The Circle of Eight (33 page)

“That’s odd,” said Red. “Henri maybe?”

Dawson nodded at the suggestion of their supplier.

“Has to be. No one else knows we’re here.”

Dawson pulled up and turned the vehicle around should
they need to make a quick getaway down the hill, then parked. Everyone climbed
out as the driver’s door opened on the idling SUV.

“It’s about time you arrived. I was about to give up,”
said Henri in a thick French accent.

“Sorry
we’re
late, there was an accident at the
bottom of the pass, held us up for over an hour.” Dawson pointed at the chalet.
“Aren’t they in there?”

“There’s no answer if they are,” said Henri, who then
pointed at the ground. “But look.”

Dawson looked at the snow, noticing it was covered in
pockmarks, hundreds of them.

“Footprints?”

“Oui. They were much more obvious when I arrived
two
hours ago. They come from down there”—he pointed toward the village at the
bottom of the road—“then go all around the cabin.” Henri paused, looking at
Dawson. “I have a bad feeling.”

Dawson motioned for everyone to spread out as he and Red
approached the door. Red tried the knob and shook his head.

Locked.

He knocked several times, but there was no answer.

Dawson nodded and Red kicked in the door, stepping back
as Dawson rushed in with Jimmy. They quickly cleared the one room structure.
Jimmy pointed at the fireplace.

“Fire’s still burning, but not much left of it. Judging
by the amount of ash, and assuming it was relatively clean when they got here,
I’d say they’ve been gone a few hours.”

Dawson agreed, stepping outside.

“They’re not here,” he said to his men. “Help Henri
unload our gear, then let’s get ready. I have a funny feeling we’re being
watched.” He looked at Henri. “And if I were you, I’d get my ass out of town as
quickly as possible.”

“You don’t have to tell me twice, monsieur. I feel like
a fool for having stayed as long as I did.”

“It’s appreciated,” said Dawson, shaking the man’s hand.
“Did you receive our payment?”

Henri waved his hand, dismissing Dawson’s statement.

“You saved my ass in Algeria. How about we say I no
longer owe you one?”

Dawson smiled, grabbing Henri’s shoulder.

“Despite everything I know about you, and what everybody
says about you, you’re a good man.”

“Maybe my English isn’t very good, but I think I have
just been insulted,” grinned Henri.

Dawson laughed, slapping Henri’s other shoulder.

“You’re English is perfect, my friend.”

Henri laughed and climbed in his vehicle, shutting the
door. His window rolled down and he stuck his head out.

“You be careful. There’s something strange happening
here.”

Dawson nodded.

“Don’t worry, we’ll be out of here before they know what
hit them.”

Henri didn’t look convinced, the smile he gave half-hearted
as he pulled away. Dawson watched him turn the corner at the bottom of the
hill, noticing several villagers eyeballing the vehicle as it disappeared.
Dawson pointed at Spock and Jimmy.

“You two take first watch.”

Everyone else entered the chalet and huddled around what
remained of the fire, the stone at least still radiating a noticeable amount of
heat.

“Get the fire going. They know we’re here, that’s for
sure. We want them to think we’re planning on staying awhile. I want everyone
geared up and ready to go in five minutes.” He turned to Red. “Comms?”

Red tossed him a unit.

“Finally got through to Atlas.”

Dawson fitted the unit on.

“Bravo Seven, Bravo One, how do you read, over?”

“Five by five, Bravo One. Before we get cut off, I have
important intel for you, over.”

“Go ahead, over.”

“Two beacons have been activated and are located in the
one-four corner of the structure, together. That must be our boys. It looks
like they’ve been in the same location for hours, over.”

Dawson felt a chill run down his spine.

“No movement? So we don’t know if they’re alive?”

“Negative, no way to tell. Also, the professors and our
Interpol guy just landed. They’ll be heading your way shortly, over.”

Shit!
He had hoped to be
done and out of here before they had a chance to arrive. While he understood
their desire to see the job through, and commended them for it, he didn’t want
to have to worry about three civilians, despite whatever experience they might
have. But three extra sets of experienced hands might prove useful.

“Understood. If you can communicate with them, warn them
we think the village might be compromised.”

“I’ll try, but cellphone reception is extremely poor.”

