The Legacy Device

by Rachel Amphlett

  His feet scuffed over debris, broken chairs, and loose stationery that had been discarded by the employees of the facility in their rush to flee. Here and there, remnants of glass clinked under his step.

  A hot breeze filtered through the space as he approached, and he stepped out of the direct line of the window, in case one of the hostiles got a lucky shot.

  Instead, he hung to the right of the room and took up position with his shoulder brushing the bare wall.

  As Dan settled his weight and raised his rifle, Mitch quickly appraised him of the situation.

  ‘Four hostiles on this side of the building. Terry and the others have the rest covered – about twelve trying to reach the perimeter.’

  Dan fought down the panic that rose in his chest. If the hostiles managed to breach the perimeter and reach the front door, the three of them would be sitting ducks.

  He swung out from behind the window frame and aimed at the militant between the sights of his scope. He lowered his aim a little and then fired.

  The man slumped to the floor, clutching his leg. Not dead, but not going to get up and continue fighting either if the shouting from outside was any indication.

  The hostile next to him stopped firing at the building, dragged his colleague out of range, and then returned and began shooting once more at their position.

  ‘Will you stop hitting them in the legs?’ said Mitch. ‘It just pisses them off!’

  Dan smirked. In a sense, the man was right, but he couldn’t bring himself to kill. Not yet.

  Their radios crackled once more.

  ‘We’re coming under heavy fire out here,’ H reported and then swore loudly. ‘You need to hurry.’

  ‘We’re done,’ confirmed David and pulled the two USB sticks from the computers, placing them back in his pocket. ‘Taylor, go and switch off the power,’ he said. ‘And don’t hang about.’

  ‘On it.’

  Dan ran through the room, down the corridor, and slid to a halt next to the open door to the basement, stalling his momentum by reaching out and grabbing a hold of the door frame.

  He flicked on his flashlight and hurried down the steps, ignoring the scraping and scuttling noises from the concrete floor beneath his boots as the rats ran for cover.

  He slammed the palm of his hand against the front of the controls for the servers and pushed the button to power down the system once more.

  Next, he turned off the generator.

  It cut out with an audible groan, and Dan stepped back, the light on his rifle illuminating the dials and switches a final time while he satisfied himself the system wouldn’t switch itself on once they’d exited the building.

  He nodded, spun on his heel, and took the stairs two at a time, breathing a sigh of relief when he reached the top step. He pushed the door closed behind him, tugged at the door handle to make sure it held firm, and then ran back to the control room, the sound of gunfire reverberating in the enclosed space.

  Seven

  ‘Sir? Sir?’

  Terry’s voice carried through their earpieces.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I think I can create a distraction – give you some time to get out of there.’

  ‘How?’ David’s forehead creased, and he raised an eyebrow when he saw Dan looking in his direction.

  ‘We’ve got det cord here. A few stones and rocks,’ said Terry. ‘Leave it with me, and I’ll make sure this mob stay clear for a little while.’

  David covered his comms mike with his hand and paced the space in front of the computer.

  Mitch frowned. ‘You okay with this, boss?’

  David rubbed his hand over his face. ‘Do you have a better idea?’

  Both Dan and Mitch fell silent.

  ‘Thought not.’ David pressed his comms mike. ‘You can do it safely? Without causing injuries to the team?’

  ‘Yes, sir.’ Terry’s voice echoed across the airwaves within the abandoned room. ‘It’ll take me thirty seconds to set it up.’

  ‘Okay. Do it.’

  ‘Sir.’

  Dan crouched and made his way back to the window.

  He’d often wondered if Terry’s preoccupation with explosives was healthy.

  After all, it was one thing to learn as much as possible about what was being used to create the various different kinds of IEDs. It was quite another to take those parts and successfully recreate the bombs the team worked so hard to destroy.

  He’d asked one day, trying to fathom the older man’s obsession.

  Terry had shrugged. ‘There’s fuck all else to do around here,’ he’d growled.

  Now, Dan figured it’d be a bonus if Terry’s tinkering around with leftover bomb parts meant a chance for them to escape the power facility intact.

  The fire flared next to the window frame, and Dan fell back as Mitch cursed, the stench of petrol filling the air.

  ‘You okay?’ Dan yelled, staggering to his feet.

  ‘No,’ shouted Mitch. ‘I’m pissed off.’

  Dan aimed his weapon through the opening and let loose two quick rounds.

  A muffled cry carried on the wind, and he threw himself back against the wall.

  ‘Hurry up, Terry,’ he murmured.

