by Laura Acton
Though she usually possessed the stamina of someone half her age, the events of today drained her. She wished to do more to help the people she loved in the other room but recognized her limitations, and she would be one more person for Loki to protect if she made Noah aware of her presence.
Light sounds on the bottom of the door caught her attention, and at first, she believed she might have imagined them. But when a pattern developed, she listened carefully, and a smile lit her face as she recognized Morse code. After interpreting the first word, by its dashes and dots, Maisie put the remaining letters together and understood the message Dan’s cousin attempted to tap out. Open if safe to do so. It’s Scott.
Maisie stood, quietly turned the lock, and pushed the door open, surprised to find Scott grinning up at her from the floor. She knelt and murmured, “My boy, are you alright?”
“Yes. Is anyone else in there with you?”
“No, Jeremy took Ethan and his parents upstairs before the terrible men arrived. Vanessa, Minna, Ron, Dan, Loki, and my Landry are all in there with the Bartons. Landry is instructing Vanessa on the operation since his knees won’t hold him any longer. I happened to be in here resting when they came in. Ron locked the door to this room from the other side.”
Scott nodded. “Are there windows into the operating room? Can Noah see if you leave?”
“There are no windows, and I don’t believe he knows I’m in here.”
“Great. I want you to go to the second floor. You’ll need to duck under the windows in the hall. Yasmin already went up and is alerting Vera I’m sending up anyone I found in here. Lock yourself in a room. We got a call into Dan’s father. General Broderick is in charge of Special Forces, and his men are trained for this weather. If all went well, help should be arriving here soon.”
Maisie’s eyes widened. “Interesting.” Her concern for Scott increased when he stifled a cough. Hours out in the blizzard and his injury left him in less than stellar condition. “What about you?”
“I’ll be fine … alright. I’m in the Navy … I can handle this.” In his head, Scott acknowledged he never applied his extensive training to a real-world hostage situation, and never fired live ammo at another person. Though, he hoped all the paintball games with Dan the previous summer gave him an advantage over the Bartons.
His strategy would be to find a hidden spot which still gave him a view. Scott wished he could climb up into the ceiling. That had been Dan’s favorite place to hide. Their cousin kicked their asses game after game until they eventually located him in the rafters.
“You must go now,” Scott said when Maisie hesitated to leave.
As she complied and made sure the door closed softly, Scott scanned the hallway for a strategic location, which would allow him to maintain visual of both doors while remaining somewhat hidden. After Maisie rounded the corner to safety, he spotted a gurney and rolling cart against the opposite wall. They would provide him enough concealment.
Scott crawled towards the cart and maneuvered it in place, but had to stop a moment to cover a cough into his elbow. Glad the cart moved soundlessly, he hoped he muffled the noise enough because the harsh hacking left him breathless. He wiped sweat from his forehead before it dripped in his eyes and did his best to ignore the throbbing pain in his thigh.
Keeping an eye on the surgery door, Scott dug deep to find the fortitude to stay the course. Loki, Dan, and the others needed him to back up Loki. He wouldn’t allow Noah to kill his cousin, Loki, or anyone else if it was within his power to foil any of the Bartons’ machinations. Though, Scott did wonder if he possessed the necessary mettle to make a kill shot rather than one which merely wounded.
He rested his back on the wall as he drew a shallow breath to prevent further coughing fits. He glanced down at his blue-green stained bandage and wondered how much trouble he was in. Not even Dan can match this weird infection. Crap, Lily is gonna be really ticked off at me now.
Special Forces Arctic Unit – Arriving at Craig Hospital
The gale-force wind had blown the unit much further away from their objective than desired. As a result, they needed to trek five miles to reach the target. Despite harsh elements and landing the furthest from the rendezvous point, Vinson made decent time to where the team assembled. Cognizant of his men’s safety and needs, Sergeant Price allowed the last two to arrive, Vinson and Welch, a brief break to re-hydrate before deploying.
