy that…sir.”
Colonel Nelson leaned back and crossed his arms. His eyes never left the drone feed. “We got you now boys. Give your hearts to God because your ass belongs to me.”
36
Camp Deric, South of Dallas, TX
JAY TRIED TO maintain eye contact with Agent Chesterfield as he silently uttered a prayer for the safety and well-being of his friends.
Chesterfield droned on about the ins and outs of the operation. Who knew what, who approved what, and who directed others to do what. Jay wished he could pay more attention to what the man said, but his mind was sitting beside Bridger in the Humvee as he sped away from their underground compound.
He stepped away and spotted al-Abadi, kneeling and rocking back and forth. He knew from his eastward orientation that the little man was praying. He could only hope that he was praying for the two men who might well be sacrificing themselves to save their collective asses.
Somewhere South of Dallas,
