Strike Force

by Mary Alford

  “And how do you propose to make that happen?” Duncan snapped. “She can’t just disappear. People will become suspicious. She may not have any family, but coworkers will question her disappearance. And she’s already becoming suspicious because I haven’t responded to her delving into what happened. If she brings this to someone else’s attention, it will be bad for me.”

  “For all of us,” Evan corrected. “No one else knows about her research into Anana Harbor?”

  Duncan confirmed with a shake of his head. “As far as I am aware. Emily brought her concerns to me directly, and I told her I would check into it. But she’s a bright young woman. I can’t stall her any longer.”

  It sickened Sidney to hear the two men discussing Emily’s death as if they were talking about the weather.

  “You won’t have to. Let us take care of Emily Pearson. I have the right people for the job, but I’ll need you to stay as far away from this as possible.”

  Duncan appeared relieved he wouldn’t have to soil his hands. “Don’t worry. That’s not a problem. And I don’t wish to know any of the details.” Duncan watched a couple jogging some distance away before asking, “What do you propose we do about the traitor?”

  Sidney’s gaze latched onto Kaiden’s.

  “You leave that to me. Everything will be taken care of. He’ll regret his decision to betray us,” Evans said and extended his hand. “I’ll see you at the meeting. You should leave first. I made sure I wasn’t followed, but after what happened last night, someone is trying to stop us. We can’t afford to dismiss the possibility that someone from our own intelligence community has become suspicious.”

  Deep grooves formed on Duncan’s forehead. “You think that’s likely?” His wary eyes skipped around the area.

  “I have no idea,” Evans said. “Just watch your back and don’t engage with Pearson.”

  Without another word, Duncan headed down the grassy bank to the street.

  Once Duncan was out of sight, Evans pulled out his phone and called someone. Thanks to cloning Evans’s phone, Will now had a copy of Evans’s SIM card on his backup phone which allowed them to hear both ends of Evans’s conversation.

  “James, are you getting this?” Will asked.

  James typed in some commands, and Ahmad Hassanzai’s voice came through loud and clear. “We got you, Will.”

  “Is he under control?” Hassanzai asked. Sidney had no doubt he spoke of Duncan.

  “Yes, he’s cooperating, but he’s nervous and we can’t afford to have any more issues at this point.” Evans paused to look around. “Are you on your way back to Afghanistan?”

  “I am. I get things in place for the meeting.” The reminder of the impending gathering of Legion was unsettling.

  “Have you spoken to him?” Evans asked, garnering Sidney’s full attention.

  “I did. He’s not happy about the situation, but he’s on his way here now.” A long pause followed while a chill worked its way up Sidney’s spine. Who was this man they spoke of?

  “But?” Evan’s prompted at Hassanzai’s silence.

  Hassanzai sighed. “We may have another problem.” He explained about the two men who’d gone missing, the ones Strike Force had captured the night before. “They know not to get in touch if they’re in trouble. I’m not sure if they’re still alive or captured, but I should know more by the time we meet in person.”

  “We still have no idea who was out there last night? Whoever it was, they appeared highly trained.” The sharp edge to Evans’s tone confirmed he wasn’t pleased with the way things were going.

  “None. Perhaps Emily Pearson took matters into her own hands,” Hassanzai said.

  “I sure hope not. The sooner she’s taken care of, the better. We need her contained and now. He knows what to do?” Evans asked, speaking of the mystery man.

  “Of course. As I said, he and the rest of his men are on their way. They should have the problem eliminated later today. He’ll make it look like a suicide. No one will know differently.”

  ◆◆◆

  Kaiden stared at the screen as Evans ended the call and strolled away as if he hadn’t just confirmed someone’s impending murder.

  Emily Pearson’s life was now measured in hours.

  “We don’t have long before the elimination team arrives and Pearson is dead. We can’t let that happen,” Kaiden said to the horrified room.

