by John Charles
Once inside the truck, Aaron saw what looked like a NASA command center. Monitors and keyboards lined the walls. Down the center of the space was a bench seat with backs that could be placed on either side or removed completely, allowing access to equipment on both sides of the space. One monitor showed the same view as his laptop had just moments before. Other monitors showed the area from different angles and elevations.
"This is our mobile command center," said Declan, as he introduced Aaron to the man and woman already working in the truck. "Shaun suggested Aaron work with you. He is quite the geek, so don't be afraid to pick his brain. And he has been cleared so he can see whatever you see."
Jen and Greg said hello quickly, while continuing to look for the kidnappers. Aaron looked at the equipment and made his way to the bench near Jen.
He opened his laptop, placed it on the tray near Jen and using his touchpad, moved around the map. Jen noticed Aaron's screen and said, "I can give you a better view." She typed a command into the browser and Aaron's screen mimicked the one she was using. "The satellite you were using is one of our earlier versions. This one gives a better image and has the latest scanners onboard. I'd let you use one of our monitors, but this center is designed for two. You can plug in here and use our onboard server instead of the mobile data link."
Using the map Shaun had given him, Aaron set up a street-by-street routine search pattern. He quickly moved over large attached buildings spending more time on the stand-alone warehouses. Seeing his competence, Greg and Jen split the area into three segments, allowing Aaron to use his laptop to assist in the search.
"Most of these are empty right now." Aaron said. "We need a building with at least seven people in it." They agreed and continued to look for their target building.
Shaun and Natalie entered the truck a few minutes later. "This system is unique," he said as he explained the abilities of the command center. "We can see into virtually any building or vehicle. When the sun is bright, we have other imaging systems. At night, the infrared and other top-secret scanners are able to detect the smallest of movements."
Natalie looked over Aaron's shoulder to see the map he was using. She was amazed at the detail available from the satellite. "Please don't remind me about this when I go into the locker-room at the gym," she laughed. "I really don't want to know how much they," she said pointing to the sky," can really see."
"We should leave them to their jobs," said Shaun as he and Natalie left the truck.
Working as quickly as possible, Aaron, Jen, and Greg checked the buildings in their respective quadrants. It was tedious and boring, but had to be done quickly while maintaining a high level of confidence.
Aaron was getting frustrated with the tedious activity, when he yelled, "I think I found something."
Both Jen and Greg stopped what they were doing and looked at Aarons screen. "Here, this building shows people moving as well as several that seem to be standing still. My eye caught this when I scanned the neighboring street. These people have not moved since then. Oh my God, there are seven of them," he said looking at Jen. "Could this be their hideout?"
Greg radioed Shaun to come to the command center. "We might have a hit."
Shaun entered the truck and said, "Show me what you have."
Greg pointed to Aaron's monitor. "Tell him what you just told us."
Aaron recapped what he saw and thought. As they watched the monitor, they noticed activity in three rooms in the building. They also saw seven stationary heat sources located along the walls of one room.
"Jen, bring this up on your system and get as close as possible," requested Shaun. "Switch to metal detection and let's see if my thoughts are right."
Her monitor showed the seven stationary figures in what appeared to be cells. "That looks like jail cells," she said. "Those poor kids must be scared out of their minds."
Shaun radioed the coordinates to his urban commando squad leader. "Take two cars and check the building. If you concur with Aaron's findings, we will begin the next phase."
Aaron's heart was pounding in his chest. He was exhibiting signs of fear, nervousness, and anxiety. Shaun, Jen, and Greg had all felt the same in prior cases. The difference between them and Aaron was experience and time on the job.
Shaun looked at Aaron and asked, "How well does Ethan know you? Would he recognize you in a crowded room?"
"Yes, he would. He's been in my lab on several occasions. Why?"
"Because you are the decoy for this operation and we need him to know we are there. If he sees anyone else, he'll probably think they were with the kidnappers. Can you keep it together for this?"
