by Serena Zane
“Well, I’m sure you have seen my file, but I doubt you have had much time to read it. Besides, most of it’s classified.”
Jack scoffed, “Caught that. There was more blacked out on your record than I could read.”
Cindy continued to pace about the path. Splatters of blood were on her shirt and she pulled it out inspecting it. It always seemed as though she got into one sort of mess or another. People she cared about either got hurt or dead. Just like her dad or Chase.
“I’m part of the covert privately funded agency called F.I.U.W., Forced Intelligence of the United World. We hunt down terrorist cells and other factions that seek to do harm to the world as a whole. I’m a member of the East Coast U.S. team. Usually tech support, but I do have field training. This was supposed to be my first solo mission. Everything has gone wrong.”
Jack knew that already, but it was good to hear her confirm it.
“I take it these guys are after the same thing you are? These are the same men who shot your raft?”
As Cindy nodded her hair fell forward to hide her face. She flipped it back and met his gaze with a direct one of her own. It was obvious that there was steel underneath her outer vulnerability. “Yes.”
“And from his answer, they already have whatever it was that you were looking for.”
She nodded again, and pulled out her TAC phone.
“I have to make a call.” Turning away from him she walked over to where Chase pushed himself up out of the ditch.
“Not our lucky day.”
The phone started to ring.
“Montgomery.” Her friend’s voice on the other end reassured Cindy.
“We missed them.” She heard Montgomery’s quick intake of breath on the other end of the phone continuing. Cindy didn’t give Montgomery a chance to interrupt, “They got to the satellite before we did. It was a trap. Five of them. We took them out, but they know we are here.”
“What?” Montgomery gasped.
“Wait. Jack could be of use to us.” Cindy paced back and fourth and tried to ignore the looks she got from Chase; who now sat on a log by the side of the path bracing the blood-drenched shirt on his shoulder.
“He’s a SEAL. Chase, he just saved my life. Jack could be an asset to the team. And he’s under orders to complete the mission. He’s a reserve remote and can hold another job between missions. We have to work together.” Cindy knew that she would need to convince them, or the mission was as good as over.
“Let me talk to Chase.” She hesitated for a moment. It wouldn’t do her any good if Montgomery knew what just happened to her brother.
“Um, Luce, you should know that Chase is injured. He was shot at the beginning of the fight and his shoulder is still bleeding. I think the bullet might still be in there.” She could almost feel her friend’s anxiety come over the phone. “Here, talk to him.” She quickly handed the phone over to Chase, giving him a look that said to behave himself and waited.
“Chase here.”
There was a pause and Cindy could swear that she could hear her friend yelling at her brother across the phone line.
He winced, “Hold on, we weren’t expecting an attack.” Another pause. “No, he did save us. Took out one of them himself. I have to say I was pretty impressed.”
When Cindy’s eyebrows rose, he winked at her.
“Hawke may be right, he could be an asset. Here.” He held the phone out to Cindy, “She wants to talk to you again.”
“Yeah, what?” Cindy was on the defensive. Montgomery may be her best friend, but she was still the senior field officer. She would be reporting to the Director what was decided.
“Look Hawke, if you think he would be an asset, invite him on. Explain to him the terms, and the consequences. The director put you in charge of this retrieval mission. We are sending a chopper for Chase. He’ll be taken to the hospital for patch up, and Halverson will take his place. We expect results. You have seventy-two hours to put this right. The countdown has started. If not, you’re going to be stuck behind a desk for the next several years, and I know how you would hate that. Do what you need to do Cindy. I don’t want to see you withering in the office.”
Cindy grumbled goodbye and closed the phone. She looked at Chase who sat on a nearby log holding his shirt to his wound. Before speaking she turned toward Jack. Time for full disclosure, she wasn’t quite sure how he would take it or if he would accept their offer. She walked over to where he stood over one of the men they had just taken out. He examined the patch on the man’s jacket.
“You want to tell me what’s going on?” He looked up at her and she could see the confusion in his eyes.
“I just got permission,” she held up a hand when she could tell he was about to interrupt, “yes, I did need permission. Like I said, we’re part of a covert operation called F.I.U.W. We're currently after a terrorist organization called Jaguar, as you know from the file. They're an extension of a cult that believes in the End of Days theory that corresponds with the Mayan calendar.
They were after a satellite that had fallen two days ago. They've been spying on government operations for some time. We have only just found out what was really happening. They're going to use the information to create anarchy within the world. They want to “help” along the apocalypse.” She flipped her hair over her shoulder, “Though why anyone would want to end their existence I have no idea.”
“So you’re saying these guys are part of an extremist cult that wants to end the world because they feel they have the right, and now they have some of the ammunition they need to do it.”
She nodded her head. “We want you to join us, we know that you trained with the SEALS and are equipped to handle most of the situations that we are bound to face. Agent Montgomery is building a file on you as we speak. You have the option, but needless to say, if you don’t comply, you will be monitored. They don’t like information about us to get outside of the Agency.” She watched him for a response.
