Harruck was already shaking his head. “There’s nothing to talk about here. Like you said, they’ll kill Warris, the offensive will happen, and all my work here was for nothing. Actionable intel is just an excuse for C-4 and gunfire.”
I raised my brows. “I’m taking one more shot, and all I need is a little evac if it all hits the fan.”
“You’re dreaming, Scott.”
“I’m not. If I can find Warris — if I can do that, they won’t have to launch the offensive. If I can take out Zahed, that’s icing on the cake.”
“We’ve got more enemies than the Taliban here. Bronco wants Zahed rich and alive and feeding the agency information. Kundi wants the status quo. Even the people here would rather deal with Zahed. We’re the only idiots that want him dead. If you kill him, the Taliban will retaliate.”
“We’ll dismantle and demoralize them. By the time I’m done, they won’t know what hit them.”
“I don’t believe you anymore, Scott. And I can’t support you.”
“I know when it comes down to it, you’ll do the right thing. You won’t leave me hanging out there.”
He took a deep breath. “Just get out.”
I returned a lopsided grin. “Thanks for the drink.”
TWENTY-FIVE
The satellite images that Gordon had provided were both excellent and disconcerting. The tunnel entrance where Warris’s signal had last been detected overlooked the northeast side of Sangsar, so we’d need to hike through one of the mountain passes off the main road, then hike another half kilometer to reach the top and descend down to the tunnel, all the while making sure we were not spotted.
With the men gathered inside our billet, I went over the hardcopy images, indicated our route, and asked for suggestions about our evac.
“Any word on CAS?” asked Brown.
I gave him the usual look.
“Not even a Predator?” asked Hume. “I mean, Jesus God, we’ve lost men up there. Not even a friggin’ drone?”
“I’m working on it,” I said. I had sent Gordon the request. Even if we couldn’t get fire support, the Predator guys could pick up the thermal images of guards positioned near and around the tunnel entrance. I’d said we were willing to take any kind of intel via sensor because anything that’s a sensor has to talk to everybody else.
“Before we leave, I want to put something on the table,” said Ramirez, his voice growing uneven.
My heart might have skipped a beat. I cautioned him with my gaze, which he met for only a second.
“What’s up?” asked Brown.
“Look, nobody’s said anything about it, but we need to talk.”
“Joey, I know where this is going,” said Treehorn. “We’re all in this together. We don’t need to do that.”
“I think we do,” Ramirez said, raising his voice. “Because if we rescue Warris, then he’ll start squealing like a freaking pig — and we’re all going to pay for that.” He looked at me. “Warris is not loyal to the Ghosts. Not the way we are. Isn’t that right, Captain?”
I just shook my head. Was he threatening me now?
“I am not having this conversation,” said Brown, raising a palm. “I am not going there.”
“YOU HAVE TO GO THERE!” Ramirez shouted at the top of his lungs—
We all froze, shocked by the outburst.
Brown whirled back, leaned over, and got squarely in Ramirez’s face. “No, I do not. So you’d best shut up now, Joey. Just shut up.”
Ramirez began to lose his breath. “He tried to relieve the captain of his command. The captain refused. We refused to acknowledge him. We’re all going down if Warris talks. All of us! It’s like we’re going out to save the guy who’s going to chop off your heads! What’s wrong with that picture?”
“Why are you so worried?” asked Treehorn. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what that punk says. It’s his word against ours. Screw him.”
“Harruck will back him up,” said Ramirez. “I’m telling you, if we rescue his ass, we’re done, busted down to regular Army, maybe even discharged.”
“I’ll take all the heat for that,” I said, my tone in sharp juxtaposition to his. “No worries, guys.”
“You can try to take the heat, but that won’t matter,” said Ramirez. “He’ll try to hang us all. And I’m not going to let that happen. Not for a second.”
“Then what’re you saying, Joey?” asked Brown.
“You
Treehorn threw up his hands. “Aw, no way. I’m not listening to this.”
“Look, we do everything in our power to rescue him, but unfortunately, he doesn’t make it back—”
“Oh my God,” said Hume with a gasp. “Joey, are you insane? Do you know what the hell you’re saying?”
“THIS AIN’T A GODDAMNED WAR! IT’S NOT!” he shouted.
I looked at Ramirez. “Maybe you’re going to stay behind.”
“No,
“Then you’re done talking. You’re just going to shut up and do your job — and our job is to rescue one of our brothers and bring him back. And that’s what we’re going to do. Do you all read me — loud and clear?”
They boomed their acknowledgment.
I pointed a finger at the door and glowered at Ramirez. “Outside.”
We shifted out together, with the heat of the team’s gazes on our shoulders.
He paced and shuddered like a rabid dog.
“I need you tonight. You’re one of the best guys I’ve got,” I began.
“We can’t rescue Warris.”
“You’re getting all bent out of shape for nothing. Who knows if we’ll even find him? Worry about him barking later. Not now.”
“We can’t trust anybody, can we?”
“What’re you talking about?”
He shrugged, then squinted toward the setting sun. “This place… it’s driving me crazy.”
I nodded. “It’s the sand. Just gets everywhere. Shower doesn’t even help…”
He sighed. “No way to get clean. Not here.”
“Look, bro, I can’t do this without you. I need my Bravo team leader sharp and ready. We’re good. You should know that. We’re good.”
“Okay. But Warris… I just don’t know.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
“That sounds like a threat.”
“No. It’s an order.”
He took a long breath, cursed, then started back toward the billet.
I echoed his curse.
At about two A.M. local time, we borrowed a civilian pickup truck and drove out past the bridge we’d blown, working our way parallel along the riverbank till I found the shallowest-looking spot. We parked there and waited.
What I didn’t tell the guys was that after I’d had my talk with Harruck and he’d been reluctant to promise any help, I’d gone outside and met with the XO, who was more than happy to take a break from the screaming governor and irate humanitarian lady (although we both once more agreed that she was a looker). I’d called the XO Marty, which made him wince, but I was trying to gain his trust.
“I’m wondering if you guys could move up a couple of Bradleys, put them way into the defile. Do it about oh two hundred.”
“Why?”
