Forsaking Home (The Survivalist Series) (13 page)

S
arge leaned back in his chair, his hands behind his head. Livingston and Sheffield were staring at one another.

“Of course, we’ll have to see what the guys get out of the recon, but I think it will work.”

Sheffield looked baffled. “You really expect to just drive up to the gate and they’ll let us in?”

“Sure. If we roll up looking like a government unit and tell them we’re there to add to their security, they’ll let us in.”

“Hm. I like giving them the drawing the guys are working on as ‘evidence.’ Telling them that we have intel that they’re being scouted and we’re there to bolster their defenses is very plausible,” Livingston said.

“I don’t know. It sounds like a hell of a way to get killed, and fast,” Sheffield said, shaking his head.

“Look, there is a lot of confusion right now in the camps and the government. These guys aren’t going to know what’s up. They’ll probably make some calls, but we will hopefully be inside the camp by then,” Sarge said.

“Hopefully?” Sheffield asked. “Once we’re in, then what? Start shooting?”

“No, Sheffield. We’ll meet with their CO, tell him we need to have a meeting with his security personnel ASAP. Once we get as many of them rounded up as we can, we’ll just politely disarm them. This could be done without firing a shot,” Sarge said with a smile.

“I’ll meet with their CO?” Sheffield shouted. “Why me? Why don’t you do it if you’re the one with this scheme?”

Sarge pointed at his collar. “’Cause you’re wearing them oak leaves, not me. Don’t worry, I’ll be there as well. But you need to take the lead if we’re going to pull this off.”

“You think we should have some men out at the gate on the back side just in case?” Livingston asked.

“I do, plus another squad hidden out front to take down that gate when the time comes.”

Sheffield let out a long sigh. “All right, I’m in. If we can do it without having to kill anyone or, more important, getting any of my people killed, I’m all for it.”

Sarge smiled. “I knew you would be. Now there’s just one more thing we need.” Sarge walked over to the radio and picked up the handset.

“Cracker One, Cracker One, Stump Knocker.”

After a moment there was a whispered reply:
“Go for Cracker One.”

“Cracker One, I need you to bring me back a body, the walking, talking kind.”

There was a long pause.
“Ah, say again, Stump Knocker.”

“Bring back one of them black-clad ninjas, alive.”

 • • • 

Ian crawled out of the security position and up to the new hide. They’d moved to get eyes on the rear gate. Ted and Mike were observing the new target. Ian crawled up and grabbed Ted’s leg, giving it a shake.

“What’s up, you got contact?” Ted asked, looking around.

“No, just got a call from the old man.” Ian paused.

“And, what’s he want?”

“He wants us to snatch one of these guys and bring him back with us.”

Ted was dumbfounded. “He wants what? Has he finally lost his feeble grip on reality?”

“I don’t know, he’s your daddy.”

Mike crawled out of the hide. “What the hell’s going on?”

“That crazy ole bastard wants us to snatch one of these guys and bring him back with us,” Ted said as he dropped his face into his hands.

“Yeah, so?”

“
So?
How do you think we’ll pull that off? They never go anywhere alone! Hell, they never come outside the wire unless they’re in a vehicle. How do you think we’ll be able to grab one?”

Mike smiled. “Easy, we’ll take one of them back there.” He jutted his thumb over his shoulder toward the gate they’d been observing.

“There’s three men there, Mike,” Ted said.

“No, you’re looking at it all wrong. There’s
only
three of them.”

Ted was struck by the comment and thought about it, slowly starting to nod his head. “Yeah, you’re right, there’s only three of them.”

Ian smiled. “And there’s three of us.”

“Wrong, there’s five of us,” Ted said with a devilish grin, “and, not for nothing, but one of us has a set of tits. Could be a handy distraction . . .”

Ian started to giggle. “There is no way in hell she’ll go for that.”

“She doesn’t have to sleep with them or anything! Just get them outside their bunker. Then we can take care of them.”

Ian nodded. “So long as she gets to hit one of them, she’ll probably do it.”

“She can beat the shit out of them for all I care. Sarge said alive, not perfectly healthy,” Mike said.

“All right, let’s break this down and call to tell them we’re heading in their direction,” Ted said.

 • • • 

“There is no fucking way I’m doing that!” Jamie practically shouted.

