Read Online Sniper Fire (Love in the Crosshairs) by Kathy Lane - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Kathy Lane
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something was wrong.
Joshua glanced up, met her gaze, then said sharply, “Gear up, Hawks. We’re moving out now.”
Farrah glanced at her watch as the men who’d been dozing where they sat immediately roused. Barely four hours had passed since she’d incarcerated herself with the soldiers. It was broad daylight outside.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Around her, the men silently gathered packs and checked weapons. The medic, Gage, began wrapping some kind of long strap around Kyle, securing him to the stretcher. “Joshua?”
He motioned to the man who had come down the steps. “Rashid had his ear to the door, listening for trouble. He heard someone arguing and caught the words secret room .”
“That’s not possible. Dr. Couruy and the others would never reveal this room’s location.”
“Why not? If the terrorists have invaded the clinic like you said, the others might say anything to save their lives. Especially if they thought this room was empty.”
“Or they might be headed down here themselves to escape the bad guys,” said the big, dark-skinned man the others called Brick.
Farrah nodded. That she could believe. She’d been a fool to think no one else would look to the room for safety. But then, she hadn’t counted on the terrorists being so persistent. Dear God, she’d led these men right into a trap.
“I jammed the hinges on the trap door,” Rashid said. “But there’s no telling how long it will hold. We need to leave pronto, Cap.”
“Right,” Joshua said, “Dell, you and Ty take point. Brick, Gage, you two are on stretcher duty. Farrah, stay close to them. Sam, you’re in charge of Waterhouse. Rash and I will bring up the rear.” His gaze stopped on her. “Farrah, you said the tunnel comes out in a garage. Is it enclosed? Is the clinic’s ambulance inside?”
“Yes, to both. Assuming the garage is still empty, we should be able to load up without anyone seeing us. I can open the garage door after everyone is in the van.”
“Good. We’ll have to move fast. They may already have men on the way to block the exit. Let’s go.”
Farrah grabbed the bag of supplies she’d filled earlier, slipping the wide strap over her head and shoulder to free her arms. She followed the others into the long, dark tunnel, only vaguely conscious of the claustrophobia that normally paralyzed her. Too much adrenaline, she thought, trying to distract herself. Why worry about a little claustrophobia when she could have someone shooting at her at any second.
They reached the end of the tunnel all too soon. After a brief wait, Dell came back and motioned them out without a word. Farrah fumbled for the keys in her pocket as they converged on the large white vehicle with the red cross and blue and white WHO insignia painted on the side. She headed for the driver’s door, but Rashid stepped in front of her and bowed, palm out for the keys. Not wanting to argue, she dropped them into his hand with a sigh. It took a minute for all the men to move into the back and get situated. Joshua waited at the back. The soldier named Ty seemed to appear from nowhere. He eyed the stuffed van before turning to Joshua.
“All clear outside from what I can see from in here,” he reported. “I’d feel better if I could get a good view from the roof. In fact, I volunteer to make the hike to P3 on foot.”
Joshua pointed a thumb inside the ambulance. “Get your butt inside Eagle. Now isn’t the time to separate. We’ll have Capella direct us to a safe spot to hold up while we wait for the rendezvous time. You won’t have to make like a sardine for long.” He nodded to Farrah as Ty huffed and pushed his way into the already crowded van.
“Try to act natural,” he told her. “If anyone pops up to question you, you’re transferring a patient. They get violent, you hit the deck, face down, and cover your head. We’ll take care of them. Got it?”
Take care of them. Those words slid through Farrah, leaving
Joshua glanced up, met her gaze, then said sharply, “Gear up, Hawks. We’re moving out now.”
Farrah glanced at her watch as the men who’d been dozing where they sat immediately roused. Barely four hours had passed since she’d incarcerated herself with the soldiers. It was broad daylight outside.
“What’s wrong?” she asked. Around her, the men silently gathered packs and checked weapons. The medic, Gage, began wrapping some kind of long strap around Kyle, securing him to the stretcher. “Joshua?”
He motioned to the man who had come down the steps. “Rashid had his ear to the door, listening for trouble. He heard someone arguing and caught the words secret room .”
“That’s not possible. Dr. Couruy and the others would never reveal this room’s location.”
“Why not? If the terrorists have invaded the clinic like you said, the others might say anything to save their lives. Especially if they thought this room was empty.”
“Or they might be headed down here themselves to escape the bad guys,” said the big, dark-skinned man the others called Brick.
Farrah nodded. That she could believe. She’d been a fool to think no one else would look to the room for safety. But then, she hadn’t counted on the terrorists being so persistent. Dear God, she’d led these men right into a trap.
“I jammed the hinges on the trap door,” Rashid said. “But there’s no telling how long it will hold. We need to leave pronto, Cap.”
“Right,” Joshua said, “Dell, you and Ty take point. Brick, Gage, you two are on stretcher duty. Farrah, stay close to them. Sam, you’re in charge of Waterhouse. Rash and I will bring up the rear.” His gaze stopped on her. “Farrah, you said the tunnel comes out in a garage. Is it enclosed? Is the clinic’s ambulance inside?”
“Yes, to both. Assuming the garage is still empty, we should be able to load up without anyone seeing us. I can open the garage door after everyone is in the van.”
“Good. We’ll have to move fast. They may already have men on the way to block the exit. Let’s go.”
Farrah grabbed the bag of supplies she’d filled earlier, slipping the wide strap over her head and shoulder to free her arms. She followed the others into the long, dark tunnel, only vaguely conscious of the claustrophobia that normally paralyzed her. Too much adrenaline, she thought, trying to distract herself. Why worry about a little claustrophobia when she could have someone shooting at her at any second.
They reached the end of the tunnel all too soon. After a brief wait, Dell came back and motioned them out without a word. Farrah fumbled for the keys in her pocket as they converged on the large white vehicle with the red cross and blue and white WHO insignia painted on the side. She headed for the driver’s door, but Rashid stepped in front of her and bowed, palm out for the keys. Not wanting to argue, she dropped them into his hand with a sigh. It took a minute for all the men to move into the back and get situated. Joshua waited at the back. The soldier named Ty seemed to appear from nowhere. He eyed the stuffed van before turning to Joshua.
“All clear outside from what I can see from in here,” he reported. “I’d feel better if I could get a good view from the roof. In fact, I volunteer to make the hike to P3 on foot.”
Joshua pointed a thumb inside the ambulance. “Get your butt inside Eagle. Now isn’t the time to separate. We’ll have Capella direct us to a safe spot to hold up while we wait for the rendezvous time. You won’t have to make like a sardine for long.” He nodded to Farrah as Ty huffed and pushed his way into the already crowded van.
“Try to act natural,” he told her. “If anyone pops up to question you, you’re transferring a patient. They get violent, you hit the deck, face down, and cover your head. We’ll take care of them. Got it?”
Take care of them. Those words slid through Farrah, leaving
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