No Woman Left Behind: A Lexi Carmichael Mystery, Book Six Page 19

  “Four minutes.”

  I looked between Hands and Wills. We had four minutes to live...if we were lucky.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  “The villagers will kill you if they find you here,” Abdou said. “They are not friendly to Americans and we are quite well armed. Even more so now that we are prepared to launch an attack to get our children back.”

  “Tell me something I don’t know.” Hands motioned for Abdou to sit at the kitchen table, then quickly cuffed his hands behind his back. “We’re out of time, people. We’ve got to move no matter what.”

  “Wait.” I held up a hand. “Isn’t Bravo Team going to use the flash grenades?”

  “Yes, but their effectiveness at a distance is limited. Worse, just one of those babies will wake up the entire town. This all goes south really fast as soon as we wake everyone up. If Pentz isn’t in close enough proximity to a grenade to be temporarily blinded, he’ll still be able to shoot us. If we don’t know where he is, we can’t target him effectively. But we’ll give it an educated guess and set off random grenades, hoping for the best.”

  Hoping for the best didn’t seem like a militarily sound maneuver, but we were running out of time.

  My brain raced. “Pentz would use a laser designator on his night scope to shoot, right?”

  Hands frowned. “Yes.”

  “Can we use that to pinpoint his location?”

  “Maybe, but only if we could watch how the target pip moves on a rotating subject. Even then it would only provide a general location. It wouldn’t pinpoint him exactly.”

  “But close enough for a flash grenade to be effective, right?”

  “Possibly. What are you getting at, Keys?”

  “I just want to make sure I understand properly. So, in order to get a decent fix on Pentz we have to get him to lock on to a slowly moving target for long enough to estimate his position.”

  “Negative. He won’t linger on any target because once he has it, he shoots.”

  “Then we have to give him a target he won’t kill.”

  “What target?”

  “Me.”

  His eyes narrowed. “Oh, hell no.”

  “Why not? It makes perfect sense. I go out there without my helmet so there’s no mistaking it’s me. If it’s Pentz, he won’t shoot right away. You know he won’t. He has to make sure it’s not me. I’m not a sniper, but I believe his instinct will be to lock on to the first thing out that door. He won’t expect it to be me. Tell me I’m not right. Then all you have to do is estimate his position, relay it to Bravo and they can position the drone to set off the flash grenades to cover your exit.”

  Hands took a slow step toward me, holding out a hand. I could see he was calculating how to grab me before I bolted. Right now, nothing stood between the door and me. In my peripheral vision, I saw Wills start to inch sideways.

  “I appreciate the thought, but we can’t risk you, Keys.” His voice was soft and soothing. “We don’t know for certain he won’t shoot you. We, on the other hand, get paid to take these risks all the time. We’ve survived much worse. Look, it’s only one guy with a rifle.”

  It wasn’t just any guy or any sniper. Next to Hands, Abri Pentz was one of the most decorated snipers in the world. He wouldn’t miss and we all knew it.

  I set my jaw. “You’re right, Hands. I don’t know for sure he won’t shoot me. However, I do know he’ll shoot you or any of the other guys, and he won’t miss. We don’t have time to take this to a committee.”

  Before either of them could stop me, I dashed for the door, yanking it open and stepping outside. I tensed as Keys and Wills shouted something, but I couldn’t make it out.

  Then I saw it. The red dot on my chest.

  I turned sideways so I was half-looking into the house where Hands and Wills had screeched to a stop just inside the doorway, their arms flung out as if they could still catch me. Hands saw the red dot, too. I watched the recognition flash across his face.

  Everything after that seemed to happen in slow motion. I squeezed my eyes shut, bracing for a shot that didn’t happen. Slowly, I held my arms out and turned in the direction I thought Pentz might be. Summoning a bravado I didn’t feel, I made a deep bow. I sure hoped Hands, Hulk and the entire Bravo Team were paying attention and figuring out exactly where Pentz was located.

