33. Daisy
Chapter thirty-three
Daisy
The team opts to take three vehicles and travel as far as the road will let us go because the rumble of our ATVs would be much too loud.
The last thing we need is the sound of the exhausts echoing through the forest and signaling our approach.
Assuming there’s nothing blocking our path, we should be able to get within three miles of the west entrance.
The rest of the way will have to be on foot.
Jaxon, Faith, and Owen are in the lead SUV, while Scott, Jeremy, and Jack are in the rear of our caravan. Angel and I are in the back seat of Bennett’s Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid SUV that he rented in Colorado Springs.
Then there are Roger and Vinny, who have each taken their vehicles to positions where they can operate as mobile command centers: Roger to the north and Vinny to the south.
We all have our comm devices in, which won’t do much good once we’re in the tunnels.
“Team Three, you are coming up on your position,” Vinny says. He’s flying the drone overhead, using the heat signatures from the vehicles to note our location.
“Copy,” Scott replies. “Point Golf. Five clicks at two-two-five from Bullseye.”
Bennett mumbles, “Why can’t he just say he’s three miles southwest of the target? He’s a civilian now, for goodness’ sake.”
“Once in the ‘Chair Force,’ always in the ‘Chair Force,’” Owen jokes while subtly reminding Bennett that all comms are two-way.
I can’t help but snicker. Our team has members from three different military branches, law enforcement, and federal agencies.
However, the rivalry between Owen and Scott, Army versus Air Force, has been a running joke since before I came on board.
Blue, green, red, or purple, it doesn’t matter to me.
Anyone who serves in the military, regardless of branch, has my utmost respect.
“Team Two, you’re closing in on Point Foxtrot in three…two…one,” Vinny relays.
Bennett hits the brakes, and the three of us exit the vehicle once we’re stopped. I open the back hatch and remove my rifle case. “Affirmative. Team Two is at Point Foxtrot, five clicks at two-seven-zero to Bullseye.”
Bennett rolls his eyes while dropping the magazine from his Beretta 92G Elite and ensuring it’s fully loaded.
“Here’s a rifle. Use this instead. It’s modified with simunition rounds that deliver a small dose of a neuromuscular blocking agent followed by a dose of a sedative. Non-lethal,” Angel says to Bennett.
“I’m not much of a gun guy, and your team has enough firepower to go to war. My handgun should be more than enough. As far as I’m concerned, it feels like overkill with the sniper rifles, tactical face paint, and Ghillie suits,” Bennett says, gesturing to the suit I’m putting on.
Angel doesn’t bother arguing with Bennett; he just continues to hand him body armor and a black shirt because Bennett stands out like a sore thumb in his white button-up.
“The man we’re after is dangerous, knows how to cover his tracks, and doesn’t leave loose ends.
And right now, he’s about to feel like a cornered animal, which means he’s capable of anything and twice as dangerous.
I’d recommend having it and not needing it rather than needing it and not having it. ”
I point to Bennett’s fancy dress shoes. “You’ll also want to cover those in dirt to take away the shine. Also, cover anything reflective so you don’t give away your position. The last thing we need is for you to be seen at a distance and ruin our surprise party.”
Jaxon interrupts our dialogue. “Team One, location Point Echo. Five clicks at three-zero-zero to Bullseye.”
“Copy, Team One. I have you in sight,” Vinny affirms.
Roger says, “One hour and seven minutes until sunrise. I want half a mile between each person, closing the gap as you near Bullseye. Slow is steady. Steady is fast. Stay light on your feet while moving with purpose.”
We all acknowledge the orders with a synchronized “Roger,” followed by a round of snickers.
“That never gets old,” Roger murmurs.
My brother comes across the line. “Team One is locked, cocked, and ready to rock.”
Angel speaks for our team. “Team Two is on the move.”
Scott finishes with, “Team Three is rolling out.”
Angel takes a minute to kiss me goodbye before he jogs half a mile up the road. I turn to Bennett. “You and I will not be entering the tunnels with the rest of the team. We’ll be the eyes outside, relaying information to Roger and Vinny while covering the entrance to the mine.”
