“Can you explain what this is?” I asked as Jacob motioned to a table with benches.
“I’m ex-Delta Force. When I retired, my team and I became a private SAR team. Search and rescue. We take on rescue missions and save hostages. I built this to keep our fitness up. You could walk into a Delta Force training ground and find exactly the same equipment. Now we don’t take on missions unless they need our skills, but we manage this. Men and women come here to train, and we run a cadet programme.
“That’s what Magic recommended your gang for. He noted some of the kids needed a release and thought we could help. I heard about your youngest and the flamethrower. Here, we will let Jesper play with weapons in a safe environment. But they have to earn the right. First task is fitness, then we move on to other things, like covertly entering a building, ground fighting, and parachute jumps. We even have an air machine to simulate jumping from a plane. Nobody moves up unless I’m convinced they’ve mastered the previous level.”
“This sounds amazing. It would certainly help Jesper,” I stated.
“Yes, Magic thought it might. Said he recognised a lot of himself in the boy. At first glance, I can see that kid is coming out of his skin. The course will dissipate much of that energy.”
We chatted for five more minutes, and then Lars and Oskar came around a corner. They were clearly racing each other, andthere was no sign of the others. Jacob pursed his lips, and I remembered what he’d said.
Oskar pipped Lars, and they stood panting and grinning in front of us. Their grins slowly faded when they saw the expression on Jacob’s face.
“What?” Lars asked, perplexed.
“What did I tell you?” Jacob asked.
“Follow the red line,” Oskar replied.
“What else?” Jacob inquired mildly.
“Start jogging and follow that route,” Lars answered Jacob.
“I didn’t say anything else?”
“No?” Lars was definitely confused.
“Stick together, no man gets left behind.Remember that?”
“Oh.” Lars shrugged.
Jacob grinned. “Both of you drop and start push-ups. You’ll continue until the others catch up.”
“What? They were miles behind!” Oskar exclaimed.
“Tough luck. Maybe you’ll listen next time,” Jacob replied and stared them down. Both teens tried to figure out if pushing back would succeed. Then they dropped and followed Jacob’s orders.
Oh my, I loved this place!
Chapter Thirteen.
Jody
“Shhhh,” I whispered as I parked up outside Crook House. Lars looked at me and, despite his tiredness, smiled.
Next to him, snoring his little head off, was Jesper. Oskar pushed the door back and carefully picked Jesper up. Jacob had run Jesper for three hours solid, and then Jesper just stopped and lay down. It was a damn miracle. I seriously owed Magic one. Even better, there’d been adults there! The centre had boasted a café, so I’d been able to get a coffee and have an adult conversation.
Jacob had asked if I wanted to sign up, and I’d signed immediately to his amusement. Jesper would attend six days a week, and the others three times. Surprisingly, Laila had been up for it, too. Laila could drive a car, and Lars and Oskar also had their licences. Between the four of us, we’d take it in turns to chauffeur Jesper when the others weren’t attending.
Oskar quietly carried Jesper upstairs, with Henrik trailing behind. They’d all sleep well tonight. Heading into the kitchen, I dragged my phone out and dialled Magic.
“Hi,” he said, answering on the second ring.
“Thank you for Delta Force. Jesper is actually asleep!” I exclaimed.
“You’re welcome. Guess it helped.”
“Loads! Honestly, Magic, I don’t think I’ve seen Jesper go to bed at a decent hour. I’ve signed all seven of them up. How did you meet Jacob?”
