by Dale Mayer
He gave her a hard questioning look. “Are you serious?”
“Absolutely,” she nodded. “This requires honesty from both of us,” she said.
“And where are we going?” he asked humorously.
“I don’t think it matters now,” she said. “I don’t have any plans. And I don’t have any family left.” She glanced back at her house, the fire still burning. In the distance she heard sirens coming. “They won’t save anything, will they?”
“No,” he said, “and it’s probably just as well. There’s nothing salvageable anyway at this point.”
“Will there be enough of my father left to bury?”
“Yes,” he said, “there will.”
“And who gets to tell the story?”
“We’ll let Ice handle it,” he said. “She’s running point on several things going on in our world right now.” He quickly explained about her heading up the search for Bullard and her unusual hidden weapon, Terk, the secret operative with a psychic intuition running a team of similar men in the black ops world.
“I need an Ice in my life,” she said. “That’s seriously wild.”
“I know, right? Unfortunately we still have no word on our missing friend, although not for the lack of trying,” he said, with sincerity. “We have men back at the main compound of Bullard’s camp,” he said, “but we’re trying to maintain radio silence to make sure we don’t lead anybody back there.”
“Do you know for sure,” she said, “that the camp is okay?”
“Yeah, the rest of the team is keeping them in the loop.”
“How many on the team?”
“Normally, boots on the ground, we’re eight men out. Bullard is our eighth man in this case,” he said, “and we still don’t have any update on him.”
“And what about the other team members?”
“Cain is running our command center until he heals up. Garret and I are out in the field. Some are checking throughout Africa and other leads. Others are checking the coastline for Bullard. They’re doing the legwork. We’re right in the action center though.”
“Who was on the plane with Garret and Bullard?”
“Ryland,” Eton said. “He was busted up pretty badly and is still recovering. At the moment, his office is out on a sailboat in the middle of the ocean. So he’s enjoying life a whole lot more than he used to. Still working though.”
“Sounds good to me,” she said, with a smile.
He glanced at her. “Do you like sailing?”
“I wouldn’t know,” she said. “I’ve spent the bulk of my life right here.”
“Are you ready for more?”
“Yes,” she said. “I’m ready for a whole lot more.”
“Great,” he said. “It’s a big world out there.”
“You ready to show it to me?”
“As soon as we’re done with this shit, and I’m sure that you’re safe,” he said, “but I won’t take you anywhere before that.”
“In that case,” she said, snatching up his phone, “how do we get ahold of Ice?”
He chuckled. “Push that button right there,” and he pointed. The call connected quickly, and a woman’s voice answered.
“Hi, my name is Sammy. Eton is right here beside me.”
“Hi, Sammy,” Ice said in a warm voice. “We’ve located Garret.”
“Good,” Eton said into the phone, after Sammy put it on Speakerphone. “Where are we heading?”
“Only one mile away from you,” she said. “You’ll have to hide Sammy somewhere and make sure that you go cross-country.” He followed the instructions and before long, pulled off on the side of the road. He turned and looked at her.
She smiled, nodded, and said, “I know you’ve got to go. I’ll stay here.” She handed the phone to him, after Sammy gave Ice her phone number.
“Good,” Ice said. “I’ll keep you in the loop.”
And, with that, Eton leaned across, and, grabbing her chin, he kissed her hard and said, “Remember that,” and then he was gone.
She sat in the vehicle in the darkness, wondering how her life had gotten to this point. She knew the future was uncertain but, at the moment, felt a hell of a lot better than she had just moments earlier. She sank back into the seat, slouching down so no one driving by saw her, and settled in to wait. And waiting had to be the worst thing.
When Ice contacted her a little bit later, she said, “No news, I’m just checking in.”
“Okay, I’m slouched down in the seat,” she said, “and locked inside.”
“Good, Garret is surrounded, and Eton has just arrived.”
“He’s tired and sore already, so I’m hoping he’s okay for this.”
“He’ll be fine. Unless you think you can do anything to help,” Ice said.
“Funny you would ask that,” she said, “because, as far as Eton is concerned, I’m not allowed to leave this truck.”
“No? But they’re quite surrounded,” she said. “Can you check underneath the front seat and see if there are any weapons?”
“Yes, there’s a handgun,” she said, pulling it out gingerly.
“You know how to use it?”
“In some form or fashion, yes. I used to shoot with my father, just for target practice, but I haven’t held a gun for a long time.”
“That’s fine,” she said. “I can’t guarantee you won’t get taken if you go up there, but what I can tell you is they need to have the odds evened up.”
“Tell me where to go,” she said, opening the truck door and getting out. “I’m outside.”
“Head up to the hill on your right,” she said.
“What is it you want me to do when I get up there?” she asked quietly.
“We’ll figure that out when you get there.”
“Says you,” she muttered.
Ice chuckled. “Even if it’s only as a diversionary tactic,” she said, “it would still help.”
“Okay,” she said. As she arrived in the area, she stopped and slipped behind one of the largest of the trees, following Ice’s instruction. “I’m here. So now what?”
“They should be just ahead, so give yourself a minute to listen and to get oriented.”
