Chapter Nine

Chapter 7

3439 Word Update date:2022-04-15 12:52:37

Jason could not understand why Carlos had left instructions for him to go to Mexico when Chrissie was all the while here in California. Or was it a trap? He went cold at the thought of Carlos not intending to release his daughter alive. He doubled his speed in gearing up for the task at hand. He was almost ready to go for Chrissie and still, he was not so sure of success. Everything was jumbled up. Why would they keep Chrissie alone in a box? Why would someone give her a phone? What if it was all an ingenious trap? All these questions were running through his mind, but he felt like a condemned man who had no choice but to face his fate and his fate right now was to follow the only lead he had and pray for success, but prepare himself for disappointment.

***

Darkness had fallen when Jason stole towards the wire fence that formed a perimeter around the area where his daughter was being held. He had been careful to dress totally in black to avoid detection and had hidden everything shiny that might give him away. Crouching low, he pulled out his night-vision long range binoculars and scoured the entire area. He spotted the lone building and the container and finally, a small security post near the entrance. It didn't take him long to formulate a plan; what was left was putting it into action. Pulling out his sturdy wire cutters, Jason began cutting a hole through the high wire-fence. It was no easy work since the wires were unusually thick, but he was glad to have gotten good cutters.

When he had created a satisfactory hole, he crawled through and carefully stood up on the other side. He checked his weapons to see if everything was intact. He had three guns on his person, as much clips as he could conceal, a few hand grenades and a large hunting knife tucked in a scabbard by his side. To him, this was no small mission. It was a war against an old enemy over the life and safety of his beloved daughter.

As he further surveyed the grounds, Jason could feel the wind on his cheek. It was soft and caressing. The night was a little cold and very quiet, but not very dark. From all this, he felt more alert than sentimental. The wind didn't come alone, it brought sounds from the security post which was several hundred metres from his position. He could hear the sounds coming faintly, sometimes louder. Human sounds. From what he could glean, there were only two people in the vicinity of the post, unless the rest were dead or fast asleep. For what he had in mind, he needed them occupied and far from alert. The moon was throwing a partial light on the grounds and even though it was good for him, it could also turn out to be the opposite if he wasn't careful.

He crept slowly, making for the container box in an S-pattern to avoid getting too close to the post and also to avoid being detected from the house. He was careful to stay below the level of the tall grasses in order to be completely hidden. But he had not gone very far, perhaps only halfway, when his ears pricked up at the detection of a strange sound. Instinctively, he remained rooted to the spot and sank down slowly in a way that even a close observer would hardly notice. From the corner of his eye, he spotted a tiny light that lingered for a second or two before going off. It was one of the guards coming out to light a cigarette.

Jason could not tell if he was already spotted, but he doubted it since the man was going ahead to empty his bladder. He didn't seem in no hurry and neither did he look alert, so Jason breathed easier. But still, he stayed put and waited for the man to return to the security post which he did after a tired yawn. Then once again, Jason continued his journey.

He came to a stop just beside the box and was not surprised to find the door open, but still, he carefully crept in, just to be sure of its emptiness. Keeping it close to the ground and shading it with his hand, he scoured the hay-filled floor of the box with his powerful penlight, looking for nothing in particular, but just anything strange. After he had satisfied himself of the total emptiness of the place, he pocketed the light and proceeded to the second phase of his plan.

*****

Chrissie was startled awake by the sound of something that sounded to her like gunshots. It came singly at first, but soon developed into rapid fire. She had earlier fallen asleep on the couch in the tiny room. Fear of Carlos had made her sit up and try to remain alert, but tiredness soon won over her and she slowly drifted to sleep. Carlos, who had been minding papers of his own, quickly jumped up and rushed outside when he heard the sounds. Chrissie could hear him shouting orders to his men who were already returning fire at what she knew not. Then her heart skipped a beat. It could be her father coming for her!

