Time seemed to move in reverse but Luis was finally able to remove the wire from the door and fasten it safely to the doorframe so that he could open the door fully without bumping the wire. "OK, Jillian I'm going to look around. In case anything happens I want you to stay here. I'll be back for you if the coast is clear." Luis whispered.
With that he once again opened the door and peered out to see if anybody was in the next room. Once he thought the coast was clear he stepped into the room taking notice that there was guns and c4 explosive next to their cell door. Also there was only one other door besides the one that lead back into the cell. He approached it with caution once again slowly turning the latch and opening the door just a crack.
The black of night greeted Luis's eyes and it took another moment for his eye to readjust once again. He saw another building almost like an old storage facility but it was converted into what looked like living quarters. A man was pacing outside the building with what looked like an ak47.
Knowing that there were sure to be more people in the building Luis shut the door carefully and made his way back to Jillian. As headed back to the cell he notice the other wall of the tin shack was loose and sand had been piling up for quite a while it looked like. Luis went over to the wall and found that someone had done quite a bad job of fixing a weathered hole in the tine and with a little force Luis was able to bend back the tin just enough for them to squeeze out. Luis smiled to himself and quickly got Jillian.
When the cell door opened so quick Jillian jumped back her first thought being that they caught Luis looking around. "Jillian, We're outta here!" Luis spoke excitedly. Jillian felt relief flood her body and quickly got up and followed Luis out of the cell. She watched a Luis carefully moved the grenade from the door of their cell and to the other door hooking it up so it would go off went somebody entered. Luis then grabbed one of the handguns laying on the table and an extra clip.
Then he bent back a piece of the tin wall and helped her crawl out. The cool night air hit their bodies and immediately they started to shiver. "Well now where?" Jillian asked "Well see that colorful haze over the hills of there?" Luis pointed before he continued "There's nothing out here but desert and Vegas. So that's got to be the lights from the strip. We'll head that way and I'm sure we'll find a road or something and be able to get help." Luis smiled at her "Let's go!" and the two of them started to melt into the black night.
After making a quick stop by Nessa's place they were off to check out his lead. Nessa sat next to him quietly looking at him. "Would you stop that." Ed said to her. "Ed, I'm sure Jillian's fine. And I'm sure she'd be mighty upset at you if you went and did something stupid. Said like, kill the wrong person." Nessa told him. Ed gave her a stare "If they hurt her in anyway death is the least of their worries." Ed stated. "Well all I'm trying to say it let's make sure it's who you think they are." Nessa spoke back.
Ed just looked back at the dirt road they were now on. "We'll go from here on foot." Ed said as he pulled the hummer over. They both got out and Ed opened up the back hatch and proceeded to hand Nessa an assault rife and nightvison goggles. "Bugger! Ed I thought we're going to check a lead out maybe do a little B & E but you look like we're going to war!" Nessa said surprised. "I'm like a boy scout. I'm always prepared." Ed said back and slammed the hatch shut not waiting for Nessa to catch up as he started off down the road.
Ed and Nessa hiked off the road for about 15 minutes before they came upon an old block of storage buildings. Up front was a boarded up building that looked like it was used for the office area before this place went out of business. Behind that were 5 rows of storage units stretching back what looked like a few acres. Off in the distance there shown a light from the farthest structure. "That's where we have to get to." Ed said as he pointed to the lit building.
Nessa started to walk down towards the group of buildings when she heard a soft click. "Don't move!" Ed stated. He slowly came up besides her and knelt down lightly sweeping some dirt from around her boots. Through the starlight lens in his goggles Ed clearly made out a triggering device for a land mine. "Nessa, don't worry this isn't a big deal. Just don't move, I'll disarm this thing just give me a minute." Ed spoke very calmly.
Nessa just stood there frozen in place to her what felt like hours. She felt her legs starting to shake and even though the night air was cool beads of sweat rolled down her forehead sliding into and stinging her eyes. She heard Ed mumbleing softy about kicking the person's butt who place this thing. Finally she heard the snip of some wire and Ed stood up next to her. "There it should be all set. Just give me a moment to back away." Ed told her. "Ooh These wankers are going to pay." Nessa said and slowly lifted her foot up.
The silent of night greeted their ears. Ed let out a baited breath "Ok, let's try and be a little more careful from now on." Ed smiled. Nessa looked at Ed with a look of annoyance "You were holding your breath! You didn't have a clue if you had done it right." Nessa shot back at Ed. Ed smiled faded and he replied "Well, it's been a few years but hey! It's like riding a bike it just comes back to you." With that Ed made his way in front of Nessa and began to lead them through the field.
Sam let the time melt from one hour to the next thinking about what Dave Reisneck told her about her relationship or lack there of with Danny McCoy. Ever since her traumatic childhood when the person she had shown affection to was brutally killed. Ever since then she made only one rule that she always followed nobody protected her but her. She knew she could only rely on herself so nobody got too close she wouldn't allow giving up any of control to anyone.
