Chapter 8
The night enveloped the landscape in heavy darkness, offering just enough moonlight for their night vision goggles to function effectively.
The faint hum of distant machinery mixed with the soft breeze rustling through the desert scrub outside Basra.
The team moved cautiously, each member relying on their goggles to paint the world in shades of luminous green, distorting depth while sharpening every shadow.
The sprawling walls of Faisal’s estate rose ahead, a brutal fortress topped with razor wire.
The group split naturally to cover more ground and reduce the risk of detection.
Tariq set off alone, slipping quietly along a narrow dirt track to the south.
Though lacking formal military training, his years surviving Basra’s streets gave him an instinctive sense for moving unseen and unheard.
To the west, Link guided Sammy along the Ghost Road, a false approach Faisal had purposely built as a trap.
What looked like an old irrigation ditch, known only to locals and those who moved in the shadows, was actually lined with sensors and pressure plates meant to catch anyone daring enough to use it.
Faisal often joked that intruders were welcome to try sneaking in that way.
Moving cautiously and close to the ground, Link pointed out subtle signs of danger to Sammy, his voice low and steady.
“See that stone there? It’s been shifted slightly.
That is a pressure plate. And over there, look for the faint wires running along the edge.
Those are sensors. Keep your weight light and your steps measured. ”
Sammy nodded, eyes sharp as he absorbed every word. Link glanced back toward him and whispered, “Stay alert. The west gate has more of the same. This is no place for mistakes.”
Meanwhile, Shadow and Jax approached from the east, navigating over rocky ground and crumbling walls.
Their movements were deliberate but fluid, each step calculated to avoid dry leaves or twigs that could betray their presence.
Jax kept his eyes on a small device that monitored the estate’s electronic defenses, feeding information back and forth with Swede.
Swede’s voice suddenly came through the comms. “Something is happening. Three SUVs just left the estate quickly.”
The news was unexpected, yet promised an advantage. The sudden absence of Faisal’s convoy meant a break in the compound’s usual rhythm. Outside, guards were noticeably fewer, their vigilance perhaps laxer with the big boss gone.
A tense pause followed as Swede said, “Scanning the third floor now. Heat signatures show only one strong, likely Noor. The two smaller signatures, the kids, are no longer present or have moved off-grid.”
Link’s voice dropped low, edged with urgency. “Noor and the kids? Are they being moved?”
Sammy reached out, grabbing his dad’s arm, anxious. “No way we’re too late. We have to hurry.”
Not far away, Shadow and Jax had reached the main gate. Jax crouched beside the control panel, his brow furrowed in concentration. His fingers danced across the touchpad, a silent battle against encrypted firewalls.
“Swede, that last cipher was a bitch,” Jax muttered into his comms, “but I’m in. Bypassing the motion sensors now. Lock disengaging.”
The gate rumbled softly as it began to slide open.
As Link and Sammy moved closer to the western perimeter, a low growl broke the silence. A patrol dog appeared in their night vision glow, its eyes shining bright yellow-green. The animal sniffed the air and moved toward them.
As Link held out his hand to stop Sammy, Sammy shook his head once then reached into his pack. “I got this, Dad,” he said, pulling out a small, dried treat.
This wasn’t one of Swede’s high-tech solutions, but something Tariq had prepared, just in case, a mix of herbs known to local vendors, a mild sedative that wouldn’t harm the animal. Kneeling quietly, Sammy extended the treat just out of reach.
The dog hesitated before cautiously stepping forward and taking the offered treat. Moments later, the dog’s growling faded to soft whimpers and then silence as the sedation took effect.
Link shook his head quietly. “Faisal was incompetent in training that dog. All guard dogs should be trained not to accept food from strangers.”
Sammy smirked softly. “Good thing he was incompetent. I didn’t want to have to kill the dog.”
Link and Sammy slipped past without drawing attention.
Outside the building, only a few guards remained. Jax and Shadow moved quickly and silently, swiftly subduing the remaining sentries. They bound their hands and feet tightly, gagged them to ensure silence, and led them to the guardhouse, securing the area to prevent alarms.
Meanwhile, Link and Sammy entered the kitchen, where an older man and his wife—the estate’s guard and cook—stood quietly.
Both appeared worn and weary, their eyes reflecting exhaustion and fear.
The commotion from Faisal and his entourage leaving just a few hours ago had jolted them awake, and they feared the worst. When confronted by Link and Sammy, neither offered resistance.
Cautiously, the team began to bind their hands, maintaining protocol. As the cook’s hands trembled and tears welled in her eyes, she whispered between sobs, “He took the girls…Noor and her babies. He took them all away from us last night.”
Tariq, standing nearby, quickly translated for the couple, his voice steady despite the urgency of the situation. “She says Faisal took the girls. All of them, including Noor.”
Always listening quietly in the background, Swede’s voice came through the comms, barely audible over the static. “Tracking vehicles that left the estate after Faisal’s convoy. Pulling up live feeds and satellite routes. I’ll update as soon as I get a fix.”
Link knelt beside the cook, his tone soft but firm. “Who are you? What’s your name?”
She swallowed hard, wiping away a tear. “My name is Fatima. This is Hassan, my husband. We have cared for this estate for many years, and Noor and her daughters. Noor was like a daughter to us.”
Sammy’s breath hitched, his voice trembling as he whispered, “Ummi.”
Hassan’s eyes widened as they landed on Sammy. “You—you are Samir. The boy we prayed would come back for his mother.”
Sammy’s shoulders shook under the weight of recognition and buried memories.
Link nodded, looking down at them both. “You are coming with us. We’re getting you out safe.”
Fatima blinked away tears but gave a small, hopeful nod. Hassan pressed a hand over his heart. “We did what we could to keep them safe.”
The team quickly untied the couple, recognizing their fierce loyalty and the danger now surrounding them. Shadow leaned toward Jax and whispered, “That explains why they did not resist. They were too afraid or broken.”
Link handed Fatima and Hassan small packs filled with essentials. “Dress for the walk. Wear comfortable shoes if you can find them. Nothing that will slow you down. Inside these packs are food and water. Pack light and move fast.”
The caretakers gathered their few belongings nervously but a spark of determination glimmered in their eyes.
As they finished, Link turned to Shadow. “You stay here and keep them safe and ready to move.”
He looked at Sammy and Jax. “You two and I head upstairs. We find Noor.”
Outside, Tariq blended into the shadows, eyes sharp as ever, watching for any threats.