Exposure (Jackson Chase Novella Book 1) Read Online Free Page A

was a short rip of AK fire, followed by two soft pops of suppressed fire.
    A grunting, “Five,” came over the net.
    Dutch stayed in place to mind the house and I went through the trap door.
    Barr was lying on his side in the dirt below the rickety steps. There was blood on his lower body seeping through his NWU. He looked at me and made the ok signal with his right hand.
    I knew at this point with an uncleared tunnel, I had to proceed. So did he.
    “Actual is hit. Stable but down. Proceeding to clear the tunnel,” I put quietly over the net.
    I stepped over him and forward into the tunnel.
    No threats. But no Monkey either.
    Suddenly, I heard some shouting.
    At the opening of the larger tunnel room, I saw Monkey, weapon at his shoulder, pointing forward. I swept from left to right. No threats other than the one he was focused on: a screaming tango holding a beat to hell white guy in front of him, pistol to the side of his head.
    “I will kill him! Back off! Back off!” he was screaming.
    Monkey could have a shot, but it was a low percentage one from his angle. I was behind him.
    Some movements are automatic. So when I saw that the tango held the hostage to what was my right, I stepped slightly left.
    I needed the baddie to pivot just a little more.
    “Right,” I barely whispered.
    Monkey’s feet shifted ever so slowly to the right as he spoke to the screaming tango, “Well, partner, how about you let him go? I will be happy to back off then.”
    “No! I do not like shot in the back! Back off!”
    The tango had moved just enough, and the sight picture was good. I let half a breath out and squeezed the trigger. His right eye socket exploded, and he immediately fell back.
    “Six,” I said into the radio, followed by, “not in the back, as requested.”
    Monkey stepped forward to the hostage, who was weak to the point of collapse. He pulled out his canteen.
    “Sir, we’re here to get you out.”
    Boone looked a bit worse for wear. His eyes were puffy, and there were streaks of dried blood beneath his hairline and around his nose and mouth.
    “Thank you,” he mumbled.
    “I have to ask for your recognition code,” continued Monkey. We had seen his picture in the briefing, but this was a necessary step.
    The man took a large swig from the canteen, coughed it up, and tried again with a smaller sip. He made an effort to smile and said, “Whistling pines.”
    Monkey looked at me and nodded. Recognition code was good, subject not under duress.
    I spoke into my helmet mic, “Hammer, Presley,” letting everyone know that the hostage was secure. I followed this with, “Break. Hammer Four is clearing the tunnel.”
    I received two clicks in reply. This would be Sterba, letting me know he received the comm and hopefully wouldn’t shoot me. The last thirty meters were clear. I popped the hatch on the other side to see his smiling face.
    “Tunnel clear. Angel, status?” I asked over the radio, ignoring Sterba for the moment.
    “Road is clear. Five hostiles down.”
    “Hammer copies all,” I replied. “Keep a lookout.”
    Two clicks came in reply.
    I returned Sterba’s smile. “Evening, Chief,” I said. “If you’re done taking a nap up here, how about coming down to find out how your LT managed to get himself shot in the ass!”
    “Outstanding!” he chuckled, and leapt down.

9
    M onkey was looking after both Barr and Boone.
    “Glad to have you with us, Mr. Boone,” Sterba said to the hostage.
    “Thank you,” Boone started. “Listen, I … ”
    “Save it for when we are clear, Mr. Boone. Still need to get out of Indian country.”
    He turned to Barr, “How ya doing, LT?”
    “Guy was sleeping under the fucking stairs,” he replied, doing his best to hide the pain. “Flash-bang must’ve woken him up. Monkey was too fast, jumping down the hatch, but he was good and ready when I followed.”
    “It was a through-and-through,” Monkey filled in. “In one side of the cheek and out the other.” He