Don't Order Dog_ 1(171)
He stared down the street at Team One and spoke into his headset. “Team One, this is Command. Be advised, Team Three may to be down. I am now leading Team Two and approaching your position from the west.”
“Roger that.”
Alex switched his radio once again to the police channel. “This is Agent Murstead. Be advised, we may have a target on-foot that’s dressed as a homeless man. Possibly senior-aged or appearing to be older. Anyone that even remotely matches that description needs to be communicated to me immediately.”
A chorus of affirmatives crackled over the radio. Alex started to switch the channel but paused as another thought came to mind. He glanced over his shoulder in the direction the utility worker had been ordered to drive a few minutes earlier. Neither the service van nor a police unit was in site. He clicked on his radio. “This is Murstead. Can the officer in charge of detaining the service van hear me?”
“Roger that,” a baritone male voice replied a moment later.
“What’s your status?” Alex demanded.
“I’m at the North corner of Humphreys and the 66. The service van is parked in front of my vehicle and I am standing next to the driver’s door with a visual on the subject.”
“Very good. Now listen, I’m beginning to believe the driver of that van may be involved in this after all. Do not under any circumstances let that man out of his vehicle… is that understood?”
“Absolutely,” the officer replied calmly. “You can be sure I won’t let him out of my sight, Agent Murstead.”
“If your detainee attempts to start his vehicle or open the door, shoot him. That’s an order, officer. And make sure you shoot to kill.”
“That sounds a bit extreme, wouldn’t you agree, sir?” the officer asked.
“Say again?” Alex replied sharply.
“My apologies, sir. I guess I’m just not used to dealing with terrorists.”
“That’s why you leave the goddamn orders to me, officer. Now stand by that fucking van with your gun cocked and make sure that man doesn’t move!”
“Understood. Like I said, I won’t let him out of my sight.”
Alex switched channels and shook his head. What kind of local idiots am I working with? he thought as he stood and motioned for his Team Two agent to follow him. The two moved quickly along the row of empty storefronts until they reached the corner of Joe’s Last Stand Saloon. Once there, Alex crouched low and pressed himself against the brick facade beneath the saloon’s arched window. He looked at the two men across from him and whispered into the radio.
“Team One, this is command. I’ve got the front entrance of the location. Secure the back alley and give me a status on Team Three.”
“Roger that.”
Alex watched anxiously as his SOG team abruptly pulled back towards the opposite corner of the building and disappeared into the alley. A moment later, he ripped the earbud for his radio from his ear and cocked his head. Through the window above him, he could just make out the muffled sound his men had heard earlier. He listened for several seconds before shaking his head in bewilderment. There was no mistaking the origin of the sound – it was the low, gravelly voice of a man speaking quietly. He tensed as the earbud for his radio suddenly crackled in his hand.
“Command, this is Team One. We found Team Three.”
Alex shoved the earbud back into place. “What’s their status?”
“Alive but unconscious,” the agent replied. “From the looks of it, I’d guess they were either tasered or drugged. Their weapons are still on them, but there’s no sign of anyone else.”
“Roger that,” Alex replied flatly. “Anything else?”
“Negative. We’re not… wait… yes, there’s something else. Command, their radios are missing.”
Alex cursed under his breath. The terrorists have our radios. They’ve heard every fucking thing we’ve said he thought as he scanned the street around him. He took a deep breath and spoke calmly into his headset. “All teams, this is Command. Switch your radios to the alternate channel immediately.” He then switched his own radio to the alternate channel. “Team One are you there?” he asked flatly.
“Yes sir.”
“Hold your position, and make sure you maintain a minimum of three meters between each other.”
“Roger that.”
“Agent Pearson, are you still waiting for that ambulance?”
“Negative, Command. The ambulance is here. They’re taking him now, sir.”
“Has the HAZMAT unit arrived yet?”
“Affirmative.”