“Any activity?” the passenger asked.
“Not a peep, Adam. Gabe would have been back if he was facing any trouble. This is going to be one of the easiest towns to take yet!” the young man said, tugging at the ill-fitting hunter camouflage uniform he’d stolen a month earlier.
“Stay alert anyway, and don’t call me by name.” The Humvee turned north on county road 695 and started onto the last five miles to Moose Creek.
“Stay alert?” the kid laughed. “It’s time for a nap.”
***
Allexa paced between the Hummer and Tom’s aging sedan. The car was big and bulky and mostly concealed her from the road. She heard a vehicle coming from the south and stopped. As the Humvee sped past her, she spotted the customized jerry can racks on the side and the stranger sitting in the passenger seat.
Climbing into her Hummer, she keyed the mike to raise Major Kopley.
“Steve, how far out are you? A Hummer just went by in town… it was Colonel Andrews’ vehicle, but he wasn’t in it.”
“You’re sure it was his?”
“I’d know that vehicle anywhere! I’ve got a very bad feeling.” She turned to Tom. “Hit the siren!”
***
Captain Ron Mesic stopped again a half klick from the intersection, just around a curve in the road and still concealed, and brought up his glasses.
“I would have expected an ambush by now,” he mumbled to himself. They edged a little closer and saw the blockade, two pickup trucks nose to nose. “Ah, gotcha!” He adjusted the binoculars for a more close up look. “What the hell?”
The guard was stretched across the hood, fast asleep.
Mesic keyed his mike to get the attention of Major Kopley and relayed his findings.
“We’re two minutes behind, Captain, hold fast until I get there,” the major ordered.
As the entire convoy quietly approached the makeshift barricade, all orders were given by silent hand-signals, and the fifty soldiers surrounded the sleeping guards.
Major Steve Kopley nudged the guard and said, “Hey you, wake up.”
The young man opened his sleepy eyes to the barrel of a 9mm Beretta handgun. He looked around and saw a sea rifles pointed at him and his still sleeping companion. He slowly raised his hands and slid off the rusty hood of the old truck. Once on the pavement he assumed an apparently familiar position: on his knees, ankles crossed, hands on his head.
Kopley sneered at him. “You’ve obviously had experience with being captured. Captain Mesic, cuff him, and the other one too.”
With both guards restrained, Kopley started the questions. “How many of you are there? Where are the rest? Where is your base camp? And you better not lie to me son, I’m not in a very good mood.”
The young man gulped. “There are fourteen in the town now, and maybe six more down this road at an old mining camp. That’s all! Honest!”
“Maybe six more?”
“We keep losing guys and sometimes adding a few; it’s hard to keep track.”
“Any hostages at this camp?” Kopley asked.
“Uh, no. We had a few girls but the last place we got run out of took them in. I think O’Brian was hoping to get a few more here.”
“This O’Brian is your leader?”
“Sort of, even though no one likes him much.”
“I see.” Kopley turned to Lt. Jackson. “I’m leaving three squads with you and two of the 50 caliber mounted guns. I don’t want any surprises from down this road while we’re in town cleaning up.” He nodded toward the 150 road. “And send one squad to this base camp of theirs, clean it out, and shut it down.”
“Yes, sir.” Mesic placed the Hummers with the mounted guns facing west 150 and south on 695.
***
As Major Kopley’s driver led the rest of the convoy toward town, Steve called the other officer. “Dan, we’re at the outskirts of town. It’s time to land your Blackhawk, and don’t be quiet about it!”
“Understood,” Major Hogan said, knowing he was the distraction to bait and draw the outlaws outside.
***
When the helicopter landed in the ballfield, Corporal Tony Rodrigues stepped out from the tree that was sheltering him from view. He snapped a salute as Major Hogan jumped down.
“You must be our guide,” Hogan said.
