Holding Their Own VII: Phoenix Star (28 page)

The general’s brow knotted, but he didn’t comment for a moment. “Sure thing, Colonel. And don’t forget those cigars – worth their weight in gold these days.”

“Thank you, general. I’ll do my best,” the Colonel replied with a soft voice.

And with that, the senior officer spun on his heels and headed off, never looking back.

The Colonel watched his friend leave and then returned to the milling group of contractors. The medic was just finishing up on the two mystery men. “They’ll live. They will be sore as hell for a while, and the one guy could use a visit to the dentist, but other than that…”

“Thank you, Sergeant. You’re dismissed,” the Colonel acknowledged. He then turned to the two MPs and said,
“If you’ll loan me a sidearm, I’ll let you two men return to your duties.”

Both of the military policemen understood the Colonel’s words weren’t a suggestion. Handing over the Beretta 9mm and a spare magazine, the two uniformed cops followed the medic out of the area.

As the remaining men watched the last of the regular Army personnel leave, Beckworth moaned from his bunk. Nick and the Colonel exchanged a glance, and then the two moved next to the resting ex-major.

“Son, I know
what you told Grim about Chambers Canyon. I know you did so at the behest of one Mr. White,” the Colonel started, his calm voice resonating through the major’s foggy mind.

He continued,
“I can have you back running your little business in a few hours if you’ll tell me everything you know about that entire ordeal.”

“I’m a dead man if I say a word,” Beckworth mumbled.

“Mr. White has already ordered your demise, Major. If we hadn’t pulled you from their clutches, I’m sure you wouldn’t be so comfortable right about now. Do you remember the minivan… the flashbang… someone injecting your leg with the drug you’re feeling right now? That wasn’t a traffic accident.”

The
narcotic-induced euphoria flowing through Beckworth’s body did allow him to recall the recent events. He managed a smile and nodded. “Yes, I know. It’s funny, isn’t it? I’m dead either way.”

Nick stepped forward, “No, it doesn’t have to end that way. I know of a place w
here White can’t get to you. Where you can live out your days in safety. Fess up, dude. Have some honor.”

T
he Colonel turned to Spider and nodded. The ex-contractor produced a smart phone and started video recording the major’s interrogation.

Beckworth smiled again, his pupils dilated, words slow. “You’re correct about White. He visited the Circus after I sent a picture of some guy named Bishop to Washington for identification. He gave me the story to plant and was happy when Bishop left in a
big hurry.”

The Colonel
’s head dropped, and he exhaled. He’d taken some huge risks to prove Bishop’s innocence, and now it was paying off. “Tell me the story, son. Take your time, everything you can remember.”

Twenty minute
s later, the Colonel stood outside Eris’s cell, Spider and Nick bookending the smaller man. Both of the recovering operative’s eyes were black and swollen, his nose three times its normal size, courtesy of the butt-stroke.

“I know you’re a tough
guy. I know you won’t talk to me freely, but you know I’ve got to try,” the Colonel stated, his voice low and calm.

The prisoner didn’t react, his gaze and breathing steady.

Turning to Spider, the Colonel raised an eyebrow. “Spider, do you remember that suicide bomber we caught outside of Kabul?”

Spider grinned,
“Yes, sir, I do. We were lucky that his vest didn’t explode. He was a hardcore fanatic as I recall. He was ready to meet those virgins in heaven. He didn’t want to give us the location of his handlers or where they were making the bombs.”

The Colonel shrugged, “But we convinced him to tell us. I think we should employ the same method on this gentleman. I’m sure it will be productive.”

Spider retrieved a fire extinguisher from a nearby wall, hefting the red canister and then holding it for the Colonel to read the label.

Eris didn’t react.

The Colonel finished and nodded, “Good.” Turning to the prisoner, he pointed toward the device and said, “This extinguisher uses a nitrogen cartridge unit. It basically sprays liquid nitrogen at minus 60 degrees Celsius, which if you aren’t up on your scientific nomenclature, is really fucking cold.”

Spider chuckled low and evil. Eris still didn’t react
, but beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead.

The Colonel continued, “These two large fellows beside me are going to bend you over that bunk and tie you down. They then will remove your pants. I will insert this nozzle up your anus and discharge approximately two seconds worth of the fire retardant into your lower intestines. Your lower digestive track and surrounding organs will be frozen instantly. While excruciatingly painful, a well-disciplined man such as yourself still may hold out. There is a 50/50 chance mercy will visit you in that moment
, and you’ll pass out. I would put the odds at one in ten your heart will explode first, but you look to be in reasonable physical condition, so perhaps not.”

Eris blinked
, and then his stare focused on the Colonel’s face.

Spider grinned
,
playing the role of the eager, sadistic torturer. “Your balls will freeze off, dude. They’ll tumble across the floor like ice cubes.”

All business, the Colonel resumed his dissertation. “In less than two minutes, your core body temperature will make every attempt to thaw your lower extremities. This is where the serious pain begins. Each and every damaged cell will protest
the thawing, one at a time. I’m told the nerve endings themselves will be especially sensitive to the process. It’s a shame really, a waste - the destruction of tissue will be too extensive, and you’ll never recover.”

Eris grunted, “So if I’m already dead, why should I tell you anything?”

