AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Santiago, his binoculars in his hands, says, “Crappy looking place.”
“Yes,” I say. “But check out the parking lot.”
A dirt lane leads to the farmhouse, and three dark and dented Toyota pickup trucks, as well as a black SUV, are parked in a semicircle outside.
“I don’t think this is the far outpost of Honest Ahmed, used-car salesman,” I say. I gesture to the left. “Spread out. Santiago, that little lump of rock…and Jordan, that chunk that looks like a doghouse. Sound off if you see anything.”
They silently pick up their gear and move as ordered.
I look down at the farmhouse.
The only sign of life is the goats.
I hate goats.
In the few minutes it takes for Jordan and Santiago to take up their new positions, only a handful of words are exchanged.
Quietly Jordan says, “She broke orders.”
Santiago says, “Yeah.”
Jordan pauses, takes off his rucksack. “If my ass ever gets captured, hope someone does the same for me.”
“No argument here,” Santiago says.
“See you later.”
Santiago moves forward. “You bet, Bro.”
I check my radio gear.
Still no signal.
Being in the mountains will do that to you.
What now?
I look down through the fine German optics at the Lebanese farmhouse, where I hope my two British comrades are being held. It’s a damn UN meeting, it is.
What now?
We can sit here for a while, try to see what’s going on. Those parked vehicles mean something of importance must be happening.
But maybe it’s not Jeremy and Oliver—those polite, charming, humorous, and utterly stone-cold killers in the service of MI6 and the Queen.
Maybe it’s something else.
I could leave Santiago and Jordan here while I find a location that will allow me to reestablish radio communications—and, after getting reamed out, try to pinpoint resources that I could use to find Jeremy and Oliver.
But my gut tells me they’re in that building.
How to get them out?
I’m hungry, thirsty, and my feet hurt, and the bandages wrapped around my torso make me feel like I’m going to losea cup size when this particular op is wrapped up.
What now?
As I start going through the options once more, I think I see a hint of movement off to the left. Then Jordan makes up my mind for me.
