~ * ~ * ~ * ~
We were led to a limo where we were escorted by police cars to the Governor’s Mansion. Our guide led us to the Governor General’s office and walked us in.
The Governor General was seated behind his desk and rose up as we entered his office.
“I can’t thank you enough for coming. Something terrible has happened and I can’t think of anyone else to turn to.”
“What’s happened Governor?” I asked the worried man.
“My two children have been taken hostage by the gang kingpin Christopher Ducus. Seven year old Anna and eight year old James are missing. I’ve been told they will exchange them for me. If I do not do as they say my children will die.”
“If you do as they ask they will kill you and them,” I said knowing how they operated.
“Yes I know. That is what I fear too. You have promised me your help if we needed it. I need it now desperately. I have no one else to turn to. We have no troops trained to do what needs to be done. My children will surely die.”
“I agree Governor. We have to do this my way, no questions asked, is that clear?”
“Yes, anything you need all you have to do is ask and it is yours. What little resources we have are at your disposal,” the Governor promised.
“How are they going to contact you for the switch?” I asked the shaken man.
“They have my cell phone number. They said I would be contacted sometime this afternoon with the information I needed.”
“Give me your cell phone number and I need to ask you and your aide to leave the room while I make a phone call,” I instructed.
“Who are you calling Rick?” my brother asked as the door closed behind the Governor.
“A friend who still owes us a favor or two,” I responded. “The National Security Advisor, Bob Hale,” I said while punching in his private number.
Bob picked-up the phone on the second ring. “Rick Chambers if I’m not mistaken,” he said after looking at his caller ID. “What can I do for you?”
“We have a situation down here in Jamaica. The Governor General had his two children kidnapped by a gang kingpin.”
“How does that involve the United States of America?” he asked me. “Is this the man who was responsible for all the violence earlier this year in Kingston?”
“Yes the same man. He wants to trade the children for their father. You and I both know they will all die once the Governor surrenders himself to him.”
“I sympathize with his situation Rick. But once again how does this involve us?”
“I can think of two reasons. First of all the whole region will be destabilized if the Governor is killed. Also Jamaica is still a territory of the United Kingdom. I believe they are an important ally of ours.”
“You’re right, they are. What is it you need from us?” the National Security Advisor asked over the phone.
“I need the NSA to position a satellite over Jamaica to intercept a phone call for me. I need for them to back track it and tell me the coordinates the call was made from.”
“I don’t think the NSA has the capabilities to do that Rick,” The government man hedged.
“I think you’re forgetting who you’re talking to Bob. I’m fully aware of the capabilities of our government and the agencies within.”
“I guess you are at that Rick. Give me the phone number you need a back track on and I’ll see what I can do from this end.”
I gave him the Governors number and told him I would be waiting for a call back. Mean while I had a rescue to organize.
I walked out of the Governor’s office and called the Governor over to me. “Keep your cell phone on you and turned on. You have to travel with me. I want you by my side when you receive the phone call from Ducus.”
“Whatever you need for me to do, I will,” the Governor promised me, beside himself worried about his kids.
“We need to get back to my team so I can start getting organized for the mission,” I said as I led the way back to the limo. The limo had dark windows that made it impossible to see inside.
It was a fast trip back to the youth center but by the time we got back the opening ceremony was over with.
“Is everything alright LT?” Doc asked as I got out of the limo. “You missed a pretty special event.”
I saw Gene Barclay’s parents with the group and gave the mother a quick hug. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be here for the ceremony but an emergency has come up my team needs to respond to. I’m sorry we can’t spend more time with you today but we have a life and death situation on our hands.”
“I understand Rick,” the mother said. “You go take care of what you need to. It’s not your fault. I’m grateful for all you’ve done for us.”
I shook the father’s hand as he whispered his thanks into my ear and squeezed my shoulder. Turning to my team I told them the situation we were in.
“Brady, I want you to high tail it back to our isle and pick-up the equipment we’ll need for the rescue. Get back here just as fast as you can. Land right here in this parking lot.”
“I’m on it LT, let’s hit it Patch,” Brady said. “It looks like I’m not buying dinner tonight.”
“You’re not getting out of buying that easily Brady,” Patch said. “You’re still on the hook for a big dinner bill.”
“Patch is staying here with me Brady,” I informed him. “I may need him here to fly the floatplane while you’re gone.”
“I got you LT, is there anything else I need to know before I head back to our isle?”
“I want the rocket pod full and the Gatling gun fully loaded and ready to rock and roll. You’ll be bringing back Red Dog and some of his bunch to provide protection for the Governor General while we do the rescue.”
Brady waved as he jogged to a waiting police car for the ride back to the airport with lights and siren blaring.
I called Red Dog next and explained the situation to him. “I want you to have the equipment ready when Brady gets there. I want two M60 machine guns with two boxes of ammo for each of them. Pack night vision goggles and com units for twenty men. I need body armor and jungle camo for the same number of men.”
“What about small arms, do you need me to bring M4s and Glocks too?” Red Dog asked.
“We always have our hand guns on us and we have rifles stowed on the aircraft. Go ahead and bring extra ammo though and silencers for everything. Leave a skeleton force there to guard the isle. I want you and five of your men here at my location to guard the Governor.”
“I’m on it LT. How long before Brady gets back to the isle to pick us up?” Red Dog asked.
“He’s turning and burning, I’d expect him in an hour and half tops,” I said with a little thought.
“We’ll be ready for him when he gets here LT,” Red Dog said as he disconnected.
The governor rolled down the window of his limo and stuck his head out. “I just got a phone call from the kidnappers and they said the trade would happen after midnight tonight. They said they’d call me back with instructions on where it would be.”
I nodded my head and reached once again for my phone as it started to ring, “Rick here.”
“I have the information you asked for,” the National Security Advisor stated and gave me the GPS coordinates.
“Thanks Bob, we appreciate the assist and will take it from here,” I said gratefully.
“Let us know how everything turns out down there Rick, the president is in the loop and wants an update.”
“It’ll be on the news tomorrow for the entire world to see Bob. If he wants anymore information then that, have him call my phone. I’ll be happy to provide the information you need.”
“That sounds fair enough to me. Good hunting Rick and we hope you’re successful,” Bob said and hung up.
“Patch,” I said as I ripped off a page of my note book. “I want you air borne and flying to these coordinates. Get surveillance photos of the entire area. Take Sam with you. Make sure they don’t know why you’re there. I don’t want them to know that we know where they are,” I ordered.
“I’m on it LT, come on Sam let’s go take a look at our target,” Patch said running to another waiting police car. The cruiser left with their tires burning heading off in the direction of the marina where the seaplane was moored.