“She’s right next door,” Private Kerr volunteered. Opening the door, he stepped back for Shadow to enter.
Placing Sparky’s hand on the bar, he said, “Stay here. I have to check on Taylor.”
He knelt beside the cot, taking in the bruises covering her. They appeared fresh, along with cuts to her face and arms.
“Sergeant Taylor,” he said, shaking her gently. “I’m here to take you. Can you walk?”
Her eyes opened and shut as she moaned.
“Why hasn’t she received medical attention?” Shadow barked.
“She refused,” Private Kerr informed him.
“Yeah, I bet she did,” Shadow growled as he sat her up, wrapped her arm around his neck, and gently lifted her.
Pausing long enough for Sparky to take his arm, he walked out of the building. “Sparky. I need you to walk on my other side. Unholster my weapon and be ready to move when I tell you. Someone doesn’t want her to live. They’ve beaten her.”
“She told me not to say anything as they escorted us. When we arrived, they kept me in a small room,” she said, moving to his other side and doing as he requested. “They questioned her. When she didn’t respond, they hurt her. I heard them. I know their voices.”
“Shhh, Sparky. We have ears everywhere. I’m taking you to the truck. We’ll find out where they took Ice. Did they hurt you?” he asked.
“No. I killed two men, though. They said I’m getting charged with murder. They came inside intending to do harm,” she said in a frantic whisper.
“Rebecca and Julio will arrive tomorrow. They’ll sort this out with the higher-ups.” As they approached the vehicle, Hollywood put the tailgate down as they gently lay Sergeant Taylor on the truck bed
Sparky helped as they lay her down in the bed. Shadow hit his com. “I have picked up Sparky and Sergeant Taylor. They’ve beaten her badly. I need Patch. We’re at the vehicle.”
“Copy that,” Saint replied. “I’m retrieving Cole. Knight’s in surgery. We’ll meet you there.”
“We’re on our way,” Taco reported.
A few minutes later, Shadow emerged from the shadows. They threw bags into the truck and stayed on alert. Saint helped Cole with an arm around his waist. Shadow rushed forward to take his other side.
“It’s not safe here,” Shadow said. “They beat her again. Someone doesn’t want her alive. They’re threatening to charge Sparky.”
“We need Cole out of here,” Saint said. “Those assholes left him sitting in the waiting room while they took care of their own. He’s lost blood. They have Knight in surgery for a GSW in the leg. Patch told me to get Cole out of there, and he’ll meet us.”
“What the hell do we do now?” Hollywood asked, holding his ear. “We can’t even trust these people.”
“They’re getting fed lies,” Taco said. “Rumor has it, we attacked them. We killed their own. It won’t bode well for us to stay here until this gets sorted out.”
“Did you get everything?” Saint asked Taco.
“Anything of importance and more weapons,” Taco said. “They took our computers.”
“No. They didn’t,” Sergeant Taylor croaked out. “They’re in the bottom of your trash barrel.”
“Sergeant Taylor said she had a feeling they’d attack. After Leo left, she took them out there. I forgot to tell you. I can’t think of anything other than Ice. They refused to tell me anything about him,” she cried. “I’m missing my left arm.”
Cole shifted, holding his shoulder. “They took him to the training facility where the vet’s located. He’s good. Sergeant Ford will be there for morning rounds. We need to get him before then. He has no problem hurting his brothers. It won’t matter he’s a service dog.”
“We need a plan,” Saint said. “We’re half a team down. I need Sparky to translate. Tomorrow we’ll go to the nearest village and ask if they’ve seen anyone matching Leo’s description. We’ll offer a reward.”
“What will we do with Cole, Sparky, and Knight?” Hollywood asked.
“I’m not leaving anyone behind,” Saint said. “We’ll wait for Patch and see what he has to say.”
“We’re better off sleeping in the desert,” Taco said. “They’ll kill us in our sleep.”
