Chapter 20: The hostages
"What's going on?"
I have no idea" Clay opens the door slightly " but probably best if we don't stay here"
"I have a room upstairs on the second floor" she suggests "plus I have my gun up there too"
"Okay.. we'll head up there and then assess the situation" he's trying to assess the situation quickly trying to work out what might be going on
"The stairwell to the second floor is at the end of the corridor."
"Okay ... I'm gonna call Jason first see if he has any idea of the situation"
"Hey Jason its Spenser.. where are you?"
"Spenser where are you? You got any idea what's going on?"
"I don't know we're up on the balcony floor"
Clay cracks the door slightly and looks out. He can see across the far side of the galleria "Oh ... Okay I see you! You're across from where we are"
"We? .. Who's we?"
"errrm CJ. she was in the corridor too when the shots went off. She has a room on second floor 254 we're about to head there via the stairs"
"Okay we'll meet you both up there... Spenser.. becareful!"
The floors on the hotel go around in a square with elevators in the middle and 2 stairwells either end to all floors. They cautiously make their way to the second floor.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
Jason calls Eric "What's happening, where are you?"
"I've been evacuated out of the building. I was outside getting some air at the time. I can't get access back in"
he looks around as people scatter in all directions
"from what I saw multiple unknowns my estimates from visuals 8-10 armed hostiles have control of the lobby and Gala room. Look Jason... I'll return to base and set up a command and coordinate with you from there"
"Copy that. We gonna need to get some equipment. I'll once we have a further Sit Rep"
"Jason ... Davis and Trent are still in the gala room"
"copy that" he sighs "for now the only comms we have are mobiles. mines on silent"
"copy on route. Once I get command established I'll get back to you"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-
C.J goes to her case and get out her gun "that's all we have for now"
Jason, Ray and Sonny arrive at the door.
"OK what do we know?"
"looks like some heavy-duty tango... Eric gave an estimate 8-10 have control of lobby and Gala room. There's some pretty important people in that room. My guess is this well planned attack. There'd have been more gun fire or explosions by now is this was random terror nut jobs making a name for themselves... Blackburn's setting up command and gonna get back to us"
They're all thinking and the room has gone quiet
"C.J what do you know about the people in that room? we got any V..I ...VIPs?"
She thinks "errrm.. " she rubs her head thinking "its mainly military personnel. Then few peripheral Diplomats and other standard admin personnel... Oh and the UN commissioner didn't attend but it was known he wasn't attending"
"Okay... so who we are looking at being most senior VIPs in there?"
"errrmm... " she closes her eyes "let me think ...Probably ...errrm Admiral Cage, Fleet Commander Jones …" she shrugs "and oh and of course my Father, Admiral Lewis" she sighs as she looks at them all listening "..they're the most senior ranked there"
"Did Davis and Trent get out" Sonny asks
"No according to Blackburn, they're still in there" he looks at Sonny "Don't worry we're gonna get them out"
They sit in the room on the floor. Waiting for Blackburn's call back. Finally after what seems ages, the phone goes.
"Eric ... What you got for us?"
"OK so far info is very limited. We've got no proper numbers or who. Jason what do you need from me?"
"We need some gear comms, weapons. Main problem is how to get it through as the lower floors and stairwell are guarded"
Clay looks out the window "how about the roof?" he looks up "I mean they prob gonna cover the lower floors the way this hotel is set out If they cover the lower then it's pretty much no one in or out and its a too thin spread to cover all floors. What if we go to the roof?"
"Errrm yup but how that gonna help with getting the kit on the roof?" Sonny frowns
"Well with all the News crew choppers out there perhaps Blackburn can get a drop without any suspicion? we can go up there and retrieve it?"
