Page 184 of One Eye Open (The BlackWater)

“You’ll what Alfred? Huh? What the fuck will you do?” Cole said. “Go on, push the button, do what you keep threatening too because I don’t give two hoots. Maddie is my concern, my focus. I’ve got every single Agent I have on this case looking for her. I don’t give a fuck what you do because she’s my priority, not you.” He hung up before he said anything else and turned around realising everyone else in the room was watching him.

“Fucking prick.” He muttered.

“Let’s get going.” Brandon said. They had six hours left by their own clock. Six hours before Maddie ran out of oxygen.

They pulledup to the first site and it was more than obvious from what they saw that Maddie wasn’t there. That no one was there. There were too many brambles, too much undergrowth for a recently buried anything to be beneath it.

They sped off to the second site and it was pretty much the same thing. Wood, brambles, ferns. Nothing else.

“Guess it’s third time lucky.” Thomas muttered.

“Get the choppers up, get them scanning.” Brandon said over the radio. It felt like they were running out of time. It felt like Maddie was slipping away now.

Cole sat in the car clenching and unclenching his fists, still watching the feed on replay because it had cut out hours ago and he didn’t want to think about what that could mean.

He could see her lips moving occasionally but the way she did it, the way it looked like she was speaking was if she wasn’t actually having a conversation, she was simply muttering words, talking to herself.

He narrowed his eyes trying to figure out what she was saying and he thought he saw her lips make out the word ‘sorry’. He sighed. If she did say it why the fuck was she apologising? She had nothing to be sorry for.

“We’re almost here.” Brandon said next to him.

He looked up as they pulled down the lane. This was it. He knew it. All his senses told him this was the right place, that somewhere nearby Maddie was breathing her last few mouthfuls of air.

“Keep everyone off the field. Let the choppers scan it first.” Cole said. He didn’t want anyone fucking it up and risking not finding her.

“Let’s clear the farm first. There’ll no doubt be plenty of targets waiting for us.” Brandon said and Cole nodded.

They turned the engines off, cut the lights, quietly got out of the vans and began pulling on the Kevlar and helmets. Cole grabbed a vest and Brandon raised an eyebrow at him.

“You’re going in?” He said.

“I’m not just going to sit around twiddling my god damn thumbs.” Cole snapped and Brandon sighed.

“Fine.” He muttered as he did his own vest up. He just hoped Cole wasn’t going to play the hero and get himself shot.

“Aidan you’re in control.” Brandon said and Aidan nodded pulling the protective visor down across his face before giving out directions.

Cole and Brandon followed behind as the Armed Response Team took positions and surrounded the house.

Within seconds someone started shooting and they all ducked down.

“Fuck.” Brandon muttered and Cole narrowed his eyes. They didn’t have time for this. Maddie didn’t have time for this.

Aidan’s team started shooting back and it turned into a gunfight. Cole ducked as bullet shot right past him. Aidan spotted the shooter, took aim and the man fell from the second floor window. Another replaced him almost instantly and Aidan shot him before he could even get his weapon up.

A shadow crept around the side of the house and Aidan shot before the armed target could flatten themselves.

“Perimeter is secure.” Sam’s voice said over the radio.

“Let’s take the house.” Aidan muttered giving the signal to move in.

Only the front door opened and they all froze.

Jamie stood, grinning with his hands up. “Guess you caught me.” He said.

“That fucking prick.” Cole snarled and Brandon held him back before he made a lunge for him.

“On your knees now.” Aidan snapped.

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