by Geri Foster
Rye spent enough time alone with Hussein to learn he and Qamar had been the men who’d fed her the wrong information and led them into an area they couldn’t get out of. Also, he had somehow managed to take down the equipment needed to call for help. Even her hands had been tied.
It took the Military Court a while to make up their minds, but they finally let him go, and assigned him to another team. She didn’t work with him after that. He’d been sent to Somalia, Ecuador and Turkey. They’d kept him away from Afghanistan.
Why they allowed that to happen? Harper suspected Crash.
He’d known Rye took out Hussein and could no doubt take out Qamar if given the opportunity. That’s why he’d gone to Rye, asked him to do this one last mission. And he’d accepted.
However, in all fairness, Harper also thought Rye should be given the opportunity to bring in Qamar. He had a reputation for being tricky and resorting to all kinds of ways to avoid capture, but Rye could outsmart a fox. Clever with stealth. He’d get him, she knew for certain.
“You guys are going out tonight,” she announced, knowing they were anxious to get the assignment started. “We want the locals to get used to seeing your faces, so when their leader comes to town they won’t have anything to panic about. If we wait until Qamar comes, showing our faces might be a dead giveaway.”
“So, what’s our mission tonight?”
“Just mingle with the people. We’ve not been doing drive- bys for fear it might make the locals nervous. It’s time we make our presence known.”
“Do you think Qamar will recognize him?” Roper pointed to Rye. “What if they see him?”
“No, it was dark and the Team’s identity was concealed. When we finally got there to try to save them we were able to take out most of Qamar’s men with an Apache helicopter carrying Hellfire missiles.”
“Damn,” Comrade whistled. “That’s some heavy duty equipment there.”
“It’s all we had in the area. The size of Qamar’s followers came as a surprise. Even I didn’t see that coming. We think they’d been hiding in the caves several miles away. And more were seen being trucked in from Kandahar. It’s also suspected they might have been hiding in Char over the border of Pakistan.”
“But your intel didn’t show that big of a contingent?” Rye asked, his eyes laser focused. “We were out on a raid, we knew they were making a money drop, but we weren’t expecting more than twenty men at the most.”
“That’s all I could account for,” she replied. “None of the drones picked up a thing.”
“I see,” Rye said, his gaze directed at the door. “Then I have to wonder how they got here so fast. They were on us come daylight. You were feeding me info. Where, Harper, did they come from?”
“I don’t know, Rye. I thought we had this covered completely.”
“It’s hard to sneak a hundred men into one location without seeing something.”
“I know. I’d been on the monitors all night and I didn’t see a thing.”
“Wait a minute,” Roper put up his hand. “You said they cut your communications where you couldn’t call for help.”
“That’s correct.” She nibbled her bottom lip. “I used a SAC phone to call in the closest Team but they were in Kandahar. Seventy-two klicks away. By the time they reached Rye’s Team, there was little they could do besides get him out and protect the bodies of the dead.”
“Could they have messed with your other communications? What if they used something that prevented you from seeing certain things?”
“You mean like a cloaking device?” She hadn’t thought of that.
“Yeah, like in Star Trek. Those Klingons could put up their shields and Captain Kirk couldn’t see them.”
Harper closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead. Dear God.
“No man, I’m serious.” Roper’s eyes lit up. “Aren’t any of you Trekker fans at all? I never miss a rerun.”
Harper hated to admit it, but even in a country as backwards and out of the way as Afghanistan, they were known to have some pretty sophisticated gadgets. Mostly they came out of Pakistan, who stole the ideas for them from America.
“It’s not entirely impossible,” she admitted. “But I don’t want to sound like I’m covering my own ass here. I stayed on top of everything. Those men came out of nowhere. If I’d even had a hint Rye and his Team were going up against a contingent that large, I would’ve called in air and fire power first.”
Rye held up his hands and lowered his head. “Listen, there’s no way to change the past. But now there’s only four of us and we can’t afford for anything to go wrong this time.”
He glared at her. He didn’t think she’d done her job that night and it showed in his eyes. Worse, he thought she might be in on it. After all, five million dollars is a lot of money. But, not enough for her to betray her country.
She folded her arms, turned and went to her office. It was set right off the Comm Center, but she needed to get away from Rye’s accusing glare.
She’d no sooner stepped into her sacred space, where no one entered without an invitation, and gotten comfortable when Rye came in unannounced and closed the door.
“Get out of here,” she demanded, jumping to her feet. She pointed a damning finger at him. “Do you honestly think I’d set you up? That I’d get seven elite SEALs killed for what, money?” She let out an angry breath. “We made love an hour before you left. Do you think I’m that kind of person?”
“I don’t know what to think. You weren’t too flattering when you gave your deposition at the hearing.”
What the hell did he say?
“Were we both at the same hearing?” she asked, not believing her ears. “Because I remember saying you were the best Navy SEAL I’ve ever worked with.”
“You also said I was impulsive, demanding, and a rule breaker.”