  After what I hoped was sufficient time, but was probably less than ten seconds, I turned and scampered around the house toward the safety of the far side of the garage. The back of my neck itched. I worried Pentz might change his mind and blow my head off just to spite me, but the shot never came.

  Loud chatter sounded from the helmet under my arm, so just before I reached the edge of the garage, I stopped and raised it near my ear so I could hear what was going on. I had no time to put it on properly and fuss with the night vision goggles.

  “Three, two, one. Go!”

  The rapid bursts of two flash grenades in the distance startled me, followed a second later by the concussive thump. Moments after that Hulk, Wills and Hands came barreling around the building in full sprint, not even bothering to crouch. I stood frozen watching them. Hands stumbled once, but miraculously regained his footing and kept running.

  I watched, mesmerized by the action, until I jolted back to reality. Hulk thundered directly toward me, sweeping me under his arm without breaking stride, and hauled me around the garage.

  Pausing momentarily to regroup and plan our next actions, I pressed back against the wall next to Hands.

  I couldn’t see his face clearly, but I could hear the anger in his voice. “I would so kill you if it wasn’t my mission to protect you. What the hell were you doing?”

  “Hopefully saving us.”

  “Damn it. You didn’t follow orders.”

  “Not this time. I followed logic.”

  He growled and then held up a hand, quieting me. “Bravo Team. Give me a status report on the MAM, Cobra 1 and the locals.”

  “This is Bravo One. MAM is hightailing it out of the village to the south. I suspect he doesn’t want to be mistaken for one of us. He also appears to be suffering from a loss of his night vision, as he just raced into some barbed wire surrounding a corral. Ouch, that’s got to hurt. Okay...hello. We have locals with guns emerging from the tents south of the corrals and signs of activity in the village itself as well. The bangs got their attention. ETA on Cobra 1 is sixty seconds. I would suggest you hurry. They won’t want to wait around long.”

  I’d started to put my helmet back on when Hands grabbed my arm and rasped, “We don’t have time for that now. Just follow me.”

  He took off, practically dragging me with him. I staggered along off balance, holding my helmet beneath my other arm. Though I had complained about wearing the night vision goggles, I realized how much of an advantage they provided in the dark. Fortunately, given Hands’s support, I was able to remain upright.

  As we approached the positions that Bravo Team had established, I heard the thunderous whopping of the dual rotors of the Osprey landing. I could also hear the crackle of what must be small arms fire, though I couldn’t tell if it was friendly fire or from the village. It didn’t sound nearby, so I suspected the latter. My helmet was a cacophony of noise, and I could understand none of it.

  We ran past a Bravo Team SEAL hunkered down in a firing position just as the Osprey landed. To my surprise, Hands didn’t take me directly to the aircraft, but left me near a tree.

  He released me and pointed me at the aircraft. He leaned in close and shouted. “Wait here for fifteen seconds and then hightail it to the plane. I’m going to do a sweep to make sure the area is clear of anyone wanting to pick us off as we board. Charlie Team will get you on board.”

  “Okay,” I shouted back.

  “So, count to fifteen and run like hell for the p
lane, Keys. Oh, and close your eyes on the way.”

  “What?” I shouted after him as he disappeared into the darkness. “What was the last part?”

  He didn’t answer, so I assumed he didn’t hear me over the rotors. I bent over, bracing myself with one hand against the tree, trying to catch my breath. I had a stitch in my side and it hurt. I pressed my hand against my side and started counting. Suddenly gunfire erupted around me and I crouched down. Fifteen seconds had passed, but I wasn’t sure if it was safe to run. I was considering my options when the world around me erupted in light and concussion, throwing me a good distance sideways and to my knees.

  Holy flash grenade. Bravo Team must have set up a perimeter of flash grenades around the landing site to keep the locals away. I’d probably been steps away from one of them. Why hadn’t I just dashed for the plane? Hands was really going to kill me now. I was so not going to be voted into the SEALs’ Hall of Fame anytime soon.

