Project Aurora (Hope Novak Thrillers)

by Daniel Pelfrey

  “Now, take a look in the mirror. JR, you are an attractive guy.” JR was speechless. “I am attracted to you. Ah, the Hell with it.” Zoe pulled JR to her and open-mouth kissed him. Hard. She put all the pent-up feelings she had suppressed into the kiss, wanting JR to understand through her actions. Zoe felt his hands moving around her sides downwards to her hips. When they broke apart, Zoe asked, “does that spell out how I became distracted?”

  “Southern girl.”

  Zoe rolled her eyes. “Should not have told you that.”

  “But I have one more question.” Zoe gazed up at JR.

  “How did Beverly know to refer you to me for the apartment?”

  “It was under surveillance.” Zoe saw the shocked look. “It’s not anymore. I took care of that. And, she’s Cal’s cousin. Owed him a favor.”

  FORTY

  Breakfast started as a raucous affair. The Hawthornes, Vicki and Kyle had arrived while Britney was making breakfast. It started when Vicki passionately kissed Kyle. Britney and Zoe were dumbstruck at first. From their time together at the Ranch they knew Vicki preferred women, exclusively.

  They knew that she and Kyle monitored those following Zoe, but no direct contact had been made between her and the Hawthornes until today.

  "Vicki, you don't have to play up your cover here," said Zoe.

  A playful grin lit Vicki Hawthorne's face. "Who says I playing anything up?"

  Britney and Zoe simultaneously said, "What?"

  "Am I missing something here?" asked JR.

  Everyone, except JR, laughed. Britney said, "Mrs. Hawthorne here hasn't always been this amorous towards men. In fact, she had wanted to be assigned with another woman."

  JR cocked his head to the side, and asked, "so what changed?"

  "Kyle has always been a gentleman to me. Even at the Ranch."

  All eyes turned to Kyle. "I had just spent three years in prison." Kyle turned to JR, "white collar crime, but I was framed. Vicki didn't look like this when we met. But there was something about her. So, I paid attention. I treated her well."

  Britney said, "sounds like you charmed the pants off her."

  Vicki had turned bright red. "He did. And I don't regret it.” Laughter erupted around the table again. "But I can't figure out why he thought I was special."

  "Why? You're quite attractive," said JR.

  Everyone sobered and looked at him.

  “Except for you, JR, everyone here has been through a similar process as me. Britney and Kyle were among the prisoners sent to be test subjects," said Zoe.

  "What about Vicki?"

  "I was abducted and forced to work at the Ranch. I'm a geneticist," said Vicki.

  Britney picked the conversation, saying, "JR, I was sent to prison because I made a stupid mistake. The work Vicki did there has given me a new life. It's given her the same chance to get away from her prison."

  Vicki said, "I was a research assistant. The doctor I worked for stole my research. The Cabal took him first. When they figured out he was a sham, they came for me. It's my work that made escaping the Cabal possible."

  "And now, it's been stolen again," said JR.

  "That's why I'm here. This is a box that never should have been opened," said Vicki.

  ◆◆◆

  Zoe did not understand why JR had insisted they take his Jeep. "It's setup to be a tow vehicle. Besides, where would you leave your car?" asked JR.

  He made an excellent point. The Hawthorns would meet them at the armory after Britney, Zoe, and JR picked up their less conspicuous means of transportation, the RV James Lewis intended to see the country in.

  JR took Indiana 45 into Bloomington, following its loop to the north side of the city. This stretch of road was also Indiana 46. As they crossed over I-69, Zoe asked, "where are we going?"

  This route was familiar.

  The armory was what they called a storage unit in Elletsville. The facility had been chosen because of its concrete block construction and climate-controlled units.

  "When dad came home, we took out an outdoor space at a storage facility in Elletsville." Zoe did not reply, but knew they would see the Hawthornes sooner rather than later.

  Her suspicion was confirmed as JR signaled the right turn just before they reached North Lakeview Drive. He stopped at the gate of 1st Choice Storage, and said, "just a second, I need to remember the code."

