Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Jethro Barclay looked every bit the formidable man Emmett had come to expect. With his six-four frame, broad shoulders, and fit, muscular build, the only parts of him that gave away the man’s age were his thick, silver hair and matching beard.
Like Echo, he was dressed in all black, an imposing form moving with purpose and a confidence that couldn’t be faked. Others may see a man like him coming their way and assume he was past his prime.
Others would be wrong.
One look at the guy’s impressive skills and kills was all it took to know how deadly he was.
From what Emmett had seen on paper, the former Delta Force operator was the perfect choice for Echo’s current mission.
And if there was any doubt, the long rifle slung over Jethro’s broad shoulder was more confirmation that the man was dangerous.
“Show time.” He reached down and flashed his headlights twice, letting the man watching know it was safe to approach.
Jethro walked across the abandoned parking lot with long, powerful steps. When their pinch hitter was only a few yards away, Emmett opened his door and exited the SUV. He shut the door quietly and crossed the remaining distance, meeting the man in the middle.
“Emmett Shaw.” He offered an outstretched hand.
The other man’s grip was firm and steady. “Jethro Barclay.” His deep voice had a bit of a rough edge to it. “I already scoped out the buildings closest to your target location, and the one across the street and one lot over will give me the best view inside.”
He gave a dip of his chin. “I appreciate the assist.”
Jethro’s dark, slightly narrow stare slid to the five others who’d just climbed out of the vehicle behind Emmett. When his gaze returned, he shared intel he’d already gathered.
“I didn’t see anyone out back, but there’s most likely at least one person guarding the door. When I get into position, I’ll have a better idea of the number of bodies in the entrance. Once I can confirm, I’ll relay that information to you and your team.”
“Sounds good,” Emmett agreed, handing their designated sniper an earpiece. “We’ll stay back until we hear from you.”
Jethro put the small, two-way mic in his left ear, giving it a slight twist to secure it in place.
“Real quick,” Emmett continued. “This is Detective Lincoln Boone. He’s here to . . .” He paused before settling on, “Help.”
Truth be told, he wasn’t altogether sure why the D.C. detective had decided to come along. But Boone hadn’t called in his troops, so the guy deserved a little credit for that.
Continuing through the introductions, Emmett went through the rest of the group with haste. “Lucas Mercer’s our medic. You spoke on the phone with Gwen Winslow, our demolitions expert. Draven Brown is Echo’s tactical specialist, and Blake Savage is the team’s technical analyst.”
“Good to meet you all.” Jethro’s rumble ran deep.
His teammates each shared similar sentiments before Emmett went over the last-minute plan a final time.
“Barclay already has a spot picked out and will notify us once he’s in position.
Boone will cover the back and alert us of any threats coming from that direction.
The rest of us will enter through the front and take out any tangos our sniper can’t see.
Once that stage of the plan is complete, we’ll split up into two groups.
Gwen, Lucas, and Draven will clear the second floor while Blake and I cover the lobby.
You three will meet us back on the main floor, and we’ll continue our search from there. ”
“Sounds like a plan to me.” Gwen grinned.
The woman clearly loved this part of the job.
Jethro looked his way with the same unreadable expression. “If you’re good, I’ll start making my way there.”
Emmett nodded. “Let us know if you run into trouble.”
A low grunt was the guy’s only response.
When Jethro turned around and walked away, Emmett handed Boone an earpiece so he could keep in contact.
“You see anything suspicious, let us know.”
The man inserted the small device in his ear with a slightly arched brow. “If I get canned over this, I expect to be offered a job.”
Emmett’s lips twitched. “You help me get Janie back in one piece, you can have whatever the hell you want.”
“Don’t go making promises your ass can’t keep,” Boone chuckled. Almost immediately, his tone lost all hints of humor. “Be careful in there.” His focus slid to the others. “That goes for all of you.”
That last part was added just as Boone’s dark gaze met Gwen’s. The blonde stared back, her lips lifting into a crooked grin.
“You, too, Detective,” she offered softly.
Putting the strange interaction to the side, Emmett told Boone, “You run into trouble, let us know.”
With a half-assed salute and a slight dip of his head, the man turned away, looking both ways before crossing the street.
Emmett’s gut tightened, knowing he needed to get this next part out of the way. They needed to hurry, but he couldn’t in good conscious let his team go into this thing without knowing the truth.