  Now I had no idea where I was or in which direction I faced. I couldn’t see a thing and my ears were ringing. I was really going to regret not having put my helmet back on. Oh, God, speaking of my helmet—where was it? It had to have been knocked from grasp when I fell following the blast.

  I felt around on the ground for it. No luck. I stopped, trying not to panic. No sense worrying about my helmet now. I had to get on that plane. Though I still couldn’t see well, I got to my feet, hoping someone would see me and lead me to the plane. Just as I rose, there was a burst of gunfire nearby and someone shouted, “Down!”

  I dropped to the ground again, hugging the dirt and deciding I would never, ever complain again about how cold they always keep the server rooms.

  The shooting was getting closer. Fortunately I was beginning to regain limited vision. A SEAL shouted, “We’ve got hostiles all over the place. Fall back, now!”

  Feet thudded to my right.

  “Wait!” I screamed, but I wasn’t sure anyone heard me over the rotor noise. The Osprey’s rotors increased speed, spinning up.

  Oh, God. They were leaving.

  Without me!

  I decided to risk the small arms fire and stood. Although barely able to see, I staggered toward the sound of the aircraft, hoping those who might be shooting at me couldn’t see much better.

  The engines revved louder and I vaguely saw the large mass start to lift. Staggering toward the airplane and waving my arms, I thought I heard the engines change again. Just as I was trying to decide if it were my imagination or not, I tripped over something and fell face-first to the ground, getting sand and dirt in my mouth and eyes.

  I was now spitting sand and crying uncontrollably. Not a great way to meet whatever fate the villagers had in store for me.

  As I crawled to my knees, a strong hand slid under my elbow, helping me up. “Alpha Star?”

  It was a calm, assured and very American voice.

  “Who are you?” I could barely see a dark shape.

  “A member of the Charlie Team. I’ve got you. We need to leave now. The plane is holding for you.”

  “Oh my God. Thank you. Thank you so much. I thought you were going to leave without me.”

  “We almost did. I was doing a final area check as we were lifting off when Hands started shouting you were missing. Then I saw you stand up and run for the plane. With all the small arms fire, when I saw you fall, I thought you’d been shot. Had my worst moment of the mission right then. If I’d have lost you, Hands would have chewed my ass to the end of time. Not a good thing to lose the asset.”

  I was so thankful the best I could choke out was, “You came back. Oh, God, I thought you were going to leave me.”

  “No, ma’am. Not on this mission. Or any mission, for that matter. It’s the SEALs’ code. No man—or woman—left behind.”

  Chapter Thirty-Three

  My vision had partially returned as we made our way to the plane. Several guys hopped off the plane, running out to meet us. Two of them got on either side of me and actually lifted me off my feet and kept running, while two others offered cover, facing outward and running backward with their rifles drawn. When we got to the plane, they hoisted me up into Hulk’s waiting hands. Then the guys on the ground hopped in and the plane took off. Hulk deposited me in a jump seat and then lurched as the plane swerved. We were taking fire from below. I could hear the plinking of the bullets against the plane and prayed none of them would find the gas tank. After a moment, the engines revved louder and we climbed too high for the villagers to reach.

  I closed my eyes and hoped it was too dark for anyone to see my dirt, sand and tear-streaked face. A thump sounded in front of me. I opened my eyes. Hands stood there, his hands on his hips, glaring at me.

  “Why the hell didn’t you count to fifteen and run to the plane like I told you?”

  “I stopped to catch my breath. Then there was gunfire. I got scared and I wasn’t sure it was safe to run. The flash grenades went off. Things were moving a bit too fast for me. I’m sorry. Apparently I need more training.”

  “You’re joking right now?”

  “It seemed appropriate, given your dark mood.”

  “Don’t ever do that again.”

  “Fine. I’m not that good at jokes anyway.”

  “Not that. Risk your life by playing target.”

  I stared at him. Green dots still danced around my eyes. “That just makes no sense whatsoever. We’re all risking our lives here.”

