“It’s your trial.” Blaine opened the door to leave, but before allowing it to shut, he spoke again. “It’s all on you.”
Thomas crossed his arms and took a deep breath. The room looked back with a dead, awkward silence, all eyes on him as he stood there thinking to himself, replaying it once more. He’s right. This is on me.
He looked to the map—its features seemed to rise from the paper the longer he stared. He ran the back of his hand down the side of his face. This is my chance for a better life. For Joseph. For Kate. For all these women. He slid the pieces back into their starting locations, glancing over at each individual they represented. They dipped their chins in return. We can’t fail.
A hand gripped his shoulder. “Ready?” James asked.
Thomas gave him an emphatic nod. “It’s time. Everyone… get your gear.”
He looked on as each Soldier in the room worked over their equipment. One last check and then another for good measure. Each and every one of them methodical in their preparation—loading ammunition, adjusting their gear—anything that could go wrong would not today. No room for failure. It simply wasn’t an option.
Thomas took his rifle from where it leaned against the wall and worked the action. “Hey, man,” one of the Soldiers interrupted him, “unless you’re absolutely partial to yours, I’m pretty sure you’d be better off with this.” He passed a Colt AR-15 to Thomas. “I’m not trying to tell you what to do, but with you on the ground, this’ll make more sense.”
Thomas brought the rifle into his shoulder. “Name’s Cooper, right?” The Soldier nodded as Thomas took a peak through the mounted scope while keeping it pointed toward the ground. This will be more appropriate than my bolt-action. “Does this do night vision?”
“Auto-shut off if you get hit with something too bright, or if you need to”—Cooper pointed out the switch on the scope—“you can manually drop it here.”
“You sure you’re good with it?”
“I wouldn’t have offered. Mission comes first. Always.” Cooper took several loaded magazines from his pack and laid them on a computer desk next to Thomas. “Try not to use it all, but it’s there if you need it.”
“Thanks.”
“I remember my trial. Take a breath. We have your back, Ricard.”
These are my men now. He paced the office as the Soldiers continued to sort through their equipment. I have to get these guys home safe. They’re trained and ready for this, but it all falls back on me. Sound judgment will get me through this. Stop the threat. Rescue the victims. In that order. Don’t get wrapped up in saving them right off the bat. If you don’t take down the Butcher, then he’ll just start over.
He noticed they were looking to him again. “Fall in!” They lined up, shoulder to shoulder with their backs against the wall. Thomas moved down the line, taking an additional onceover of their rigs. “Bravo team. Cooper and Snape.”
“Ready!” The two men spoke simultaneously.
“Head up to the roof. Just keep watch over that southern edge. Once it hits 22:30, go ahead and pop the two guards there, and then maintain that edge. Don’t let anyone get away.” Thomas rapped each one of their shoulders with his fist. They broke from formation and disappeared into the back portion of the office to gain access to the rooftop.
“Charlie team. Mitchell, Davis, Thompson.”
“We got this!” Davis blurted out. “When the snipers hit the guards on the southern side we move in on that back edge.”
“Be patient out there,” Thomas reminded them. “Don’t rush to get on the inside.” He made his way to the very end of the formation, turning toward the last team and the medics. “Delta team. Krenshaw, Martin, Greene.”
“Ready!”
“Make sure you get into position on that western side. Same thing as the snipers,” Thomas reiterated. “Once the time hits, you’ll make your move. Now, medics Davidson and Smith.” He stood in front of the two men. “Stick with your assignments. Davidson you’re with Charlie. Smith you’re with Delta. We are all relying on you if anything happens.” They signaled with a quick nod. “Nothing else to hold you up, so head on out.”
As Charlie and Delta teams shuffled out of the room, Thomas looked to James and their other team member, Riley. “We’ll be jumping this whole thing off,” Thomas said. “The good thing about them being in the park is they’ll never be able to handle all that real estate.” He worked his hands over his gear once more as he spoke. “We’re heading right for the heart. You got the cocktails, right?”
Riley raised a few large, amber-colored bottles stuffed with rags—his face eager and malicious in the flickering light of the candles. “Soon,” he said.
Thomas smiled, knowing full well the opportunity awaited them. He took the bottles and placed them carefully within his ruck then lifted it onto his shoulders.
“We ready?” James asked.
“Your shoulder still feeling okay?”
“Cleaned it up as soon as we got back from the camp.” He poked it a few times. “No complaints here.”
“I figured as much.” Thomas looked over his companions one last time. He eyed Riley’s Soldier patch, envious, his own black uniform held a vacancy where his patch would be. That sun and moon split by the sword. Everything’s riding on this.
A nervousness began to rise within him. Not now, damn it. Thomas inhaled deeply and let out a slow, steady breath. He held his physical state together. He could show no weakness, but inside his stomach churned, and his limbs felt hollow. So much riding on this. Joseph, this is for you, buddy. I’m coming home tomorrow. It’ll be a new day for us. “Let’s go!”
Only a few minutes later they crossed the boulevard, making sure their movements stayed clear from the view of the Butcher’s guards on the southern post. Thomas hesitated as they moved through the unmown field. A nagging uncertainty kept him from taking those initial steps into the wood line. He looked back in an effort to verify the snipers’ presence on the roof—half the moon and a sky full of stars lit up the area surprisingly well, but it wasn’t enough to squash his concerns. He groaned.
“What?” Riley asked.
Thomas ignored him, not wanting to utter his doubt and seem ungrateful for their support. Deep down he knew they were there, but the weight of the mission continued to bear down on him. He had to be sure. He hit the quick-release on the scope and scanned the horizon, taking in what could be seen of the southern service road and over to the rooftop and across it. Two green figures leaned against the air conditioning units atop the college. He snapped the scope back onto the rail.
“Everyone in place?”
“Yeah, we’re good.”
They penetrated the woods in a triangle formation—Thomas and Riley at the two front posts, James at rear guard. Each one minded their path—each rifle alert and ready as they weaved through the trees in front of them. The effect of night fell harder upon them as the canopy grew denser with each footstep toward the camp. Thomas kept them on target, peering through the scope, making certain their direction was true and remained safe. It wasn’t long before a few dancing fires in the distance uncovered the Butcher’s campsite.
“Time check,” James whispered.
“22:13. We’re getting close.” A rustle of leaves. “Shhh.” A few noisy footsteps came toward them. Shit. They stopped then broke formation—each of them peeled off to a position of concealment. Thomas caught first glimpse of a guard traipsing toward them, his flashlight swinging casually with his stride, ignorant to any concept of light discipline, unaware of the threat that loomed just ahead.