***
TJ crouched alongside a boulder with his rifle in hand, staring out at the pinpricks of light flashing in the darkness. Vehicles had been crisscrossing the desert all night, searching. He flexed his hand to get the blood moving through his wounded arm. The temperature had dropped with the sun causing it to ache. Satisfied that none of the lights were heading in their direction he turned and made his way back to the cave where Axe and Deb were camped.
“Are they still looking?” asked Deb from the darkness as he ducked inside.
“Yeah, but north like we thought.” He gave Axe a pat and sat beside him.
“You mean like ‘you’ thought,” she said. “You've done a pretty good job keeping us out of trouble.”
“It’s been a team effort.”
“Just like staying warm. Come sit next to me.”
TJ shuffled across till he was alongside his wife.
“It’s so cold,” Deb said as she snuggled in close, lowering her head to his chest. On her opposite side Axe lay facing the opening of the cave.
TJ sat silently, enjoying the intimacy.
“I’m sorry,” said Deb.
“Sorry for what?”
“Putting my career before you. Not taking the time to build on our relationship.”
TJ sighed. “I’m sorry for the same things. I’m sorry I put the team first when it should have been you.”
Deb chuckled. “That was never going to happen. I married a man dedicated to serving his country and his teammates. I guess I just hoped that I would be a part of that team.”
He slid his injured arm around behind her back and pulled her closer. “Deborah Lines, you are my team.”
There was a soft growl from Axe.
“Oh, you too bud.”
The dog rose from where he was sitting next to Deb and growled again.
“What is it,” she whispered.
“Could be a coyote. I’ll check it out.”
She kissed his cheek. “Be careful.”
TJ rose and followed Axe outside. The dog disappeared into the gloom as he emerged from the cluster of boulders and scanned the horizon. He could see more now that sunrise was less than an hour away. As he patrolled the ridgeline he was on edge, as every cactus resembled a human figure, a potential threat.
Confident that the coast was clear he made his way back. Deb had already updated the Agency on their location and extraction was due at daybreak. He checked his watch. That was only thirty minutes away. He needed to get Deb up and moving.
He was halfway back to the cave when a voice stopped him dead in his tracks.
“Manos arriba, gringo.”
He slowly raised his hands in the air, letting his rifle hang from its sling. A gunman stepped out from behind a boulder a few feet distant, aiming a submachine gun at TJ’s face.
“You’re going to make me rich essé,” the man said.
A terrifying snarl sounded from atop the rock next to the sicario. The man turned and saw Axe poised to strike.
TJ snatched up his rifle and swung it in a tight arc, connecting with the sicario’s temple. As the man dropped he sprayed a burst into the distance, gunshots echoing across the valley. A split second later shouting sounded from the west.
“Axe, come.” TJ sprinted for the cave. Skidding into the opening, he grabbed his bag. “Deb, we’ve got to go.”
“Are you OK?” she asked.
“Yeah, but we’re about to have company.”
This time it was Axe who took point, leading them down a boulder-strewn slope that offered good cover. TJ let Deb and the dog push ahead, turning every few seconds to check for pursuers.
He paused behind a boulder, and in the soft glow of dawn, he spotted a swarm of men scrambling over the hill where they’d camped. Lining one up he squeezed off a shot and was rewarded with a cry of pain.
Muzzles flashed on the hillside and bullets ricocheted off rocks as he turned and sprinted after Deb and Axe. He jinked from side to side to throw off the aim of the attackers. Breathing hard he skirted a cluster of cacti and nearly ran into his wife crouched behind bushes with Axe. “Deb, we need to keep moving.”
She grabbed his leg. “Get down.”
He knelt alongside them. “What’s up?”
“Look.” She pointed at a rise to the east, the direction they were traveling.
TJ spotted figures silhouetted by the orange sunrise. He counted at least six gunmen blocking their escape route.
Gunfire sounded from behind, and he spun, readying his rifle. The bullets struck to his right, cutting off another avenue of escape.
