Chapter 41

Myles and Jack leapfrogged around the side of the house, one man providing cover as the other moved a few yards forward. Passing each other like this was slow and tedious, but necessary to ensure their safety so they could help their co-worker and friend. They moved closer to the house and farther towards the back where they knew their suspect was heading—with Sue.

Peeking around the corner, Jack stopped in his tracks holding his hand up to prevent Myles from following. Sue was standing on the patio, not thirty feet from him, surrounded by Marcus Montega and his men. She was looking out over the yard and didn't see him, but when she pushed her hair behind her ear, he saw the bruise forming on her face.

That monster! Jack raged. He could feel Myles tense beside him as he saw the young blonde's cheek. For someone as sweet and gentle as Sue, both men were furious that Montega, or one of his men, had laid a hand on her. As much as they wanted to take Montega now, Sue was in the way and could get hurt if the others weren't ready.

Looking down the back of the house passed where Sue was standing, Jack saw Craig and Johnson crouched behind some bushes, moving into position. Craig acknowledged Jack' presence as they awaited his signal to move.

Jack knew Bobby and D were also somewhere in the yard, but couldn't give up their position in case Montega saw them. From years of working with them, Jack knew they'd be ready as soon as he said move.

Turning his attention back to Montega, Jack felt Myles put out a restraining arm as they watched Montega run his hand down Sue's upper arm. Jack and Myles didn't like the way the man was looking at her, but knew they had to wait. Hopefully, the wait wouldn't be long because their patience was wearing very thin.

From their vantage point, Jack and Myles watched as the group began walking towards the pool with Sue and Montega arm and arm. When they got far enough down the path, Jack signaled for Craig and Johnson to follow. He couldn't risk using the radio to signal Bobby and D. All of them would have to rely on training and instinct to make this work as the men moved in behind the unsuspecting foursome.

The next several seconds went by in a flash, but for the agents, parts of it seem to go in slow motion. Just as Jack, Myles, Craig, and Johnson got into position behind Montega and his goons, Bobby and D popped out of some bushes to their left.

"F.B.I., freeze!" all six men shouted together.

While his two henchmen realized it was futile for them to fight and raised their hands in surrender, Montega jerked Sue towards him reaching for a gun in his pocket and snarling, "Come any closer and she's dead."

Sue, not being able to hear the actions behind her, was taken off guard and stumbled heavily into Montega throwing him off balance. The agents watched in horror as Sue and Montega went flying head first into the pool. While the other four agents quickly put the other two men into custody, Jack and Bobby stripped off their helmets and vests diving into the pool after them.

The impact of hitting the chilly water had gotten Montega to release her. However, the cold shock, coupled with the jarring of her sore muscles as well as the overall disorienting nature of water, made Sue panic. I have to get away from Montega, Sue thought frantically in the frigid water.

She felt someone grab her and in a frenzy lashed out blindly with her fists connecting enough to feel the hands release her. Struggling to surface, she couldn't get her bearing in the thrashing water before two powerful arms locked around her upper body, pinning her arms to her sides.

Fighting him, she was fast running out of air when she felt herself being propelled forward, breaking the surface of the water. Gasping and still partially blinded by the water, she threw her head back connect with her captor's noise.

She felt the grip on her loosen and spun to get out of the tight hand she felt on her arm. It wasn't until she felt the hand on her face pushing her wet hair back that she brought her hands up to wipe her eyes and realized her underwater captor was only trying to help.

"Jack," Sue hollered, throwing her arms around his neck almost making them go under again. Jack wrapped one arm around her, using the other to keep them above water.

"Great, now she hugs me," Jack joked over Sue's shoulder to the rest of the guys, his nose smarting.