Janet Evanovich owns the rights to the following characters. Colonel and Jae Davidson
are my original characters. Graphic Content. Language Alert.
A Walk Through Hell
Chapter 11: Understanding
I stand before the Colonel, frozen into place; my loyalty and sense of right and wrong conflicting.
I watch as he slides down the wall that he is leaning against, sitting on the floor with his elbows on his knees, his head buried in his hands; the weight of his burden crushing him.
Stephanie approaches him slowly, dropping to her knees in front of him; her hands reaching out hesitantly, cupping his face; forcing him to look at her.
No words are spoken, there is no need. She spoke through her eyes, reflecting her understanding of his pain; silently conveying her wish to comfort him.
He stares back at her, his eyes vulnerable and haunted. My throat constricts at the depth of his despair. He closes his eyes, leaning his head into her hands; accepting her comfort and wept.
She pulls him to her, cradling him into her arms; holding him as if she could absorb his anguish.
I watch the scene before me in fascination. I have never seen such a pure display of understanding and acceptance. She didn't condemn him for his sins, or punish him further by shunning him away. She merely wept with him; for his pain, for his loss.
She has never been more beautiful.
I think of the men who have died, the pain of their loss still festering within me. For months I have thought that their deaths were caused by the greed of man; the desire for wealth and power foreshadowing all else. The thought made their deaths feel senseless and futile.
I look at the Colonel, watching his heart break before me.
I know firsthand the lengths a man will take to protect his child, to fulfill his duty as a father; and I ask myself if I would have given my life to save his daughter; to be willing to offer myself as sacrifice to protect this man's child.
The answer is immediate.
Yes.
And I know that my men, the good men that they were; would have done the same. I make a promise to myself in that moment that the men who are responsible for their deaths and for the Colonel's suffering; will be punished.
"Colonel," I rasp my voice thick with emotion. "I will do everything in my power to recover your daughter. I know that you are a good man who was blackmailed into an impossible situation. We all have lost a great deal… and now it's time to settle the score."
I focus my mind on a new enemy, channeling my anger towards them.
Their day of reckoning has come; and I will gladly play executor.
I walk into the conference room, taking my place at the head of the table. I motion for Colonel Davidson to sit on my left, Tank taking his usual seat to my right.
My men stare curiously at the Colonel and myself, trying to decipher the nature of the meeting.
"The mission that you are about to be briefed on is top secret. Nothing we discuss is to leave this room. I will deny any involvement or knowledge of this meeting or of the mission itself. Your involvement, if you choose to have any, is strictly on a voluntary basis."
I nod towards Hector who in turn dims the lights. The image of Jae Davidson is projected onto the screen behind me. The Colonel had received the picture as proof of his daughter's captivity. She was bound and gagged; lying in a fetal position, her eyes wide and pleading.
"Our mission objective is to rescue or recover this young woman… Jae Davidson; Colonel Davidson's daughter." I look into the faces of my men, their eyes widening at my words; their faces quickly twisting into murderous glares.
"She was abducted six months ago from her home in South Korea by a group of North Korean Combatants. She is being held captive because of her relation to an American soldier. They have used her as leverage to gain information into U.S. Army operations."
"I have asked Rodriguez to trace any incoming calls made to the Colonel's cell phone or land line during the last six months and to perform any possible recon from his findings." I motion with my hand for Rodriguez to take the floor.
"I have been able to pinpoint the exact location the calls were made from. Since international calls are banned in North Korea, I was able to narrow the search down to land lines. The calls were placed from the city of Sinuiju, in the Pyogan Providence; more specifically from the Sinuiju Detention Center."
"The good news is that Sinuiju is easily accessed from China through the city of Dandong; by crossing the Yalu River. The river is guarded to protect against illegal immigration, but not heavily. With the man power we have we should easily be able to hold off any attempt of capture. It will also be necessary for us to carry some paper currency in case a bribe is necessary to ensure our safe crossing. The real concern will be the water itself; the outside temperature will only reach a high of 48 degrees Fahrenheit; meaning that water temperature will be just above freezing. Between the rivers current and the freezing temperatures hypothermia will be a risk."
"The compound itself has three guard towers, two guards stationed at each post. Their positions are clearly visible in multiple directions. We will have no problem eliminating them through sniper fire. Once the guards are removed the building itself will be easy to infiltrate."
Rodriguez shifts uncomfortably in his seat, his expression strained; "The bad news is that Sinuiju is part of the Korean Underground Railway; a network that smuggles desperate people, usually fleeing political persecution into China. However, it also is used for…" He looks down at the table, swallowing before continuing.
"It is also used for drug and human trafficking. Women are recruited using coercion, deception, fraud, abuse of power and sometimes outright abduction. They are then sold as sex slaves into China… some for as little as two hundred and sixty American dollars."
Every muscle in my body froze at the implication of his words. The Colonel's daughter may have already been sold into the human trafficking ring. If this is the case, the chances of her recovery are virtually nonexistent.
The Colonel swallowed the bile rising in his throat; his face draining of color. "Do we… is there any evidence of this?" His question sounding more like a plea.
"No, Sir. However, I was also able to trace the mailing postmarks from the envelope containing the picture of your daughter. They have been traced back to North Korea… not China, so I have hope that she is still being held at the Detention Center." Rodriguez added reassuringly.
