by R. D. Brady
Henry took a deep breath. “There were reports that one of the American women was shot. I don’t know which one. The eyewitness reports conflict. The two Americans were then bundled along with the village’s leader and her young granddaughter into a truck, and disappeared to the north."
The memory of Laney bleeding into the ground in Montana flashed through Jake’s mind. This couldn’t be happening again. "What size of a force was it?"
Henry shook his head. "There aren't any reliable reports on that."
Jake nodded, knowing eye witnesses often weren’t much help in these situations. "I read that the oil companies were making a play for the lands around the village. Any chance it’s them?"
Henry shook his head. "I can't see how. The courts were turning in their favor. Everybody believes it’s only a matter of time before they're granted access to those lands. I think this is somebody else.”
Jake stared at the satellite images Danny had enlarged on the overhead screen. The village had been annihilated. It would have been possible to do that with a small, efficient group, but his gut told him the group was probably much larger than that.
"We're going to have to go in small," he mumbled.
If it were up to him, he'd call on the entire Chandler group security force and every friend he had in the military and rain down hellfire on these assholes. But he knew they had to tread lightly. A large force would draw attention.
They needed to stay under the radar, at least until they found Laney and Jen. They didn't have time to sit in a bunch of government offices filling out forms about the intention of their visit. Besides, he was pretty sure explaining he intended to kill quite a few people while in their country wouldn’t go over well.
"I agree," Henry said. "So besides the two of us, who else do you want?"
Jake looked up at Henry. He never ceased to amaze him. Brilliant, rich, and never afraid to get hands dirty when it counted. "The Witt's, of course. Yoni, and maybe one or two more. We need to be able to move quick."
Jake stood up. “When can we leave?”
“Wheels up in one hour.”
“We need to call Jordan.” Jake had held off calling Jen's family, hoping he’d have some good news to share. The Witt’s were extremely close. This news was going to terrify them. But Jake also knew there was no way Jordan would be left behind. Or Mike, either, for that matter. “I’ll assemble the team.”
In his mind, he raced through all the operatives in the field and off-duty, making sure he hadn't overlooked anyone. A name flashed through his mind and he stilled. He looked at Henry, his voice low. “Patrick.”
Henry nodded. “I’ll call him.”
“No. That’s my responsibility.” Jake turned away and headed for the empty conference room down the hall. He wanted privacy for this conversation.
He’d sat with Patrick at the hospital the last time Laney had been shot. The man’s deep love and fear for his niece had been a palpable thing. He knew this news was going to devastate him.
Closing the conference room door behind him, he knew there were a thousand last minute details that needed to be addressed. But certain responsibilities took precedence. With a heavy heart, Jake pulled out his phone and dialed.
CHAPTER 18
North of Cuenca, Ecuador
The first of the arrows flew through the air.
“Get down!” Laney yelled.
Nana scrambled under the truck, Elena next to her. Laney and Jen dove in after them just as two men collapsed next to the truck, arrows in their chests.
Caught unaware, their captors lost precious seconds to inaction. Laney saw another two drop. But soon, the men who'd kidnapped them gathered themselves and returned fire.
A knife was attached to the belt of the fallen man nearest Laney. She tugged it free of its sheath.
Nana held out her hand. “Give it to me.”
She handed it over. Nana made quick work of the ties that bound Laney’s wrists, before doing the same to Jen's.
Laney and Jen quickly deposed the two fallen men of all of their weapons. Between them, they had one M16, a Beretta, and two knives.
Gunfire and war cries continued to erupt around them. Laney caught her first glimpse of a Guardian as he leapt from a tree. Wearing little more than a loincloth, with dyes covering most of his body and feathers piercing his nose, the Guardian buried an ax in the neck of one of the gunmen before being shot by another.
Others battled from the trees. Still more were locked in hand-to-hand combat. She noticed they used guns and rifles as well. The arrows had just been the first, silent wave of attack.
