Page 51 of Dark Medicine

“Fuck,” whispered Kane, “Viskoff. I saw that village when she and Moore finished with it. I will never get those images out of my head, ever.”

“Then we need to stop her now,” said Spook. “She’s having trouble controlling the men in the compound. Many have already left, and she’s pan…” Spook stopped mid-sentence.

“Spook? Brother, what’s wrong?” asked Flip. Spook stood frozen, nothing moving, nothing giving away his emotion. “Spook!”

“She’s not upset,” he said quietly.

“What?”

“She’s not upset. She’s pretending to be upset. I can hear it in her voice. She wants them to believe she’s upset. She’s letting them leave because she wants the money.”

“Uri!” yelled Melanie.

“What’s wrong, honey?” he said, turning to see his wife in the doorway.

“It’s on the news. Moore is dead, but they’re saying it was arson. Look!”

The team went back inside, their eyes glued to the television that Melanie Bellum was pointing toward. A fiery picture flashed across the screen, and then the camera focused on the reporter standing dutifully in front of the yellow police tape.

It’s an absolute disaster here, Mike. Colonel Weston Moore is reported to have died in the fire from smoke inhalation. The remainder of the staff and his close friends were able to get out alive, but the ranch is completely unsalvageable.

“She left him in there,” said Fiona. “He may have already been dead, but she left him in there. I just know it.”

Flip stared at the television screen as the cameras panned the small crowd of onlookers. Most appeared to be older ranchers, some people still sitting in their vehicles watching the blaze. One, however, stood out from the others. She was average height, average weight, but that’s where her mediocrity ended. Waist-length blonde hair blew in the canyon winds. He could tell she had vivid blue eyes and keen intelligence. She was dressed in clean street clothes, not ranching clothes, and she didn’t appear to have a vehicle with her.

But it was the slight smirk that made him realize who she was. She wasn’t horrified or showing twisted interest.

“That’s her. She set the fire,” he said, pointing at the screen.

“What? How would you know that?” asked Kane.

“I can’t explain it, brother, but that’s her. I’m telling you. She’s one of us.”

“Alright, we’ll deal with that later. For now, we need transport to that ranch in the canyon. We have to try and get to Henry, Cullen, Fredericks, and even Groome if he wants to help.”

“I can call a friend nearby with a helicopter,” said Uri. Kane nodded and handed him the satellite phone.

Fifteen minutes later, they were in an old, refurbished Army Chinook on their way to stop the butcher of Lukovir.

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

The Chinook landed safely in the west pasture of the ranch, and Uri Bellum raced toward the first responders to explain that he was part of Moore’s core team. With that piece of information, the police allowed the team to pass the barrier and head toward the others who were waiting.

Dan Henry turned to see the group of men jogging in his direction. His eyes grew wide at the sight of them, their size and appearance intimidating even for a warrior like him. His expression of surprise and then joy filled his line-etched features as he recognized Uri.

“Uri!” he said, walking toward his old friend. “I can’t believe you’re here. Karen? Where is Karen?”

“She’s safe, Dan. These people have made sure she’s safe and the boys.” Dan Henry’s face fell in relief, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“I-I can’t…” he sobbed into his friend’s shoulder.

“It’s okay now.” Uri gripped his shoulders and gave a manly pat on his back, soothing his friend. Uri understood the pain he felt. He understood what it was like wondering every moment whether your family would live or die.

Major William Groome stepped up and looked at Uri. At first, his expression was one of surprise and disgust, then it was anger, and then it softened. Once upon a time, he felt as though Uri Bellum was his rival for everything he believed he wanted; now, he understood that Uri Bellum was a victim like the others, like himself, if he admitted it.

“I’m glad you’re alive, Uri. I’m glad we’re all alive. We… I was fooled by her, and I’m ashamed of myself. I’m ashamed of the way I was manipulated. She got away with it, Uri. She got away with everything. I think she had this planned for months. The fire consumed the ranch so quickly we didn’t even have time to get our personal belongings. Then the outbuildings caught fire, and she made sure that we all panicked. We all got out, but Moore was left behind.”

“I don’t think anyone will shed tears for that,” said Uri under his breath.

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