Hunting Ghosts

by Brent Towns

  “What the fuck was that?” Cara whispered vehemently.

  “I don’t have time for this, Cara,” Kane replied.

  “Well, make time, dammit.”

  They had covered only a couple of klicks since they’d left their OP, and Cara had stewed about what had happened all the way. Now she was ready to take the issue head-on with her commander and friend.

  “I shot the prick, that’s what it was. All right?”

  “You were told not to. They’ll cook your fucking grits for that.”

  Kane went to turn away, but Cara wasn’t done. She grabbed his shoulder and turned him forcefully. “Talk to me, damn it.”

  He stared into her eyes and saw that she wouldn’t be deterred. “All right. I was in Africa on a mission once, years ago. We were in the Congo, actually. We came across a small village the local militia had taken over. They gathered the locals in one spot and started to shoot them. I radioed it in and was told to stand down. We sat there and watched every one of those villagers get murdered. It took four hours, and we did nothing so our presence wouldn’t be compromised. I wasn’t going to watch it happen again.”

  “Shit, Reaper, those assholes weren’t villagers. We probably would have killed them anyway.”

  “They were prisoners, Cara. We don’t shoot prisoners, no matter who they are.”

  “You getting soft?”

  “Maybe.”

  “Well, you’d better harden the fuck up because when we get back, Thurston will chow down on that ass of yours, and it won’t be pleasant.”

  “I fully expect it. Now, move out.”

  WDI Safehouse, Rio de Janeiro

  “What happened?” Thurston snapped after pulling Ferrero aside so no one could hear her.

  “I don’t know. I told him to stand down.”

  “Yet, he didn’t.”

  “So it would seem.”

  “As soon as he gets back, he’s grounded,” she said, making it sound like she was referring to a schoolboy.

  “What do you mean?” Ferrero asked.

  “I mean, he’s off missions until I decide whether or not I’m going to kick his ass off the team.”

  “Surely you can’t be serious, Mary?” Ferrero stated.

  “Damn right, I’m serious. Find me another commander for the team who can stand in.”

  “What about Cara?”

  “No, I want someone from outside. If you can’t do it, then I frigging will. Do you understand me?”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Good. I want the recommendation by the end of the day, and the operator here tomorrow or the next day at the latest.”

  Ferrero stared at her for a moment before asking, “Any news on Knocker?”

  “Not a damned word,” she replied and stormed off.

  The deputy commander of the WDI sensed someone behind him. He turned and saw Traynor standing there. “How much did you hear?”

  “Most of it.”

  “Keep it to yourself, Pete.”

  “My lips are sealed. But I’m here for another reason.”

  “What is it?”

  “It looks like the team has picked up a tail.”

  “How bad?”

  “It’s the French marines.”

  “That’s all we need.”

  “Where are they?” Ferrero barked as he looked at the big screen in their operations room.

  “Here,” Swift said, tapping several keys on his board. The picture zoomed out and showed the heat signatures of the following force of French marines.

  “How far behind the team are they?”

  “Maybe a klick. They’re moving fast. Faster than Kane and the others.”

  “They’re on a mission, then. Looks like Reaper’s lack of discipline pissed them off.” He picked up a headset and put it on. “Reaper One, copy?”

  “Go ahead, Zero.”

  “You’ve got tangos coming up fast on your six. Advise you put a little pep in your step, over.”

  “Any idea who they are, Zero?”

  “Yes. The French marines.”

  “Roger. Please advise.”

  “Are you going to follow my damned orders this time, Reaper?”

  There was a long pause. “Say again, Zero.”

  “Get the hell out of there, Reaper. Don’t slow down.”

  “Where are we getting the hell to?”

  “Wait one.” Ferrero turned to Swift. “Where is the nearest extraction point?”

  The redheaded computer tech looked up from his screen. “Six klicks to the west of their current location.”

  “Reaper, move six klicks west. You’ll find an LZ there that’s suitable for extract.”

  “Copy, Zero. Turning west now.”

  WDI Safehouse, Rio de Janeiro

  A day and a half later, the team touched down and was transported to the Rio safehouse. They were tired and filthy and in need of a good shower. However, Thurston was waiting for them, her mood still on the red side.

  “Get cleaned up,” she said curtly. “Reaper, you’re with me. Luis, you, too.”

  They retreated to a back room in the safehouse and closed the door. Thurston turned on Kane, her eyes narrowed and her chest heaving as she let her anger take control of her reactions. “I should kick you out on your ass right now, damn it.”

  “Ma’am—”

  “Shut up! I’m not done speaking. I don’t know what the hell you were doing disobeying direct orders like that, nor do I care.” She shook her head. “Shit, of course I care. That’s why we’re here. Your actions put the whole team in danger, and I won’t stand for it.”

  “Yes—”

  “Shut up! I’m still not done. Starting right now, you are relieved of command for the duration of the mission.”

  “What?” Kane blurted. “You can’t—”

  “Am and have, damn it. You will be replaced by a man we brought in for the job.”

  “The hell I will,” Kane growled, his anger rising.