Laney’s head swiveled back and forth, looking for a safe avenue of escape through the fighting. The battle raged everywhere at once.
“Jen, you see a good route out of here?”
“No. Every time a spot opens, it closes up again. I don’t – what the hell?”
Laney followed Jen’s gaze. A boy, no more than eleven, stood on the edge of the fight. He was dressed like a Guardian, but his skin remained smooth, unblemished. And he looked familiar.
“Eddie,” Elena cried.
Laney looked at Elena and then back at the boy. It all clicked. The two groups had remained in connection through time not by yearly visits, but by family. Her eyes found Nana's. “He’s your grandson, isn’t he?”
Nana nodded. “This is his first year with the Guardians. He was to return to us in two months’ time, at the fall solstice. Then he’ll be with them every other year until he turns eighteen, when it becomes permanent.”
“And he’ll lead them.” Jen looked back at Elena. “As Elena will one day lead your people. ‘Little queen’ isn’t her nickname. It’s her title.”
Nana nodded. “Yes. To the world, we’re an equal society, but there is a ruling family. For security reasons, we have never revealed that. Not to anyone. One female from the ruling family leads the people of the village while a male leads the Guardians. It’s how it has always been.”
Eddie motioned for them to come to him. He pointed up at the trees.
Laney saw the Guardians perched there. “I think Eddie has an escape plan. Let’s move.”
Her sling now lying empty, Jen picked up the Beretta with a grimace.
Laney eyes flicked to Jen’s bandaged arm. “Can you shoot that thing?”
“Guess we’ll find out.”
“You take lead. I’ll cover your run.”
Jen nodded.
Laney looked at Nana and Elena. “You two follow right behind Jen. Got it?”
Both nodded, their eyes darting out into the clearing.
Laney looked at Eddie and put up three fingers.
He nodded, signaling to the men in the trees.
Laney tapped Jen on the shoulder. “On three. One, two, three. Go!”
Jen burst out from the truck, weaving past prone bodies. A gunman saw her and let out a yell.
Before he could bring his rifle around, Laney dropped him. She jumped to her feet as Nana and Elena took off at run, surprised at how fast Nana ran.
Laney took out two men as they tried to block Nana and Elena’s path. She sprinted behind the other three, praying the Guardians would watch her back.
A man appeared to her right, gun raised. A bullet pierced his neck.
She smiled. I guess they do have my back.
A trail cut through the trees. Nana and Elena deftly maneuvered along it. Laney followed closely behind. Leaping over roots, ducking under low branches, she raced, her heart pounding.
Twenty yards in, Laney was startled by the sudden appearance of the Guardians. They materialized in the trails ahead of them, behind them, in the trees above. They formed an honor guard around them, shielding them from any danger.
The path through the forest widened. Laney didn't have to duck any longer. Without a word, the Guardians picked up the pace, racing them through the trees. Laney didn't think, didn't pause. She just ran.
The sounds of the battle receded as they travelled deepe
r into the forest, until finally all she could hear were the footfalls of her group as they sprinted away.
For hours, they ran through the trees, the pace grueling. At one point, Nana stumbled. Before Laney could reach her, two Guardians swooped down. Looping their arms together, they carried her, barely breaking their stride.
Ahead, another Guardian carried Elena. Occasionally, she would look over his shoulder and give Laney a wave.
Jen slipped back to run with Laney. Laney took comfort in her presence. Jen never broke her stride, never fumbled. She stared straight ahead, a determined look on her face.
The pace slowed as the sun started its slip towards the horizon. Laney's legs felt numb from the frenzied escape. She glanced over at Jen and whispered. “You think they brought sleeping bags and tents with them?”
Jen laughed quietly. “I think they can do better than that. Look up.”
Laney nearly tripped as she took in the sight. A village had been built in the trees. There were over twenty huts with wood floors and thatched roofs. Each home was connected to the others by two rope bridges. Above the huts was another, smaller platform, a lookout tower.
