“Phoenix in position,” Julio responded. “One tango in the back.”
“Grizzly in position. I have two perpetrators by the barn,” Garrett stated.
Jameson chuckled at Garrett’s tone, knowing he hated his new call sign.
“Shut up, Jameson,” Garrett growled.
“Settle down, boys,” Rebecca admonished. “You can fight on the way home. Jameson, do you see anything?”
“I have one tango smoking a cigarette on the side of the house,” he reported.
“From the heat signatures, there are six people inside,” Matthew said. “We have another four lying in bed. Since they’re not moving, I’m guessing we have some survivors. Two downstairs toward the rear, possibly in the kitchen area.”
“Jameson, take out your tango and meet Grizzly. Use the tranquilizers, if possible, but if not, you know what to do. We need one to tell us about the ringleader,” Julio ordered. “Hummingbird, take out the doorman, and I’ll meet you around back. When Grizzly and Jameson catch up, we’ll breach from the rear.”
Jameson crouched low and waited until the perp drew closer before shooting him in the ass. The man weaved in place before face-planting on the ground. Jumping out from the bushes, Jameson turned the perp’s head to keep him breathing, tied his hands behind his back, and confiscated the weapon tucked in his waistband. He made his way around the barn and caught up to Garrett, who took out his two and knelt to zip tie their hands. His friend gave him a chin lift as Jameson knelt to tie the other.
“Where did you stash yours?” Garrett asked. “I didn’t expect you this soon.”
“What’s the matter, old man, you getting slower?” Jameson said, hauling up the second guy and dragging him inside the barn. Garrett dragged his perp and dropped him beside the other.
“I left mine in a patch of poison ivy I narrowly missed. I’ve seen how he operates. If we weren’t in such a hurry, I’d strip him down and roll him over in it,” Jameson said, ducking his head outside the barn in time to see Rebecca waiting for Julio to take his target down.
“Hummingbird finished her assignment, she’s coming around back,” he told Garrett.
They circled around the house. Julio and Rebecca covered the rear and waited for the signal.
“Target one moved to the front left side,” Matthew said. “Target two still appears in the kitchen.”
“Grizzly and Jameson in position,” Garrett said over the coms.
“On my mark, we go,” Julio ordered. “Breach.”
Garrett burst through the door and hit the tango with the dart before the man knew what hit him. Jameson pulled out another tie when Garrett motioned for him to keep going upstairs. Rebecca followed as they cleared the rooms as they went. In the second room, two women lay tied to the beds. Julio rounded the corner while Rebecca freed the hostages. Jameson’s heart raced, hoping he’d find Caroline in the last room. He threw open the door to find two more women, neither of whom was the woman he searched for.
Disappointment filled him as he put a finger to his lips and started releasing the two new survivors.
Rebecca and Julio led the way back downstairs, guarding the four women. Jameson and Garrett watched their six as they led the women to the waiting van, driven by Matthew. As if expecting the scantily clad women, he already turned up the heat and handed them blankets as they entered the vehicle. Rebecca handed each of them a bottle of water, which they drank thirstily.
Jameson removed his phone and asked the first female. “Have you seen this woman?”
She shook her head, appearing almost afraid to answer him for fear of punishment.
“Please,” he entreated. “Have any of you seen her?” he asked, passing the phone to each of them.
The third female glanced at him, then at the woman beside her, before speaking. “You’re searching for Caroline?” she asked.
“Yes,” he answered desperately.
“What will happen to us now?” she asked hesitantly. “We don’t want to go back there.”
“We’re taking you to a safe place where you’ll receive medical care, food, and clothing. We can contact your families if you like,” Rebecca assured them. “She saved me, and I owe her my life. If you know anything, please tell him.”
Jameson pushed the phone toward her again, praying for any information.
“Cain brought in customers two nights ago. One of the men brought a whip and wanted to use it on Leana,” the woman confided, glancing at the youngest of them. “Caroline stabbed him with a knife. Cain let the man use the whip on her before he threw her in the dog crate. Then he ordered the men to take her outside.”
“What happened to her?” Jameson asked angrily.
