“So you just walked in here and started making accusations,” Ricochet snapped.
She turned her head slowly, looked him up and down with her big brown eyes and smiled. “No. Ricochet, is it? I wanted their attention but did my questioning around town. I knew it wouldn’t take long before I would hear from them and I was right, as I often am.”
She was full of herself, he thought rolling his eyes.
“They thoughtfully contacted me by placing several dead raccoons around the house I rented. A few of them inside. One in my bed along with a note telling me to go back to Africa where I belonged.”
“Of course you didn’t,” Rico said mimicking her conceited voice.
“Of course not. What kind of operative would I be? If I ran every time I found something dead left for me I wouldn’t have a job. Anyway,” she said, looking away from him, “I increased the pressure. A few town meetings, some strategically placed posters and they came back.”
“Just what did you hope to accomplish by gettin’ them all pissed off?”
“I wanted to show the town what a bunch of hillbilly asses they were and that it was up to them to help the authorities disband this group and run them out of town. I also needed to get some personal information about the leader. Seems the feds aren’t sure who he is, where he came from or where he gets his money to support such an operation.”
She looked at Sam. “I don’t suppose you got him?”
“No, he ran.” Sam hissed between her teeth. She didn’t move fast enough and he was still on the loose.
“Well, don’t feel bad. He has a knack for placing his patsies out front and hiding in the back ground. Maybe some of these other losers will spill some info on him.”
“You work for the feds?” Boomer asked.
“No, I work for myself, as I said before.”
“Then how do you know so much about all this?” Kong questioned.
“A girl has her sources, as I’m sure you do.”
“Got a little too close, didn’t ya? I can’t imagine you wanted to be held captive.” Ricochet’s cocky attitude was blatant.
Ronnie sighed. “No, that wasn’t part of the plan, but I did know someone would be sent in to retrieve me.”
“You knew?” Sam asked.
“I don’t go into an operation without a backup plan.”
“You saw the man, rode with him, surely that’s something the feds can use.” Sam said.
“Yeah, it’s something, but I didn’t get his name and that would have been the golden ticket, so to speak. I’m afraid I failed my mission.” Her gaze darted away from the team as she spoke.
“I wouldn’t say it failed. If it weren’t for you being held we wouldn’t have been called in and all these people would still be running free. My guess is none of them will walk.” Sam told her.
“True, it is a big victory for this town. They won’t walk down their streets in fear tonight.”
A high-pitched whistle came across the open field. Kong turned and looked, and then nodded and waved.
“We have to disappear soon. Boomer, you need help wrapping up the equipment?”
“Wouldn’t hurt.”
“Okay, let’s gather our equipment and meet at the extraction point. It was a pleasure, Ronnie,” he said, reaching out and shaking her hand.
“It was my pleasure, and an honor to meet Black Smoke.”
Boomer shook her hand, gave her one of his cockeyed smiles and headed toward his equipment. Kong jogged across the field toward the agent he was working with.
“Good luck to you, Ronnie,” Sam said shaking her hand.
Ricochet backed up and began to walk away.
“Would it be okay if we talked sometime? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” Ronnie asked, never taking her eyes from Sam.
“Sure.”
“I’ll catch you before you leave,” she said backing away herself.
“Hey, Ricochet,” she yelled behind him.
He stopped, grumbled to himself and turned. “Yeah.”
“You didn’t give me the chance to thank you.”
“None needed.” What, she wanted to rub in his face the fact that she took his weapon?
“I think there is. I was cornered with no way out.”
“Yeah, well, it happens.” He turned to leave again. There was something that bothered him about her. He didn’t like her in-your-face, high-and-mighty attitude.
“Look, I know I seem bitchy but I’m not, at least not when I’m not working. I take my job very seriously, just as I’m sure you do. But I do know when I screw up and I’m not above thanking those who bail me out. You put your ass on the line for me and I appreciate it.”
He didn’t know what to say. Now that they were alone she talked differently. Her words were still crisp and precise when she spoke but her attitude was more down-to-earth. Her big brown eyes were warm and inviting and when she genuinely smiled two dimples peeked out from her cheeks. The top buttons on her blouse were ripped away, leaving the thin material gaped open revealing plump, light brown cleavage.
“It’s cool,” he finally said. “You’d do the same, probably have.”
“It’s different when it’s done for you.”
The friendly moment was shattered when the report of gun sounded. Just a yard away from their feet, dirt kicked up. Instincts took over. They both dived to the ground.
“Ricochet, you okay?” Kong yelled into the radio.
“Affirmative. Where the hell did that come from?” He poked his head up and saw agents scrambling around in the field.
“My guess is the tree line. Seems we’ve overlooked someone.”
“It’s the old man,” Ronnie said looking at Ricochet. “I know it is.”
“You think he’s that good a shot?”
“I don’t know, but my gut tells me it’s him.”
Another shot rang out, this time sending the bullet inches from Ronnie’s side. She rolled toward Ricochet, bumping into him.
“He’s movin’.”
“Report!” Kong yelled.
“We’re okay. Tell me the rest of you guys are bein’ shot at.”
