Page 21 of Liberating Mia
“Anything?”
“Yeah, definitely. Looks like they’re getting ready to send something out. Lots of activity.” Turning at the sound of his name, Finn followed the direction Desai pointed. “Sir, it looks like they’re bringing a cargo ship in to dock. Shit, it looks like they’re going to be shipping them out tonight. Do we have permission to raid, Boss?”
“If you feel there’s probable cause, which it sounds like you do, then do what needs doing. I trust your judgment.”
“Thank you, sir. Appreciate it. I honestly feel like this is our one shot. If we have any chance of stopping those women from being shipped out tonight, we’re going to have to go in. I’ll update you when it’s done.”
“Alright. I’ll wait to hear from you then. I’ll try to get back to Cape Town as soon as possible.”
“Hopefully, by the time you’re back, we’ll have good news for you. For now though, I gotta get going.”
“Finn …”
“Yes, sir?”
“It goes without saying, but be careful out there, yeah?”
“Absolutely. You know me, Boss.”
He heard Larry chuckle. “Yeah. Exactly. Try and keep the body count down, and I’ll see you on the other side,” he said before hanging up.
Laughing at Larry’s crack, he shook his head and dashed off a brief message to the rest of his colleagues, calling them in. In short order, the entire team was assembled in the warehouse they were using during the operation.
Addressing his colleagues, Finn said, “Gather around people. Here’s the plan.”
Quickly, he outlined the plan of action. When he was done, he asked, “Any questions?” When, finally, he felt they were as prepared as they were going to be, he said, “Phones off, comms on, stay sharp, stay alive. Godspeed.”
Grateful for the cover of darkness now that night had fallen, Finn indicated for the teams to move into position. Stealthily, they closed in on the warehouse. While he sent a couple of the agents on recon, he inserted a fiber optic camera under the door where he stood. The little camera picked up the sights and sounds inside crystal clear.
Between the intel his scouts brought back and what he’d gathered himself, he got to work sketching out a plan of attack. Finn hauled out blueprints for the building, spread them out, and perused the layout. Based on the intel received about the cages, he mapped out the best points of entry. Snipers were dispatched to take up position. Finally, when he was satisfied he’d minimized the risk to innocent lives, he gave the signal to go in.
Glass shattered, wood splintered, shrill screams echoed through the building. And for long moments, full-out chaos reigned. The smoke from the grenades hung heavy in the still air, obscuring vision and distorting sound. Behind the protective face masks they wore, Finn scanned his immediate area. When no one jumped out at him, he advanced toward where they’d pinpointed activity.
He’d barely taken five steps when out of the smoke, he got jumped from the side. He rolled to his knees, bringing his weapon to bear. Target sighted, he fired and watched the body fall. A little disoriented from the attack, he backed up into a cage. He felt a tug on his pants and swung around, weapon still in hand.
His gut tightened as he realized it was a young girl trying to get his attention. Jesus, she couldn’t be more than fifteen or sixteen. He crouched close to the bars, speaking as softly as possible. “Do you speak English?” Huge, terrified eyes stared back, but she nodded. “Alright, little one. Hang tight. We’re going to get you out of here as soon as we can. Okay?”
Again, she simply nodded. He squeezed the small hand that clutched the bars tightly. Putting a finger to his lips, he showed her to remain silent. He’d just started to move forward again when his radio crackled to life in his ear.
“Target sighted. Between rows of cages near southside exit. Looks like they’re making a run for it.”
Not on my fucking watch, they aren’t. This ends tonight.
The smoke had begun to clear and, boosting himself up on a wooden crate to his left, the southside exit was just barely visible. He scanned the area for movement and spotted two men hurriedly making their way down an aisle. Hopping down, he circled around to cut them off.
Calls for help came from the metal crates as he crept around to cut the two men off before they could escape. Hunt would simply go to ground until the heat settled and find other nefarious means to continue with these atrocities if he managed to make it out that door. And Finn wasn’t about to let that happen.
“The target’s headed my way. I’ll cut him off. Circle around and cut off any opportunity to retreat back the way they came.”
“Copy that,” he heard Desai and Young reply.
He waited.
“In position,” Young said.
Moments later, “Got you covered,” he heard Desai say.
“I’m going in.”
