Page 42 of SEAL the Deal

He prodded the shattered control panel with his finger. “Ernie could. I don’t have the skills.”

“We need to get a message out and alert the authorities,” said Jenny.

Ali’s gaze fell on the two buggies parked outside. “I could go.”

Jenny shook her head. “No, we shouldn’t split up again. We should all go.”

“I’m not leaving without the others,” said Rick in a low voice.

“You and Jenny can help free Mike and the others. I’ll drive a buggy back to the main road and get help.” She inspected one of them. “I had a Polaris on dad’s farm. It’ll be a piece of cake.”

Rick nodded. “I think it’s the best option.”

Jenny frowned. “The forest is a maze of trails. You could get lost.”

“This buggy’s got a GPS. I can follow it straight out of the park.”

Jenny considered the plan. “OK, let’s do it.”

“You girls sort that out,” said Rick as he eyeballed the two men on the bunk. “I need to get out of this wetsuit.”

Ali grabbed her backpack, carried it outside and tossed it in the buggy. She realized that the Bloodhound was missing. It must have run off into the woods.

The GPS was an expensive touch screen model with high-resolution maps. It took Jenny a matter of minutes to program a route for Ali.

As she finished Rick appeared from inside the cabin. He’d relieved Carl of his camouflage pants, hacked them off below the knee and somehow managed to squeeze into them. He’d also borrowed a USMC T-shirt that looked two sizes too small. With a pistol belt around his waist and a shotgun slung over his shoulder he looked like a cross between Rambo and a WWE wrestler.

“I’m going to start calling you Rickbo,” said Jenny with a laugh as she climbed out of the buggy.

He managed a grin. “We need to get moving. We’ll go on foot. They’ll have the tracks leading to the plantation covered.”

Ali started the buggy. “Axe should go with you. He’ll find Mike and he’s good in a fight.”

Jenny nodded. “He’s saved the day twice already.”

“Just take care of him. I’ll be back with help as soon as I can.” She spun the buggy’s wheels and took off into the woods.

Jenny turned to Rick who was rummaging through the other ATV. He stuffed a roll of tape, gas stove canisters and other items into his backpack along with boxes of cartridges for the pistol, shotgun and rifle he’d taken from the gunmen. He had one of the men’s radios hooked to his belt.

“What’s the plan?” she asked.

“Recon followed by direct action.”

She watched him shrug the backpack over his broad shoulders and gather up the guns. The man oozed masculinity and confidence from every pore of his muscular body. Despite the seriousness of the situation she couldn’t help but feel a little excited.

“What’s up? Have I got something on my face?” he asked.

Realizing she was staring she blushed, turned away and started off up the hill. Axe fell in alongside her. “Come on, Rick. Let’s get a hustle on.”

ChapterThirteen

Carter stood on the cabin’s rickety porch with his radio held high in the air. Travis sat in a rocking chair next to him with a shotgun across his knees.

“That ain’t going to help. Radio waves don’t work that way.”

“Oh, so you’re an engineer all of a sudden. How about you shut your mouth and watch those prisoners.”

Travis frowned and turned away from him.

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