Page 61 of Operation: Return

A walkie squawked from somewhere behind them and Cole and Dominic ducked for cover.

“Frank Hoskins is AWOL. Repeat, Frank Hoskins is AWOL. Shots fired at Wayside.”

Dominic searched behind them for whoever had the walkie. Cole kept watch for the shooter. “Whoever that was had to be with either Wayside or with me, but I don’t see anyone.”

If Frank shot at anyone, Erica had been nearby. He hated that his thoughts were now divided. He had to focus on Pete, then he could find out what happened to Erica. He prayed she was alright. “See anyone?”

Spenser made his way to Dominic’s side. He whispered, “I thought you could use some help.”

“How did you know where we were?” Cole asked and the gunman shot a volley toward them, forcing them all to the ground.

“I heard the shots. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to know something was going on.”

Dominic held up a hand for silence and they waited to see how the shooter would respond. After a moment, Spenser belly-crawled ahead and into the tall grass. Dominic motioned for Cole to follow now that the path was laid.

About halfway through the grass, Cole caught the scent that woke him in the night drenched in sweat. Smoke. A moment later he heard the tell-talepopandhissof burning wood.

A boy screamed from somewhere nearby. “Cole, they set the house on fire. We’ll cover you. You have to go in and get him.” Dominic motioned for Cole to move out as he raised on one knee and pulled his AR off his back.

Spenser took up a similar stance giving Cole cover to run. He raced toward the house as a man appeared on the porch and took aim. A moment later he dropped like a ragdoll. Cole made a mental note to thank Dominic and let him know he’d thoroughly repaid the debt of gratitude.

Inside the old farmhouse, smoke hung though the whole first floor. Heat rolled from somewhere and a ticking clock sounded in Cole’s head. There was no time to waste. “Pete! Where are you?”

A man stormed through the house and Cole didn’t even think before he took aim and shot. The man crumpled to the floor just as Pete screamed from above Cole’s head. The fire would move upward, making reaching the boy even more dangerous.

“Go, we’re right behind you,” Dominic yelled as he yanked his shirt over his face.

Cole did the same as he headed for the stairs. Two steps and his foot went through the floor, trapping him.

“Help!” Pete screamed.

With a strength he didn’t know he had, Cole yanked his left foot free of the gaping hole, cutting him with the rotten wood. The smoke thickened the further up the stairs he went.

In the first room at the top of the stairs a man waited next to Pete who was tied to a chair. His little face was black and dirty with soot and dirt. Tears streaked down his cheeks.

The man aimed a 12 gauge at Cole. At this range, he wasn’t sure the armor would protect him from that. He slowly raised his hands. “I’m not the one you want. I’m just here for the boy.”

“You’re going to lead me to Scarlet and Trace, then you’re going to let us go.”

“What about Pete? He’s innocent in all this.” His team was right behind him, if he could keep the man talking for a moment longer, they would even the odds.

“There’s no such thing as innocent. There is mine now and mine later.” He lowered his cheek to the butt of the rifle just as apopfrom behind Cole dropped the gunman to the floor.

He raced toward Pete as flames blackened the walls around him.

“Grab the boy, chair and all, we need to get out of here. This floor isn’t strong enough to hold us!” Dominic yelled as someone in the hall screamed.

“Spenser!” Dominic called.

Cole had his knife out before he reached Pete and cut him free in one swipe then lifted him over his shoulder. With the vest on, he couldn’t carry him easily any other way and it would keep his head lower.

Dominic had already raced down the stairs but as Cole reached the hall, he saw the hole in the floor where Spenser must have been. He said a quick prayer that the man was alright and made his way down the stairs as carefully as he could.

Pete coughed and made a muffled moaning sound. Cole tried to shift him so his belly wasn’t pressed against Cole’s shoulder. Cole heard Dominic below talking to Spenser. Were the enemy men gone? Had the house been cleared? He stuck to the wall as best he could, hoping the stairs were stronger where they were secured to the risers.

He made it to the main floor and couldn’t see anything. Thick smoke filled the whole room. Pete needed to get out of the house but then he couldn’t come back in to help Dominic get Spenser because he couldn’t leave Pete alone outside. That was too big of a risk.

Dominic emerged from the smoke with Spenser in a fireman’s carry. “Let’s get out of here!” He rushed past Cole and headed for the door.

---