The Family

Chapter 5

…

There was power in the dead man's final words. "Too late." Defeat. Anguish. The realization of how much you can love another human being. Losing Deeks would be a loss too deep to be tolerated. Joe had felt that kind of loss before. Then, after he'd released his rage, he had accepted it as truth. His brother Christopher, dead in Iraq. Taken by a faceless enemy working in the emptiness of an unfamiliar land. This time he refused to take the dead man's words as truth. He could see the same determination on Elan's face as he tried to comfort the woman he loved. They owed Deeks their lives. Elan spoke to her in Arapaho, and she stepped back and spoke sharply in French. Joe had no idea what either one had said, but the look on their faces matched his own.

"Don't believe him, son," George called out. "Marty's tough. You find him. Bring him home, son. Bring him home."

"Go, mon coeur," Lily said, and kissed Elan on both cheeks. "I will only slow you down."

No other words were needed. Joe retrieved the horses while Elan picked up a couple of the assault weapons from the ground and shoved in fresh clips he pulled from the bodies.

"Whatever it takes, boys," George said gruffly, a command they took to heart.

Elan threw Joe one of the assault rifles without a word and leaped onto Crow's back. He dug his heel into his side, and the black horse exploded forward as if he knew what this mission was all about. Joe's mind filled with memories of the first time he'd worked with Marty. Along the way they'd become as close as brothers. He was family now, and that thought pounded through his brain as he followed Elan into the trees. The pace was punishing, but he didn't mind. It just hardened his resolve. The tracks made by the ATVs were easy to follow and they rarely paused, charging through the forest until his chestnut gelding slowed down and whinnied.

"Elan! It's Sheila," Joe called out and turned toward the wayward horse.

The mare's reins hung to the ground, and she seemed winded and agitated. Joe jumped down and quickly examined her tack.

"No blood," he said as Elan rode up.

"We'll come back for her," he replied.

Joe took the time to give the mare some water before he tied her to a small sapling. Crow was pawing the ground, as anxious as his rider to be off again. As he mounted up, his mind turned to what might have happened during the firefight. There must have been more than just a couple of men to pull Deeks off his mare. He wasn't wounded, at least not yet, and Joe struggled to push the darkest memories away. Deeks had suffered brutal torture before, and the thought that someone was torturing him now made him wildly angry, the power of that anger ripping at his heart and his sanity.

"Breathe, Cuz," Elan said. "Focus."

Joe simply nodded and kicked his horse, surging past Elan, feeling a desperate need to find Deeks before he suffered any more pain. By the time they reached the site of the firefight, both horses were lathered up and needing a blow. There was a small creek and Elan allowed the horses to take some water, but he refused any for himself. He slid from the saddle and moved into the aspen grove. Joe knew he was looking for the tracks of the men who had done this.

"Got a body," he called out. "Make that two. Not Marty."

The beauty of the bright yellow leaves of the aspen seemed to mock the darkness of death. The odd thought struck Joe as he followed the smell until he saw Elan hunched over the two dead men laid out side by side.

"Deeks shot this one at close range," he murmured. "Must have got the other one when they started firing on us."

"Elan?"

"Yeah?"

"Hear that? ATV coming."

The two men instinctively split up. Joe hurried back to hide the horses, while Elan disappeared into the undergrowth a short distance from the dead men. Joe quickly returned and dropped to the ground on the other side of the bodies to wait, his heart pounding in his ears. He could hear the two men talking as they parked the ATV a short distance away and started searching.

"They're supposed to be around here somewhere," the driver said.

"Heard Soji was pissed," the second man said. "Guess it wasn't part of the plan that the dude would shoot back."

"Supposed to be a Fed," the driver said. "Should have known the guy would shoot back."

"Soji got him anyway. By now he probably wished they'd killed him."

"Come on CJ. Don't tell me things like that, man. I don't want to know," the driver whined as he walked into view.

"Better get used to it if you plan on sticking around. They threw Cecil out of the helicopter at two thousand feet. A warning to the rest of us, I guess."

"What kinda warning?"

"The don't screw up kind."

"There they are," the driver said. "Let's load 'em up and get the hell outa here."

"That's not happening," Joe said as he stood up pointing an assault rifle at them. "You're both under arrest."

"We didn't shoot 'em," the driver said.

"If you knew where the bodies were, then you're involved," Joe said. "I suggest you toss any weapons you might be carrying. I wouldn't want to shoot you before you give me some answers."

"We ain't sayin' a damn thing," the man named CJ said.

"Wrong," Elan said as he rose behind him, pressing his knife against the man's throat. "Where did they take our brother?"

"Shit!"

"You'll be doing that in your pants if you don't answer the question," Joe said. "Now where did they take him?"

"They'll kill us if we tell you," CJ said.