He looked from her to the two dead guys on the ground, up to Chase and back to her. “So, you want me to help you take out the bad guys? I think I could do that.” He moved close to her, she felt her nerve endings all answer to his closeness. He placed a hand on the back of her neck, and pulled her close. “As long as you’re there...”
She sighed and leaned her forehead against his, “Yeah, I’ll be there.” She moved back and looked directly into his eyes, “Jack, we have seventy-two hours. We need to have the information Jaguar does and destroy their base within that time, or I’m sitting at a desk for the rest of my career.”
“That wouldn’t be so bad would it? At least you would be safe.”
She narrowed her eyes, and pulled back from him. “You don’t get it do you? That would kill me. I can’t be idle. Maybe it would be okay at first, but then I’d get bored. Time would crawl by, and before you know it I’d pass into nothingness. Become nothing. I want to make a difference in the world. Not be some zombie working at a desk day in and day out.” Her eyes were troubled as they looked back at him. She didn’t know how to make him understand that she had to be part of the action, she had to feel worthwhile. The job gave that to her.
Jack nodded, “Then we will have to make sure that doesn’t happen.” He stepped away from her, turned, and walked over to Chase, “I told you not to let her get hurt.” With that he planted a fist into Chase’s jaw.
Chase glared at him, his face starting to turn red where Jack’s fist had connected. “I had that coming. You aren’t going to be dealing with me though. They’re sending someone else. I’m off to the hospital again.” He gave a self-mocking laugh, “seems like I'm sending an extraordinary amount of time there.”
Jack nodded, a little confused about the comment, but glad that the man would be out of the picture for now. He didn’t entirely trust him, and it seemed that the guy brought more than his fair share of tro
uble to any situation.
The sound of a chopper overhead had him looking up. There was a clearing up ahead and the chopper made to land.
“That would be my ride, I’ll check you later.” Chase rose and walked over to the clearing. Before he got all the way there he glanced over to where Cindy stood. “I’ll see you later. We can talk then. Be safe.”
Cindy's head tilted to the side and she shrugged her shoulders. "I guess--” She stopped and suddenly stood straight.
Jack glanced at the chopper and saw a tall stocky man get out. He wore a pair of camo-pants and combat boots. He looked like he hadn’t shaved in a couple days, and had probably just been rolled out of bed to come on this mission.
Chase passed him without a word, nodded his head in acknowledgement, and climbed into the helicopter. He glanced back at Cindy one last time as the chopper took off.
Chapter 12The new man strode up to Cindy, and gave her a cursory glance and then looked Jack up and down as if sizing him up. He stuck out a hand and waited.
“Agent Brett Halverson, U.S. Division, I believe you're Jack Wilde. They filled me in. Agent Hawke, it seems as though you found us a recruit.” He turned to Cindy and she noted the smirk on his face.
She wanted to swipe it off. Cindy never liked Halverson, and was tired of being pushed around by bossy men. They’d only been on one other mission together and he was an arrogant prick even then.
Straightening her spine to make herself as tall as her five-foot-three inches would allow, which wasn’t much compared to the two guys were standing not far from her, she prepared to defend her position.
“Yes. He has the training, I trust him.” She smiled, “Let’s go. I filled in Jack; he knows what he needs to do at this point. We need to get the Intel back and discover where their base is. They must be close if they were able to get here this fast.” She set her pack down and got out a map. “Where might be a good place? There isn’t much around here that has a setup ready for something as big as a base for Jaguar.” She looked up at Jack. “Is there?”
As he was studying the map he leaned down next to her and placed a hand on her back, moving his thumb along her spine.
She sensed the heat of his hand and her nerve endings began to hum, “If they needed a place to hide, that would be the perfect place.” His finger moved to the lava tunnels, “These are closed for renovation. They’re large and several miles long. Being closed they would be inaccessible to the public. They have generators already in place for the equipment and lights. It would be the perfect place. The tunnels have been closed for several months now. They’re telling the public they need reinforcements built to stabilize the tunnel walls. They’re not due to be finished until next season.”
Cindy nodded. “We can check out the tunnel. We’ll need to be careful not to raise any suspicion. Jack,” Cindy turned her head, just inches separated his mouth and hers. “Um… you know the terrain. Do you think you could get us close enough to find out what is going on?”
His eyes skimmed her face and he nodded.
“I might. The tunnel itself is a one way in deal. It's located in a small canyon area where you hike down to the entrance and stairs that actually take you into the tunnel. It’s dark, and we will need light. Lanterns are at the guidepost. We could use some of those, or pick up some flashlights on the way over. You’re going to want something that will light your immediate area, but not penetrate too far into the tunnel. We don’t want them to know we are coming.”
Halverson studied map from Cindy’s other side, “One of us will stand as scout while the other two go in. Do two way radios work in the tunnels?” He looked at Jack in question.
"Yes."
“Then we use those. Hawke, do you have some in your pack?”
“No, I packed with the idea that I would be traveling alone so two way radios were not on my list. I do have a flashlight though.”
