Page 39 of Digit's Deflection
“Go get him, Boss Man. We’ll be there to back you up as soon as possible,” Scooter replies.
“Clear,” I hear Gator call as he and Dutch come out of a room off the hallway of the outer building we’re currently working our way through.
“Clear,” Bear and Lucky repeat as they come out of another room farther down the hall.
“Same,” Scooter says of the room we’ve just searched.
We head over to the next building. Just as we’re about to slip in through the front door, one of Armatrout’s men surprises us coming out. Before the man could blink, Bear has him in a headlock, cutting off his air supply.
When the man’s eyes roll back in his head, Bear releases his grip. Laying him on the ground, he and Lucky quickly bind and gag him, before Bear picks him up in a fireman’s hold to bring back inside. We’ll have to find a place to stash him until we can take him into custody, but also where he won’t be able to alert any of his colleagues to our presence.
Just finishing up with our last building, Cougar and Hot Sauce from Merlin’s team put a call out for assistance. Scooter assigns Bear, Lucky, Gator, and Dutch to assist while he and I make our way over to assist Knight, Merlin, Maverick, Wolf, and Cookie.
Clearing the open front door, we pause a second to consult the blueprint.
“Knight, we’re just inside the front door of the main building. How do you want us to proceed?” Scooter says.
Very quietly, so quietly that we’d not be able to hear if there were noise around us, he replies, “Make your way past the office and down into the basement. Our friend here appears to have created quite the villainous set up for himself downhere. At a guess, I’m going to say the commander is down here somewhere.”
“On our way,” Scooter replies.
On silent feet, we head in the direction Knight told us to. He’s in the process of easing a door open as we reach him and the rest of the team with him. Waiting a moment, he cautiously steps into the room.
“Ah, Chief Petty Officer Kane, welcome. Come in, come in,” we hear from within the room Knight’s just stepped into.
“Fuck,” Merlin and Wolf say simultaneously.
“Please, invite your friends to join us. I’m nothing if not hospitable.”
“You sure you want all six of us in here? Seems like it would be a bit of a tight squeeze,” Knight says.
Scooter gestures for me to stand clear of the door since it’s clear Armatrout’s unaware that we’ve joined the party.
“But of course. The more the merrier,” Armatrout replies.
The others enter the room, and the two of us are left out in the hall, listening for any cues our team leader might give us. Maverick “accidentally” bumps the door so that it swings open a little wider, knowing I’ll have a better view into the room.
From my vantage point, I can see a portion of the room – an important portion at that. The commander is in full view, and the poor man is looking worse for wear. Bruises and blood give his face a weird, mottled effect. One eye is swollen partially closed, and his bottom lip is also swollen and split in multiple places.
His clothing has been ripped to shreds and hangs from his frame like streamers. And he’s hunched over as if it pains him to sit upright. There’s what seems like a million cuts and bruises all over the man’s body. Each wrist is tied to a chair arm, and there’s blood crusted around his wrists and on the rope that binds him.
But, despite it looking like he’s been through hell and back, his eyes are still alert and currently fixed malevolently on Armatrout. It’s clear that if he had half a chance, he’d give it his best effort to tackle the smartly dressed lunatic he’s staring holes in.
“We really should stop meeting like this, you know,” Armatrout says. “One would think you’re obsessed with me.”
“That’s more your thing than mine, but I guess you could say I am a little obsessed with you,” Knight replies.
We hear movement from within and brace for any nasty surprises. Turns out it’s just Armatrout moving around the room. Part of him is now visible to me.
“I know this isn’t a social call, Chief Petty Officer, so I’m sure you’ll understand that I can’t stay. You, on the other hand, are encouraged to stay and enjoy my hospitality without me. In fact, I insist. Gentlemen, would you please assist the commander from his chair.” Armatrout’s attempt at humor is laughable at best. Although, I’m guessing he doesn’t particularly care, one way or another.
Silence greets his words. I notice Scooter paying close attention to something inside the room. Suddenly, he engages his comm and relays signals Knight’s giving him, barely above a whisper. So quietly, that I have to follow the movement of his lips to go along with the words. My brain catching up, I nod and prepare to spring into action at his command.
20
DIGIT
Scooter’s gaze returns to Knight, the other man’s gaze never shifting, barely blinking.
