Chapter 24
Shadow watched the familiar vehicle pull into the guard station and get waved through the gate.
“The vulture has landed,” he said into the coms.
“Sitrep,” Saint called.
“Eagle two in position,” Shadow reported.
“Eagle three ready to roll,” Cole replied.
“Eagle Four ready,” Ragu replied.
“Eagle five in position,” Taco said.
“Eagle seven and eight contained,” Sparky confirmed.
Waiting restlessly, Saint watched for the traitor to leave. They planned to pick up Sergeant Ford tomorrow in the village market, away from the cameras and security. Either way, one of them would talk.
“Vulture’s on the move,” Shadow reported two hours later.
“Eagle four and five, get ready. Eagle three, take down the driver,” Saint ordered as he got into the truck and headed to the pickup location. His gut rolled as anger and frustration grew bigger by the minute. He tapped his emotions down, needing to focus on getting the job done.
“Eagle seven and eight, you ready?” he asked.
“Confirmed,” Sparky replied.
He waited on pins and needles for confirmation they had overtaken the vehicle.
Gunfire filled the comms. Striker growled and attacked on Cole’s command. Ten minutes later, Shadow said, “Vulture and driver contained. Eagle Four has disposed of the wheels.”
“Heading toward you, Eagle Seven and Eight,” Saint gave Sparky the heads up.
Twenty minutes later, he entered the cave they originally used.
“Let go of me,” Maryam ordered. “Do you have any idea of who you’re dealing with?” She struggled as Shadow and Taco dragged her inside the cave, separating her from her driver.
Sparky, dressed in a chadari and topi, struggled against the bonds holding her, begging to get released. In Maryam’s language, she pleaded for help.
“What do you think I can do for you, you stupid fool?” Maryam shot back as Shadow shoved her to the ground and attached the cuffs tightly. Black masks covered their faces, and Sparky’s identity was hidden beneath the Afghan clothing.
Sparky signaled for Apollo to intimidate. The K-9 growled and snapped close to their feet, making Maryam scream in terror.
“You’ve made a mistake. I’ve done nothing,” she claimed.
“They won’t listen,” Sparky informed her. “They’re searching for a woman who’s selling military missions. They want medical supplies. The men come from the east village. They won’t stop until they get what they want.”
“How do you know?” Maryam shrieked as Apollo crowded her.
“They killed my husband. We came to attend the market. They believe we shared information with the other villages,” Sparky cried. “I know nothing.”
“They don’t know anything. I control the village in the east. If they don’t let me go, they will attack the other villages, searching for me. I protect them,” Maryam said angrily. “Stay quiet, and I’ll get you freed when my men come.”
“Will they come soon? They’re planning on moving camp in the morning. It doesn’t sound like they’re taking us,” Sparky said, sounding frightened.
Shadow knelt by the fire and stoked it with a metal rod.
“What’s he doing?” Sparky asked, shaking.
“Nothing. He’s attempting to intimidate you,” Maryam said in disgust. “Stop acting like a frightened rabbit.”
Saint entered. He stood over Sparky and almost laughed as she cowered in fear. “Please don’t hurt me,” she begged.
Shadow rose from his spot. Knowing the language, he made the threat. “Tell us what we want to know, and you’ll die an honorable death.”
“I told you I know nothing,” she cried. “We trade at the market. We don’t have anything else. I gave you my goats and chickens. Please let me go bury my husband.”
Saint blocked Maryam’s view as Shadow held the red-hot poker to the dead goat they bought from a farmer earlier. The rod sizzled on the skin, Sparky cried out as if in pain. Apollo barked nonstop, snapping and growling.
When Shadow removed the rod, Sparky slumped against the wall and wailed, speaking gibberish.
Saint moved aside, letting her see Sparky’s condition. He pointed to the fire and then at Maryam. Shadow rose, stoked the flames, and set the rod in the hottest part of the pit.
Shadow approached her slowly. “Save yourself the same agony as this woman. We know a female will be passing through these parts tonight, trading information. We want to know the next attack. We want medical supplies and medicine.”
“I do not know. Your men have me confused with someone else,” she explained. “My driver can vouch for me. We only drove through the village. I have a husband and children.”
