Chapter 27
Four hours later, the team glanced at the schedule photos as Cole explained the routes.
“When I worked here, we varied the routes to keep from getting ambushed. Thanks to Sergeant Taylor, we have the calendar from the past six months. The attacks continued until two weeks before Sargent Ford took his leave. I went back to each one and noticed the rotation. They’re all coded in green.
Leo and Saint leaned in, studying Cole’s observation.
“It means they plan to strike again tomorrow,” Leo determined.
“Damn,” Saint swore. “What happened when Ford left? Didn’t it seem odd?”
Cole flipped the computer images back to the original calendar.
“It won’t if you’re not searching for it.
He’s intentionally confusing the dogs. Usually, our dog stays with us the entire time.
Unless it gets hurt, sick, or develops behavioral issues.
It got me thinking. There are more people involved besides him.
They have to have at least one person who works with the dogs, and someone working patrol.
The dog gets brought in for something, the trainer assesses them, and then the scent gets confused.
Then the team goes back to the patrol, and then something happens. ”
“According to your schedule, Alpha Team C will be delivering supplies tomorrow,” Hollywood noted. “Can we check out the members on the team?”
Cole scratched his chin. “It’s the only thing I can’t figure out. If it’s a team member, they’re putting themselves at risk every time the dog alerts incorrectly. Why put yourself in harm’s way?”
“It’s hard to believe we have soldiers willing to give up their brothers’ lives,” Hollywood said, shaking his head. “To have multiple people involved seems too hard to believe.”
“I’m with you,” Leo said. “These men grow tight with one another. Who’s the outcast? We’ve seen it happen before. Or do we have someone getting blackmailed to do it?”
“Sergeant Taylor may know,” Hollywood suggested. “I kinda notice she stays to the side a lot. The women don’t speak with her, and the men either treat her with disdain or ignore her.”
“While you went out today, Sparky got harassed,” Leo informed the team. “Sparky, can you tell us what happened?”
“I took Ice for a walk and for a bathroom break. When I returned, one of the men started harassing me about my dog. He stated we didn’t have any business here. How can a blind woman defend herself?”
“I’m not falling for that shit again,” Cole mumbled, making the team laugh.
“What happened?” Hollywood asked, curiously.
“The team decided I needed self-defense training. Since they taught me, they knew all my moves. Cole joined the team, and we used him as a test.”
“More like she beat the shit out of me,” Cole grumbled good-naturedly.
“Good. I worried when they surrounded her. I almost sent Apollo over to scare them. Ice did such a great job shielding you,” Hollywood said.
“When we return, I’ll introduce you to Allie. She does the service dog training, and she’s helping with K-9 basics while I’m gone,” Cole volunteered. “Sparky doesn’t need any help. She can kick ass and take names.”
“I’m more concerned it seemed like a ploy to get me to leave my station,” Hollywood volunteered.
“Someone wants to know what we’re doing here,” Leo said. “Has anyone seen Sergeant Taylor today? She’s leaving the day after tomorrow.”
“I saw her earlier,” Cole said. “She said she’d come by when her shift ended.”
Leo frowned. “She’s provided a lot of information to us. If they corralled Sparky, what happens if they guess who’s supplying information to us?”
“Sergeant Taylor’s working with Rutherford’s replacement,” Taco said, biting into a sandwich.
“Someone watched his office. What if they surveilled her?” Leo said. “Shadow, do your thing and keep an eye on our Sergeant.”
“Yeah, boss,” Shadow said, leaving to find her.
“We don’t have much time,” Leo said. “If Cole’s guess is correct, then we need a plan. They’re planning an ambush for tomorrow. Sparky, tell us about the route the K-9 team will be taking tomorrow. Where do you think they’ll strike?”
Sparky sat for a minute, running the route in her head. The men waited patiently as she went over every detail.
“Can you drive the route with me? I can see it in my mind, but you’ll have eyes to determine the terrain and the best place,” she said, seeming uncomfortable.
Leo sighed. “Come on, Sparky. I know you can do this. It’s why I hired you.”
“There’s a place they refer to as the ridge. The rock hangs over the road. It seems too easy,” she said nervously.
“Tell us, Sparky,” Taco encouraged. “We trust you.”
“If we wanted to overtake them, we’d wait until they pass the ridge. About four clicks down the road, there’s a perfect spot to attack. It’s far enough from base, it’ll take time to get back up, and they’re counting on the dogs.”
Hollywood leaned in. “Those dogs are highly trained. What’s confusing them?”
“It can be anything,” Cole said, frustrated. “If they set off explosives beforehand, it can disorient the dogs.” He shuffled through the photos to the schedules. “We’re missing something.”