"Yep sounds like a plan" Jason agrees "Ray... you, Sonny and Spenser make your way to the roof Take this it's all we got the moment he hands them the pistol"
"No wait" C.J rummages under the bed for Christian's suitcase "his pistol" she pulls out "OK that's better than nothing I'll keep that here with us"
Sonny undoes his tie and shirt buttons takes off his jacket and rolls his shirt sleeves up "Remind me next time you take me to a party to come dressed my way"
"I'll take her and we'll go to the galleria see if we can get a sit rep on what's going on"
He phones Blackburn "OK the guys are on their way to the roof now let me know when the gear is on it's way"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
C.J rummages in her case and pulls out some black combats her trainers and a vest top
"What are you doing?" Jason looks puzzled
"Getting changed. I'm not running around dressed like this" she laughs
She strips off to her panties and pulls her combats on and goes to unbutton her shirt she stops "turn around"
"turn around? What do you mean turnaround?"
"I mean turnaround!" she laughs "Jason... "
"C.J are you serious the amount of times we've..." he shakes his head "and you want me to turnaround?"
"YES! Turnaround look we're not...seeing each other now.. so... "
He does as he's told "turnaround she said...she has to be kidding right?" he shakes his head He might have turned around but he watches her in the mirror on the wall.
As she's changing and takes her blouse off he sees her bare skin. He frowns for a moment noticing her sides and back have red bruising.
She quickly pulls her vest top over her head "Okay all done you can turn back now" she smiles she knows she's annoyed him
He puts his hands on her shoulders. She shrugs him off "Jason…don't"
"don't... yeah but first... " He pulls the side of her top up to revel her side "... what's this about?"
"What's what?" She pulls her top back down "oh that... It's nothing!"
"C.J don't bullshit me" he turns her round and lifts her chin "Did he do that to you?..I saw him.. saw how he had hold of earlier... did he do this?"
"No!... don't worry about it... its fine. I must have knocked it. It bruises easy these days"
"CJ ..That's bullshit and you know it... why would YOU cover for that asshole"
She doesn't look at him but pulls her top back down further and shakes him off "right I'm ready are you?"
She ties her hair back into a pony tail
Jason's shaking his head and inside he is seething that Castle has hurt her. "we're coming back to this conversation!" he shakes his head "..OK let's go!"
They head back down to the galleria floor
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
They silently sit by the wall in the dark. They can just make out the Gala room below.
Jason's phone vibrates he whispers, "Eric. What you got for me?"
"Jason... It's a bureaucratic bullshit nightmare up here at the moment. Everyone jocking to be in charge. There are some seriously important people at that function so I'm doing the best I can to get a hold on things"
"Are they aware that we're on site?"
"Not yet I'm waiting till I see what the chain of command is first before I let them in on that fact.. but in meantime what do you need from me"
Jason gives him a list and they plan that they'll chopper in the supplies to the roof.
Spenser Ray and Sonny are in place to retrieve the drop.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"What are they doing?" Jason comes back to where C.J is watching
"they seem to be organising the hostages. They've split them into men and woman... they know what they're doing. They know to contain that many hostages for any amount of time is not without complications" she looks at Jason "Looks like they pulling out some key people now"
Jason nods "Him! with the beard... he looks like he the big cheese. He looks like he's the one giving orders" he watches beside her "What you think terrorist group trying to make a statement? or something more political and organised... there are some big military names down there?"
"I don't know seem quite well organised for just a random terror statement! I mean they haven't just come in and started shooting which would be more that style. I get the impression they want something or someone"
Jason leans against the wall thinking. C.J lays on her stomach to get closer to peep over the edge of the balcony. There about 20 men to the side by the women her attention is diverted as she spots her father and she lets out a long sigh!
They start pushing other people forward out of the larger group.
"They look like they're choosing who they want... Him with the beard...Watch!.. he's definitely looking for someone"
Suddenly there's a lot of shouting and a panic in the room ensues as they open the main doors to the gala room and start herding the men out. Some are resisting at having to leave wives and partners behind.
"What are they doing" Jason lays beside her
"I don't know? They seem to be letting some of them go by the looks of it" she frowns "They're narrowing it down they've pulled some some key people out that they know the authorities will want to negotiate for but with less hostages.. there's less chance of someone playing hero!"
