Total pages in book: 71
Estimated words: 68369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68369 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 342(@200wpm)___ 273(@250wpm)___ 228(@300wpm)
“We need a heat signature reading in the northeastern sector, stat. Over,” he commanded. He nodded subtly at me. “I want you to casually lean back against the tree behind you and discreetly drop your sidearm on the ground. Make sure it’s concealed.”
I pulled off a fake smile and did as told, slowly unholstering my gun and kinda hoping it didn’t go off in the drop. It slid down and thumped against the root system, and I used my foot to subtly cover the gun with leaves.
“Roger,” Ryan responded. “When did they leave the van?”
“I can see two people so far,” I muttered under my breath. They were within firing range, forty yards or so—aw, crap. “Four people.”
“It’s the men from the van,” he answered. “One of them had a cell phone and took a call about half an hour ago. Then they walked out with their hands up and begged for freedom. We were tracking them, apparently—before they reached the main road.” He went quiet and nodded absently at whatever someone was saying. “Affirmative—visibly too. Across my back.”
What, his carbine? He had his M4 there.
The four men I could see weren’t coming any closer, and my mind raced to figure out why. And whose side were they on? I fully believed they could be pawns. They were probably in the country to send money back to their families, like they’d said, which begged the question. How loyal were they to their paycheck, so to speak? Were they ordered to make a move against us? Were they trying to reach us to ask for rescue?
“Get Beckett to calm the fuck down,” Ryan griped. “It’s a good plan. I’ll let him know. Out.”
“I need to study the way operators communicate more,” I muttered. “It makes zero sense.”
“It makes perfect sense,” he argued. “Speak clearly and preferably with words that can’t be mistaken for something else in the same context. The use of copy, out, wilco, and so on—that’s a judgment call based on stress, how many are on the frequency, and necessity. I think the one rule outside the Hillcroft premises is saying ‘Repeat.’”
“That’s still a no-no?”
“Unless you’re looking to fire again.”
Okay, that was good, I supposed. I scratched my forehead. “All right. So what’s happening now? The men aren’t coming any closer.”
“Yeah, I noticed.” He cleared his throat. “Coach says there was no way those men had access to guns in the van. Would you agree?”
“Yes,” I said. “He did a search.”
“Good. Are you up for playing bait? Chances are they won’t approach further as long as I’m here.” He flicked a pointed glance at the strap for his M4.
“Yeah, sure. I’m game.” Even though it made me a little nervous. But nerves were good, right? My first week in Operator Riggs’s class, he’d said being nervous meant your nervous system functioned as it should.
He’d added other words too, something about transmitters and responding to dangers and… Yeah. Either way.
My nervous system was very nervous.
“Was that why you wanted me to hide my gun?” I asked.
“That’s just my general rule. When you’re outnumbered, get them comfortable by looking like an ill-prepared underdog too. An arrogant enemy makes mistakes.”
That was sort of brilliant.
“And they say crayon-eaters are dumb.”
He grinned and shook his head. “We’re gonna get along just fine, you and me. Now, get ready for a hug before I go. I’m gonna slip my sidearm into one of your lower pockets—it’s the same one you have. If the van folk come over, you’ll make sure they see your empty holster. Secondly, you’re gonna take my earpiece. Three taps on the button will get you to the line where you can communicate directly with Beckett and nobody else.”
“Copy.” I nodded. “And if those men charge?”
“If they attack you, they’ve chosen their side, and they will be treated accordingly. You eliminate the threat.”
“Yessir.” I opened my lower side pocket when he hugged me, making the transfer of his gun easier, and then I took the earpiece from his ear and inserted it into my own. “How far away will you be?”
“Just down the slope, so we’re outta sight,” he replied. “Beckett, Crew, and Hudson are already there.”
Okay, that was a relief. The slope down to our makeshift camp wasn’t far away.
I felt the weight of his gun hit my pocket right before he backed away, and without another word, he was off.
I tapped the little button three times, then faked a cough in my fist. “Leighton here.”
I heard Beckett’s exhale.
“Good to hear your voice, pup. We are twenty-two yards away, and I have you in my sights. Just act like it’s two in the morning and you have fire guard, except there’s no bathroom you can jerk off in.”
I stifled a laugh and started to pace slowly, aimlessly, between two trees that were roughly ten yards apart. Which reminded me…