As they started, Vinson brought up the rear of a single file line. They made better time by skiing in each other’s tracks, and every quarter of a mile, they swapped who blazed the trail to keep each team member from overexertion. Each man focused on his task by mentally reviewing the hospital’s layout and his assigned areas as they skied.
Closing in on their destination, Vinson, who was now in the lead, halted several yards away. Needing to divest themselves of their skis and retrieve weapons from their gear packs, the men huddled up to prepare for their assault. Price withdrew the satellite phone, and as three of his men created a windbreak for him, he dialed the direct line to General Broderick.
When connected, Price said, “Sir, we’ve arrived and are preparing to go in. Any further intel or orders?”
William paced in the plane. “Nothing additional. Lethal force is authorized, but remember this is Canadian soil, and a less-lethal resolution is preferred if possible. En route, about fifteen minutes behind you, is the TRF team led by Sergeant Pastore. They are skilled in negotiation and will assume primary responsibility if the threat remains unresolved when they arrive.”
“Roger. Anything more, sir?”
“No, Sergeant. Godspeed.”
“Thank you, sir.” Price hung up. “Okay, guys. TRF is approximately fifteen mics out. Let’s see if we can resolve this situation, so all they need do is transport the prisoners to Toronto.” He received an acknowledgment from all, and they began their approach, covering the remaining distance rapidly.
Military Aircraft in Flight to Ottawa
After the call disconnected, William continued to pace. It took the unit longer to arrive than he predicted, but given the weather, he understood his men were pushing as hard as possible. However, that didn’t provide relief from his worries.
Are they all still alive? Perhaps Loki managed to take Barton into custody. If not, wouldn’t Barton tag him as a danger and try to eliminate him first? And Dan, after losing Brody, what would the loss of another friend do to him? I don’t want to lose my son or my nephew, either. Eric and Ann shouldn’t go through what Yvonne and I did when Sara died. Oh, Lord, Lily would be devastated, and little Jerrell and Anna would grow up without their father. And Yvonne might not survive the death of another child.
With effort, William shut down his agonizing thoughts. It should not be much longer. Price was an honorable man, an outstanding sergeant, one of the men he considered bringing into the Guardian Unit fold once Blaze gave up fieldwork and took over Plouffe’s duties completely. They needed Blaze in that position, but he promised the transition would happen on Blain’s terms. He owed Daniel’s unit leader at least that much for keeping his boy alive for six years when William had mistakenly taken a hands-off approach.
Still filled with regrets for what Danny endured, William vowed never to turn a blind eye when his son was in trouble. He would move heaven and earth for his family. William finally sank into a seat as he wondered how he might help Daniel if he lost his leg.
Not for the first time, William wished the transporters from Star Trek were real. If they could lock on Daniel’s, Scott’s, and Loki’s signals to beam them out of harm’s way, that would put his concerns to bed, and transporting directly to Daniel’s side in a flash would be so appealing. William raked his fingers through his hair. I’m always so far away when Daniel is hurt.
He lowered his hands when a nervous-looking corporal came forward and offered him coffee. William acknowledged the man with a nod and took the cup. After one sip, he said, “Thank you, Corporal.”
Thr
ough anxious, Johnson said, “General, permission to speak?”
“Permission granted.”
Swallowing a lump in his throat, the corporal said, “Sir, my name is Neal Johnson. I never got the opportunity to properly thank your son.”
Curious, William asked, “Thank him for what, Corporal Johnson?”
“Sir, he saved my life, as well as my ex-girlfriend’s about a year and a half ago when we were held hostage in Bang Fitness. An enraged bodybuilder on steroids forced me to my knees and made me watch as he held a gun to Lori’s head. I couldn’t do anything to protect her or myself from Clive. TRF tried to talk him down, but when he raised the gun, I thought we were gonna die.
“In a blink of an eye, Clive lay dead on the floor, and both Lori and I were unharmed. I found out later the sniper who took the lethal shot was Constable Broderick. I never got a chance to express my thanks because he got shot at that other officer’s funeral, and I left for boot camp two weeks later.”
