by Trevor Scott
Beck went to his nightstand and found his 9mm Walther handgun. His second in command pulled his gun also, pointing it at the bedroom entrance.
•
After subduing the man at the back of the building, Jake had made his way alongside the building toward the front entrance. Just as he was about to enter and see what he could discover, a man came out the front door and fired once at him. Jake had barely enough time to react, shoving his body sideways and returning fire with a number of shots, dropping the man at the entrance.
Now he moved forward, telling Sirena in his comm unit that he had subdued one and shot another.
“Found Maria,” Sirena said.
“Move them out the way we entered,” Jake said.
“Do you need help?”
“Once you’re done with them.”
“Maria said there were six to ten men,” she said.
“Minus two.”
“Give us a few minutes to escape before you light up the place,” Sirena said.
“Will do. I’ll hang tight.” Jake backed up and took up a position at the corner of the building. From this location, he could monitor the front door of this barracks and see across the compound to the entrance to the barracks holding the girls.
Standing in the silence, the ringing in Jake’s ears gave way to the sounds of men scurrying around inside the building. Unfortunately, his delay and the shooting had lost Jake the element of surprise. Now his adversaries would have superior numbers and firepower.
He heard a noise across the compound and saw the front door open on the last barracks. Then young girls started to file out into the darkness, turning immediately and heading toward the far side of the building toward the back gate.
Over his comm, Sirena said, “Almost done, Jake. Why don’t you just come with us and we’ll let the local policia round up these assholes?”
“No. They’ll probably flee the country and go start up their business elsewhere.” He hesitated, thinking about his young daughter and his sister. He thought about all of the women in his life past and present. “No, this ends now.”
“Don’t go in without me,” Sirena pled.
Jake could see his friend across the compound as the last of the girls passed by. Sirena waved her hand for Jake to follow her. But instead, Jake found the Walther he had taken from the man by the generator and shoved it inside his belt at the base of his pants.
“I’ll wait for you and watch the door,” Jake said. “But you better hurry. I think they’re on their way out.”
He saw Sirena wave and follow all the girls toward the back gate. He waited just long enough for all of them to go out of view before he started toward the entrance. He was determined to stop this now.
Jake had made it just a few steps when the front door opened and men started rushing out into the open compound. But they weren’t just hurrying outside, they were firing as they ran. Some had handguns and two others had submachine guns, which splattered bullets through the air in rapid succession. Flashes filled the night air, followed by the loud report of gunfire.
Luckily, Jake had enough time to scoot back behind the edge of the building, which meant he could not fire his own gun at them. By the time he recovered, the men had taken positions behind their vehicles, a van and three SUVs. They had better cover and numbers, Jake thought. His only advantage was that they would have to get out into the open to get a good shot at him.
Jake had a thought. If the men got into the vehicles, they could just drive away and escape.
“Are you all right, Jake?” Sirena asked over the comm.
“Yeah,” Jake said. “I’ve got them right where I want them.”
“I’m coming your way,” she said.
“No. Run around to the front gate in case they try to leave that way.”
“Roger that. On my way.”
Jake shifted his Glock to his left hand and found the Walther he had taken from the man earlier. At the corner of the building, Jake got low and aimed at the men behind the vehicles. Slowly he started to shoot, adjusting his fire based on where he thought his bullets were hitting. When he penetrated two tires on one of the SUVs he stopped firing. Well, he stopped firing and pulled back around the edge of the building when the men returned fire with a vengeance, ripping the crap out of the side of the building next to him.
Shoving his Glock into its holster, Jake found the spare magazine for the Walther and kept that available in his left hand. Now he rounded the corner again with the acquired gun and fired at the next SUV in the line, taking out one of the tires before the slide on the gun stuck back, indicating the gun was out of ammo.
Moving back and waiting for another barrage of bullets, Jake dropped the empty mag and slapped a fresh one into the handle, releasing the slide and jacking a round into the chamber. Since that was the last magazine for that gun, he would use it first and throw it away. Then he had only his Glock and a couple of spare 17-round magazines. After that he had only his pocket pistol, the Smith & Wesson .380 with a few extra magazines. But that gun had limited range. Would that be sufficient? He would have to make it so.
Just as Jake was about to fire again at the vehicles and the men behind them, he hesitated when he heard a noise behind him. He turned just in time to see a man drop from a window and hit the dirt alongside the barracks. As the man pulled himself up and brought up his gun, Jake fired three shots and dropped the man.
But now he was in trouble. He had to either retreat or face attack from both sides.
He was a sitting duck.
31
Sirena had moments ago confirmed with Jake that she needed to make her way toward the front gate, hoping to stop anyone from leaving the compound. But then the gunfire became intense back at Jake’s position. Luckily she could still hear shots coming from two sides. She would only become concerned if the shots stopped, which would mean that Jake would be either out of ammo or dead.
She used smaller outbuildings for cover as she hurried toward the front gate. It took everything in her power to not turn around and rush to help Jake. She was concerned about him. He didn’t seem to have any concern for his own safety. It was as if he was on a final mission, a calling to stop this exploitation of young girls.