There are 30-35 men in the group left now she notices Christian is one of them
"there any connection with who they have picked? You got any ideas?.. you know these people better than anyone" Jason gets a photo and sends to Blackburn
"No connection I can think of so far. They're all quite high ranking so . . the obviously know who they're targeting" she frowns "They're doing the same with the women now!"
Jason spots Davis as one of the hostiles stands near where she is
"go past!...Go past" Jason's willing him to let Davis go. He stops and nudges the woman next to Davis pushing her to one side.
The woman starts to scream and cry "please please I'm pregnant please don't please don't do this!" she's sobbing and making a lot of noise The bearded guy walks over and slaps her
"shut up"
she can't and just keeps crying.
Davis tries to calm her "it'll be fine... Just do as they say and it will be fine!... just stay calm"
but the woman is shaking uncontrollably and still crying. "Take me instead" Davis says.
The bearded guy looks her up and down staring. eventually fed up with the crying noises nods in agreement and they push Davis to the side with the smaller group
"Shit what's she doing?" Jason frown he leans up to look
"Jason.. " she pulls him back down afraid he might be seen "..She made a good call...hey you know I'd have done the same thing right?" She smiles.
He nods "Yeah I know!"
She puts her hand on his arm. "You'll get her back"
The bearded guy is now going up and down the group of women and the other hostiles are shaking their head's. Suddenly he fires a gun in the air.
After the initial screams the room quieten's down
he begins to shout "I am looking for ...Catherine LEWIS!"
C.J looks at Jason
"Catherine Lewis are you in this room?"
All the women let out a collective sigh they look at each other but try to stay as silent as possible.
Another Shot rings out. "QUIET Ladies...please. I want to help you all get out of here safely, but for that to happen I need to find who I'm looking for so please.. just give her up now or if you know where she is then it's in your best interest to point her out to me! Do you understand?" he pauses and looks round the room is silent "give me what I want, and you can go free! .. you have my word"
There's Silence.
"No? You're not going to show yourself to me Catherine?" he pauses "Very well .. your choice... the consequences are on you"
They start to file the remaining woman to the other side of the room checking each one they all shake their heads. They've not found what they're looking for.
"Bring him"
Admiral Lewis is brought to the front "Where is she?" He doesn't answer "I said, where is she?" he still doesn't answer
Christian steps forward "she's not here"
"What's he doing? "C.J looks confused
"I don't know!"
"She won't have left the building. Search for her" he nods "I want her found"
They clear the other women out of the main doors. Soon the really large room is cleared with only around 70 hostages remaining, they're made to sit down at the back
Jason leans against the wall thinking "Why do they want you?" he's puzzled
C.J shrugs "I don't know"
"Come on C.J... you must some idea what this is about? ... they're specifically asking for you?"
Jason's phone buzzes "hey boss its Ray we got the drop. We're now making our way back down to you. Sit tight"
"okay thanks Ray .. Ray be advised you may have hostiles on route but I don't think they're aware we are here"
C.J nudges Jason" LOOK!" she points there one of the hostiles they recognise the face its Brent Reagan
"What the fu… what's going on?"
She shakes her head and sighs. She leans back with her head against the wall.
She bites her lip and starts thinking
"okay CJ come on ... What are you not telling me, here?"
She closes her eyes and sighs again. She looks at Jason as she decides that she may have to explain some things
"I think it's to do with the list!"
"List? ... what list?... The list Mandy's has?"
she nods
"what's it got to do with those lists.. and you?... we got most of the targets on those lists. What have they got to do with you?"