She lowered her shoulders, closed her eyes and shook her head. He couldn’t be serious. She opened her eyes and shot him a heated glance. “Rye, that’s all true. How many times have you done as you damn well please out there in the field? Almost every time I’ve sent you on a mission. That doesn’t make you a bad SEAL or bad at your job or a bad person. It’s just the way you are. You go more on instincts than orders.”
“That’s not a good thing for a military man. His job is to follow orders.”
“Yours has always been to do as much damage to the enemy as you can and get your men back alive. Every man who served under you knew that and respected you for it.”
“Admirals don’t consider things like that as a sign of valor. They questioned me about it for hours. Wanted to know how many times I’d went off on my own.”
“Well, they didn’t put you in the brig, so I can only assume you didn’t tell them or else they’d have kicked you out without your retirement.”
His sober look scared her. He no longer resembled the man she’d once known. Not the man she’d sent on his final mission.
“I lied through my teeth.”
She faked a smile. “I figured you would. But, I’m different, Rye. I had to tell the truth. If they had tripped me up, we’d both have lost and I have too much to do before I retire.”
He leaned his hips against her credenza, folded his arms and grinned the sexiest, crooked smile a man could ever possess. He hadn’t changed that much. Yes, there was a hint of grey at his temples, a few new wrinkles, and lesser bulk, but otherwise he appeared about perfect.
“So, you’re taking that job?”
She glanced away. “You of all people should realize I’ve been doing this for twenty years. I’ve never lived stateside. All my years have been in the field. Yes, occasionally I get to DC for a class, a briefing, or to testify before Congress, but this and places like this, are the only homes I’ve known.”
He looked around. “I never thought much about that. I guess you’re right. After a mission, me and my Team went home until the next call up. You never left with us.”
She shook her head. “No
, it’s been Quonset huts and cinderblock buildings for a very long time.” She sat back down, folding her hands on her desk. “Maybe I’d like a little commute.”
He laughed and her heart fluttered in her chest. “You’d enjoy that for about ten minutes.”
“Well, then how about a mall, clothes shopping, a movie, dinner at a restaurant? I rarely get to do any of those things.”
“It has been rough for you, hasn’t it, Harper? You’ve dedicated your life to this.” He waved his arm. “No Christmas at home, not much of anything.”
“I did spend a few holidays with my family, but then I realized how little I have in common with them. How difficult it is to talk to people not in the military.”
“You deserve that job.”
“I could simply retire. I have my years in. They’ve agreed to give me credit for time with other agencies.”
He studied her for a long time, and she recognized the old familiar look in his eyes. The one calling to her like the only way a man could to a lonely woman with too much on her mind to ever think about love.
“Why don’t we finish the business here and you come and visit me in Florida for a few weeks. See how it feels to be a civilian?”
“I heard you’d retired there. Do you like it?” The invitation relieved a lot of tension between them. Maybe he wasn’t still mad.
He shrugged. “It’s as good as any place. I can’t say I’m madly in love with it, but it’s an okay place to live. Can’t complain about the weather.”
“I think if I ever leave here, I’m going home.”
“Where’s that?”
“Believe it or not, I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas and I wouldn’t mind going back.”
“Texas?” He looked up, as if rolling the word around in his mouth. “I don’t think I’ve been there.”
“It’s like a chameleon. It changes with each visit. But, I think that might be my next stop.”
“A Texas girl. I never figured you for that.”
“What did you think? I was born in one of these smothering huts?”
“No, I just assumed you were a Yankee.”
“A Yankee?” Where did he get that idea from?
“Because you’re so damn smart. Didn’t you go to Harvard?”
“Yes, and I have a doctorate from Yale.”
“See, you’re smart.”
“And one can’t be smart if you’re from Texas?”
“No,” he said, his brow wrinkling. “You should be a horse rider, maybe join Roper in the rodeo circuit.”
“Are you kidding me? That would be so much fun.”
He held up his hands. “I’m only kidding. I know a lot of people from Texas who are brilliant.” He stared at her. “You’re one of them.”
Her door opened and Commander Sullivan stepped in. She’d not received any intel stating he would be part of the mission. To say it caught her by surprise was an understatement.
One glance at Rye and she realized he and Crash had discussed Sully joining them. The men shook hands and smiled. They’d had a good relationship for years. Then Rye’s Team went down, and Commander Sullivan went on with another SEAL team.
“You and your men are to take a trip to Kandahar at zero dark thirty tonight. It’ll look like a regular run for supplies from our base there. While traveling through town, you’ll have cameras posted on the outside of the vehicle to capture any suspicious personnel. We want to know how many of Qamar’s people have returned back from wherever they’ve been hiding.” Sully acted like he was the man in charge, and he wasn’t.
Harper jumped to her feet. “You get this from the CIA?” she asked, none too politely. She’d been expecting Tanker Brooks most of the day. He was scheduled to run the op from here.
“Yeah, they briefed me on the way. I was in Somalia when I got word Rye was coming back to the sandlot.”
“What about Tanker? He’s inbounded as well.”
“No, they called him back and assigned me to another Task Force.”
Rye and Harper shared a confused look.
