Chapter 17
Chapter Seventeen
His anger and frustration rising, Cordell paced back and forth in the middle of Reed and Dante’s living room.
His hip was killing him, but he ignored the pain even though it forced him to involuntarily limp.
Over the past few months, between the PT and taking walks in the sand along the shoreline with Tiffany after dinner most evenings, he’d noticed he’d been experiencing fewer flareups.
But right then, he could almost feel the bullet that’d been removed hours after he’d gotten shot.
Truthfully, that hurt less than the aching in his chest at the thought of losing the only woman who’d ever owned his heart.
His friends had stopped offering him something to eat or drink a while ago, and Cooper had quickly gotten out of his way and lay down on the couch to watch him.
The phone in Cordell’s hand had rung three times in the past two hours and not once had it been the asshole who’d kidnapped Tiffany.
He was squeezing the device so tightly that it was surprising the thing hadn’t crumbled into a thousand pieces.
The police still had no leads, and Cordell hoped they didn’t get anything before he did.
He wanted to be the one to take the bastard down and dole out his own justice.
That was something he’d never had the strong urge to do during his entire career in law enforcement, but no one had ever been a threat to the woman he loved before.
Boomer, Nick, and Jake were in the kitchen with Dante, talking in low voices. They’d invaded the Aussie’s weapons vault—that was exactly what it was—and were locked and loaded. The man had a nice collection, and everything was in pristine condition. Now all they needed was a destination.
Reed was currently in Miami, but Dante had spoken to him earlier and given him the short version of what was going on.
The businessman was horrified at the news and asked for updates whenever they were available.
He’d been ready to call for his helicopter to fly him back, but Cordell and Dante had talked him out of it.
They’d been hoping it would be all over before the chopper even got from Marathon to the city.
Blowing out a harsh breath, he changed direction and strode into the kitchen, even though he couldn’t put a damn thing into his stomach.
Everyone’s concerned gaze zeroed in on him, but no one said a word.
Despite the fact he wouldn’t drink it, Cordell stepped over to the Keurig and selected a random pod from the rack next to it.
Having no clue what flavor he’d chosen, he spent the next few seconds setting the machine to brew.
It’d just started gurgling when the phone in his hand trilled.
Cordell wasn’t the only one in the room who froze. They all did.
He checked the screen. “Unknown Caller.”
Biting his upper lip, he stabbed the speaker phone button on the third ring and set it on the counter, so everyone else could hear. “Roberts.”
“Well, well, well. For a minute there I thought you didn’t care about this bitch and weren’t going to pick up.” The gruff male voice wasn’t familiar at all.
“Who is this? Where’s Tiffany?”
“Where? We’ll get to that. As for who, well I’m the guy who’s going to kill your woman if you don’t do exactly what I say.” No one in the kitchen moved or made a sound, but the tension cranked up a few notches.
He gritted his teeth. “Fine, what do you want?”
“I want your blood.”
“Why?”
“Because of you, my brother is dead. And I want payback.”
Shit. After sixteen years in law enforcement, he could be any of the thousands of people he’d come in contact with. “Who’s your brother?”
There was a bark of ugly laughter. “I’m sure you’ll figure that out when we meet.”
The bastard was jerking Cordell’s chain, trying to drag out the torture—and it was fucking working. Cordell practically growled, “Where and when?”
“Mako Heliport. Hangar ten. One hour. No cops and come alone and unarmed.”
The call was disconnected before Cordell could respond and ask for proof that Tiffany was alive and unharmed, and something about the location niggled his brain.
“What the fuck?” Dante exclaimed, and everyone turned to look at him. “That’s where Reed’s chopper is stored—hangar ten.”
That’s why it’d sounded familiar—Cordell and Tiffany had met the pilots there for their flight to Miami a few weeks ago. The suspect must have followed them, otherwise it was a damn weird coincidence. How long had this asshole been watching them?
Cordell’s eyes narrowed. “Call your pilots. See if they know anything, and tell them to stay away from the heliport until further notice.”
“Here’s the topography.” Nick swung Dante’s laptop around so everyone could see the landscape of the heliport and its surrounding area.
He zoomed in on a small building on the far side of the helipads.
“Looks like a utility shed or something. Perfect spot for Jake to set up, directly across from hangar ten.”
The Trident Security sniper studied the images then nodded.
“You’re right. It’s not the greatest location but at least it gives me some height.
Get him to come toward the main hangar doors.
If he stays deep inside, I’m going to be hampered by the shadows at that time of day.
Make sure you stand to either the right or left side of the hangar and get him to turn toward you, so if he’s holding Tiffany in front of him, I can get a side head shot if I need to take it.
While I’m getting ready, Nick can do some recon.
” He pointed at his husband. “Call Cookie in Tampa and have him find out if there’s a surveillance system at this heliport that he can hack into. ”
Nick whipped out his cell. “On it.”
Dante rejoined them after disconnecting a call on his own phone. “Neither Kairo or Serenity picked up, which is unusual during the week. They’re always on call in case Reed has a change of plans.”
“So, it’s possible they’re being held hostage too,” Cordell speculated as he stared at the laptop screen.
“Or they’re involved,” Boomer added.
