Page 26 of Joker
“Couldn’t find any cameras, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have something within the woods,” answers Wire.
“It’s going to take me an hour or so to go over everything here and form a plan of attack.”
Tank is thorough and won’t risk brothers’ lives.
“Okay, Tank, you come up with a plan, everyone else rest and make sure your weapons are ready to go in two hours. I’ll get the prospects to gas up the vans. Meet back here in two hours.” BJ makes the plan, and we all leave to get ready.
In my room, I make sure Beau is okay and then get to cleaning my guns and making sure I have enough ammo. I also go out to the shed and sharpen my knives. You can never be too careful.
Once I’m all set to go, I check on Beau one more time and see he’s awake so I decide to spend some much-needed time with him. We play Xbox. He loves the Lego Batman game. He’s really gotten into his Lego, so at least I know what to get him for his birthday and Christmas now.
Before long, it’s time. Putting Beau back to bed, I read him a story or two until he’s asleep. Kissing his forehead, I make my way into my room to get changed. Pip is going to keep an eye on him for me, so I find her in the kitchen and give her the monitor. I know he’s old enough where he doesn’t need a baby monitor, but the clubhouse is big, and we don’t want him wandering around on his own during the night.
Heading into church, I take my place and wait for everyone else. Soon all the brothers are here. Tank takes the floor.
“We’re splitting into four teams. Each team will take a side, and we will approach and survey first. On my signal, we will approach. If you’re on the sides, stay outside and look for movement. Team One will go in the front, and Team Four will go in the back. Reck, Wrench, Angel, and Rafe will be on Team One. Bull, Joker, BJ, and I will be on Team Four. Striker and Sarg, I need you both in sniper positions in the trees, a corner each so you can see a side and the front, a side, and the back. Trader, Jackal, Wolf, and Youngblood will be Team Two, with Dog, Anchor, and Marvel on Team Three. Get your earpieces from Wire on the way out. You wait for my signal. You all know what to do.”
Getting into our teams, we all jump in the waiting vans and head toward the location. It doesn’t take us too long to get there. We park within the woods so the vans are hidden, but also so we can make a quick getaway if needed. Leaving the vans, we slowly make our way through the woods to the edge of the property. The moon is the only light, making it difficult to see through the woods. We get into position and wait. I hate fucking waiting. Striker and Sarg confirm they are in position and have eyes on the house.
“You see anything in your scopes?” asks Tank.
Both are in excellent vantage points to see movement within the house.
“Nope, looks deserted,” replies Sarg.
“Same here, no movement and no lights on,” says Striker.
“Okay, proceed with caution, watch your backs,” warns Tank.
We start to make our way to the front of the house while Reck’s team makes their way to the back of the house. We hover near the door waiting for the signal from Reck.
“In position, on my count, three, two, one, enter.”
On enter, we kick the front door down with guns drawn and enter the house. The place is eerily quiet. We clear the living room and head into the kitchen. Meeting Reck and his team, he nods to say it’s clear, and we head upstairs, and Team One clears the basement. I find a room that has a few kids’ bits in it and also some female clothes. Seems this could have been Carrie and Beau’s room. There is a lock on the outside of the door, which ignites the rage that has been slowly simmering all day. The sicko had locked my girl and son in this crappy room. Mold is growing up the walls, and it seems the window is locked. There is only one bed with just a cheap old sheet. As if they lived like this, the images running through my head of Carrie and Beau curled up on the lumpy ratty mattress, huddled together to keep warm, is breaking my heart. No wonder Beau loves his bed and starfishes on it when he sleeps.
Moving out of the room, I head down the hallway, Tank is in another bedroom, which looks much the same as the other, but this has no lock. However, you can see where one once was. The room also has female bits in it, so this must be Agnes’ room. Her room is no better than Carrie’s except, at some point, the lock has been removed. Stepping out, I try the room across the hall. This one is much different from the others. There’s a large comfy bed with bedding on it, plus a large television. It’s clean and miles better than the other rooms. This must be his room. Sick fucker let them live like animals while he had full luxury. All the rooms upstairs are clear. Back downstairs, we all meet in the kitchen.
“Place is clear, found a room in the basement where the videos were filmed. Fuck, seeing it in person, it’s even more sickening,” Bull confirms my fears.
“There is no one here,” Tank says as Wolf shouts to us all from down in the basement. “Found a door with a tunnel.”
Following Wolf, he leads us to what looks like a cupboard, but on closer inspection, has a false back that leads into an underground tunnel. Wolf, Tank, and I follow the tunnel while the others go back up to see if they find anything in the outbuildings. We seem to walk for a while before coming to the basement of another building. Creeping up the stairs, we find ourselves in an abandoned barn on the outskirts of the property. Clear tire marks can be seen and are fresh.
For the love of God, fuck!! Losing my shit a little, I kick a bucket close to me, sending it flying across the barn.
“He knew we were here and made an escape,” Tank groans with frustration in his voice.
Fuck we were in the right place, but too late; or something or someone tipped him off we were here. Feeling dejected, we make our way back to the others.
“Tunnel leads to a barn on the edge of the property, fresh tire marks too. He knew we were here or were coming,” Tank informs the others.
Everyone is feeling it as we trudge back to the vans and drive back to the clubhouse in silence. I can’t believe he’s one step ahead of us every goddamn time. How does he know?
Getting back to the compound, I need some time on my own. I head for the back of the compound and through the trail, which is barely noticeable between the trees. I walk along the trail for a while until I come to the clearing at the lake. Carrie and I used to love hanging here as kids, messing around in the water. I feel close to her here.
Sitting on the ground with my back against a tree base, I rest my head with my eyes closed. Taking deep breaths, I take a few minutes to sort my emotions out, which are running wild at the moment. I honestly don’t know how to feel anymore. We’re so close to finding her, and yet so far away too. I just want to find her and make sure she’s okay. Especially after watching those videos. My hands fist at my sides as the pain and anger at seeing Carrie like that runs through my veins. Opening my eyes, I watch the moon reflect on the lake.
“Knew you’d be here,” Tank says as he drops down beside me and rests against the tree.
