Page 50 of Waggs

“So, bring us up to speed.”

He liked the fact Clay didn’t mess around.

In the dark parking lot of a local convenience store, Liam pulled up the overhead drone images from the trucking yard on an iPad and the group gathered around. Waggs had been watching it vigilantly since they’d arrived, making sure there was no movement at the trucking yard. Had there been, they would’ve gone in without back up. He’d watched Ralph, Green, and one of the other Special Ops soldiers working with them, walk across the yard twenty minutes earlier and move into the warehouse where they were holding Willow and Bebe.

A sick feeling churned in his gut as each second ticked by and they remained inside, doing god knew what. He didn’t think Green would hurt Willow and Bebe without reason, just for cruelties’ sake, but he’d follow Ralph’s orders and he was a nasty fucker.

“They’re holding Willow and Bebe in here. We know they’re waiting for a shipment to come in with more girls. From what we can tell, they have two men inside the warehouse, two on the gate, and four more including Ralph and Jerry Edwards in the main office.” Waggs laid it out as if his heart wasn’t in danger of breaking and buried any emotion so he could do his job and get them out safe.

“Any idea if they’re injured?” Condor asked.

Waggs folded his arms across his chest to stop the shake and leaned his hip against the vehicle. “Willow was unconscious when they brought her out of the house and to the warehouse. Bebe was walking wounded.” Waggs paused, not wanting to give Bebe’s cover away as working for Zenobi. The all-female agency didn’t exactly play well with the alphabet agencies. “Bebe has some training, so provided she hasn’t received any further injuries, she’ll be able to help us out when we go in. Her friend Laverne is also on over-watch and can provide sniper support.”

Sandstorm quirked an eyebrow. “Some interesting friends you got here, Deck.”

“Yeah, and loyal,” Decker responded.

“I take it you have a plan?” Condor looked to him and Waggs nodded.

“If Laverne covers the back exit for the warehouse here,” he pointed to a crop of trees that covered the back door, “Decker and I will breach the warehouse where Willow and Bebe are being held. If your team can cover the rest of the warehouse and the front gate with Liam, that would give us enough time to get them clear.”

“Are the local feds involved at this point?” Condor was by the book, unlike Eidolon who had a lot more discretion.

“We have a contact that will put in a call as soon as we breach. Liam is going to provide some fireworks to throw them into chaos, which should give you the element of surprise.”

“Weapons?”

“Semi-automatics and handguns. You should know at least two of the men in there are active-duty Green Berets stationed out of Fort Campbell.”

“Fuck. This could make things tricky for jurisdiction.”

“No. It shouldn’t. The military might want to be involved in the investigation, but they won’t be turned over. This will be handled by the local PD unless they want the FBI involved or if they think your case isn’t strong enough to convict.” Waggs had a feeling they’d get involved but not at this level.

“Well then, let’s roll. We have weapons in the trunk.”

Liam handed out mics, comms, and equipment before he got in the driver’s side of the car and Condor and his team went with him.

Waggs and Decker took the other car and followed them. Once they were one click out, they hiked the rest of the way using night vision goggles.

Liam and Condor broke off with the rest of his team while Waggs and Decker moved silently towards the warehouse. They were all on the same channel and Laverne was brought in so they could hear her too.

“Doc, I have eyes on the four targets in the office.”

“Roger that, Condor.” Decker responded.

Waggs wanted him taking the lead on this so he could focus on Willow.

“Pyro in position.”

Liam had set up plastic explosives near the front gate that would go off at the same time as the flash bangs were thrown into the office.

“Laverne, are you seeing anything?” Decker asked.

“All quiet here but there’s movement at the gate. I’d suggest you get moving before the delivery arrives and we have more of them to deal with.”

Waggs was doing everything possible not to think about Willow being involved with this, and the thought that she could be hurt almost made him lose his focus. Almost but he’d been training for all his adult life, and Eidolon had only taken that training and honed it until he was in the best physical shape he’d ever been in, and his skills were faultless.

He trained for this every day, but nothing could have prepared him for having the woman he loved in this situation. It made him have a much better understanding for how Reid and Alex had felt when they’d been through similar things.