Chapter Forty-Two
Kirk
I crouch behind two bushes that provide only enough cover that I can make out what's going on at Dougal's hideout.
The moon still hovers above us but it willnae give MacWraith's mates much light.
I have my earpiece firmly inserted, which means I'll hear every word our team members might say.
Keltie bought us all special military-grade earpieces that are meant to be undetectable by any jamming devices.
I can only hope she was right about that, because my life might literally depend on it.
Keltie also provided camouflage clothing for our entire team.
"Kirk, status check," Tam says through the earpiece. His tone is all business, nothing like the baker brother I'm used to.
"In position," I whisper back. "I can see the east entrance. Two guards, just like in the briefing."
Another voice chimes in.
It's Gavin Douglas, our American mate. "West side secure. Got eyes on three men smoking by what looks like a service entrance. They seem relaxed, not expecting company."
Magnus's gruff voice follows. "North approach clear. Moving to position alpha."
I adjust my stance a wee bit, careful not to rustle the bushes.
My heart is pounding, but I don't worry that the guards might hear it from twenty meters away.
This isn't like any of my stunts. Those are calculated risks with plenty of safety measures.
This is real physical peril with real consequences.
"Remember," Tam says, his voice unnervingly calm, "we're here for Kenny. No heroics."
"Would I do a thing like that?"
"Aye, ye would and we both know it."
I ignore Tam's remark, keep my mouth shut and staying focused on the guards. They're armed with more than the usual sorts of knives, but also proper firearms tucked into shoulder holsters. MacWraith's not taking chances.
"Movement at the east gate," I whisper, flattening my body on the ground even more.
A third guard has appeared, speaking in low tones to the others.
I strain to hear their conversation, but they're too bloody far away.
Whatever they're saying has the original guards nodding and checking their weapons.
"New development at east entrance," I murmur into my comm. "Third guard arrived. They're looking more alert now."
"Copy that," Neil responds. "Hold position."
My muscles are already starting to cramp from this crouch, but I ignore the discomfort. I've endured worse during stunt training. At least then I knew there would be a mat to catch me if I fell. Here, the only safety net is our team, spread thin around MacWraith's property.
The third guard leaves, and the original ones resume their positions, but there's a new tension in their posture. They're scanning the darkness more carefully, with their hands resting on their weapons. Something's off.
"I think they've been alerted," I hiss into the comm. "They're more vigilant now."
"Maintain position," Magnus replies. "We proceed as planned."
A twig snaps somewhere to my right, and I freeze, not even daring to breathe. One of the guards turns his head sharply in my direction, his eyes narrowing as he peers into the darkness. I'm well-hidden, but if he decides to investigate...
"East entrance guard looking this way," I whisper. "Stay still, everyone."
For several agonizing seconds, the guard stares into the darkness where I'm hiding. I can feel sweat trickling down my spine despite the cool Highland air. Finally, he returns to his post, muttering something to his partner who shrugs in response.
I exhale slowly. That was bloody too close.
"All teams hold," Magnus orders through the comm. "Something's not right."
I can feel it too---that eerie sixth sense that tells you danger is nearby, like the air before a lightning strike. My senses sharpen as I scan the perimeter, searching for anything out of place.
"Gavin," I whisper, "any changes on your end?"
"Negative," he responds after a brief pause. "Wait---the smokers are moving inside. Looks like shift change."
My muscles strain in protest as I maintain my position, but I've trained my body to endure worse. The guards at the east entrance check their watches, almost in unison. One of them speaks into a radio, his words too low for me to catch.
"They're communicating with someone," I report. "Could be standard check-in or---"
A sudden flash of light cuts me off as a spotlight sweeps across the grounds, temporarily blinding me. I drop to the ground, my heart hammering as the beam passes just above my hiding spot.
"Light sweep in progress," I hiss into the comm. "Everyone down!"
The spotlight continues its methodical path, illuminating sections of the perimeter in harsh white light. This wasn't in our intel. MacWraith must have upgraded security since our last reconnaissance.
"They know we're here," Gavin's voice comes through, tight with tension.
"Negative," Munro counters. "Standard patrol procedure. Hold positions."
I'm not so sure. The timing feels off, too coincidental after that guard was staring in my direction.
My instincts warn me that something's off, but I trust Munro MacTaggart's experience.
The spotlight clicks off as suddenly as it appeared, plunging the grounds back into darkness.
My eyes struggle to adjust to the abrupt change.
I blink away the lingering spots in my vision, focusing on the guards again.
"Everyone still in position?" Tam asks, his voice a tense whisper.
A chorus of affirmative responses comes through the comm, including my own. The guards at the east entrance remain vigilant, but they haven't raised any alarm. Maybe Munro was right after all.
Then I see it---a subtle movement in the shadows about thirty meters to my left. It's too deliberate to be the wind, too careful to be wildlife. Someone else is out here, and they are not part of our team.
"Possible hostile at my nine o'clock," I breathe into the comm, barely moving my lips. "Moving along the tree line."
"Can you identify?" Magnus asks.
"Negative. Just a shadow."