She heard voices. “Uh-oh,” she said.
“Yeah, do you see a stick or a rock? Anything that you can pick up?”
“Potentially, why?”
“We want them to think that more people are out there.”
“What good will that do?”
“It will throw them off, making them nervous, and they’ll begin to doubt their intel,” she said. “We want them to worry about who is out there. Who did they miss? Because if they missed one, chances are they missed more.”
“Got it,” she said. “Rocks are here and a couple sticks.”
“Pick up a couple rocks that you can load your pockets down with, then get back into position,” she said.
“I can almost see the area up ahead,” she said.
“Okay, listen,” she said. “What I want you to do, if you can, is to chuck a rock in the farthest direction. Hopefully, it will make them think somebody is coming up on them.”
She did that, and instantly the voices stopped.
“But won’t somebody come looking for me?”
“Nope, they’ll go look for that rock. That’s where the sound came from,” Ice said.
That made sense. But, at the same time, it was a little bit unnerving. Sammy looked at the tree and said, “I’ll go up this tree,” she said, “so I’m out of the line of fire.”
“Good idea,” Ice said, “and I’ll hang up, so I can go deal with the satellite. Stay out of sight.”
“Will do.” She pocketed her phone and scrambled up the tree, until she was out of sight. But she could just about see them down below. She might not have been a great shot when she was learning about guns with her dad, but she’d been a hell of a baseball player.
She pulled a rock from her pocket and studied the clear sight she had dow
n below. And she wondered. It was a hefty distance but not so bad—she thought she could make it. The trouble was, she just didn’t know how accurate she would be coming from higher off the ground. Luckily the tree had a bald spot, which would allow for her to wind up. After any pitch, she had to know that her chances were good that the bad guys would come after her. But she also had a weapon, so she wasn’t completely helpless.
Just then she watched Garret being shoved into the center of the circle with a gun on him. She realized things had gotten more than serious. She picked up that rock and leaned forward. Seeing she had a clear shot, she kissed the rock, wound up for her throw, and whispered, “For Dad.” Then she threw it as hard as she could.
Smack.
The rock hit the gunman square in the forehead. He stumbled. Garret spun around and grabbed the gun, then shot him, as all hell broke loose. She ducked back under cover, unsure of what to do, so she just waited, hoping the answer would present itself. But, at the moment, still just chaos. Suddenly the gunfire stopped. She wanted to call out but knew likely somebody still hid, just like she had. She sat tight against the tree. Another shot was fired, followed by three more. Then silence. Finally, just when she thought it was safe, she heard rustling below.
“Whoever the hell’s here,” he called out, “we’ve got one injured on your team.” He pushed Eton forward, and she saw through the foliage that he was hurt. Blood streamed down his chest, and it look like another wound of some sort was on his head. She glared at the asshole, as he moved underneath the tree and kept looking up at the hillside, waving the gun around. “Did you hear me?” he shouted. “If you don’t fucking show yourself, I’ll shoot him dead right here and now.”
No sign of Garret.
Eton called out, “I’m fine.”
“Not now you aren’t,” he said. The guy cocked the handgun and put it up against his shoulder. “Don’t you fucking move,” he said.
She studied the two of them. And then, with an almost a fatalistic thought, she just let herself drop right onto the back of the gunman. He went down with surprise but quickly threw Sammy off him. Immediately Eton kicked the gun away, snatched it up, and shot him. Sammy looked at Eton in shock, then bounced to her feet and raced over to him.
He opened his arms and held her close.
“How badly are you hurt?”
“The blood on my chest isn’t mine,” he said. “I have a hell of a headache, but it’s not all bad.”
“What about Garret?”
“Garret’s here,” Garret said, as he stepped out of the trees. “Good thing I saw you make that move. I was just about ready to shoot the guy in the head.”
“Glad to hear it,” she said. “Is that it now? Are we done?”
The gunman on the ground at her feet made a half gurgling sound. “It’s not over,” he said, coughing. “It’s just one more layer.”
Garret leaned over and asked, “Who’s behind this?”
“You’ll find out,” he said. “Don’t worry. You’ll find out.”
And, with that, he died.
*
Eton held Sammy tight against his chest. “Remember that part about staying in the vehicle?”
“Yeah, well, lucky for me and for you,” she said, “Ice doesn’t believe in keeping the little woman safe.”
At that, he chuckled. “No, that’s very true,” he said. “She won’t love me right now.” He pulled out his phone and called Ice and said, “Well, I won’t thank you for sending Sammy here in the middle of the gunfight.”
Sammy leaned into the phone. “But he’ll thank you anyway because I saved his ass,” she said, with a smirk.
“Is all well that ends well?” Ice asked, her voice hard, “Details, please.”
He quickly filled her in on what happened. “You’ve got six bodies up here now.”
“Great,” she said. “Are you prepared to leave Switzerland, because, after the last phone call I made to the powers that be, they wanted you out of there before more chaos hit. I can only imagine what they’ll say this time.”
“Well, I’m ready to leave,” he said, “but I’m bringing Sammy with me.”
“And he’s hurt,” Sammy said. “We need a place for him to hole up for a couple days and heal.”
