Chapter 21
Gina's speedboat went into service again, only this time the four were on their own. The sun was setting as they left, but by the time they reached Grand Isle it would be dark. As Sam steered the boat toward their destination, he kept an eye out for other boats, specifically pirates. When they completed their mission they would have to traverse the dark ocean without escort, and the thought of a chance of running into some again wouldn't leave the back of his mind. At least this time they had plenty of gas and more horsepower to outrun them if necessary. Still, their first objective was to rescue Mick and his family, and then they had to get off the island without anyone in their team or the subjects of their mission being killed or injured.
He pulled the boat into a cove near the north end of the city. The water was shallow enough for them to hop out and wade to the shore, and they left the boat anchored there. "Mike," Sam stepped up on the beach and stood beside Michael, and he spoke softly so Fiona couldn't hear. "I think Fi should stay here and guard the boat."
"No, everyone's going into town. That's the plan."
"It's probably a whole lot less dangerous for her to be here than in the thick of things. She's got a baby to be concerned about, you know."
Michael glared at him in the dim light from a shielded flashlight. "You don't have to tell me that. I tried talking to her, but you know Fi. She threatened to kick my ass and go without me if it came down to it, so I really didn't have much choice."
"Okay. Once things get hot and heavy, we're not gonna be able to watch over her."
"She wouldn't want you to. Let's go." With the aid of a GPS system, they found their way through the thick vegetation and found a narrow road that brought them to the city.
It was an hour shy of midnight, the streets were deserted. They walked down the sidewalk on one side and kept out of the spill from the few street lights that worked. Even in the dimness, Michael saw landmarks he remembered from the last time he and Fi were in this part of town. "We're on the right track. It's this way." He spoke with a whisper, and he beckoned them forward. Everyone picked up the pace to keep up with him. Headlights moved down the next street, and Michael pulled up short, ducked back into the shadows, and everyone flattened themselves against the wall to avoid being detected. A lone car passed and continued southward.
"That was close," Sam muttered. "Where's the station? How far away is it?"
"Just down this block."
"Crap, that car stopped at the jail." Sam held Michael back and they peered around the corner.
A figure stepped out of the back and dragged another out behind him. The second figure stumbled, hunched over, and from where the group stood, his moans were audible.
"Sam, it's Mick."
"Wow, if that's the reward for doing the local mob boss's bidding, I'd hate to see what he does when somebody screws up!"
"Are we going to stand here all night?" Fiona whispered harshly.
"Let's go," Gina rasped. She ran her fingers over the safety on her weapon, eager to get in and get out with Mick and his family.
"Just wait." Michael ordered. "Let's see if this guy leaves. The fewer people we have to fight, the better." He paused and glanced at the glowing hands of his watch. "Besides, any minute now, law enforcement, such as it is, will be called to the presidential palace to handle a disturbance. That'll clear out the station."
Michael was right. A few minutes later, the sound of feet running echoed up the narrow street, bouncing off the stucco walls. Several officers ran out the front door, got into vehicles, and drove toward the center of the city. The black sedan remained behind. Michael muttered something and stood in thought a moment.
"Michael, if those men are still in there, we need to know where they are," Fiona said. "Then a little grenade lobbed in the right place can take care of our adversaries. After that, we go in, open the cells, and get everyone out."
"That's a good idea, but you're not going out there," Gina said. "I'll do it. I can get down low enough to look through the windows without being seen, and I can scoot away fast if necessary."
"Gi..."
"It's okay, Sam. I'll be fine." She held out her hand and Fiona gave her two grenades. "Wish me luck!" She ran across the street and got down as she neared the station windows. She flattened herself up against the wall and looked inside. Then she ducked down, passed the window and carefully peered over the edge.
"She's taking too much time," Michael murmured. He watched her stop under the second window. She turned toward them and held up four fingers. "There are four guys in there."
"Two grenades, she should be able to take them out," Fiona said.
"As long as the people we want aren't in the way," Sam said as he watched intently and tried to steady his nerves. Until she was safely beside him and they were back in Miami, it was a lost cause.
Gina tucked her gun into her waistband and held one grenade in each hand. She pulled both pins, tossed one through the first window that was open, and she got up, ran toward the other and threw it with enough force to crash through the glass. She made it around the vehicle in the street before both of them blew in quick succession. The explosions squelched the cries and shouts coming from inside the building, and afterward the only sound was that of dogs barking in the distance.
