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“No idea. Where is Finley?” asked Levi. His heart came crashing hard, his chest was tight and aching as he realized she wasn’t among those exiting.
“Where is Finley?” asked Levi.
Cash answered him with a sad, then fierce look. “Not here. Where the fuck is she?”
Carter spoke. “Finley set it up to keep Storm safe and this young lady, Darcy, who says Finley told her to hit the SOS and wait for help. The word she gave was Water Lily and described us pretty well. She also said for her to tell us she wanted her own bed, so hurry up.”
That was Finley all right. “Her safe word and that woman is particular about beds. But where is she?” Levi asked again.
Cash looked at Sharlee, who held her son in one arm and handed her cell to Cash before wrapping both arms around her baby. She was holding it together, but tears were streaming down her face. Jac wrapped his family in his arms and just rocked them for a moment.
Cash turned from the scene, thankful to have Storm back safe and sound, but his heart stuttered as he thought of their girl stillmissing. He stared at the display on Sharlee’s phone. Levi came to stand beside him, their shoulders brushing as they shared space to find their girl. Sharlee had locked a location and the Keep Safe program was still activated, so Finley’s phone was still working.
Mark nodded at the cell phone. “That’s where we’re going. That is where Finley is going to be.” His confidence bolstered Levi and Cash’s faith that Finley would be okay and be their next pickup.
Monroe added that he had called the cops. “I gave them the information they would need. Seems they got lost on their way here. Two men came in when Darcy and Storm didn’t come out of the bathroom. The shopkeepers tried to call the authorities but were made to lie down while the one who came in with Darcy tried to get into the bathroom. Seems that door was solid and they couldn’t kick it in. The store manager told the men that the only key was in the bathroom with the woman and child. The report they are going to give to the cops is that two men were trying to get the woman and child from the bathroom but failed.”
“Thank God,” said Carter. “At least they won’t connect it to us.”
“Mark added, “Seems one left in the van they came in and the other man, when he couldn’t get the two out of the bathroom, took off out the back. This owner has the description of them.”
Garrett nodded. “We aren’t done, so Colonel, you take Sharlee, Storm and Darcy back to the house. Keep an eye on this one,” he nodded in Darcy’s direction, “Until we get Finley and verification as to what actually happened.”
“Yep, I’ll take them home and come back if you need me. I’ll be on standby.”
Sharlee grabbed her tablet and gave it to Mark as she got her phone back from Levi. “You are the most techie guy out here right now, so here is my tablet with the coordinates. Lookslike she has stopped moving. That stationary signal is weak and these coordinates are where you are going. Go get her back safe for us.”
Mark nodded. “Got it. Take the little man home.”
Garrett nodded at Jac. “We could use your help but understand if you need to go with Sharlee and Storm.”
“Nope. I’m all good if the Colonel good with his passengers.”
“Yep. Heading out now.”
As soon as the helicopter lifted off, the rest piled into the SUVs and Monroe, Cash, and Mark took the lead. Levi took Sharlee’s place in the vehicle with Jac and Carter. Garrett and Callie with Ryker brought up the rear. The road to get to the coordinates wasn’t the best they’d seen. In their urgency, slowing down was hard for them all to accept, but necessary to make sure they navigated the unlit roads safely.
“Fuck. This shit road is making it take too long to get to Finley,” said Levi.
He heard the chatter from others and his own head had an intense dull thudding, but Cash had gone quiet. He’d seen his friend crawl inside of his head before, but there was an intensity about this time that Levi wasn’t sure he’d experienced before. His friend had spent all day worried he’d lost the two people he had expected to share his forever with. Cash was holding on by a thread. Levi decided if Finley would take them both, then he was all in, too.
“Just ahead. I’d say it was that old building,” said Mark. Cash sat up straighter and surveyed the surrounding area as they found a place to pull in the vehicles and stop.
“Be prepared for anything,” warned Garrett, his eyes scanning the thick woods that bordered the narrow road.
Without words, the men began to grab their gear as they assessed the property. The team knew all too well the dangers that could lurk within because they had worked many missionsin wild vegetation surrounded by inky darkness. It was a veritable minefield of possible traps.
“Garrett, let’s split into smaller groups,” Mark suggested. “If we cover more ground, we have a better chance of finding her.”
“Agreed,” Garrett said. “But we stay in contact,” he advised, his gaze raked over the determined faces of his friends. Comrades. Family. “We are covering all exits. Stay with your vehicle personnel. Carter, your crew check the area near that creek to the north, in the back. Levi, if you think you aren’t able to do this, stay back. We can’t afford to worry about your injuries.”
“I’ good. Might not be a hundred percent, but I’ good enough.”
Garrett scrutinized him for a good long moment before nodding. “Look for doors and windows. There is a little flicker of light behind that ragged curtain in the front. Likely where she is. We just don’t know who is with her.” He turned. “Monroe, you and Mark cover the east. We will head west with the intention of clearing things in the front entry. Cash, you and Callie with me. We focus on grabbing Finley. Let’s see what the front has to offer us.”
The night vision goggles went on, the weapons were checked in their holsters and sheaths to make sure there was unimpeded access, and they headed for the building, alerted to the environment, the doors and windows, and focused on the feeble light inside. They kept their equipment in excellent shape, but one final cursory check that all was operational was second nature to this team. Suited up to do battle, they moved stealthily, carefully making their way to their assigned zones.
The shadows shifted as the full darkness descended and the night filled in the areas holding the small slivers of light nearly captive. Normally they liked going in like this, but they also had typically scoped out the place in one way or the other. They hadto go in cold here and were looking for one of their own. It raised the stakes considerably.