  “Agreed,” James said. “You and Sidney meet up with Will in Maryland and get Pearson out of there as soon as you can. Since we don’t know who we’re up against, we have no name or any way of identifying who’s coming to kill her.”

  Kaiden hesitated. “Will and I can handle it. Sidney’s injured. She can sit this one out,” he said without looking at her.

  “I’m going with you, Kaiden,” she insisted with anger in her tone.

  He knew better than to try and protect her, but he loved her and the idea of losing her was terrifying.

  “You’re right, and I’m sorry,” he said and faced her. As much as he hated putting Sidney in another dangerous situation, she was a highly trained former CIA agent. She could handle herself under the worst of circumstances. Kaiden couldn’t think of anyone else he’d choose to protect his back.

  “I’ll be fine,” she said and clasped his hand. “I’ve been in far more dangerous situations before, even injured.”

  “I know you have.”

  “Alright, then. I’ll call Lincoln and tell him you’re on your way to him,” James told them. “He’s doing maintenance on the planes now. Lincoln can fly you to Maryland and act as backup. With any luck, you both should be out of there before the assassination team arrives.”

  Sidney pushed back her chair and rose. Immediately, Samson leapt to his feet, ready to go wherever she went. Kaiden suspected the dog hated letting her out of his sight as much as he did.

  “Not this time.” She leaned over and stroked the dog’s ears. “You stay here with James, okay, buddy?”

  The dog gave a disgruntled reply before he settled down on the floor again.

  After a quick belly rug, Sidney followed Kaiden out into the kitchen.

  “He hates leaving your side since the attack,” Kaiden told her and opened the door to the weapons-supply room.

  “He’s overprotective like someone else I know,” Sidney said with a grin.

  Kaiden chuckled and handed her one of the AR’s. He slung another over his shoulder while pocketing several magazines of bullets. Sidney checked her handgun clip and grabbed a couple of boxes of ammo. They had no idea what they’d face in Maryland. Would they be too late to save Emily? Or forced into a shootout with the men sent there to take her life?

  Grabbing their jackets from the coat tree by the door, they stepped outside and into a snow-covered winter wonderland outside. Though the weather had been temperamental lately, it was days like this that reaffirmed God’s fingerprints in his life and the world he existed in. Kaiden couldn’t understand how anyone could look at beauty like this and not see God everywhere.

  “Ready?” He resisted the urge to ask her if she was up to yet another mission so soon after the events of the previous evening. Especially with a sprained wrist, a mild concussion, and still recovering from life-threatening injuries sustained in Anana Harbor.

  “Yes, I’m ready,” she said with a smile that confirmed she knew exactly what was going through his head. Sidney climbed in the passenger seat of the side-by-side four-wheeler parked out front. The sprawling log home that served as living quarters for the men and women of Strike Force had once been part of one of the largest ranches in Wyoming.

  Coming from Colorado, Kaiden had grown up on a ranch similar in size to the thousand-acre Lazy T Ranch. He loved everything about the wide-open spaces and could see him and Sidney retiring to a simpler way of life on a spread like this one day.

  Kaiden got behind the wheel and headed for the airstrip that had been carved from pastureland at the end of the ranch.

  “I sure ho
pe we’re not too late,” Sidney said and turned to him. Her concern was one of the things he loved about her. She had a caring heart the size of Wyoming.

  “Me, too.” He reached for her hand, knowing she’d be praying for Emily Pearson’s safety without ceasing. Sidney’s faith never ceased to amaze him. She’d been through so much and yet it never wavered.

  Kaiden pulled around the side of the hangar where Lincoln Miller had already begun fueling the plane for takeoff.

  In their spare time, which was rare, Lincoln gave Kaiden flying lessons. According to Lincoln, who had come to the team because James reached out to him, you couldn’t have enough pilots on your side. Especially when it came to facing off with Legion.

  “Almost ready,” Lincoln told them as they neared the plane. “We should be in Maryland by early afternoon at the latest. We’ll have to refuel in St. Cloud, Minnesota, but I know a small airport there. Our refueling shouldn’t garner too much unwanted attention. I’ve spoken to Will already. He’ll meet us at the airport in Maryland.”

