“Where is it?”
Powell shook his head. “I didn’t see anything. We heard you on the walkie.”
Two other Rangers jogged up behind Powell. One of them, the redheaded staff sergeant named O’Connor, asked, “Who fired?”
Brodie said, “Everyone. No injuries. Mistaken identity, Sergeant.”
O’Connor gestured to them, and they all walked out from between the shipping containers back to the open road. Brodie scanned the area. No sign of it. He said, “Lou Gehrig is on the loose.”
O’Connor looked at him. “What number?”
“Four.”
“That’s Lenny. For Lenny Dykstra.”
“Well, Lenny’s got a missing leg, and its sensors are at least partially shattered from a mag full of nine-millimeter bullets.”
“Good,” said O’Connor. “What the hell happened?”
Brodie looked the sergeant in the eyes. “Major Dan Klasky is wanted for the murder of Major Ames, and Specialist Kemp, and the attempted murder of me and Ms. Taylor.”
The three Rangers looked shocked.
Brodie continued, “He must be found and detained. Get the word out. Meanwhile, he is likely going to want a vehicle to get out of here. What cars would he have access to?”
O’Connor said, “The major? A lot of vehicles.”
“We’ll check his house first. Meanwhile, get on the horn and make sure your men guarding the gates do not let him leave.”
O’Connor nodded. “I’ll take you to Klasky’s in the Hummer.” He said to Corporal Powell and the other Ranger, PFC Stiglitz, “Spread the word. I want a sweep of every building, road, and alleyway. And I want men at the helipad to make sure Klasky doesn’t use the escape hatch.”
“Yes, Sarge,” said Powell.
Brodie guessed that was their name for the tunnel under the fence. Powell and Stiglitz departed quickly on foot, and the sergeant led Brodie and Taylor to a Humvee parked farther down the road. Before they got in the vehicle, O’Connor said, “By the way, General Morgan issued orders to place you both under arrest.”
“Everyone will get their turn,” said Brodie. “We go first.”
They all climbed in the Humvee. Brodie sat shotgun, and O’Connor sped down the sandy road in the direction of the houses.
Brodie looked out the window as the darkened buildings of Camp Hayden streaked by. Taylor tapped him on the shoulder from behind, then placed eight bullets in his hand. She said, “Sharing is caring.”
“Thanks.” He unholstered his SIG, slid out the empty mag, and loaded the bullets one by one.
As he slapped the loaded mag back in his pistol, he noticed predawn light blooming on the horizon. It was a new day. And for Major Klasky’s life as a free man, it was the last day.
CHAPTER 39
THE HUMVEE APPROACHED A FORKin the road that led to the two adjacent cul-de-sacs. Before the fork, the Rangers had set up a makeshift road barrier and security checkpoint using an armored personnel carrier parked across the road.
O’Connor came to a quick halt and Corporal Reyes walked to the driver’s-side window. “Morning, Sarge.”
“You get eyes on Major Klasky?”
Reyes nodded and gestured to the right-hand fork. “He headed that way on foot.”
Reyes directed a Ranger to move the APC and O’Connor drove through. As they entered the cul-de-sac Brodie saw two Rangers stationed in front of Caroline Dixon’s house.
Across the way was General Morgan’s house, and the general was standing in his driveway with a cup of coffee, talking to Major Klasky.