Saint pointed at her and nodded. Shadow walked slowly toward the rod and picked it up. He saw her watching the orange-and-red tip as he brought it close to her face, letting the heat intimidate her.
“Where will the attack take place?” he asked calmly. “Your driver’s dead. He tried to run. We will find out no matter how long it takes.”
He moved the iron downward, as she tracked every move.
“I have money. You can use it to purchase supplies,” she blurted out. Shadow glanced at Saint, who shook his head. Shadow lifted the leg of her pants and moved the poker closer. “I can give you a name. There’s a Sergeant on the K-9 base. He knows the routes.”
“When will they attack?” he asked, bringing the poker even closer.
“They’ll strike the village the day after tomorrow.”
“You think me a fool? The village has nothing but goats, sheep, and a couple of cows,” Shadow said angrily.
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “They pay for the medical supplies with American money. They have a doctor. She treats the villagers.”
“I know of no woman doctor there,” he said, tired of her lies.
“I swear to you,” Maryam cried. “She’s underground. They keep her hidden. Why do you think the villages plan to attack? They all want a healer.”
“How do you know this?” he asked.
“I saw the man. I can describe him. He attends the market and makes the deals,” she confessed and then gave them Sergeant Ford’s description.
Saint grabbed a bucket of water and dumped it on Sparky, pretending to wake her. He grabbed her by the arm and dragged her from the cave while she screamed. Apollo followed them.
“Where did he take her?” Maryam demanded.
Shadow smiled wickedly, letting the woman’s imagination run wild. After all, didn’t she deserve a bit of torture?
Saint loosened his grip on Sparky’s arm and stopped. “What do you think?”
“She knows more than she’s telling. A doctor in these parts would be scarce.
With the restrictions of the Taliban, it’s rare.
They mainly have midwives,” Sparky explained.
“If they managed to hide a physician underground, the other villages not only want the doctor, they’d want the protection of an underground village. ”
“We’ll give her a few minutes,” Saint said. “You did a good job back there.”
She gave him a cheeky grin. “I didn’t have to act part of it. When you drag me out, I can’t see where I’m going.”
Saint started to apologize, then realized she teased him. “You definitely belong on Team Hawk. You’re a smartass like the rest of them,” he muttered.
“You bet your ass, boss. I gotta keep you on your toes,” she replied, nudging him.
“Will you do me a favor? Call me Saint. The men and I called Leo boss. This forced me to take his place, but I’m not ready for the title.”
Nodding her head, she said, “Sure. As long as you remember Leo wouldn’t have made you second if he didn’t believe you can lead us.”
“Thanks for the reminder. You know if the guys ever hear us talking all this feely touchy shit, they’ll never let us hear the end of it,” Saint reminded her.
“Don’t worry, dumbass. We can hear you through the comms,” Ragu interrupted them. “We’re giving you shit later. It’s still too raw for us, too.”
“What do you say when we go in, you trip his ass as you walk by?” Saint told Sparky. “I’ll get you as close as I can.”
“Don’t worry, Saint. I didn’t see anything,” she replied.
Saint chuckled and waited until she adjusted her dirty garb.
“Shall we make it more convincing?” Sparky asked.
“What do you have in mind?” he asked.
“Tear this thing. Make it appear real. Let her mind wander.”
Saint took out his knife and cut the seams. “We’ll rip it when we get closer. Shadow may take a turn. See if he heard anything while you and I stayed out here.”
“You got it, bo- Saint.”
“All right, let’s hear you scream,” he said quietly.
Sparky begged as Saint ripped her clothes and rubbed dirt on her skin. She screamed in terror, letting it echo through the cave.
“Damn Sparky, you nearly blew out my eardrums,” Ragu said.
Saint jerked her in front of Shadow. Shadow switched to the dialect and spoke to Saint as if he understood him. He grabbed Sparky, and she pleaded for him to let her go until they made it out of the cave.
“Did she say anything else?” she asked.
“She’s trying to bribe me with American money.
She claims to have more than one person can spend.
I imagine she has it in a bank in the Caymans.
If she slipped past the military, she’s smart enough to hide it,” Shadow said.
“How long must I keep you out here to do vile and disgusting things to you? It kinda goes against my grain to do this.”
