“We know Whitney is present. He’s our secondary mission. We secure Bridget and any other captives, and then we take out Whitney if it is at all possible,” Ezekiel added. “Malichai and Gino, you’re together making the try for Whitney. If nothing else, take down his house when the all clear comes.”
“Nico and Mordichai are sitting back on the north side, covering all of us,” Ryland said. “On the south, it will be Rubin and Tucker. They’ll have our backs in that direction.”
“Zeke, Ryland and Kadan will take the dorms with the soldiers,” Joe said.
“Kyle and Gator are the resident bomb experts. You’re on the vehicles and maintenance buildings. Set them to blow onclearance,” Ezekiel said. “You’ll be able to utilize their mortar shells and any explosives they have.”
“Once inside, Sam and Jeff, you’re on the communication room,” Joe said. “Every means of communication must be down. Wire the shit out of that room and everything around it. When it blows, I don’t want so much as a stick left intact.”
Sam and Jeff exchanged a quick smirk.
“The rest of you know your partners and the entry points to breach the lab. Be ready to get into the laboratory when we’re given the information from Trap and Ian. No one makes a move until then,” Ryland said. “When we do go in, every enemy goes down. The buildings are flattened, so they can’t use them again. All equipment, computers, anything with Whitney’s data, goes. Everything has to come down.”
“Let’s do this, gentlemen,” Joe said. “If anyone gets in trouble, give us a heads-up and your backup will pull you out.”
Moving through the oppressive jungle in single file to keep from disturbing wildlife or tripping any alarms the laboratory had set took time. The compound, as with most of the camps they encountered, was set in rows, with the troop barracks the first three long buildings to the north of the actual laboratory.
The command center with communications was located in the center of the laboratory. Those working as lead scientists were housed in the right wing, and their assistants had dorm rooms in the left wing, with the communications in the center between them. Vehicle and maintenance buildings were on the north side. Whitney’s apartment was approximately forty feet from the laboratory on the east side.
They had the positioning of the buildings but needed to know where Bridget was and what shape she was in before they attacked. They also needed to know if there were any other innocents inside before they made their move.
Nico and Mordichai broke off from the others to make their way through the jungle to the taller trees to the north of them. Rubin and Tucker did the same, circling to the south. They would split up and find the trees that would allow them to cover the teams’ retreat with Bridget.
The remainder of the GhostWalkers, in their designated two-man teams, sprinted silently through the thick vegetation to work their way in close, to be ready for the go signal.
Kyle and Gator crouched low to the ground, blending in with the night, running toward their destination, the vehicles and maintenance buildings. With his night vision, Diego was able to see Kyle roll under a large tank while Gator went for the roof of one of the buildings.
Diego and Ian made their way to the north wall of the laboratory. There were two guards patrolling. Diego disposed of both, allowing Ian to get right up to the outside wall. Despite Whitney being in residence, the compound wasn’t on high alert. Clearly, no one expected an attack. That gave the GhostWalkers a decided advantage.
Charges set, Kyle said,in vehicles and maintenance buildings. Gator is on the lab roof. I’m hitting the foundation.
Charges set on all three dorms, Ryland reported.Ready to breach.
Diego’s job was to guard Ian’s back as he used his gift to see through the walls of the laboratory to find Bridget and send images to the waiting team members. Once they knew where she was, Joe would give the order to take down the entire compound.
Whitney’s not home. His apartment is wired to blow sky-high, Malichai reported.
He’s in the laboratory, north side. Last room. Bridget is with him. Ian’s voice was tight. He sent the images of the various rooms, most empty.There’s a guard at the door and another man in with them. He appears to be a tech. Guards at every entrance door.
Trap gave the same data. Guards on the entrances and exits. Otherwise, the building appeared to be mostly empty. It was easy to see the Congo lab was run on a skeleton crew.
Ian’s entire demeanor changed, the telepathic connection he shared with every team member became tinged with crimson red. He had been sharing images and data with the others just as Trap was, his manner calm, and suddenly, he was in a stone-cold fury.Didn’t find anyone else innocent on this side. Going in. He’s hurting her.
Diego had been facing the jungle, guarding Ian’s back as he walked up and down the length of the building. He swung around, feeling Ian’s outrage. Matching it. Before his fury could manifest in ground-shaking ways, Ian had taken off and was already entering the building through a side door.
Ian’s in. Going after him, Diego declared.
Drop thermite and get to the lab, Joe ordered.
Swearing under his breath, Diego went through the closest door. He knew a guard was on the other side from the images Ian had sent them all. He went in hot, cutting arteries as he swept through, sprinting down the hall toward the room where Whitney held Bridget. As Diego flashed past the door Ian had entered through, he caught sight of a guard on the floor in a pool of blood where Ian had dropped him.
In comms room, Sam reported.Guards down, techs down, setting charges.
Engaging with remaining soldiers in barracks. Barracks wired, Kadan said.
Even as he ran down the hall, Diego registered the various teams checking in. The door to the laboratory was wide open, and he somersaulted in. Ian had the guard on the floor, and the two men fought viciously.
Time slowed down. Seemed to tunnel. Gun in his fist, Whitney turned toward Ian and the guard in macabre slow motion. Diegoused blurring speed, inserted his body between Ian and Whitney as he whipped out the KA-BAR knife he kept between his shoulder blades. Using the strength of a fully grown tiger, he slashed the honed blade through skin, muscle, and bone, nearly severing Whitney’s arm. Blood shot into the air and poured from the wound. The gun hit the floor and skittered toward the table Bridget was strapped to.