"We won't tell if you don't," Joe said. "But you'll live a little longer right now if you tell us where he is. We don't have a chopper to throw you out of, but Elan has incredible skill with that big knife of his."

"Tell 'im, CJ."

"Shut up, Wayne."

"Does that mean you don't know the answer, Wayne?" Joe asked, growing more irritated by the second. "That makes you expendable. What do you think, Elan?"

"Shoot him if you want," Elan replied. "I don't care. I just want to know where Marty is, and I don't care which one of you tells me."

"He's never had a lot of patience," Joe said. "And mine is at an end."

He fired a round between Wayne's legs and the man wet himself and instantly raised his hands high over his head. "Please, man. I'll tell you where I think they took him...but I'm not sure. Okay? Just don't shoot me. Okay?"

"He's not gonna shoot you, Wayne. He's a cop," CJ said.

"I'm not a cop," Elan said, and suddenly drew his blade along the man's jaw.

"Sonofabitch!" CJ screamed and tried to stem the instant flow of blood.

"Where's my brother?" Elan growled and pushed him to the ground.

Elan straddled the man and shoved his face into the soft dirt. "Tell me, CJ. Or I'll go with what Wayne has. Guess who's expendable then?"

"There's a cabin east of Mowry Peak, just below the small meadow there," CJ said in a rush.

"I know it," Elan said. "It's Ike Powell's elk camp. At least that's what he calls it."

"He's a pothead with pothead friends," Joe added. "No one's seen him for a couple of months. You wouldn't know anything about that, would you CJ?"

CJ glowered at him when Elan yanked him up and shoved him into the nearest tree. Joe brought the horses over, anxious to get going. He tossed a lariat to Elan who quickly began tying CJ to the pine tree.

"What about me?" Wayne whimpered. "Are you gonna shoot me now?"

"I'm a cop, Wayne. We don't shoot people unless we have to," Joe said. "So don't make me have to, okay?"

"Okay."

"Now tell me how many men we'll be facing up at that elk camp."

"Don't know for sure, but I do know Soji will be there," he said. "That guy's mean as hell. Japanese or Chinese or something. Not sure. He's kinda weird. Don't talk much."

"How many men, Wayne?" Elan growled as he grabbed him and pressed him into the trunk of a ponderosa pine.

"Okay, okay. Four maybe…I think," he said as Elan began tying him up. "I don't know man. I just started workin' for the old man a few weeks ago."

"What old man?" Joe asked.

"Shut up, Wayne." CJ said. "They find out you talked, they'll get to you and cut your balls off. Which is what they're probably doing to your hippy friend right now."

Joe strode over and hit him square in the face, smashing his nose into a bloody mess.

"Let's go, Joe," Elan said, as he mounted Crow.

"If you're thinking someone will hear you yelling, assholes," Joe said. "Just remember. The bears aren't hibernating just yet. If they hear you, they might just come investigate. They get close, they'll smell your bloody nose, CJ, and the two dead guys. Very enticing to a hungry bear. Lots of other varmints too."

Joe smiled briefly at them and mounted his gelding. Elan shook his head and cut up through the trees toward the ridge. Joe followed with a growing sense of dread.

…

Deeks woke for the second time and immediately felt the cold. His pants were gone, and he was trussed up with his arms between his legs, his wrists tied to his bare ankles. It was a very uncomfortable position to be in, and he cursed under his breath, not wanting them to know he was conscious. Someone had taken his parka and his flannel shirt, leaving him shivering in just a t-shirt and boxers, and without shoes or socks. He had some recollection of the jarring ride here in the back of an ATV, but when he'd made a smart-ass comment, he'd been silenced with the butt of a Glock. Now he was on the ground freezing, trying to see who these guys were. He'd been to a couple of elk camps, so he recognized the setup, although this one actually had a solid looking cabin tucked back in the trees. What held his attention was a structure nailed between two pines. Blood streaked the two-by-fours that connected them. Joe had told him that hunters sometimes packed a whole deer or elk back to camp and hung it up to dress it on a form like this one. The idea had always bothered him. He couldn't help but feel sorry for the dead animal. Now it gave him chills.

He sensed someone behind him and tried to prepare himself, finally opening his eyes. A man dressed in black stepped over him and squatted down to stare into his face. He held a knife in his hand. It was black too.

"What do you want?" Deeks asked as more men came up behind him.

The man in black was Asian, and he made no reply, he simply cut his ankles free, but left his hands tied together. The men behind him grabbed his arms and began dragging him toward the structure nailed to the trees. He stumbled on the rough ground but was determined not to submit without a fight. He took a deep breath and pushed back, his anger exploding along with remembered fear. The Asian struck swiftly, first with his fist and then a shocking and powerful strike with his elbow, hitting him just below his left eye. Deeks dropped to his knees, very close to passing out. The man's follow up kick was precise, leaving him breathless and choking. Bright sparkles danced through his vision as he wretched.

