Chapter Five

Same Day

"I am Captain McCord of the United States Marine Corps." Henry focused on the script they forced him to learn. "I was captured two days ago just over the border in Syria. My captors are requiring a $5 million dollars to be delivered in 24 hours."

His right hand focused on the threads to the rip in his pants. His left pinky tapping on his knee.

Conrad and Elizabeth focused on the video playing on the screen in Conrad's office. The tape had been left with Greg's body. Upon arriving at the office, she was told her bug got them Henry's location and then the video came in. She winced as she watched it. She could tell Henry was in pain. Her body pushed the bile back down into her stomach, her conscience telling her to stay strong. Stay strong for him, for them and for their baby.

"C'mon Henry. Give us something," Conrad whispered. He glanced over at Elizabeth checking to make sure she was okay. Seeing her eyes squint in and hone in on something, he asked, "You okay?"

She put her hand up to him still staring at the screen.

"He's using the threads from the rip in his pants to give us numbers and Morse Code with his pinky finger. You can barely see it," she pointed at the screen for Conrad.

"Seven captors. Old restaurant building. Ankara. In the meat locker. Basement tunnel," Elizabeth said as Conrad leaned in to look closer. "Heads south," he whispered.

"Great an escape route," she huffed.

Conrad looked at her with a sly grin, "Or a way in."

Conrad's new assistant, Lucy, entered the office. They paused the video. "Director Dalton, you are being called to the Situation Room."

Before leaving, he turned to Elizabeth, "I'll keep you posted."

She sat down in Conrad's chair staring at her husband on the screen, knowing he was in pain and praying he was still alive. With nobody in the room, the tear fell again, as clear as the others, but with more hurt than before. This one she felt, as she prayed to his God, "Please bring him home alive.

He winced in pain as Saslov kicked him repeatedly on his left quad. He could have sworn he was trying to break his legs so he couldn't run. His boot getting closer and closer to the place Henry dreaded he would go. He'd like to have more than one child if he made it out of here. As in every beating, he was chained up on the wall, a sign that they were fearful Henry would take over Saslov and escape. Although, Henry was not quite sure that was still the case now. He was growing physically weaker as the lack of fluid and nutrition was beginning to hit him.

"Where is it?" he held up the photo of Greg and Judy again. "Where's yours?"

Henry gave him no answer. He would rather die than give her up. If he survived this one last beating, he knew survival was imminent. There was not a chance in hell he would ever give her up to them.

He pulled the whip from the side wall and lashed Henry across the chest, the tip of whip hitting his chin cutting him. As the blood dripped down his chin, another lashing came across him. Henry bit his lip to prevent screaming. He would remain silent.

He stared back at his captor with eyes of steel, never giving into him. The torture made worse by the jangling of both Greg and Henry's dog tags around Saslov's neck. He only stole Henry's during yesterday's beating when he kicked him on the side of his leg and felt them in his pocket. It literally had taken him that long to find them.

Henry focused in on them as he plotted getting them back. While he kicked and punched him in his gut, Henry kept his mind on getting that photo and Greg's dog tags back to Judy.

His sides were on fire as the guard threw him back in the cell. His back slamming against the cold, damp wall. He felt the pain in every bone of his body. The thick scent of death still filled the room as it had permeated the walls. The guard said nothing as he slammed the cell door closed and put a new lock on the chain. Still a combination lock.

He thought to himself, "What is it with these guys?"

Henry watched him closely looking for any escape possibility. He knew one more day and he would not make it. He was getting to a breaking point. Hopefully, the video would help his escape, but if not, he had to find a way. There was no chance he was ready to leave this life. He would not leave Elizabeth and Stevie behind not now, not ever. He crawled his way over and quickly changed the combination again.

He often fell asleep after the torture, the pain just too much for his body to take but today he fought it. Today, he found it in himself to stay alert and strong. He looked around the room observing everything even though it was empty. He measured the room in his head trying to figure out how much room he had, the corners, the mess on the floor from Greg. It made his stomach turn but he knew he had the strength to do this. He had been doing what he was trained to do and he wasn't going to stop now. If they came for him, he could help. If he had to do it on his own, so be it.

Gazing around, she came back to him. Her eyes permeated his soul every time she glanced his way, her voice softly finding that place in his heart nobody else could go, her legs that stretched for days. He shook the thoughts of her legs off because they would lead him to the place he just couldn't go right now. She smiled at him, the smile so bright it would light up the world. Someday it will. It there was no way he wouldn't be there for that.