The Vanishing Gary Brown (booksvooks TXT) 📖

ropes into the darkness below, zipped down the line, landed on the ground, then quickly spread out, covering the perimeter of the compound as the helicopter touched down. Pike jumped out through the open door.

“Mark, do you have your eyes on?”

“Copy,” Mark replied as he watched the helicopter land. “Hostiles and friendlies are in the woods. Have your team advance to our location.”

“Copy that. On our way.”

66

“WAIT HERE. KEEP an eye on them,” Fallon told Joseph. He trained his weapon on the front door of the cabin. “I wasn’t expecting Stone, and we sure as hell don’t need any more surprises. I’ll check it out. Wait for my all clear, then bring them.”

“Maybe we should just keep moving, Reginald,” Krebeck replied.

“And go where?” Fallon said angrily. “Fuck it! We do this now, then we’re done with it. The two of us can manage fine on our own. But if we take them with us, we’re as good as dead.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Lock them in the cabin.”

“Then what?”

“Burn it. Like Kampala. No witnesses.”

67

KAREN RADIOED MARK. “There’s a cabin beyond the ridge. That’s probably where Krebeck and Fallon are taking them.”

“Are they mobile?” Mark replied.

“Negative. Fallon has separated himself from the group. He’s checking out the cabin. Krebeck’s guarding the others.”

“What about Martin and Claire? Are they okay?”

“I think so.”

“And Amanda Prescott?”

“She’s with Claire. Wait a minute. Fallon’s on his way back. He’s moving them into the cabin. If I can get a little closer, I can probably take him down.”

“Negative!” Mark replied. “CIA tactical is moving in as we speak. Hold your position and stand ready. All teams confirm.”

“Copy,” Karen replied.

“Affirmative,” Dan responded. “Cynthia and I are in position.”

“Good,” Mark replied. “When this goes down, I want our focus to be on getting to Martin, Claire and Amanda and extracting them to a safe zone.”

“Copy that,” Dan said. “Ready when you are.”

Mark spoke to Pike. “Are your men in position?”

“Roger.”

“They understand Krebeck and Fallon are the objectives?” Mark continued. “I don’t want my operatives or any civilians caught in the line of fire.”

“Don’t worry,” Pike said. “They’re clear on the targets. Quick and clean. That’s how we operate.”

“These bastards have gotten away before.”

“Not this time.”

“Good enough,” Mark said. “Then let’s do it. From here on it’s your op, Jonathan. Good luck.”

Pike placed his hand on the collar microphone around his neck and gave the order. “All teams engage,” he said.

68

“EVERYBODY IN!” Fallon yelled. “Move!”

Krebeck ushered the group through the door and into the small cabin. Martin and Earl helped Virgil into a chair. His teeth chattered. Violent spasms racked his body. A worn blanket lay crumpled on the floor between the chair and the wall. Amanda wrapped it around Virgil to warm him.

“Virgil!” Sky cried. She ran to her husband. “Are you all right? What did they do to you?”

Blessing ran to the corner of the room, held tight to her doll. The frightened girl began to cry.

Claire removed Virgil’s blood-soaked compress, examined the wound. “This man has lost a lot of blood,” she said. “He’s going into shock. He needs to get to a hospital right away.”

“I don’t care,” Krebeck said. “Deal with it.”

Fallon removed a kerosene lamp from a hook on the wall and turned around in time to see Earl Bentley rush Krebeck. “Joseph!” he called out. “Behind you!”

Too late, the old trucker tackled Krebeck, knocked him to the ground. Before he could subdue the writhing man, he was rendered helpless by an unseen, crushing blow to the head. He slumped to the ground.

“Get up, old man!” Fallon said. He pressed his gun against the trucker’s forehead. Slowly, Earl rose to his feet.

“Damned if I’m gonna just stand around and watch you walk out and leave us here,” Bentley said. “I know what you’re plannin’ to do with that lamp. You’re gonna burn it down.”

Fallon helped Krebeck to his feet and pushed him out the cabin door. “Move an inch,” he said, “and I’ll kill you where you stand.”

Outside the cabin, Fallon set down the lamp, picked up a broken branch from the ground. “Get the door, Joseph.”

Krebeck closed the door, shoved the branch under the narrow gap at its base, wedged it tightly into place. “It won’t hold for long,” he said.

“It won’t have to,” Fallon said. He threw the kerosene lamp against the door, watched it smash. Rivers of the flammable liquid ran down the door and trickled across the verandah. “Stand back,” he said. He aimed the gun at the metal door handle and fired. The bullet ricocheted, sparked, ignited the fluid. The door was suddenly engulfed by the flames. Within seconds, the front of the cabin had become a raging inferno.

“Come on,” Fallon said. “Let’s get out of here.”

Yelling from the forest.

Voices echoed from all directions.

“Federal agents! Throw down your weapons!”

“Damn it!” Fallon cried. “I warned you this would happen, Joseph!” He placed his gun behind Krebeck’s head and pulled the trigger. Krebeck’s body shuddered. He dropped to his knees. His arms fell limp at his sides. Blood streamed down his face and chest, spilled over his thighs, pooled at his sides. Fallon lifted Krebeck’s lifeless body, dragged it across the path, and heaved it up against the cabin. He watched as the body slid down the flaming wall, fell on its side, and blocked the door.

In death, Krebeck stared at his executioner as the fire slowly consumed him, first his legs, next his hands, arms, torso, and finally his head.

“Fuck you, Joseph,” Fallon said. He spat at the fire-ravaged corpse.

Behind him, footfalls crashed through the forest.

His pursuers were closing in.

Black smoke billowed from the blazing cabin.

Fallon raced down the mountain path and disappeared into the woods.

69

“KEEP YOUR HANDS where I can see them!” Mark yelled as he approached the motionless figure lying on the trail ahead of him.

The body stirred, moaned.

Oyama crept closer, kept his gun trained on the center of the man’s body.

“Please, help me.”

“Who are you? Give me a name!” Mark demanded. He rolled the