“Yes, sir!” Tony replied. “There are three routes to the location; all connect to the street behind us.” He produced a crude map of the town layout. Hogan examined the map briefly and divided his men into two groups, with the largest going down the middle to come up behind the location.
“Now hustle! We have only two short blocks to go and I don’t want Major Kopley having all the fun. We’ll be going through a residential area so keep your fingers off the triggers.”
The men left, jogging at a quick and steady pace.
***
At the Inn, O’Brian’s men greeted the two new arrivals, who joined in the jovial group. There was more food than they had seen in quite a while. Unknown to them, Allexa had instructed Marsha to keep them occupied eating. They had hoped for some women, but all the pretty ones seemed to have gone into hiding. It didn’t matter, they would draw out the females later when the town became theirs.
“What’s that ruckus?” Captain O’Brian said. Loud and heavy noises permeated through the thick walls and seemed to be coming from every direction, including overhead. “Mark, you and another go check out that noise.”
“I’m still eating,” Mark said, biting into his third sandwich, ignoring O’Brian’s command.
“Now!” O’Brian slapped his .45 on the table and glared at the reluctant lackey.
“Fine,” Mark muttered, picking up his unfinished sandwich and leaving his rifle at the table. The two took their time getting out the back door…and stepped into the hands of the troops from the Blackhawk.
In the parking lot, the men from the convoy stealthily moved to the sides of the building and behind the parked vehicles. A few well-placed flash grenades lobbed in the front door sent the rest of the renegades streaming into the parking lot, coughing and hacking.
It was over in five minutes without a shot being fired.
***
“What is the meaning of this?” demanded the latest arrival, standing beside the Humvee with the modified racks.
“Who are you?” Major Kopley returned, just as Allexa arrived at his side.
“I’m Colonel James Andrews, the ranking officer here, and I demand you stand down!”
Allexa went still at the name, yet recovered quickly. “I don’t care what your uniform says, you’re not Jim Andrews.”
“I assure you, ma’am, I am indeed Col. James Andrews,” he answered smoothly.
“Where is your driver?” she asked.
A scared young man who was wearing Cpl. Perkins’ uniform, was pushed to the front of the group. She glared at the boy.
“Major Hogan, good to see you again,” Allexa said when the major joined them in the parking lot. “You and Major Kopley take these two into custody for interrogation. I want them kept separate. In fact, take all of these…I detest calling them soldiers…take them all to Camp Tamarack for now. Sergeant Rush will show you the way,” Allexa barked out commands while maintaining eye contact with the fake Colonel Andrews.
Hogan grinned. “Yes, ma’am!”
The fake colonel stood his ground. “I must protest!”
“Protest all you want, you’re going to give us answers. The easy way, or the hard way, it’s your call.” Hogan’s blue eyes sparkled.
***
“Remind me not to cross you, Allex,” Major Kopley said, smiling. They followed Major Hogan’s Hummer in Allexa’s vehicle as Eric directed them to Camp Tamarack. A dark cloud passed across her mind, raining painful memories of all the death the camp had seen.
“I doubt you will ever get to the level this asshole has gotten, so you’re safe,” she snarled.
“I know you’re angry right now. I am too. That c
an be good and bad. May I make a suggestion for the interrogation?”
“Sure,” Allexa said. She knew she had never done this kind of questioning before and her emotions could get the better of her.
“We absolutely need to keep those two apart, but in adjacent rooms where they both can hear some of what the other is going through,” Kopley suggested. “It might soften them up a bit.”
“Sounds good to me. I want to start with this colonel first. That might help disperse some of my rage.”
“Good choice.” Major Kopley gave her a sideways glance and took a deep breath. She wouldn’t need him to beat the truth out of their prisoner.
***
While the dozen fake soldiers were sequestered in one of the dorm styled housing units and put under heavy guard, the other two were taken to a smaller building that had at one time long ago been used for physical therapy. It was not a comfortable place and silent screams of pain seeped from the cracks in the walls.