Mike held his finger to his lips. “Shhhh, keep it down.”

“Just ’cause I’m a woman I have to be the bait? That’s bull!”

“You’re looking at this all wrong! Yes, you’re a woman, and a damn attractive one too.” Mike’s comment caught Jamie off guard, softening her attitude ever so slightly. He continued, “If you walk out and act like you need help, those goobers will be falling all over themselves to get to you.”

“What about my uniform, idiots? They’re going to see that.”

“I’ve got a T-shirt under my blouse that I got at a Hooters in Tampa. You can wear that,” Ian said.

Jamie rolled her eyes. “Oh, that’s just fucking
perfect
.”

Mike smiled. “Actually it is! Wear that, and act like you’re cold.”

Jamie pursed her lips together as she thought it over. “Ugh
, fine
. What happens next?”

“This is the important part. When all three of them approach, jump the one closest to you, and take him to the ground. We’ll come out and take the rest of them down,” Ted said.

She looked skeptical. “All right, whatever, I’ll do it. As long as I can kick somebody’s ass.”

Perez nodded. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

They used the buggy to get as close to the gate as possible. It was still going to be a bit of a walk to get there.

“It’s going to be a long walk dragging one of these guys back with us,” Ian said.

Ted laughed. “One? Hell, if this works, we’re taking all three. We can’t have the other two going back and blabbing about the plan, now, can we?”

Mike started to laugh. “The old guy’s gonna shit.”

“We need someone to stay here and bring the buggy up so we can load up and haul ass as soon as this is over. I, for one, want to be long gone before they realize their boys are missing,” Perez said.

“Good idea. You wanna hang back?” Ted asked.

Perez shrugged. “Guess so.”

“All right, Perez stays here, we go in. Soon as we get them trussed up, we’ll call him on the radio. He rolls up, and we load up, and get out of Dodge quickly,” Ted said. “Sound good?”

They all nodded. Ian then took off his BDU top and stripped off his T-shirt. “Here, Jamie, put this on,” he said as he tossed it to her.

She caught the shirt right before it hit her in the face, immediately turning her head. “Jesus, Ian, take a freaking bath!”

Ian laughed as he put his top back on. Jamie took off her body armor. She was holding the shirt and looking at everyone with raised eyebrows. The guys were oblivious, just looking back at her. When she started to strip off her shirt in front of them, all four men were embarrassed and quickly turned away.

“What’s the matter, boys, never seen a woman’s body before?” Now that they were uncomfortable, she was loving it. Jamie couldn’t help but grin from ear to ear.

Everyone carried the most basic of gear, leaving all the packs and SAWs with Perez. The four began their stalk, moving quietly and slowly. It took several hours in dark to get within thirty meters of the bunker. A light tower sat behind it, which demanded even more caution.

Once they were within ten yards, Ted nodded to Jamie. She got up from the palmetto scrub and whispered, “You better be there.”

“We will, don’t worry,” he whispered back.

Jamie took a deep breath. Mike grabbed her leg and motioned for her to wait. He pulled her pants out of her boots. Bloused boots were a dead giveaway. Once he finished, he slapped her thigh and winked at her. She stuck her tongue out at him and quickly stepped onto the trail.

Jamie stood in the trail, shielding her eyes from the lights. She expected someone to come running out, yelling and shouting, but to her surprise nothing happened. She took a couple of steps, then called out, “Hello!” After a moment a face appeared in the bunker opening—and a very surprised face at that. Then three figures came running out from behind it.

Jamie was standing with her arms wrapped around herself, like she was cold.

“Show me your hands!” a man’s voice shouted.

Jamie held her hands up. “Please don’t shoot! Can you help me? I’m lost!”

The three figures discussed the situation for a moment, then started to move toward her.

“Keep your hands up!”

As the figures got closer they blocked some of the light. It was then Jamie realized one of them was a woman.
Well, shit
,
she thought.

“What are you doing here?” the woman asked.

“I was hoping you could help me. I’m cold and hungry.”

The woman stepped forward. “Where’d you come from?”

“I’ve been wandering around the woods for days. I’m lost.”

The woman looked her up and down. “I think you’re full of shit.” She pulled a set of cuffs from her belt and stepped toward Jamie. “Turn around and put your hands behind your back.”