Aaron nodded slowly, and then said, "What do you need me to do?"
Chapter 22
Shaun and Aaron left the command center to find the others gathered near the Andrews van. Declan had given each team a map showing the building that Aaron had found and was reiterating the need to capture the kidnappers in the act of auctioning the kids.
When Aaron approached, he saw Natalie smiling. "You did good," she said. "We'll have these kids back home before the night is over; Ethan too." She turned back to listen to Declan explaining what would happen from that point on.
"Two teams are already scoping out the building. Their goal is to determine how it is guarded and whether we can position our people near it without being spotted. As soon as they report back, we'll iron out our plan. Aaron will continue to be the decoy, since Ethan knows his face." Declan looked at Aaron and smiled. "You'll do fine. Just stay out of the line of fire."
Shaun picked up at that point. "Our first goal is to get into position to immobilize the guards when the auction finishes. We want the bidders to complete their transactions in anticipation of receiving their new slaves."
Before he completed his update, the team leader who was dispatched to the building radioed in. "The place is guarded, but not too heavily. Five big guys are walking the perimeter. The guards are not openly carrying, but do have concealed weapons. They probably don't want neighboring tenants suspecting anything. A small sign on the main entry door says Rare Beauty Auctions. From an outsider's point of view, this place looks legit. Even I would understand why it has guards on patrol."
"What about surrounding buildings?" asked Shaun? "From my overhead, I see several that are taller. Can we position a team on each?"
"Affirmative, three are taller; one appears to be the same height. I have men at different vantage points to keep an eye on things. We'll stay in position until you arrive."
Shaun's strategy briefing was interrupted when his radio sounded. "We have activity. A van pulled up to the garage doors. Looks like the driver is on his mobile. Might be calling in." Silence for the following twenty seconds, then "Yup, the doors are opening and he is driving in. Sending pictures."
Shaun's mobile binged indicating a text. He looked at the screen and saw the rear of the truck. The second picture showed the garage bay as the truck drove in. He showed the pictures to everyone and said, "I'm not sure if these guys are for added security or if they might be relief, but our work just got harder."
At seven thirty, the Andrews team walked along the street in front of the adjacent building on foot, in pairs as if simply taking a leisurely stroll. As they approached, a side door opened and they slipped in without being seen. Aaron was surprised to see one of the urban fighters he was introduced to earlier. Before he asked, the guy said, "We have our ways. Best you don't know everything."
The door opened several times over the next five minutes, allowing the Andrews team and four of Shaun's men in as well. Once the MI5 men were in, they ran to the roof and found positions on the side facing the suspect building. The same operation had occurred in the other two taller buildings.
Two additional vans approached the garage door. Each was given access after making a mobile call. Jen and Greg had tapped the local mobile tower but there were too many calls to isolate these two.
At seven fifty five, Aaron received a text
saying the video feed is live. He removed his laptop from his duffle bag and logged into the site he had been given earlier, by Greg. "It's beginning," he said to those in the room. He set his laptop on a desk so everyone could see the screen. On it was the same podium they saw in the pre-auction video.
Everyone was quiet, each wondering what would happen next. Shaun had given the signal to the roof teams to begin their operation. He then took Aaron by the arm and led him to a door near the rear of the building. When I receive the signal, all the exterior guards will have been immobilized. You will be escorted to the building. Once we see Ethan being brought to the podium, we'll sneak you in. You need to keep it together. Make sure Ethan sees you and make sure he stays quiet."
Aaron and the others watched the auction take place. Bidding was fast and emotionally charged. An electronic scoreboard positioned behind the podium showed the bids as they were received. The off camera voice kept things moving. When the bidding, for one of the children slowed, he harassed the bidders saying things like; "Is that all? This boy, or girl, is worth more than that! Don't waste my time with this piddling amount of money. It cost me more than that just to get this slave ready for auction!" In each case his prodding worked. When bidding stopped, he called it a sale and someone from off camera hung a sold sign over the neck of the boy or girl on the podium. Each youngster was openly crying at that point.
