When You're the Target
Chapter Eleven

"Cho! Come here. I need you," Patrick called out.

"Cho, quick, get in here," Lisbon called.

Cho entered the door and noticed the stables to the right, and the steep wooden stairway, descending into darkness. Patrick was standing with his right foot on the first step and his left foot still on the landing, in a very awkward position.

"We've checked the stables and this is where the photo was taken. I started to go down these stairs, and when my weight was on the first step, I hear a click. Remembering what you said about booby traps, I think I've just stepped on one." Jane was looking very unhappy.

Cho, on his hand and knees was using a mirror on a extendable shaft to look at the situation. "Yes, you have stepped on a pressure release explosive," he confirmed.

"Now what?" Jane's voice was calm but slightly stressed.

"Now, I disarm it," Cho replied, squirming around Jane and putting his weight on the third step. He carefully lowered himself into the stairwell and spent a few silent moments. He stood up and held the infamous Bouncing Betty, a munition that had sent many a foot soldier to the next world. "Good to go. The rest of the steps are clear."

Patrick grimly continued his downward journey. "It's eighteen steps," he called up. "I'm looking for a light, hold on." He muttered an unintelligible expletive and then said, "OK, found it. Come on down.

The team, with the exception of Cho eased down the narrow stairway and found themselves in a narrow walk way with doors containing a small window on either side of them for several yards. Grace advanced and looked into the nearest room. "Oh, my," she said trying to pull the door open. It creaked and opened allowing her go go in. "It's OK. We're here to help you," the team heard her say, followed by a burst of incomprehensible syllables.

"Cho, come down here. I think we need you to translate for us," Lisbon called up the stairs.

oOo

The five rescued Korean girls were huddled together, outside of there prison building. Grace had found a water source and the dehydrated hostages were gratefully drinking. Cho was reassuring them and getting as much information as he could. It seemed that they spoke no English.

"They don't know how long they've been here, but it sounds as if they have been used in some sort of sex trafficking angle," Cho said. Soo-Kyung, here," he said pointing at one of the frightened girls, has been here the longest. "She said that when one of them dies, she's replaced and they have to train her. I get the feeling this is a regular occurrence."

"Can they walk to the SUV," Lisbon asked. The sooner we get out of here, the better I'll feel."

Cho turned and spoke to them, receiving a quick reply. "They say they can walk. They want to leave as soon as possible, too."

As they started to leave, a shot rang out, the bullet smashing just above one of the girl's head. "You can't have them," they heard a faint voice call. "They are mine."

A second shot rang out, hitting one of the girls in the arm, spinning her around. "NO! You son of a bitch, you can't have them," Jane screamed, throwing himself in front of them.

Another shot and Jane was picked up and thrown three feet, landing heavily on the ground. By then, Rigsby had started returning fire in the direction of the shots and Cho had leveled the big M-14. Peering through the scope, he began a slow steady rate of fire, of what seemed to be endless rounds. The M-14 bucking and then settling back into firing position. After what seemed to be an endless time, the slide on the M-14 remained back. Cho ejected the 30 round magazine and slapped in another. They all waited, but all was silent.

"Jane," screamed Lisbon. "Jane," she said running to his prone figure.

He unsteadily sat up. "Damn, that hurts. Did you get him?"

Lisbon gave a huge sigh of relief and a weak laugh. "You really did wear you vest, this time. AND the first thing you do is complain and then you ask if we got him."

"Cho, did we get him," Lisbon spoke into her radio.

Crackling back, came the reply from Cho. "There's a little blood, but no sign of him. He'd planned his get away and his firing point. What he had not planned was our fire power."

"Roger, Cho. Get a sample of the blood, check for any evidence, and let's get these ladies to a hospital. Along with Jane. I think he's got a broken rib."

Cho drove the SUV up to the makeshift prison. Lisbon and Grace help the ex-hostages get in. Cho stared at Jane as he slowly walked toward him.

"I told you not to get shot," Cho said deadpan.

"I know, Cho, but, you see..."

"Shut up, Jane. Get in. Next time. Don't get shot."

oOOo

A/N: It just wouldn't end! But at last. Maybe with the blood sample, and the current hide out, they'll get enough evidence to find him?
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