Warrior's Heart (SEAL of Fortune) (9 page)

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“You said you would let me go.”

Ryker’s weapon never wavers. “Move to your left. Step away from Dr. Baker. You’re almost out of here. Don’t do anything stupid now.”

The man nods and begins to slowly move to his left. He and Ryker slowly circle each other, Ryker moving away from the door as the man moves toward it. Ryker keeps his weapon steady on the man as they move. As soon as the man has a clear path to the door he bolts. Ryker lets him go.

“Marines. There is a man coming out. He is unarmed. Bag him. Baker secured! Baker secured!”

Julian hands the AMD 65 he took from his capture to Ryker with obvious distaste. “I thought you said you were letting him go.”

“I did. I didn’t say the Marines waiting outside would, though.”

“Evans!” Hargraves barks in his ear.

“Yes sir.”

“Is the area secure?”

“It is. I was just about to call in the Marines.”

“Is Dr. Baker unharmed?”

“Are you injured, Dr. Baker?” Ryker asks.

“Other than being scared out of my wits, no.”

“Dr. Baker is unharmed, Colonel. We’re going to try to take the goons that should be showing up in support.”

“Very good,” Hargraves says. “Carry on.”

“Team One! Area is secured. Get in here and let’s catch us some more bad guys. Team Two! Move up but hold outside in support. Let’s ruin their day. Londergan! Get your ass up here pronto! I have another Dr. Baker to add to your collection!”

Ryker listens to the orders rippling down the line, then six men come in and setup in various positions out of sight of the door, their weapons drawn and ready.

***

“He’s got him, Doc!” Londergan says, yanking the gear selector into drive. “Let’s go get your dad.”

Ronnie wipes her eyes, trying to dry her tears. It seems she owes Ryker yet another debt of gratitude.

“Toyota 4Runner hauling ass your way!” a voice comes over the radio.

“Londergan! Fall back! Fall Back!” Ryker’s voice commands in her ear. “The goon squad is here! Repeat! Fall Back!”

“Londergan copies!” Jason says as he pulls the SUV off the road. “It’s just going to be a minute longer,” he says looking at Ronnie and smiling.

“Will they be okay?”

“Who? The Marines or the dead guys?” Londergan says with a grin.

She smiles slightly. “The Marines.”

“With eleven Marines and a SEAL waiting in ambush? The bad guys don’t stand a chance.”

***

“Dr. Baker! Come with me!” Ryker says urgently, taking Julian by the arm and steering him to the makeshift bedroom farthest from the door. “Get down flat on the floor and don’t make a sound.”

Julian does as instructed and Ryker joins him, crouching low as he peeks around the open door, his weapon held at ready.

It all goes down without a shot being fired. Four men armed with the same AMD 65 assault rifles that the men holding Dr. Baker were carrying charge into the room. By the time they realize they have rushed into an ambush, six Marine service pistols are pointed at their heads, with four more Marines charging in behind them with assault rifles at the ready. The would-be attackers also decided that today is not a good day to die and immediately surrender, holding their weapons aloft.

Ryker rises and helps Julian to his feet. “Ronnie,” he says softly. “Would you like to see your father?”

“Area secured,” the Marine Sergeant announces as the four men are forced to their knees, facing the wall, as their hands and ankles are trussed with plastic binders. Moments later the last Marine brings the fifth prisoner in, his hands already bound tightly behind his back. He joins his companions on his knees and his ankles are bound as well.

***

“Yes,” Ronnie blubbers, pushing on the tiny button on her ear bud. She can’t believe it. Ryker has done it. He had walked into a hornets nest, alone, and pulled her father out, apparently unharmed.

“Alright Londergan,” Ryker says in Ronnie’s ear. “Bring her up.”

“Yes sir. Londergan rolling,” Jason says, slipping the car into gear. “You okay Doc?” he asks with a big grin.