A nervous grin crossed Neal’s face. “I never wanted to feel so helpless again and thought I should do more with my life since your son’s skills gave me a second chance. So, I enlisted in the Army. I’m no hero or anything like your Special Forces men, just a regular grunt who works in the armory handing out weapons and bullets, but I hope I’m making a little difference as Dan did for me. I would appreciate it if you tell him I said thanks.”
William nodded. “I will, and, Corporal.”
“Yes, sir?”
“Take note of an important fact. Each of us in uniform plays a vital role. My men and I depend on support staff to do their jobs so we can do ours. We rely on the soldiers who ensure the necessary weaponry is ready for our use, pack our chutes, fill air tanks so we can breathe despite the elements, handle communications, gather intel, transport us, provide care for the injured, and prepare our food. We couldn’t succeed in our missions without soldiers like you, Corporal Johnson.
“And I would like you to think about something else. There are many faces of courage. Not all heroes are the ones carrying guns or wearing uniforms. Our loved ones who keep the home fires burning while we are away are as courageous as the women and men who serve with us. Never doubt, in or out of uniform, you can make a difference in this world, young man.”
Neal beamed. He had never thought about it like that. “If you need anything else, sir, I would be happy to assist.”
“The coffee is enough and greatly appreciated.”
Recognizing the dismissal, Johnson returned to his seat, still beaming.
Watching the corporal walk away, William sighed. Everything he said was the truth. His units couldn’t do a fraction of what they did without the support of so many others. Every role, even the unglamorous ones, were critical to a well-run military. And without Yvonne’s courage and unwavering support, William would’ve never been able to do what he loved.
His thoughts shifted back to Daniel, and an idea formed. If his son lost his leg and couldn’t be part of TRF any longer, Danny would need to draw on his courage to build a new life. Perhaps McFergus would allow him to create a civilian strategist job for Daniel, which would act as a liaison with his command. Daniel possessed the requisite skills and clearance level for such a position. What an extraordinary team we would make.
Turning his mind to a more pleasant outcome, where the doctor saved Daniel’s leg, William conjured up a future image of Daniel as a general. I would give almost anything to hand over the Special Forces to my son. General Badass Junior. Perhaps I can tempt him to voluntarily rejoin as an officer.
William snorted as reality slapped him in the face. Who am I kidding? Daniel wants nothing to do with the military after the crap he was put through. Recent history tells me my thoughts are nothing but a pipe dream.
Christ, the disagreement he had with Daniel right before he left Kandahar had been explosive. Involuntarily recalling Daniel to obtain details on the Blockhouse mission started rocky, but unexpectedly turned for the better during the weeks he stayed to recuperate from the beating Snow, and his goons had meted out.
Never in William’s wildest dreams did he think he and Daniel would sip morning coffee companionably in Kandahar. But they had, and they began to make significant progress in re-establishing their relationship. That is until he went and blew it sky-high with his offer to facilitate Daniel’s transition back into the Army with a newly created position.
He still couldn’t believe he told Daniel that if he truly loved Lexa, he should man-up and do the right thing for both of them by rejoining Special Forces so they could be together. William understood it had been a low blow, but he had been so angry at how Hardy and Pastore handled the situation when the forbidden relationship between Daniel and Lexa came to light.
Blaze and Winds would’ve never mistreated Daniel as his tactical leader and sergeant did. William spent hours in the past months justifying his actions as trying to protect his beloved son in the only way possible. Only recently, heck, mostly on this flight, did he begin to acknowledge part of his motivation was he longed to have Daniel working alongside him.
Sadly, William realized he must be honest with himself and accept his son was where he wanted and needed to be. The corporal’s story drove home the fact Daniel’s new TRF role made a significant positive impact on Johnson’s life. So now, William must quit creating unrealistic fantasies in his mind. Oh, but dreams are so hard to let go.