  "7-2-3-6," said Zoe.

  "Let me guess, this 'armory' you've referred to is here."

  "Yes. Some things stored require climate-control."

  JR slipped the Jeep Gladiator through the gate. He wound his way through the storage facility to the back where a row of recreational vehicles were parked.

  Zoe knew which one JR's dad had purchased. She let JR have the moment, though. "Ladies, will this be inconspicuous enough?" He had stopped in front of the Tiffin Allegro. It had a brown and red finish that complemented the Gladiator's sagebrush color well. Zoe did not comment, but thought this would be better than the semi-trailer they would have used.

  Britney asked, "can I move in when we're finished with this little job?"

  FORTY-ONE

  “Explain it to me again,” said JR.

  He was in the Tiffin motorcoach, while the extraction team headed on to the southwest side of Indianapolis. JR was to run communications from the RV, and it would be parked at a truck stop fifteen miles west of the warehouse Katie was held in.

  Zoe sounded annoyed, but she was riding in the trailer of the semi-truck Kyle Hawthorne was driving. “We’re using the cover of a vehicle that would normally be seen at a warehouse fulfillment center. By backing into the loading dock closest to where the lab is secreted away in the building, we can enter easily. You’ll have access to the cameras and will warn us of the unexpected. Since this place is hidden the way it is, the people working it come and go as warehouse employees. Hopefully, we won’t have to use force to get in or out.”

  “And this was the best place to change vehicles?” asked JR.

  An unexpected voice cut in and said, “from the change Zoe made, yes.”

  “Good to have you on the line, Charlie. You’ll patch the camera feeds through to JR once he’s setup?” asked Zoe.

  “As long as he can find the power button for the computer.”

  “Hey, I am an IT specialist.”

  “Just yanking your chain. Once you’re up, I’m going offline but will leave the channel open. There are several other situations that I have to keep an eye on,” said Charlie.

  “Understood. Rescue one on standby. Extraction team approaching target in ten minutes.”

  JR sensed the change with Zoe’s last transmission. “Copy that. Mobile base ready in five.”

  “Home port on standby to monitor operations,” said Charlie, “rescue one has lead.”

  “Rescue one acknowledges lead status. Look sharp everyone.”

  With that transmission, JR pulled into the Love’s Truck Stop. He pulled in towards the back of the lot, leaving room on his passenger side for the tractor-trailer to pull alongside as planned. JR left the diesel engine running so he could take advantage of the power it would provide to the computer gear he would turn on. Once the systems booted, JR was that Charlie was already granting him access to the warehouse camera systems.

  “Mobile base to home port, thanks for providing eyes to go with the ears.”

  Talking in mission-speak, the shorthand vocabulary used in black ops was foreign to JR, having no background in the type of operation they were currently performing. He thought he was keeping up well.

  “Acknowledged, mobile base. There is also a list of items for you to disable. It’s point-and-click to activate each. You’ll know which to use as they sound off the mission. Let them know what you’re doing also. Keep our girl safe. Home port on standby.” That confused JR. He did not know who “our girl” was. Perhaps he would find out later.

  “Rescue one, comms check,” said Zoe.

  “Rescue two, clear.”
JR knew that was Britney from the slight drawl in her voice.

  “Rescue three, clear,” said Vicki.

  “Rescue four, clear,” said Kyle.

  “Mobile base receives all five-by-five.”

  “Radio silence until we’re in.”

  ◆◆◆

  Mills could feel the truck slow down. She was in the trailer with Britney Timmons and Vicki Hawthorne. Kyle Hawthorne was driving and would serve as a lookout while the others entered the building.

  They were dressed like employees of a fulfillment center would for a day in the warehouse. The safety vests were an annoyance because of the bright yellow color. But they hid the equipment well. Mills, as team lead, chose tranquilizer pistols for primary weapons. No sense in a bloodbath if it could be avoided, she thought.