"Tae Kwon Do?" Deeks finally gasped, spitting blood into the dirt at the man's feet.

"Bajiquan."

"I'm more of a Tai Chi person myself."

"That is only half true," the man said. "In your soul you may desire that, but you are a warrior. You met violence with violence. You shot my man without hesitation. Although your inner being may have both yin and yang, today we saw the brightness of death."

"It does seem to clarify things," Deeks said. "Now maybe you can tell me why I'm here."

"Are you in a hurry to suffer, Agent Deeks?"

"Not really at the top of my list," he said. "What will I be suffering for?"

"You will see, but I do not like to rush the process," the man said. "There is a certain beauty in extended suffering."

"Without a reason?"

"To encourage willingness."

"Why don't you show some and tell me your name," Deeks said, trying to sound confident.

"Soji."

"Like the screen?"

Deeks saw a brief flash of irritation, and immediately felt a heavy boot in the middle of his back. The Asian nodded and he was immediately on his face in the dirt struggling to breathe. The men held him down while he was doused with a bucket of freezing cold water and ropes were tied around each ankle. He was shivering by the time they flipped him onto his back. He was muddy and pissed. Although his hands were still tied together, he managed to slam his fists into the face of the one man stupid enough to get too close. That man's kicks were anything but precise. They were brutal.

His mind was foggy as they cut his hands apart and yanked off his wet t-shirt. He was in no shape to resist as they tied ropes to each wrist. When they began hauling him toward the rack attached to the trees he panicked, desperately fighting until Soji silenced him with a blow to the head.

When he came to, he was dripping wet, ice cold and disoriented. And hanging upside down. His legs were spread wide, his ankles tied to the cross beam above him, and his arms stretched out to either side. His torturer was sitting cross-legged in front of him.

"Sonofabitch!"

"Tai Chi, my friend. Tai Chi," Soji said with a smirk.

"Fuck you." Deeks hissed. "What now asshole?"

"Now we wait," Soji said. "But first, a small but painful demonstration of the suffering to come. My assistants will do the honors."

The ropes tied to his wrists began tightening as the men pulled on them until his arms were almost out of their sockets. He was screaming before they finished. Soji seemed to enjoy it, looking him over as if admiring his handiwork.

"What the fuck are you waiting for, you piece of shit?" Deeks shouted.

"For your weaknesses to show," he replied calmly. "For the pain and exposure to the elements to make you eager to tell us the names of everyone who knows about our existence here. Your family. Your friends. Those are the names you will give us. When they are dealt with, we will let you die in peace, relatively speaking, of course."

"Why? None of us ever did anything to you, so why?"

"Because it is in our best interests," he said. "Your Arapaho friend and the old cowboy are already dead."

Deeks was stunned. Elan and George…gone? No.

"You're lying," he said, even though he had tears in his eyes.

"The truth of death is hard to reason with," Soji said softly. "It does not matter whether you believe it or not."

"I'm not telling you shit," Deeks said.

"Yes, you will. Maybe not right now, but eventually you will," Soji said. "The wind is coming up, and it's getting cold. But of course, you know that."

As Soji stood, his fingers trailed up his chest and his belly, his hand finally coming to rest between his legs. Wild memories exploded in Deeks' mind. He squeezed his eyes shut, panting hard and trying to endure the haunting flashes from the past. He heard the man whisper something in his own language before his warm hand lifted.

"Impressive equipment, Agent Deeks. Yet so vulnerable. Take this time to think of the suffering to come when your boxers are no longer there to give the illusion of protection," he said softly. "I will be in the cabin making a call to Mr. Taft. He is quite anxious to meet you. He thought you might be lying about being a federal agent, but I will assure him you were telling the truth. I have your badge. It will be a fine gift for our patriarch."

As the man walked away, he searched for something to say, to prick the bastard just a little bit, to make him doubt. But nothing came to him. He had endured torture before, and he would do it again. He was determined not to give him any names. His family was a precious part of him. Good people. His people. Honorable. Honest. Caring. They were home. And that was the truth he clung to as he endured the pain and the cold wind whipping around him.

…

They left the horses tied up in the trees at the base of a rugged cliff face. They moved silently, Joe with his scoped hunting rifle and Elan with an AK-103 he'd lifted off one of the dead men. Joe hadn't hunted with Elan in a while and had forgotten just how silently he could move when he needed to. They had followed the ridge line and dropped down just south of the elk camp. Joe now figured that Ike, the owner of the camp, was probably dead and buried somewhere around here. He was anxious to reach Marty before the same thing happened to him. He didn't know how he would cope with losing him. He loved the dumbass.