  “Great,” Sidney said. “I’ll load the gear.” She grabbed their weapons and headed up the steps to the plane’s cabin while Lincoln finished and handed Kaiden the nozzle to replace.

  He hopped down. “Let’s get these wheels up,” Lincoln said in his typical to-the-point way of speaking. The guy was a huge cutup most times, but when it came to flying, he was dead serious.

  Kaiden boarded the plane and claimed the copilot seat before putting on his headset.

  Sidney had settled into one of the few seats on the plane. She stared out the window, her thoughts no doubt on what lay ahead of them. He’d seen her prepare for countless missions in the past. He knew her routine by heart.

  In a matter of minutes, they were taxiing down the runway and were soon airborne.

  All Kaiden could think about was Emily Pearson. If they were too late, another innocent person would die and they’d still be no closer to discovering what deviant plot Legion had in store for the world. Failure wasn’t an option. Failure meant lives lost.

  Chapter Four

  Her body craved sleep. Her mind wouldn’t shut down enough to allow it. Sidney kept processing information, drumming up possible scenarios ahead for them. They had the address of Emily’s apartment and a rough idea of when she returned home each day. Not much to go on. Would it be enough?

  “Ten minutes out,” Lincoln announced and she rousted herself. Mentally, when preparing for a mission, her first step was to pray for the safety of everyone involved.

  She bowed her head and whispered the earnest prayer under her breath.

  “Please help us, Father, to be successful and save Emily, and to protect each other. Bring us all home safely.”

  Once she’d finished, Kaiden glanced back at her and smiled.

  More and more lately she found herself longing for things she’d almost given up on having in her life. A chance to share her life with Kaiden beyond working for Strike Force. A chance to have a family of their own, little Kaidens or Sidneys running around in a place where danger didn’t exist. The corners of her mouth lifted at the image. One day.

  Their eyes met and held. The love he had for her was always there. It reached out and enveloped her like a warm coat on a cold winter’s day. “I love you,” she said because she needed him to hear it. “So much.”

  His smile disappeared. “I love you, too.” The tender moment between them lengthened. She wished they could stay in it forever.

  “There’s the airfield,” Lincoln murmured, and Sidney glanced out the window. The place was certainly remote. They couldn’t afford to land in a busy airport and draw unnecessary attention to themselves.

  Under Lincoln’s skillful handling, the plane floated to the ground and taxied to a stop on the short runway.

  The regional airport was unmanned. A couple of hangars were open but didn’t appear to be in use.

  Lincoln eased the plane over to the front of one. “We should put the plane inside out of sight,” he told them.

  Sidney gathered weapons and extra ammo, along with the Kevlar vests they’d all be using and followed Kaiden out into a bitter cold December afternoon in Maryland. She noticed an SUV parked beside the hangar. Will climbed out and joined them. With his help, they quickly stowed the plane and closed the hangar door.

  Once inside the vehicle, Will fired the engine and exited the airport, heading toward the place where Emily lived.

  “James sent me what information he could find on our target,” Will said. “She normally leaves the office around three, then she goes for a workout at the gym in her apartment building until around four, and then up to her apartment. We should be able to gain access and be ready to extract her when she gets home. That is if the elimination team doesn’t pick her up before then. From what we overheard, they want her death to appear a suicide. I’d say they’d choose to do it at her apartment, but I could be wrong.”

  Sidney couldn’t imagine how terrified Emily would be when she discovered them waiting inside her apartment. She had no idea the chain of events she’d unleashed by discovering what happened in Alaska.

  “Pearson’s apartment building is up here on the right,” Will said as they entered the downtown region. “Let’s park up the street a little ways. Lincoln can stay behind and keep an eye on the surrounding neighborhood? If you see anything out of the ordinary, let us know.”

  “You got it.”