Just as she got to the front gate, she could see headlights coming her way. But they weren’t from within the compound, they were coming up the road from Lima.
She found a secure position behind a low brick wall, an old foundation for a building that had once been there. Into the comm, she said, “Jake, we have company at the front gate.”
•
There was a slight lull in the shooting, but Jake’s heart raced, his chest heaving with heavy breaths.
“I’m a little busy here,” Jake answered Sirena. “You’ll have to deal with them. How many vehicles?”
“Just one,” Sirena said.
“Carry on.”
Jake turned to look back where the man had jumped from the window, and another figure stood over that dead man, both hands raised high in the air. He almost fired, but something made him stop. It was a woman, and she was wearing what looked like hospital scrubs.
“Don’t shoot,” the woman said. “I am Maria.”
He lowered his gun barrel toward the ground and waved for her to come to him.
She pointed to the gun the man had been carrying.
Jake nodded his head.
Maria found the gun and a couple of extra magazines. Then she hurried and came next to Jake, who was now checking on the men at the vehicles.
“Nice to meet you,” Maria said, touching Jake’s arm. “Thank you for coming.”
“We’re not out of this mess yet,” Jake told her.
“I know. But at least I have a chance now.”
She was right, he knew. He glanced around the corner and saw that the men outside were moving about, perhaps heading into the cars.
“I think they’re trying to leave,” Jake said.
“No,” Maria said. “They wi
ll stay here and fight.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yes. They are true believers. Is Gerhard Beck with them?”
“I don’t know. I’ve only seen a photo of the man.”
Her eyes shifted toward the barracks. “His office and bedroom are here in this building. He brings the girls to his bed.”
Jake couldn’t imagine what Maria had been through, but he had to make sure no other girls were subjected to his actions. “Can you hold this position?”
She nodded. “Yes, of course. Where is Sirena?”
“She’s at the front gate. Another car is coming in.”
“There are too many for just three of us.”
“Not if we cut off the head of the snake,” Jake said.
“Gerhard Beck.”
“Right. I’m going in.”
“You can’t go through the front.”
“I’m not.” Jake pointed to the open window where he had shot the man coming out. “Going in that way.” He pulled the magazine from the spare Walther and saw there were still at least ten rounds left. Since the gun was identical to the one she had just taken from the dead man below the window, the magazines would be interchangeable. “This should help hold them off. But fire slowly and preserve your ammo.”
She agreed with a simple nod. “Kill him,” she said. “Or I will.”
“No. We need someone who knows the entire scope of their operation. This camp is just one aspect of their plan.”
Maria looked disappointed, but she knew Jake was right based on her defeated expression. “All right. His bedroom is on the other side of the building, about midway through the barracks.”
Jake patted her on the shoulder and traded places with her at the edge of the building. “If you run out of ammo, run like hell to the back gate.”
“I will.”
He left her there and hurried to the open window. He had to holster his gun as he reached up to the window and pulled himself to the opening. A couple of shots rang out from Maria’s gun, followed closely by a barrage of gunfire from the men behind the vehicles.
Now he crawled inside and found himself in what looked like a bedroom with two single beds. With the power still cut, he was forced to rely on the intermittent moonshine coming in through the windows.
Jake slowly made his way to the door and peered out into the hallway. He began to wonder now if this Gerhard Beck had simply slipped out a window on the opposite side of the barracks. The man could be anywhere by now.
First, Jake drew his gun and moved toward the front of the barracks to make sure nobody had remained behind. He could see that the front entrance was an open lounge area, much like so many military barracks from Jake’s past. Back in the day this area was probably rows and rows of bunks on either side. But this one had been converted to living quarters and work spaces, with desks and computers. In the far front area was a number of chairs and a smallish flat screen TV. But no people.
Jake thought he heard something behind him, so he quickly turned just in time to get hit by a glancing blow from a baseball bat on his right shoulder, causing him to drop his gun. His attacker swung again, but Jake was ready for him, backing away from the blow. As the guy tried for strike three, Jake moved in closer and blocked the man’s arm, wrapped his arm in a contortion hold, and then shoved the heel of his right palm into the man’s jaw, stunning him. Now Jake torqued on the man’s arm making him drop the bat and snapping the guy’s elbow, making the man scream in pain. To shut the guy up, Jake punched him in the face, knocking him out.
He found his gun and stepped over the man on the floor, heading toward the back rooms. Maria had said that Gerhard Beck’s bedroom was in the middle back. Jake could see that room ahead, and based on the spacing of the doors, this had to be the largest bedroom in the barracks. Yeah, this had to be his door.
Jake’s heart raced now, his adrenaline spiking through his body. He heard more gunfire out front. Then he heard gunshots farther away. He wanted to contact Sirena, but he couldn’t speak now. Jake had left his comm open, so he knew that Sirena knew her friend Maria was with them now. But what was she facing out by the front gate?