  “You brought this on yourself,” Thurston replied. “I’ll not stand for that kind of breach in discipline. You’re lucky I’m not firing your ass.”

  Kane looked at Ferrero. “You agree with this?”

  “It’s not his decision to make,” the general snarled. “It’s mine. Now get the hell out before I change my mind and make it permanent.”

  Kane stormed out of the room and slammed the door behind him, making the walls shake. Thurston turned her hot gaze on Ferrero. “You don’t agree?”

  “I agree, Mary,” he said. “I think it could have been handled a little better, is all.”

  “Maybe it could have, but what’s done is done.”

  Ferrero had turned to leave when the general said, “Thank you for your support, Luis. It means a lot. What happened to Kane’s replacement?”

  “He should be here tomorrow.”

  “You’ll have to redirect him. Once the team has cleaned up, get them ready to move. We’re joining the BOPE team.”

  “You all right?” Cara asked Kane as he sat on a crate in the large open plan building that resembled a renovated warehouse. The entire structure was built of brick, with steel girders spanning the roof. This was the operations room. The sleeping and showering quarters were contained in two other buildings that were separated by a concrete apron from where they were now. The entire compound was surrounded by a high fence topped with razor wire. It reminded the team of a small military compound inside a foreign war zone.

  Kane stopped squeezing the rubber ball he’d brought with him long enough to answer. The ball was meant to relieve tension, but at that moment, it wasn’t working too well. “I will be once I get back out in the field.”

  “It could have been worse,” Cara reminded him.

  Movement caught his eye, and he saw a large man carrying a duffel enter the building. He had dark hair and a close-cropped beard. Kane shook his head. “You’ve got to be kidding.”

  “What is it?” Cara asked, her gaze following his.


  “Vince ‘Train Wreck’ Keller. Fuck me.”

  “Who is he?”

  “My guess is he’s the new team commander.”

  They watched as Ferrero met him and shook hands, then the pair went to see Thurston. Cara said, “You make it sound like a bad thing.”

  “It is. If you go out in the field with Train Wreck, watch your six. He’ll get you all killed.”

  “Surely it’s not that bad?”

  Axe appeared. “Did I see Train Wreck just now?”

  “You did.”

  “Shit, we’re all screwed.”

  “Take a chill pill, sweetness,” Cara said to Axe. “It can’t be that bad.”

  “Did you tell her?”

  “No.”

  “Tell me what?”

  “That Train Wreck went out with a full team and came back on his own.”

  “It could happen to anyone,” Cara pointed out.

  “Twice. What’s he doing here, anyway?”

  “He’s the new team commander. I’ve been benched,” Kane told him.

  “Now I know we’re screwed.”

  “Everyone, gather ’round,” Thurston called.

  The teams came together in the center of the room, both Reaper and Bravo. Once they were silent, Thurston continued. “This is Vince Keller. He’s taking over Reaper while Kane takes a break. Make him feel welcome and show him the ropes. That means you, Cara.”

  “Yes, ma’am.”

  Keller locked gazes with Kane, then nodded. “Reaper. Been a while.”

  “Train Wreck.”

  Keller nodded. “Your team, I gather?”

  “You gather right.”

  “Not anymore. From here on out, they’re mine, and I won’t take any interference from the sidelines while you’re not operational. Understood?”

  “Do your job right, and we won’t have a problem.”

  An uncomfortable vibe radiated around the room. Keller moved his gaze on, and it settled on Axe. “Axelson.”

  “Train Wreck.”

  “You still an asshole?”

  “Are you?”

  Next, he eyed Brick. “Seems like I should know you.”

  “I doubt it. Brick Peters. I’m the team’s combat medic.”

  “Always good to have one along.” His gaze shifted again. “And you’re Billings. My second in command.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Troy came last. “Who are you, Tex?”

  “Name’s Troy, not Tex.”

  “We’ll see.”

  “I guess we will.”

  Keller nodded and said out loud so everyone could hear, “I have high expectations, which I trust you will all live up to. If you fall out of step with them, I don’t want you on my team.”

  “Fuck me,” Axe muttered.

  “Say something, Axel?” Keller glared at the man.

  “Glad to have you aboard, sir.”

  “That’s what I thought you said.”

  Kane glanced at Thurston, who had an angry scowl on her face. Maybe she was regretting her decision. She said, “Luis, take Keller to meet the BOPE team leader. After that, we’ll have a briefing. I want to get started on locating Costa tomorrow. Axe and Reaper, you come with me.”

  Kane was starting to get used to getting his ass chewed, which was what he was expecting to happen now. The general took them outside and turned on them as they passed through the open doorway. “What was that?” she hissed.

  “I could ask you the same thing, ma’am,” Axe said insolently.

  “I beg your pardon?”

  “What he means, ma’am, is what the hell is Train Wreck Keller doing here?” Kane explained.

  “He’s here because of you, Reaper. If you hadn’t gone and shot that damned French marine officer, he wouldn’t need to be here.”

  “He shouldn’t be here. He’s a loose cannon.”

  Thurston’s eyes widened. “Wow. Wow, wow, wow, fucking wow. Isn’t that a bit rich coming from you at the moment, Mister Kane?”

