Lean on Me

by Claudia Hall Christian

  “Thank you, sir,” Alex said.

  Raz held an oxygen mask out to her.

  “Last call,” Zack said. The helicopter began to rise through the storm.

  “Dad?” Alex took the mask from Raz. “I have just a second.”

  “Wanted you to know that my team has things contained here,” Patrick said. “You’re going for Julie?”

  “Yes sir,” Alex said.

  “We’re all safe and sound here,” Patrick said. “The Denver Police have picked up quite a few unsavory visitors to our fair state. They are waiting for you at Lowry along with the security out of Buckley. I hear Fort Carson is sending a team.”

  “The only show in town,” Alex said.

  “Yes sir,” Patrick said. “The Fey gets a lot of attention.”

  “When everyone is bored,” Alex said. “Got to go. And Dad?”

  “Yes Pumpkin?”

  “Don’t take too much money from the boys from the North,” Alex smiled. For all of his friendly charm, Patrick was a card shark.

  “Merry Christmas Pumpkin,” Patrick said.

  “Yes sir,” Alex said.

  She rotated her mic up and put on her oxygen mask. Looking around the chopper, she was glad to see that everyone had their masks on. The helicopter rocked back and forth in the wind. Their gear rattled and the chopper shook but somehow held together. Alex closed her eyes and took deep breaths of her oxygen.

  “Sleeping?” Raz asked. Accustomed to the masks and the helicopter, they spoke between breaths in each other’s ears.

  “Trying not to barf,” Alex smiled at him.

  He put a protective arm around her.

  “I smell pretty bad,” Alex said. “Death, body fluids, and mold.”

  “I don’t care,” he pulled her into him. “You should rest. What’s on our plate is full of not easy or nice things.”

  “Yes our plate is filled with bitter pie,” Alex said.

  Next to her, Royce threw up into a bag.

  “And you wonder why I don’t eat much on these trips,” Alex said. She patted Royce’s back.

  “Bitter pie and barf,” Raz said. “Sounds like a country song.”

  As if on cue, Cliff played the intro piano cords to “Golden Slumbers” by the Beatles, which was Larry’s favorite song from his favorite album, Abbey Road.

  “Once there was a way to get back homeward,” Trece began to sing. Even with the oxygen masks, she could hear the team’s voice loud and clear. Alex rested her head on Raz’s shoulder. He kissed her hair and held her close.

  “You won’t let this pull you into the darkness, will you?” he asked.

  “Can’t,” Alex said. “I have a house full of guests. What would my mother say?”

  He smiled. She looked up at him and they laughed. “Boy, you’re gonna carry that weight” came over the speakers and they took up the song. Cliff played the rest of Abbey Road and they sang for Larry. By the time “Here Comes the Sun” began, there wasn’t a dry eye in the compartment.

  F

  CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE

  Friday morning

  December 25 – 9:47 a.m. MST

  Over Denver, CO

  “Fey? Can you give us a rundown of the situation?” Joseph asked after assigning tasks to the team.

  “Paddie and his mother are in a closet near the back of the house,” Alex said. “Colin built a bookshelf that covers the entrance to the closet. From the outside, you cannot tell there’s a closet there. Paddie and his friend, Katy, like to play in the closet.”

  “Paddie knows how to close the bookshelf,” Colin said.

  “But he can’t get out of it by himself,” Alex said. “He needs help. Colin kept a disposable phone, food, and water in the back of the closet in case Paddie got stuck in the closet. Paddie knows how to use the phone. Raz?”

  “We have a heat reading on a single person moving through the house,” Raz said. “He appears to be pacing. We can see what seems to be a smaller person and an adult in the general area where we expect this closet to be.”

  “From what Katy’s parents said, two things happened at the same time. A ‘scary’ man came to the door and Julie started having contractions,” Alex said. “Paddie was able to get his mom into the closet before she ‘got sick.’ We believe the ‘scary man’ doesn’t know they are in the closet.”

  “Or he doesn’t know where the closet is,” Raz said. “I’ve been watching the scans since we left the storm front at the state border. He hasn’t gone near the back of the house. He seems to be waiting for them to come home.”

