not blood thirsty, ready to go hunting anyone wearing an Air Force uniform. I’m just pointing out that the situation will most likely arise where we have to make a difficult decision and I need to know, if the time comes, can you make that decision and live with it?”
Martinez stood still for a long moment, staring at the floor, finally looking up and meeting Blanchard’s eyes.
“Yes. To save one of our lives, I’ll do what has to be done. But nothing more than that.”
Blanchard nodded but didn’t feel the need to add anything further to the discussion.
“That’s good, but I’ll ask again. What about the Russians?” Rachel said.
“She’s right,” Blanchard said. “As soon as things calm down they’re probably going to be moved to a more secure location.”
“Leave it to me.” Martinez said, pulling the door open and exiting into the hallway.
Less than two minutes later the door opened again and Irina walked in, Martinez on her heels. Irina stopped when she saw Rachel, but Martinez put a hand on her back and guided her the rest of the way into the latrine so she could close the door.
“Told the guard I was checking on them, then that Irina had to use the latrine.” Martinez smiled.
“What’s going on?” Irina asked, looking at their faces.
Blanchard gave her an abbreviated version of the events that she was unaware of. “We expect Barinov to demand President Clark hand you and Igor over.”
“They’ll execute us!” Irina had gone pale.
“That’s what we think as well, which is why we’re going to get you out of here.” Blanchard said. “Martinez, how many guards on Igor?”
“Just one. In the hall. And it looks like they’re wrapping up in the main conference room. I don’t think we’re going to have much time before someone thinks to put our guests into confinement.”
“OK. If I remember right, the room he’s in is around a corner and there are windows in the room that open to the rear of the building.” Blanchard said.
“Correct. We’re going out the window?”
“Yes. You and I will escort Irina back to the room. Rachel, you and Dog right behind us. The guard shouldn’t know everything that’s transpired, and we’ll be able to walk right up to him. I’ll take him out, non-lethal, and we get Igor then haul ass. Everyone ready?”
As they walked around the corner in the hall, Martinez slowed but didn’t stop when she saw the guard was missing. She glanced over her shoulder at Blanchard who quickly pushed past Irina and drew his pistol. Martinez frowned at him, but he ignored her.
Waving the small group to a halt, he slowly continued down the hall, suddenly accelerating when the door to the room where Igor was being held began to swing open. Prepared to launch a blow at the guard he expected to see, Blanchard skidded and nearly fell when Colonel Crawford leaned out of the opening.
The Colonel nodded at them and motioned them into the room. Once inside they glanced around, spotting the unconscious and restrained guard lying to the side. Igor stood next to an open window, watching the area behind the building.
“Good to see everyone,” Crawford said in a low voice. “Let’s get out of here before the Security Forces come looking for our Russian friends.”
He turned and led the way to where Igor was keeping watch, sending Blanchard through the opening first. The rest of the group quickly followed, clambering through the awkward sized opening. Crawford lifted Dog up and handed him through to Igor’s waiting arms, then levered himself up and through.
The back of the building faced a large, grassy area that covered at least two acres. Despite the events that had transpired over the past couple of months, it was still neatly mown and edged. Rachel found it a little surreal, but knew the maintenance of the grass was a routine the military would maintain until prevented by circumstance.
Far to their left was another cluster of low buildings and a hundred yards to the right a wide, tree lined road that led to the area where the homes of senior officers were located. Crawford signed for them to follow and he set off at a fast walk directly towards the middle of the lawn. On the far side were more buildings, each with large parking lots and multiple military and civilian vehicles were visible.
When they were half way across the grass, Crawford reached up to touch an earpiece in his left ear and mumbled a few words.