Ronnie laughs soggily, then sniffs. “I don’t know. I think so. I think I was more scared just now than I was when people were shooting at me.”

“Nothing to worry about now. With a couple of over-strength fire teams on guard, you are as safe as in your mother’s arms.”

Ronnie doesn’t know what Londergan just said, and doesn’t care. Just knowing that the Marines, and especially Ryker, are watching over her father is all she needs to know.

“Where is the virus, Dr. Baker?” Ryker asks as the Marines efficiently go about the task of bundling the prisoners out of the building.

“I think we can dispense with the titles, don’t you? Call me Julian.”

Ryker smiles. “That will certainly make it easier when your daughter arrives.”

“Ronnie is here?”

“She should be in a couple of minutes. She was being kept well back until the facility was secured. Now, the virus. Where is the virus, Julian? Is it here?”

“They have the virus too?” Julian asks, going pale. “I knew they had the data off the computers, but I haven’t seen the virus.”

“Fuck,” Ryker mutters, keying his mic with a touch to his ear. “Colonel Hargraves. I need to speak with you on a secure channel.”

Ryker hears a burst of static, then Hargraves’ voice. “Channel secure.” All their com traffic is encrypted, but now the rest of the fire team can’t hear what he is about to say.

“The virus isn’t here. Julian hasn’t seen it. He didn’t even know it had been taken.”

“Goddammit! We can’t catch a fucking break! Okay, you turn that fucking place inside out. Just because he doesn’t know it’s there doesn’t mean it isn’t.”

“Understood Colonel. But understand, I am standing in what is not much more than a hollow concrete box. There aren’t many places to hide anything in here.”

“Understood. But you turn over every speck of dust in that place.”

“Yes sir. Evans out.”

Ryker had turned his back to the door and the Marines as he spoke quietly to Hargraves. As he turns back toward the entrance he sees Ronnie round the shredded corner of the office, her eyes wide as she surveys the carnage in the building. Ryker and Julian are in the far corner of the building, near his makeshift bed room and it takes her a moment to spot her father. She doesn’t run until the last few feet as her face twists with tears and she flows into her father’s arms.

“Oh, Daddy! I was so scared for you!” Ronnie says as she weeps in her father’s arms.

“I know. Shhhh… I know. It’s alright now,” Julian says, softly, stroking her hair. He looks over Ronnie’s shoulder and smiles at Ryker, tears leaking from his own eyes as he squeezes them tightly shut.

Ryker smiles softly, turns, and walks quietly away, leaving the Drs. Baker to their reunion.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ryker tasks Londergan and three other Marines with taking the Drs. Baker back to the embassy as soon as they are ready to move. There shouldn’t be any concerns for their safety, but after getting him back, Ryker would be damned if he will allow Julian to be taken again.

Meanwhile the rest of the Marines load all the computers and equipment into the remaining three SUV’s parked outside. That task complete, the prisoners handed off to the CIA for interrogation, and Drs. Bakers safely out of the way, Ryker and the remaining Marines begin to systematically destroy the inside of the building.

Every interior wall is pulled down and minutely inspected. All the furniture is slit and the padding removed. Even the sink and toilet are removed and inspected, along with their drains. Ryker stands in the middle of the room, hot, tired, dirty, and frustrated as hell. Even though Julian has said the virus wasn’t there, he had hoped they would find
something.
All they have to show for their efforts is a huge pile of debris piled in one corner of the building and a few dead bodies in bags. 

“Sergeant. Let’s get the fuck out of here and let the spooks clean this place up. There is nothing here.”

Sergeant Hicks nods and turns to face the men. “Alright Marines. Assholes and elbows. We’re bugging out,” he bellows.

**

“How’s Dr. Baker? Julian Baker?” Ryker asks as he sits down at the table for his debrief.

“He’ll be fine. He’s still in the infirmary. He’s a little dehydrated, and bruised up from some slightly rough handling, but it appears that he was treated reasonably well,” Mr. Spreck says.