"Okay, let's go in and get them," Michael ordered as he led the way.
Gina joined them in their trot across the street and entered the smoky front room, or what was left of it. Two shredded bodies, one dressed in a suit and the other in an island police officer's uniform, lay on the floor. Sam checked them and found there wasn't much left for them to be alive. He followed the team into the jail area.
"Fi, work fast."
"Of course, Michael." She had her tools ready, and in the dim overhead lighting she picked the locks in a matter of seconds. Beyond the door were three cells with their own doors. Mick and Moniqua were housed in one cell, and the children kept separate, with an empty cell in between them. Fiona freed the adults, and Sam took care of the cell with the kids inside.
"Sam, let's grab them," Gina said as she entered the cell and picked up Henri. Sam took Debora, even though the girl was old enough to walk on her own. They needed to leave immediately, and a balking child would only slow them down. The scared kids clung to them.
Moniqua stood in the hallway and wrung her hands as Michael and Fiona helped Mick to his feet. "We are grateful for your assistance, Michael, but my husband, he cannot walk on his own."
"Don't worry, we'll get him to the boat." Michael looked up at Sam. "Can you check the guy in the suit for car keys? Maybe we can use his vehicle to get us to the boat."
"You got it." Sam put Debora down on her feet and hurried into the front room to rifle through the dead man's pockets. The others came out. "Nothing. He must have left them in the car. I'll check."
"We'll stay here until Sam gets back." Michael held them back from the door as Sam scurried around the car to the driver's side.
He reached in through the open window and felt around the steering column. Then he straightened and beckoned them outside. "Come on! The keys are in it!"
Cautiously, the small group headed for the car. Fiona and Michael supported Mick, and Moniqua and the children followed, while Gina covered their backs. Michael opened the back door, ushered them in, and then he and Fiona shoved Mick inside. It wasn't gentle, but they had no time for treating anyone with kid gloves. They needed to get back to the boat.
Shots rang out, and Sam returned fire down the street. Michael, Fiona, and Gina all fired back at the officers running toward them. Two went down, but three more continued to close in. A few soldiers joined the posse.
"Fi, give me one of those grenades," Michael exclaimed and instantly felt the smooth metal in his hand. He pulled the pin, aimed and threw it purposefully into the middle of the group. It exploded and caused people to scatter. "Okay, everybody get in!"
Sam took the driver's seat, Michael and Fiona squeezed into the front passenger seat, and Gina stuffed herself into the back with the family. It was a tight fit, but as long as it got them to the boat, they didn't care about a little discomfort. As Sam turned the car in the narrow street, Gina swiveled around to face the back window. One of the shots hit it and shattered the glass. She shrugged it off, while Moniqua screamed and ducked.
"Keep your heads down!" She fired a steady stream until she ran out of bullets, and by that time Sam raced up the street and left them in the dust, but not for long. She grumbled, seeing headlights coming after them. In the confined space, she turned her head and yelled, "Sam, they've got vehicles coming after us! Give it some gas!"
"Hey, this car's a piece of crap, I can only go so fast!" He neared the end of the road and came to where the narrow trail led through the brush to the beach. "And we're out of road!"
"I don't care! Just go for it!"
"Gi..."
"Just do it, Sam! For crying out loud!"
"Backseat driver," he muttered and, despite his misgivings, he put the pedal to the floor and sent the vehicle plunging into the thick vegetation. Branches scraped against the paint, emitting a nerve-wracking scream. The car bounced and jumped on the uneven path. A branch snapped off and hitched a ride on the hood. Everyone braced themselves to avoid being bruised too much by the jostling, until they finally reached the beach. Sam put the car in park and everyone tumbled out of the vehicle.
"Okay, everybody on board and let's get out of here!" Sam got out, opened the back door and grabbed Debora. Henri slipped out after her, and Gina slung the empty gun across her back before picking up Henri. They loaded the kids onto the boat.
"Come on, Mick. We'll get you on board." Michael and Moniqua held him up, while Fiona kept an eye on the clearing they made. "Michael, they're closing in. We've got to make this quick!"
