Chapter Three
Jameson crept through the mountain laurel and waited for everyone to get into position.
His heart thumped in his chest, and he heard it in his ears like a sign telling him he found her.
The rain came down in droves, and thunder rumbled overhead, making the task of going unseen harder with his feet slipping in the mud.
Jameson kept reminding himself to take it slow. Each step brought him closer to her.
“Hummingbird in position,” Rebecca said over the coms. “I have one guard at the front. He’s playing a game on his phone.”
“Phoenix in position,” Julio responded. “One tango in the back.”
“Grizzly in position. I have two perpetrators by the barn,” Garrett stated.
Jameson chuckled at Garrett’s tone, knowing he hated his new call sign.
“Shut up, Jameson,” Garrett growled.
“Settle down, boys,” Rebecca admonished. “You can fight on the way home. Jameson, do you see anything?”
“I have one tango smoking a cigarette on the side of the house,” he reported.
“From the heat signatures, there are six people inside,” Matthew said. “We have another four lying in bed. Since they’re not moving, I’m guessing we have some survivors. Two downstairs toward the rear, possibly in the kitchen area.”
“Jameson, take out your tango and meet Grizzly. Use the tranquilizers, if possible, but if not, you know what to do. We need one to tell us about the ringleader,” Julio ordered.
“Hummingbird, take out the doorman, and I’ll meet you around back.
When Grizzly and Jameson catch up, we’ll breach from the rear. ”
Jameson crouched low and waited until the perp drew closer before shooting him in the ass.
The man weaved in place before face-planting on the ground.
Jumping out from the bushes, Jameson turned the perp’s head to keep him breathing, tied his hands behind his back, and confiscated the weapon tucked in his waistband.
He made his way around the barn and caught up to Garrett, who took out his two and knelt to zip tie their hands.
His friend gave him a chin lift as Jameson knelt to tie the other.
“Where did you stash yours?” Garrett asked. “I didn’t expect you this soon.”
“What’s the matter, old man, you getting slower?” Jameson said, hauling up the second guy and dragging him inside the barn. Garrett dragged his perp and dropped him beside the other.
“I left mine in a patch of poison ivy I narrowly missed. I’ve seen how he operates. If we weren’t in such a hurry, I’d strip him down and roll him over in it,” Jameson said, ducking his head outside the barn in time to see Rebecca waiting for Julio to take his target down.
“Hummingbird finished her assignment, she’s coming around back,” he told Garrett.
They circled around the house. Julio and Rebecca covered the rear and waited for the signal.
“Target one moved to the front left side,” Matthew said. “Target two still appears in the kitchen.”
“Grizzly and Jameson in position,” Garrett said over the coms.
“On my mark, we go,” Julio ordered. “Breach.”
Garrett burst through the door and hit the tango with the dart before the man knew what hit him.
Jameson pulled out another tie when Garrett motioned for him to keep going upstairs.
Rebecca followed as they cleared the rooms as they went.
In the second room, two women lay tied to the beds.
Julio rounded the corner while Rebecca freed the hostages.
Jameson’s heart raced, hoping he’d find Caroline in the last room.
He threw open the door to find two more women, neither of whom was the woman he searched for.
Disappointment filled him as he put a finger to his lips and started releasing the two new survivors.
Rebecca and Julio led the way back downstairs, guarding the four women.
Jameson and Garrett watched their six as they led the women to the waiting van, driven by Matthew.
As if expecting the scantily clad women, he already turned up the heat and handed them blankets as they entered the vehicle.
Rebecca handed each of them a bottle of water, which they drank thirstily.
Jameson removed his phone and asked the first female. “Have you seen this woman?”
She shook her head, appearing almost afraid to answer him for fear of punishment.
“Please,” he entreated. “Have any of you seen her?” he asked, passing the phone to each of them.
The third female glanced at him, then at the woman beside her, before speaking. “You’re searching for Caroline?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered desperately.
“What will happen to us now?” she asked hesitantly. “We don’t want to go back there.”
“We’re taking you to a safe place where you’ll receive medical care, food, and clothing. We can contact your families if you like,” Rebecca assured them. “She saved me, and I owe her my life. If you know anything, please tell him.”
Jameson pushed the phone toward her again, praying for any information.
“Cain brought in customers two nights ago. One of the men brought a whip and wanted to use it on Leana,” the woman confided, glancing at the youngest of them.
