I've got great reviews on the first chapter and also a little advice from WadeWells on sticking to my guns or should I say outline, so thank you for that. Well, I'm about to show a little of my past with this chapter but don't worry, I've toned it down a lot, but if the military lingo becomes overbearing please let me know so I can cut it back again. Thanks for reading and just one more thing. . . . any advice is very welcomed.
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Raiders of the Sun: Chapter 2
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The out of shape tow truck driver runs towards the Quest Compound with the determination of an Olympic athlete the entire length of the driveway. You can barely see the smoke rising off Jessie's Mustang due to the distance as the driver reaches the front door slamming his hands furiously against the double doors.
From inside, Race jumps at the sound of the knocks at the door. He rushes to the door and swings it open to see the tow truck driver fall into the house completely out of breath. Race kneels down to check on him as the others come running. Every sharp exhale the driver takes, he's repeating the same two word over and over still having a death grip on the package.
"Kids….Taken…..Kids" The driver lifts the package to Race who takes it. He quickly passes the package off and bolts out the door looking down the driveway seeing the black smoke coming from the road.
"Benton, the kids!" Race yells out as he runs to his car. The two Police officers follow suit to their patrol car.
When the car starts up, Race spins the tires doing a U-turn speeding down the drive with the cops following. Benton is checking on the driver still laying a the door then calls for Iris.
"Iris online." As a touch panel lights up by the door. "Emergency. We need an ambulance and contact Davis at the police department."
"Emergency protocols activated."
…
With the fire department packing up and what's left of Jessie's car loaded on a tow truck, Benton, Race, LT. Davis, and a few officers are gathered around the conference table with Race opening the package that was given to the driver.
Inside is a small stack of photos and a small digital recorder. He passes the pictures to Benton who lays them out on the table. The pictures are of Jonny and Jessie during their secret dates with each other. The pictures don't imply anything but the time and date stamps on them do, showing that they have been following the couple for nearly a month. Race hooks it up to a speaker box mounted to the center of the table and hits play.
"Hey Racer, long time no see." Race's eyes go wide at the sound of the mans voice. "I guess you realized by now that I'm not dead. So how's the wife and kid? Oh wait, that's right, your divorced and I have your daughter. Anyway, now that I have your attention let me just make things clear for you. This is not ransom or some Lifetime B.S. that you'll see on the telly, this is revenge, plain and simple. It took a while but I was finally in the perfect position to pull this off. By now, I imagine you're wishing you confirmed your kill instead of just leaving me to die, well paybacks a bitch, my friend. I can still call you my friend right, or did that also end when you shot me in the back. Well, right about now we should be flying south for the winter so I'll let you go. Oh right the pictures, almost forgot. The pics you have are over the past month, and from the look of things your daughter and young Mr. Quest have been getting really close, if you know what I mean. But don't worry, I'm sure my boss will take good care of her up until she's sacrificed, and if his hair brain scheme does work, the boy will join her. I've always wanted to live forever. C-ya around, Racer." The recording ends with him laughing as Race slams his hand on the table.
"Son of a Bitch!" Race yells out.
"Race, I know you're angry but this guy has our kids." Benton is quick to speak out. "Who is this man and why is he doing this?"
Race takes a breath. "His name is Michael Turner and he's a former I-1 agent turned rogue." Race runs his hands through his hair. "When we found out he was selling weapons and intel using I-1 connections, he was targeted for termination and I got the assignment."
"Then what's this about you shooting him in the back?" Davis asked.
"Because I did. He was making a deal with a Mexican Cartel when I executed the order. I shot him in the back with a M24 bolt action rifle."
"How in the hell did he live through that?" Davis responses.
"I don't know but I can't wait to do it again."
"Before that, we need to find him, Race." Benton interjects. "Lets run the recording through Iris to see if she can pick up any background noises."
"He also said some key words about the kids." Race adds. "Living forever and sacrifices are not used in everyday conversation. Also he has a boss and their flying south. So even if they stay away from major airports and fly under the radar, they would still have to prep the plane."
"Which means fuel and a place to land that's close by." Benton follows up.
"I'll get on the horn and get my men to start searching for possible landing areas." Davis heads for the door.
"I'll place a call to I-1 for more support." Race also heads out the door.
Benton begins to type on the touch screen keyboard on the table and uploads the recording to Iris, then starts bringing up real time satellite images of the surrounding area trying to see if he can pick up any flight traffic outside regular flight patterns.
...
Jonny and Jessie are pulled out of the back of the SUV and forced to walk down hill towards the water front. They both look around to identify their surroundings as they are pushed forward. When reaching the beach they spot a seaplane just off shore. Both teens know that trying to escape would be pointless judging by the amount of firepower that these men are carrying, so it would be safer just to ride this one out until they can come up with a plan that didn't involve getting shot.
As they are pushed onto a small boat, face down, they are shuttled to the seaplane and loaded on board. Once strapped in, each of them gets a pressure injection in the neck.
"Ouch." Jonny was the first to get injected. Followed by Jessie.