“Crash told me you were on a completely separate assignment here.”
“I am,” Sully replied. “I shared that bit of intel they briefed me with on the way out. I’m here because I have two hostages to retrieve.”
“There are hostages nearby?” Harper asked, taken completely by surprise.
“Yes,” Sully stated bluntly.
“What exactly are we hoping for here?” Rye asked, directing his question to Sully. His gaze then swung to her. “Do you honestly think with another SEAL operative here Qamar will show his face?” He scoffed. “You’ll never know he’s even close.”
“We still need to catch him,” Harper said. “If we get a visual on him, we can bring him in. That’s why we’ve rigged the vehicle up with cameras.”
“My mission here has nothing to do with Qamar. I’m to rescue two CIA hostages from Habib Karzi. I’m waiting for word to pick the money up at Kandahar Airbase.”
“So, you’re not here to help with bringing in Qamar? You’re dealing with Karzi?” Rye asked, his eyes wide. Harper knew Rye wanted to set the parameters before doing anything.
“Yes,” Sully said. “I should be gone in two, three days at the most.”
Rye stepped closer. “You do know that Karzi is chieftain over this entire region? He’s a cold-blooded murderer. I find him, he’s dead.”
Sully held up his hands. “Not my job. I pay him the money and bring home the hostages. Nothing else. That’s the entire scope of my mission.”
“Well, I’ll be a son of a bitch.”
Chapter Six
Rye and his men prepared for the trip to Kandahar. A Marine named Donovan would drive, allowing his guys the opportunity to check out the locals and try to get a fix on the attitude and movements of the small town.
They loaded up with plenty of firepower, and a second vehicle followed with a gun turret. While they were there to keep the Taliban away and the people safe, they weren’t about to take any chances. And besides, the people of Qalat were used to military vehicles.
They pulled out of the base then moved down the narrow street between row after row of second story cinderblock and stucco homes. Several had locked gates in front of their doors, others used rear entrances Rye knew were well-fortified.
While there had been no violence since he hunted down and killed Hussein, the people were nervous because the drug lord reigning over them might not live next door, but he watched their every move.
The small convoy turned the corner and drove into the town’s marketplace. This late at night they found it deserted, with no one roaming the streets, but Rye knew the Afghans stood guard. Ever conscious of the Americans in their country and their lives.
If all went well, nothing would cause alarm. They’d go to Kandahar Airbase, load up on supplies and head back to Qalat. Then they’d do it again and again until the locals didn’t bother to watch them so closely. Only then would they make their move. They’d divert from their usual route and go further into the area Qamar’s men were known to be.
In Kandahar Province the American base was bigger, more active and worked to help the people adjust to becoming a decent government. They also coordinated with British troops and the Afghan National Army of Special Forces. All their efforts were in vain. The Taliban and ISIS bombed the area as often as they could get away with. Not long ago, the airport in Kabul had been bombed and fourteen were killed.
Traveling under the protection of darkness, Rye kept an eye out for anyone or anything out of the ordinary. The three SEALs who joined him didn’t comprise a Team, but ultimately they were his responsibility to keep alive.
They left Qalat behind and headed into No Man’s Land. Any distance between cities or towns where nothing existed but a few goat farmers was considered such. The terrain grew more rugged and inhospitable as the people of the region scraped out a living. Out in the desert like this, every man knew how to keep his head up. This environment
provided a perfect place for an ambush with no place to hide.
A little over an hour later they pulled in the Kandahar Airbase. They went through the regular check in and picked up their supplies, grabbed a decent meal at the chow hall, then a few casual beers at the base club. Soon Rye received an escort into the commander’s office. He had a piece of intel equipment the CIA shipped for Harper and the commander wanted it taken to the compound.
He knew why Rye and his men were there and he offered any and all assistance, but he refused to get his men involved. Better they do this as planned. If a large increase of personnel became noticed, the locals would get edgy and all hell would break loose. Rye explained they had time. The people of Qalat had just begun the poppy season, it wouldn’t be long before Qamar came for his share of the money and when he did, Rye would be there to get him and any men he brought with him.
Within two hours they headed back, comfortable that they would be arriving before morning light and hopefully the people of the town wouldn’t take notice.
They were about thirty klicks out when two old pickups drove up to them. They didn’t see any weapons, so they tried to play it cool. It wasn’t unusual to be held up here by people from anywhere. They wanted their supplies so they could sell them back to the Americans.
There was a chance they could just be curious, or perhaps, Qamar grew antsy. Weapons at the ready, they pulled over allowing the men to pass if they wanted. Rye had absolutely no plans to give up a thing. They’d have to take it.
The pickup stopped, a man got out and began speaking Dari. Rebel immediately replied and before too long they were shouting at each other.
Rye held up his hand and asked. “What do they want?”
“He claims to want the supplies we just picked up. They’re a gang of local thugs, used to getting their way.”
Rye looked at the Marine. “Drive, let’s get back to the compound.” He pinched his mic. “If it gets squirrelly, start shooting. I think these guys are bluffing. They aren’t going to fire on American personnel.”