“Caroline stabbed him with a knife. Cain let the man use the whip on her before he threw her in the dog crate. Then he ordered the men to take her outside.”
“What happened to her?” Jameson asked angrily.
“It started storming, and they put the crate in the mud in the backyard. They herded us out there and showed us what might happen if we do something stupid,” the woman continued. “We didn’t see her afterward. They never brought her back.”
Jameson’s heart fell in his chest. Garrett’s hand clenched his shoulder. “They’ll be out for a while. Why don’t we search the property? We planned on clearing the basement. A few more minutes won’t hurt.”
“I’ll keep an eye out by the road,” Rebecca volunteered. “Matthew will stay here with the women, and Julio can go with you.”
“Sounds like a plan. While we’re searching, call your Fed contact. We’ll question them before they arrive,” Julio said, checking his weapon.
“Will do,” Rebecca said before turning to the women. “You’ll be safe with Matthew. I’ll return shortly, and then we’ll take you to a safe place,” she assured them.
The women huddled together and nodded in unison, unsure whether to believe her.
Jameson nudged Garrett, telling him to move.
The three men cleared the house again, then entered the basement.
It resembled a medieval torture chamber, prompting Jameson to shut out the images of Caroline being forced to do this.
When they got to the far end, Garrett lowered his weapon.
“I’m sorry, brother,” he said, offering his sympathy.
“Let’s check the barn and wake up one of those assholes and question them,” Julio said, already heading for the stairs. They skirted around the house and entered the dilapidated building. Jameson checked the loft while Julio drenched one of the men with buckets of water, waking him.
“Where’s your ringleader?” Julio demanded.
The man sneered and weaved before he uttered, “Fuck you.”
Garrett threw another bucket of water on him. “I heard it will storm tonight, and you assholes like to put defenseless women in metal cages.” He grabbed the man by the collar, dragging him to a stack of crates.
“All right, all right,” the man yelled. “You have to take me with you. Cain will kill me if I talk.”
Jameson growled, launching himself at the man. He grabbed him by the neck, choking him. “She’s not Cain’s. Caroline’s mine. If you don’t tell us what you know, I’ll stick your ass in the cage with a note, telling Cain you aided us in finding his little hideout.”
The man held out his hands. “He’ll kill me.”
“I’ll kill you,” Jameson threatened.
“She’s in the yard,” the man stuttered. “Cain said to leave her there until he returns.”
A jolt of electricity went through Jameson as he took off running. His heart raced as he scanned the area, searching for any place where they might hide her. Garrett pulled tarps off of rusted tractors and farm equipment as Julio searched under the porch.
“Come on, Caroline,” Jameson murmured. “I’m here, Baby.
Give me a sign,” he said, turning over an old canoe.
His eyes raked over a pile of crap in the center of the yard, and he ran toward it, yanking the junk away from the center.
Glancing to his right, his gaze landed on a piece of hair.
The thick mud caked the strands, making it difficult for him to determine if it was hers.
He dropped the items in his hand and slid to the ground beside the crate. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he saw the whip marks on her back. The skin appeared pasty white, and she didn’t move, even with all the racket.
“Over here,” he called, noticing the lock on the door. “We need a cable cutter.”
Garrett pulled out his multipurpose tool and began snapping the wires instead of working on the lock.
“Hurry,” Jameson said, watching for any signs of the woman breathing. “Caroline,” he whispered.
Garrett yanked the square away, and Jameson gently pulled the woman through, attempting to determine her identity.
Julio ran to the barn, grabbed a stable blanket, and laid it on the ground. Jameson held his breath as he carefully placed her on the blanket. He leaned over her, cleaning the muck from her face. Her skin felt freezing cold, and she lay deathly still, sending him panicking.
“Come on, sweetheart, open your eyes,” he pleaded, placing his head on her chest to check if she breathed. Julio felt for a pulse while Garrett started at her feet, rubbing them to create warmth and friction.
“Can you tell if it’s her?” Garrett asked.
Jameson raised his head to stare into her face when the woman blinked slowly and opened her eyes, showing the clear blue ones he saw in his dreams a million times over the last few months.
“Caroline,” he choked, holding back his tears. Her eyes widened, yet she didn’t speak. “Hold on. I’m picking you up and taking you someplace safe,” he whispered.