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“What time is this conference?” I'm getting impatient, knowing getting him is going to be a struggle. He's been on our radar for years and right now, I’m down two men who are working in Iraq on another project.
“They will be dialing in shortly.” The computer begins to ring, and we wait while The President of the United States starts to talk to us both. His face comes across the screen. The deep circles under his eyes let me know this isn’t coming lightly. Christ. I could never run a country. Every president in office has always had my respect. The day-to-day struggles they all deal with would put most of us in a mental hospital. I listen intently as he starts to speak. His words come out strong and very demanding.
“Thank you for meeting with me on this. I'm calling in your help, because I know your history of success in taking out international terrorists. I want this guy captured and brought in for questioning. He has vital information about national security we need to get our hands on. I'll use the most effective ways to interrogate him to get that information, but first I need to find him. That's where you two come in.” We both watch, knowing we’ll be going in. Our men are the best of the best, and I have no problem organizing another team like the last one to smoke him out.
“He's working with a Mexican cartel and will be tough to pull out of there. Tell me what you need, and I'll get you the resources.” He turns to talk to someone on his right, then quickly back to us.
“This time I can't offer you any soldiers. This needs to be done completely with your men.”
“Sir, I’d like you to reconsider. I need a sniper and a point man to fill my team. I’d like to request two of the soldiers that just completed the mission I was on last week. They are brilliant in their positions and would be exactly what I need to get in and out successfully.”
“Resources I can do. Who are the two you have specifically in mind?”
“Captain Elliott and Captain Harris of the US Army.”
“I’ll grant you two soldiers for this mission, but they’ll need to agree to go AWOL before I can approve this. I want zero connections with the US Army in the event your mission is compromised. I'll have half of your funds moved soon, so they're there for you to fulfil the job. Once it's finished, the rest of the money will be transferred.” All of this is the normal agreement I have to make when I get a call. This is just the first that came directly from The President.
“When do you want us to go in?” Kase asks.
“One week. He's been staying at his locations for about two weeks before he moves. He's just changed locations, so we’ll get you down there once we get his location verified, then send your team in before he moves out.” I sit still and watch The President give us orders, knowing this is a huge mission for us. I also know it’s a very dangerous one and one I’ll be very ready to have behind me. I’m not completely familiar with the area of Mexico that he’s been in, and I’m going to have to do thorough research before I leave for this.
I know I’ll only have a few days with Jade before I have to leave for the compound in Missouri. The team will have to meet me there for briefing before we leave out.
“My team will be in touch before the mission. Do me proud, Maverick. I need this guy alive, and I need you to deliver him to me without an audience. Go in there without any markings and get out quick.” He’s saying everything I already know. It’s why we’re the elite group of men who get called for the most dangerous jobs in the world. The military uses us when they want to stay hidden and stay off the radar. An invasion like this could cause a huge war we aren’t ready to fight. I know as well as he does if we get caught out there, we’re on our own. The US military won’t come rescue us, and we would be thrown under the bus before The President would take any heat on his own ass for this mission. It’s how it works. Keep him looking as clean as possible while we do the dirty work and take all the risks. It’s what I’m great at. It’s what my men strive for, and we will be successful in this mission or die trying.
“Most definitely, Mr. President. We’ll be in touch.” Kase shuts down the technology the second we’re disconnected from the live feed. We both look at each other and start planning our mission. It’s hard to know everything we’ll need, but one thing is certain. We need cover while we’re there.
“I’ll work on getting us into Mexico safe and find us a place to go. This will be tricky with all of us, but I’m thinking we’ll all fly in separately. I’ll check out contacts to see what I can make happen and feed you the information as it comes in.” He’s great at this shit. I have full faith in him.
“I have a trip I need to make for the next couple of days. I’ll work through the night on anything I need to do. We’ll use the burn phones to talk while I’m gone.”
“Sounds good. Where you headed?”
“Alabama. I’ll go to the compound from there.” I stand to grab everything I’ll need. Kase helps me load my Jeep without asking any more questions about where or why I’m taking off to Alabama.
Thank Christ. I’m not prepared to go into details with him yet. Once I’m settled behind my wheel, I’m off before I have a chance to grasp what I’ve just agreed to. I’m taking Jade to Mexico on one of the most dangerous missions I’ve ever considered. I know she can handle herself, but can I handle myself if anything happens to her?
I move quickly through my house to get enough clothes for the next few weeks. Leaving the door locked and a few lights on, I shut the door and begin another journey to yet another mission, but first I need to spend time with Jade.
The drive to the ranch is long, but it gives me time to think. I'm glad I got out of there quicker than I thought and get to spend more time with her out of our element. We both need this, and I can't wait to see what it does for us.
~~~~
I pull in the drive and text Harris that I'm here. He's at the door before I finish the text, probably wondering who the hell is driving up this late at night. It's black out here with only a sliver of the moon shining in the cloudy sky.
I've had a long day and am looking forward to hitting a bed somewhere with Jade in my arms.
“She's in bed already. You want to have a beer with me out on the back porch?” he offers, and I decide to accept. This man is extremely good at what he does and for that I have to respect him.
He hands me the beer, and we both sit on a wooden deck with a fire pit burning. I can only imagine the conversations that could happen at a setup like this. “I received a call today that you'd be talking to me. I can only assume you want me on a mission.”
“Yes. That's right. You and Jade both. It's in Mexico. A terrorist we’ve been after for years. You'd have to take a temporary walk until we got back. Going AWOL was mentioned.” I can feel the heat of his anger over the blaring fire. He’s pissed about going AWOL, and I don’t blame the man at all.
“You expect me to literally walk away from everything I've worked my life for to work on your team. When I honestly have thought of exactly how I'd kill you if you hurt Jade.”
“That is actually how I know you're perfect. You and I may not agree on everything, but we both want her safe.”
“I'm not too sure I'd consider putting her on a mission like this as keeping her safe. It's actually more of a death mission, if you ask me.”
