of the crew, and hopefully, they’ll find Moira. Otherwise, Max will be left to search the tanker with only six men.
He has less than four hours to complete that task before the ship enters port. After that, things get dicey, not to mention we lose the cover of darkness as the sun rises. We’re prepared for a prolonged search, but this helicopter has limited airtime. At some point, we’ll have to veer off and refuel.
“Charlie engaged,” Tex, Charlie-One, informs everyone they’ve pushed off.
The armed men add a layer of complexity to this operation, and Charlie is coming in with backup. My nerves ping like little motherfuckers, sending jolts of electricity shooting through my body. Not what I need right now.
Right now, I need to find Moira, and I’m acutely aware Mitzy’s little dragonflies have yet to add anything of use.
Seconds tick by.
“Eight in bunks, sleeping. Four on the bridge.” Mitzy’s clear voice pipes through the comms. “We’re missing four men.” With the ship’s manifest in hand, I trust Mitzy’s numbers.
“Copy. Alpha moving out, beginning sweep,” Max replies and keeps everyone abreast of Alpha team’s movements. Charlie is still five minutes out.
The plan is for Mitzy’s drones to locate as many crew as possible. Once their positions are known, Alpha team is to sweep the crew quarters.
More than likely, that’s where Moira’s being held. We assume no more than a few men are with her. Too many would draw suspicion. While not common for tourists, charting passage on unused cabins is an economical way to get around the globe if you’ve got lots of time and not a lot of cash.
CJ and Sam think, and we all agree, that it’s unlikely she’s being kept below deck in the engine room or other areas. Priority is given to crew quarters, but I’m eyeing the men searching the stacks.
“Lots of interest in those stacks.” I can’t help but mutter my concerns out loud.
“Advise,” Max responds, requesting advice, not from me, but rather CJ, who commands this operation.
“Proceed as planned,” CJ’s clipped voice joins the conversation. “Griff, eyes on the stacks. Report back.”
I wait for Max to respond first, then reply in the affirmative, “Copy that.”
Speed and I peer out of the helicopter and keep track of the men below. We’re high enough, they look like ants, even with the zoom engaged on our headsets.
At some point, our random passes will draw attention, and I’m acutely aware those men carry weapons. Not pistols, but angry looking semi-automatic rifles.
I check the magazine of my weapon and watch as Speed does the same. We won’t take the first shot, but we will have the last one. I’m against harming innocent civilians. As far as I know, those men are not an active threat, but damn if my gut says otherwise.
The men on deck approach the two holes in the stack, sweep down with their lights, then move on.
“We need eyes on that spot near the bow.”
Still on an internal channel to Ariel and Speed only, my gut tells me that’s where we’ll find Moira, and I’m well aware Alpha team is toward the stern checking the cabins.
A burst of light blasts into the night, and Ariel banks hard to the left, nosing the helicopter sharply up.
“What the fuck?” If not for my safety harness, I’d be spinning through air right now.
As I right myself, more shots fire from the men on the stack.
“Shots fired,” Ariel calls out through the comms.
Impressed with her skill, I’m even more in awe of Ariel’s tenacity when she spins us right around and dives toward the tanker. Doing as I asked, she’s going to get us an up-close and personal view of that one hole in the stacks.
“Permission to engage?” Speed calls for the go-ahead, meanwhile the men on the stacks open up on us like it’s the goddamn Fourth of July.
“Go for engage,” CJ’s calm voice is music to my ears.
While the men shooting at us are a threat, their aim is piss-poor. Nothing hits the helicopter. However, Speed and I take them all out with shots meant to disable rather than kill.
These are civilians, after all.
Ariel aims the nose of the helicopter at the hole in the stacks while Speed and I dispatch the men.
“Found your girl.” Ariel’s crisp words slam right into me.
I lower my weapon and peer down into the dark stack where I see Moira looking straight up.
“Package located.” Speed is on the comms while I sit and stare. Blood speeds around my body, carrying a