Page 123 of The 9th Man

“Just eyes,” he ordered. “This target is a pro. Fire on my command only.”

61

LUKE SPENT FIFTEEN MINUTES DOING A FINAL TOUR OF THE BUILDINGS,rehearsing, revising. Here and there he paused to loosen wall planks should they need a quick exit. Jillian was ensconced at her fighting position, so he spent another ten minutes outside, repeatedly trudging between the main buildings and the outbuildings, leaving in his wake the boldest tracks he could manage. Until the snow filled them, these paths would be yet another uncertainty for pursuers. He then retreated back inside.

“I’ve got movement to the east,” Jillian said. “Two men in alpine-white coveralls, about a hundred meters out. Moving slow and coming straight in.”

Recon. Definitely.

Sent to generate a reaction.

“Okay. I’m heading out.”

He jogged back through the ore building to the millhouse’s east wall and knelt before a particularly wide gap in the planks.

“Where are you?” he muttered.

It took thirty seconds but finally the figures emerged from the swirling white veil, dressed head-to-toe in speckled gray-on-white coveralls. Now their rifles were at ready. Methodically, they picked their way forward, staying as low to the snow as possible.

Best guess?

One team from the east, another from the west, Talley in the center. Jillian probably had the pair from the west in her sights. The most Talley could hope to gain from this approach was the camp’s rough geometry, which was relatively useless while the interior remained an enigma. Even the most elite soldiers hated stepping into the unknown. Talley was working out his options.

Okay.

Come and get me.

***

TALLEY STOPPED IN THE SNOW ABOUT FIFTY YARDS SHORT OF THEcamp’s beginning and tapped his radio. “This is Bravo One. Take it nice and slow. By the book, do you copy?”

“Copy,” his men replied.

“I see no lights and no movement,” one of the men on the east reported.

For the sake of clarity he’d designated the camp’s main buildings one through seven, starting at the shed-like building closest to the meadow’s west side and ending with what he assumed was a bunkhouse.

“Same here from the west,” the other said. “I’ve almost reached Building One.”

Team East reported, “We’re holding behind cover. I’ve got about fifty meters of open ground to Building Five. Visibility is erratic. Should I proceed?”

“Stay put,” Talley ordered. “Hunker down and watch.”

“We’ve reached Building One,” Team West said. “I’m moving to the corner for a better view.” A few seconds passed. “Okay, I’ve got a visual on Building Two.”

Building Two was the pyramid-shaped structure. He keyed his radio, “Bravo Two, this is Bravo One, make your run. Shake the tree.”

“Roger. Heading in now.”

Sixty seconds passed.

The helo roared in through the snow, spotlights on, flashbangs deployed, which lit up the camp. Talley gave it a minute then asked on the radio, “Any reaction?”

“Negative. No change.”

The helo moved off, standing by.

“Same on our side,” Team West said. “No movement, no lights. I see a hole in the wall of Building Two. Bravo One, are we sure our targets are even here? Scratch that. I’m seeing tracks, recent ones.”