“Good,” Ice said, “as long as it’s not too bad of an injury?”
“No,” he said, “a head injury. I just need to relax a minute.”
Garret giggled like a schoolgirl and said, “He definitely needs a couple days in bed.” No doubting the innuendo within his tone.
Sammy just glared at him. “Very funny. What are you, fourteen?”
He smirked and said to Ice, “Send them off someplace when they’re good to go. Me, I’m heading back to the team,” he said. “We need to regroup. A lot of shit came out of this mess, but I don’t know that we have any decent answers yet.”
“We have more than I expected,” Ice said. “And not all of it is bad. So, yes, we’ll have you head home to regroup, and we’ll start Eton and Sammy driving. We’ll find you two a spot to hole up in. Just give me a few minutes.” And, just like that, she hung up.
Eton sighed, looking sleepy, and said, “You’re not wrong about needing a couple days in bed.”
Moments later, Ice called. “We’ve got a place for you,” she said. “About a forty-five-minute drive. Can you make it?”
“He can make it,” Garret said. “I’ll drive.” And it was arranged just that fast. Less than an hour later, they pulled into the hotel. Garret dropped them off and said, “Okay, I’m heading to the airport in the truck. Ice has a new vehicle for you coming soon. I’ll fill you in as soon as I get back home.” He gave Eton a slap on the shoulder. “You make sure you stay here until you’re healed.”
“I’m not going anywhere for a bit,” Eton said, and, indeed, he was fading quickly.
Garret studied him for a long moment and said, “Yeah, don’t be a fool. You were pissed off at me for coming back too early,” he said, “so let’s make sure that you don’t follow the same pattern.”
“We’ll see if that’s an option,” he said, “but I hear you. Now go catch your plane,” Eton said. The two men shook hands, then, after a hug for Sammy, Garret was gone. Minutes later they walked into the hotel room. Eton took one look at the bed and groaned. “I just want to be horizontal.”
“Shower first,” she said. “You’ll feel better.”
He stripped off his clothes with her help, but, as they pulled off his shirt, more injuries were revealed.
She stared at him. “Oh, my God.”
“Don’t freak out,” he said. “I’m fine.”
She shook her head. “You’re not fine at all, but it looks like you will be.”
“Exactly.” He stripped down completely nude and stepped into the shower.
Chapter 14
Sammy stood there, with his dirty clothes, wondering what she should do. They didn’t have any extra clothing or anything else, even a hairbrush. A knock came at the door, just as she got a phone call from Ice. “Arriving at your door is their stuff from the chalet,” she said. “Order some food in whenever you’re ready, and you guys can hole up for a couple days. Don’t move without letting us know.”
“We won’t be moving. He’s more injured than I realized,” Sammy said. “Not badly, just more scrapes, scratches, and bruising.”
“Those are minor,” she said. “Nothing worse than that? No bullet wounds besides the graze to his head?”
“Not that I’ve seen, no.”
“Then you’re good to go,” she said, and, with that, Ice hung up.
Sammy opened the door to see nobody outside, but the bags were there. She brought them in and realized that her purse was there as well as whatever the guys had left at the chalet, plus some toiletries for her. She walked into the bathroom and said, “We’ve got a change of clothes for you here.”
“Good,” he said. “I could use it.”
She stepped back out again and realized how late
it was. So much had happened that she hadn’t had a chance to sort out any of it yet. Then she sat on the bed, thinking about her father. She could feel the tears coming on. She let herself cry, really cry over her loss, until she felt his arms wrapped around her shoulders. She snuggled in close and said, “I’m fine.”
“Yeah, me too,” he said, with a note of humor.
She tilted her head and looked up at him, tears clinging to the tips of her eyelashes, and smiled. “I’ll miss him terribly.”
“Of course you will,” he said, “and the life you shared with him there.”
“True, but I can make another life,” she said.
He leaned down and kissed her hard. “That’s what I’m counting on.”
“I sure didn’t expect a new life to happen this way,” she said.
“We never do,” he murmured. He pulled back the blankets and said, “I don’t know about you, but I need some sleep.”
“If I could sleep, it’d be great,” she admitted. “It’s been a rough day.”
“It’s been a rough couple days,” he said, as he flipped back the sheet and patted the side of the bed. “Left side or right for you?”
“Whichever you don’t want,” she said. “I’m easy.” She went into the bathroom and scrubbed her face, thought about a shower and quickly stripped down. She climbed into the shower, realizing she’d picked up a few scrapes and bruises herself. After a five-minute shower, she was too tired for anything more. She dried off and crawled into bed beside him, to find he was already out cold. She snuggled up and let his body heat wrap around her.
“Tomorrow’s a new day,” he whispered, pulling her close. “Let’s sleep this one away.”
She closed her eyes and slept.
*
Eton woke up, his body sore and achy, but something warm that smelled delicious was in his arms. He smiled.
“What are you smiling at?” she murmured.
“How do you know I’m smiling?” He tucked her up close, loving the feel of her skin against his. There was something so intimate and yet so natural about it.
“I can feel it,” she said. She leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. “I don’t think it’s morning. Looks like we skipped that part of the day.”
