“You did come all this way.” She glanced around the bar, “Apparently alone.”
“Yes, I am alone.” Laura finally turned and faced her. “But if you want answers, we need to get one thing clear.”
“Really? And what’s that?”
“Just because I’m not a wolf and came alone, does not mean that I’m defenseless.” Laura gave her the coldest stare that she could muster, one that she reserved for staring down the operators when their tempers threatened to boil over. She watched coldly as the shorter woman appraised her.
Slowly a smile spread across her features as she studied the taller, dark haired woman. “I’ll give you one thing, you got a set on ya, lady.”
“In my line of work, you have to.” Laura turned back toward the bar and picked up her drink. “How about we go someplace a little less busy so we can talk?”
The shorter girl shrugged and slipped off the barstool. “After you.”
*****
Mitchell’s intercom buzzed and Jericho’s voice came through the speaker, “Colonel? Mr. Thompson is on the horn for ya.”
“Jack? Patch him through.” Colonel Mitchell waited for the button on his phone to light up then punched it. “Chief, how’s married life? Have you made me a grand…err, an uncle yet?”
“Negative, sir. Still waiting on the package to arrive.”
“Well, I’m sure it won’t be long now.” Mitchell poured another cup of coffee while listening. “What can I do ya for? I’m sure this isn’t a social call.”
“You’re right on that one, sir. I need to call in a favor.” He didn’t sound as confident as Matt was used to hearing him. He assumed the favor was large.
“Spill it, son. I can’t tell you yay or nay if I don’t know what it is.” Mitchell sipped the coffee and waited.
“I know this may seem a bit unorthodox, sir, but I’m hoping to be able to borrow one of the squads.” Jack sounded more than just hopeful. He sounded nearly desperate.
Mitchell sat forward and stared at the phone, “Run that by me one more time.”
Jack audibly sighed and Matt could hear him shifting something on the other line. “I know this is probably a wasted effort, Colonel, but I need trained men. Men that can handle a HALO jump.”
“I see. And may I ask just what in the hell you intend to do with these men?” Mitchell set his coffee cup down lest he dump it when Jack broke the news to him. He sensed he wouldn’t like the answer.
“I have an op. Out of the country. They’ll have full deniability and I can—”
“Wait now, hold on. How can you have an ‘op’ out of the country? You quit the squads, remember? We are the ones who hunt monsters. You…well, you went to work for one.” Matt cleared his throat and lowered his voice, “No disrespect intended to Mister Thorn.”
He could almost hear Jack nodding on the other end. “Colonel, Rufus still has a ton of enemies. I’ve trained our staff to handle most threats, but the one we face now…”
“Is this something I should know about, son?” Matt was suddenly worried.
“Negative, sir. I’m pretty sure we can handle it. And Rufus is confident that he can straighten things out diplomatically. But you need to remember, he’s still caught in the middle of a vampire civil war. He still has a death mark on his head. And the Vampire Council did hire an assassin to take him out. One of our own, no less.”
“Well, one of the Brit’s own,” Matt corrected. “But I get where you’re coming from.”
“Regardless, sir, he still has a lot on his plate and we’re trying to clear a major portion of it.”
Matt picked up his coffee again and took a long pull from it. Right now he was sure wishing it was Scotch. “Jack, to be honest, I can’t send the boys to you.”
“I was afraid of that—”
“But what I can do,” Matt interrupted, “is let them know what you’re looking for. I’m sure a lot of these guys have a ton of annual leave built up. If we aren’t busy when you need them, and if they are willing, then they’re more than welcome to take leave and…well, hell. If they decide to go on vacation somewhere south of here. Say, maybe in Texas, who am I to stop them?”
Jack all but laughed on the other end, “Thank you, Colonel. I really appreciate that.”
“I figure it’s the least I could do.” He glanced at his computer screen and flipped through a few pages. “We have a few weeks before the next full moon. When do you need them?”
