Forsaken Duty (Red Team #9)(91)

“Same. I’ll cut over and follow you.”



Owen lifted Addy out of the SUV. They were parked on a Forest Service road behind the WKB. As he understood it, there were three ways of getting into the underground missile complex. One was the main entrance under the old warehouse. Another was through the grease pit in what had been Hope’s garage. They were taking the third access point used by the watchers that was hidden in the woods. One of Lion’s cubs came out from some trees like a little shadow.

“Fox,” Max said.

“It’s this way,” the boy said, waving them into the woods, leading them to the tunnel entrance. Max opened the hidden gate.

“Be careful of the stairs,” he said as Owen went by. Fox lit the way with a lantern. Max, Ace, and Angel shined their flashlights into the dark, making sure Owen’s way was well lit. Doc Beck followed with his own flashlight. This complex was nothing like the tunnels were Fiona had been taken. It was a rough dugout cut into granite. And though it wasn’t as large as the Colorado system, it still made for a good hike deep inside the underground passageway.

Fox stopped and looked at them. “King’s men are everywhere. Big ones.”

“Can you draw a map in the dirt showing where they are?” Owen asked.

Fox set his lantern down and drew some lines in the dirt. Owen had to turn halfway to the side to see over Addy. “Where are we now?”

“Here,” Max said. “This tunnel runs into the main corridor here. The tangos are blocking our entrance into the Syadne tower here.”

“On the schematics Angel showed us there was a spur tunnel just before the branch that leads to the tower. Can we get that far without them seeing us? I need a safe place to stash Addy and Doc Beck while we clear the way.”

“Possibly,” Max said. “If not, we’ll make it safe.” He grinned up at Owen.

Fox provided expert navigation. The Titan missile complex they were in had three silos. Owen knew from Max’s time here a few months ago that only one of the silos had been renovated. That was where the lab was. Near it was another short tunnel that led to an equipment terminal.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t get close to it. Faint light in the main tunnel alerted them to King’s fighters, who were spreading out into the space. Owen’s group shut off their flashlights. Max looked around the corner of the tunnel. A guard stood halfway between where they were and where they needed to go.

“I got this,” Angel said. He picked up a metal shard and chucked it down the tunnel in the opposite direction. The guard’s flashlight flashed in that direction. He rushed toward the sound, only slowing to check out their tunnel when he was already in the middle of the entrance. Angel charged him, knocking his flashlight to the side and moving the fighter away from them.

They hurried down the wide main tunnel, stopping at the opening to the next tunnel that led to the Syadne tower. Max checked around the edge, then held up two fingers. “Wait here.”

He walked into the tunnel, moving without stealth like he was supposed to be there. He wore typical biker leather, his cuts, and a kerchief on his head in the club colors. One of the men pointed a lighted automatic rifle at him. “Identify yourself.”

Max held his hands up. “Just Mad Dog. Club sergeant-at-arms. Making sure you’re in position. And what is this, a fucking brew-fest? Spread out. You got a lotta ground to cover down here.” He walked past the first guy and stopped next to the second one. He looked over the guy’s weapon and stance. “Keep it like this.” When the guy eased his grip on his AR, Max shoved the rifle’s butt up into his nose, killing him instantly. Before the guy hit the ground, Max pivoted and fired at the first guy, dropping him.

Between that gunfire and Angel’s fight, they’d lost their stealth advantage. Max waved them forward. They managed to get into the spur tunnel Owen had been looking for. It was near the end of the tunnel that led to the Syadne tower, so it was a good place to hole up while the rest of the way was cleared. He couldn’t bring Addy and Beck into the middle of a gunfight.

“We’ll stay here,” Owen said. “Max, go meet up with the rest of the team. I’ll send Angel when he gets back. The lab is one floor up in the tower. Clear the way, then come get us.”

“Copy. Watch his back, Ace,” Max said, pointing at her.

“On it,” Ace answered.

Owen set Addy down behind a pile of debris. Ace used her flashlight while Beck checked Addy’s vitals. He didn’t look happy with her status. Owen adjusted the blankets around her. It was not as quiet in the tunnels as he thought it would be. Metal groaned in the distance, making eerie sounds that could almost be human. There was a constant drip of water somewhere near them. They all heard a slight rustling of fabric. Ace turned, her hand on her weapon.

Another little boy came out of the shadows. He whispered something to Fox, who looked at Owen. “There’s man in here, a little ways farther back. He’s looking for Ace. He’s old. He has a long white beard.”

Ace looked at Owen. “Santo.”

Owen nodded. “Can we trust it’s not a trap?” he asked Fox.

“We’re on the same side, sir. I don’t know about the man.”

Owen asked Ace, “You up to dealing with him?”

“Fuck yeah. I promised Greer.”