  In response, a loud crack from the other side of the building reached his ears, swiftly followed by another.

  ‘What the hell was that?’

  Dan shook his head. ‘I don’t know.’

  Heavy gunfire followed the third crack, and it dawned on him.

  ‘Terry.’

  ‘What’s he doing?’

  ‘Hang on.’

  Dan left Mitch covering the window and hurried through the control room and past David, who didn’t even glance up from his position at the far window, his face a mask of concentration as he stared down the sight of his rifle and fired.

  He reached the far wall and edged to the window, in time to see a glimpse of British Army combat fatigues identical to his own flash past the perimeter behind an angry mob of hostiles, all aiming their rag-tag collection of weapons at the building.

  Some carried bottles with dirty cloths protruding from the necks, held perilously close to waving cigarette lighters.

  And then all hell broke loose – the dirt behind the crowd seemed to lift upwards at their feet, followed by a familiar crack, and a fountain of stones and loose gravel shot between their legs.

  Those lucky enough to be far enough away ran to one side before taking up their angry chants once more, only for a second crack to fill the air.

  ‘What’s he doing?’ asked David.

  ‘I think he’s tied plastique around some rocks with det cord,’ said Dan. He shook his head in wonder. ‘It seems to be working.’

  Slowly, the mob fell apart, the less rowdy members losing momentum as their leaders limped away, clutching pock-marked legs and arms.

  Dan exhaled, watched the last of the hostiles disperse, and then turned back to the room.

  David jerked his head towards the door.

  ‘We’re all done here. Let’s go before they bring back the real reinforcements.’

  Eight

  The sound of heavy breathing filled the space as the four passengers in the rear of the armoured vehicle tried to get their nerves under control. The jokes and banter would return in time, but for now, the team retreated into themselves while they processed each aspect of the gunfight.

  The viciousness of the attack had rattled them all, and Dan had to admit that without Terry’s quick-thinking, the outcome could have been very different.

  He closed his eyes and rocked his head from side to side, rolling his shoulders to loosen tight muscles.

  His thoughts returned to the power facility and what David had done.

  Hell of a legacy to leave behind, he thought and then opened his eyes.

  Mitch sat opposite and cocked an eyebrow.

  Dan shook his head. They’d talk later, in private, about what they had seen, but not before.

  Not with the thre
at of imprisonment hanging over their heads.

  He swallowed and wondered what other nefarious activities he’d be drawn into before he returned to England in two weeks’ time, and whether he’d have a choice in any of it.

  He suspected not.

  His body rocked to the left as Dicko swung the vehicle in a wide arc and then brought it to a standstill. He held his breath until he heard the driver shout from the front seat.

  ‘All clear!’

  H was closest to the back door, and he pushed it open, bright sunlight bathing the rear of the vehicle.

  Dan held up his hand to shade his eyes as he climbed out. Despite his sunglasses, the glare from the sun glancing off the sand was intense.

  The rest of the team emerged from the vehicle, and Dan pulled a canteen of water from his pack, then rummaged around inside until he found some painkillers.

  Gulping the tablets, he finished half the water before coming up for air and wiped the back of his hand across his mouth.

  The sound of H’s voice from the front cab of the vehicle carried on the wind towards him, and he tore open the wrapper to the last of his energy bars, devouring the contents as quickly as possible.

  Just because they’d had a narrow escape didn’t mean they’d get an early pass back to base, and they could be out for hours yet.

  He jumped at a tap on his elbow and spun round to see Terry beckoning to him as he walked a small distance from the vehicle and the group of men surrounding it.

  Dan sighed and tucked the empty wrapper into his webbing. He could guess what Terry wanted to talk about.

  He trudged after the older man, who stopped next to a burnt-out old car and waited for Dan to join him.

  ‘Terry.’

  ‘What happened?’

  ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘You know what I mean. In the power facility. What was Ludlow up to?’

  Dan rubbed his hand over his jaw. ‘I don’t know,’ he said. ‘Mitch and I were just there to provide cover.’

  ‘Bullshit.’

  ‘Terry? If you’re so worried about it, why don’t you ask him yourself?’

  He saw the other man’s jaw clench, his bluff called.

  Anger flashed in his eyes, and he glared past Dan towards their vehicle.

  Dan decided to change the subject. ‘That was one hell of a stunt you pulled back there,’ he said. ‘But don’t you think it’s a bit unhealthy messing about with the stuff we’re trying to stop from exploding?’

  Terry shrugged and gazed past Dan towards the dusty road bordered by abandoned houses and derelict shops. ‘Someone out there is supplying them.’