“That’s just it, sir, I don’t really know yet.”
Matt nodded as he stared at the calendar. “Well, the way things have been going, it doesn’t matter if it’s the full moon or not. It’s either feast or famine. When you find out the date, let me know and I’ll do my best.”
“That’s more than I could hope for, sir. I’ll email you what I’m looking for.”
“Sounds good to me, son.” Mitchell leaned forward, his finger hovering above the button, “You take care of that cute little wife of yours.”
“I will, sir. And, Colonel? Thanks again.”
“Thank me by sending all of them home after your op, Chief.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Mitchell, out.” Matt mashed the button, disconnecting the call then pulled his two way radio. “Tufo?”
“Yo,” came a static-filled reply.
“Yo?”
“Uh, ‘yo’, sir?”
Mitchell groaned and keyed the radio again. “Get over here.”
Moments later, his door opened and Tufo stepped into the office looking somewhat frazzled. “Sorry, Hank, uh…well, let’s just say that he’s discovered power cords.”
Mitchell rolled his eyes and tried counting to ten. “Why don’t you leave your dog at home?”
Mark gave him a shocked look. “At home? Have you seen the base housing here? The yards are so tiny, he’d chew a hole in the fence and crap in the neighbor’s lawn. Negative. He can stay right here with me.”
“Whatever. Look, I need you to pass the word amongst the teams. Jack needs volunteers for a…‘special mission’. Whoever does it will need HALO experience.”
Mark smiled. “I’ve played that game a few times. My kids can beat the pants off me, but I like the energy swords. They’re really cool.”
Matt gave him a blank stare. “High Altitude Low Opening jump experience.”
Mark nodded. “I knew that.” He pulled out his notepad and scribbled something on it. “No Call of Duty experience?”
When Mitchell’s mouth fell open, Mark smiled and waved him off. “Just messing with ya. I’ll get with the team leaders and have them pass the word.” He flipped the notepad closed. “How soon does he need them?”
“He’s going to get back with me on the dates. Could be soon, could be not soon, he doesn’t know yet. All I know is, it’s not here. It’s overseas.”
“Yay, a vacation.” Mark stood and turned for the door. He paused and turned back to Matt. “I suppose this is a night op?”
Matt shrugged. “He didn’t say.”
Mark shook his head, tapping his pen against his chin. “When you talk to him again, ask him. If it is, tell him I have an idea for him. That is, if he wants to call in another favor.”
“What’s the idea?” Mitchell’s eyes narrowed.
“Just a thought bouncing around in the old noggin’. I don’t want to say anything until I know more about his op.”
“Fine. Just spread the word with the men.”
*****
Apollo knocked lightly on the doorjamb, and Little John looked up from the book he was reading. “Got a minute?”
John set the book aside and nodded. “Sure, boss. What’s on your mind?”
Apollo stepped in, and rather than try to sit in the cramped quarters, he leaned against the doorframe. “I thought about what you said earlier.”
John simply watched the man and their eyes met. “And?”
“And I’ve decided that the only way I’m going to be able to properly place you is to alt
ernate you through all three teams as much as I can. Get feedback from all the team leaders. Put you in the field as much as possible, and evaluate your performance in the muck.”
John nodded. “So I gathered.” He turned back to his book and picked it up. He glanced back at Apollo and closed the book again. “Was there more?”
Apollo stifled the confusion he felt at John’s dismissal of his news. He shook his head slightly, “Just report to Spanky for the next op. Then as soon as you back, get with Dom for your assignment with Squad Three. You’ll be hitting each op from now on. Each team, each op, until I get enough feedback to get a good read.”
John nodded and placed his book back on the table. He stood to go find Spalding when Apollo put a hand up to stop him. “Look, man, I don’t know why you want to be a loner. And I guess that technically, that’s your business. But in order for this to work, and work right, I need to know that your head is in the game.”
John met his gaze and the cold grey eyes bore into him. “One hundred percent.”