"Okay." Michael picked up Mick and carried him in his arms. He stumbled a little in the water, but he got him to the boat. "Sam, can you give me a hand here?"
Sam and Gina were in the boat, so they both reached down and lifted Mick from their friend's arms. They laid him on the bench seat, helped Moniqua up and then Michael and Fiona climbed aboard. Fi kept her eye and her gun trained on the new road they created. A vehicle scraped through just as Sam fired up the engines.
Gina lifted the anchor and a shot whizzed by her. "Sam, get us out of here!" She dropped the anchor in its storage place and picked her way over the bow to get back to the others. Two more bullets passed by her. Sam turned the boat abruptly, causing her balance to shift, but she'd spent many an hour on the boat when Trent was alive. She still had her sea legs and quickly compensated for the change. Something else she was familiar with, a hazard of the job of an agent, was the searing pain of a bullet slicing through flesh. It hit her leg like a hot railroad spike, penetrating muscle and exploding out the front of her thigh. She couldn't stop the cry of pain.
"Gina! Get us out of here, Sam!" Fiona cried out and rushed forward as Sam opened the throttle.
Gina fell into waiting arms, and Michael and Fiona lowered her to the deck. Michael asked, "Where are you hit, Gina?"
"My leg," she groaned in reply. "Oh, that really hurts!"
"Mike, is she okay?" Sam yelled over the roar of the engines.
Michael stepped up to the help. "Don't worry, Sam, we'll take good care of her. Just keep this thing on full speed and get us back to Miami."
Sam turned his head but couldn't see anything in the darkness behind him. The flashlight was inadequate. "I think everybody better get down below deck."
"You're right." Michael returned to the bow and said, "Moniqua, take the kids down into the boat. Fi and I will take care of Mick and Gina."
Gina spoke through gritted teeth. "Michael, I think I can make it down there on my own. Really!"
"I'd rather that you didn't. Just hang on. We'll come back for you."
The entrance to the lower deck was narrow, which made it more difficult to get Mick inside. Fortunately, he was conscious now and was able to assist somewhat. They settled him into a chair and went back for Gina. When they arrived topside, they found Sam ducking and bullets flying from somewhere behind them.
A storage locker on the deck contained more guns and ammo, enough for a small army. Michael and Fiona grabbed fresh weapons and perched on the bench seat, then fired back.
"Sam, can't you make this thing go faster?"
"I'm trying, Mike! I've got it open all the way!" He began swerving in tight curves, hoping to evade the bullets and create a wake that would throw off the other craft.
It didn't take long for the firing to taper off. "Good work, Sam! I think they're giving up." Michael got up and went to get Gina from the deck. "How are you doing, Gina?"
"Hanging in there, Michael." She removed her shirt during the firefight and used it as a compress against the front of the wound, but the material was completely soaked through. She gasped when Michael lifted her, threw her arm around his shoulder, and he helped her to the stairs. "Michael, please..." She collapsed in his arms, dead weight dragging him down.
"Michael, is she..." Fiona stood by, helping him get her up again.
"Just unconscious. Fi, help me get her down there." He bore most of Gina's light weight, but Fiona grabbed her legs and helped get her below deck.
Sam was alone topside, but he was too worried about navigating back to Miami to be concerned. So far the pirates seemed to be in hiding or slacking off. He glanced down and in the glow of the dials and gauges, he saw that they still had a half tank of gas, plenty of fuel to get them back even at full throttle. With an eye on the GPS, he kept them running through the night. He wished he could go down and check on his wife, but he had a job to do. He couldn't even let himself become distracted by her injury, or he would ease off and put them all in danger. Not that they were truly safe yet.
He peered into the darkness to the right and saw a large outline coming straight for them. It was a cruise ship, but Sam knew he could evade it without trouble, and they were out of its path in seconds. Still, the encounter didn't do much for his nerves.
"Sam, how much longer before we get back," Michael asked as he suddenly appeared beside Sam's elbow.
"Jeez, Mike, you almost scared me!" Sam returned his attention to the blackness ahead of them. "We should see some lights in about an hour, and pull into the dock in two. How's Gina doing?"
"She's losing blood, but it's not like she won't survive." Michael placed a reassuring hand on his arm. "She'll be okay. I'm going to go back down and see if Fi needs any more help. Yell if you need anything."