The Colonel let out a ragged breath, clinging desperately to this last piece of information.
"Well done," I nod in approval towards Rodriguez, grateful for his quick work.
I turn to address my men. "I cannot stress enough the severity of the situation. If the mission is compromised you will not be given quarter. You will be condemned as a spy, punishable by public execution. This mission will not be sanctioned by the government nor will they have any knowledge of it ever happening. If you are taken prisoner, no aide will come to you, there will be no negotiations for your release."
"You have now been given full disclosure of the mission and the risks that it entails…. Gentlemen, the choice is yours."
I look around the conference room, into the faces of my men; waiting for their reply.
"I'm in." Tank said without hesitation.
"Me too, I can't wait to get in a shot at those fuckers." Lester added popping his knuckles.
"Hoo-ah!" Booby chimed in, his eyes sparkling with the thrill of the hunt.
I watch in pride as each one of my men volunteer for the mission at hand. Willing to risk their lives for a child they have never met.
Each man a hero in his own right.
"Thank you… all of you," the Colonel chokes, his eyes shining with humility and gratitude.
"In addition to the Colonel and I we will be selecting six additional men for the mission. They will be chosen based on the skill set we are in need of. You will be informed within an hour if you are to report for duty. The chosen team will leave tomorrow morning at 0500 hours… dismissed."
My men file out of the room, each giving the Colonel an encouraging nod or a comforting pat on the back; leaving me with Tank and the Colonel to choose the remaining unit members. Vince, Ram and Binkie are selected as snipers; each one having had vast military training in the field. Tank, Lester and Bobby will fill the additional infantry spots.
I ask Tank to coordinate with Rangeman Miami and Boston to fill in temporarily during our absence. I give the Colonel a key to an empty fourth floor apartment for his use for the night. I stand to leave but stop as I feel a hand fall lightly on my shoulder.
"Major, you… you didn't tell them what I've done. I can't ask them to risk their lives for my daughter after everything that has happened. I'm not worthy of their sacrifice." The Colonel's voice is agonized.
"Colonel, you only did what any father in your position would have done; as far as me not telling them your role in the situation… I will take that information to my grave." I will not have him punished for the position he was forced into. If the military was ever informed he would be charged with conspiracy and treason. I will protect his secret, knowing the true intentions of his heart.
I turn again, leaving the room. I don't waste any time waiting for the elevator. I enter the stairwell taking the stairs two at a time to the seventh floor. Once again my time with my Babe is limited and I won't waste a second of it.
I let myself into the apartment to see Stephanie standing at the window, staring blankly ahead. Her arms wrapped tightly around herself, as if she is trying to hold herself together. I walk up behind her quietly, wrapping my arms around her waist. She sighs, snuggling back into me. I bend my head, placing a soft kiss at the base of her neck; dreading the conversation ahead.
"When do you leave?" Her voice the softest of whispers.
"Tomorrow." I reply, the knot in my stomach tightening.
She turns in my arms, her eyes searching my face. "I know you have to go… I'm not going to ask you to stay."
I nod, relief washing over me.
"I always knew that being involved with you would mean that I would have to accept your lifestyle… as you have had to accept mine. I want you to know that I will never give you an ultimatum, or make you give up something that is a part of who you are." She caresses my jaw with her fingertips, her eyes filling with tears.
"But that doesn't mean that I'm not scared and after…" her words trail off as she swallows back a sob. She takes a few shaky breaths before steeling her shoulders.
She looks into my eyes with a fierceness that I have never seen before, "I want you to promise me that you will come home… no matter what."
"I promise, Babe," I whisper, praying to God that my promise will not be left empty.
"I am so proud of you, Ranger. Your strength and courage; the risks you take for the welfare of others. You are the best man I know and I am thankful for every moment that I have been given with you. I love you… and I'll be here waiting for you when you come home."
I cradle her face in my hands, using my thumbs to wipe away her tears. My chest aching with all of the emotion contained in it. "I love you Babe, with everything that I am; and I will come back to you and prove to you everyday how much I love you."
I pull her to me; memorizing the feel of her body in my arms. I bury my face in her curls, committing her scent to memory. I hold her tightly, wanting desperately to absorb her inside of me, to carry her with me always.
I bend over slightly, sweeping her up into my arms. I carry her into the bedroom, placing her on the bed. We made love with a gentle reverence. Our caresses filled with promises of our future together. Bittersweet tears trailing down her face as we whispered words of love and reassurance.
For hours we lay holding each other closely. I closed my eyes, reveling in the peace she brings me.
I felt her stir slightly, leaning up to look into my face. I stayed still, listening to her breathe; when I heard her voice, whispering softly in prayer.
"Please God… please protect my soldier. He is the greatest blessing I have ever received from you. Protect him… protect me… because he carry's my heart within him."
TBC…
Thoughts?
*** It is estimated that 800,000 people are trafficked into foreign countries every year. 70 percent of them are women who are sold into commercial sex work. Tens of thousands of North Koreans live in China, more than half of whom are women. According to estimates over 80 percent of them are victims of human trafficking. The facts and places in this chapter are real.