“Okay, we’re going in any minute now. Keep this line open,
out.”

He turned to Red who was already geared up and at the
window with a set of binoculars.

“Report.”

“I can’t see the front from here, but if what Niner
relayed when he arrived is correct, we’ve got at least a dozen there. The rear
has only four guards, all seem to be huddled around two heating ducts. They
don’t seem to be too worried about an attack from the back. The rear number
three wall is almost all glass with a small gathering going on inside. I’m
guessing our Circle members and then some servants.”

“Good,” said Dawson as he finished putting his gear on.
“Everyone ready?”

Everyone stepped forward, fully prepped. He pointed at
Wings and Jagger.

“Switch off with Spock and Jimmy so they can get geared
up.”

The two men nodded and stepped outside, their two
comrades entering moments later.

“Gear up. We leave as soon as you’re ready.”

Jimmy nodded.

“Good, that crowd at the bottom of the hill is getting
bigger.”

“How many?”

“About a dozen now, nothing we can’t handle.”

Dawson frowned. “Seems clear that coming back here after
the attack isn’t an option.” He turned to Red. “Any sign of vehicles there that
we can commandeer?”

Red nodded. “Yup. There’s a bunch of SUV’s and cars
parked along the four side.”

Dawson pointed at Spock as he pulled on the last of his
gear.

“You and Wings secure one of those SUVs for us when we
get down there. Did Henri bring us the kit for that?”

Spock nodded, patting one of his pockets.

“One car decoder, check. Should have a vehicle hot and
ready for us within two minutes.”

“Good, once it’s ready, defend that side against anybody
coming from the front.”

“Will do.”

Wings suddenly burst through the door.

“Crowd is getting big. If we’re getting out of here, I
suggest we do it now.”

“Okay, get Jagger in here, barricade the door and windows;
we’re going out the back.”

The men sprang into action, locking everything down,
closing the curtains on all the windows and stacking the minimal furniture
against the door and the one window large enough to enter by. At best it bought
a few minutes.

“Rig the door, something gentle that will scare the shit
out of them for a bit.”

Jimmy smiled and quickly set up a mercury switch trigger
that would detonate a small block of C4, enough to make a large noise, but not
kill anyone.

The back door was already open, the rest of the team
outside when Dawson and Jimmy finally exited, closing the door. The men were
snapped into their short stunt skis provided by Henri at Niner’s suggestion,
poles in hands and goggles down. Dawson stepped into his, as did Jimmy, and
within moments they were skiing down the hill toward the castle, the only light
from the stars and a half moon.

Dawson took a glance over his shoulder and saw a large
group, well lit by their lanterns and flashlights, begin to surround the
chalet. Moments later Jimmy’s surprise activated, cries of fear but not pain
echoing down the slope as they continued their silent approach.

“Report if you see the rear guard, over,” he said over
the comm.

“I’ve got two left side in my sights,” replied Spock.

“I’ve got eyes on two on the right,” said Wings.

“Take them out when you both have the shot,” ordered
Dawson.

Spock replied first. “Ready to engage.”

“Ready on the right,” replied Wings.

“Engaging.”

Two pops, followed by two more, sounded and Dawson, who
had just got eyes on the targets on the left, saw both crumple. He couldn’t see
those on the right.

“Two down on the left,” said Spock over the comm.

“And two down on the right,” added Wings.

“Okay, Spock, Wings, secure us a ride. Red and Jimmy
take the right. Jagger you’re with me on the left.”

Spock and Wings blasted past the rear left of the castle
and out of sight as Dawson came to a stop with Jagger to the left of the large
well-lit window, the other side of which hosted the quarterly gathering.

“Begin setting charges, report when done,” he ordered.

Dawson began placing C4 charges with detonators along
the rear wall from the three-four corner on his left toward the center of the
rear number three wall, meeting up with Red who was doing the same from the
other side. Within minutes three of the four sides were wired with enough
explosives to bring down any good sized structure.

How a centuries old castle might react, Dawson had no
idea. All he cared was that the explosion was big enough to delay anybody from
following them.

Jimmy and Jagger reported successfully completing the
laying of their charges, then joined Dawson and Red who were kneeling just
below the bottom of the windows, the snow behind them lit a brilliant yellowish
white.

