Twenty

 

It was like a pot suddenly coming to a boil. One minute the scene was quiet, almost serene under the scant crescent moon, the next it was alive with moving figures and lights as about twenty men poured out of the cabin and fanned out in a search pattern.

Bryn and Joe looked at each other.

Definitely time to break radio silence.” Her team agreed with that assessment.

What happened?” Matt said in her ear.

Who knows,” Luke said. “Any idea how many we’re up against?”

I can see about twenty men,” Jake said.

Donovan?” Luke asked. “Where are you?”

There was no answer.

Bryn felt her heart jump. “Where is he?”

He went into one of those bunkers and I haven’t seen him since,” Luke said.

Without backup?” Bryn swore silently. “What do you think? Can you go after him?”

Sure. I’ve always wanted to backup Rambo.” Luke’s voice was dry, but resigned. “If you lose contact with me, you’ll know it’s the bunker and not us.”

Somebody’s kicked the anthill up good. Call in your backup, Bryn,” Matt said. “And let’s get our butts in gear.”

Right.” She sent the signal to the additional men she had standing by. They’d moved into their previous staging area when she and her team had moved out. She realized she couldn’t see the two men who’d been walking down the road. “Did you take out the two guys walking toward the road?” Bryn asked.

Didn’t see two guys,” Matt said, “but got about six heading our way.”

Take ‘em,” Bryn said. “Joe and I are going to check out the cabin.

She slipped and slid down the hill ahead of him. At the door, she paused so Joe could open it, then went in, low and fast. A kitchen. Someone had conveniently left the light on. She did a sweep, then signaled for Joe to come in. As she was heading for the next door, she stepped on something and looked down.

It was Dewey’s glasses.