"Ah, that hurts." Jess calls out. "You know, needles are less painful."
"Quiet you two. The drugs should kick in soon." The lead man speaks out as he steps pass to check on the pilot.
"So what did we do to piss you off?" Jessie couldn't help to ask.
"You two did nothing to piss me off, Miss Bannon." The man takes a seat in front of them.
"Then what did we do to piss your boss off?" Jonny follows up Jessie's question.
"As far as I know, also nothing."
"Then who are you?" Jonny starts the question and Jessie finishes. "And what do you want?"
The man looks over to one of his gunmen and points at the two teens then looks back.
"Do you two always finish each others statements, or only when you two are kidnapped together?" Another gunmen leans over to the man and whispers into the leaders ear.
"Good, good. Make the call and we will meet him their." Then he turns his attention back.
"You two getting sleepy yet?" Jonny and Jess both just look at him showing no signs of the drug taking effect yet. "Wow, I'm impressed. You two must have been drugged a lot when kidnapped. I also got a kick out of the way you two handled yourselves against my first team. Does I-1 know that Racer providing military training to kids?"
"So that's who you are?" Jess cuts in as her eyes start to get heavy.
"And why you want her and not me." Now Jonny's voice is starting to soften. "Don't you know revenge is a sucker's game?" Jonny starts to succumb to the drug as well.
"Wow you two are good. Well before you pass out, the name is Turner. Michael Turner and yes this is all about revenge." Jessie starts to fade out leaning against Jonny's shoulder with Jonny going as well. "Night kids."
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Back at the compound, the conference table has become organized chaos as pictures, intel reports from I-1, and several empty coffee cups line the table. Race is doing what he can to try to piece together the last 10 years since his assignment to remove Mike Turner from the living world. Where would he have gone, how he survived and who would be willing to hire him to do this. Benton has been monitoring all air traffic and looking up information about human sacrifice and immortality. Both men have been working for nearly two and a half hours accomplishing what takes an intelligence team several days to achieve.
Davis hangs up on his cell phone as he walks into the conference room and gets the attention of the two men. "Race, Dr Quest; I'm sorry to report that I've hit a dead end on my side of things."
"Well Doc, I think we need to compare notes on what we have. See if there is a connection."
"Not a bad Idea Race." Benton brings up a map of North and Central America. "The biggest connection I have found with human sacrifice and immortality in the southern region is two main civilizations, the Aztec and the Mayans. Both performing sacrifices for everything from crop harvest to war."
Benton brings up the virtual map of Central America mainly the Aztec area of civilization. "I do believe that the Aztec story of Coatlicue would be the closest idea to immortality. There are several articles loosely describing a ritual of an honored warrior sacrificing a child and eating the heart to gain immunity to death." Benton opens up several articles of Coatlicue then turns away from the display to the others. "Legend has it that any warrior who completed this ritual, has never fallen in battle no matter his injuries." '
The gears in Race's head began to turn. "Aztec, Aztec, I read something about that in one of the intel files from I-1." Race begans shifting through the mountain of paper on the table. "Here it is." He passes the file over to Benton. "Turner was making a deal with a Mexican drug lord the night I shot him. He was known for making exchanges and deals at highly populated areas mainly Aztec temples that were open to tourist. Even sending samples of his product to the States using small figurines you can buy at the temples."
Benton reads the name on the file then studies his picture. Raul Santiago Jr. is an older man, some where in his 50's. Bald but built around 240 pounds. Benton looks back at Race. "It says here that he was an enforcer before he became a Cartel leader. Known as 'El Chacal' the Jackal."
"That's right Doc. After his boss was killed, he fought his way to the top removing anyone that got in his way." Race showing concern in his voice thinking that this was the man who would soon have his daughter.
"This looks like the best lead we have so far. Any ideas?" Benton picking up on Races worry.
"I still have some friends in the Intelligence game. I can pull some strings and see if we can get a location on Santiago." Race leans over and picks up his cell and places a call then hits speaker as the call goes through.
After a few rings a woman answers. "This is Sandra." From the sound of her soft voice, she could be in her early 30's. You can hear typing from her side of the call.
"Hey Sandy, it's Race." Race is very monotone with his introduction.
"Hey Sugar, you calling to let me know your heading to Washington to see me?" Her soft voice now dropping just a touch lower almost purring.
"I wish this was a personal call but I'm in a jam and I need a large favor from you."
"Wow, I've never heard you like this before. This must be serious."
"Very. I need everything you got up until now on Raul Santiago Jr." Race pauses for a moment. "He may have taken Jessie and Dr. Quest's son, Jonny."
Everything goes quiet on Sandy's side. "He has Jessie and Jonny?"
"Very good chance."
Typing continues on her side of the line but much faster. "Give me twenty minutes and you'll have everything we got."
"Thanks, I owe you."
"No, you owe me for standing me up last time you called. I'm doing this for them."
"Thanks again, Sandy." He then hangs up the phone the looks over to Benton. "This is going to be the longest twenty minutes of our lives."