“I’ve always wanted a tree house,” Jen said, her eyes glowing.
Torches lit up the homes. Laney couldn’t help thinking of Robin Hood and his merry men.
People had stopped to watch the group arrive. Men, women, and children looked down at them. The Guardian tribe. Their existence was unknown to the rest of the world. As far as she knew, she and Jen were the first outsiders to see them.
Laney followed the Nuninks and the Guardians up a rope ladder, stepping onto a long bridge. It swayed with her steps. She clung to the rails, butterflies dancing across her stomach. She’d never been scared of heights, but then again, most of the mountains she’d climbed stayed still as she climbed them.
Together, she and Jen followed Nana and Elena inside the largest hut. It had a wooden floor and a large fire pit in the center with a hole in the roof to allow smoke to escape. There was no furniture. It looked like it might be a giant meeting room for the group.
Eddie walked in from an entryway across from them. Elena sprinted over to him. He hugged her with a giant grin, speaking in Spanish. “Hi, little monkey.”
“I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too.”
An older man followed Eddie in. He was more clothed than the soldiers they’d seen so far. He wore old khakis, cut off at the knees, his feet bare. His chest had the same tattoos, but he didn’t have any feathers. His dark hair was dotted with only a few grays, his body still strong.
Eddie stepped away from Elena, his back going straight. He pulled Elena next to him. The two bowed their heads as the man passed.
The man stopped in front of Elena. He lifted her chin. “I have missed you, too, little queen.”
Elena threw herself around the man’s legs. He hugged her back with a rich laugh. He detangled Elena from his legs and tossed her in the air. She squealed with happiness as he caught her. He placed her next to her brother again, tweaked her nose, and then walked across the room to where Nana waited. Nana ran a hand through her hair as he approached.
The man stopped two feet from her. His eyes seemed to soak her in. His voice was gruff when he spoke. “Are you all right?”
Nana nodded, her eyes never leaving his. “I’m fine.” She glanced over to Laney and Jen. “Thanks to these two.”
The man shifted his gaze to them with a smile. “I have heard much about you two.”
Nana crossed to stand next to him and his hand found hers. “Laney, Jen. I’d like to introduce you to Julian Nunink, king of the Guardians, and my husband.”
CHAPTER 19
Laney lay in a hammock, watching the trees sway above her. “It’s weird to watch the trees above you sway while you’re in a tree house.”
Jen looked over at her from her own hammock, five feet away. “Yeah. This is definitely not what I expected to be doing today.” She paused. “What do you think is going to happen next?”
Laney shook her head. “I have no idea."
After they’d met with the King and recovered from learning Nana had a husband, the Guardians had begun to fill up the meeting room. Two Guardians escorted them to this hut, explaining they should wait here until the meeting was over.
“Did you see the looks we got?" Jen asked. "I don’t think everyone was happy to see us.”
“I overhead some of them speaking. Apparently no one outside the Guardians and the ruling family has ever been here. We’re a unique case.”
“I really hope this isn't one of those ‘death to outsiders’ group’s.”
Laney tried to smile, but didn’t quite make it. “I really wish you hadn’t said that.”
“Sorry. Let’s just say, though, for arguments sake, it is a ‘death to outsiders’ group. Are we going to go quietly?”
This time, the grin came easily. Laney slid a gun from under her shirt. “What do you think? I managed to keep this when they took the other weapons.”
Jen slid a knife out of her sling. “Great minds think alike.”
Laney placed her gun back under her shirt, gesturing towards the big hut. “Looks like the meeting’s breaking up.” She slid out of her hammock, with all the grace of a college freshman after a few hours of drinking.
Jen leapt out of hers with the grace of a prima ballerina.
“Seriously,” Laney grouched, “how do you do that? Your arm’s in a sling, for God’s sake.”
Jen gave a little bow. “We all have our talents.”
Nana appeared in the doorway, her husband at her side. Ten other tribesmen filled into the room surrounding them. “We have made our decision.”