"Will do, brother." He was grateful for Michael checking on him, but Sam wished he'd given him more details on Gina's condition. Everything he said was far too vague for his newlywed heart. This is it, no more of this crap. I'm not going to be a widower before I've barely had a chance to be a husband! No, Mike would have told me if it was that bad, and he would have taken over driving if he thought she was dying. He checked the board again, making sure they were on course and had enough fuel to make it home.
"How is she, Fi?" Michael asked as he went below again after checking on Sam for the second time in an hour. They were on radio silence, so there was no way for them to call for help unless it was absolutely necessary. Michael wished they could call and have an ambulance waiting, but he hoped that Pearce would have ordered one just in case.
"I wrapped the wound in a sheet and tied it as tightly as I could. I think it's working. She's out right now." Fiona shook her head. "She needs medical attention as soon as possible. How much longer before we reach the shore?"
"About a half hour We can see the Miami skyline from where we are now. I'm going to go up and take over for Sam. I think his nerves must be about shot worrying about Gina. At least he can be with her then and comfort her."
"Good idea." She looked up at him, a protectiveness mirrored in her eyes. "You should have spelled him a long time ago, Michael."
He was so focused on the mission and getting away, and Sam was doing such a good job accomplishing that goal, he didn't consider it necessary to change anything. But Fiona was right, he should have taken over the helm. Michael went topside and stood beside Sam.
"Hey, why don't you let me take over? We're almost back, and I think you need a break." In the glow from the instruments, Michael saw the anxious expression on his friend's face. "Go ahead. I can get us back."
"Okay, Mike. Let me know if you need backup or anything."
"I'll be fine." He took the wheel from Sam and let him pass, then concentrated on the lights he saw in the distance getting closer with each minute.
Sam went down the stairs and found Mick and his family huddled together in the galley dining area. Everyone looked scared, but good. Mick bore the bruises and scrapes from his ordeal, but it was nothing that a few days' rest wouldn't cure. The bedroom door was open, and he peered through to see his wife lying on the bed. Gina was pale and still, and for a moment, his heart skipped a beat. She looked dead.
Fiona got up from the edge and came to him. "Sam, she'll be okay. Once we get her to the mainland..."
"How bad is it? Don't lie to me, Fi."
"The bullet went through and tore up a lot of muscle. She was bleeding pretty steadily until about an hour ago, when I got it under control. She's been out most of the time, so she isn't in any pain." She laid a tender, but blood-stained, hand on his arm. "She's tough. She'll make it."
He was too overwhelmed to respond, so he sat in the place that Fiona abandoned, picked up GIna's hand, and stroked it as he silently prayed that she'd make it. He felt her pulse, but it seemed strange, as if it wasn't really hers. It was his, and he was keeping her alive. But that wasn't true. He only wished it were, because then he could heal her and be assured that she would survive.
Not long after he took up his position, the boat slowed, startling them. "What's happening?"
"I don't know. Maybe we're bacK?"
"I'll go check. Fi, you stay here with Gina." Sam turned and rushed up to the deck. "Mike, what's happening?"
"We're here." He pointed toward the lights of Miami and the marina coming up fast. He turned the boat into the area, found the slip, and pulled in. "Okay, let's get Gina out of here first. Then we'll worry about Mick and his family. They're safe now. No one's going to hurt them."
"You'll get no arguments from me!"
Michael turned off the boat and quickly tied the craft to the dock. Meanwhile, Sam and Fiona worked to get Gina up on deck. Then he and Sam lifted her up to the dock and carried her to the end. Just as he'd hoped, an ambulance waited along with a few cars and Agent Pearce. She watched with mixed emotions as they brought Gina to the end of the pier.
"What happened? Where's the Benwije family?"
"They're still on the boat. Fi will get them off," Michael answered, incredulous that she didn't even ask about their fallen team member. "Gina needs medical attention."
Paramedics took her out of Sam and Michael's arms and laid her on a gurney. They rushed her to the waiting ambulance. Sam watched her go, then turned to his friend. "I'm going with her. I'll see you later."
"Sure, Sam."
"Don't forget you've got a debrief," Pearce barked.
"I wouldn't miss it for the world... after I know that my wife is okay." Sam retorted and got into the ambulance.
The doors closed on him before she could reply, and the sirens screamed into the night.