Alpha dogs, p.20
Alpha Dogs, page 20
part #6 of Witness Protection Series
Jackie had two objectives in mind as she hurried down the open staircase to the lobby below. She’d secure as many master keys as she could find as a security measure in the event of an emergency, and she needed to find a working radio. There would almost certainly be one on the bridge, but it was possible she’d find one in the purser’s office near the front desk. She hurried across the abandoned yet still ritzy lobby, which contained multiple sitting areas with dusty, expensive furniture, and approached the massive front desk that encompassed nearly the entire back wall. Not interested in wasting time looking for the entrance to the area behind the desk, Jackie scaled the desk and leaped to the other side. Despite using her good arm, she immediately regretted the action, since her left arm instinctively extended for balance. She paused just behind the desk, held her left shoulder, and endured the pain shooting through her shoulder.
Once the pain subsided, she reclaimed her assault rifle and glanced at the doors behind the desk. She finally found the purser’s office and entered. There was nothing glamorous or ritzy about the purser’s office. It looked like any ordinary office with typical furniture. Apparently, the purser got the short end of the office stick on the fancy cruise ship. A quick search revealed there wasn’t a radio, but she hadn’t really expected to find one. She collapsed into the purser’s leather desk chair and took a moment to enjoy the feeling of being off her feet and giving her lower back a break in a comfortable chair. She’d punished her body the last two days, and it was starting to catch up with her.
All she wanted was a hot bath, preferably with her husband. She finally sat forward and searched the desk drawers. Within the third drawer, she found a ring containing over a dozen master keys and a map of the ship, which would also come in handy. She sighed with relief at her wondrous find and immediately sprang from the chair. Her body protested, causing everything to hurt at once. She shoved the ring of keys into her jacket pocket, reclaimed her assault rifle, and headed for the door. She had one more assignment, and it was the most important one. Find a working radio.
Chapter Thirty-one
Jackie briefly glanced at the map in her hand then trotted up the interior steps. She only made it one deck when she had to stop and lean on the railing. She cringed and gently massaged her shoulder. She found it surprising how much pain she was experiencing. It wasn’t as if she’d never been shot before. Perhaps she’d been pushing herself too hard. Most times in the past, Holden would force her to take it easy and not overdo it. She should have listened to Zack when he tried to tell her the same thing. She didn’t know why she listened to Holden and had to be so stubborn with Zack. That was a lie. She knew the answer. She enjoyed it when Holden spoiled her. He had an amazing bedside manner.
With Zack, she always felt she needed to prove something. She too often refused to show weakness in front of him as if they were in competition to see who the bigger badass was. Obviously, that was Zack, but he set the bar pretty high. She’d already been on the ship close to an hour, but it took time getting around the massive vessel. She finally reached the bridge, which looked more like the flight deck of some spaceship than the control room for a cruise ship. She marveled at the rows of monitors, controls, and plush, tall-backed, leather seats. Windows surrounded the entire front and both sides of the bridge, allowing a panoramic view of the outside world. The bridge contained some moss since the outer door had been partially open allowing the elements inside for years. Some of the controls contained rust as a result.
Jackie looked out the many windows at the panoramic view of the island before her and took a moment to marvel at the view from deck ten. Being nine stories up, since one story was embedded in the sand, she could see over the trees with a bird’s eye view. The island seemed peaceful and majestic and not the hellish nightmare she’d lived since she arrived. She’d enjoy the view later. Jackie looked around the massive control room. Operating a cruise ship was definitely not a one-man job. The plush chairs were bolted to the floor before several sections of monitors. Jackie finally found the one she was certain she had been looking for and leaped into the chair.
The leather chair was a little moist for her liking, but she tolerated the dampness on her backside long enough to scan the electronic radio equipment. As she stared at the equipment before her, she realized it was all tied into the electronics of the ship, which meant it wouldn’t work without power. She needed a ham radio, and what she found wasn’t going to help her. Jackie leaped from the chair with disgust. Pain shot through her shoulder and radiated throughout her body. She only had a moment to endure the pain before she heard movement. Jackie snatched the M416 assault rifle and darted behind the monitor. She scanned the room but didn’t see anyone or anything.
Jackie slowly straightened and cautiously crossed the bridge while heading for the outer door. She pushed open the door and scanned the deck just outside. Nothing moved, and there was no one around. There was no telling what she may have heard. Perhaps it was some animal making a home within the walls of the bridge. Jackie drew a deep breath and turned, wanting to take the inside stairs rather than the outer ones. As she turned, she nearly collided with Zack. Jackie let out a startled scream then immediately relaxed. She hadn’t been expecting him.
“You’re certainly jumpy,” Zack casually remarked.
Jackie stared at him with surprise. “I had a fifteen minute head start on you,” she announced then shook her head. “I don’t know how you got around the ship so fast.”
“Actually I was nearly thirty minutes behind you,” Zack corrected then grinned. “I must’ve made better time through the jungle.”
“Well, you weren’t saddled down with eleven exhausted passengers,” she remarked in her defense.