Apollo raised a brow at him questioningly, but lowered his hand. “Tell Spanky to check the boards. We have an alert and they’re waiting for a secondary on it. You may be going out tonight.”
John nodded and slipped past him.
Apollo waited a moment then stepped over to the desk and looked at the title of the book. “To Kill a Mockingbird?” he grunted to himself and turned to step out of the room, “That boy’s got some strange reading habits.”
*****
Spalding was checking his gear for the third time and double checking the tags on the chutes should the squad need to make their arrival via air drop. He saw Little John approaching from the other side of the hangar and paused long enough to wave and catch the large man’s attention. John approached him and stood at parade rest.
“Relax, Sully. I don’t stand on tradition with my squad.” Spalding hefted his go bag and tossed it up onto the table. “You need to get your gear ready in case this alert gets a secondary verification.”
John pulled his pack and double checked his equipment. He knew that it was ready as he had readied it as soon as they returned from the last mission. “Do you know yet where you’ll be assigning me?” he asked as he rummaged through the gear.
“You’ve been working overwatch, right? Qualified sniper?”
“That’s correct.” Little John felt his shoulders slump slightly when he heard Spalding say ‘overwatch’. He hated sitting back at a distance, but he’d do the job assigned and not bitch about it.
That slight body language didn’t go unnoticed with Spanky who watched the large man go through the motions of checking his gear. He smiled inwardly and turned to John. “Where would you like to try next? Take point? Cover the squad’s six? You tell me.”
John never missed a beat as he continued repacking his gear. “Where ever you feel I can best serve the needs of the squad.” He turned and faced Spalding. “Sir.”
“Don’t call me ‘sir’. I’m not an officer.” Spalding rubbed at his chin as he considered the extremely large man. “I’m tempted to let you cut your teeth at point. But, honestly, you’re so damned big, I’m afraid your secondary and tertiary shooters may have part of their field blocked by your size.” He stepped back to allow himself to truly take in Little John’s massive frame. “I think we’ll start out with you sucking hind tit. You can cover our six if we have an entry.”
“And if we don’t?”
“Then you’ll partner up with me. My squad always has a battle buddy. I’ve seen your shooting scores. I think I’d like to have somebody with your skillset keeping me breathing.” Spalding shot him a wink then turned and hung his pack on the rapid deployment board. “Check your chute when you’re done and meet the squad in briefing room three. We’ll be going over the potential mission.”
“Give me three minutes.”
John finished packing his gear and hung his pack on the board as well. As he reached for the chute, he felt something crinkle in his breast pocket. His hand automatically went to the pocket, and his head snapped around to ensure nobody was watching. He pulled the Velcro tab up and pulled the photo from his pocket. He smoothed the old, faded picture back out with his large hands and slipped it gingerly back, folding the tab back to secure it in place. Melancholy struck him as he reached for the chute and pulled it down to the table. As he went through the motions, his mind drifted back to his youth. He fought the urge to shiver and barely remembered hanging the chute back in its place. He stood along the table, his large hands propping him in place as his mind replayed the events of years long past. He hung his head and sniffed back a tear that threatened to escape.
“John? You coming?”
He looked over his shoulder and saw Donovan waving him on. He waved back at the senior monster hunter.
“On my way.”
Pushing off from the table, he double-timed it to the open door and hustled down the hall to the briefing room.
*****
Rufus entered the library and once again found Jack going over numerous documents at once. “Can you spare a moment?”
Jack looked up and noted the look of concern on Thorn’s face. “Sure. What’s happened?” Immediately Jack feared the worst for his family, that there had been complications or…
“We have heard back from the council.” Rufus sat gently in one of the chairs and avoided Jack’s gaze.
“So soon?” Jack took a seat as well and studied the vampire across from him.
“Oui. The emissary called Viktor as soon as he left. I just got off the phone with him.” Rufus sighed heavily and rubbed at the bridge of his nose. “They will grant my audience. But only on the full moon.”
