Chapter 21 Cage
CAGE
We pulled up to the gas station and walked on in. The woman looked petrified. Like she had seen a ghost, or something.
“I already called the police. You guys can stay right where you are,” she said.
Her voice shook, and it was Diesel who took to the front of the group.
“We aren't here to hurt you. But the woman you reported that was taken is someone we care about. We were hoping we could see your security footage. It’ll help us find her,” he said.
“But the police said they were already on it,” she said.
“She doesn’t have a lot of time. Not with the man she’s going to see,” he said.
“Please, help us,” I said.
And when her eyes connected with mine, she nodded.
“Come back here. I haven’t closed out the footage from when the police wanted to see it,” she said.
“Rock, you’re up,” Diesel said.
“He’s our resident techy,” Grave whispered.
“Wait, he is?” I asked.
“Trust me, looks are deceiving in this group,” Bear murmured.
We all piled as much as we could into that small back room. I was hunched over one shoulder of Rock’s and Diesel was hunched over the other, our eyes glued to the screen.
“That’s her. That’s Sutton,” I said.
Rock held up his hand for me to be quiet before he started rewinding and fast forwarding.
And it did nothing to settle my stomach.
There wasn’t a look of fear or anxiety on Sutton’s face.
She looked as cool as a cucumber, even when she put her finger up to her lips for the woman behind the counter.
I felt the guys staring at me. I knew how this looked.
But in the pit of my gut, I knew something was very off.
“Okay, so here’s the deal. That SUV is loaded. Which means it has a GPS system in it I could hack if given the time. But we don’t have that kind of time. So, I’m going to run the license plate through a system I developed to track traffic cameras in the area,” Rock said.
“Can you do that from this computer?” Diesel asked.
“It’ll take me a little bit. But I can remote in to my laptop and use the system that way.”
Rock’s fingers flew across the keyboard of the old computer in front of us. I was glued to the screen, watching the damn thing load as slow as fucking dial-up. But, when the interface popped up, all Rock had to do was punch in the license plate that was up on the security camera footage.
Zoomed in, so we knew we had it right.
After Rock hit “enter,” the screen ran away with itself. It glitched and shook, but eventually the software began to do its job. Rock murmured to himself. Whispering something that sounded like a prayer. We saw images of the blacked-out SUV pop up. Until one image came to the forefront of them all.
“There,” Rock said.
“There what?” I asked.
“Is that the diner up the road?” Toxin asked.
“Holy fuck. That’s Rundown Diner,” Bear said.
“What’s Rundown Diner?” I asked.
“A diner only fifteen minutes from here. Come on,” Diesel said.
“Wait a second, how do we know Sutton’s there?” I asked.
“Because that camera is a live feed camera. That SUV is parked in the parking lot of that diner. Right now,” Rock said.
I paused. “Then, what the hell are we waiting for? Let’s get the hell over there.”
Diesel stepped off to the side with the young woman before he pulled out his wallet.
I turned my back, not wanting to see what he was doing.
Though, I knew exactly what he was doing.
Making a new connection the only way the crew knew how.
By paying them very well for things they shouldn't be doing.
The woman thanked him profusely, then all of us piled out of the gas station.
Then, we all fell back into formation before we started up the road.
After driving for about ten minutes, Diesel diverted off the road.
I furrowed my brow as the rest of the men followed, and I decided not to question anything.
I brought up the rear, trying not to swallow the dust their bikes kicked up.
We raced through the desert until we came to a patch of lone trees.
Trees that looked completely displaced in a space known for its lack of water.
“Okay, guys. We’re going to sneak up on the diner from here,” Diesel said.
His voice came alive in my helmet and I nodded. So, that was the plan. Concealing our bikes, eliminating our noise, and sneaking in to get Sutton.
“Everyone armed?” Grave asked.
The guys got off their bikes and pulled off their helmets before nodding their heads.
“I’m not,” I said.
“Don’t worry, Cage. I got a gun for you,” Diesel said.
He walked up to my side and brandished a weapon for me as well as a second magazine.
I nodded my thanks and tucked the gun in the back band of my pants, sliding the extra magazine into my pocket.
We all gathered around Diesel as he quickly ran down the plan.
