Chapter 25
Sparky donned the new chadari and topi. Shadow hid her hair. Cole guarded the prisoner with the help of Apollo and Striker.
Ragu returned an hour later with a truck, hiding it with brush.
Taco stayed on watch.
“We’re ready,” Shadow announced. “Did you get us a couple of goats?”
“They’re in the back of the truck,” Ragu said.
“We’ll drop you off close to the main road. Remember our signal if you’re in trouble,” Saint said. “Sparky, keep your head down and ears open.”
“You bet,” she said, sounding nervous.
“You saved our asses last night,” Saint said, putting his hand on her shoulder. “You can handle this. Just don’t trade Shadow. Cole’s still sour over the man offering a couple goats and chickens for him. I’m leaving him here to save his pride.”
Sparky grinned. “It’ll be hard, but I’ll try not to.”
They loaded into the truck, dropping Shadow and Sparky off on the side of the road.
“Here we go,” she said, taking a deep breath.
“We’ll get him. Saint and Taco will grab him. I’ll only leave you long enough to help Ragu snatch his accomplice. You have your comm, and I’ll leave you in a safe place. Remember what Victoria taught you,” Shadow instructed.
“I’m not worried about it,” she lied. “Get them secured and I will stay in place.”
They neared the market and walked around, waiting to spot Sergeant Ford. Shadow stopped long enough to buy Sparky a drink. The sun beat down on them, and after the walk, both grew parched. They walked along the animal stalls, blending in with the crowd.
“Ford entered from the south side of the market,” Ragu reported. “I’m coming around to you.”
Sparky gripped his hand.
“I see him. Stay back and come in from behind. We can’t afford for him to recognize us,” Shadow said softly. He walked along the stalls, pretending interest in the fruit selection. He bought a couple of figs and handed them to Sparky.
A woman approached Sergeant Ford. Dressed in traditional garb, she blended in, but something about her movements caught Shadow off guard.
When the woman stopped, she turned to stare at Shadow and signaled for him to hold.
His senses went on guard. Who was this woman?
He knew her. She signaled again for him to hold.
“Uh guys, I know this sounds stupid, but stand down. Don’t take Ford. I repeat, abort,” he said slowly, never taking his eyes off the stranger.
“What the hell,” Saint growled. “We have a plan.”
“I know the contact,” Shadow said. “She’s one of us and telling me to hold.”
“You damn well better be sure,” Saint said, aggravated. “The clock’s ticking.”
“I’m positive,” he assured the team.
Finding a shady spot, he settled himself and Sparky to wait out the woman. He wiped the figs down and handed one to her.
“What are we doing?” she asked.
“Watching,” he said softly.
“Ford’s leaving,” Taco reported.
The woman signaled him again and stopped to peruse the booths, buying dried fruit, nuts, and apricots.
“Damn it, Shadow. Are you sure she signaled you?” Saint said, growing anxious.
“Yes,” he said positively
A few minutes later, she roamed toward them and sat beside Sparky.
“Hello, Shadow,” she greeted him.
“I haven’t seen you in a while, Rayven. Last I heard, you ETS’ed,” he said casually.
“You know me. I didn’t like civilian life. They don’t let you kill people there,” she said glumly.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“I need you to walk away,” she said softly. “You’re in the middle of something and interfering with my contact.”
“The man killed soldiers. He helped kill my friend. We’re not letting him walk away,” he said, his voice on edge.
Rayven chuckled and shook her head. “What if I promise you he’ll be dealt with?”
“I haven’t seen you in years, and you show up demanding I walk away?” Shadow snapped quietly to avoid garnering attention.
“Listen, I’m not even supposed to be here.
I’m risking getting my ass chewed for not following orders.
Here’s the deal. Four months ago, we saw the attack.
We stopped a second wave meant for your team.
In the process, you lost a package. Unfortunately, one of my coworkers panicked and got herself shot in the process.
Then I took one, landing me in the hospital. I’m currently on bed rest.”
“I can think of more pleasant places to rest,” he said, glancing at Saint.
She rummaged under her robe and pressed something in Sparky’s hand.
“Five clicks north from here, you’ll find an abandoned shack. I’ll be there at midnight if you want to make a trade. I give you my word, Ford and his lover, Maryam, will pay. I have something you consider very valuable, although I can’t promise the condition.”
She rose and walked away.
“Do you want me to follow her?” Taco asked.
“No. She’ll meet us like she said,” Shadow said, turning to Sparky and rising. He helped her to her feet and yanked the goats closer. He handed her the leads, took the sack, and headed out of the village.
They walked for some time before Shadow stopped and scanned the area to ensure they weren’t being followed. “What did she give you?” he asked.
Sparky pulled it out from her robe and held out her hand. “What is it?”
Shadow gripped it in his hand, staring at it. “It’s Grace’s rattle. She has Leo.”
Saint pulled up in the truck, and they loaded into the back. They raced to meet Doc and Whiskey’s plane. Ragu pulled out behind them, with Taco, Cole, the K-9s, and their prisoner. The team stayed silent until they reached the small airport.
Taco and Ragu raced toward the truck, realizing something significant happened. Cole stayed with Maryam.
“Who the hell was that?” Taco asked, breaking the tension.
“You won’t believe me, but it’s Rayven. The woman who taught me how to become a shadow,” Shadow explained. “She asked us to stand down.”
“Like hell,” Saint muttered. “Why does she want us to do that?”
Shadow held out his hand, unable to speak or dare to hope. “She has Leo.”
Saint picked up the rattle and stared at it. “Did she say…”
“She knew it belonged to him. Apparently, they stopped a second wave, coming to end all of us. Rayven will meet us at midnight,” he said quietly.
“Do you trust her?” Saint asked.
“I haven’t seen her in years. She fulfilled her contract and left. Her sister got hurt, and she went home. I never saw or heard from her after she left,” Shadow said. “I’m surprised to find her here.”
“The plane will be here in ten minutes. You won’t be going alone. We’ll scout out the place, and I’m going in with you,” Saint said, running his hand through his hair.
They watched the plane land. Whiskey, Doc, and Rocker exited the plane. A minute later, Knight stopped at the top of the stairs, and Hollywood appeared, coming down the stairs with a crutch. Patch followed, telling him to slow down. Finally, Jake and Joe came down the steps, surprising them all.
Apollo saw his handler and took off like a bat out of hell. Hollywood bent and greeted him, giving him butt rubs while Patch held onto him.
“What are you all doing here?” Saint asked. “You’re supposed to stay with your wives until they have the babies.”
“You’re staring at two proud fathers. Gabby gave me another boy,” Knight announced.
“Claire gave birth to a beautiful princess,” Patch said, beaming.
“Then why aren’t you there with them?” Shadow asked.
“Because we don’t leave men behind. We didn’t feel right going home without him,” Patch said somberly as Victoria and Ivan’s plane landed.
Victoria and Ivan joined the group. “Do you have our prisoner?” Ivan asked.
Saint glanced at the team, who counted on him to give the next orders. They take the prisoner and return to the States. Or they stay and find their fallen brother.
“I’m afraid we got a break. We don’t know how good it is, but we’re following the lead,” he announced.
“What do you want us to do?” Victoria asked. “I’m ready to find a lovely, cold place for our guest.”
“They want us to hand her over,” Shadow admitted. “We won’t know the details until we meet tonight.”
Saint pulled out the rattle, which everyone recognized.
“Did she say if he’s alive?” Doc asked.
Shaking his head, Shadow answered, “No.”
“Catherine and her family can have peace in knowing he’s not out here,” Ragu reasoned.
“Then we wait until midnight,” Saint said. “Either way, we bring him home.”