“That’s fine by me,” Bennett says. “I’ve never been part of the CIA’s covert operations. I’m more of a desk jockey.”
“You’ll have to play soldier boy today,” I tell him.
“If anyone other than our team, Eva, or Genevieve comes out of the tunnel, you can’t let them get away.
That gun you carry may be what saves your life.
Now go. We don’t have much time before the sun comes up, and remaining stealthy will become twice as difficult. ”
For the next hour, we trek through the woods, covering three miles. The chatter is kept to a minimum except for the occasional position reports.
I find a spot on top of a berm 500 meters from the entrance of the mine, making it a perfect place from which to take a shot. I glance around for some waist-high vegetation that can be used as an added layer of cover, noting a pile of dead branches off to my right. That’s when I see it.
“Overwatch is in position, and I have visual on the electric ATV used in the getaway.” I go over and move some of the branches. “It has a portable battery charger attached.”
“Then we can assume that’s how he plans to make his escape,” Vinny says. The drone flies low under the canopy, hovers, turns, and then heads toward the ATV to get a closer look. “I can confirm that this is the same model of ATV used in the abduction of Genevieve.”
“The only way he can get away is to go through me,” I say.
The sun is now well above the horizon, and I haven’t moved an inch in almost four hours. There’s been no sign of anyone here, only a herd of deer moseying about their business.
Using the scope to keep my eyes and attention zeroed in on the entrance to the mine, I make slight sight adjustments on my rifle for changes in windage.
If I had a flag, it would make things a lot easier.
Instead, I’m forced to use objects in nature like leaves and blades of grass.
Luckily, I’ve been doing this long enough that it doesn’t pose a problem.
I know my team is out there, no more than 100 meters apart now, but like me, they’re remaining still. Even Bennett is hard to spot, though he’s not remaining quiet as Roger gives us updated information as it comes in.
The last update was an hour ago when Roger informed us that Jerry had landed in Colorado Springs. Now he has another one for us. “Director Finnegan has spoken to CIA Director Ludlow after a very lengthy and private Q now give me what you promised!”
Owen takes over as the one person here who can make the arrest. “Daisy, prepare to fire if he makes a run for it. Bennett, watch Daisy’s six. The rest of you, move in.”
“Hands up!” Jaxon demands as the first to emerge from the treeline.
Brad does as he’s told, but does so with a confused expression on his face. “Is this some kind of joke?”
Owen cuffs him and begins reading him his Miranda rights. “You have the right to remain silent….”
“I know that I’m on private property and trespassing, but I’ll pay the fine. Is it really worth arresting me over?”
“We’re arresting you for the abduction of Genevieve Fowler,” Jaxon tells him.
Owen continues, “Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law….”
“Genevieve who? What are you talking about? I’ve been waiting to meet someone for the past twelve hours. Look, you can see inside the tunnel for yourself. My stuff is only about a quarter of a mile inside,” Brad pleads. “I’ll show you!”
“Be careful,” I tell the team. “Watch for wires or booby traps.”
“Copy,” Faith says.
One by one, the team disappears inside the tunnel, Owen and Brad leading the way. The comms become garbled the further they get from the entrance.
The drone hovers near the entrance as Vinny says, “They’ve turned a corner, and I’ve lost visual.”
I watch in horror as a series of detonations outside the mine trigger a rockslide above the entrance, burying the drone in the process.
“Roger, the entrance is blocked. It appears as if the team clipped a tripwire and set off an explosion. Brad led them into a trap!”
“Stay put. We’re on our way,” Roger says.
“Bennett and I need to help them. Bennett, move out!” I get up and run toward the pile of rubble when I feel a stinging sensation in my thigh. My leg buckles under me, and I go down like a sack of bricks.
Though the sound is too far away for me to be certain, I swear I hear a man say, “No one can help you now.”
As my eyes roll back in my head and I feel my body being dragged up the hill by my ghillie suit, I know there’s One I can always turn to for help. “Lord, please let the good guys win.”