Laney took a step closer to Jen. She squeezed her hand for support.
Julian’s face was a mask of severity. “No outsider has ever been allowed within our village. Any who have tried have paid the ultimate price.”
Laney tensed, her hand inching towards her gun. She knew it would be suicide, but like hell she was going to stand here and be slaughtered.
Nana smiled. “So, we have decided to make you honorary members of the Guardians. You have proven that you have the heart and courage of our brothers and sisters here. You’re welcomed as one of us.”
Nana embraced them, kissing each of them on the cheek.
Julian did the same. When he released Laney, his eyes twinkled. “So now you don’t have to hide those weapons.”
CHAPTER 20
Cuenca, Ecuador
It was just before dawn and the Mariscal Lamar International airport, with its single runway, was relatively quiet.
Jake and his group had flown all night, arriving an hour ago. He’d tried to sleep on the flight, knowing he wasn't going to get much for the next few days. When he finally drifted off, though, nightmarish images with Laney center stage jerked him back to wakefulness. He hated knowing she was in trouble and not being able to get to her.
He’d decided to bring only in three extra men, plus the Witt brothers and Henry. He wanted to bring an army, but he knew they needed to move fast. Smaller meant faster.
The men were scattered around the hangar, some slept, some played cards. He’d handpicked each of them. They could all be counted on to do whatever it took.
Another flight took off on the far runway. Jake watched it go. They'd been here for an hour so far. Henry had handled customs, so they’d been left essentially alone since their arrival. Jake was glad. He was in no mood to be diplomatic with officials.
He walked outside to check the gear. They’d been able to borrow the old Bell UH-1 Iroquois, or Huey as it was more commonly known, from a mercenary group just over the border in Columbia. The Hueys had been heavily used by the U.S. military in Vietnam, but were out of service by the time Jake had enlisted. Although the U.S. military had stopped using them in the late 1980s, this particular model had been bought from New Zealand, which still used a few today.
He pulled the clipboar
d from the deck of the chopper, glancing down at the gear checklist. He’d probably gone through the list about five times now. But they were waiting for one more flight and until it arrived, there was nothing to do. To keep from going insane, he was re-checking supplies. Again.
“So, I hear our girl’s in trouble again.”
Jake turned to see Yoni Benjamin standing behind him, sunlight glistening off his bald head, a duffle bag almost his height hoisted with ease over his muscular shoulder. Of course, being he was only five-foot- two, it wasn't much of a feat for the duffel bag.
Jake offered his hand. Yoni crushed it in his ape-like grip. “Thanks for coming Yoni.”
“Hey this is a two-for-one trip: I get to help a friend and beat up some bad guys. You couldn’t keep me away.”
Although Yoni’s tone was light-hearted, Jake could see the anger in his eyes. Yoni was fiercely loyal and protective of his friends. And Jake knew Yoni thought of Laney as family.
On a good day, Yoni was dangerous. With incentive, he was beyond lethal.
Jordan walked up, his usually easy-going attitude replaced with a much more somber one. “Yoni. Thanks for coming.”
Yoni whacked him on the back. “Don’t worry, Jordan. We got this. We’ll have your sister back, beating you in basketball, volleyball, and every other sport, before you know it.”
The corners of Jordan’s mouth lifted slightly. “You're an ass, Yoni.”
“Yup.” He hefted the bag above his head. “But I have excellent athletic skills, unlike some people I know. Hey, is that Mikey?”
Yoni headed across the airplane hangar, no doubt to hassle Mike with Jordan at his side. Some might think Yoni was insensitive, but Jake knew Yoni was trying to keep the men’s morale up, as well as keeping them loose. If the brothers went into this mission strung out on grief, they’d get themselves killed.
“Jake.”
Jake turned to find himself face to face with Patrick. He hadn’t seen Laney's uncle in about four months and the priest looked good. Patrick always kept himself in shape, but Jake noticed a little extra muscle underneath his priestly black.