“Sorry, buddy. You’re the lucky ones today.”
“You want to make a run for the building?” Ronnie asked looking over her shoulder.
“I never ran before, ain’t gonna start now.” He positioned his rifle, settling the butt against his shoulder and pressed his scope to his eye. “Keep your eyes open, if you see a glint, any movement I don’t care how small you tell me and point me in that direction.”
Another round went off. He could feel the breeze across the top of his bald head. “Son of a bitch, if I had hair that one would have parted it.”
“See that metal target up ahead with the green paint on the head?” Ronnie asked.
“Roger.”
“Look an inch up and into the trees. There’s a tree limb drooping way down. It came from that tree limb.”
“That old man’s pretty damn limber to climb a tree that high.”
“I’m telling you that’s where it came from.”
“Where’s Smoke?” he yelled into his radio.
“I’m here, Rico. Hold your position. I know where that one came from I’m headed that way.”
Another round bounced off the ground directly in front of them.
“We make too big a target sittin’ here like this. You head for cover, I’ve got your back.” When Ronnie didn’t respond, he looked over at her.
She was looking off to the side into the air. “Hey, Ronnie, you okay?”
“Yeah, I’m fine. I’m going to head up field.”
“What the hell for? You have a death wish?”
“I can’t pass up the opportunity to nail his ass, if it’s him.”
“Smoke’s on it. She’ll get whoever it is. You’re just gonna get your ass shot off if you head toward him.”
“You don’t understand.” Ronnie shoved herself off the ground and ran up the field
.
“Oh man,” Rico shrieked and followed. “We got a situation.”
“What the hell is she doing?” Kong yelled into the radio.
“Not sure.” He panted as he ran.
Three shots pierced the ground around her. She didn’t even hesitate, just kept plowing forward. Ricochet gritted his teeth, pumped his legs harder and caught up to her.
“Smoke, tell me you got this son of a bitch,” he snarled.
No answer, but another shot. “Guess not.” He hadn’t been under this kind of fire since he was a foot soldier. A round landed between his feet. He’d had enough. She was going to get them both killed. Pouring on the speed he came right up behind her.
“Ronnie,” he yelled and then dived at her back. He slammed into her, his body weight forcing her to the ground.
They both fell with a bone jarring thud as two more rounds sliced the earth next to them. Ricochet lay there, his body acting as a shield protecting her from the bullets.
“What are you doing?” she growled trying to push him off.
“Keeping you from getting killed. Now stay still.”
“I have to get him. We can’t let him get away,” she said still trying to push her body up.
He lifted his head, scoping the field. Agents fanned out, scanning the tree line with their weapons drawn. Boomer and Kong joined them. Smoke couldn’t be seen, which meant she was already in the trees, hopefully preparing to take down whoever was shooting at them.
“Kong, talk to me.”
“We can’t find him, Ricochet.”
“Why the hell isn’t he shootin’ at you?”
“Isn’t it obvious?” Ronnie barked.
“Yeah, guess you’re right.” They were the only two nonwhites on the field. His eyes darted from side to side looking for some kind of shelter. “See that rusted-out car off to your left?”
“Yeah.” Ronnie’s voice was strained from his weight crushing her.
“We make a run to it, take cover there. Then maybe I’ll be able to draw a bead on him with my rifle. End this once and for all.”
“Anything to get you off me.”
“Never had any complaints before,” he chuckled and rolled off. “Okay, let’s go.”
They both tore across the field, weaving back and forth dodging fire. Dirt puffed into the air around them as each round landed. When they reached the car they dived for cover.
“Keep your head down. I’m gonna see if I can find him.” He pulled his rifle up, setting the barrel on the trunk lid and then pressed his eye to the scope. It was nothing short of luck that the next round fired from exactly where he had his scope aimed.
A few quick calculations in his head, a slight adjustment with his aim and then a pull of the finger sent his round barreling toward the sniper. He held his breath and waited. The slight bounce of the tree limbs from top to bottom was what he wanted and exactly what he saw. Just in case, he cocked his rifle again, rested his finger on the trigger and clenched his jaw.
“Got ’im,” Kong reported. “Nice shot, Rico.”
He jerked his rifle back, slid down on the ground and rubbed his sweating bald head.
“Well?” Ronnie asked.
“He’s down.”
Her eyes widened, her mouth fell open and then she jumped up and ran.
“Here we go again,” he said taking off after her.
They approached the crowd of agents and the rest of his team. Ronnie shoved her way through the crowd with him right next to her. In the center on the ground lay the sniper.
“No. Damn it.” Ronnie shouted throwing her hands up in the air. “It isn’t him. Just one of his damn lackeys.”
“Chill, girl.” Ricochet said looking down at the man that wanted to kill them. “It’s one less.”
“One less yes, but not the one that counts. He’s still out there, probably working on recruiting a whole new damn army. More people will be terrorized and killed.”
Kong turned to his liaison agent. “The old man kill someone?”
“Not that we know of,” he said shrugging. “Something you care to share with us?” he asked Ronnie, suspicion heavy on his face.