“Damn fine work today, Petty Officer,” Colonel Hargraves adds. “In fact, on this entire mission. I am putting you in for your second Achievement Medal. That should go a long ways towards you making Chief.”

“Thank you sir,” Ryker says. He’s happy that the mission was a success, and it is always nice to be recognized for doing a job well, but mostly he just wants to go home and forget about the entire affair.

Spreck clicks on the recorder and Ryker begins to speak.

***

Ninety minutes later Ryker steps out of the debrief. Debriefs go pretty fast when he is the only one involved and nothing goes wrong. It’s too bad they didn’t find the virus, but without one or the other Drs. Baker, there isn’t much anyone can do with it. They may have a leg up on developing a weapon since the virus is alive and stable, but as Ronnie explained early on, removing all the fail-safes built into the virus is no easy task. 

Ryker desperately wants a shower but he heads toward the infirmary to check up on Julian. He eases the door open and pokes his head in. Julian is lying comfortably reclined in the bed, an IV stuck in his arm. Ronnie is sitting in a chair at his side, her eyes bright.

“How are you doing, Dr. Baker?” Ryker asks.

“I thought I told you to call me Julian.”

Ryker smiles. “So you did. How are you feeling, Julian?”

“Better now. I can’t thank you enough for what you did. I have never seen anything like that. Except in the movies.”

“Yes. Thank you… Ryker. Thank you for everything,” Ronnie says quietly.

She's still trying to sort out her feelings for Ryker. She had thought she was over him, but now… maybe not. He keeps saving her, or her father. But then there are things that she just can’t overlook. Like telling that fucking kidnapper to go ahead and shoot her father. The man hadn’t, and that was probably his plan all along, but hearing him say that so calmly, like he didn’t care at all… that’s a hard thing to swallow.

“All part of the job, sir.” Ryker says, carefully avoiding eye contact with Ronnie. He still wants her… but it appears she is lost to him forever. “I’m sure the powers that be will want to debrief you. But after that, you and your daughter should be on your way back home.”

Julian smiles at Ryker. “Thank you again. If you ever get out to Berkeley, I expect you to look me up. I want to buy you a beer.”

Ryker smiles, gives a quick nod of his head, and leaves.

Julian watches Ryker leave then turns to Ronnie. “So what’s the story with you two?”

“What?” Ronnie asks in surprise. “What do you mean?”

Julian smiles at his daughter. “Ronnie… I haven’t lived sixty-six years without learning a few things. I see how Ryker looks at you.”

Ronnie flushes furiously. “It’s nothing Dad.”

“Uh-huh,” Julian says, but doesn’t press.

***

It takes three days before Dr. Julian Baker is fully debriefed. Ryker has reported to Colonel Hargraves each morning, asking if his orders have come through. Hargraves is sympathetic to his desire to leave, but his orders haven’t changed. He is still attached to the mission, even if the mission is technically over.

With nothing else to do, Ryker hangs out with the off-duty Marines or hits the gym. Anything to keep his mind occupied and off of Ronnie. He has severed his attachment to her, but the lingering sadness of what he thought he had remains.

The Marines have accepted the Navy puke as one of their own after the op. One of the female Marines has even made her willingness known, without being pushy. Ryker debated taking her up on her offer, and she 's certainly pretty enough--prettier than the other WM Devil Dogs--but he isn’t quite ready for the comfort of another woman’s arms.

Not yet anyway. He just wants to go back home to Norfolk and get back to his routine.

Tuesday morning he reports to Colonel Hargraves as he has each morning since extracting Julian. “Any new orders for me sir?”

“These came through last night,” Hargraves says tapping the sheet of paper in front of him. “I know you are anxious to get back to Little Creek, but I have new orders for you.”

Ryker can feel his heart sink, but he pulls himself to parade rest. “Yes sir, Colonel.”

Read on for an excerpt from the sequel,
Guide Me Home