"I'm sure it will pay off, Race. It has to." Benton being supportive as best as he can.
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Just before the Twenty minute mark, Race gets a phone call on his cell. He quickly hits answer. "Go for Race."
"It's Sandy, you are not going to believe this. According to Intel, Santiago is still in Mexico, but one of his front companies just chartered a private jet form Knox County Airport in Maine to Mexico. The flight left over two hours ago, that's got to be it."
Race lifts his hand and spins one finger around signaling to gather gear and get ready to move. "Thanks Sandy. If there's anything you need from here on out, you call me."
"Hold your horses, cowboy; I'm not finished. My brother is assigned to a Ranger unit on loan to the DEA. I'm getting him to meet you when you land."
Race stops in his tracks. "Wow. Extra help is always good. You just blew my mind little lady."
"Wait until you come back to Washington. Bye Race." Sandy hangs up the phone.
Race pockets his cell and starts out the door with Benton. "Sandy's brother is stationed out there with a Ranger unit. She's getting him to meet us when we land."
"Good, lets get going, Race. I don't want our kids in there hands any longer."
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The five hour flight to the Mexican boarder then another five hours to a small landing field outside Mexico City city limits is the final destination of Benton's private jet. As the plane comes to a stop on the strip, there waiting are two casually dressed men sporting military style haircuts just in front of a four door Jeep Wrangler. As the two men depart the plane the two men waiting approach.
"Morning, I'm Staff Sargent Andy Colemen, Sandy's brother; and this is Sargent Anders." He holds out his hand and Benton is the first to shake his then Anders with Race following. "The Jeep behind us is our transport and we need to move quickly. Things have become time sensitive."
"What do you mean by that Staff Sargent." Race questioning in a very authoritative voice.
"I can explain, Sir. First we need to get going. Anders you drive." Coleman and Benton enter the Jeep on the passenger side while Race and Anders on the drivers.
As the Jeep pulls away Colemen turns back to face the back seat and passes out two file folders, one for each.
"Please excuse the lack of formalities but as I mentioned this had become time sensitive. Please open the jackets that I just handed to you. Operation 'Lost Souls' is the retrieval of two American citizens, Jonathan Quest and Jessica Bannon."
"Wait." Race interrupts the Sargent. "Are you saying that our kids being taken is now a sanctioned military operation?"
"Yes sir, I am. It's my understanding that the entire family, including the dog, has Top Secret clearance and knowledge of multiple military projects that are still active as of 2200 hours last night. So their kidnapping is now considered a breach of military and or government security and all assets must me recovered ASAP."
"Jesus, SGT. What are you plans for us, then." Race questions
"Dr Quest will be stationed at ComOpps, thats Command Operations for the Doc, and you will be reissued your field rank and go in with the recovery team." Colemen motions to Race. "I will command Alpha Team while SGT Anders will command Bravo Team as backup."
Colemen turns a few pages in his file folder. "If you will join me on page four, these are drone images of the surrounding San Jaun Teotihuacan municipality also known as the Valley of Mexico. Heat signatures show a lot of movement in the upper ridge of the Valley. There is a large cave structure along the entire valley. Most are small dead end caves but some do connect into each other."
Colemen turns to the next page. "The following page is current information on Raul Santiago Jr. Known drug cartel and weapons dealer. Sources tell us that he uses these caves for trafficking his goods. Santiago is as ruthless as they come by making examples of those who cross him. The DEA has been tracking him for about five years but have only able to capture his lieutenants who, of course, never talk.
Anders cuts in. "Due to suicide or contract termination."
"Right." Colemen answers then returns to his briefing. "We do have a possible location on where they may have taken the assets the only problem is due to its location we can't drop in without being seen."
"So we're going in on foot?" Race questions the First SGT.
"Correct Sir. Both teams are ready to roll. They're waiting for us."
"Then I suggest you drive faster SGT." Benton pulling the attention of everyone.
Anders quickly looks back at Dr. Quest the back to Colemen.
"You heard the man, double time." Anders then picks up the pace.
...
It takes a half an hour to reach the Command Center as the Jeep comes to a quick stop and all passengers quickly dismounts and head in. Race follows Anders to receive his gear and Colemen introduces Benton to Captain Osborne who is in charge of the operation. After the formal introductions are done, Race makes his way back to the group with Anders for breifing.
When the Captain finishes the briefing she dismisses the group but calls Benton and Race to stay.
Dr. Quest, Race, I would like to know that I have no intention of letting Santiago escape. We will get those kids back home. I promise.
Race nods and heads out with the unit.
"Thank you Captain for doing this for us." Benton comments. "I know from experience that most military personal don't like the idea of civilians being put on a higher priority then actual operations."
"Not for me, Doc. I started my career as an MP, protecting families at home while others went to war. So the way I'm looking at it, I'm returning to what got me here in the first place. Now lets get those kids home."
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Note: This chapter is a little on the short side. I've been working way too much to put in the time I want to in this story so I wanted to post something to let you know that I am working on this whenever I possibly can. Thanks for reading ~ John.