Chapter 81

CHAPTER 81

T HE LADY WE’RE FOLLOWING IS going to where they have Betsy,” said Devine as they drove along.

“Whoever’s got her is sure as shit gonna feel some pain from me.”

Devine didn’t say anything for a few moments. “Delta Force?”

“What about it?” said Shore, shooting him a glance.

“You didn’t just let some redneck assholes run you off like you told me before.”

Shore looked uncomfortable. “What you talkin’ ’bout?”

Devine’s gaze bored into the man. “The Army is one big file cabinet, Nate, and they never throw one scrap of paper away. And I wasn’t about to let you in on this op without drilling down on what you told me. You put two of those rednecks in the hospital and the Army thought it best if you didn’t re-up, while the two assholes got to stay in. I would be pissed if I were you.”

“I was pissed. But you think that was the first time that shit happened to people who look like me? If you do, you’re so fuckin’ stupid, you gonna get us both killed tonight.”

“The point is, I need you to bring your Delta Force skills, which is the only reason I let you come tonight. But you have to channel them with precision, just like you were trained to do. I know what happened to Korey makes you mad as hell. I get that. But if you’re going to avenge him, you need to do it smart, not testosterone stupid. There are no do-overs possible. Once someone’s dead, they are dead and that includes us and Betsy. Are we clear on that?”

All the tension seemed to ease out of Shore. He nodded. “I got this, Travis.”

“I believe you so don’t let me or Betsy down. Now, another man is meeting her there, a Nick Dawkins.”

“Who’s he?”

“To sum it up, he’s a rich guy who’s a maniacal mix of George Wallace and Joseph Goebbels, with the largest known collection of Nazi memorabilia in the world.”

“Gee, sounds like my kind’a dude. Wonder what beer he drinks. We can shoot the shit before I deep-six his ass.”

They drove on until the Porsche slowed and turned down what looked to be a private road. Devine told Shore to stop near the turn-off. Devine got out and ran down the lane. He was back in under a minute.

“Pull the van off the road behind those bushes, and we’ll go the rest of the way on foot.”

Devine contacted Campbell and briefed him on the latest.

“Same rules of engagement, Devine, but with the proviso that you are to do whatever is necessary to bring Odom out of this safely. I have authorizations at the very highest level that will cover any action you take. But you are to let King and Dawkins leave before taking any action. Repeat, they must be allowed to leave before you take any action.”

“Roger that,” said Devine. He understood the basis for the command, but he didn’t have to like it.

“And I have backup twenty minutes out from your position.”

He acknowledged this, and he and Shore made the trek down the lane, flitting from one cover spot to the next until the large, three-story house came into sight. The Porsche and a burgundy Range Rover were parked in front.

Devine noted the two perimeter sentries patrolling their respective grids with vigor and attention. And it would all be for naught as Devine and Shore split up to do what needed to be done here tonight.

The first sentry had just checked in on his comm when the knife was leveled against his neck. One swipe, a gush of blood from severed arteries, and he fell dead at Devine’s feet.

Quick, clean, no fuss. And mission-focused Devine felt nothing except one small step in the rescue plan accomplished as he dragged the man off to some underbrush after taking his comm pack. He listened to the chatter coming over it and gained some valuable intel.

He edged closer to the house and crouched down behind a clump of evergreen bushes. He gazed up at the house. Lights burned in one upstairs room. That must be where they were keeping Odom, Devine concluded. He contacted Shore and told him where to rendezvous.

A minute later he saw movement to his right and waited as Shore crept up and squatted next to him. He noted that there was what looked to be a knife slash and blood over the front of his armor.

“Problems?” asked Devine.

“Only for the other guy,” replied Shore curtly.

Devine held up the comm pack. “According to the chatter we have eight more guards between her and us.”

“I don’t mind those odds,” said Shore. “But those muthers shouldn’t like them.”

“We have armed backup on the way. But we need to wait for King and Dawkins to leave before engaging.”

“What the fuck? Why not just nail them all right now?”

“Because that’s not all of them.”

“But what if something happens to Betsy?”

“Nothing is going to happen to Betsy, because they need her to leverage Glass. And they’re going to have Betsy call her uncle tonight and reinforce the message that if he cooperates, she dies. They probably already had her do it.”

“So Glass won’t cooperate and these assholes win? Well, at some point they ain’t gonna need Betsy no more.”

“That’s their plan, Nate, but it’s not ours. All we have to get tonight is Betsy. Focus on that.”

They sank lower behind their cover when King and Dawkins came out of the house and paused on the porch. Then the two exchanged a kiss and a lingering hug while Devine filmed it with his phone.

“Ain’t she married?” whispered Shore.

“Yep.”

“Guess she don’t love her husband.”

“I think the only person that woman loves is herself.”

As the Porsche and Range Rover both pulled away, Devine looked at Shore. “Ready to do this?”

“Delta ready,” replied Shore.