The blue tint of the computer screen played over Remington’s face. His expression never changed, never offered her a clue as to what he was thinking.
“Play it again,” he ordered.
Danielle did. Then she played it twice more after that. The lowbattery warning flashed.
“There’s not enough power to run the video again,” Danielle said.
Remington didn’t say anything.
“Did you see Cody give the orders?” Danielle demanded.
Remington fixed her with his gaze. “I don’t know why this man would want Goose dead.”
“It’s not Cody. It’s Carpathia. Cody works for Carpathia.”
At that, Remington grinned. “You’re accusing the newly elected secretarygeneral of the United Nations of trying to kill a U.S. Army staff sergeant?” He shook his head in disbelief. “How much attention do you think this little conspiracy theory of yours is going to net you?”
Anger filled Danielle. She wanted to lash out at Remington. He was the only one in the city who had the power to act, and he wasn’t making a move to do anything.
“It’s not a theory,” Danielle said. “It’s the truth.”
“Cody didn’t say anything about Carpathia.”
“I’ve got proof that Cody works for Carpathia.”
Remington drew in a breath and let it out. Like he had all the time in the world. “Do you like your job, Miss Vinchenzo?”
Danielle hadn’t expected the question and didn’t know how to react to it.
“The reason I ask,” Remington stated calmly, “is because you’re about to commit career suicide if you try to go on the air with this.”
“Goose is out there,” Danielle said. “Doesn’t that matter?”
“Even if I believed your story, which I’m not entirely convinced of, there’s a lot of territory out there. Where would you suggest I start looking for him? And how do you suppose I keep the Syrians from killing him outright when I do?”
“Make Cody tell you.”
“Maybe you’re in a rush to throw away your career, but I’m not. I’ve worked long and hard to get where I am. I’m not going to jeopardize that.”
“I thought Goose was your friend.”
“That,” Remington said, “makes two of us.”
A soldier entered the bunker and drew an immediate scathing look from Remington.
“Pardon me, sir,” the soldier said. “I was ordered to bring you a message.”
“Then do it,” Remington snapped.
“It’s Goose.” The man smiled. “I mean, it’s First Sergeant Gander, sir. He’s alive.”
Danielle let go the tense breath she’d been holding.
“How do you know that?” Remington demanded.
“Because we’ve been in contact with him, sir. Sergeant Gander managed to signal one of the LADAR operators. They’ve been communicating through Morse code. He says he needs help to get back inside the city.”
42
Downtown Sanliurfa
Sanliurfa Province, Turkey
Local Time 2223 Hours
Like a bad penny, Remington couldn’t help thinking as he stood at the wall and surveyed the night-darkened ground through the gentle rain that persisted. He stood beside the LADAR operator and wondered where he’d be out there if he were Goose.
The night-vision binoculars picked the Syrian forces-the living and the dead-from the night. But where was Goose?
More than that, though, where were the killers Cody had sent? Remington knew they’d have no hesitation about killing anyone in the field they felt was affiliated with Goose.
Although Remington had ordered the news kept quiet, word of Goose’s survival and presence outside the wall quickly passed through the Rangers. Remington felt the pressure to act growing within him. Most of the men were aware of Goose. Some of them owed him their lives.
It was more than that, though. Corporal Joseph Baker had enthralled several of the soldiers with the promise of salvation. Those men-those weak-minded soldiers-had followed Baker blindly, and Remington felt that Goose was capable of furthering that kind of foolish devotion.
Remington didn’t intend to have to deal with that situation again. The men’s desperation had to be shored up in order to keep them thinking like soldiers.
But Goose was out there, and every Ranger around Remington was busy thinking the first sergeant was going to turn into John Wayne, Bruce Willis, or Arnold Schwarzenegger.
“Show me the communication,” Remington told the corporal manning the LADAR.
The device looked like a small version of a television camera on telescoping legs. The low profile made it hard for the enemy to spot.
“It’s the readout, sir,” the corporal answered. “Unless I move it around, we get a pretty constant readout. But a few minutes ago, Goose-Sergeant Gander-was able to ping the LADAR.”
“With what?”
“A laser range finder from an enemy gun, sir.”
Remington chuckled at that. That was Goose-inventive and ingenious under pressure. Remington realized again why he needed Goose alive at the moment and why having Goose around was going to be dangerous.
“He’s been using Morse code?” Remington asked.
“Yes, sir.”
“And you know Morse code?”
“Yes, sir.”
“How?” Other than a cursory introduction, most soldiers were no longer taught the antiquated skill. Everything on the battlefield these days moved in hyperbursts of encrypted transmissions.
“I was an Eagle Scout, sir.”
Remington looked at the young man and saw the innocence in his features. “Of course you were.” He had to give it to Goose. There probably weren’t many Eagle Scouts spread throughout the Rangers, and Goose had managed to find one who was operating a LADAR tonight. The sergeant’s luck was nothing short of incredible.
“Of course you were,” Remington said again.
The corporal clearly didn’t know how to react to that.
“Can you signal the sergeant?”
“Yes, sir. Unless something’s happened to him. But we haven’t heard anything.”
That didn’t mean that Cody’s mercenaries hadn’t slipped through the brush and slit Goose’s throat. Remington realized he hoped that hadn’t happened. He needed Goose if he was going to turn the battle at Sanliurfa into a victory.
And he fully intended to do that.
“Contact him,” Remington ordered.
“Yes, sir.” The corporal turned to the task. “You going to send a team after him, sir?”
Aware of all the eyes on him, from Danielle Vinchenzo’s to the other Rangers’, Remington knew there could be only one answer. He hated feeling the pressure, but he also knew that with one word he’d be painted a hero.
“Yes.”
“Thank God,” Danielle whispered. Several of the soldiers echoed the sentiment.
“You’ll need a team to go get Goose,” the corporal said. “I’m volunteering.”
“Noted, Corporal.” Remington looked out into the darkness.“But this is one mission I’m going to lead myself.”
Outside Sanliurfa
Local Time 2235 Hours
Goose watched the range finder’s digital readout increase and decrease as the LADAR painted it. He translated the Morse code in his head.
Remington here.
Yes, sir, Goose signaled back. There was a lot more he could have written. Confusion warred within him. He hadn’t expected to talk to Remington.
U R in a fix.
Yes, sir.
I’m coming.
Just like that, Goose felt a huge weight lifted from his shoulders.
He wouldn’t have put money on that outcome. The smart thing for Remington to do would be to provide a distraction and cover fire while Goose and his companions beat it for the city walls.
U OK? Remington asked.
Yes, sir.
Mobile?
Yes, sir.
All of U?
Yes, sir. All three.
There was a pause. How many hostiles looking for U?
Unknown.
Sit tight.
Yes, sir. Wearily Goose let out a tense breath.
“Are they coming?” Miller asked.
“Yeah,” Goose replied. “I talked to Captain Remington. We’re to sit tight until he signals.”