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Isil, most likely.
For a moment, it seemed like the worst-case scenario.
Sarah gritted her teeth, facing the facts grimly. It wasn’t quite...
Hearing the thud of what sounded like footsteps approaching, Sarah closed her eyes pretending to still be unconscious.
* * *
So much for having the insurgents contained in this quadrant, Lieutenant Brand Reardon acknowledged resignedly, dropping the binoculars hanging by a strap around his neck. They were close enough to where camp was set up to radio in via satellite, and backup was on its way. Luckily, he and Sarge had been far enough behind on the trail of the supply truck to see the explosion and were able to pull back in time and remain out of sight with the jeep.
“I only counted three of ‘em,” Brand said quietly.
“We need to hold back and be sure,” Sarge muttered. “I don’t like it any more than you do, but we gotta make sure we’re not heading into something worse.”
Brand grunted his agreement. The driver of the supply truck and three of his team had been driven away in a separate direction by approximately a dozen men in a large truck after they’d all been pulled out from the wreckage.
Butdamn it, once he’d seen another three men break away from the group and drag away Sarah, who’d looked to be badly injured and unconscious, all he’d wanted to do was swoop in and rescue her.
“At least it looks like all five of them made it.”
“And what good is that if we can’t get ‘em out?” Brand asked gruffly. He’d seen countless victims of torture and rape...and heinous slow death at the hands of the ruthless terrorists intent on taking control of Syria and Iraq, as well as the entire middle east.
Both Brand and Sarge sat and waited a few more hours until darkness began settling in.
Why was it taking so long for backup, Brand wondered? Staring at the sky, he was becoming increasingly restless. “We gotta hope we’ll get someone here soon. But the way I see it, the only way to save Sarah, if she’s even still alive, is to take them by surprise, and it’s gonna be dark soon.”
“Since there were more men taken hostage, our backup might have gone after the others with the chopper first. Are we ready?” Sarge asked. “I hate that they ordered no more radio contact.”
Brand nodded his acceptance, preparing his M9. At least Sarge had a rifle. The other weapons had been loaded in the supply truck, and they’d watched everything that hadn’t been destroyed in the explosion being carried away with his team.
“I’ll enter first,” Brand growled.
Sarge looked ready to argue, but Brand stared him down. “You back me up.”
Obviously reluctant, Sarge nodded his agreement.
They moved together stealthily, quietly situating themselves behind the entrance to the cave.
Waiting and watching the opening for several minutes, Brand finally made his move.
It was a good thing his Beretta was ready because he needed it right away. One quick shot to the forehead, and the first man collapsed onto the ground as one of the other two men began shooting.
Sarge took care of him as Brand entered the opening and was targeted by the remaining terrorist.
Brand ducked and motioned at Sarge, who gunned the last man down.
“Damn it,”Sarge cursed. “I’ve been hit.”
Brand scowled. “How bad?”
“I’ll be alright,” Sarge mumbled. “Go find her.”
Brand moved further inside the cavern, which was surprisingly well-lit, with what appeared to be battery-operated lanterns.
Oh, Sarah, he silently moaned once he saw her. Stripped naked, her hands and feet had been bound with rope.
Or rather herfoot.
