V Plague (Book 11): Merciless (33 page)

A chair, facing the bed.  Another form, slumped with its head to the side.  A glimmer of moonlight on the side of the face.  A masculine face with a neatly trimmed beard.  I pulled the trigger and the Russian rifle spat out a suppressed round that shattered the man’s skull.

Taking a big step, I moved into the room and pushed the door the remainder of the way open with my shoulder.  It bumped against the wall, telling me there wasn’t anyone hiding behind it.  The figure in the bed shifted and began twisting.  I pointed at it as I did a quick scan of the rest of the room.  Other than a dresser with a TV on its surface, there was nothing to see.

Rachel had covered the bed with her rifle and now we spread apart.  Checking to make sure she was ready, I turned on the LED lamp and aimed it at the struggling figure.  I was standing near a bottom corner of the mattress, and grabbing the large comforter, ripped it clear.  Irina, bound and gagged, stared into the light with terror in her eyes.

“It’s us,” I whispered, her struggles immediately ceasing when she heard my voice.

I turned to cover the room entrance with my rifle as Rachel snatched the Ka-Bar from my vest.  She quickly cut Irina free, the two women hugging briefly.

“How many were there?”  I asked when Irina stood up next to me.

“Six,” she said, rubbing her wrists where she’d been tied.

Shit!  That left two more wandering around somewhere.

“I’ve taken out four,” I mumbled.  “Any idea where the rest might be?”

“No.  They tied me up a few hours ago when they started drinking, and I have only seen the one that was keeping watch in the room.”

“OK.  We need to get out of here before the other two realize there’s something wrong,” I said.

The man who’d been sleeping in the room with Irina also had a suppressed AKMS rifle.  And an empty bottle on the floor beneath his chair.  She wasted no time in relieving his body of the weapon and several full magazines.  As soon as she had it in her hands, I led the way out of the bedroom and towards the front door.

Carefully sticking my head out, I checked the hall to find it empty other than the dead guard.  Leading the way, I headed for the stairwell.  Opening the door quietly, I moved onto the landing, waiting for the women to come through before silently closing it behind us.

We started down, reaching the seventh floor landing before a noise from below brought all of us to an abrupt stop.  It was the sound of a door being opened, then a voice speaking rapid Russian echoed as heavy boots began climbing.  I leaned out, seeing a faint light swing across the walls several stories beneath our position.

Another voice answered the first I’d heard speaking, then both men laughed at something.  They kept climbing, and I heard the sound of glass bottles clang together.  They’d been raiding the hotel bar.

Pulling open the fire door to the seventh floor, I held it with a foot and waved Rachel and Irina out of the stairwell.  Keeping my foot in place, I stretched out and peered over the rail.  The Russians were just passing the fourth floor landing.  Turning, I signaled for the girls to stay where they were before quietly closing the door.

I put my back against the wall and raised the rifle.  And waited.  I’d thought about dropping a grenade down the stairwell, but my head had endured enough for one day.  It didn’t need to be exposed to any more blast waves for a while.

The two Spetsnaz kept talking and laughing as they climbed.  It’s hard to tell when someone is speaking a foreign language, but I was pretty sure they were half drunk.  Had probably been sitting in the bar the whole time Rachel and I had been prowling around the hotel. 

Finally, they began climbing the flight to the level where I waited.  Stepping away from the door, I suddenly appeared several feet above them at the top of the stairs.  The alcohol they’d consumed had dulled their reactions, and for a moment they stood there gaping at me.

Then I fired.  Two rounds into each chest.  When the bodies dropped, I dashed down the stairs and fired an insurance policy into each of their heads.  Kicking one of the bodies out of my way, I ran back up and retrieved Rachel and Irina.

43

“What the hell was that all about?”  I asked Irina.

We were in the Humvee, driving west on a small state highway.  I wanted to get away from the city so there wasn’t the constant threat of attack by the infected while we waited for our ride.

“They were a squad that got separated from their platoon.  There was a big battle with the infected when they first arrived at the base.  After they escaped, they started talking and decided they were done.  Were not going back.”

“Why did they take you?”  Rachel asked, turned sideways in the passenger seat to talk to Irina who was in the back.

