“She did.” Owens nodded.
“She also got in touch with a friend of hers.” Bones joined in. “Tex something or other. Said they met a few years back but didn’t go into details other than to say she trusts him and he owed her one. And since Tac-Ops 2 and 3 are both in the middle of active ops, Shadow cashed in the favor he owed her. Whoever he is, this Tex guy must be hella connected, because he managed to secure a team to come here and help us transport the hostages back to the States.”
“What team?” Garrett looked to his boss for the answer.
“Delta.” Owens spoke low so Brett and Danny didn’t overhear. “Turns out their colonel and I go way back. So, these guys are solid, Falcon.”
Of that, he had no doubt. Delta Force were badass motherfuckers.
“And the HTs?” Garrett looked to his team. “I’m assuming since we’re standing out here like this, the threats have all been neutralized?”
“All down for the count.”
It was all he needed to hear.
“The hostages are all locked in rooms inside.” He squeezed past his boss and Digger. “I’ve got the keys.”
One by one they began opening the doors and setting the hostages free. With each door that opened, Garrett and Brett looked for Avery and Jess. And with each one, they were met with disappointment.
The hostages, of course, were elated to know they’d be going home. But for Garrett and Brett…their fear grew even stronger.
“Where are they?” Brett demanded. “They should be here!”
Yeah, they sure as fuck should be.
“Who’s they?” Apollo asked.
“Two of the female hostages. Avery Webb and a fifteen-year-old girl named—”
“Jessica Campbell,” Brett blurted from behind them. Pushing his way through the crowd, he added, “She’s my daughter.”
“And they were both brought here, with all of you?”
“Yes.” Garrett and Brett answered in unison.
“We’ve searched this place from top to bottom, Falcon,” Apollo spoke up. “There’s no one else here.”
“Oh, God.” Brett stumbled back to the wall between two of the rooms. His knees gave out, and he slid to the floor. “I’ve lost her.”
“No.” Garrett assured him. “We haven’t lost anyone, yet.” To the other hostages, he hollered out, “Listen up! We’re looking for the woman who was with me and this man’s daughter. They were the ones separated from the group when we first got here.”
Several mumbled and some shook their head, but no one spoke up.
“Avery’s twenty-eight, about this tall. Long, dark hair. Jessica’s about the same height. Blonde. She’s only fifteen.”
Again, no one acted like they’d seen them since their arrival. Garrett’s spirit damn near broke, and Brett’s face crumbled with acceptance. But then…
“Wait!” A woman in her forties made her way up from the back of the group. “I think I heard them earlier.”
“Where?”
“Down there.” She pointed to a room at the end of the hall, opposite from where Garrett, Brett, and Danny had been held. “I was in the room right next to that one, and I heard them. A man went in about an hour after we got here. It sounded like he’d taken one of the women out of the room for a little bit before bringing her back.”
“She’s right.” A man came up beside the woman. “I was in the same room, and I heard it, too.”
“Okay, but they’re not there now, so—”
“Because another man came back and took them both.”