  “How did he get in?” Leena asked.

  “According to the Denver Police, a neighbor let him in,” Sergeant Dusty said. “The man said he was a visiting a relative and they weren’t home from Mass yet. Julie told the neighbor that they would be with Colin tonight and so he let him into the house.”

  “Sergeant, can you tell us about the scene?” Alex asked.

  “Yes, sir. I have a direct line to the Denver Police,” Sergeant Dusty said. “The house is surrounded. Snipers are set around the house. No one has approached the house, as per your request. They want to know if you’ve called.”

  “We wanted to wait until we were close enough,” Alex said. “We don’t want to alert their captor to Paddie and Julie’s location before we can get there.”

  “DPD wants to know why the child hasn’t called you,” Sergeant Dusty asked Colin.

  “He was told not to,” Colin said.

  “You sure he’s your child?” Shaking his head, Trece leaned over to look at Colin.

  “He does what Katy tells him to do,” Colin said. “Not me. Not his mom. He does everything Katy tells him to do without question.”

  “But how…?”

  “We believe he called Katy and asked her what to do,” Alex said. “John had already spoke with Sergeant Dusty and Katy’s parents. Katy told Paddie to keep quiet so the man in the house couldn’t find them.”

  “We will be able to make one call,” Joseph said. “Let’s make sure we’re in place when Colin calls.”

  “Very quickly,” Alex said. “The closet is a rectangle. There is a door and, of course, the bookcase outside the door. There is a small transom window near the closet ceiling. When Paddie started playing in the closet, Colin had it put in.”

  “In case he got stuck,” Colin said. “I was always terrified he’d get stuck. But he… hates that house. The closet is the only room he likes.”

  “We’re in location,” Zack said.

  Standing, the team moved into position for parachuting.

  “Check yourself and check your neighbors,” Joseph said. “You don’t want us to tell your family that you can’t be there for Christmas because you’re an idiot.”

  They were jumping from the helicopter miles above and to the east of Colin’s house. With the easterly wind, they would make an almost silent approach to the house. Alex waited for Joseph and then Matthew to check the team. She went to Margaret, the first person to jump.

  “Are you ready, Sergeant?” Alex asked.

  “Yes sir,” Margaret said.

  “It’s a big day for you,” Alex said. “Lots of hostage rescue.”

  “Never thought having a little Ind’n on your team would come in handy,” Margaret gave her a wry smile. “Did you?”

  “Not this kind of handy. I’m glad you’re with us,” Alex smiled. “Good luck.”

  “Marines don’t need luck, sir,” Margaret said.

  “What do they need?” Alex asked.

  Margaret laughed. Alex gave her a communication ear bud and went to MJ.

  “How is your leg?” Alex pointed to his prosthetic leg.

  “I’m fit for duty, sir,” MJ said.

  “You’ve received her latest medical information?” Alex asked.

  “Yes sir. I’ve reviewed Julie Hargreaves’s medical records,” MJ said. “I’ve coordinated with one of the ambulances on scene. They are ready for her and have a doctor online. I’ll get her s
table and we can move her. And Paddie?”

  “If he’s uninjured, we’ll take him to Katy’s house,” Alex said. “That’s where he’ll want to be.”

  “Yes, sir,” MJ nodded.

  Alex gave him an ear bud communicator and patted his chest. For the briefest moment, she remembered patting MJ’s father’s chest before a jump. She gave MJ a sad smile and moved to Leena.

  “How are you holding up?” Alex asked.

  “Well, sir,” Leena said. “Thank you again for assigning White Boy to assist me with my issues. He’s been an anchor for me.”

  “I’m glad he’s helping,” Alex said. “You met the wife?”

  “Love his wife,” Leena said. “She’s caring for my baby today.”

  “Good.” Smiling, Alex gave her an ear bud communicator. She moved to Vince.

  “Just because you always know everything,” Vince said. “Emmy’s pregnant. We were going to tell everyone today. Christmas present and all.”

  Alex hugged him.

  “And I know about Amelia and Frederic,” Vince said.

