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“I can’t get her ankle chains off,” Kristen cries. “They have an explosive vest on her and Shelby, who is further down the beach. Please help me!” Enos frowns down at her. Dalton is alreadylifting my oversized shirt to peer at the device strapped to my chest. His intense gaze causes my heart to speed even faster. I’m sure it will surely give out soon from all the stress. I try not to let those around me see just how frightened I am, knowing it won’t make the situation any better.
“Hear let me try,” Enos demands, kneeling next to my feet. He looks up at me. “You okay there?” I nod, taking a shaky breath. He turns back to my chains, pulling a small case from a clip on his belt. He unzips it quickly extracting some small metal tools. He begins working on the locks. Dalton is squatting next to me. He begins to duck walk around me, holding up the hem of the shirt as he studies to device.
“You all should leave,” I finally manage to get the words out. “Boss will set this off soon. There’s no need for all of us to die. Get as many people out of here as you can.” Dalton leans back around to look at me as Enos’s glare hits me.
“We aren’t leaving you,” Dalton counters. “I can’t believe you would even suggest such a thing to us. Now be still while I work to disarm this.” Dalton also pulls out some tools from a large cargo pocket on his pants. He tucks the hem of the shirt into the back of the neck of my shirt. I can feel him moving and tugging on the device. Sweat breaks out on my brow. My heart hammers in my chest. I’m certain we are about to die a violent, bloody death. To my surprise, Kristen stays by Enos’s side as he works to remove my ankle chains.
“Roger that,” Enos says suddenly, causing me to frown down at him. “Dalton and I are with asset one; she is in good condition, still working to remove restraints and device. Will update in five.” As he finishes, I realize he’s talking to the other team members through their comm devices. Luke had told me the devices they use are so small you can’t really see them unless you look down into their ear canal. Enos looks up at Dalton. “How’s it going there?” He nods his head toward my back.
“The device isn’t well made, which is good news and badnews,” Dalton answers. “I’m fairly certain I can disarm it, but as it’s been half-assed put together, I’m hoping I don’t accidently set it off in the process.” My head whips in his direction. He can’t be serious, right now.
“If you aren’t sure, you shouldn’t be messing with it,” I snap at him. “I don’t want you to die, trying to get this off me. Just leave me!” I’m full-on crying, having a total melt down. I’m so pissed that Boss and Konner have done this to me and Shelby, that they have put these men in this situation, too.
“Marley, sweetheart, just calm down,” Dalton coaxes. “Everything is going to okay. I’m going to get this off and then take you to Luke. I promise, okay?” My head nods of its own accord. I can’t think beyond this second. I want to see Luke again, but I can’t allow myself to believe it will happen. Enos unlocks the cuff around my left leg and moves to detach the right one as well. Once they are both off, he and Kristen just sit there watching Dalton intently. He looks up at Enos. His expression is tight. “You take Kristen on. Meet up with the others. Marley and I will be right behind you, yeah?”
Enos’s face hardens. He glances at a trembling Kristen before looking back at Dalton and giving him a nod. Enos takes Kristen by the hand and pulls her to her feet. “I’ll let Luke know you’ll be with him soon,” Enos says to me. I nod but not believing a word of it. Enos and Kristen will be able to escape the blast, hopefully.
“Tell Luke I love him.” I’m surprised at the steadiness of my voice, because on the inside I’m a ball of nerves. “Let him know he’s the best thing that ever happened to me, and I don’t regret a moment. Don’t let him blame himself for this, Enos. Make sure he understands, this is on those who took me captive, not him.” Enos’s jaw ticks as he considers my words, but instead of arguing with me, he nods.
“I’ll be sure to tell him, if for some reason, you cannot.” I give him a sad smile as he pulls Kristen away from us and heads toward the beach.
LUKE
Meanwhile…
It’s the afternoon of July fourth. We lost the van and sedan yesterday evening in traffic. We’ve been unable to locate where they are holding the women. It seems Jones has given up all pretense of continuing to work for the FBI. He hasn’t shown up to work the last two days. Jim has remained cooperative by not alerting Homeland or sending the information up the chain of command.
