I decided to post an additional chapter this week as my present to you! Merry Christmas!
"Reid and Charles walked into the hotel wearing coveralls and carrying bags and started toward the elevators. A few moments later, Reid announced over comms that they were in place.
With the key cards in hand, Mitchell and Alex started toward the elevator. "We have a room on the same floor where they're holding McDeere. We are heading up there now."
They stepped onto the elevator and pressed the button for the 24th floor. A man stepped on just as the doors were closing. "Looks like I made it just in time," he said.
"Dad, when the meeting's over, can you take me to the mall?" Alex asked.
"We'll see how long things take," Mitchell said.
The man turned toward Mitchell and grinned. "They grow up so fast, don't they? I mean, one day, you look at them, and they're like a completely different person."
"So true," Mitchell said, smiling back at him. When the man turned back around, Mitchell turned to Alex and grimaced. Alex curled her lips to keep from laughing.
The elevator stopped. "Well, this is me," the man said. "Have a good day."
"You, too," Mitchell said.
Alex allowed herself to laugh. "I'm sorry, that was just too funny."
"If I hear about any of this, I will blame you!" The door opened, and Mitchell hesitantly stepped off. "Okay, we are on the 24th floor."
"You're clear," Charles replied while sitting cross-legged on the floor of a janitor's closet.
Reid opened the door to the staircase and walked past the man in a dark suit. He then quickly turned around and shot him with a stun gun. He caught the man just as he started to fall and laid him on the ground. "The first guard has been neutralized." Reid then ran up the stairs.
Mitchell and Alex started down the hallway and then stopped. Alex looked up at the security camera. "I'm waiting for you," she whispered.
"Hold on," Charles started. "I'm placing the call now.
"Are you sure this is going to work?" Mitchell questioned.
"You will be surprised with the things we can get away with."
"Okay, go," Charles instructed.
Alex went to the hotel room door and put her room key in the slot. The red lights flashed. She did it a couple more times. She then yelled, "damn!" and hit the door with her open hand. She then jammed the key card in the slot, moving it in and out several times.
Suddenly the door opened, and she stumbled in. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "What are you doing in my room?"
"I'm sorry, you can't be in here," a man in a suit replied as he held out his hand in front of her.
"What are you doing in here? My dad will not be happy when he finds out that you are in our hotel room," Alex paced the floor nervously as the guard took a few steps back.
"Listen, kid, this isn't your room. Now go on."
"No, you don't get to boss me around! You're just like my dad! I'm grown up now!" She took a few more steps and was able to look into the bedroom to see a man unconscious, tied to a chair, and steaks of blood down his face. She screamed. "Who is that?"
"Alright, it's time to go," the man said.
Another man stepped out of the bedroom, holding a phone against his chest. "What is going on out here? Who the hell is she?"
"I'm trying to get her to leave."
"No, no. She can't leave now. Not with what she's seen."
"What are you going to do?" Alex asked with a tinge of fright.
The door burst open as Mitchell kicked it in. Alex hit the man holding the phone several times until he was knocked out. She ran to their agent and began cutting the ropes. Mitchell fought with the guard and grabbed him in a sleeper hold. Then dropped him on the ground.
Reid opened the door to the roof and stepped out, and started toward the HVAC system.
"Hey, you can't be up here," a man called out to him.
Reid turned around to see three men holding guns. "Uh, I was given a work order for the A/C unit. It keeps freezing up."
"No one told us," the man said. "We're going to have to call this in."
"Of course," Reid replied. He then charged for the first man and grabbed his gun while it was pointed outward, and shot the man next to them. He then swung the first guy around and used him as a shield while the second man shot. Reid grabbed the gun again and shot the last one. He dropped the human shield on the ground while still holding his gun. He scoffed at the weapon in his hand. "Yours, I believe." He tossed it down on top of the body. "All clear on the roof."
"Ut oh," Charles said over comms.
"What is it?" Mitchell called back.
"Uh, apparently, some of the intel was wrong. A whole shit load of thugs are headed your way. You still have enough time to make it to the stairs before they arrive."
"Yeah, well, McDeere is in no condition to walk. He will have to be carried," Mitchell replied.
"Well, then they are going to catch up to you," Charles said.
"No, they won't," Alex said. "You get McDeere out of here and head to the roof. I will stay behind and slow them down."
"No, you get him out, and I will slow them down."
"Look, I'm pretty capable of a lot of things. One thing I am not is six-foot-four. You are the only one who can carry him out of here."
"But…"
"Mitchell, you grab the man that we came here to save. He is the mission. You get him and go! Now!"
Mitchell nodded and threw McDeere over his shoulder. He reached behind his back and pulled out a Sig Sauer, and handed it over to her. "Here, you might need this." He then took off toward the stairs. He kicked open the door and climbed. "You better be on your way, Hugh!"
Mitchell made it to the top just as Charles opened the door for him. They looked up to see the helicopter coming toward them.
Reid turned back toward the doorway. "Where's Alex?"
"She's holding them off," Mitchell replied.
"What?" Reid asked. "We have to go help her." Reid started toward the door just as Charles stood in front of him.
"We can't do that right now," Charles replied. "Now get on the damn chopper."
Once they were all secure, Hugh took off. They were silent as they ascended up from the building.
Mitchell leaned toward Reid. "She told me to leave. It was her choice."
"It was a stupid thing to do," Reid countered.
"That may be. But regardless of what happens, she was willing to sacrifice herself for the greater good."
"Greater good?" Reid scoffed. "There is nothing great or good about this situation."
"Hugh, do you read me?" Everyone perked up as they heard the call coming in. "Hugh?"
"I'm here!" Hugh responded.
"Twentieth floor, northwest corner. In one minute!"
"Copy that!" Hugh said as he leaned the helicopter almost completely horizontal to make the turn. "Here, where are you?" Suddenly the glass windows shot out across from them. "Got it!" Hugh said as he lined up the chopper and tilted.
Alex jumped out of the window into Reid's arms as he sat in the doorway. She looked up at them, beaming. "So, what did I miss?"