  “And?”

  “Young love,” Vince shrugged. “Who am I to knock it? Without it, we wouldn’t have Amelia. And before you ask, she’s on birth control, although she says she doesn’t need it.”

  “Congratulations,” Alex said and gave him a communication ear bud.

  “You don’t have to check me, Alex,” Trece said. “I already checked myself.”

  Trece gave an exaggerated wiggle of his eyebrows and Alex laughed.

  “I’m going to guard the back with the kid and the mutt,” Trece said. “Keep the jerk from exiting.”

  After giving him an ear bud communicator, Alex checked his body armor and his parachute for good measure. She was about to move on when he touched her hand.

  “Merry Christmas,” Trece said. “It wasn’t so long ago that I was sitting at Walter Reed on Christmas wondering if you’d make it.”

  Alex nodded.

  “I’m glad you did,” Trece said.

  Alex hugged him. Pete stood next to Trece. Bill was strapped onto his chest. Pete was talking to Bill and petting his head. The dog looked at her with amused eyes.

  “All set?” Alex checked the parachute and body armor. She gave him an ear bud communicator.

  “Yes sir,” Pete said. “Our last jump was in theater. This will be a piece of cake.”

  “I believe there’s cake waiting for us at home,” Alex said.

  “Good to know,” Pete smiled.

  Alex looked up as Margaret jumped from the helicopter.

  “We’re going, Fey,” Matthew said. “Come on.”

  She made a very quick review of Matthew, Troy, Joseph, Colin and Raz before falling in line. She passed the communicators down the line. Raz checked her body armor and parachute.

  “You’re up for this?” Alex asked.

  “Are you?” Raz said.

  The line shifted to the left. Sergeant Dusty gave her a pocket computer.

  “Royce is managing communication between the team and other military units. He’s been in touch with Washington. Peterson is monitoring the air space,” Sergeant Dusty said. “The Admiral would like you to report the moment the matter is resolved.”

  The young man leaned forward to say in her ear.

  “Between you and me, he’s a little miffed you updated the President and not him after the last one. He’s waiting at your house,” Sergeant Dusty leaned back. “I have team communication and coordination with the Denver Police.”

  “Thank you,” Alex said. “Is it hard not to go?”

  Sergeant Dusty and Royce both nodded.

  “We will be one hundred percent next year,” Royce said. “Right Dusty?”

  Sergeant Dusty nodded. He pointed as Raz jumped from the helicopter. Alex took a running start and jumped after him. In the air, she found Matthew, Troy, and Raz waiting for her. Joseph and Colin had already begun their military freefall. She formed a perfect arrow and blew past Troy. Laughing and hooting, Troy was hot on her heels. Over her ear bud, she heard Margaret, MJ, Leena and Vince make the more technical drop onto the small strip of grass called Bayaud Park. She and Troy continued the race until landing together in the US Air Force “Accounting” department parking lot on Quebec Street.

  The “Accounting” department was a remnant from when the Lowry neighborhood was a US Air Force Base. The plan had been to move the “Accounting” office but they never found a suitable, and secure, location. Alex had only ever heard it called the “Accounting” department, quotation marks and emphasis included. She made a mental note to find out exactly what “Accounting” went on there. They left their parachutes with the armed guard and ran east toward Colin’s house.

  With Colin and Troy in the lead, and Matthew and Joseph in between, she and Raz fell in behind. Over their ear buds, Vince announced that they were in place. A few minutes later, Trece announced that he, Pete, and “the mutt” were in position.

  Colin slowed and started walking, then waited for her at the Police barricade. She showed her Department of Defense ID and they went through the barricade to Colin’s house. The Denver Police SWAT team had set up a tactical vehicle at the end of the block. Alex and the men were escorted inside.

  She nodded to Raz. As a former NYPD police detective, he acted as the liaison for the team with local police. Within minutes, he was seated at a computer terminal where he pulled up the heat and radar readings from the satellite. When he had what they needed, Alex, Joseph, and Matthew left the truck to watch.

  “You’re a go,” Alex said and raised a pair of binoculars to her eyes.