The Colonel leaned in close to the man, his voice a sympathetic whisper. “You’ll beg us to end it quickly, son. You’ll plead for me to put a bullet in your brain and end the pain. But I won’t. As a matter of fact, I’m probably not going to bother asking you anything at all. Your partner in the adjoining cell will be much more cooperative after listening to you scream for mercy. With luck, you’ll last at least a few hours before your brain seizes out.”

Spider chimed in, appearing anxious to get started. “
I’ll make sure and show him your frozen balls.”

Eris shook his head, “Why? Why are you doing this?
I was only following orders.”

The Colonel stood erect and squared his shoulders. “
That didn’t work at Nuremberg, and it’s not going to work here. First of all, you’re not military. Secondly, murder isn’t a lawful order. But what really pisses me off is that you set up another man to take the fall. A man who saved the lives of my family. So now, you and the other dipshit are going to pay… and pay dearly.”

Either trying to honestly debate or buy time, Eris decided to argue his case. “Then you’re naïve. If a war had broken out, don’t you think the number of dead would have far, far exceeded those that died in that
canyon? We were saving lives.”

Grunting, the Colonel shook his head. “Justify it any
way you want, young man. I’ll not debate alternative realities or forced consequences. The fact remains that we have your weapons and will be comparing bullets within an hour. We have a confession from Beckworth and the logistics Mr. White used to transport you and your friend to West Texas. The Army is going to hang you one way or the other. Make it easy on yourself – don’t let White get away with this.”

Eris seemed to be thinking through the Colonel’s words. Finally, looking up with tired eyes, he said, “I’ll confess under one condition. After I’m done, I would like a shot of bourbon and a pistol with a single round.”

“Done.”

Mr. White saluted General Husk as the reg
ional commander passed by. The captain’s uniform worn by the spook was perfect, tailored to fit his frame and accurate in every detail. The intelligence operative had chosen the rank on purpose; the sheer number of officers of that grade present in the building made it unlikely he would be questioned. In his briefcase were Pentagon-issued identification cards for a captain, major, and a colonel. The appropriate rank insignias were in the same attaché, allowing him the opportunity for self-promotion if necessary. 

His presence in Memphis was an insurance policy. While Eris and Alastair were competent enough, the stakes were extraordinarily high – the preservation of the union. When he’d discovered the Colonel’s plan to visit Memphis, it was only proper procedure to instigate both a primary and secondary course of action. When his two operatives arrived as prisoners, plan-B was
immediately invoked.

He knew the Colonel would solicit a confession from his men. Everyone talked eventually. It didn’t take a doctorate in mathematics to calculate that the admission would be videotaped. His goal now was to make sure that
evidence never left this building. If the Colonel somehow suffered an accident during the process, so be it. Causalities were always a variable in the equation.

He proceeded to the men’s room, the large facility equipped with a dozen stalls. He smirked at the nobility of mankind, the interruption of someone performing a common bio
logical function such a taboo. As a result, stalls in restrooms were always an excellent place to conduct all kinds of business and remain unnoticed.

His
team was there, occupying three of the last four units. Men, when choosing a place to void, typically wanted space. It would have seemed odd for three seats in a row to be occupied.

Moving to a sink, he began washing his hands and whistlin
g, the signal to muster. One by one the three doors opened, each operative exiting the room without comment and heading for the stairwell. Mr. White followed them out.

After making sure they were alone, his instructions were
concise. “Loiter by the holding cells in the basement. The man whose picture I showed you will have the video evidence. Take everyone’s cell phone and any other electronic devices. No record of their interviews is to leave this building. He has three associates with him. They are unimportant. Gunplay is not permitted. Go.”

Without additional comment, the three operatives descended the stairs, heading for the basement brig. After watching them pass out of sight, Mr. White made for the exit. There was a small chance things would go wrong, and if it did
, his presence wouldn’t improve the situation. There was no need to stay.

The three operatives selected the main hall outside the detention area. Picking up a nearby chair, one of the men proceeded to break the light bulbs from each ceiling fixture. In moments, the walkway was plunged into darkness. They selected positions.

Forty minutes later, Nick and Moses opened the door leading from the holding cells, the lack of lighting in the hallway causing Moses to pause. “Looks like the big Army is having generator problems tonight.”

“Odd that it’s only out in
the hallway,” Nick responded, following his friend through the opening.

Something about Moses’ posture alerted Nick, his friend stiffening and then jerking with rapid vibrations. Before Nick could react, a shadow appeared from behind the door, and the ex-Green Beret
experienced an electric fire surge through his torso. He never felt his body hit the floor.

White’s men had touched both of the victims with stun guns, but not the normal civilian variety. The weapons used by police and for home defense were
throttled in order to avoid permanent injury or death. The models issued by the intelligence community were significantly different.

Unconcerned with potential deadly effects, the weapons wielded by Mr. White’s team were designed to be silent and to discharge enough current to immediately tak
e down the target, regardless if the victim’s heart stopped or not.

Spider opened the door next, pausing in the threshold when he saw the darkness beyond. He instinctively took a step backward, and it saved his life. An arm flashed through the doorway, clearly holding a weapon that the ex-contractor believed was a knife. His training kicked in, and he grasp
ed at the wrist, twisting with all of his significant strength.