She didn’t know why she was making excuses. Zack was nearly twice her age yet seemed to move twice as fast. She honestly couldn’t compete, and she knew it.
“When I couldn’t get the radio to work in the communication office, I assumed you’d come here next in hopes of finding a working radio,” he informed her.
Jackie’s mind reeled a moment. Had she actually been thinking, she realized she should have gone to the communication’s office first. There would probably be a radio that didn’t require electric. At least Zack assumed she had gone there first, so she didn’t bother correcting him.
“Yeah,” she remarked under her breath. “It’s a shame that one didn’t work. Think you can do something with it?”
“No,” Zack informed her with a bored sigh. “It doesn’t matter anyway. I was able to get a message out with the helicopter radio.”
“Did you get the Coast Guard?”
“Better,” Zack announced and grinned slyly. “I got Othello.”
“Othello?” she gasped with surprise. “That’s a lucky break.”
“He said he’d call the guys and try their radio as well,” he replied. “I told him to alert the Coast Guard after he got a message through to the guys. I didn’t know how secure the Coast Guard channel would be. It could lead Cicco’s men right to us.”
“We need to lock this place down,” Jackie announced. “If Cicco’s men find the prisoners we left in that hangar, they’ll tell them where we were heading.”
Zack shook his head in annoyance. “That’s why you don’t leave live prisoners,” he informed her. “You just don’t want to listen to reasoning.”
“I have more of a conscience than you,” Jackie corrected. “I can’t kill an unarmed man.”
“In some situations, it’s the only way to survive,” Zack informed her but didn’t press the issue. “We’d better get the others and prepare for visitors.” He headed for the interior door then glanced back at Jackie as she followed. A strange smile crossed his face. “You didn’t know the bridge radio worked off electric when you came up here, did you?”
Jackie frowned and hid her embarrassment. “No, it hadn’t occurred to me.”
He chuckled and offered a mocking smile. “Your father made some pretty funny blunders when he was your age too,” Zack informed her. “We’ve all had our moments. When I was first learning Russian, I had a lot of translation blunders. I’d accidentally sent a lot of men into the ladies restrooms.”
She eyed him while frowning. “Yeah, sure,” she scoffed. “My father told me about your blunders. He assured me you did them on purpose.”
“Well, it was still funny,” Zack remarked.
§
The rented Grand Caravan EX was a ten-passenger single-engine prop plane with non-retractable wheels. Its total body length was forty-one feet, and it had a wingspan of fifty-two feet. The private plane flew over the calm, blue ocean a little after nine o’clock that morning. The morning sky contained amazing colors giving away to clear blue skies. Gil piloted the plane with Holden in the co-pilot’s seat. By the way Monroe glared at the back of Holden’s head; it was obvious he wasn’t pleased that he wasn’t co-piloting. With Ross away and Beck avoiding assignments like the plague before his wedding, that left Monroe in charge. Even though his mission had been somewhat disastrous, it was still his mission. Gil, Kirk, and Zack never seemed to care that they weren’t in charge of missions. The trio wasn’t interested in the responsibilities that came with leadership.
Gil preferred receiving orders and carrying them out with his usual skill and style. Kirk didn’t care what assignment he was given as long as he was able to flex his massive muscles and bang some heads together. Zack didn’t exactly follow orders and had even less interest in giving them. He preferred to work behind the scenes surrounded by a shroud of mystery. Unfortunately, Jackie was usually found working in the shadows with Zack, making for a frightening and lethal duo. The team often joked that only Jackie, Zack, and the cockroaches would survive a nuclear holocaust. Holden was never amused by the reference.
The plane approached the small, long since abandoned island. As they got closer to the coast, everyone looked out the window with horror at the sight. There was a long, deep groove in the sand revealing severed palm trees and torn metal scattered everywhere. The landing gear of the small, commercial airliner appeared as if it had been neatly placed where it sat by itself. Further along the beach was the plane wreckage resting on its belly. Although most of the plane looked intact, its left wing was torn off, which was what they saw scattered along the beach. The scene was frightening yet peaceful.
“Can you land?” Holden practically demanded while unable to tear his eyes from the crashed plane. “We need to land.”
“There’s no safe place to land,” Gil explained as they flew overhead. “I’m going to take her down for a buzz cut. Everyone keep your eyes on the ground and search for signs of survivors.”
Gil flew past the horrific scene, made a sharp turn, and flew back around passing overhead a little closer with decreased speed. Everyone within the plane attempted to assess the damage and scan for signs of life. Darth joined in by placing his paws on the window and looked out as well. Sal and Mac shivered in unison at the downed plane showing no movement of life.
“I see a beverage cart on the sand next to some luggage,” Kirk announced.
Mac and Sal looked at Kirk with surprise. They had been looking for actual people while the team was looking for general signs.
“A lot of luggage,” Monroe added. “Neatly placed and nothing discarded.”
“Meaning what exactly?” Sal asked while staring at Monroe’s profile.
“More than likely the passengers removed the luggage looking for useful items,” Monroe informed him. “It wasn’t someone looting the plane.”
