Page 97 of Lucky Charm

Hunt shut his eyes for the flash. Vision adjusted, he moved to the body in a chadaree. Gently loosening the facial cover, he stared at the woman from Cait’s drawing. “It’s the woman.”

Doogie stooped next to the other body, rolling it from a face-down position. “It’s Reid. Bullet between the eyes. Like Haquiri.”

“Woman, too,” Hunt muttered. “Search the place. Confirm no boy.”

Hernandez and Carter cleared the rest of the apartment in tight, efficient moves.

“No boy, LT.” Hernandez came to him and stood over the woman’s body. “Damn shame.”

Hunt stayed silent. “Homeplate, we have two dead bodies. The woman and CIA Agent Reid. No boy at this location. Good copy?”

The radio stayed silent for a long moment. “Copy. Exfil. We’ll arrange a body pickup.”

Even though the man had been CIA, leaving behind a dead American was not in Hunt’s playbook. He looked at Hernandez. “Can we figure out how to take them?”

Hernandez nodded. “We can jack a vehicle to transport. There’s a blue truck four houses over.”

Hunt straightened and walked to the dead man. “Yeah, saw it. Alpha Seven, you up for a carjacking?”

K-Rock’s quiet voice came over the com. “Can do. Particulars?”

“Get the blue truck parked down the street. Pull up out front.”

“Copy. Give me two minutes.”

Hunt rolled his eyes, thankful for the skill, but the man was way too good at theft. “Homeplate. We can transport.”

“How?”

“We’re getting creative. Make sure there’s room for eight on the chopper. Can you put ISR on this location? Still looking for the boy.”

“Copy. Will attempt.”

“Carter, get Reid.”

The medic went to the body. “Are we taking the woman, too?”

Hunt did a quick study of the apartment. “Yes, her identity might lead us to IQS.”

Carter nodded and eased the dead body into a fireman’s hold.

Doogie moved to the woman. “I’ve got her.” He carefully wrapped the fabric of her chadaree around her body and hoisted her to his shoulder.

The two men exited at a rapid clip. Hernandez followed. Hunt turned out the light, flipped the lock, and shut the door. He followed the three men down the hall and outside. True to timing, K-Rock parked out front. Bodies secure in back, Carter jumped in the passenger seat. “Ready. Let’s go.”

Hunt returned to their vehicle with the rest of the men, mulling over their timing. The two weren’tin full rigor yet, so sometime today they were murdered. Maybe within hours.

They parked the SUV and the truck to the side at the exfil location. The helicopter swooped in. They boarded with the bodies, securing them in place.

Carter pulled out a packet from his gear, unfolded the fabric, and draped the U.S. flag over Reid’s body.

Hunt straightened in his seat.

The mood in the chopper nose-dived to somber.

Chapped his ass to be bare hours too late.

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