As she moved to cuff her, Jamie jumped on the woman, knocking her to the ground. The woman recovered rather quickly and punched Jamie in the jaw, but it was a glancing blow. Jamie grabbed her by the collar and jerked her head off the ground, at the same time she tucked her chin and brought the top of her forehead down onto the woman’s nose. There was a satisfying crunching sound and the woman under her went limp.

She looked up to see the other two men rushing toward her.
Oh shit
,
she thought as they closed in. Suddenly there were two small pops. Both men went rigid and fell face-first into the sand, twitching as the Tasers pumped voltage into them. Ian moved in and quickly cuffed one of the men, stripping his weapons and tossing them aside. Ted held the Taser on the second one while Mike restrained him.

Once both were secured, the guys quickly began getting them ready to move.

“Do you know who you’re messing with?” one of the men snarled.

“Shut up,” Ted said, kicking his boots.

“Damn, Jamie,” Ian crowed.

Jamie stood up, blowing her hair out of her face. “You got a little something right there,” Ted said, touching his forehead.

Jamie wiped at it and realized it was blood. “Bitch is a bleeder,” she said, then spit at her.

The other two men were face down on the ground, Taser wires trailing from their bodies. Ian leaned down and put duct tape over their mouths. The one who’d spoken jerked his head, trying to prevent being gagged. Ted hit the trigger on the Taser and the man went rigid, allowing Ian to easily slap the tape over his mouth. Looking up at Ted, Ian smirked. “Thanks.”

Ted smiled. “What are friends for?”

Jamie looked at Mike. “Cuffs,” she said, holding her hand out.

Mike pulled a flex cuff from his cargo pocket and tossed it to her. Jamie rolled the woman over, securing her hands. She rolled her back over and sat on her chest. “Tape.”

Ian looked at Mike, laughing quietly. Mike gestured with his chin in a “you better hurry the fuck up” manner. Ian tore off a piece of tape and laid it in her palm. With the tape in one hand Jamie slapped the woman’s face on both sides. When her eyes began to open, Jamie smiled and slapped the tape over her mouth.

Jamie leaned down close to her. “Take that,
bitch
!”

Mike laughed and parroted her comment. “Take that, bitch!” Jamie looked up at him. “That’s hawt,” Mike said.

“You want some?” Jamie asked with a sneer.

“The tape, or you sitting on my chest?”

Jamie stood up and stepped toward him. In a seductive voice she said, “I’ll sit on your chest”—her voice quickly changed—“right after I break your fucking nose.” She finished her statement with a coy smile.

“You’re a rough girl,” Mike said and smiled. “I like it.”

Jamie gave him a dismissive wave and turned her attention back to the woman on the ground.

“On your feet.”

Seconds later, Perez arrived. The three prisoners were rapidly loaded up and soon they were off and racing down the trails. With the three prisoners there wasn’t room inside for everyone, so Ian was standing on the rear platform, manning the top-mounted SAW. Ted and Mike were sitting in the back with the prisoners piled between them.

Mike looked over at Ted, grinning. “I can’t believe that worked!”

Ted was smiling from ear to ear, “Me neither. The old man’s gonna piss himself!” They both started laughing.

“You boys are welcome,” Jamie said.

The guys all looked at her, and she briefly made eye contact with each of them. “Now that we’ve established that I can take care of myself, there’ll be no more guarding the camp. Agreed?”

“All right, all right, I think you’ve proved yourself,” Ted said.

“That’s what I thought,” she said with a smirk.

 • • • 

Aric’s friendship with Kay had blossomed. He looked at her as a motherly figure, and she enjoyed talking to him because he wasn’t like the other officers in the camp. So many others had let their positions become their identity, and consume their lives. Kay was grateful that Aric provided her with some company, as he was this afternoon.

“Doesn’t seem like much food, Kay. You skimping out?” Aric asked, pointing to the trays.

Kay looked over her shoulder. “These are for the people in detainment.”

“Really? Jeez, there’s so little food.”

“I’m just doing what they tell me.”

“Just doesn’t seem like enough food. The girls are over there. How are they supposed to hang on with no more food than this?” Aric asked.

“The food is the least of the problems.” Kay picked up a sixteen-ounce bottle of water. “We only send one of these a day over there. I don’t know if they get any more.”