Chapter 33 #4
“Solid copy, Ambra One.” Max sounded considerably better through the earpiece than he had through the phone. “I have all three radios. Be advised, priority one is not secure. Local law enforcement can hear you, so watch what you put over the air.”
“In other words, watch your mouths.” Charlie adjusted his earpiece with a grin. “Wouldn’t want to scandalize the locals.”
Fucking finally.
Zenko ended the cell call and shoved his phone into his pocket. With the radio secured to his gear and Max in his ear, he had both hands free again.
Zenko checked the building opposite them again, searching for any hint of movement before they stepped outside. “Ready?”
“Yes, sir, I am.” Charlie checked the shotgun one final time before settling it into a ready position.
Zenko keyed his radio. “TOC, Ambra One. We are Oscar Mike.”
“Copy. Stay frosty.” Noble went quiet for a beat before his voice returned through their earpieces. “Charlie?”
Charlie keyed his comms. “Yes, sir?”
“You watch my guys’ sixes.”
“You got it, sir.” Charlie nudged Zenko toward the rear of the store. “We’re better off going behind the supermarket and approaching the pharmacy from around the school. The building should give us some cover, and we’ll only have the playground to cross in the open.”
“Okay.” Zenko spotted a blackboard covered with a handwritten list of store items and pointed at it. “Can I wipe this?”
“Yes.”
A quick wipe of his sleeve later, Zenko was drawing out a quick map of what he knew of the area. “This way?”
“No.” Charlie took over the makeshift map and drew in another intersection. “If we cut through here, it brings us up behind the janitor’s shed at the school. If Jack’s there, we’re in luck. He’s the janitor, and he was a Marine. He can shoot.”
“Name?” Max demanded.
Charlie keyed his comms again. “Jack Malone. Last stationed out of Camp Pendleton.”
A few seconds passed before Max came back over comms.
“Got him. He’s clean. They both are.”
“Of course we’re clean,” Charlie muttered the complaint before keying his radio. “He pulled my ass out of the fire a couple of times in ’Nam. Do I need to bring a weapon for him or not?”
“As long as he doesn’t fucking miss and hit one of us, we’ll take him, too.” Zenko released his radio and reached for one of the spare rifles. He was only too happy to have another experienced man covering their asses.
SNAFU. That about covered this particular clusterfuck. Taking civilians along as backup sure as hell wasn’t standard operating procedure, but Charlie was a combat veteran, Jack was a former Marine, and Max had cleared both men.
Another faint burst of gunfire carried from the direction of the pharmacy.
Shit, that was not fucking good.
Zenko looked between Shaun and Charlie. “Ready?”
“Yeah.” Shaun settled his weapon into a ready position. “Let’s roll.”
Zenko keyed his radio. “TOC, Ambra One. You ready for us to move?”
“Ambra One, TOC. We’re ready. We’re catching glimpses of him as he moves between corners of the roof. Still one shooter. He’s taking potshots at any vehicle that passes or approaches.”
Zenko muttered a string of curses. He fucking hated people using innocents as shields or for revenge. Shit like that sucked donkey balls. Whatever this asshole was targeting, the school was too damn close. Kids were supposed to be protected and loved, damn it.
The lack of parents and bystanders outside the school still surprised him. Usually, a situation like this would have people crowding the perimeter by now.
“TOC, we’re essentially blind.” Zenko pulled out his phone, snapped a picture of the route they’d drawn on the blackboard, and sent it to Max. “I just sent you our approach. You have camera coverage until we hit the shooter’s location?”
“Yup. I’ve got you covered until you reach the pharmacy.” Max went quiet for a beat. “Ambra Two, tell dispatch she’s about to get a call from an OCONUS number. We’ll take over and keep her updated.”
Shaun acknowledged Max and shifted his weapon into one hand long enough to retrieve his phone.
Getting the dispatcher off his cell would put both of them completely onto comms before they stepped off, leaving TOC to handle the coordination while they concentrated on the shooter. Shaun raised the phone.
“Ma’am? You’re going to receive a call from outside the United States.”
“Okay.”
Shaun immediately continued. “That’s my boss. I’m hanging up, and they’re taking over communications from here.”
“But—”
Shaun tightened his grip on his weapon. “Ma’am, we need our hands free.”
“Oh, right.” The dispatcher sounded embarrassed that she hadn’t immediately understood. “I’m sorry. Be safe, and good luck.”
“You have coffee and donuts when we’re done and me and my guy will be there to have them, deal?”
“Yes.” A trace of warmth finally entered the dispatcher’s voice. “Coffee and donuts. You’ve got a deal.”
“Ambra Two, ass in gear.” Noble’s order came sharply through their earpieces.
“Yes, sir.” Shaun brought the phone back to his ear. “Later, ma’am.” He ended the call, shoved the phone into his pocket, and settled both hands on his weapon.