  Will slid the SUV into a parking spot some distance from the apartment building. After a careful examination of the street and surrounding buildings, they got out and crossed the lightly-traveled street. Trying to be as inconspicuous as possible, they entered the parking garage of Emily’s complex.

  As soon as they reached the stairwell entrance, Kaiden took out the tool he’d need to override the card-keyed reader and went to work. It amazed her how good he was at breaking and entering secured entrances.

  “We’re in,” he said after only a moment and opened the door.

  “Pearson’s apartment is on the third floor.” Will led the way up the stairs until they were standing outside the third-floor entrance. Cracking the door, he checked first to make sure the hallway was empty. “She’s in 3B,” he said and exited the stairwell.

  Sidney and Kaiden followed him to the door where he checked the time on his watch. “We’re good.”

  Will stepped aside and let Kaiden work his magic while he and Sidney kept watch for anyone approaching.

  “Got it,” Kaiden said and they slipped inside the apartment and out of sight.

  The quiet of the place settled around them. Sidney glanced around at the tastefully decorated apartment of the person whose life was about to change forever. “Does Emily live here alone?” she asked. From what she could tell, there was no hint of another person in Emily’s life. Duncan had said she had no living relatives—much like Sidney.

  “She does,” Will told them. “Pearson was married once, but her husband passed away a few years ago after battling colon cancer.”

  Emily had lost someone close to her, and now she might lose her life if they couldn’t get her out of here before the enemy came.

  A quick search of the apartment yielded little information about its owner. There were few photos around the place. Little to make it seem homey.

  In the kitchen, Sidney checked the fridge. A take-out container from a Chinese restaurant. Yogurt. A couple of waters. The bedroom was just as devoid of personality.

  Sidney returned to the living room. “The place is clear.”

  Down the hall, the elevator dinged, drawing their attention to the door.

  Sidney checked her phone’s time. “That has to be her.” Footsteps headed toward them.

  “Let’s get into position,” Kaiden said and they all hurried toward the bedroom.

  “In here.” Sidney pointed to the bathroom. The best hiding place by far would be the shower stall. There was barely enough room for the three of them, but it would allow them the element of surpr
ise. The last thing they wanted was to spook Emily into running away. If that happened, they might not reach her in time to save her life.

  Sidney’s heart hammered in her chest when the noise of a door opening was followed by silence. Did Emily suspect something was off? Through all the work Sidney had done for the CIA, she’d developed a sixth sense when someone was waiting to ambush. And Emily wasn’t a novice.

  The front door closed softly. Something was placed on a hard surface. The fridge opened and closed. Footsteps headed their way.

  Adrenaline poured throughout Sidney’s veins. This was it. They’d have little time to convince Emily they were the good guys since they’d broken into her home.

  ◆◆◆

  A faint footfall on carpet alerted Kaiden that Emily had entered the bedroom. He eased from the bathroom with Sidney and Will close.

  A woman stood in front of the opened closet door. Shadows of the few sparse clothes hanging there appeared like demons lurking.

  Before Kaiden reached her side, the woman whirled toward him with a gun in her hand.

  Kaiden froze for a second. Regrouped. The gun was unexpected, but in hindsight, he should have seen it coming.

  “We mean you no harm, I promise. Lower your weapon,” he told her.

  Emily kept the gun trained at him as she looked past Kaiden to where Sidney and Will stood. She aimed the weapon at them briefly before training it back on Kaiden.

  “I said lower the weapon,” Kaiden ordered. “Now, Emily.”

  At the mention of her name, her eyes widened. “How do you know my name?”

  Kaiden kept his weapon on her while Sidney slipped past him.

  “Because we’re here to save your life,” Sidney told her. With eyes widened, Emily struggled to grasp what Sidney told her.

  “Who are you?” she asked, her face drained of color. She slowly lowered her arm and Sidney took the gun from her unresisting hand.

  “My name is Sidney Garner, and this is Kaiden Bennett and Will Grayson.” Sidney pointed to them.