“What are we going to do?” whispered Deb, her weapon held ready.
TJ could hear the fear in her voice. “We go north as fast as we can, stay low.” He grabbed her hand, and they ran together with Axe following behind. Shouting filled the air as the sicarios gave chase. Bullets hissed past and ricocheted off rocks as they weaved between cacti, bushes and rocks.
TJ knew it was only a matter of time before a bullet hit one of them or the men caught up. Strangely he wasn’t afraid. He was overcome with a feeling of rage. Finally, he’d found a connection with his wife, and now these men were going to take that from him. “Keep going,” he yelled as he spun and fired on the closest of the gunmen.
As they dove for cover he fired again and again, cutting down two pursuers. He tossed his two remaining grenades, turned, and sprinted after the others. A quick calculation in his head confirmed he was down to the last of his ammunition.
He found Deb and Axe hunkered down in a cluster of rocks. Deb greeted him with a grim look, her submachine gun held ready. “They’ve cut us completely off.”
TJ took up a firing position behind a rock. He felt the reassuring presence of Axe and glanced down at the loyal dog. He and Deb could surrender, but he owed it to Axe to keep him out of the hands of Barbosa.
Bullets ricocheted off the rocks as the cartel goons moved in.
“TJ, you can’t let him fall into their hands again. We won’t get a second chance at finding him,” Deb said softly as she stroked the dog’s ears.
“I know.” He choked back tears.
TJ could see a line of men approaching from the east. A glance around confirmed that the others were holding firm.
“It’s now or never,” he said softly.
Deb’s eyes were rimmed with tears. “I can’t watch.”
“He won’t feel a thing.”
At that moment a ripping sound filled the air. It was a noise that TJ knew from his time in Afghanistan… it was salvation.
A black helicopter thundered overhead, spewing rounds from the machine guns poking from each side of its fuselage. It cut a lap above them before touching down in a clearing a hundred yards distant.
“Go, go, go!” bellowed TJ as he shepherded them toward the helicopter.
The door gunners waved them forward between bursts of fire aimed at the fleeing cartel gunmen. Deb clambered into the chopper followed by Axe who turned to make sure that TJ was close behind. He jumped in and slumped into one of the webbing seats as they lifted off. Locking eyes with Deb, he shook his head. “That was a close call,” he mouthed.
“You were amazing,” she replied.
“No, you were beyond amazing.”
She smiled and took a headset from one of the loadmasters. She listened for a moment then leaned forward so he could hear her. “We’re being transferred to a CIA helicopter in Hermosillo. They’ll take all three of us up to World’s End.”
He gave her thumbs up as she slid into the seat next to him. On his opposite side Axe sat looking out over the desert with his ears flapping in the wind.
“How’s your arm?” she asked.
He grimaced. “I think I may have finally torn your stitches.”
She placed her hand on his thigh and gave it a squeeze. “As soon as we land I’ll have a look at it.”
Chapter Fourteen
Rick paused from where he was cleaning his rifle and watched as
a white unmarked helicopter thundered in, cutting a tight lap around the World’s End hacienda as the pilot surveyed potential landing zones. The lush green lawn at the back of the residence, beyond the swimming pool, was the selected spot.
Rotor wash lashed the vines that grew over the rear of the adobe building as he joined Mike, Jenny, Ernie and Ali, holding Junior, who were waiting to see who alighted.
The doors of the unmarked chopper slid back and a blur of brown and black dashed from the idling aircraft.
Axe rounded the pool at high speed and made a beeline for the group.
Mike dropped to a knee. “Axe, Axe, boy.”
Rick choked back tears as his buddy wrapped his arms around the excited animal.
“Axe,” cried out Junior as he recognized the dog. Ali lowered him to the ground and the toddler hugged his best friend as Axe licked his face.
“That’s so sweet,” said Jenny as she took his hand.
Ali bent and gave the ecstatic hound a quick once-over. “Looks like he’s in good health.”