Two chairs were placed in each room and the prisoners were seated in the center of the room they were led to. Zip-tied to the armed chair, their legs were also bound to the chair’s legs. They could barely move and there was no chance of escape.
“Let’s give them a few minutes of discomfort,” Allexa suggested. “I’ve found it helps to get straighter answers if they worry a bit.” She thought of the few times she had to get difficult childhood confessions out of her sons.
“What tipped you off these guys were fakes, Allex?” Major Hogan asked.
She sat on the outside bench between the two majors. “The one in charge, this Captain O’Brian, didn’t show any military courtesy at all to my rank, and when I caught him hitting on two barely-teenaged girls, I knew no officer would do that. There was also general and widespread disrespect in his men. I don’t care how rough they’ve been living, that’s not acceptable,” she detailed. “Besides, some of them are wearing hunter camouflage, not military.” She stood. “So, which one of you wants to go in with me to see this colonel?”
“I would be honored, ma’am,” Dan Hogan was the first to respond.
“Let’s do it.”
The major opened the door for her and Allexa stepped into the room, emanating authority. She took the old wooden chair and turned it backward to straddle it, resting her arms on the top bar.
“Let’s start with your name,” she said pleasantly. “Your real name.”
“Colonel James Andrews, United States Army,” he said, jutting his chin high. “You’re making a big mistake here.”
“It’s not good to start with a lie.” Allexa shook her head. “See, you made the big mistake. You came here. Here, where we all know the real Colonel Andrews.” She stood, pushing the chair aside and facing the prisoner. She turned away then quickly turned back with her fist balled and slugged him. “Ow!” she screamed between clenched teeth, “That hurt!” She shook her hand, flexing her fingers.
“Yeah, but it felt good, didn’t it?” Dan said with a grin. “Can I give it a try?”
“Be my guest.” She stepped aside.
Dan landed only two punches before the prisoner blacked out.
***
Outside, Allexa motioned for Kopley to join her. As they walked inside the second room, she said, “He didn’t last very long.” She shook her hand again, trying to loosen the cramps. The young man’s eyes went wide.
“Now, son, you cooperate and we’ll go easy on you,” Steve said, taking the lead as prearranged. “Let’s start with your name. Your real name. We know you aren’t Perky.”
“Perky?” the boy said.
“Yes. You see, he was stationed here, we all knew him. Did you know Perky was a nice kid who loved dogs and playing Frisbee?” Allexa chimed in, using her sweetest mom voice. “He played with my dog whenever he had time off. When he left with the colonel back in November, I remember him saying he was going to miss Chevas the most.”
“Chevas?” the boy squeaked.
“My dog! Pay attention!” she yelled at him. The boy slunk down in the chair, visibly cringing from her.
Steve laid his hand on Allexa’s shoulder. “Calm down, Colonel. I know how much you liked Perky.” He turned back to the prisoner. “Now, what is your name?”
“Tucker. Tucker Turner, sir.” His teary eyes darted to Allexa and then away.
“Well, now, Tucker. How is it you came by Perkins’ uniform?”
“It wasn’t my idea, honest, it was Adam’s!” Once the boy got started he didn’t stop. “We saw them camping up a logging road. Adam waited until they were distracted eating and we snuck up on them. Adam had them take their shirts off first and then he shot them in the back of the head and then we stripped off the rest of their clothes and then took the Hummer and their weapons.” He paused for a breath.
Allexa paled. “You ambushed them and murdered them for their uniforms?” Her voice was barely a whisper. “What did you do with them, Tucker?”
He looked down at his lap, noticing for the first time he had wet himself. “We left them there, ma’am.”
Allexa straightened her shoulders, took a steadying breath, and nodded to Steve with a head tilt to the boy. Major Kopley pulled his hand gun and put it against Tucker’s forehead.
Allexa cut the ties on the boy’s hands. “Take off that shirt,” she ordered.
“You said you would go easy on me if I told you the truth!” he whined, unbuttoning the shirt and handing it to her.