She crossed her arms over her chest, looked down at her feet and sighed. “No. I would have been number one though. How long do you think it would have taken to start racking up the numbers? Do you think the next little girl they snatch will be dumped in the middle of town just beaten and raped? I don’t, I think she’ll have a bullet in her head.”
“He’ll be caught, Ronnie,” Boomer said.
“Yeah, but at what cost?”
Ricochet stood quietly, his brain processing everything she said, her body language and her inability to make eye contact. A stark difference from when they were chatting earlier. Suspicion tingled in his stomach.
“I’d like to ask you a few questions,” the agent told her.
“Yeah, sure.”
The group disbanded returning to the duties they’d abandoned when the shooting started. Ricochet stood for a few moments watching her. Still she wouldn’t make eye contact with anyone. Unsure why he even cared, he turned and followed Boomer.
“You need help packin’ up?”
“Wouldn’t turn it down,” Boomer replied.
They crossed the field and headed toward Boomer’s setup point.
“What do you think about that Ronnie woman?” he asked.
“A bit of a wild card.”
“Tell me about it. She damn near got us killed. Runnin’ off half cocked through enemy fire.”
Boomer grunted his response and continued tearing down his equipment. Ricochet helped in silence, his mind still processing her reactions. He ran the whole scene over again in his mind, from the time he arrived at the cage to her outburst when she found out it wasn’t the leader he’d shot.
“She knows somethin’,” he muttered to himself. Her emotions loosened her lips to spill just enough to alert him and the fed. “Where’s she gettin’ her information?” he whispered as he packed batteries in their cases.
She said she had her sources but who were they? Was it an insider with the feds or an insider with the militia group? And what was up with that attitude?
“If I’m right and I usually am,” he mimicked in a prissy high-pitched voice.
“Okay, you need to stop doing that,” Boomer said giving him a strange look.
“Doin’ what?”
“Talking to yourself, especially in that girly voice.” Boomer replayed the comment in the same tone he had.
“You’re funny.” He picked up a rock and whipped it at Boomer. “Somethin’ ain’t right, I’m tellin’ ya.”
“Not arguing that. She knows more than she’s telling. But it isn’t up to us to find out what it is.”
“We should know. I don’t care for bein’ the only one shot at in a field full of agents,” he snarled.
“I know it’s not right, Rico,” Boomer said slapping him on the back. “It sucks and you and I both know it’s something that will follow you for the rest of your life. No matter how hard you try to educate people there are some that just don’t get it.”
“Ignorance I can live with. Bein’ shot at pisses me off.”
“Don’t blame ya.” Boomer packed away the last of his equipment. “A few more hours and we’ll be home and this will be just another day.” A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.
“You just wanna get home and do the nasty with Hannah.”
“Yep.” A full blown smile covered his face now.
“Maybe I’ll pull out my stand-by book and hunt someone up. I could go for some romance tonight myself.”
A distraction was exactly what he needed. Boomer was right, once they were on their way home this would be just another job and they’d soon be on to the next. Ronnie Holter wasn’t his problem. The feds could deal with her.
* * * * *
She did her best to answer the agent’s questions as truthfully as possible. Lies had a tendency to become avalanche
s, tumbling and rolling out of control until they slid right over you. The man seemed satisfied with her answers, took her name and number and released her.
She looked around the field locating each member of the team that helped pull her from certain death. They were good at what they did. The one called Kong seemed to lead the team. It made sense. His level-headed approach was what every leader needed. The one they called Boomer was a big one. He was the gadget guru from what she could tell, and what interesting gadgets he had.
Her gaze settled on Black Smoke kneeling in the field checking her pack. What luck to meet the legendary, mythical, best operative in the biz. She wouldn’t have believed it if she hadn’t seen it herself. The way those men vanished into the tall grass as if they were swallowed by the earth was simply amazing. No one knew she was there. She snuck up on them without anyone having a clue. Oh the techniques she could learn from Black Smoke.
Then there was the dark, charismatic, yet suspicious Ricochet. Oh yes, she noticed his suspicion. It was hard to miss. So was his cockeyed smile, bright eyes, muscular chest, arms, thighs and that sexy bald head. Her hands itched to slide across that smooth, shiny dome. Of course he had other attributes that titillated her senses and she’d love to explore them further too.
Not one to beat around the bush about anything, particularly a hot man who piqued her awareness, and always willing to lay it on the line, she began to formulate a plan that would serve her twice over. If her plan was going to succeed she’d have to work extremely hard. These people weren’t going to allow anyone near them they didn’t trust. With her eyes fixed on Smoke, she headed across the field.
* * * * *
Ricochet and Boomer finished hauling their equipment to the extraction point. Once they were done with Boomer’s they headed to the roof of the cinder block building for his. It didn’t take long—rope, extra ammo and his pack was all he carried. When they came down he glanced out across the field. Agents had set up lights to illuminate the area as they processed evidence. Off to the side, he saw Sam talking with Ronnie.
Ricochet's Rogue (Agent of Mercy, Book Three) Page 3