She immediately felt glad and proud, knowing he was out there ready to save her, but her heart fell as fast as it had soared when she considered what her father was going up against. Poor man, he probably never expected such a large number of men and weapons! The sounds of firing had now ceased, it was only the shouts of Carlos that remained to be heard. She desperately wished to hear what he was saying, but Spanish was one of the things she had refused to learn from her father. She had looked on it as a waste of time. Where and when would she ever use it, she had thought. English was more than enough for a brilliant and proud American girl, right? But now, she wished she had showed more enthusiasm. Her captivity had taught her many things and exposed most of her shortcomings and even though she was not yet out, she was already making a mental note of everything that needed urgent attention in her life. Learning Spanish was a top priority, dwarfed only by finding out the level of Hannah's involvement in her current predicament and making her pay!

*****

Jason was moving quickly but stealthily through the grass towards the east end of the building. The sounds of gunfire behind him were certainly not his business for now. Carlos' men had their hands full with that. Even though the firing had ceased and there was total silence except for the sound of Carlos' voice shouting orders and rebuking his already confused men, he knew it wouldn't continue for long. Although he had not fired those shots personally, he almost felt like he did. He could feel the patience and the calculations running through his head as if he was in the box (the source of the shots), waiting for the men to approach.

It was just a few seconds since the firing had stopped and so far, he had made very effective use of his time. Immediately he heard Carlos order his men to investigate the box and the surrounding area, he crept more swiftly albeit quietly, knowing that at any moment, the fire would reach the rest of the rounds which he had put on the hay he stacked high in a far corner of the box. Sure enough, there they go! Perfectly timed too.

He turned around briefly, to see Carlos' men firing into the empty container and considered himself lucky. He had earlier separated the hay into strategic bunches, connecting them with hard sticks and then spread bullets over them before setting fire to the smallest bunch. The flame spread slowly to other larger bunches, firing the bullets as the fire crawled. The sticks connecting the bunches were strong enough to burn slowly, giving the impression of the shooter reloading. The last and biggest bunch was arranged in a manner that it would take quite a while for the fire to reach it. This was the bunch currently in action.

Jason crouched at the edge of the grasses and watched the house with intense concentration as if he could will it to vanish to somewhere else, like James' magic painting in the TV series, Legend Of The Seeker. He was outside the circle of light thrown by the moon which gave him quite an advantage. While he could see the building and everything shown in the light, he remained in the shadows, undetected.

With no small disgust and an almost overpowering desire to break his neck, Jason watched Carlos from his dark hideout. The elder Alvarez was giving instructions to a man whom Jason recognized as his right-hand, Mauricio Pochetto. Funny enough, they were once very close friends, Mauricio and Jason, at least before the crazy raid led by Landon. That bastard! Landon's screwup was the reason he was in such a position, but he would get out of it. He quickly wiped the man from his thoughts and focused on the third and hardest phase of the mission.

As Mauricio walked off toward the men to deliver the boss' instructions, Jason prepared to make his way forward. Carlos had gone back into the house and though the sounds of firing had stopped a while ago, Jason cared less what both men had been conversing about. Wasting no time, he crouched low and staying close to the wall, made his way onto the veranda, seconds after Carlos had left it. Luckily, the walls were not white and the moonlight only slightly illuminated the east side of the building, so he had no problem staying invisible. Weapon drawn, he slipped through the doorway Carlos had just passed through and found himself in a tiny room, with only two small sofas and a round table. There were papers in flames on the table, but Chrissie was nowhere in sight and neither was the elder Alvarez. There was no exit except the entrance, so where had Carlos gone through?? And with his daughter for that matter!

Jason was still trying to fathom out the current situation when he heard the cough sounds of silenced gunshots. He instinctively went down, just in time to avoid two well-placed shots from Carlos. The vagabond! Those shots were the elder Alvarez's undoing. Jason was now sure he was still close by. From his position on the ground, his eyes lighted on a trap door that must have been Carlos' escape hatch to the outside from where he had squeezed off those shots through the window. Jason quickly made for the trap door and soon found himself at the back of the building. What the...! Carlos was pulling a gagged Chrissie after him and hurrying over to the perimeter fence. The sight of his daughter being dragged by this animal made all the demons in Jason revolt. But try as he might, he could not get a clean shot at Carlos without putting his daughter at risk. And she had no idea that he was just a few feet behind her!

Carlos caught sight of him and fired three shots in quick succession. Spit! Spit! Spit! They all came dangerously close, forcing him to duck and dive. But when he finally regained his footing, they were gone!