Lowering the door lever, Jake decided to go low. He kicked the door open and crouched simultaneously. Shots fired, striking the wall behind Jake. He returned fire as he dove into the room, intentionally shooting high and striking the wall behind the shooter. Then he rolled once and came to a kneeling position, his profile as narrow as possible.
“Drop the gun or you’re dead,” Jake yelled. Then his eyes scanned the room for any other threats. But the man was alone. Gerhard Beck.
More gunfire outside and toward the front gate.
For Sirena’s benefit, Jake said, “Gerhard Beck. Drop your gun.”
“So, you know who I am,” Beck said in English, only a hint of an accent. Then the man started spouting off some crap in German, thinking that Jake didn’t understand him. But, of course, Jake was fluent in that language.
In German, Jake said, “Yes, I also speak your language. Probably better than you, since you’ve probably never spent a day in the fatherland.”
Beck was now obviously frustrated. He paced back and forth in the office area of his personal quarters.
“Keep him alive,” Sirena said through her comm. Now Jake could hear the gunshots through his earpiece and from a distance.
“I’ll try,” Jake said. Then he turned to Gerhard Beck and said, “Drop the damn gun. This place is swarming with policia and special tactical units.”
Beck smiled. “That is a lie.”
Okay, he wasn’t a total idiot. “Perhaps you are right. But I will say that your people are dropping like flies. And all of your girls are gone. Liberated.”
“Another lie,” Beck said. He pointed his gun at his laptop and said, “More of our people are coming to our aid.”
“You mean Tiffany Larsen?” Jake asked.
“She has two men with her,” Sirena told Jake.
“Along with her two body guards,” Jake added.
“I killed one,” she said.
“Make that one body guard,” Jake corrected. “I’ve also taken out the tires on your vehicles out front.”
Beck glanced at his laptop and then started to tap a few keys in desperation.
“Let me guess,” Jake said. “The battery backups on your video cameras have run out of power. So, you’ll just have to trust me on this one. Your operation is finished here. Drop the gun.”
Beck shook his head. “This is just the beginning.”
Jake laughed. “Why do you think you’re still alive? If I didn’t need you, I’d let Maria come in here and kill you slowly.”
“Maria?”
“That’s right. You made the mistake of kidnapping a friend of a friend.”
“That bitch!”
“Now, that’s not nice. I’ve just met the woman, but she seems lovely.”
Beck was considering his options, the internal struggle showing up as confusion on his face. Finally, he said, “These women are all here of their own free will.”
Jake smiled and shook his head. “You can say that all night and it won’t make it true. You see, Maria is an officer with Spanish intelligence who was sent to track and bring back two young college women from Spain who your people kidnapped in Buenos Aires.”
“Now it’s just Tiffany Larsen,” Sirena said through her comm.
“Thanks for the update,” Jake said.
“Who are you talking to?”
“I told you I have a lot of friends out there systematically killing your men,” Jake said. “Now Tiffany is alone. One has to wonder what her story will be. My guess is that the first of you to tell the story will get the best deal in court.”
There was a sudden lull in shooting outside, which made Jake a little nervous. If somehow the men had shot Maria, they would be free to come inside and he would be immediately outnumbered.
“Tiffany is subdued and tied up,” Sirena said to Jake.
“I have Beck,” Jake said. “Flank the men out front. But watch for crossfire from your friend at my old position.”
“Roger that.”
“You don’t have me,” Beck said. “Maybe I have you.”
Jake shot the man in the right shoulder, forcing the gun out of Gerhard Beck’s hand. Then he rushed the guy and kicked him in the gut, sending the man flailing into the wall and knocking him to the floor. Jake kicked away Beck’s gun and stood over him, his gun aimed right at the man’s head.
“You’re a despicable piece of shit,” Jake said. “There’s a special place in hell for fuckers like you.”
Beck laughed. “You can’t touch me. I own people in the Peruvian government. Why do you think they sold us this camp for almost nothing?”
The guy was right, Jake guessed. “I told you to put the gun down,” Jake yelled. “Put it down.”
Beck looked confused. “What?”
“No. Put the gun down.”
Beck tried to scoot into a sitting position, unsure of what was going on.
“No,” Jake yelled. Then he directed his sights on Gerhard Beck and fired three times. The first and second bullets hit Beck center mass in the chest. The third bullet went right into the man’s open mouth and sent brain matter spattering against the wall behind him.
Considering his actions, Jake simply kicked the man’s gun next to the guy’s limp right hand.
Just now shots started firing again out front. This time, he suspected, the men behind the vehicles were trying to scurry from the crossfire from Sirena on one side and Maria on the other. Now Jake would give the men a third target.
Without hesitation, Jake rushed to the front door.
“At the front door,” Jake announced to Sirena.
“I’m to your far right,” Sirena said. “We’ve got the last two pinned down under the SUVs in the front.”
Jake swung the door open and let it slam into the back wall. Then he saw the first shots come from under the SUV out front and Jake returned fire. Now all three of them, Jake, Sirena and Maria, opened fire on the last of the men.