“It’s okay,” Motioning to the packs left by the chopper, Halverson spoke up, “I have everything we are going to need. Montgomery got a hold of us just before we took off, and I grabbed provisions. We have flashlights, radios, flash bangs, concussion grenades, and three automatic rifles, fully silenced of course, and equipped with AVP4 tactical lights so we can see in the dark if we need to, which I’m guessing is a possibility if we're going down tunnels.” Halverson looked at Jack for confirmation of the location.
Jack nodded in the affirmative. Rubbing Cindy’s shoulder, he stood up.
She gathered the map and followed suit. She didn’t like feeling towered over.
Halverson watched the two of them with interest. He had never seen Hawke take to anyone this fast. It was months before she and Chase hooked up, and he could tell she wasn’t really into their relationship.
He wondered what Chase thought of the whole situation, he had seen the look on his face when Chase had climbed into the chopper. That agent was one unhappy man. He wasn’t sure if it was from the loss of Agent Hawke’s companionship, or the bullet in his shoulder, but he knew anger when he saw it. He was familiar enough with the feeling.
Cindy packed up her gear and slipped the gun she’d recently used into the waistband of her pants. Hefting her pack onto her shoulder, she went over to the new stash of weaponry and resupplied herself, running an appreciative hand over the automatic rifles. She turned to Jack.
“Which way?”
“We’re closer to the National Lava Beds than to where we started. I have a friend there. We can borrow his truck. It’s outfitted and ready for use. He leaves it at the Forestry building. We work Search and Rescue together. I’ve known him for years.” He watched as Cindy processed the information.
“I need to talk with Agent Halverson for a moment. Pardon us.” She took Halverson by the arm and led him a distance away. “I believe he has a point. We need a vehicle.”
Halverson took a moment to answer. “The secrecy of the mission hasn’t been compromised as of yet. Wilde’s been brought onto the team, and if his friend has a vehicle we can use without involving the other man I think that would be perfect. Let’s go.” His tone held a note of arrogance that rubbed her the wrong way, “We don’t have much time to lose if they already have the information. Let’s not give them time to use it.”
Cindy bristled. He was right, but he didn’t need to act like a jerk. They needed to get going before Jaguar could utilize any of the information from the satellite they had gathered. If Jag were hiding in the tunnels it would take some tricky work to flush them out.
It was dark, twilight had long since passed. Cindy walked over to where Jack waited for them.
“It looks as though we go with your plan for now. Halverson and I agree that if you can borrow the rig without your friend getting involved that would be the best scenario. How far is it from here?”
“About an hour, I can give him a call. The ranger station will be closed at this hour, they close at dusk.” Jack turned and pulled out his cell from it’s holder on his belt.
Cindy noted that he also wore a nasty looking military-issue knife. His eyes met hers and held them, instant heat rolled over her as his eyes turned to milk chocolate. She recalled how he had used that knife earlier and felt herself dampen.
He spoke into the cell, “Patrick.” He waited, “I have a situation.”
There was a pause.
“I know. I need to borrow your truck at the station. It’s important. No, we don’t need you right now. You can finish your date. Sorry man.”
Cindy’s eyebrows raised and his mouth went up in a slow grin as he continued to talk his friend into helping.
“So, can I count on you?”
Cindy shifted restlessly, he waited his eyes not leaving hers.
“Of course. Later and thanks.” He hung up the phone. “He’ll help. Let’s get started, the station may be about an hour from here, but it is a rough hike, and your ankle must be k
illing you.”
Cindy couldn’t agree more, “Which way is the fastest?”
“We can stay on the same trail it branches off and leads to another path that is manmade. I take it sometimes when I am hiking from the cabin to the station to see Patrick. We will want to stay off the lava fields as much as possible. We’re entering National protected lands, and we need to respect that even if we are on an important mission to save the world.” He grinned at his own joke and turned towards Halverson, “You ready?”
Halverson picked up his pack in answer. Jack started off down the trail the moonlight bright enough at this point to see where they were going and he didn’t seem to have any trouble following the path they were on. Cindy stumbled a couple of times; but was generally able to keep pace.
Chapter 13As Jack predicted, the hike took them about an hour to get to the station. A Toyota 4-Runner parked outside and a light shone out from the buildings windows. They approached carefully. It appeared no one but Jack’s friend remained inside at this time of night. They walked up to the back door of the station. Jack opened the unlocked entrance without any hindrance. Cindy looked at him with a raised brow, and cocked her head to the side.
His smiled wide. Jack went to push open the door, “We don’t have much theft in the area.” He shrugged his broad shoulders, and continued into the room followed quickly by Cindy and Halverson. “Hey Patrick, I thought I told you we didn’t need you on this one,” Jack called to his friend. The place was stacked with bookshelves.
“Well, I can’t very well let you have all the fun.” Patrick strode around the corner and stopped in his tracks. “Ms. Huntington, I didn’t expect to see you here.” He looked at her with an appreciative gleam in his eye.
Jack placed a possessive hand on Cindy’s shoulder, and glanced from her to his friend.
“You two know each other?” he inquired of them both with an edge to his tone.