  Vince use a compound bow to anchor a rope in the soffit of the roof just above the closet window. Leena set up a belay and ropes to assist Margaret’s climb to the window without creating noise on the roof. Margaret strapped into a harness.

  “Set,” Vince said.

  “Agent Hargreaves?” Joseph pointed to Colin.

  Colin called Paddie on the phone.

  “I hear a phone ringing,” Margaret said. “I thought the phone was on vibrate.”

  “He’s moving to the back of the house,” Raz said.

  “Daddy?” She heard Paddie’s voice over through her communication ear bud.

  “Hey buddy,” Colin said into the phone. “I’m outside. You remember Margaret?”

  “The Indian?” Paddie asked in her ear bud. “She thinks cowboys are bad guys, but I think cowboys can be good guys.”

  Alex smiled. It was so like Paddie to want to debate the goodness of cowboys in the middle of a crisis.

  “Can you see Margaret at the window?” Colin asked in the phone.

  “Sergeant?” Matthew asked over the communication ear buds.

  “On the move.” Margaret’s answer came in her ear bud. With Leena anchoring her rope, Margaret climbed up to the window. “I’m at the window waving.”

  “Hi Margaret.” There was a rustling noise in her ear as if Paddie was waving back.

  “Report,” Alex said.

  “Subject moved near the window,” Margaret said. “I see the wife. Sir, there’s a lot of blood. Subject looks terrified. He’s tugging at his diaper.”

  “Ok buddy,” Colin said into the phone. “You have to do me a favor. Can you move back toward the door?”

  “He’s gone to his mom. She’s about midway in the closet,” Margaret said in her ear bud. “He’s tugging on her arm to get her to come with him. She seems just barely conscious.”

  “Will they be injured by the glass?” Alex asked.

  “Yes sir,” Margaret said. “Any attempt to break the glass will spray them with glass.”

  “Option B,” Joseph said in her ear bud.

  Margaret lay back so she was almost upside down. Vince jumped up to give her a cordless drill.

  “Got it.” Margaret rotated into position.

  “He is outside the closet,” Raz said in her ear bud.

  She heard a crashing sound over her ear buds.


  “I think he is knocking the books off the shelves,” Raz said. “Can’t tell.”

  “Paddie, you must be silent,” Colin said.

  “Like naptime?” Paddie whispered.

  “Yes,” Colin said.

  “We need to do this,” Raz said. “He’s checking something metal probably a weapon, maybe a shot gun. Armor piercing rounds would kill them both in a matter of seconds.”

  Matthew and Alex ran to the front door.

  “In place,” Alex said.

  “Go,” Joseph said in her ear bud.

  Alex unlocked the front door and took a step inside.

  F

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  “Colin?” Alex yelled. “Hey, Col, are you here?”

  “He’s moving to the front door,” Raz said.

  Margaret drilled through the aluminum window lock. Alex stepped aside to let Matthew in the house.

  “Done,” Margaret said.

  “DPD reminds us that this man is armed and dangerous,” Raz said.

  “Go,” Joseph said.

  Margaret lifted the transom window and lowered herself inside. Vince strapped into the ropes and climbed to the window.

  “Hey Colin! Julie!” Matthew yelled. “I think you’re right, Alex. They must be out.”

  Alex heard footsteps coming toward them.

  “He’s almost to you,” Raz said. “He set the weapon down in the kitchen. Wait! I have movement. There’s another person in the house. Colin, did you do something to your basement?”

  “Steel and cement. Like Alex’s house,” Colin said. “Why?”

  “Couldn’t see him with the scans,” Raz said. “Another person is coming up the basement stairs. Could be more down there. What’s in your basement?”

  “My office, entertainment system, workout room,” Colin said.

  “Computers,” Raz said. “Did you ever log onto the new system from there?”

  “Never,” Colin said.

  “You’re positive?” Raz said.

  “Never ever,” Colin said.

  “Good,” Raz said.

  A tired looking, average-sized man came from the back of the house. As if they had troubled him on Christmas Day, his face expressed his annoyance.