Page 17 of Lucky Charm
Doogie and Tommy had the south side. More structures on that side and they were taking things slow and easy so as not to incite anything. The two men approached his side.
“Found the trucks. They’re parked in the back, empty. Counted eight men between here and there. Not one of them was armed. None of them our reception committee.”
“The huts?”
“Empty,” K-Rock answered.
“Carter says there are six people in the house including the kid’s mother. Two are servants. Haquiri’s in there, too. Heard some yelling and went in to check on Doc. He’s with the mother. That gives us fourteen people, plus the twelve from earlier who have to be somewhere.” Hunt couldn’t stifle an aggravated sigh.
Quaid shifted carefully to keep the south side of the house in view. “No sign of Reid inside?”
Hunt looked around again, surveying the area. “Not that Carter saw. I was only in there for two minutes. But I never saw him either. Doc started the surgery. She says one hour. That’s how long we have to take a deeper look around. Baxter, stay on the door. Doogie, take Tommy, go north this time.”
The two men disappeared the opposite direction from which they’d come.
Quaid rolled his eyes. “I still prefer to go alone. My part of the mission, remember?”
Hunt took one last look at the front door. “Not happening. I need a wider look at the area. Let’s move.”
“I understand why you’re such a good SEAL. Stubborn.”
“You have no idea.” Hunt lifted a hand to his ear. “Alpha Four, Alpha Seven – we’re heading out for a look see. Gossip boy has your six.” Wanting to ask Carter about Doc, he worked to cram down the impulse.
Both men quietly answered.
Conspicuous, my ass. Searching every hidey hole and outcropping in this godforsaken land was not high profile. After an hour studying what little there was of the village, he followed Quaid to the outcroppings that butted against the village. No one followed.
Uneasiness flared.
Twenty-four people in the compound minimum and no one seemed to be keeping track of where a bunch of Navy SEALS were? Not that they were brazenly wearing their insignias on their uniforms, but were they unaware, confident, or stupid?
“Where does their water come from?” Hunt took a full-circle view of the surrounding area. Dust to the southwest caught his eye, whether movement or weather couldn’t be determined at this distance.
“Water well. North side.” Quaid’s eyes were fixed elsewhere.
Hunt turned to have a look, noting nothing. Yet Quaid took off, scrambling over rocks and debris like he was running a marathon.
He followed at a more circumspect pace.
Quaid stopped suddenly and started moving rocks. By the time Hunt caught up, he was sitting back on his haunches, dusting off rocks, and staring at a camera bag.
“How?”
“The rocks were purposely set. Reid and I used to leave things for each other secretly so our parents wouldn’t know. We had a specific way we laid the rocks.”
“You and Reid know each other?” Hunt thought he asked the question blandly considering he’d been blindsided.
Quaid’s mouth opened and closed like a fish gulping water. “Yeah, since high school.”
“Perfect,” Hunt bit out. “Anything else I should know?”
“Yeah, this is his. It’s his camera bag.”
Hunt checked the black zippered bag. “It’s not open but you can read the tea leaves?” Sarcasm took the edge off.
“My grandfather gave him this bag. Monogramed this small spot on the strap – TMR.”
“That’s his monogram?”
