Deadlock

27

Chance nudged the red pick-up truck through the gate and on to the service road, turned off the engine and waited. A few minutes later the wind started to pick up, the boughs of a stand of nearby black oaks beginning to bend as a helicopter came in to land.

She got out of the pick-up and shielded her eyes with one hand. She could just about make out Cowboy in the pilot’s seat, his face shaded by the brim of his black Stetson. Trooper with his mane of hooker-blonde hair sat next to him in the co-pilot’s seat.

As Cowboy cut the engine and they clambered from the cockpit to greet her, Chance felt a wave of relief. From now on in they’d be together. No more solo missions.

She watched as Trooper pulled out a pack of American Spirit cigarettes and fumbled in his pocket for a lighter, an expensive-looking Zippo with the number 88 engraved on the front plate — each eight standing for the eighth letter of the alphabet, the two Hs together short handing the phrase ‘Heil Hitler’.

Cowboy hard-stared him. ‘Operation’s started. You smoke that, you make sure and bag the butt.’

Trooper flicked up the Zippo and lit his cigarette, finding a free middle finger to flip Cowboy the bird.

‘I ain’t joking,’ Cowboy said.

Trooper sucked the freshly lit cigarette into his mouth and chewed down on it — one of his many gross-out party tricks acquired during too much time spent with outlaw biker gangs.

Chance laughed. Cowboy and Trooper fought like family, worse sometimes. ‘No arguing now, boys,’ she said, giving first Cowboy and then Trooper a hug.

Cowboy took a step back and stared at her. ‘Nice job on those buildings.’

Chance felt herself blush. ‘Wasn’t nothing. This is gonna be the difficult part.’

She ushered them back over to the pick-up and spread out a recon map on the hood. It showed the airfield and surrounding area. She stabbed at a point on the map, then pointed in the direction of the stand of trees, which would obscure the helicopter from the area beyond. ‘We’ll wait in there,’ she said. ‘Now, help me get this gear unloaded. We don’t have long.’

No sooner had they dug into their respective positions and settled in to wait than a Medford Police Department cruiser appeared at the gate at the far end of the airstrip. Chance raised her M-4 to her shoulder and peered through the scope for a better look as the front passenger door of the cruiser opened and a female deputy waddled out and sprang the padlock securing the gate.

Chance guessed they were here to ensure that nothing was amiss before the Marshals team from the court arrived to collect Reaper from the aircraft. It wasn’t a big deal. They’d drive round, see nothing, wait for the Marshals transfer team to arrive, then leave. All they had to do was sit tight.

Chance took another peek through her sights. The gates were rolled open but the female patrol officer was stood stock still, staring directly to her left. Worse, she was waving to her colleague inside the vehicle. He clambered out and joined her. Chance strained to hear what was being said, but they were too far away. Whatever it was, though, it wasn’t good, because the male cop started to walk in their direction while the female patrol officer ducked her head back into the car to get on the radio.

‘Shit,’ said Chance, crawling on her side into the brush and motioning for Trooper, who was on her right, to start moving round so that he would be in a position behind the male cop if he made it this far.

Chance’s mind was racing. If he came over, he’d get shot, they’d have no alternative. And then their operation would be mortally compromised. They’d have to go for the extraction they’d originally planned, and that would make this seem like a picnic.

Once she was happy she couldn’t be seen from the road, Chance got to her feet. Her breathing was heavy and her back was killing her. She started to skirt round to her left. On the way she began to discard her cammo gear. She stripped down to bra and panties. That would work fine. She grabbed a handful of dirt and rubbed it over her face and into her hair. Then she headed back towards the service road.

One minute, Patrol Officer Michelle Hulsey was watching her partner, gun drawn, head towards the line of trees, the next, a woman appeared on the edge of the airstrip screaming her head off. The woman was semi-naked and seemed to be in some distress.

Hulsey saw her partner turn round and wave Hulsey out of the car and towards the woman. ‘See what she wants,’ he shouted.

It figured, thought Hulsey, with no little resentment. She had to be the one to deal with the hysterical female. She put her head down and walked towards the woman.

‘Ma’am, are you OK?’

‘You’ve got to help me!’ screamed the woman.

Hulsey was close enough to get a better look at her now. Something was off. Slowly, it formed in her mind what it was. The woman’s face was dirty, like she’d been dragged through the undergrowth, but the rest of her naked flesh was clean.

Hulsey’s hand slipped to the butt of her service weapon just as she heard a gunshot behind her. She spun round and saw her partner hit the ground. His legs were on the edge of the road, the rest of his body splayed on the grass. Whatever had just happened, it was going to require back-up — and fast.

She started backing up towards her cruiser, fumbling for her gun. But the woman had already pulled out a handgun, seemingly from nowhere, and was pointing it at her.

‘If you want to live, do exactly what I say.’

‘Whatever is going on here-’ Hulsey stuttered, putting her hands up slowly.

‘That doesn’t include talking, bitch.’

Two men wearing full camouflage gear, including tactical body armor, stepped from the trees carrying automatic rifles. One of them was wearing a black cowboy hat; the other had long blond hair. Matter-of-factly, they began to drag her partner back towards the trees, leaving a smear of blood on the grass.

The woman spoke again as she advanced towards her. ‘What have you called in so far?’

Hulsey’s mouth was dry. She had to will herself to form words. ‘Nothing.’

‘Good. So now we’re going to get back in that car of yours, and you’re going to get back on the radio and say that it checked out fine. And remember this. One false move and you’re dead, OK?’