Everyone in the room watched in silence as the children were marched off the podium. Their lives, in their minds, were over. Two had to be carried off the podium as they had collapsed during the final moments of the bidding.
Aaron was visibly shaking from what he was seeing. "How can anyone do that and sleep at night?" he said to the room receiving no reply.
During the auction, Shaun received updates from various teams as they completed their prescribed missions. He had seen many horrible situations during his tenure with MI5, but even he couldn't help being emotionally charged by what he was witnessing. He found it difficult, but managed to maintain his professional demeanor as he continued to command the final stages of the operation.
When Ethan was being marched to the podium, Shaun said, "Okay Aaron, you're up!"
Chapter 23
Aaron, Shaun, Akerheart, and Robins exited the rear door. Aaron was led to a side door of the kidnapper's building. Several urban fighters joined them en route.
Looking to his side, Aaron noticed several of the guards were tied up, gagged, and lying on the grass behind the building. He whispered, "What happened to them?"
"Tranquilizer darts," said Akerheart. "We want everyone alive." Akerheart put his finger to his mouth, "Need to stay quiet now."
One of the fighters had a device that looked like a box with a tablet mounted on top. He held it to the door, tapped several buttons on the screen, and nodded. "Only two in this room." Aaron looked at the screen and was amazed to see the inside of the room as if he were looking at an x-ray. He could clearly see the room, cells with the people in them, and two men standing guard. The image had a science fiction look to it.
"Developed for anti-insurgent warfare in Iraq. It allows us to see inside buildings. Kept a lot of soldiers alive," whispered the man standing next to him. "You wait here until we give you the word."
The fighter opened the door, barged in and shot one of the guards with a tranquilizer dart. Before the other could move a muscle, the second fighter had dropped him with a perfect shot to his upper chest. The first fighter held his finger to his lips as he turned to count the boys and girls in cages around the room.
By that point, a dozen men were in the room, including Aaron. Akerheart held Aaron's arm and guided him to a curtained doorway. He mouthed, "The stage," as he pulled the curtain back just enough to see Ethan standing on the podium. He could see Simon and the off camera voice as they orchestrated the auction. The bidding for Ethan was chaotic. The electronic sign had trouble keeping up with the speed of the bidding.
Ethan had tears running down his face and was trembling, almost violently, as the auctioneer and Simon pushed the bids higher. As the off camera voice indicated in the pre-auction video, Ethan was going to garner well in excess of a million pounds. As they watched, the number hit two million and kept climbing. Suddenly, Akerheart froze as he looked into the chamber. There were over a dozen men, dressed in costumes with facemasks, as if enjoying a masquerade party. Most were bidding against each other for the boy on stage. Others simply watched. All were so involved they didn't know their lives were going to come crashing down in a few minutes.
Akerheart pulled back and walked Aaron to another door. Several of the MI5 operatives stood in front of them, opened the door, and immobilized the men standing guard. Aaron, Akerheart and their team, quietly walked to the end of the narrow hallway, which opened to the rear of the auction chamber.
Aaron and Akerheart made their way to the middle of the back wall and stood still. As the bidding continued, Ethan could be seen looking around the room as if trying to understand what was happening to him. When his eyes focused on the far wall, he saw Aaron and Akerheart. Both had fingers on their lips. Ethan's eyes almost gave them away. He realized he was going to be okay, stood taller, and brought his hands to the back of his head as if giving up.
Simon and the auctioneer saw the change in Ethan and used it to their advantage. "Look, he has finally understood that he is a slave. He is worth millions now." The bidding went into a frenzy. Aaron and Akerheart, not wanting to get caught, motioned to Ethan that they were moving to the outer room. Aaron smiled and mouthed, "You're safe," as he made his way back to the corridor.