  As a precaution, though, each carried two flash-bang grenades, breaching charges, and Sig P320s with silencers. The intelligence gathered showed this was a hidden facility. Heightened security would look out of place, and Mills intended to use that as an advantage.

  The truck came to a stop. Mills knew Kyle had to get the rig into position at the loading dock. She looked to her friends and nodded. They were hidden behind loaded pallets and would not be seen when the trailer was opened.

  “Home port came through getting us to the right dock,” said Kyle.

  “Copy that,” said Mills. She shifted as the truck began backing up. Let the rest of the intel be good, she thought. The air brakes sounded as Kyle eased the truck back. The last long hiss, along with the gentle bump into the loading dock, caused the three women to brace themselves.

  “Dock cameras are down,” said JR.

  The hasps were being opened, and Mills prepared to fire the tranquilizer. The door was cracked open when Mills heard two voices she did not recognize, but then the sound of one, then a second dart finding its mark. Mills heard two individuals falling to the ground, signaling the all clear.

  Kyle opened the trailer door. “I’m only leaving one door open. Might need to leave in a hurry.” Mills nodded acknowledgment. “Good hunting, ladies.”

  The extraction team of Mills, Timmons, and Hawthorne stepped on to the loading dock. “Must be the right place,” said Timmons.

  Looking down, she pointed to the shoulder rig of one of the dock workers. Partially hidden by an orange safety vest, Mills could make out the butt of a Glock 17. It was a common weapon, but favored by several government agencies and private security firms.

  “Expect others to be armed similarly,” said Mills. “Rescue one to Mobile base. Open the door to loading dock seventeen.”

  “Acknowledged.” The roller door began its slow rise. Kyle started back to the front of the rig, and the extraction team moved from the center of the loading dock towards its edges. “Mobile one, the door is set to open only halfway.”

  “Understood. Going in.” The extraction team ducked under the door. Each had a tranquilizer pistol in hand, but hidden to their side as they made their way into the warehouse.

  “Cameras are down for warehouse security. But I am able to still monitor your progress,” said JR. Mills silently thanked Charlie Smith for whatever geek magic he pulled off to make this work.

  A loading dock walled off from the rest of a warehouse set Mills on edge. She could see the construction of the walls was recently and hastily done. The yellow caution paint on the floor did not match the outline of the walls. Mills could also see where the high-traffic areas appeared to go into the wall.

  “Rescue one to Mobile base. Guide us to the door.” They were each wearing a portable camera that JR could monitor from base.

  “To your right. It should look like a hallway.” Mills realized they were at the end of the building. They did a decent job of hiding this in plain sight, she thought.

  “Copy that. Anybody down there?” Mills did not want to use force to extract Katie. The idea was to hide the number of people trained and prepped like she had been from the Cabal. This rescue flew against strategy, but it was necessary, Mills thought.

  “No. There is a door, though. I’ll open it when you get there.”

  “Understood. Rescue three stay here. Two on me.” Mills led the way. Like in the dock area, Mills saw the hastily constructed lab occupied a formerly busy section of the building, at least from the amount of traffic the floor showed. “How far is this door?”

  “Probably ten feet.” They were outfitted with GPS tags that were superimposed on a layout of the warehouse. JR could track them to within two feet of where they actually were standing.

  “Did Home port provide any details of the construction of the walls for the lab?” An exit strategy was shaping in Mills’s mind. This has been too easy, she thought, and she did not want a surprise to stop them now.

  “As luck would have it, yes,” said JR.

  “Do tell. Abridged version, please.”

  “Not in the original plans. Company decided to put in on-site gym and day care, it’s not completed yet according to company memos. Started about six weeks ago though.” Mills realized that was about the time Katie was taken.

  “Do you have eyes inside?”

  “Yes. Two rooms. One large, one small. In the principal room it appears to be mixed use. Doesn’t look like what the company says it will be. More like a lab with a hospital room attached,” said JR.

  Something was off. Mills was certain.