“Listen up.” He addressed the group as a whole. “Janie’s not just our first client. She’s . . . important.”
“Don’t worry, brother.” Blake’s blue eyes met his. “We’ve got your back.”
“Both your backs,” Gwen amended with a serious look.
In a show of solidarity, Lucas and Draven each gave a quick nod of their heads.
An unexpected rush of emotions threatened to steal Emmett’s focus, but he pushed it aside and got his head back into the game. On the inside, he was a fucking mess, but this was a game with too much at risk, and still way too many unknowns.
But it was a game he damn well intended to win. And his prize?
Having Janie back in my arms.
He motioned for the team to start moving. The street was much like Boone had described the area where Devon had been found. There were no cars in sight, and the buildings had boards on all the windows.
All except their target location.
Emmett’s pulse began to race faster the closer he and his teammates got. If Janie wasn’t here, he didn’t know what they would do. This was their best shot at finding her. Their only shot, really.
She has to be in there. Please, please, please, let her be in there.
“This is Barclay.” Jethro’s voice came through their earpieces. “I’m in position. I’ve got two tangos standing in the north section of the lobby. They’re approximately twelve feet from the door and, from what I can tell, they’re the only ones in that area. I’ve got a clean shot on them both.”
“Copy that,” Emmett immediately responded. “We’re approaching the entrance from the north now.”
“I see you.”
He had to admit, it felt damn good knowing the man was there.
Gwen’s hushed voice came to him from a few feet behind. “My breaching strip will give us entry without causing a massive explosion.”
Emmett knew the woman would rather blow the entire door to smithereens. But given their location and time of day, a small charge to disable the handle and lock was the way to go.
To his team, he commanded, “We’ll go straight to the door. Winslow will do her thing, and we’ll make our way inside.”
“Loud and clear, boss.” Draven let him know he understood the orders.
The others gave similar responses and a few feet later, Emmett stopped walking and put up a fist. It was a signal they all knew by heart. One taught to them years before during their various military trainings.
From this point on, they’d be as silent as possible, unless it was necessary to talk. The suppressors on the ends of their rifles and pistols would aid in their efforts to minimize noise.
Emmett motioned toward the door, keeping his body low to avoid being spotted through the uncovered windows. He led his team from the sidewalk to the building’s front entrance. Another fist and their steps came to a halt.
To Gwen, he signaled it was her turn to shine. The woman’s blonde ponytail swayed back-and-forth as she moved to the front and got to work. Within seconds, the breaching strip was in place, and she was backing up a few paces.
A silent signal of her own let them know to duck down and cover their faces before ignition.
Gwen pushed a button on the small remote in her hand. There was a flash, followed by a mild bang. They were in the building within seconds.
The two men Jethro had seen through his scope spun around and began to draw. Their pistols never made it around to point directly at him or his team.
Emmett started to pull his trigger at the same time two succinct shots came through one of the side windows. Both targets jerked before crumpling to the floor with soft thuds, each with a new hole in their head.
“Thanks for that,” he told Jethro through the mic in his ear.
The New Orleans native drawled back a deep, “Kinda why I’m here, ain’t it?”
Emmett’s lips twitched with the urge to grin, but his admiration for the other man’s no-nonsense attitude was fleeting at best. Because Janie was here. He could feel it in his gut.
Two dead guys bleeding all over the floor was all the proof he needed.
“Hey.” Gwen whispered back at him as she squatted down next to the bodies. “These guys are Secret Service.”
Since it wasn’t obvious by the men’s plain clothes, Emmett asked, “How do you know?”
“They’re the ones in the video on Janie’s phone.” She pushed herself up. “They were arguing outside the White House when she was on the tour.”
More questions rolled around in his brain, but their answers would have to wait.
“Let’s move.” Emmett motioned with his hand toward the stairs on his left.
Gwen, Draven, and Lucas headed that way while he and Blake checked out the remaining rooms on the main floor. His heart kicked hard, his pulse racing with a combination of fear and hope. But with each room they cleared, the more crushing his disappointment became.
Come on, sweetheart. Where are you?
The silent plea had barely left his thoughts when Boone’s voice filled the speaker nestled in Emmett’s ear.
“This is Boone. I have two targets secured by the back door in the alley.”