Frowning, Dante shook his head. “Serenity’s been with Reed for over four years, and Kairo’s been her copilot for about a year and a half now. Both are extremely loyal. But while I want to say it’s impossible for either to be involved, I’m not willing to bet Tiff’s life on it.”
“Tell us about the hangar. How many entrances?”
Dante pointed to the laptop where Boomer had brought up the satellite view of the heliport and zoomed in on hangar ten.
“Main entrance is here with bi-folding doors. Pedestrian doors are here, here, and here—all with small, plexiglass windows.” He tapped the front, left side, and rear of the building.
“No other windows, except in the office which is here.” Another tap on the right side.
“The mechanics and pilots are the only ones who use that. There’s room inside the hangar for three choppers, but I’m not sure if the other two will be there with Reed’s.
If not, there won’t be many places for cover. The ceiling is vaulted, but no loft.”
“Mechanics, you said. Are we possibly looking at more hostages or suspects?” Cordell asked.
“Could be, but the mechanics move from hangar to hangar depending on what they’re working on.
Since this one is furthest from the control tower, they’re never in there unless working on one of those three helos.
The pilots do their own routine maintenance on the birds, but if it’s something beyond that, the mechanics are called in. ”
They spent the next five minutes figuring out a plan of attack, then everyone piled into their vehicles.
They had just enough time for Boomer, Dante, Jake, and Nick to get in position around the hangar before Cordell arrived to face off with the bastard holding Tiffany.
When they were a mile away from the heliport, he pulled into a parking lot to wait while everyone else continued onward.
Nick would peel off at a service entrance and drop Jake off near the building that would give him a direct line of sight into the hangar.
After that, Nick had his own assignment to approach from the west side of the hangar.
Dante and Cooper had the back entrance, while Boomer would cover the east side.
Trying to tamp down his impatience, Cordell activated his earwig. “Everyone, check in.”
“Sniper one, just gaining access to the shed. I’ll be in position in a minute.”
Nick’s voice came next. “Alpha two—just hid the truck. I need two minutes, tops.”
“Alpha three in position,” Dante reported. “There’s a Chevy pickup parked back here that’s been hot-wired. Serenity’s and Kairo’s cars are here too.”
“Copy that,” Cordell acknowledged. “Alpha four? Sit rep.”
“Alpha four in position. Um, shouldn’t Junior and the Aussie be at least betas?”
Despite his sky-high anxiety, Cordell couldn’t help but smirk at the few grumbles that came over the line at Boomer’s teasing question.
He glanced at the clock on the truck’s dashboard.
Another minute and a half and everyone should be set.
Then they had an additional four minutes before his hour was up.
Please let Tiffany be okay, he silently prayed. I don’t think I can live without her.
Once Nick said he was in position, Cordell put the truck in drive and pulled out onto the road. It took everything in him not to floor it and squeal into the heliport’s parking lot with guns blazing. “Alpha one heading in.”
“Alpha three to one—I only see one male suspect. Brown hair, about five eleven, hundred eighty pounds. Looks like he’s holding a nine millimeter semi-auto. This door’s not locked but there’s something keeping me from opening it.”
“Alpha four, same here.”
“Alpha two, ditto. The window to the office is shut tight. I can’t get in without making a shit-ton of noise.”
Damn it. That meant there was only one way in and out.
“Tiff and Serenity are sitting on the floor by Reed’s chopper,” Dante continued. “Both have their mouths gagged and hands tied behind their backs. They look okay, but there’s a body on the ground not far from them, facedown and not moving—I think it’s Kairo, but I can’t be sure from this angle.”
As he listened to more reports, Cordell’s hands clenched the steering wheel so tightly, the blood drained from his fingers.
Hold it together, Roberts.
After driving through the main gates, he steered the vehicle toward the last hangar and parked almost in front of it, staying out of his sniper’s line of sight.
The opening between the big bay doors was only five feet wide.
It wasn’t enough that someone could haul one of the birds out of there, but according to Jake, he could get a shot if Cordell managed to draw the suspect out into the open.
Eyeing the shadows beyond the open doors, he climbed out of his truck.
The area was surprisingly quiet—no one was taking off or landing or preparing for flight.
He didn’t spot anyone around, but then again, it was just after six p.m. The tours that flew out from the other side of the heliport were done for the day, and so were most of the mechanics and others who worked there.
A few vehicles by the control tower and next to one of the hangars told him there were still people there, just not in view.
It was still light out, the sun shining bright in the west, but that wasn’t helpful, since it made what was happening inside hangar ten nearly impossible to see.
Taking a step closer to the opening in the bay doors, he raised his voice. “All right. I’m here. Let Tiffany go.” He didn’t add Serenity and Kairo to that order. The suspect didn’t know he was aware they were in there, and whatever small advantage it might give him, Cordell would take it.
Movement in the shadows caught his attention, but it was Tiffany’s yelp of pain that nearly had him storming the building.
“Shut up, bitch!” the unknown suspect barked.
Now on her feet, Tiffany was pushed forward toward the open doorway.
While she winced, and her cheeks were tear stained, he couldn’t distinguish any outward physical injuries.
Pure relief at seeing her coursed through his system a split second before he noticed the bastard standing behind her, using her as a shield. Recognition kicked in. “John Wiley.”