“They had already found the hotel and were out scavenging.  When I came along in the Cadillac, they thought I was a local woman.  They were disappointed I was Russian.  I did not fit their fantasy of finding an American.

“Everything cooled off and was fine for a bit.  I thought they were going to release me.  Then the Senior Sergeant in charge of the squad started asking questions.  He was already drunk, so it had taken some time for him to think things through.

“I told him I had been taken prisoner and managed to escape.  But I made a mistake.  I told him my real name and that I was a GRU officer.  I did not expect that he would know who I was.  They tied me up and were planning to contact their command and tell them they had captured me.  Explain that they had left their platoon to pursue me.  They had visions of being given medals and promotions.”

We were now far enough out of the city that I felt it was safe to stop.  I pulled into a gravel turnout and came to a stop next to a large field.

“Did they hurt you?”  I asked, unsure how to phrase what I really meant.

“No,” Irina smiled at me.  “They were more excited about the prospects of being heroes for capturing me.”

I nodded, trying to hide my embarrassment at having asked the question.  It wasn’t any of my business.  Shutting off the engine, I stepped out to have a smoke and call Jessica.  Rachel and Irina joined me, Irina immediately wrapping her arms around my neck and squeezing me tight.

“Thank you for not leaving me,” she said.

“You’re welcome,” I said, feeling a little awkward.

I hugged her back, tentatively at first, then really wrapped her up in my arms when she didn’t let go.  After several seconds, she stepped back, kissed me on the cheek, turned to Rachel and pulled her into a tight embrace.

When the love fest was over, I got the sat phone and file folder back from Rachel and placed my call.  As normal, Jessica answered on the first ring.

“Glad you found her,” she said immediately.

“How do you…” I stopped, looking up at the clear, night sky.  “Never mind.”

“I see everything, sir,” she chuckled.

“Can you see where my ride is?”  I asked.

“They’re on the way, sir,” she said, a smile clear in her voice.  “A pair of Ospreys left Groom Lake two hours ago.  They should be overhead in about two more.”

“Jessica, you’re amazing,” I said, relief that I’d soon see Katie flooding over me.

“Yes, sir.  I am.  And, there are a bunch of Marines on each, but it looks like you don’t need reinforcements.”

We talked for several more minutes, about nothing in particular.  I was just so happy that we were going to be picked up that I was in a chatty mood.  When I disconnected, I filled in Rachel and Irina.

“Oh, thank God,” Rachel said, smiling.  “I’m so looking forward to a hot bath.”

Irina seconded that and I couldn’t help but laugh at both of them.  Soon they were describing the details of the bath each wanted and I had to walk away before I said something completely sexist.

Walking and smoking, I slowly circled the area.  Thought about Katie.  Remembered how we’d met.  Our whirlwind romance and sudden marriage.  A marriage that had saved me.  Injected some humanity into a life that was little more than all the death and destruction that came with my chosen profession.

My heart ached as I remembered all of the good times we’d had together.  I guess I’d been fortunate, as there had rarely been a bad one.  Sure, we had occasionally gotten on each other’s nerves.  What married couple doesn’t?  But at the end of the day, each of us had always put the other first, and it had worked well.  We’d had a great life together.

“You OK?”

I was startled, looking up at Rachel.  She’d walked over to where I was still walking in a small circle as I thought.

“Yeah,” I said, trying to smile.  “Just thinking about Katie.”

“Good things, I hope.”

I looked out across the dark landscape before answering.

“Yes,” I said.  “But I just realized I was thinking as if she were already gone.  She’s not gone.”

I stood there staring at Rachel.  A moment later, tears began running down my face.  Wiping them away, I realized my throat had gotten tight.  She stepped forward and held me close.  We stood like that for a long time, the wind whipping her hair across my face.

“I’m cold,” she said after several minutes.  “Let’s get in the Hummer to wait.”

I followed her over, getting behind the wheel and starting the engine so we had some heat.  My maudlin mood killed their enthusiasm at the prospect of a hot bath, so the three of us sat in silence.  Rachel held my hand while we waited.

