Andrew Peterson - Forced to Kill

“What’s our plan?”

“Julio said he’s got a wounded man with him. Harv, you’re tall, but not as tall as me. You’ll play Julio and Julio will play the wounded man. I’ll cover you while you approach on foot. You’ll be helping Julio walk.” He paused for a moment, thinking. “Montez said the door will be unlocked. If Dalton’s girls are in there, they’re probably not being constantly watched. They could be restrained, or in an isolated room or closet.”

“We need to be careful not to shoot through walls,” said Harv.

They secured their NV visors and turned the devices on. Their world turned bright green. The ambient light from San Diego’s glow and surrounding houses gave the NV monoculars more input than they needed. They both turned the gains down a bit.

“We’ll make one pass with the headlights dark and return to this location.”

Harv began a slow drive down Jonel Road. They passed a horse pasture and several corrals on the right side. After thirty seconds or so, he asked Julio, “Which one?”

“Next house on the left.”

He studied the property as they rolled past. The access, also a dirt track, looked to be about seventy yards long. He saw the rear end of a light-colored van near the house. Three rows of mature citrus trees lined the left side of the driveway and extended all the way to the rear property corner. They’d provide good cover from that direction. Several smaller trees, probably jacarandas, partially obscured the house from view, but he saw several windows glowing brightly. He looked behind the Mercedes to gauge the wind. Dust from the tires drifted lazily to the northeast. Maybe three miles per hour. That reinforced his plan to use the citrus trees as cover. He’d be downwind from the house-important if there were dogs. His trust in Julio’s report was far from absolute. After another quarter of a mile or so, the road came to a dead end. Harv executed a U-turn and cruised past the house in the opposite direction.

He pulled to the shoulder at the point where Jonel became paved again and kept the engine running. They donned the radio gear, body armor, and belly packs. Next, they checked their suppressed Sigs and strapped Predator knives to their ankles. Time to make the call to Montez.

Nathan had their captive lean forward from the rear seat. “You try anything cute and you won’t finish your sentence. Do you doubt me?”

Julio shook his head.

“Tell him you had to take our vehicle because we slashed your tires. Keep it short.” Holding his Sig’s suppressor against Julio’s head, he scrolled down to the number Julio had supplied earlier, hit send, and pressed the speaker button.

The voice on the other end held no emotion. “Where are you?”

“We’re almost there, but I got to tell you something.”

“What?” Montez’s impatience crackled through the line.

“The guys that shot us up, they slashed the van’s tires. I had to take their car.”

“What about Hector and Pablo?

“They’re in the trunk.”

“What make and color is your vehicle?”

“A blue Mercedes.”

The cell signal ended.

He and Harv got out and huddled in front of the idling Mercedes where Julio couldn’t hear them. “Pull in the driveway and park about thirty yards from the house,” Nathan whispered. “I’ll parallel your position through the citrus trees to the north and advance to the van’s position. Tuck your Sig into the small of your back. When you reach the porch, I’ll rush forward from the van. I’ll knock Julio senseless and we’ll storm the house. I’ll take the left.”

“I can’t wear my NV visor.”

“I’ve got you covered. The trees are right next to the driveway. Even though Julio said there weren’t any, there could be motion sensor lights mounted on the eaves. If they snap on, knock Julio cold and we’ll accelerate the attack. If things turn south, we’ll back off and let Cantrell’s people handle it.”

“I’m glad to hear you say that.”

“If things do go to hell, we can’t let anyone leave. I’ll cover the north and west sides, you take the south and east. If anyone bolts, we shoot to kill.”

“Cantrell wants Montez alive.”

“Only if it’s tactically sound. We can’t chase anyone without the risk of someone else escaping, especially Montez. Give me ninety seconds before you turn around. I’ll be in the citrus trees by the time you reach the driveway.”

He opened the rear door and shoved Julio onto his side. “I’m cutting the tape from your hands and feet. If you’ve got any ideas about attacking my partner, forget them. You won’t see me, but I’ll have a laser painted on your back the entire time. Play along and you’ll live to see another day. Now get into the front seat and keep your mouth shut. Harv, give him a hand.”

Julio wasn’t going anywhere-his grunts of agony confirmed it. Just relocating from the backseat into the front took considerable effort. This man couldn’t run even if he wanted to.

“Okay, Harv. Ninety seconds.”

Montez smiled when Dalton finished spilling his guts for the video camera. Pure gold. Dalton’s admissions would ensure Montez’s continued security into the foreseeable future. He tucked the thumb drive into his vest pocket, turned off the camera, and closed the laptop. Julio should be knocking on the door any second now. He checked his watch.

Nathan flipped the NV monocular down to his left eye and jogged down the shoulder of the road. One hundred yards from the citrus trees, he angled across a grassy field and positioned himself about halfway down the driveway. He saw the green glow of the Mercedes’s headlights sweep through a 180-degree arc as Harv executed a U-turn. He ducked low as lateral light reached for him.

While Harv rolled down the driveway and killed the engine, Nathan worked his way into the row of trees to a point parallel to the sedan and focused his NV monocular on the gravel driveway. Nothing. He didn’t see any trip wires or other deadfalls. The eaves above the front door didn’t appear to have any motion detector lights. A porch light to the left of the door looked to be the only exterior fixture-currently dark.

“You’re good to go,” he whispered.

“ Copy. ”

A small gust of wind rustled the trees, then died.

Harv climbed out, crossed in front of the sedan, and opened Julio’s door. Hunching over to disguise his height, Harv put his right arm around the wounded man and began a slow shuffle toward the house. In the gloom, with the dark backdrop, it looked believable.

Nathan worked his way down the middle of the trees to the east until he was opposite the van. Keeping the van between himself and the house, he advanced. “I’m in position at the van.”

“ Copy. ”

The house seemed awfully quiet and totally silent. Not unusual in itself, but Nathan’s internal antennae went active. He focused on the windows to see if anyone cracked the curtains. No one did. His sense of caution climbed another notch.

Harv and Julio closed to within ten yards of the door.

A gust of wind moved past him.

Eight yards.

He inhaled through his nose. Deeply.

And caught an odor.

A sour smell. Like a septic tank.

Six yards.

He breathed the air again. Caught another whiff.

Three yards.

Shit. Not a septic tank-

“Harv. Bolter! Bolter!”

Harv let go of Julio and sprinted back up the driveway.

Seizing the opportunity, Julio used his freedom to hobble toward the front door.

Nathan yelled, “ Get down!”

Harv dropped to the gravel just as Julio grabbed the doorknob and pushed.

The house ignited.

A fireball shot through the front door, turning Julio into a flaming bowling ball.