Spock’s voice burst from the comm.

“Vehicle secured, second SUV closest to the rear number
three wall. Taking up position to cover the four wall at the one-four corner now.”

“Roger that,” said Dawson as he peered over the lip and
through the window with a small mirror. “I’m seeing seven guys in robes sitting
at a table, several waiters moving about, no guards.”

“Confident,” said Red.

Dawson disagreed.

“Arrogant.” He frowned. “But where’s the eighth?” He
looked across the entire room again, but couldn’t see any other robed figures.
“Anybody have eyes on the eighth?”

“Negative,” said Red, “but the table is only set for
seven.”

“Shit!” Dawson shook his head. “I was hoping we’d get
them all.”

“Seven should stop them shouldn’t it?”

Dawson was about to reply when he shifted slightly,
something catching his eye. He could see someone is street clothes running into
the room, all eyes shifting to the man who appeared terrified to be there.

Suddenly several people at the table jumped up, looking
out the large window and up toward the chalet.

“They know we’re here,” announced Dawson. “Shoot everything
in sight that doesn’t look like Niner or Mickey in three…two…one…execute!”

Dawson jumped to his feet, raising his MP5K and emptying
a magazine into the window and at the table as the others did the same around
him. As the massive glass panes collapsed, it obscured the view, but he didn’t
care. He kept firing, ejecting the first spent clip and loading the second in
record time as his thoughts were consumed by images of Stucco and his family,
of his own sister and niece, of Inspector Laviolette and his family, and the
one little innocent girl who had started it all off by fighting back.

Maria Esposito.

Reading was behind the wheel, Acton in the passenger seat and Laura
in the back. They had intentionally sped past the castle, not wanting to
attract any attention.

“If anything is happening there tonight, it hasn’t
started,” commented Reading as they entered the village. “Now where did they
say the chalet was?”

“Through the village square then take a left. There’s a
road that leads up to it,” said Acton, pointing toward a large open area with a
fountain in the center. “This must be it.”

Reading slowed, the snow still coming down fairly heavy
and their SUV already providing a little fun on some of the roads when trying
to accelerate.

“There’s the—” began Acton, pointing to the left, when
he stopped. “What the hell?”

Reading saw what his friend was talking about and hit
the brakes, the SUV skidding to a halt.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered, then yelled, “make sure your
doors are locked!” He slammed his elbow down on the lock beside him to make
sure, then turned to Laura. “Break out those weapons!”

Laura flipped open one of the storage bins in the back
and pulled out three Glocks, handing them out along with several clips each.
Reading refused his as he put the vehicle in reverse, a crowd of at least fifty
people approaching them at a run, shotguns and rifles at the ready. “Load mine,
Jim.” He hit the gas as Acton loaded their weapons then stuffed the gun under
Reading’s right leg.

“Loaded, safety is on, three clips sitting in the cup
holder in the console.”

“Roger that,” said Reading as the vehicle reversed
itself. He cursed again as his rearview mirror filled with more villagers, all
armed. “We’re cut off!”

Suddenly gunfire erupted, their vehicle taking multiple
hits. Reading put the vehicle in drive and hammered on the gas, deciding a
moving target might be harder to hit. He raced toward the approaching crowd
then cut to the left, rounding the fountain when he suddenly cried out, a sharp
pain in his shoulder overwhelming him. His right hand darted to his left
shoulder, the pain shooting through him like repeated jabs of a spear as he
desperately tried to hang on to the wheel, his left hand losing its strength.

He lifted his foot off the gas and tried to press the brake,
his entire body becoming weak as he heard his friends yelling, neither yet
realizing what was happening.

Suddenly they slammed into the side of a building,
jarring them all as Acton shoved the gearshift into park, finally realizing
something was wrong. Reading could feel hands on him now, shouts of concern,
but everything was dim and distant, nothing even seeming real anymore as the
white hot pain in his shoulder overwhelmed him, thoughts of his former partner
flashing before his eyes as he prayed for God to take him rather than leave him
comatose in some lonely hospital, a chunk of meat to be mourned, waiting for it
to die, rather than a corpse to be mourned and buried, the pain slowly
forgotten, the happy memories remaining to be enjoyed forever.