One Is Enough
45
November 24
Hospital – Surgery
Vanessa dressed Jonas’ wound after applying benzoin tincture to protect his skin and help the bandage adhere longer. Fortunately, Landry provided excellent instructions, and the operation went smoothly, but with Jonas patched up, and Noah no longer requiring their expertise, she worried they became expendable. Lifting her eyes from her task, Vanessa’s met with Noah’s. “All done. We can stop the nitrous now. It will take a bit of time before Jonas wakes, and he will be groggy.”
Noah shifted his eyes from the female doctor to Jonas’ gauze-covered shoulder and ordered, “Pack the supplies necessary for me to care for him. Non-stick pads, tape, painkillers, and such.”
Witnessing Vanessa flinch, Loki recognized they reached a critical juncture where Noah might start shooting. He snuck a glance at Dan, noting his tranquil countenance, and prayed his friend remained unconscious or at least quiet and calm while he attempted to negotiate the release of everyone.
Loki decided Landry must be one of the first he endeavored to coax Noah into freeing because the surgeon’s arthritic knees prevented him from running for cover. “Noah, I’m certain Jonas will need antibiotics. You’ll want the right stuff, so while Vanessa gathers supplies, why don’t you allow Ron and Minna to take Doc Landry to the pharmacy so he can tell them what type of antibiotic Jonas requires?”
“Nice try, pig. No, Ron isn’t going anywhere.” Noah forged plans while they operated on Jonas. Scott’s comment about not wasting bullets made sense, and he would eliminate the less predictable male. The geek cop comprehended if he didn’t comply, people would die, however, the ski patrolman might wish to be a hero and try to overpower him.
“I have a different plan. Ron, undo all three of the cuffs.”
Ron did as Barton instructed, but flicked glances at Loki, wondering if they might be able to take Noah down before he killed anyone. He caught the slight shake of Loki’s head and quelled his desire to take action, heeding the lawman’s decision.
Noah pulled the petite nurse to him and placed the gun to her temple. “Loki, you take Ron into the other room. Leave the doors open and handcuff Ron behind his back to something solid and unmovable. Then push the old geezer in there and cuff him on the opposite side of the room. After you finish, come back in here and lock that door.”
Loki sighed silently. Not exactly what he wanted, but at least two more people would be out of the room. Pressing his luck, Loki suggested, “Perhaps I should move Dan in there too?”
Noah
shook his head as his gaze returned to the blond on the operating table. The sense he knew him grew again and twisted his gut.
Hospital – Recovery Room
After securing Ron, Loki wheeled Landry into the room. Finding the room empty, Loki assumed Maisie was smart enough to move to a safer location, or Scott came and managed to coax her to go upstairs. Either way, he was relieved the gentle older lady was now out of harm’s way, and he would do his best to ensure Ron and Landry joined her.
As he cuffed Landry, leaving enough slack for him to slip out of the restraint, but ensuring the shackle appeared to be tight, Loki whispered, “As soon as I close the door, release yourself and Ron. Then you two get out of here and find someplace to hide, preferably a room with a locking door. Scott is armed and might be in the hall or still in the ER.”
Gripping Loki’s hand, Landry implored, “Be careful, my boy.”
“I’ll try.” Loki didn’t dare glance at Ron as he headed back into the surgery, though he had communicated the same plan to him.
When the snick of the lock sounded, Landry slipped his hand out of the soft cuff and rolled over to Ron to release him.
Ron peered at the OR door. “I hate leaving them all in there.”
“I don’t like it any more than you do, but we need to hurry and do what Loki said,” Landry urged.
Pushing Landry towards the exit, Ron said, “After I carry you upstairs, I’m coming back down. Loki needs help.”
“No, you won’t. Trust Loki and don’t do anything reckless, which might cause Noah to begin shooting.” Landry eyed Ron until he received a nod.
Hospital – Hallway
The recovery room door started to open, putting Scott on alert. He swiped a trickle of sweat from his brow before bracing his gun with both hands. Although Scott didn’t think the person exiting would be Noah or Jonas, he flicked off the safety and prepared to fire if necessary.
