A booming voice came through the air. It was an amplified voice on a bullhorn.
“Secret Service men, it is time to come in and give up your weapons. We have captured the President and killed the two men trying to protect him. I repeat. We have captured President Dunnington.”
17
“Is he bluffing?” Lam asked.
“One way to find out,” Horowitz said. He took out a small radio and pushed a button. “This is Five. Mr. President, are you safe?”
They waited, but nothing came over the air. After a twenty-second pause a voice responded.
“This is Four. I’ve had no transmission from the President in a little more than an hour.”
“Four, on the net checks, did you hear everyone?”
“All but the missing man.”
“Then something may have happened to the President. I’m calling for a radio check by the numbers,” Horowitz said.
Lam listened as four Secret Service men checked in.
Horowitz scowled. He looked at Lam. “We could be in a lot of trouble here. I’m Five, the man we lost already is Seven, and the two with the President who didn’t check in are Six and Eight. That means they might be out of range, or captured, or worse.”
The speaker on the Secret Service radio sounded.
“So, Secret Service, you came up three men short on your radio net,” the voice with the same strange accent said. “That is correct. Three of your men won’t collect their retirement, and we have the President. So far he is safe, well, and he has not been harmed. Later it will be dark. We ask that all of you return to the ranch house where you will be more comfortable. The cook is now preparing a fine meal for you.
“We’re not sure how you destroyed our helicopters, but it is of little concern. We have two other plans to leave this area without them. So come in now and we will not harm the President. You have three hours before dark to get here. I suggest that you hurry.”
Horowitz jumped as Murdock edged into the small clearing.
“That’s my CO, Horowitz, it’s okay.”
Murdock and the rest of Alpha Squad came in and at once established a perimeter defense around the position. The commander came over to the pair.
“Commander Murdock, this is Mr. Horowitz, with the Secret Service.”
The men shook hands. Lam told Murdock about the claim that the President was captured and the two men with him dead.
“Is it possible?” Murdock asked Horowitz.
“The Koreans have at least one of our radios. So they have captured or killed at least one of our men. The President’s guards didn’t respond to my radio net check. So something is wrong.”
“What’s the range of your sets?” Murdock asked.
“On flat land about ten miles. Up here it could be a mile depending on the terrain. A ridgeline could block out the signal.”
“Think the President just might be out of range and the Korean is bluffing?”
“Could be.”
Senior Chief Sadler and Jaybird came in from the perimeter, and Murdock filled them in.
“Could you have blown up their choppers?” Sadler asked Horowitz.
“Sure, if we could have moved in close enough,” Horowitz said. “I always carry a fragger on jobs like this.”
“So the Koreans don’t know that anyone else is here,” Murdock said. “That’s good. We can give them a few surprises.” He looked at the Secret Service man. “Any of your men have long guns?”
“Nothing but the Uzis. We usually work close-up.”
“We have the rifles and machine guns if we need them. Now all we need to do is to figure out what to do. DeWitt, we’ll leave our mikes open. Cut in whenever you want to. We’re having a strategy session.”
The woman in the red dress walked up to the group.
“Commander. I’m Beth Arnold, the President’s National Security Advisor.”
Horowitz broke in. “Commander, this is Major General Beth Arnold of the U.S. Army.”
The four SEALs saluted her. She returned a crisp professional salute. “General, I’m Lieutenant Commander Murdock, this is Senior Chief Sadler, Operations Specialist Second Class Lampedusa, and Machinist’s Mate First Class Sterling. We always have enlisted men help when planning an operation.”
“May I sit in on your session? I’ve had some experience.”
“General, by all means. You’ve seen the ranch house. We haven’t. Where would their strong and weak points be?”
“It’s a ranch-style house, long and one-story. The kitchen is on the extreme left end, the large living room and activity rooms in the center, and the bedrooms mostly on the right-hand side. There are twelve bedrooms. They probably have the President in one of them, if they really have him.”
“I’d say we have to assume that he’s a captive, so we can’t use our 20mm rounds on the house,” Jaybird said.
“Agreed,” Murdock said.
“It’s got to be a silent hit,” Lam said. “We move up and watch and wait and try to pick them off one at a time, quietly.”
“You have suppressed weapons?” the general asked.
“Yes, two of the new Mk 11 from Knight with the twenty-inch barrel and silencer. Then we have other silenced weapons including our MP-5 sub guns.”
“The way Lam slipped up on me without a sound, I would have been a dead man if he’d wanted me to be,” Horowitz said. “Be sure to use Lam.”
“I’ve heard about SEALs’ work before,” General Arnold said. “You’re the platoon that the CIA and the President use for covert operations, correct?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Murdock said.
“Damn glad you’re here. Should we send men into both ends of the house, say three on each end, and start working silently toward the center?”
“Good idea, but first we’ll have to take out any exterior guards,” Senior Chief Sadler said. “Be good to get two men up there quickly to check it out in what’s left of the daylight.”
“I agree,” DeWitt said on the Motorola. “Lam and Fernandez would be my picks.”
“Lam, you and Fernandez get on your horses,” Murdock said. “Each of you take the silenced M-11. Move up on each end of the place. Close enough so you can find any exterior guards. Report back by radio. Then hold your positions for our arrival.”
Lam lifted his Knight sniper rifle and vanished into the brush.
“That’s a roger on this side,” DeWitt said on the radio. “I sent Fernandez out. He goes up to about fifty and checks the scene.”
“Right,” Murdock said. “Be sure nobody in the house can see you, Fernandez and Lam.”
General Arnold looked at Murdock. “You have any extra cammies with you?”
“Yes, ma’am, but…”
“No buts about it, Commander. Find a man about my size and get his spare shirt and pants. I’m going with you and this damn red dress isn’t a combat outfit.”
Murdock grinned. “Glad to have you on board, General.”
Sadler nodded at Murdock and went to the perimeter. Murdock looked through the trees at the ranch house over seven hundred yards away. “Where would they be keeping the President, if they have him, General?”
“My choice would be the owner’s suite. It’s larger, has a big window facing the front, and has access only from a hall in back that runs the length of the building.”
Murdock turned to Horowitz. “Did the team with the President have a SATCOM with them?”
“Yes. That must be how they called for help. Oh, yes, so now the Koreans may have the SATCOM as well, so we can’t use yours. You do have one?”