The sound of a high revving approaching engine put all parties on alert, increasing in volume as a speeding black four-door SUV became visible through the trees. Barely braking, it banked hard right off Trout Run Road and fishtailed the corner into the driveway while its headlights flashed back and forth between high and low beam.
Having left her rifle in the Marauder, Jade drew her service weapon in a flash and manhandled Alan until she was situated between him and the onrushing vehicle.
He rotated and peered above her as she sidestepped with him toward the APC for cover. “What the hell is this about? That looks like one of those—”
“It is,” Jade responded, her left arm horizontal and rigid to keep Alan at bay. “That’s a DHS vehicle. Stay behind me.”
“Should I cover you? Or…”
“Just stay behind me.”
Alan reached for and drew his Glock in tentative fashion, keeping the muzzle parallel to his leg as the SUV closed in at speed.
Traversing the driveway’s length in little time, the vehicle’s wheels locked suddenly, and it skidded to a stop just as Woo Tang, Dave Graham, and Will Sharp went weapons hot and converged on it. Rifles pulled tight and locked on target, they sprinted to and surrounded the truck, then shouted orders to withdraw while preparing to fire.
Ken leapt from the porch and sauntered behind, unarmed and in no real hurry. “Hey, wait! Don’t kill them all! I got a bone to pick with those waste cadets! A big one, the size of a femur.”
With Will Sharp flanking the passenger side and Dave on his six providing cover, Woo Tang pulled the door open and ordered the driver out, his disposition shifting full scale upon seeing who it was. “Check fire!” he shouted, hand in motion above his head. “We have a friendly! Mind your muzzles.”
“Do as he says, please. Don’t shoot us.” Christian slid from the truck, hands high in the air.
Dave lowered his rifle and neared the door behind the driver, peering through the window. “Correction—multiple friendlies. Good gracious me.” He wasted no time pulling the door ajar. “Welcome home, ladies. Vacate the vehicle carefully, please. Everything’s going to be okay. You’re all safe now.”
At his behest, a trio of young girls, some jabbering, some whimpering, the sounds melding into a puerile melody, poured one by one from the backseat. A moment after, the rear hatch popped aloft, and Brooke Schmidt turned the corner upon departure, eyes wide at the welcoming party of stone-faced men with guns at the ready.
“You literally dodged a bullet. I almost did not recognize you.” Woo Tang put a gloved hand to Christian’s chin and gently rotated his head to examine the harm done to his face. “Do you require medical attention?”
“Probably, but I’m okay. It can wait.”
With every eye on the newest arrivals and the impromptu delivery of priceless cargo, all and sundry came together near the SUV’s anterior. Lee jogged over from his spot on the porch swing, motioning to and inviting Brooke and the girls inside the cabin and away from the spectacle.
Jade’s eyes shifted from the female foursome en route to Lee, back to Christian as she advanced with Alan in tow. “How did you find them?”
“I didn’t.” Christian meekly chuckled. “I didn’t even find me.”
“You’re going to have to explain what that means,” Alan said, then looked to where Will Sharp was now inching closer to the passenger door with his rifle levelling. “Who’s that in the front seat?”
Jade snapped left and went in motion, hurdling the SUV’s hood with her Glock leading the way. Will moved aside to let her by and reached for the door handle, then glanced at her to confirm she was set to move in tandem with him. He then pulled and flung the door open.
Jade closed the distance in a split second, her pistol’s muzzle finding the man’s temple while she noted his uniform and restraints. “Out of the truck! Now!”
“I can’t…my ribs. I have to go slow. I—”
She didn’t allow him time to finish. Unbuckling the detainee’s seatbelt, she curled her free arm around his neck, muscling him out of the seat and shoving him facedown onto the gravel.
The agent grunted, groaned and howled bellyaches from the pain of the crash.
Jade pounced on him as he writhed, forcing a knee to his spine. “Has he been patted down?”
“And then some,” Christian replied. “You might want to go easy. His ribs are in bad shape.”
Ken moved in and knelt beside Jade to offer support while she invasively felt through his pockets with her free hand until proving him weaponless.
Christian rounded the front bumper, appearing perplexed. “Hey, I said he’s clean. We already took care of that.”
“Who’s we?” prompted Jade, gazing up at him. “And what happened to your face?”
Alan sent his would-be son-in-law a look conveying his pressing need for an explanation.
It was easy to discern Alan’s burden, but Christian had multiple fears weighing on his mind, one above all. “Is Grace okay? I need to see her…please, tell me she’s okay.”
“Grace is fine.” Alan moved closer to consider him. “She’s better—awake now. Michelle went to the Vincents’ a short time ago to see her.” A pause. “But…how did you know?”
Christian exhaled a trickle of relief. “Lauren. She told me.”
“Lauren told you?”
“Yeah, she told me everything.”
Alan explored the SUV’s interior by way of the windshield. “Where is she, Christian?”
The young man delayed, determining there wasn’t any way to gently deliver the news. He pointed to the eastward mountains. “Out there, on her own. Getting ready for the fight of her life.”
“What did you say?” Alan badgered.
“Hear me out, please. I’ll tell you what I know,” Christian began, hands signaling assent, “but you’re not going