“We haven’t tortured you, Tucker. This is being easy,” Kopley said, and he pulled the trigger.
***
Allexa stood on the wooden porch, her hands clasped tightly on the railing to keep them from shaking. Dan rushed out of the first room when he heard the gunshot and saw her standing there. Steve soon joined them.
“These two ambushed Jim and Perky. Killed them in cold blood and stole everything they had to make themselves look legitimate,” Kopley explained. He turned to Allexa and asked, “You have a dog?”
“Of course not.”
Allexa pushed past the two majors and entered the first room. She pulled a knife from her pants pocket and cut the fake colonel’s arms loose. He gave her a quizzical look.
“Here’s the deal, Adam. Take off Jim’s shirt so you don’t get blood on it when I execute you.”
“And if I don’t?”
“Then I start with your feet.” She pointed her gun toward the floor and pulled the trigger. He screamed. “I know how much your feet can hurt when injured. Your knees are next.”
Gasping for breath, he slowly unbuttoned the sleeves, then the shirt, and shrugged out of it. He dropped the uniform on the floor and gave her an evil, pain filled grimace. “Don’t you want to hear how they begged for their lives?” Venom dripped from his voice.
Allexa’s eyes turned to steel. “Colonel James Andrews, a man I knew well and loved, would never have begged.” Not hearing the two majors behind her, she pulled her Beretta, placed it six inches from his head, and pulled the trigger, obliterating his face.
“Allex, are you okay?” Kopley asked softly.
“Nope,” she said quietly, picked up the shirt, and walked out the door into the late afternoon sunshine.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Both majors followed her outside, and watched her remove the silver eagle from the collar of Jim’s shirt and slip it into her pocket.
“Colonel Smeth,” Major Dan Hogan said formally. “You are the ranking officer and therefore in command. What do you want us to do with the remaining prisoners?”
“I never wanted to be in the position of deciding who lives and who dies,” she stated simply. With pain filled eyes that were somehow also emotionless, she looked at the two men who waited for her instructions. “These men are dangerous. Execute all of them. Have Sgt. Rush bring me O’Brian.”
“I’m sorry, ma’am, I didn’t quite mean that. The brass wants prisoners,” Major Kopley clarified.
“Fine, then just get them out of my town as soon as possible
. But I still want O’Brian.”
***
Eric pushed O’Brian into the room where Adam’s body still lay.
“Secure his hands behind him, Sergeant.” Allexa turned to the two majors that had followed them. “The Sergeant and I have this. It’s a personal matter.” She closed the door and the two officers reluctantly retreated.
Eric looked at her with questions in his clear blue eyes.
“Remember what I said to you earlier, O’Brian? Well, I’ve decided that a firing squad would be too good for you so you get to face us. Besides, my other officers might want you alive and I won’t accept that.” She walked around him and whispered over his shoulder, locking eyes with Eric. “Remember that pretty, dark haired thirteen year old girl you were putting the make on earlier?” She moved back in front of him and nodded toward Eric. “She’s his daughter…” Eric’s lips and chin went tight and his eyes darkened with rage. “And my granddaughter.”
The blood visibly left O’Brian’s face as he realized what that meant.
***
Major Kopley and Major Hogan stood outside the door and heard two shots ring out.
Allexa and Eric walked out. “Clean up on aisle two,” she smirked.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
Allexa sat in the passenger seat of her Hummer, head back and eyes closed, listening to the activity around her.
“Allex,” Dan Hogan said, leaning down on the open window, “Steve’s crew brought in the rest of the prisoners. They’re all loaded into one transport, and are headed back to Sawyer now.”
“I hope they’re very uncomfortable,” she said, eyes still closed.
“Very. And I told the driver to hit every pothole he could find.” Dan’s comment got her to crack a weak smile. “Steve and I have decided to stay on for a day or two, if that’s alright with you.”
The Journal (Book 6): Martial Law Page 18