  “Pentz could have killed you.”

  “He could have, yes. But he didn’t. It was the right call.”

  “It wasn’t yours to make.”

  “I know. I’m sorry for that. I understand the military culture and the importance of following orders. I also understand that my actions may have inadvertently undercut your authority as a team leader. That was not my intention. But the alternative was having all of you get killed for nothing.”

  Even with impaired eyesight, it was impossible to miss his fierce scowl. “Damn it, Keys, it wouldn’t have been for nothing. It would have been for the mission.”

  “While that’s an admirable thought, it’s also highly illogical. Your deaths would have been completely unnecessary and tragic. Everyone on this plane, back at the base in Djibouti, and in the control center in Washington knows full well that Pentz would have picked you off one by one going out that door if we hadn’t pinpointed his location. You can yell at me all you want, but the facts speak for themselves. It was the right call.”

  Hands opened his mouth to say something, but instead made a strange noise in his throat and stomped across the aircraft toward the cockpit. He opened the cockpit door and slammed it shut. I suspected he had more to say but that he’d moved away before he strangled me.

  I glanced around. The entire aircraft was silent except for the hum of the engine. I didn’t know what else to do, so I shrugged out of my pack and put it between my legs. I leaned back, closed my eyes and thanked all the stars above I was still alive. After a few minutes, I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked to my left. Hulk sat there, his long legs sprawled out.

  “I’ve never seen Hands so mad,” he said in his deep voice. “It took a lot of guts to stand up to him like that just now, kid. Leave it to a woman to make him lose his cool.”

  I wasn’t certain of the appropriate response, so I said nothing.

  Hulk tried again. “He’s pissed because he never had a chance to engage Pentz and then you took the risk instead of him. Give him time to cool off.”

  “I will. But this was about the mission, not his beef with Pentz.”

  “Yeah, which pisses him off even more.”

  “So, I guess I screwed up.”

  He punched me lightly on the arm. “No, you didn’t. I’m saying you did dayum good, kid. Cool head under pressure. Hooyah.” Then, he laughed in his deep bari
tone voice.

  Others in the cockpit started laughing and cheering. I was glad they hadn’t seen me blubbering like a baby when I thought they had taken off without me.

  It was as if all the tension of the mission suddenly released. I wasn’t sure what I felt. Relief mixed with worry and sheer exhaustion as the high of adrenaline faded. My fingers itched to take a closer look at the data on the computer. I wanted to examine it right then and there, but my eyes were still wonky from the flash grenades and they needed a rest, along with my brain and the rest of my body.

  Someone from Charlie Team walked through the cabin, throwing us bottles of water and energy bars. I took a bar and downed it in three bites. I was ravenous, so they tossed me another one. Who knew mortal danger made a person so hungry?

  I drank the entire bottle of water, gulp after gulp, until it was gone, not caring that water dribbled down my cheeks and chin. Water had never ever tasted so good.

  After that I leaned back in my seat and closed my eyes. Despite the noise and bumpy ride, I dozed. Except for that following-orders thing, maybe I was becoming a decent SEAL after all.

  Chapter Thirty-Four

  Gray was waiting for us when we got off the plane. She shook her head as Hands stalked past her without a greeting or a look, a huge scowl on his face.

  Then she saw me. To my surprise, she ran over enveloping me in a big hug.

  “Oh my God. I’m so glad you’re okay, Lexi. You gave all of us heart failure when you stepped out of the house to face Pentz. Seriously, Captain Bischoff had to sit down and I heard audible gasps from the brass in Washington. What a brave thing to do.”

  “Why would that give any of you heart failure? It was a completely logical action. You said Pentz wouldn’t shoot me.”

  “Well, yes, but I’m just an analyst—a junior one, at that. It was a best guess, not a certainty.”

  “Wow. Now you tell me. Oh well, a best guess is all we had time for. Thanks, Gray. I owe you dinner. Looks like your work was solid.”