We have set up around the Pier where the Stars and Strips Celebration will be taking place. I’m watching a section of the street where I’d been yesterday. The rest of our twenty-five-person team is scattered throughout the crowd. We know where they are planning to plant the women, so we have more members along those routes. Enos has just radioed an update. The van and sedan have arrived, but he hasn’t seen any sign of Marley or Shelby, yet.
“I have eyes!” Enos announces over comms. “They have pulled Shelby from the back of the van.”
“Is she okay?” Bo demands, a shuffling noise can be heard over the comms. “I’m headed in!”
“Bo, stand down!” I yell. I can’t have him giving us away before I know where Marley is. “What about Marley?”
“Fuck!” Bo exclaims. “We need to get her away from them!”
“Hold up, Bo.” Enos joins the conversation in a much calmer tone than either of us has used thus far. “No sign of Marley. It looks like they might have a vest on Shelby. She’s wearing a very bulking looking blouse. Shit! There are wires hanging out the back of her top. They definitely have a device of some sort on her. I can’t tell what type, though. Be patient.”
“Fuck!” Bo whispers again. I can hear the anguish in his voice. It’s how I’ve been feeling since the moment I realized Marley was missing. These are some seriously sick individuals. I know Bo wants Shelby away from them; I do too, but they hold the key to where Marley is being held. If she isn’t with them, we will have to follow them to their hide out. It’s the only way to secure both women.
“How does she look?” Bo asks again in a calmer tone. I can hear in his voice the toll it’s taking on him to not run after her.
“She’s walking,” is all Enos replies. I frown at his vague response. Bo’s next words let us all know he isn’t satisfied with his reply.
“What the fuck does that mean, Enos?” Bo rages. “You have eyes on her. Does she look injured?”
“You aren’t going to like what I have to say, and we don’t need you barreling in there until we can assess the device they have on her,” Enos says. Bo growls in response. “They are moving Shelby down the street,” Enos continues. “Headed South.” I raise my binoculars and focus on the area where I know he is stationed. It only takes seconds for me to spot the group strolling down the street as if nothing is amiss except for the frightened look on Shelby’s bruised and battered face. One eye is severely swollen, and she has tears streaming down her cheeks. My gut tightens at the sight knowing Marley is out there somewhere feeling the same fear, likely just as battered. I haven’t forgotten how badlyshe’d been tortured the last time. I hate that she’s going through this again. At least, I hope she’s still alive. I refuse to consider they might have killed her already, but if they haven’t, why isn’t she here?
I watch the group closely. There are two Arabic appearing men on either side of Shelby. While Konner Jones ambles along in front of the group. Where is Kristen? Why didn’t she accompany them?
“Where is Kristen?” I ask over the comm. I’m still wondering what her role is in all this.
“She’s lingering on the street just outside the van, pacing nervously,” Enos replies. “Hold on. She’s walking to the back of the van. She is looking up and down the street, which is mostly empty, at the moment. She just beat on the back door…It’s opening up.” I wait in anticipation to what his next words will be. “Two more men have exited the van. I have eyes on Marley! They’ve pulled her from the van, too. It appears she’s also may be wearing a vest.”
His words are bittersweet. Knowing that Enos can see her gives me some relief, but the fact they have her in a fucking suicide bomber vest is gut wrenching. Can we get her away without them triggering the vests? How will we accomplish this? It seems this is an impossible task. I watch as Shelby is led right past my vehicle. I’m shocked by her appearance at the level of abuse she’s endured. Why isn’t anyone on the street stopping them? It’s obvious she is frightened. Yet people meeting them just duck their heads and look away. What is the world coming to that no one takes the time to care for someone in trouble?
“Kristen and three men are on the move with Marley,” Enos relays, drawing me away from my thoughts on the lack of empathy in America. “Headed toward the beach. Dalton you should have eyes soon.”
