Page 32 of Hot Soldier's Rescue

The man nodded vigorously, but aloud merely said, “I know nothing. I say nothing. I no get in trouble.”

Curses erupted unbidden in his brain. Not good. Elise and her kids were in that village, and it was about to become a combat zone. An urgent need to save them made his entire body buzz with tension. Ted grasped the man’s shoulder briefly. “Thank you. I’ll get that nun out of there as fast as I can.”

“And then go west. Even a lion will not charge into a nest of vipers.”

Which was a euphemistic way of the guy saying that no Colombian Army patrol would barge into the bulk of the Army of Freedom, which apparently was west of Acuna. Also good to know. “I understand, señor. Thanks again. God bless you.”

The man nodded soberly. “Save the sister.”

The wisdom of Elise masquerading as a nun was more apparent than ever. That farmer hadn’t been willing to say a thing until he heard that a person of the cloth was in danger. Then he’d spilled his guts.

In a state shockingly close to panic, Ted drove as fast as the Jeep could go over the rutted road without ripping out its transmission. He slowed only as the jungle gave way to patches of farmed land, announcing an upcoming village. If the farmer had been accurate, this would be Acuna.

A faint, deep noise caught his attention. Dismayed, he stopped the vehicle to listen more closely. He rolled down the window but heard nothing. He cut the engine, and silence fell around him. There it was again. A low, ominous rumble that he—veteran of years of military action—recognized immediately. His blood ran cold. Acuna was under attack.

Adrenaline jangling through him so hard he could barely dial his satellite phone, he called H.O.T. Watch headquarters on the crisis line reserved for operators in trouble. It overrode all the normal phone lines into the surveillance facility.

“Go,” a voice bit out on the other end of the line.

“I’m approaching Acuna, Colombia. I’ve got mortar fire and need immediate satellite recon.”

“Say mission,” the controller on the other end replied tersely.

He thought fast. Part of special operators’ job around the world was to guard the safety of Americans abroad. It would do as an excuse to justify using H.O.T. Watch’s formidable resources to save Elise. “Civilian rescue. An American woman and two children.”

“Roger. Telemetry is coming up now. Say your status.”

“Not yet engaged. The players are unaware of my presence.”

“Roger.”

A new voice came up on the line. He recognized his boss, Navy Commander Brady Hathaway. “What’s up, Drago?”

They’d decided to use his assumed name as his call sign on this mission. “I need to get into Acuna. There’s a woman—”

His boss interrupted sharply. “And she pertains to your mission how?”

Ted sighed. He knew the drill. Soldiers were emphatically not supposed to get involved with civilians on missions. Particularly female ones. But he needed H.O.T. Watch’s help if was going to get into the village and get out with Elise in the midst of a massive firefight between the Colombian Army and the Army of Freedom. He replied, “She’s a nun, sir. An American.”

Hathaway swore under his breath, something to the effect of do-gooders barging in where angels fear to tread.

“You have no idea,” Ted retorted. “This one has a freaking death wish.”

“Will this rescue interfere with your primary mission?” Hathaway asked perceptively.

It already had. He’d snuck out of Raoul’s camp, potentially pissing off the rebel mightily. For all he knew, he might have already blown the mission. “The nun seems to get a free pass into the rebel camps. She’s a nurse and a hell of a cook. She won’t hurt my mission.” Although, not kissing her again, and soon, might just kill him.

Another series of low booms echoed across the valley.

Hathaway reported briskly, “Colombian Army forces are firing on what appears to be a rebel patrol pinned down approximately two hundred meters northeast of Acuna. Do you have reason to believe sympathizers with the Army of Freedom are located in the village?”

“Without a doubt, sir.”

“That explains the attack, then. Okay, enhanced telemetry’s coming up on screen. Acuna consists of eight structures. One appears to be a business. Probably a general store. There’s a gas pump out front. The remainder are dwellings. We show no movement in the village at this time. Unconfirmed assessment: the locals are hiding or have fled.”

“Best approach?”

“Jungle comes within thirty meters of the east side of the village. But that brings you close to the rebel position. You will likely draw their fire if they spot you.”

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