  Mister Kane. She really was pissed. She never called him that. “I stand by my comment.”

  “Explain.”

  “Have you read his record?”

  “I have.”

  “Then you already know.”

  She stared at them both, her eyes burning. “Axel, I gather you feel the same way?”

  “Yes, ma’am, without a doubt.”

  “Then I have no choice. You’re sidelined too. Traynor can take your spot on the team.”

  “What the—” Axe started.

  “This is not a democracy, gentlemen. My team, my rules. We’re done.”

  “Ma’am—”

  Thurston cut Kane off. “I said, we’re done.”

  Both men followed her inside with their gazes. The door slammed, and Axe said, “That went well.”

  Kane glared at him. “You’re a dick, you know that?”

  “What did I do?”

  “You couldn’t keep your mouth shut.”

  “All I did was tell her the truth.”

  “Yes, and now you’re off the team. You would have served better on it. Now Brick and Cara are on their own with that jerk.”

  “They’ve got Pete and Troy.”

  “You know what I mean, asshole.”

  Axe opened his mouth to fire back a retort, then closed it again. He nodded. “Yeah, I guess I do.”

  “Come on, let’s see what this briefing is all about.”

  Chapter 11

  Joint Taskforce Operations, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

  “This, ladies and gentlemen, is the Vale de Perigo, or Valley of Danger as the locals call it,” Thurston said as she pointed at the screen. “It is a built-up suburb on the outskirts of Rio where even the local police don’t go. Is that right, Ronaldo?”

  The wide-shouldered commander of the Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais nodded. “It is true. It is one of the most dangerous places in Brazil. The only law there is the one of matar ou morrer. Kill or be killed.”

  Thurston continued. “We received intelligence that a person of interest will be there tonight.”

  “What person, ma’am?” Cara asked.

  The screen changed, and a tall, handsome man with dark hair and a square jaw appeared. “Basilio Costa.”

  “Any relation to the guy we’re hunting?” Keller asked.

  “His brother.”

  “What’s he doing in there?” Brick asked.

  “He has a lady friend he likes to visit on a regular basis who lives there.” Another picture appeared, this one of a woman who wore sunglasses, had long dark hair past her shoulders, and was well-dressed. “Lara Mota. She is a former porn star who made it big in America before returning to Brazil because her father died. It was there she met Basilio and became his mistress.”

  “Why is she slumming it when she could be set for life?” Brick asked.

  “I guess Basilio doesn’t want to upset his wife,” Ferrero replied. Another picture, this woman just as attractive as the one before. “Josefa Costa. She happens to be the family lawyer.”

  “Why don’t we pick her up?” Cara asked. “I’m sure she’d be a great asset.”

  “She already is,” Ronaldo explained. “She has been turned for a while now. That is how we get our information and know about Basilio’s girlfriend.”

  “So, the wife knows,” Cara mused, raising her eyebrows.

  “It would seem so,” Thurston said. “Work out an assault plan with Carlos and bring it to me.”

  Keller got up from his seat and walked toward the screen. “Bring up the picture again.”

  Kane frowned. What was that asshole up to?

  The new commander stared at the picture for a moment. “This is what we’re going to do. We take the vehicles in, and the BOPE team sets up a defensive perimeter around the target house. My team will assault the house, take the target and his woman, and get the hell out.”

  “Aren’t you forgetting something?” Kane spoke up. “That’s the Wild West out
there, and you’re right in the heart of Indian country. You can’t just waltz in there and expect the mission to go as smoothly as planned. We always plan the missions as a team. That way, we cover all scenarios.”

  “That was the way you used to do it,” Keller said. “You seem to have already forgotten that this is my team now.”

  Kane came to his feet. “It’s not your fucking team, it’s mine.”

  “Enough!” Thurston snapped. “No more. If anyone has a right to claim this team, it is me. This is my team; I command it. If you two want to have a pissing contest about it, do it on your own time.”

  Kane glared at Keller. “Ma’am, how sure are we about the intel?”

  “As sure as we can be. But as you know, nothing is a hundred percent.”

  “Request permission to go on the mission, ma’am.”

  “Me too, ma’am,” Axe said, coming to his feet.

  “Permission denied. Now, if there’s nothing else, we have a mission to prep for.”

  The meeting broke up. Kane contemplated going to Thurston again but knew it would do him no good. Instead, he went to Cara.

  “You need to keep an eye on Keller out there, Cara. He even looks like stepping out of line, put a bullet in his head.”

  “Reaper—”

  “I mean it. He—”

  Cara dragged him toward the door by the arm. “Come with me.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “Just do it.”

  They exited the ops building and walked across the concrete to the team accommodations. After opening the door to her room, she shoved Kane through and closed it behind them. “Now, tell me what this is all about.”

  “It’s nothing. I’m just worried about the team.”

  Cara shook her head. “That’s bullshit, Reaper. This is me you’re talking to. I know you better than anyone here. What aren’t you telling me?”

  Kane muttered a curse as he looked into her eyes. She was right, and he knew it. He sighed. “I told you about the two missions he went out on and lost all of his command, right?”