“The handlers don’t know something’s wrong until it’s too late,” Cole said, staring at the schedule. “Why bring the dogs in the day before?”
“Can they inject the dog with anything?” Liam suggested.
“If the K-9 seemed lethargic before they left, they’d have to switch out the team,” Cole said, staring at the schedule.
Sparky held the com to her ear. “It’s Shadow.
He’s asking me to come to the garbage bins behind the dining hall.
” Signaling with her hand, she alerted Ice.
He stood and waited. Grabbing his harness, she left the barracks.
Plugging their comms into their ears, Leo signaled Hollywood to follow him and the rest to watch over their barracks.
Sparky walked to where Shadow directed her. Leo and Hollywood lingered close by. “Hello?”
“Over here, Sparky,” he called softly. Ice led her to where Shadow crouched on the ground.
“She won’t listen to me,” Shadow said. “She’s on the ground to your left.”
Sparky knelt and felt Sergeant Taylor’s arm. “What happened?” she asked quietly.
“They beat her badly. She won’t go to the damn infirmary,” Shadow whispered. “I found her this way.”
Sparky took her hand. “Sergeant Taylor, how did you get in here?”
“They left me…for dead,” she croaked out. “I crawled back here and was waiting until dark.”
“I see,” Sparky answered. “Cole, I need you to come get Ice. Have Patch come with you with the portable gurney and medical kit. I’ve passed out from the heat.
Shadow, give me your shirt and hat to cover my hair.
Leo, you’ll help Patch take me back to our barracks.
Hollywood, you, and Apollo will keep me company until we can make our way back. ” Sparky unbuttoned her shirt
“Whoa, can you give me some warning?” Shadow said, taking off his shirt and shoving it in her hand.
“Wait until I tell Avie you’ve never seen a sports bra before. She’ll laugh her ass off. Don’t worry, I promise not to stare at you. Help me put this on her. Hide her hair,” Sparky ordered. “Let’s move, gentlemen.”
“Hollywood and I have a tail. We’ll have to leave you on your own, Sparky. We’ll retrieve you when the coast clears. Shadow, make sure she’s tucked away and hidden.”
“Got it, boss,” Shadow said, handing her his hat.
Patch and Cole arrived as Sparky tucked Kerrigan’s brown hair under her cap, and they placed the shirt over her. Sparky wound up her hair, tucked it under Shadow’s hat, and put on his shirt.
“Patch, I need some gauze or something to give me some bulk,” she said as he assessed Sergeant Taylor.
“Toss her some rolls,” he said to Cole as he shone a light in his patient’s eyes.
Cole dug into the bag and passed Sparky the gauze packs. “I don’t need all those,” she said. “I’m trying to pass as Cole, not the rest of you.”
Sargeant Taylor snorted and coughed.
“Yeah, she’s a little firecracker,” Cole muttered.
“What’s the plan, Sparky?” Patch asked.
“You need to take her back. They left her for dead. They won’t expect her to come in the next few days.
She’ll be missing. Leo will have to make the call once you assess her.
Let them believe I suffered from heat exhaustion.
When it gets dark, one of you can come get me.
I prefer Hollywood. Apollo’s intimidating if we run into any trouble.
I’ll resemble Cole, and they won’t think anything of it. ”
“You’re making me sound like a wuss,” Cole said, defensively.
“I kicked your ass, didn’t I?” she teased. “I’ll see you back at the barracks, Sergeant Taylor. Patch will take good care of you.”
“All right, Sparky. It’s your turn,” Shadow said, approaching her. “We have to get you hidden. There aren’t many choices back here. You’ll have to get into the dumpster. It’s not scheduled for burning until tomorrow.
She let out a groan, and Shadow smiled. “Payback’s a bitch, huh? Wait till I tell Avie I put you in the garbage.”
She grinned. “Go ahead and tell Ty. He’ll wipe the smile from your face, and he won’t be making you a nice, juicy steak when you return.”
“You win. What happens here, stays here,” Shadow replied.
“We’ll cover you with a few boxes, but I’m gonna warn ya, it’s hot.”
“I’ll be fine,” Sparky replied. “Lift me.”
“Give her the water from my pack,” Patch ordered.
Shadow checked the bin and then lifted her inside. Cole handed her the water and then covered her with cardboard.
“We’ll get you out as soon as possible,” Shadow reassured her.
“Keep your coms on until we get Sparky secured. We’re close by if you need anything,” Leo said as Shadow and Patch walked out with the stretcher. Cole went around the base, ensuring when he reappeared later, no one would think anything of it.
The click in the mic let them know Sparky heard them as they walked away.
Hollywood turned to Leo. “Won’t they raise an alarm when she doesn’t show?”