When he returned to the holding room, he saw the cells had new occupants. The boys and girls had been led from the building. The cells now contained the guards who were immobilized with the tranquilizer darts. "Where did they take them?" whispered Aaron.
"We have several ambulances in the space opposite the next building. They are being checked by doctors right now. As soon as this is over, they'll go to hospital for a full checkup," whispered, Natalie as she pulled Aaron into a hug. "Keep it together, we still have to capture the others and keep Ethan safe."
As the bidding ended, the auctioneer was heard saying, "You have twenty four hours to complete the transaction. If the money is not in the numbered account, by then, your deposit will be forfeited and the slave will go to the next highest bidder." The video feed closed. He turned to Simon and smiled. Both men were clearly happy at the amount of money Ethan brought them.
The party over, the spectators moved toward the door to the garage, anticipating a ride back to their cars. Suddenly a loud voice came from a bullhorn, telling everyone to stay put and place their hands on top of their heads. "Do it now!" shouted the voice to the startled people in the room.
Police, Swat teams, and MI5 operatives rushed to each of the startled partiers. Hands were cuffed behind their backs and masks were removed.
Thinking he could escape, Simon ran from the stage right into Akerheart's arms. "Going somewhere?" said Akerheart as he handed Simon over to an MI5 operative. The auctioneer was quickly apprehended, cuffed, and brought to the cell room. He joined one of his guards in a cell.
Not fully understanding what was happening in front of him, Ethan didn't move. He was frozen in place. When Aaron walked from behind the curtain, Ethan realized he was free and jumped into Aaron's arms. He wrapped Aaron in a hug so tight it took Aaron's breath away. Ethan had both arms and feet around his savior. "I was so scared. I was so scared," he repeated, not letting go of Aaron as he trembled and cried.
Aaron was easily able to hold Ethan as he walked back into the cell room. There, Natalie wrapped a blanket around Ethan's naked form, but Ethan would not let go of Aaron, so she pushed the edges between his and Aaron's body to keep it in place. Aaron hugged Ethan as tightly as he could without hurting the now very fragile young man. "You're safe now. Everything will be alright," he whispered to the violently sobbing boy.
When he heard Simon shouting, Ethan managed to
lift his head from Aaron's chest. What he saw surprised and startled him. Akerheart and Robins were stripping Simon as he stood in one of the seven crates lined along the wall. "They were going to ship us in those," he said. Then he looked at Simon and said, "Why? Why did you do this to me?"
Akerheart and Robins held him as Simon angrily replied, "Your father, that's why?"
Not having any idea what he meant by his reply, Ethan said, "What does this have to do with my father?"
Simon struggled against Akerheart's grip. He was furious and his anger showed in his actions. "That man abandoned my mother and me. He left us and refused to acknowledge that we were his family. I should be here going to camp, not you," he shouted as he pointed to Ethan.
"Robert is not your father Simon. Eliana got pregnant, but not with Robert. When he offered to help, she refused saying she could not leave the country," said Aaron.
"Liar! You're lying to protect him," he shouted back.
Akerheart had had enough of Simon for a long time. "You are in for quite a ride. Wait until the bidder, who thinks he won Ethan, sees you in the delivery crate."
Simon screamed, "You can't do that."
While Simon screamed reasons why they couldn't do what they were doing, Robins grabbed a ball gag that was sitting on a shelf next to the crate, put it in Simon's mouth, strapped it behind his head, and forced his naked body into the crate. Then holding the dart gun in front of his eyes, he pulled the trigger. Simon's eyes opened in sheer horror as he realized what they had done, struggled to get free, and slowly faded into a drug induced sleep.
Aaron held Ethan tightly as they watched the event unfolding, and then followed Natalie out of the building. Flashing lights from police cars, Swat trucks, and ambulances, filled the once dark night. Strong spotlights were aimed at the now open garage door as the people who witnessed the auction were led out of the building. Many were shouting at the police saying they had rights, others shouting obscenities as they were cuffed to seats in the police vans.