She sighs and takes a breath rubbing her head in her hands before speaking
"No.. what Mandy has... thats just part of the list... My father and I were..." she swallows "... working on some lists higher up the chain" she pauses again "I really shouldn't be telling you this Jason but you need to know" she sighs "is a list of .. officials, officers, connected people who are errmmm... taking bribes, selling arms adjusting arms contracts to under the radar weapons shipments...Jason this went a lot higher than some drugs cartel payments and a few rogue agents"
"what the hell?" he frowns at her
"obviously .. someone wants that list gone...My errmm... father found out when they tried to recruit him... they needed his authorisation on a contract so he started do delve deeper" she leans her head back on the wall. "It got my mother killed...it's gonna get me killed" she shakes her head and rubs her chin
"So why didn't your father act on the list take it where it needed to go? .. get these people stopped!"
She closes her eyes with her head still leaned on the wall "because we still haven't worked out how far up this goes... we were never sure where the top of the chain was"
she turns and looks at Jason
"So where is the list now?"
She bites her lips she's not sure she should tell him "Its safe... on a flash drive"
"You've got it?"
she takes a moment. She looks sideways at him.
He nods and pulls her towards him and puts his arm round her. They're both now starting to feel tired and they close their eyes for a few moments.
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
The rest of BRAVO arrive back from the roof. They have weapons and Comms. now
They get set up "that feels better" Sonny says as he pulls a black t shirt over his head and puts in his comm earpiece in.
Its all quiet on the lower deck and they all sit and take a moment
CJs starting to feel tiredness creeping in again. She sighs and rubs her head.
Jason spots Christian on the ground floor "So how you meet that creep anyway?"
she frowns "Who?... Christian?... I told you .. Vegas!... no I wasn't joking" she smiles "seriously? ... you wanna know? why?...He came up to me bought me some drinks. I was there meeting up with an old girl friend at a party" She frowns "... We got talking and he said he was in the Navy2 she sighs "Several drinks later...well I don't really remember how the rest happened" she laughs "we woke up married" she shakes her head " anyway at the beginning we got on.. and my Father liked him!" She laughs "yeah really!...he thought he did well to keep me in check after everything" she shakes her head "some reason my father couldn't see it ...he was just playing him for his promotion"
"So, when he start with his fists"
she shakes her head and closes her eyes "it wasn't really like that... he gets jealous... that's al! and you know how I can push peoples buttons..." she laughs "...we started to argue and fight alot.. the fights just got bigger" she shrugs "and then stuff happens... I was... "
They stop talking as there's shouting down below as they drag the Admiral out of the group again.
"CATHERINE ...I hope you can hear me. I need you to show yourself"
He forces her father on to his knees in front of him as he points a gun at the back of his head.
There are further screams in the room.
Bravo sit up to look as much as they can from the darkness of their vantage point
"Catherine!... Show yourself!..." he listens for any noises "...for your Fathers sake"
She closes her eyes.
Clay looks at Sonny "you think he's gonna do it?" he whispers
"Let's hope not!"
"SHIT!" she panics "Jason... I have to go!"
She starts to makes a move to stand up but Jason grabs her and holds her down. He puts his hand over her mouth
"Shhhh!.. CJ calm down.." he whispers in her ear.
He turns her round so she sitting with her back to the scene below "CJ.. look at me!... Hey come on ..look at me!"
he still has his hand across her mouth so she doesn't make a sound while he tries to get her attention "I'm gonna take my hand away but don't say a word just look at me"
He gets in her eyeline. He can see her in the low light of where they're sitting. "Listen... You go down there... you're both dead!..You know that"
he takes his hand away slowly. He nods and she nods back. "Your father's not gonna want that"
"Now listen... I need you to focus. Just look at me... don't take your eyes off of me!
She tries to look back at the scene below. She's breathing much deeper now.
Jason takes a grip on the back of her head holding her fixed in front of him.
"I'm warning you Ms Lewis ... SHOW YOURSELF NOW"
"Focus here on me" Jason tells her. He can guess from experience what's about to happen. "I'm here... Just keep looking at me!"
Her breathing gets deeper and slower with every breath until she thinks she might stop breathing.
They both close their eyes and he leans his forehead on hers.