Then there was Danny, with his alarming good looks his killer smile and a boyish charm that completely disarmed her. He had gotten closer than anyone had before and the sneaky thing was she hadn't even notice till it was to late. He had her forgetting about her rules and brought her out of her protective shell to live life. He never asked for control of her life, she had slowly just giving him some and in return he protected what little she gave.
As Sam worked through her turmoil of feelings and thoughts Danny kept a close eye on her and the surrounding people. A few times he called up to the watchtower but no leads as of yet. Another group of cheers went up from the craps table as the Reisneck brothers high five'd each other, must be one heck of a run they were on Danny thought. The table was packed with players and watchers, this in turned made it hard for Danny to keep a close eye on every bit of action that was happening. A man slowed down when walking by the craps table to take a look and the enjoyment of the people around. Danny noticed a tattoo of a snake wrapped in the American flag on the guy's neck. It looked familiar so he called it in to the watchtower to have a check done on it.
While he waited for a reply he glanced once more in the direction of Samantha. He caught her looking at him again, but pretended not to notice because every time her reaction was the same she looked away quickly. Sam was one female he just couldn't figure out. A beautiful young vibrant woman, some one who showed the world that she controlled everything that happens in her life.
Yet he knew that wasn't the case, the very few times she let her guard down with him he saw what the real Samantha was like and that's what made him want more. However from dealing with her for about six months he knew not to push and that in her own time she would come to respect him to let him in even more. It wasn't like he didn't have his fare share of problems either, mostly stemming from his relationships with the opposite sex.
Delinda was hot and fresh and all about the animal attraction. Mary was the best friend somebody he leaned his whole world on. In times of trouble he knew she'd be there, but that in turn made a relationship with her impossible. A buddy she would always be to him, his rock, his little sister. Nessa, she was the exotic import with that voice that drove him up the wall. With what little he knew about her, she had it rough before Ed took her under his wing.
Then there was Sam, she took control, did what had to be done to get where she wanted to go. When she first started working here he had a chip on his shoulder about her using him to get information about clients. Yet as time wore on he continued to notice that she kept changing, started to ask for help on the small things, delegating events and such to Mary and hung out with the girls. The girls helped her tough exterior start to break down and she slowly let people in. It was so similar to himself it was scary; on the surface Danny was an easygoing fun loving guy. But other than Mary nobody knew the secrets and trouble he'd been through and seen. However he felt that out of everyone Sam would know how he felt. Plus, Danny thought... she's sexy as hell!
His phone beeped and Danny answered it. "Hey, Danny. That tattoo you asked us about it's the mascot of sorts for that group you guys have been tracking down." That's where he'd seen it from before. The guy he tackled earlier had one on his forearm, "Thanks! Sent some people to craps pit 11" Danny replied and hung up the phone.
Danny slowly started moving towards the gentleman watching the Reisneck brothers, making sure to keep out of the guy's direct line of sight. As he moved around the table Danny noticed the guy creeping very so slowly towards Sam. Just as he was about to grab the guy's arm the Reisneck brother's crowd sent up another cheer. In a split second the guy was out of reach and next to Sam grabbing her around her waist.
Sam was watching the brother's amazing winning streak when she looked up to find Danny. She was surprised not to find him at his post scanning the crowd, she then looked around herself and found that he had made his way to the other side of the table. Just as she made eye contact with him some man grabbed her around her waist and shoved a knife up to her throat.
Mary had finally gotten off her call from the police station and found out that the two officers in question were found dead in an alleyway off the main strip. She was coming down from Ed's office to ask the guys to call up Danny so she could relay the information when she got a front row seat to the problem happen in pit 11. There was a man with a knife to Sam's throat and Danny standing in front of them with an outstretched hand. "What's happening?" Mary exclaimed to nobody particular. She watch helpless as the Montecito security staff sprung into action. While one was calling the police others were getting the plain-clothes team to escort guests away from pit 11. Still others were in contact with the pit boss down at pit 11 effectively shutting down gambling at that pit and moving more guests away from the action.
Down in the pit Danny's training took over he calmly asked "What is it that you want?" the man looked at him with a cold stare and answered back "All we want is freedom from government. We the people should have our freedoms!" Danny slowly kept walking towards him brushing guests back and out of harm's way. "This is America. I thought everyone was free already?" Danny asked sincerely as possible. "No we are just pawns in the governments game. They watch over everyone and break into our private lives. We no longer have our freedom, it is a thing of the past." The man replied back.
Danny looked past the guy and in to the scared eyes of Sam. He felt for her terror, he didn't know what he'd do if he lost her before telling her what he needed her to hear. All he needed was a second. Just one moment of time and he could resolve this thing without Sam getting hurt. From past experience he knew the longer this went on the more tired everyone got, mistakes were bound to happen he just needed to make sure the mistake that would be made was not his.