Rick glanced back at the helicopter and spotted TJ and Deb. TJ’s wife had her arm around his waist, and he looked to be wearing a sling.
Mike met them at the edge of the pool. “I can’t thank you guys enough.” He hugged Deb before turning to TJ. “What happened? You OK?”
The craggy SEAL nodded. “Yeah, Deb took good care of me.”
Behind them, the helicopter’s blades thundered as it took off into the setting sun.
“Let’s get everyone inside,” said Ali as she scooped Junior from the ground. “Dinner’s on the table and I’ve been saving a huge bone for Axe.”
As they moved inside Rick noticed that TJ and Deb hung back. He nudged Mike and tipped his head in the direction of the couple. “Looks like Axe has done it again.”
Mike nodded. “Cupid in a fur coat. Let’s leave them to it.”
TJ gazed out over the desert with one arm around his wife, the other hitched in a sling. “Deb, what you did for the team and me–”
She cut him off by grasping his face and kissing him. “You were amazing out there,” she said breathlessly when they broke. “That was the Terrance I fell in love with; a man of action, a man of passion and power. That’s the man I wanted to live the rest of my life with.”
“I’ve always been that man, Deb.”
“Yes, but not for me. I never get to see you. Both of us have been married to our jobs.”
“For me, that’s going to change.”
“How? It’s always been the SEALs first.”
TJ shook his head. “Mike’s a dad now, Ernie has his family, and it won’t be long till Rick and Jenny get started. It’s about time we all slowed down a little. I’ve requested the team be moved over to training.”
Deb’s eyes narrowed. “Training? You’ll be bored in a week.”
“Maybe.” He leaned in and kissed her again. “But that’s a risk I’m willing to take.”
The kissed lingered for a moment before she pulled away. “I’ve got a better idea. How about I get the team attached to the Agency’s South American Special Activities Division?”
“You can do that?”
Deb nuzzled in against his neck. “Of course I can. I’m the Regional Director.”
“When did that happen?”
“About a month ago.” She took his hand.
“Is this because of your journalism award?”
Deb laughed. “Yeah, that’s it.” She led him toward the ranch house, from which the smell of roasted meat was wafting. “Now come on, I’m starving.”
***
Hours later, with Junior in bed, the team sat on the porch of the ranch house drinking whiskey and smoking cigars. In the distance a coyote let out a mournful series of yips, triggering a low growl from Axe.
Mike ruffled the dog's ears. “Easy boy.”
TJ took a puff of his Cuban and exhaled a ring of smoke into the air. “You know Barbosa isn’t going to let up.”
The others were silent.
“Till that guy's neutralized, Mike, Ali, Junior and Axe are always going to be in danger.”
Rick nodded. “Always looking over your shoulder. You can’t live like that, brother.”
“So what are we going to do about it?” asked Ernie.
Mike sighed. “What can we do about it other than hiding? Barbosa’s resources are next level. He’s surrounded by guards, constantly moves and we can’t hit him with an airstrike.” He turned to Deb. “Can we?”
“No.” She sipped from her whiskey. “However, a few years back someone took down a cartel operation in Chihuahua. High speed, clandestine type stuff. They cut down sicarios, corrupt cops and mercenaries like they were nothing.”
“Agency guys?” asked Ernie.
“No, there were a bunch of corrupt CIA contractors involved. They didn’t fare much better.”
“And you think these guys could take down Barbosa?” asked TJ.
“Oh, there’s no doubt about it.”
“But, they’re mercenaries and mercenaries cost money, right?” said Jenny.
“Something tells me these guys aren’t motivated by money. Plus, if rumors are true, and they usually are, I used to work with one of them.”
“Ex-CIA?” asked Mike.
“Correct. Vance was one of the Agency’s best till he was presumed killed with his partner in a botched operation in the UAE. However, his partner turned up in Afghanistan three years later, wounded but alive.”