Elan raised a fist and dropped out of sight. Joe moved up next to him and stopped. Voices carried up from below them, but they couldn't quite see the entire camp just yet. Elan signaled for him to move to his left. What he saw took the air right out of him. He bit his fist to keep from shouting out a curse. Elan was suddenly beside him, and his expression was lethal. Joe put a restraining hand on his shoulder, and Elan dropped his head and released his breath slowly, trying to control his emotions just as Joe was doing. Then they heard Marty scream, and Elan was gone, moving silently away through the undergrowth. Joe worked his way slowly down the slope and set up behind a downed pine. He brought his rifle up and settled the scope on the face of an Asian man with his hand between Deeks' legs. That must be Soji, the man Wayne mentioned. Joe hated the man instantly and was seething with anger by the time the bastard walked away. He turned to focus the scope on Marty's face and would never forget the torment he saw there. He was in pain, but there was something else. There were tears in his eyes, but a rigid tension in his jaw. Determination. His brother was a tough sonofabitch.

Joe lowered the rifle and counted the number of men in camp. He had no idea how many were in the cabin the Asian had gone into, but three lingered outside by the fire pit, talking and stoking the fire with an iron poker. He was an officer of the law, but this was about family. He wasn't in the mood to arrest these bastards. They had come after his father and his brothers. Their intent was clear. There was no reason to believe they would surrender peaceably. He swung the scope toward the cabin just as the man Soji stepped outside. He looked completely calm as he pulled on a pair of black leather gloves and walked toward the fire pit. He leaned over and took the poker out of the fire and examined it.

"You must be very cold, Agent Deeks," he called out. "While we wait for Mr. Taft, I thought you might welcome a touch of heat."

Joe felt a jolt of searing anger as the man stalked toward his helpless brother, the glowing tip of the poker pointed at him. He lined up a shot but held fire when he saw Elan step from behind a tree and move directly in front of Deeks. He shouted gruffly in Arapaho and charged the man. Soji quickly assumed a formal battle position and grasped the poker in both hands, raising it to strike his attacker down. Elan suddenly dropped to his knees, and slid under the poker, grabbing the man's wrists with one hand as he buried his knife in the man's gut with the other. Soji looked surprised, the poker falling from his hands. Blood bubbled from his lips as he slowly sank to the ground and fell over in the dirt. The men by the fire looked shocked but scrambled to grab their weapons. Joe shot them down one by one before they had a chance to fire a round. Then he was galloping down the slope to help Elan cut Deeks down.

"Hey, brother…best surprise ever," Deeks said, grimacing as Joe released the tension of the rope around his right wrist.

"Easy, Cuz. We got you," Elan said as he untied his other wrist. "Hold him, Joe. I need to get his legs free."

Deeks groaned as he wrapped his arms around himself, trying to get warm. His skin was icy cold, and he was shivering badly. Joe held his head and shoulders close to his chest as Elan slowly lowered each leg. When he was finally laying on the ground, he cried out, and Joe looked up to see pure outrage in Elan's eyes as he knelt beside him.

"He told me you were dead, Elan," Deeks whispered as he covered him with his parka. "Is George…is he okay? Soji said they killed you both."

"George is with Lily, Cuz. He's okay," he replied. "Are you?"

"Not sure yet," he said, "but I'm a hell of a lot better than I was before you two rode to the rescue."

"We both owed you one, Cuz," Elan said, and gently squeezed his arm.

"Feel like getting up?" Joe asked. "We need to get the hell outa here before somebody else shows up."

"If you two give me a hand…and maybe some clothes," Deeks grimaced as they helped him to his feet, blowing out his breath and holding onto Elan to steady himself. "How the hell did you find me?"

"A couple of guys came to recover the bodies of the two men you killed," Joe said. "We were there first and questioned them. They told us where they'd taken you."

"Joe tried to shoot one of the guy's balls off, but he missed," Elan said.

"On purpose, you dumbass," Joe sniped. "You almost cut the other guy's throat."

"Should have," Elan said softly.

"I missed you two," Deeks said with a soft grin. "And thanks. I wasn't looking forward to another conversation with Soji. He was a creepy bastard."

"Now he's a dead bastard," Elan said, spitting into the dirt.

"He was waiting for a guy named Taft," Deeks said. "For some reason they want to kill us. All of us."

"That's not exactly working out for them…whoever they are," Joe said. "Did that Soji guy say why?"

"Something about it being in their best interests."

"Then we better find out whose interests he was talking about," Joe said, as he walked over to search Soji's body, taking a shot of his face with his iPhone. "Your Office of Special Projects might be interested in running a few names and faces now that these guys messed with their favorite special investigator."

"Well, this special investigator is tired and ready to go home, sit in front of the fireplace and have a beer," Deeks said. "Hanging upside down doesn't live up to the hype."

"Who the hell hypes that?" Joe asked, smiling at him.

"Not me," Deeks said. "Not anymore."

"You're weird, Cuz."

"Maybe, but I'm alive."

…

…