  ‘Well, hopefully, once this drugs investigation is over, you can find out who it is.’

  Terry’s lip curled. ‘Nothing’s been proven,’ he said. ‘And they’ve got nothing on me.’

  Dan held up his hands. ‘I didn’t say they did.’

  Terry ignored him, spun on his heel, and stalked back to their vehicle.

  ‘Careful,’ Mitch said, wandering over to where he’d been standing, his rifle slung between his arms as his eyes scanned the horizon.

  ‘Trouble?’

  ‘I’ve got a bad feeling about that one,’ said Mitch. ‘Never been able to work him out.’

  ‘You think the rumours are true?’

  ‘About the drugs?’

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Maybe.’ Mitch slapped Dan on the back. ‘Not our problem.’

  They fell silent at the sound of the vehicle’s radio crackling to life.

  Here comes the next one, Dan thought.

  David took the radio from H and spoke to the intelligence officer at the other end.

  Dan’s heartbeat began to rise once more, the adrenalin coursing through his system as he waited to hear where they’d be sent next.

  As soon as the radio operator finished, David turned to face the five expectant faces.

  ‘We’ve got a live one,’ he confirmed.

  ‘Where?’ asked Dan, already reaching up to the back of the vehicle and ready to climb in.

  ‘About six kilometres from here,’ said H. ‘Someone’s kid has reported seeing a small group burying a roadside device. It’s outside of our usual area, but there’s no-one else available.’

  ‘Right, let’s go,’ said David. ‘Before that kid gets hurt.’

  Dan hauled himself up into the vehicle, grabbed a seat near the front, and then turned to Mitch and grinned.

  ‘Looks like we’re back in business.’

  * * *

  THE END

  In ebook, paperback & audiobook

  A haunted man. A murdered friend. A deadly enemy.

  * * *

  Dan Taylor was a bomb disposal expert in the British Army until an IED killed three of his team and left him scarred for life. On the brink of self-destruction, Dan is unable to cope with the nightmares that haunt him.

  * * *

  Until the day an estranged friend leaves a voicemail message for him, moments before he is assassinated in cold blood.

  * * *

  Plunged into a global conspiracy, Dan must unravel the research notes that Peter Edgewater left behind to locate an explosive device that is being smuggled towards London by a secretive organisation hell-bent on protecting its assets – and time is running out.

  * * *

  White Gold is the first book in an action-packed adventure thriller series that fans of Vince Flynn, Robert Ludlum and the Lee Child Jack Reacher series are calling "a blast!”

  Also by Rachel Amphlett

  An explosion rocks a Qatari natural gas facility… a luxury cruise liner capsizes in the Mediterranean… and someone has stolen a submarine…

  Are the events connected?

  Dan Taylor doesn’t believe in coincidences – all he has to do is convince his superiors they are next in the terrorists’ line of fire.

  As Britain enters its worst winter on record, Dan must elude capture to ensure the country’s energy resources are protected. At all costs.

  * * *

  In an action-packed adventure, from the Middle East through the Mediterranean to London, Dan and his team are on a quest which will test every choice he makes. Assisted by the exotic Antonia Almasi, Dan realises he faces an adversary far greater than he ever imagined.

  * * *

  And not everyone is going to survive.

  Also by Rachel Amphlett

  Dan Taylor has survived two attempts on his life. The rest of his team are missing, and now a terrorist group has stolen a radioactive isotope from a top secret government project.

  * * *

  Can Dan survive long enough to prevent a nuclear disaster on British soil?

  * * *

  With the Prime Minister determined to re-negotiate the country’s place in the European Union, and deals being struck behind closed doors, Dan stumbles across a plot that will shake the country to its core.

  * * *

  If his mission fails, his enemies will overthrow the British government, and Dan will be a wanted man.

  * * *

  If he wants to succeed, he’ll have to sacrifice everything…

  Also by Rachel Amphlett

  Dan Taylor is trying to keep a low profile when an old friend contacts the Energy Protection Group seeking his help.

  * * *

  The man’s daughter is alone in North Africa, and her life is in grave danger.

  * * *

  Thrust back into active duty, Dan soon realises that getting Anna to safety is only half his problem. The forensic accountant holds the key to preventing Western Sahara from descending into chaos, and exposing the puppet masters behind an imminent coup d’etat.

  * * *

  With a group of militants in pursuit and willing to do anything to stop him, Dan must draw on old survival skills and luck to make his way across the desert landscape and ensure Anna and the evidence she has in her possession reach safety.

  * * *

  Behind the wire lies a secret �
�� a secret that people will kill to protect…