‘I have some more bodies over here.’ An eager voice shouted from the dark. Bond’s team made their way to where the voice had come from. A Marshall was standing over two dead deputies. Holly knelt beside one of the bodies and pressed on his stomach. Looking up at Bond, she confirmed what he was thinking. ‘It’s the same MO, we must be getting close though they haven’t been dead for very long.’
Looking around Bond saw the Marshall in charge for this section, ‘I want to restart the search from this point, get the dogs here and inform base to deploy the choppers in a five mile radius of here.’ Bond started to feel more confident without the thought that every word was being analysed.
The Marshall coughed twice, ‘I’ve done that already.’ He noted to Bond.
He was not used to the efficiency of the U.S Marshals Service and apologised to the deputy. He could here the dogs getting excited out beyond their torchlight, when a shout arose from the darkness. ‘We have him, he’s….’ The voice suddenly silenced by the crack from a gun.
The gunshot was like a starter’s pistol for Carter, who raced into the darkness eager for some action. Lee and Hammond quickly fell in behind him not wanting Carter to be alone or grab any glory on his own either. Holly and Bond followed more carefully, Bond leading the way holding the torch to one side. Gunshots echoed up ahead and they could see small muzzle flashes shooting away from them.
As they got closer, the gunshots silenced. ‘Carter give me a status check.’ Bond mouthed into his throat mike as he stooped to a crouched position.
‘He’s pinned down about forty meters in front of me, we have wounded.’ The excitement accelerating his words. Just as he finished, Bond could hear rotor blades beating the air, they were close but he could not spot them. Suddenly Holly and Bond lit up as the searchlights turned on. Two helicopters flying low overhead passed straight by. Their lights stretched out before them until they reached the rocky foothills ahead, where the searchlights concentrated on illuminating a rocky outcrop about fifty meters from Bond and Holly.
Several more gunshots filled the air and Bond felt a searing heat within his flak jacket. Slowly he fell backwards unable to stop himself or reason why he was. Hitting his head on the hard rocky floor. He could see the stars in the cloudless sky above him. It seemed quieter but he could still make out muzzle flashes from the corner of his eyes. Holly kneeled over him, her face etched with shock and concern. Trying to push himself up onto his elbows, she held him down with one hand as she mouthed something to him.
What was happening, the world had gone silent. Her touch made the pain even worse and he collapsed under her gentle push. Still around fire flashes appeared, but the stars seemed to be fading. His chest suddenly felt cooler, the searing heat subsided. He could barely see Holly through his watering eyes, but she seemed to be saying something again. He could barely focus but managed to catch some of it. ‘..Agent down, require immediate assistance.’
The pain vanished and his body felt heavy, Holly pulled away a needle but Bond still could not focus properly. His hearing was beginning to return. Gunshots still sounding around them although they sounded distant and not so sharp, He felt Holly running her hands over his torso, it must be cold has she was normally warm to the touch. He felt closer to Holly now than ever before, he loved her and wanted her to hold her close.
Trying once more to lever himself up, Holly put her hands on his shoulders again. ‘Don’t you dare move.’ Her wording strong. ‘You’re not going anywhere.’ Allowing himself to be pushed back down Bond caught a glimpse of his torso. His chest was exposed, his shirt and jacket laid uselessly at his sides as if it had been ripped from him. A glowing crimson pulsed onto his chest.
Carter crouched, Lee directly behind him. He knew Santana was playing a waiting game with them. He could hear the helicopters circling and knew the lights would soon light up the foothills again. Shots fired again from up ahead, both Lee and Carter stood and let rip with their P226’s. Both new they had hit their target squarely but Santana swivelled and fired directly at them. Thankfully, he missed them. ‘Ugh’, Dex shouted from behind them. Both took shelter behind the rock again and Lee dared to look behind him. Dex was sitting holding his left arm, blood pouring slowly through his fingers.
Lee pulled Dex to relative safety behind their rock. ‘Holly where are you, Dex has been shot.’ Pulling out a handkerchief from his pocket, Lee tied it above the wound and improvised a tourniquet.
The sky lit up with a deafening explosion, fiery metal rained down around them all. The smell of aviation fuel hung in the air. Pieces crashed down all round them. The foothills lit like a Christmas tree with its fairy lights, men were screaming all around them.
‘Where are…’ The rest of Holly’s reply was drowned in the automatic fire from Carter’s Dessert Eagle that now sung its merry tune in his ears. Suddenly Carter started firing into the air, the large hand pistol flew behind him, and Carter slumped to the floor. Lee could see small plumes of smoke in the torchlight coming from holes in Carter’s jacket. Blood started to seep through those same holes. ‘Holly where are you, two agents down I need assistance.’
‘Right you stay there and keep quiet until I get back.’ Holly was not sure Bond would understand as she had administered him morphine. He had been restless and irritable since the injection. ‘Don’t move, I’ll be back soon.’ The gunfire had stopped, carefully she started to cover the ten meters that stood between her and the rest. ‘I’m coming Lee, I can see you’re torchlight just ahead.’
The gunfire started again and Holly threw herself into cover, landing next to Carter. He was trying to get up. ‘Stay still, you’ll only make it worse.’ He was not keen on her attending to his wounds, but out here, he had little choice. She started tending the wound, it was not as bad as she had first thought, however it was enough to render another Agent out. ‘Mac, where are those choppers, I’ve got two agents in serious need of attention and one other who I have not identified yet.’
Interference hissed in their earpieces as Mac replied. ‘They’re on the way, prioritise the casualties and move the needy out first.’
Carter did not want to miss any action. Through gritted teeth, he tried to stand. ‘Sit down.’ Holly ordered. ‘I’m alright, it doesn’t hurt.’ Holly tapped the injured shoulder with a single finger and reactively Carter tried to swipe at the person who was causing him more pain. That hurt even more and Carter conceded to defeat.
‘He’s surrendering, hold your fire.’ Came a shout from the darkness. Holly looked up to the foothills, Santana stood with his remaining arm in the air. Entrapped in the searchlight from a helicopter, Holly could see torchlight bouncing towards him. A single shot fired from behind Santana and his face exploded. His legs seemed to collapse beneath him.
‘Hold your fire, I said hold your fire.’ Barked one of the Marshals.
Lee helped Holly with the wounded, Carter still insisted he was better than he looked. The backup arrived, the pilot stepped out of the Marshal’s helicopter and immediately questioned Holly. ‘Whose on the first flight out of here?’
Holly gestured to a man lying behind her, his head, body and legs strapped to a board underneath him. ‘I suggest we get him and Bond out of here now.’ Between themselves, they loaded the helicopter with the wounded. The Marshal’s helicopter lifted and flew into away into the night.