Mistletoe (K19 Security Solutions 3)

“I remember it well. I was on the rescue team.”

“That’s right. How did you find them? And before you go into detail, understand that what I’m saying is you should brief Dutch as soon as you can.”

“Roger that.”

When Aine heard a door open and close, she crept around to the front of the house and rang the bell.

“Goodness, you’re practically frozen,” said Gunner’s mother when she opened the door and pulled her inside. “What were you doing out there?”

Aine’s eyes met Gunner’s.

“Eavesdropping,” he answered for her.

—:—

“I like your plan,” said Striker, “except I’m staying here. If you can’t make contact, keep going until you can, even if it means going as far as Mogadishu.”

Mantis shook his head. “I don’t want to leave you here.”

“We don’t have a choice. If the Somalis move, someone needs to be able to track them.”

“It isn’t necessary to state the obvious, but I have no way to track you, Striker.”

“We talked about this. I’ll leave a trail.”

Mantis had been gone two hours when Striker heard the roar of a low-flying Orion plane. It filled him with as much dread as hope because, as he could’ve predicted, it sent the Somali pirates into chaotic panic. There was no question they’d be on the move before daylight.

—:—

Aine followed Razor into the upstairs bedroom, feeling like a petulant child.

“Tell me what you heard,” he coaxed in a gentle tone.

“Everything.”

“What’s going on?” asked Ava, joining them.

“Aine overheard Gunner and I talking about Striker’s mission.” Razor turned to her. “Ask me whatever questions you have, and I’ll do my best to answer them.”

“Tell her everything, Tabon,” Ava pleaded.

“The call that Striker got on Thanksgiving was to let him know two of his former team members had been kidnapped by Somali pirates. Striker volunteered to go in after them. Originally, Mantis was only tasked with transportation, but once he knew what the mission was, he volunteered to go in as well.”

Aine nodded.

“It’s been over a week without contact, so Doc called earlier about putting a team together to go in and look for them. Dutch Miller had already volunteered. Once he drops Alegria off here, he and Onyx will meet up with two other CIA operatives. The four of them will leave for Mogadishu shortly the

reafter.”

“Do the pirates have Griffin?”

Razor scrubbed his face with his hand. “We don’t know.”

“If you don’t mind, I’d like to be alone for a few minutes.”

“Of course.” Razor left the room, but Ava didn’t.

“I’m so sorry this is happening, Aine, but Tabon believes they’ll be able to find Striker and Mantis.”