Teams of four, with all of us on the four outer walls of the diner.
Guarding all exits, taking aim at all windows, while him and I got ourselves into the bar and had eyes on Sutton.
“What if a gunfight starts?” I asked.
Diesel paused. “Then, we take them out.”
“What if it starts before we’ve got proof as to whether or not this girl’s working for her father?” Brewer asked.
Diesel looked over at me and I sighed.
“If we can get eyes on her before we barge in, I’ll know. She’ll either be in distress, or happy she’s there with her father. That will determine to me what’s going on,” I said.
“You sure you want to make that call based on facial expressions?” Bear asked.
“Do we really have a choice?” I asked.
I looked around at all the guys and saw them nod slowly.
“Okay. You guys wait for my call. Once we have confirmation or denial on Sutton’s side from Cage, we raid. Ready?” Diesel asked.
“Ready,” the guys said.
Then, we crept to the west.
The sun was bright. It hung heavily in the sky as sweat poured down my back.
We walked for what seemed like miles in the open desert before we finally came upon the diner.
They were at the advantage. Even from where I stood, I saw all the windows with their blinds drawn.
Lars and his men had the only cover for miles around us, which left us out in the open to be picked off like berries from a damn bush.
My only hope was that I didn’t find Sutton in there happy and content to be with her father.
Because I sure as hell didn’t want to have been dumb enough to fall for her fucking trap.
Diesel gave silent commands and we all lightened our footsteps.
We managed to surround the diner without raising any red flags.
Mostly because those assholes had the blinds drawn.
I tried to get a good peek underneath one of them.
I tried to figure out where the hell Sutton was.
But all we saw were the four black SUVs out front.
We didn’t know anything else other than that.
I did the calculations in my head. If those SUVs sat six comfortably, then that meant the possibility of twenty-four men in that diner.
Lars and Sutton made twenty-six. Which meant we were outgunned by twice and then some.
It wasn’t the best odds. But as I looked around at the guys, they didn’t seem too worried.
Then, the back door to the diner opened up.
“Take aim,” Diesel whispered.
Himself, me, and Grave raised our guns. Pointing them at whoever was opening that damn back door. But, when we saw a woman crouched down trying to crawl out, we quickly lowered them.
“Help us. Please,” she said, whimpering.
Diesel rushed over to her and helped her up.
“This door leads into the kitchen,” he murmured.
“Ma’am, do you know how many people are in there?” I asked.
I rushed over to Diesel’s side as Grave held the kitchen door open. He waved at the other kitchen workers to slowly ease their way out so we could replace them. Get an easy entrance into the kitchen while retaining the element of surprise.
“I don’t know. At least fifteen. Maybe twenty? I think,” she said.
“Good. That’s good. Now, is there a younger girl in there sitting with an older man?” I asked.
“Si, si. Yes,” she said.
“Does she look happy or sad?”
The woman paused, and I braced myself.
“She looks terrified, senor. I feel so bad for her,” the woman said.
I never thought I’d be so relieved for Sutton to be in such despair in my entire life.
“Good. Thank you. You guys go with this man. His name is Grave. He’ll get you safe,” Diesel said.
I looked over at my brother and smiled, my heart filling with relief.
“That enough for you?” I asked.
“It’s all we’re gonna get for now. And, I’ll take it,” he said.
“Good. Ready to get in there and end this man?”
“Hell yeah, I’m ready.”
“Good,” I said.
All of a sudden, I heard boot steps softly behind me.
Practically muted, had my father not trained me to keep my ears open at all times.
I whipped my head around and saw more men approaching the diner.
I whipped my gun around, leveling it at the three guys making their way toward my brother and myself.
Then, Diesel put his hand on my arm, lowering my gun.
“The Black Hornets. They’re with us,” he said.
I paused. “Ah, that was the favor.”
“Yes, that was the favor,” he said, grinning.
And as the rest of the guys surrounded the diner, the scores were now evened. We were no longer outgunned, and I felt a sense of calm come over me. A sense of peace. No matter what, I’d get Sutton out of there alive. Only this time, her father wouldn't be behind us.
He’d be bleeding on the floor with a bullet through his heart.
And if I had anything to do with it, the bullet would come from my gun chamber.