The plane circled and made another pass. Everyone again looked out the windows.
“The back emergency door is open,” Mac announced almost pleased with herself for noting something useful.
When she turned, Darth leaned across the seat and licked her face. She frowned and pushed the dog away. At least someone on the team appreciated her.
“No people,” Holden remarked almost sedate. “They should have heard the plane. If they’re alive, why haven’t we seen anyone?” He again looked at Gil while turning stern. “We have to land.”
“We will,” Gil informed him as he flew across the island. “I just need an area big enough and flat enough to safely take her down.”
“There’s plenty of beach,” Holden snapped. “Just pick a spot.”
“If I take her down in the sand, we’ll lose our landing gear just like the bigger plane,” Gil informed him. “We need solid footing.”
“We need to radio for help,” Sal remarked while leaning forward in his seat, “but that’s also going to give away our location to unwanted parties.”
“I know,” Gil replied with a defeated sigh. “Once we land, I’ll send out a distress call. That should buy us enough time to make it to the crash site before anyone else is even off the ground. We’ll have to move fast.” He scanned the area. “We just need somewhere safe to land.”
Mac stared out the side window by her seat and appeared surprised by what she saw. “Is that a landing field?”
Gil turned the craft to the right. To their surprise, they saw a small landing field in the near distance. The landing field was partially overgrown with plant life, but the macadam beneath appeared to be intact and mostly visible, allowing Gil to find the landing strip easily. It would be a bit of a hike to the crash site, but the overgrown landing strip was ideal.
“That’s right,” Gil suddenly announced and added a slight chuckle. “We’re on Hathaway Island.”
“Is that supposed to mean something?” Holden asked not understanding.
“It was a private island for Voyagers Cruise Line,” Gil informed them. “The rich and pampered would spend the day here on their very own private beach. It shut down a few years ago.” He gave the comment some consideration. “I forgot they had a landing field.” He then looked around. “I thought there was a small resort or welcome center though. Maybe it’s on the other side of the island.”
“If there’s a welcome center,” Monroe announced with enthusiasm, “they could have gone there. We should check the crash site first and then head for the welcome center.”
Chapter Thirty-two
Once the plane landed, Kirk and Monroe stormed down the steps with their weapons and took secured positions alongside the plane steps. They scanned the area but didn’t see any movement. Monroe signaled to Kirk, indicating the hangar in the near distance. Kirk nodded and was about to move when Mac casually walked down the steps and eyed each man.
“Seriously guys,” she announced boldly then groaned. “We’re in the middle of fucking nowhere. Give the commando thing a rest.”
Both men watched her head for the hangar without a care or even a weapon in her hand. Monroe frowned then gave Kirk a nod. Both kept low to the ground and headed for the hangar in opposite directions. If Mac wanted to play decoy, she was more than welcome. Gil, Bogart, and Holden hurried down the plane steps, armed equally heavily and scanned the area as well. Darth ran down the steps and took off after Mac. He playfully jumped at her side while licking her hand. She frowned and pulled her hand away.
Gil watched Darth with surprise then frowned. “The dog’s a traitor,” he muttered.
Sal appeared in the plane’s doorway and looked around while clinging to his own assault rifle. “What do you want me to do?”
Gil tossed him a hand radio. “Guard the plane,” he instructed. “Seal her up and keep an eye out for anything suspicious. No one gets on the plane until we return. We’ll radio when we’re ready to move out.”
Sal nodded and pulled up the steps, sealing the entrance. Gil, Bogart, and Holden took flanking positions and hurried for the hangar behind Monroe and Kirk. Mac was already at the opening as the guys took positions on either side of the hangar. Holden took his position alongside Monroe and watched Mac fearlessly approach the opening.
“She’s not going to last very long with this team,” Holden remarked.
“She’s not part of this team,” Monroe huffed while keeping his eyes on Mac. “If she wants to dangle like bait, that’s her problem.”
There was an awkward silence as Holden stared at Monroe’s profile. “Whatever you’re thinking, Monroe,” Holden suddenly announced, “just get it from your head.”
Monroe shot a glare at Holden. “What are you talking about?”
“The itch in your pants for that one,” he replied sternly while indicating Mac with a nod. “Scratch it somewhere else. That one will get you killed providing she’s not the one actually doing the killing.”
“I’m not interested in Mac,” Monroe snarled then returned his attention to the woman and dog by the entrance.
Darth suddenly snarled as Mac stepped into the opening. She eyed the dog with some surprise then understood he was warning her of danger. A man suddenly leaped out of the doorway for Mac with a two foot, industrial-sized wrench. Mac blocked his arm, punched him in the face, and then spun into a roundhouse kick, knocking him to the ground. Darth leaped on top of the man’s chest and snarled viciously with his teeth just inches from his face. The man stared at the dog with surprise and didn’t move.
“Call him off,” the man gasped almost unable to speak while staring at the dog’s bared teeth.
Mac casually looked around the hangar and showed no emotion. “Yeah, about that,” she announced without care. “He’s not my dog, so you’re sort of at his mercy.”
