Chapter 31
Jeb bent low and raced toward the warehouse. Reaching the back corner, he moved with stealth to the front door. Leo was heading to the loading dock doors at the rear to see if there was an opening while Adam took the windows on the west. Logan was moving toward the helicopter to render it unusable. As soon as he neared the front door, the sound of two men shouting met his ears.
“I told you to get the helicopter ready! What the fuck are you doing?”
“I want more. You said this would be easy. Fly a woman here. I didn’t ask questions. I wasn’t expecting her to be cuffed to the seat, but if that’s what it takes, I was willing. But it was two, and if one of those women was FBI, that changes this shit completely. I’m not going to go to prison for you.”
You’ll do what I fucking say! With the money you’re getting paid, you can’t back out now.”
Jeb was thrilled to hear the two men fighting. In his experience, when criminals can’t get their shit together, they’re so distracted they’re much easier to subdue.
With his weapon out, he radioed, “Two men in earshot. One is the pilot. One is lead. Arguing. Position unknown.”
From the LSIWC compound, Carson interjected. “Landon is coming with FBI. It seems the black-market tank hulls were shipped out two days ago and headed to Oregon. They may be at your location.”
“ETA on other Keepers?” Jeb asked.
Abbie replied, “Ten minutes.”
“I’m at cargo doors. No opening. I’ll go toward west and meet you at the front,” Leo responded.
Jeb wished he could give Leo assurances about Skylar and Natalie’s location, but all he knew was that both were brought to the warehouse. “Copy.”
He was glad to see Leo round the corner of the building, coming toward him. As soon as the other Keeper neared, he shook his head, mouthing, “Can’t determine the location of men.”
Suddenly, the shouting started up again, and it sounded closer.
“I’ll fucking drop you here, you piece of shit!”
“And then who will fly your ass out of here? Your driver already drove off, so you’re down to me. You want my continued services, then pay up.”
“Fine. You want to extort a bonus, then you’ll get it when we land.”
“Window is boarded up,” Adam reported.
“Fuck,” Jeb cursed. Suddenly, a gunshot rang out. His normal response of heightened danger and caution kicked in, but his heart rate pounding out the rhythm of his fear for Skylar was new.
Waiting was no longer an option. Turning the knob, Jeb slipped through the front door with Leo right behind, their weapons drawn.
The first room was empty but could have once been a reception area. With no furniture, it was easy to see no one was hiding. He darted to the door that led into the large warehouse, filled with crates and large tarp-covered objects. He had no doubt they’d found Alistair’s hidden stock of military equipment waiting for sale on the black market.
“The next one goes in you!”
Jeb shared a look with Leo, then dipped his head in acknowledgment of Adam’s arrival. The three carefully moved without making a sound, each heading in a different direction in the warehouse. Coming to a large tarp, he bent low and lifted the bottom of the tarp. He recognized the item and radioed, “No sight of men on west side. Tank hulls here.”
Dropping the edge of the tarp, he focused on finding Skylar and Natalie, making sure to keep the danger away from them.
“Two men near cargo doors at back,” Adam radioed.
Jeb started at the wooden crates he felt sure held military weapons. In truth, he didn’t care what was in them, other than they served as an easy cover. When Landon and the FBI arrived, they could sort out the contents.
As he made it past another stack, a male voice shouted.
“Fuck! They’re loose!”
“Where did they go?”
“You locked them in! How the hell did they get out?”
“They’re behind those crates!”
Multiple footsteps could be heard, and Jeb crouched low as he raced forward, past one set of crates at a time. Peering around each one before continuing toward the offices, he moved forward. A gunshot fired out, and then another one returned. He radioed, “Do you see Natalie or Skylar?”
“Negative.”
Another round of fire could be heard, only this time, the distinct sound of a female scream sounded out. Jeb’s heart clenched when he recognized Skylar’s cry.
“I’ve got you, bitches. I don’t know how you got away, but this ends now. I didn’t spend the past ten years kissing up to an asshole to be taken out by you two.”
Footsteps could be heard, including what sounded like a scuffle. Jeb had been on many rescue missions, but now, trying to find Skylar to keep her safe, he cursed the massive warehouse. Sounds echoed, making them indistinct as to location. Skylar cried out, she was probably hit. He hated that he couldn’t call out to let her know he was there.
Leo radioed, “At northeast corner. Moving to southeast. Coordinate.”
“Southwest corner, to east,” Adam responded.
“Center. Moving to southeast,” replied Jeb, racing forward.
Another shot rang out, and he halted to locate the gunfire.
“She got me. The bitch got me!”More footsteps. “Where are you going?”
“I told you. I didn’t sign up for this shit!”
Adam radioed, “Smoke ’em out.”
Jeb knew it was the best way… hell, they’d done it on many missions. He hated thinking of Skylar’s fear but was desperate to get to her. “Copy,” he replied, hearing it echoed by Leo.
Abbie radioed, “FBI and Keepers landing nearby. ETA to warehouse, three minutes.”
Not willing to wait, Jeb said, “Smoke.”
A few seconds later, Adam let off the smoke bomb that quickly filled the air swirling inside the warehouse. Pulling on a mask, he ducked low and raced toward the sound of the woman’s scream.