“And you think they’re running some kind of vigilante group taking down bad guys?” asked Rick.
“Knowing Vance, that’s exactly what they’re doing.”
Mike locked eyes with his wife.
“We’re running out of options,” Ali said quietly.
“Can you get in contact with them?” he asked Deb.
“I think I know a way.”
TJ rested his hand on Mike’s shoulder. “OK, let’s make it happen then.”
Chapter Fifteen
TJ turned a battered Ford Explorer onto an equally neglected airstrip and brought it to a halt alongside the rusted hulk of an ancient Anderson aircraft hangar. “This is it.”
Deb, dressed in tan cargo pants and a loose fitting green shirt checked her phone. “In position and on time.”
“You really think these people can help us?” asked TJ as he un-holstered his pistol and confirmed there was a round chambered.
“I hope so, for Ali and Junior's sake. Jumping from safe house to safe house is no way to raise a kid.”
TJ nodded as he took a handheld radio from the belt under his jacket and spoke into it. “Team, how we looking?”
“In position,” reported Rick.
“Same here,” said Ernie.
“Ready to rock,” added Mike.
All three men were positioned around the airfield and armed with marksman rifles. They had infiltrated overnight to provide protection to Deb and TJ as they met with the shadowy organization she'd contacted through a former CIA operative.
“Team, I apologize for my tardiness,” a strange voice emitted from the radio. “I'll be with you in a moment.”
TJ turned to his wife. “That's an encrypted radio.”
“And now it's compromised.” Deb stepped out of the vehicle and scanned the horizon. It was less than an hour after sunrise and the sky was clear. “I can't see anything.”
As TJ joined her they heard a sound like ruffling sheets above them. They glanced up and spotted a figure descending under a black parachute.
“These guys are pretty switched,” said TJ.
The rest of the team was silent now that their radio network had been compromised. They watched as the parachutist cut tight turns, descending toward them. Then, a dozen feet above the ground, they flared and executed a controlled landing. The operative bundled the chute, removed their helmet and used it to weight the nylon fabric.
The operative rose and TJ saw it was a man. His guess was mid-thirties with a trim waist and broad
shoulders. As he approached, he got a good look at his face. He had intelligent brown eyes, a strong stubble-covered jaw and a crooked nose, suggesting he wasn't one to shy away from a fight.
The man's equipment spoke to the sophistication of his unit. He wore a lightweight parachute harness the likes of which TJ had never seen before. It was the type of rig that the SEALs dreamed of using instead of the bulky setups the Navy supplied. Interestingly, he could see no evidence of a weapon or communications equipment.
The man extended a hand to Deb. “Hi, name's Bishop.”
She shook it. “I'm Deb, this is TJ.”
Bishop shook his hand with a firm grip. TJ thought he identified a slight twang to the man's accent, but he couldn't place it.
“Your buddies in overwatch. They going to join the party?”
Deb smiled thinly. “I like them where they are.”
He shrugged. “Fair enough. Just so you know, my people have got them covered from above.”
TJ glanced skyward; he could see no sign of an aircraft or drone.
“So, tell me everything you know about Barbosa,” said Bishop.
Deb reached into her pocket and removed a flash drive, which she handed to the man. “This is everything that the Agency knows.”
“But, you can't get to him?”
“I wouldn't be talking to you if we could.”
Bishop nodded. “We'll look into it, but I can't make any promises.”
“Got a lot on your plate?”
“You know how it is. No shortage of work.”
“There’s one piece of information that won’t be on the stick,” said Mike as he rounded the SUV dressed in head to toe camouflage and carrying a sniper rifle. “The Butcher has a clown phobia.”
The clandestine operative smirked. “I might have to crack out my Pennywise costume,” he said, referring to the clown character from Stephen King's, IT. “You must be Mike.”
Mike slung his weapon and shook the man’s hand. “Yeah, pleased to meet you, Bishop. Look, I’ve got a favor to ask.”
Signed SEAL'd and Delivered Page 9