Close to two hours later I was startled out of a nap by the vibration of the sat phone.  It was resting on the dash where it had a clear shot at the sky.  Sitting up, I grabbed it and accepted the incoming call.

“Sir,” Jessica said.  “The Marines are getting close.  I’m guiding them in, but they’re trying to contact you on the radio.  Is yours working?”

I reached for my ear to check, finding the earbud still in place.  Removing the main unit from my vest, I saw it was dead.

“Out of power,” I said.  “How close are they.”

“Ten miles,” she said.  “They’re looking for verification the LZ is clear.”

“Stand by,” I said.

Popping my door open, I stepped out then climbed in back and into the gunner’s position.  This gave me enough elevation to see for a long distance across the flat terrain.  I turned a complete circle.  Nothing moving.

“LZ is green,” I said to Jessica a moment later.  “Tell them to sit down on the road to the east of my location.  It’s clear of any debris.”

“Copy that, sir,” she said.  “Safe flight.”

With that, she was gone.  I climbed down and lit a cigarette, slipping the sat phone into a pocket.

“Ride’s here,” I said a couple of minutes later when I heard the sound of approaching aircraft.

Rachel and Irina got out, standing next to me.  We watched two Ospreys approach, slowing as they transitioned from flight to hover mode.  One stayed well to the side and orbited the area as the other touched down on the highway with a hurricane of wind from its pair of giant rotors.

We walked forward as the rear ramp began lowering.  It was dark inside the aircraft and I didn’t see the shape streaking across the asphalt until the last minute.  I barely had time to get my hands up before Dog slammed into me and both of us tumbled to the ground.

He was frantic with excitement, tail whipping side to side as his whole body shook and he tried to lick every inch of exposed skin.  I started laughing, wrapping my arms around his thick, furry neck and holding him tight.  After almost a minute of his assault, he realized Rachel was there and she received a similar greeting.

When I looked up, Igor was hugging Irina, lifting the much smaller woman completely off the ground.  Not exactly the proper way for a Sergeant to greet a Captain.  But, who the fuck cares? 

Setting her on her feet, Igor extended his hand and pulled me to mine.  Dog danced around my legs for a bit, then ran to do the same to Rachel, then back to me. 

“Good see you,” Igor said, clapping my shoulder with his big hand.

“You, too, my friend,” I smiled.

44

We all loaded onto the waiting Osprey, the pilot getting us in the air before anyone had time to find a seat.  I wound up with Rachel next to me and Dog stretched out across my feet with his chin on her boots.  He wasn’t about to let me go anywhere without him knowing it.  Igor and Irina sat behind us, catching up on events in their native tongue.

“Do you really think they’re going to be able to help Katie?”  I asked Rachel after we were settled in.

She was quiet for a long time, staring down at the top of Dog’s furry head.

“Look,” I said after it didn’t seem she was going to answer.  “I’m not asking you to tell me what I want to hear.  I’m asking your opinion.”

Rachel turned and looked into my eyes for a few moments.

“I just don’t know,” she said, squeezing my hand.  “I really don’t know anything about the virus or how it works.”

“That’s not much of an answer,” I grumbled.

“It’s the best I can give you,” she said with a sad smile.  “I’m not going to get your hopes up, or paint a doom and gloom scenario, either.  I just don’t know.”

I sat there thinking, absently listening to the animated conversation in Russian from behind me.  Tried not to dwell on the topic of my wife, but failed miserably. 

Pulling out the Athena Project file, I removed the elastic band that held it tightly closed and opened it on my lap.  The interior of the Osprey was lit by a dim, red light to preserve the passengers’ night vision, and I quickly gave up trying to make out the text.  It would have to wait.  Putting it away, exhaustion took over and I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep.

Rachel shook me awake some time later.  I opened my eyes and stared around, unsure where I was for a moment until my brain started functioning again.  Dog hadn’t moved and both feet were numb from the weight of his body. 

“We’re landing,” Rachel said.

I nodded, then leaned forward and poked Dog with a finger until he shifted enough for me to retrieve my feet.  He grunted his displeasure, but sat up and put his chin in my lap.  I ruffled his ears as the Osprey transitioned into a hover and gently came to rest on the ground.