“Nope,” Sparky said firmly. “If I were a man, you’d have no problem torturing me to get the information.
Women can be as evil as men. Don’t let her crocodile tears fool you.
If I could see, I’d have no problem burning the bitch with the poker.
She hurt my friend and our soldiers. She’s no sister of mine. ”
“Fair point,” Shadow conceded. “We’ll need to nab Ford at the market. I’ll need you to find out what time he’s planning to make the deal.”
“I’m on it.”
“Eagle three and four, how’s the driver?”
“He’s talking, but we don’t understand what he’s saying. He keeps pointing toward the mountain,” Ragu said. “Striker’s doing a damn good job getting him to spill the beans.”
“When we finish here, I’ll listen to him. They need to stay separated,” Shadow replied.
“We’ll be here. For once, I can say Eagle Four might be worth keeping,” Ragu said.
“Fuck you,” Cole muttered good-naturedly.
“Keep your head in the game,” Saint ordered. “We’re not done yet.”
Smearing more dirt on Sparky, Shadow led her back into the cave. She whimpered as he secured her again with zip ties, putting his hand between the plastic and her skin to ensure he didn’t pinch it.
“Don’t whimper in front of these men,” Maryam ordered. “They’re scum. When I don’t return, my men will search for me. They’ll free me before dawn.”
“How will they know where you are? They’ve taken us off the main road. My husband’s family will throw me out once they learn of his death,” Sparky sniffed.
“They’ll find us,” she said smugly, “And I’ll make them pay.”
Sparky coughed twice, signaling Shadow. He knelt beside her and poured water into her mouth. “Check her. She has a tracker,” Sparky whispered as Shadow gave her more water.
A minute later, Saint appeared. As they drew closer to Maryam, she yelled obscenities and threatened to have their heads. Saint flipped her over, frisked her, and then checked her front. He dropped her back on the floor. “Something’s in her bra.”
Sparky sat up, and Shadow untied her. Helping her to her feet, he led her to Maryam. He pressed a KBAR into her hand.
“You tricked me,” Maryam screamed. “What do you think you’re doing?”
“I’m cutting the transmitter from your bra. I suggest you don’t move. I’m blind, and I don’t want the knife to cut you,” she said coldly.
“You think I believe you?” the woman scoffed.
Shadow waved his hand in front of Sparky’s face. “She may be blind, but she’s more fucking loyal than you.”
Sparky felt the bra and found the hard device. She used the knife to cut it out and handed it to one of the men. Then, she frisked her again and took off her shoes, finding another transmitter.
“Check the driver. They must be valuable to someone to have double protection. They expected one might be found, but not two,” Sparky suggested.
“Eagle three and four. Frisk your man. We found two transmitters. We’re bugging out,” Saint said, crushing the devices and throwing them in the fire. “Take Sparky. I’ll put out the fire and get this one.”
Shadow led Sparky to the truck and threw their packs inside. Saint appeared a minute later, dragging a fighting Maryam.
He lifted her into the back, and Shadow tied her to the side. Running back inside the cave, Saint grabbed the rest of their items and dumped them in the truck. When he jumped into the back with the prisoner, Shadow raced off into the night.
“Where do you want us to meet?” Ragu asked. “He has a tracker.”
Saint grabbed his ear when shots fired through the comms.
“We’re under attack,” Cole yelled.
Shadow raced to their hiding space, and Saint laid down fire, sending the attackers scattering.
Apollo bit one in the leg, and the attacker’s high-pitched scream sent the others to his rescue.
Ragu grabbed their packs and whistled for Cole to follow.
Once Ragu made it to the truck, Shadow slammed it into gear and backed up.
Cole whistled for Striker and jumped into the back.
The dog leaped beside him, landing on Maryam.
She let out an oomph.
Shadow sped off.
“Shit,” Saint said. “We lost the truck.”
“We got what we needed. I can get us another in the morning before we grab Ford. I recorded some of what he told us. They shot him,” Ragu said, his voice turned deadly. “We need Ford. This needs to end before we leave.”
“It will, brother,” Saint said. “Head to rendezvous three. We’ll need some rest before we take these assholes down.”