He can feel her start to shake "It's Okay... keep focusing on me"
He takes a deep intake of breath as a single gunshot rings out.
She jolts at the sound.
She's now shaking uncontrollably. The lump in her throat makes her hold her breath it hurts so much. Large tears roll down her face.
She can't open her eyes. she can't breathe and she just wants to scream
Jason's still holding her head against his. "Breath I've got you" he whispers.
She sucks in her tears trying to not make a sound. He kisses her. His softness on hers "sshhh!... I've got ya'"
The guys all look at each other then the floor.
Jason closes his eyes and pulls her in tighter and holds her his arms wrapped around her "I'm so sorry"
"BRAVO 1 this is HAVOC sit rep update copy" Blackburn comes across the comms. Jason needs to focus he needs to do his job
"Ray!. "he calls behind to Bravo 2 "Just take her!"
He wants to hold her, but he knows if they're all to get out alive he has to do his job now
"Yeah Sure thing!..." Ray wraps her in his arms "C.J come on!" he's unsure what to say to her but he takes her to one of th side door way and sits her down. Ray looks back at Sonny neither know what to say.
Jason needs to focus. He takes a deep breath. He has to act as leader now, he has to get everyone out safe
"HAVOC this is bravo 1 copy"
"We just received a video message online. Can you update with sit rep and confirm what we've seen"
"HAVOC please be advised..." he looks over at CJ "... Admiral Lewis is dead "
Ray sits with her. Holding her.
She can't breathe she's starting to have a panic attack
He doesn't know what to say so he just holds her as she cries into his shoulder "come on.. just breath!... I've got ya"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
"Search the floors and FIND her... she's here somewhere"
"Looks like they're on the move" Sonny says to Jason as they see movement downstairs
"OK they gonna be coming! Lets even the numbers up Assuming they don't know we're here let's use that to our advantage"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o
She's sitting quieter now by the wall her head in her hands gathering her thoughts. Ray sits back down beside her
"Hey" he hands her some water he found in one of the rooms. She takes a sip "How you doing now? "
She nods "Yeah I'm okay!"
he smiles and slumps himself down against the wall next to her. He's quiet for a while before he speaks
"So your husband..." he looks at her and frowns "said you've got a kid now?"
She doesn't look up just sits hugging her knees "he told you that?"
"yeah! yeah he did... gotta admit took me a bit by surprise when he mentioned it.. can't say I ever imagined you with a kid " he laughs
She smiles "No guess not..." she carries on thinking
"What's he called? .. your boy"
she turns her head sideways to look at Ray. Still resting it on her knees. She bites her lips thinking before she speaks
"Ummm!... Jaycee" she smiles at Ray.
he frowns
"see what I did there?" she laughs "C.J .. J C ?"
Ray smiles at her and nods "Oh .. I get it"
He thinks for a minute before speaking again "ermmm..." he coughs "...He also told me... it wasn't his kid" He chews his inside lip thinking watching her reaction.
She gulps and looks at Ray "he told YOU that?" she frowns. She's not sure how to reply
Ray nods."yeah he did!"
She sighs, scratches her head and runs her fingers through her hair before she lets out a bigger sigh.
They both sit silent. She's thinking whether to answer but she decides not to.
He puts his hand on her knee. She puts her hand on top of his and feels the softness of the back of his hand. She's gently rocking and wipes a tear away.
She leans her head on his shoulder and sighs
"We gonna get home to our kids" he reassures her.
She Nods.
Their moment gets interrupted.
"How you doing?" Jason smiles at her and puts his hand on her cheek.
she nods at him "I'm Okay!...I just wanna get out of here now!"
"Yeah I know.." He rubs her cheek "we're going to... we just need to clean this mess up first.." he looks at Ray " So you up for setting a mouse trap?"
Her and Ray frown at him not sure what he's talking about
He smiles "come! Get up! .. Let's go do this!"
o-o-o-o-o-o-o