Page 94 of Fighting for Brielle
“Copy that, Chief McQuaid,” came the response.
Justice’s heart pounded in his chest. He had no idea in what kind of shape he would find Brielle, or if she was even still alive.
Cameron read the expression of grief and fear on Justice’s face and sought to reassure him. “She’s alive, son. I’d feel it in my gut if she weren’t.”
“I pray you’re right, sir. I wasted so much time. Why the hell didn’t I go straight to Linda in the first place?”
“You weren’t thinking clearly. It happens when you’re struck with fear for someone you love. Don’t worry about that right now. Focus on what we have to do to get Brielle, and Faith, back.”
Justice nodded. “Yes, sir.”
An hour later when they were in position, Tex spoke into their earbuds. “It’s a go.” Typing a few commands into his computer, he shut down the compound’s outside security system. “You’ve only got a few minutes before they figure out something is wrong,” he warned the team.
Moving stealthily through the dense Deschutes National Forest, Justice and the rest of his force approached a barn that housed the elevators leading underground.
In groups of four and five the force rode the elevators to the hub and rushed forward into the dim area when the doors slid open. Semi-automatic rifles flashed in an exchange of gunfire as Justice’s men faced Anderson’s allies guarding the entrance to the compound.
He yelled, “Take ‘em down!”
* * *
A shrill alarm awoke Brielle in the middle of the night, and she knew, without a doubt, that Justice had finally found her. She dressed hastily and cursed the fact that she didn’t have a weapon as she left her quarters and sprinted down the corridor. Her first thought was to find Carson and Faith.
She rounded a corner and nearly collided with Carson. He tossed her a semi-automatic rifle.
“You’re going to need to protect yourself,” he told her in a grim tone of voice. “Anderson will come after you first. Come on. I’ll make sure you get to the surface.”
“Not without Faith!” Brielle exclaimed.
Carson cursed. “Damn, Sergeant! Your loyalty to the people you care about is bound to get you killed.”
“Let’s go, Carson!”
Dodging people in a panic running in every direction, Carson and Brielle hurried toward the communal women’s quarters. Just as they reached the communal showers, Lola Anderson stepped into their path and raised her assault rifle. Brielle didn’t hesitate. She fired. Several bullets hit Lola mid-chest. Blood stained her blouse. She fell to the ground, stark dead.
“Faith!” Brielle yelled. “Faith! Where are you?”
Carson grabbed her arm. “There she is!”
“Faith! Over here!” Brielle called. “I’m here!”
Faith heard her name and darted toward Brielle and Carson. The women embraced as Carson declared impatiently, “We’ve got to get out of here. Anderson is just crazy enough to kill us all.”
No one knew what to do. Some screamed Anderson’s name, crying and begging him to help them, to lead them as he’d promised. Others had the same idea as Carson, Brielle, and Faith and were fleeing toward the hub. Not knowing Anderson’s whereabouts bothered Brielle. She held her assault rifle in front of her, ready to defend them, if necessary.
Chaos ensued when she heard the rapid exchange of gunfire as they approached the hub.
“Stay behind us, Faith,” Brielle ordered.
They reached the open space of the hub. Members of the commune scrambled around dead bodies to get into the elevators, helped by law enforcement wearing Kevlar vests and other protective gear and weapons.
Brielle scanned the crowd, searching for Justice.
And then she heard his voice.
Shouting her name.
“Brielle! Look out!”