“They know you have wolves as security.” Jack’s voice couldn’t hide the disgust he felt for the council.
“Apparently so.” Rufus stood and went to the bar in the corner. He poured a cognac and held the bottle up for Jack who nodded. “I am not sure how this will affect your plans, mon ami.”
Jack accepted the glass and sat back, deep in thought. “It affects them greatly.” He took a sip of the cognac and stared into the glass. “I’m sorry Rufus. If I hadn’t stopped taking the bane, I could still do this.”
“Non, mom ami, do not blame yourself. Neither of us could have foreseen this move.”
Jack suddenly sat forward. “What about Max? Do you think he would work his magic and keep me from shifting for that full moon? Just long enough for us to pull this off?”
Rufus shook his head. “I would not ask such a thing. Remember, he is not a fan of vampires.”
“No, but you won him over, Rufus. He knows you aren’t like most other vampires. Besides, he wouldn’t be doing it for you he’d be doing it for me.”
“Non.” Rufus waved him off. “I would not want you to ask such a favor.”
Jack shot him a smirk. “Why not? I’m family now.”
“This is not a family matter, Jack. If it were to save Nadia or Tasha, then I could see Max perhaps doing this.” He stood and paced slowly, the gears in his mind working. “I fear we will have to come up with another answer.”
Jack finished his drink and set the glass down gently on the table. “Fine, then we hit them the night before the full moon.”
Rufus shook his head again. “I fear they would be expecting that as well. One does not request an audience with the Council and then show up early. Even with silver bullets at their heads.” He finished his own drink and sat back down. “Perhaps this ace up your sleeve that you spoke of?”
“It’s not a guarantee. And without me there, I don’t think they’d go through with it.”
“They?”
Jack avoided his eyes and chewed absently on the corner of his thumbnail. “I called in a favor with Colonel Mitchell to…borrow some of the squad members.”
Rufus groaned, “Mon ami, this was to be our doings. Not your previous employers.”
“I’m sorry, Rufus. I needed professional soldiers with jump expe
rience.” Jack stood and paced slowly. “I’m really afraid that if I tried to take my guys in there…we’d end up losing them.”
Rufus nodded solemnly. “I wouldn’t want them to sacrifice their lives for mine.”
“I don’t want any sacrifices on our side, period.” Jack walked over to the bar and refilled his glass. Without asking, he refilled Thorn’s as well. “The Monster Squad is made up of professional soldiers. My men are equal or better on most playing fields, but there are some things I just didn’t think to train them in. These kinds of jumps are one of them.”
Rufus held the glass and rolled it around in his hands. “Perhaps we can gather reinforcements from another group?”
Jack raised his face and met his gaze. “What group did you have in mind?”
Rufus smiled slightly. “Perhaps your Elven friends?”
Jack’s eyes widened with enlightenment. Slowly a smile spread across his own features. “Actually, they aren’t the only ones I’d like to ask help from.”
*****
Damien awoke just as the last fingers of sunlight stretched across the evening sky. He rolled from under the floor of the cabin and looked at the bloody carnage within, his mind replaying the previous night’s events. He walked to the front of the cabin and cracked the door, eying the last vestiges of ash from the bodies being borne away on the light breeze skirting down the highlands.
Shutting the door he turned and woke Rachel. “We need to go while we can.”
“Can we find a village along the way? I’m getting hungry.” She gave him the same sad, pouty face that always worked in the past.
“Whatever village we come across is yours for the taking, my darling.” He placed the remains into a canvas bag and slung it over his shoulder. “But for now, we need to go.”
The two filed out the door and began working their way down from the hilltop and back the way they had come. For the most part, they travelled in silence, Damien leading the way.
As they crested a small hill, Rachel tapped his shoulder. “There.” She pointed out the lights of what appeared to be a farmhouse in the distance.
Homecoming Page 6