The figure pauses, then continues its slow advance toward the eastern perimeter. I track the person's movement, calculating the potential threat. If they spot me, our entire operation could be compromised.
"Magnus, what's the call?" I whisper urgently.
After a brief pause, his voice comes through. "Maintain position. Let them pass. Do not engage unless absolutely necessary."
I steady my breathing, counting silently as I've done during my most dangerous stunts.
One...two...three...The shadowy figure continues their patrol, moving with the practiced ease of someone who knows exactly what they're looking for.
Not a regular guard---this is someone with much better training.
A soft crackle originates from my earpiece, followed by Bert's voice from the command center. "Perimeter sensors just picked up additional heat signatures. You've got more company incoming from the northwest."
"How many?" Domhnall asks, his voice rock steady.
"At least four," Bert continues, his voice amazingly level. "Moving in a tactical formation. These aren't your average thugs."
"Shite," I mutter under my breath. This operation is getting more complicated by the second.
"Everyone stay calm," Logan instructs. "We expected additional security. Stick to the plan."
I'm trying to remember what the "plan" was for encountering a professional security detail that wasn't in our briefing. My palms are sweating despite the cool Highland night, and I wipe them discreetly on my camouflage trousers.
The shadow figure I spotted earlier has changed direction, now moving with purpose toward the eastern entrance. As they step briefly into a patch of moonlight, I catch a glimpse of military-grade night vision goggles. Definitely not standard security.
"East shadow is equipped with NVGs." Rafe Knight's British accent is a bit rougher than usual, but that's normal in this situation.
"Repeat that, Rafe," Magnus cuts in, his voice taut with tension. "Did you say NVGs?"
"Aye," I confirm for him, barely moving my lips as I watch the figure. "Military-grade from what I can tell. These aren't MacWraith's usual goons."
"Bollocks," Tam hisses through the comm. "MacWraith's brought in professionals."
I shift my weight slightly, trying to relieve the burning in my thighs without making noise. The shadowy figure moves with a precision that reminds me Logan MacTaggart---economical movements, constantly scanning, never exposing himself unnecessarily.
"New plan," Magnus announces after a brief pause. "We need to reassess our entry points."
My heart sinks. Kenny's been there for days already, and every hour increases the risk. But rushing in against trained opposition would be suicide.
The silence on the comms is unnerving as we all process this new information. These aren't the oafish security goons we expected. Instead, these are trained professionals with military equipment. The kind of men who shoot first and don't bother asking questions later.
"If we abort now, we might never get another chance," I whisper, feeling the weight of Kenny's imprisonment pressing down on me. "MacWraith could move him, or worse."
"I know," Magnus replies, his voice grim. "But we need to be smart about this. Gavin, what's your assessment of the west approach now?"
There's a pause before Gavin responds. "Two additional men just joined the smokers. They're carrying what looks like MP5s. Definitely not local muscle."
Bloody hell. This is getting worse by the second. I glance back at the eastern entrance, where the guards are now moving in a coordinated pattern that speaks of professional training.
"We can't abort," Tam's voice cuts through, resolute. "But we need a new approach."
I begin formulating options in my mind. The north face has a maintenance door according to the blueprints Thane's contacts provided. If we could create a diversion at the east entrance where I'm currently positioned...
"Magnus," I hiss, "what about the maintenance entrance on the north side? If we split the team---"
"Too risky with these new players," he interrupts. "We need---"
His voice cuts off as a soft beep sounds in my ear, followed by Bert's urgent tone. "Multiple heat signatures converging on the east perimeter. Kirk, they're heading directly toward your position. I repeat, they're moving toward you."
Mhac na galla. I flatten myself as much as humanly possible, but this mission will go sideways in the worst way unless I do something. I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this, but I will not let my team down. So I tell my mates, "Everyone go silent. Keltie, move your team to the positions we rehearsed."
"Aye," Keltie confirms. "We won't go in until we see your signal."
I slip away and find my gear exactly where I'd left it, then get everything set for the stunt of a lifetime.
This is no ordinary mission. I'm in my element now.
Adrenaline pumps through my veins, sharpening my senses as I move silently through the underbrush.
The gear I've retrieved includes a specialized grappling hook, lightweight climbing harness, and a small array of distraction devices that Keltie designed specifically for this operation.
I pull the night vision goggles over my eyes, and the world transforms into shades of green. The approaching heat signatures become clear now---four men moving in a diamond formation, sweeping the area systematically. Professional. Dangerous. Exactly the kind of challenge I live for.
"In position," I whisper, so softly I barely hear it myself. "Beginning diversion in thirty seconds."
I dinnae wait for confirmation. There's no time.
The approaching team will discover my hiding spot in less than a minute if I don't act now.
I pull out the first of my distraction devices, a small canister designed to emit a brief, bright flash followed by a low hum that should draw attention away from my team.
With practiced precision, I toss it to land about fifteen meters to my right. Three seconds later, it activates with a flash that would be blinding to anyone not wearing protective gear. As expected, the approaching team immediately redirects toward the distraction.
"East team diverted," I breathe into the comm. "Proceeding to phase two."