  “How many people?” she asked.

  “Three in the larger room, three in the smaller, including Katie.” Mills had not shown JR the image capture of Katie. She wondered how he knew it was her. “I’d know that pissed off scowl anywhere.”

  Mills’s unasked question answered she asked, “does that small room appear to be closer to the loading dock?” She did not like the way the exit strategy looked.

  “It does. Some of the original cameras aim over the section you’re in. I can make out the divider walls and can see the loading door,” said JR.

  More proof that this section had been hastily built, thought Mills. “Lead to three. Place your breaching charges on the wall. Don’t blow them.”

  “Three to lead. Understood. What’s the signal?”

  “I plan to use my breaching charges on the other side. I should be able to blow them all in one go.” Mills quickly conveyed her plan to Timmons. “We’re going to make an alternative exit.” To everyone she said, “team I think we’re going to have a hot exit. Three keep holding the charges. Myself and two are breaching in five seconds. Four, be ready to haul ass.”

  ◆◆◆

  Katarzyna was sitting on the edge of her bed. She was furious. One researcher had given her a command, and she obeyed it. She never wanted to obey their commands.

  That was not the current problem, though. The command made her divulge a secret. The secret Katie revealed to her last night. That someone was coming today to take her away.

  “We know they are here for you. I will give you another command and you will eliminate them.”

  “No,” said Katarzyna. The righteous fury within her had returned. It buoyed both her and Katie in their shared mind.

  “When they enter this room, I will give you the kill order. You will eliminate the most dangerous target in the room.” Katarzyna smiled at that. “Good. You understand,” the scientist said.

  “Yes. Thank you,” said Katarzyna. The way this fool worded his intentions, she thought, he signed his own death warrant. She would break his nose first, then take out the guard. He looked anxious. Once she had the guard’s pistol, Katarzyna would plug them both, the most dangerous targets in the room. Because anyone coming to rescue me is not a danger, Katarzyna thought.

  A scuffle could be heard in the other room. A flash-bang went off. Gun shots now, thought Katarzyna. The guards’ weapons rang out, while the intruders had silencers. She could tell by the muffled noise coming from half the rounds fired. The other room quickly quieted.

  The door popped open and Katarzyna could see the flash-bang slide across the floo
r. She screwed her eyes shut and covered her ears.

  Just in time.

  That’s still pretty damn loud, Katarzyna thought. While the guard and scientist were confused, she inflicted a straight-arm, open-palm strike to the scientist’s nose, breaking it. He had also tumbled backwards over a stool, sprawled out on the floor.

  The guard had turned to face the intruders entering the room. Katarzyna took the opportunity to first pull the guard’s club, cracking him hard in the skull. She grabbed his pistol out of the holster, pointing it at the scientist who was on his knees trying to staunch the blood from his nose.

  Katarzyna chanced a look at who entered the room. Two women, both armed and well trained based on how they easily cleared the outer room. The blonde was unknown, but the other one caused surprise. She was bleeding from a wound to the arm. She knew this one. “Zoe?” asked Katarzyna.

  The scientist tried to say something. It was unintelligible because of the damage Katarzyna inflicted. She knew what he had tried to say.

  The kill order.

  She felt her rage reach its crescendo. She could hear Katie in her head.

  This was a shared rage.

  A justified rage.

  Katarzyna leveled the weapon to the scientist’s forehead and said, “you would have me kill my friend.”

  It was not a question. She saw the fear in his eyes as she pulled the trigger.

  ◆◆◆

  Mills stood ready to give the door a push. Timmons had a flash-bang at the ready. The door opened, the flash-bang slid into the room with an expert toss, Timmons and Mills waited for the grenade to go off.

  A second after the bang, Mills led the way into the room. She and Timmons had switched to their silenced P320s. No sense trying to tranquilize people shooting live rounds at you, Mills thought. In the initial confusion, Mills thought there were three shooters. “Mobile base. How many shooters?” asked Mills.