Page 247 of Wild Card

Ricardo knows he’s being watched. He kidnapped three US Marines, and one of his crew went missing last week.

He increased his security.

There are four guys in the house tonight. Unfortunately, Ricardo is not one of them.

We slip into the dim house and spread out.

Loud voices filter from the front room which sounds like a party. Blade, Major, and Ace crouch at the entryway, Major flashing a few signals.

All four men are accounted for.

That’s all we need. Ford, Eli, and I readjust our vision goggles and creep down the staircase slowly, mindful of any traps.

When we reach the bottom, the stench hits me—blood, sweat, rotting food, human waste.

My gut tightens as my sight lands on three forms against a wall.

Eli confirmed the basement is monitored, so the only thing I can do is knock out a series of taps on the wall.

The faint reply comes seconds later.

Bad Shape…

Eli’s last visual had them healthy. They’d taken a few hits, but Ricardo wanted them presentable for bargaining power.

Something changed over this last week.

Using Morse Code, the taps give us an idea of what we’re facing.

Drugged…

“Threat eliminated,” Major announces in our ear coms.

Ford sends a message to Rand and Hugo to scramble the video feed on this room.

“You’re up.” His response is almost immediate and we’re on the move.

I get to Max first, Eli and Ford taking the other two.

Rage boils to the surface.

Dried blood stains his chest and abdomen from what resembles stab wounds. His eyes are swollen, cheeks torn, and lips spilt. His overgrown beard is caked with blood and dirt.

“Roberts, can you move?”

Max’s head lolls to the side, his pupils barely visible.

“‘Bout time you showed up.”

“Yeah, well, Fancypants over here got us into a pissing war with every agency in D.C.” I jerk my chin to Gage.

Max cracks a smile. “Fancypants, like that one. Glad you found Gage.”

Gage doesn’t stop his assessment of the man. “You know who I am?”

“Clocked you in a second.”

Gage grunts, “Doubtful.”

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