Operation Freelance Part 5

            Charlotte made quick work of the bonds holding Adam and she helped him to the door leading to the passage.  “Her name is Ruth.”  He said to Charlotte before Malcolm ushered him towards the way out of the building.

            “Okay Jack, you’re right next to the room I think she’s in.”  Tony informed.  One of these days Charlotte was going to have Tony show her how he manages to get the right satellites exactly where he wants, when he wants them there. 

            “I’m picking up three heat signatures in the room.  Looks like this could get messy.  I can’t tell you who is who in there.”  Tony warned.

            “I really don’t do messy.”  Charlotte muttered.

            “That’s why you brought me along sweetheart.”  Malcolm quipped.  “I’ll be back up in a few minutes.”

            “It looks like there are only two other heat signatures in the entire building other than you and the three in that room.”  Jayme informed.  “That’s not surprising considering this place is probably just a temporary holding facility for prisoners to wait for some group to claim them or decide they could be worth something.”  

            “The other two people are at the front door I take it?”  Jack asked.

            “Looks like it.”  Marcus replied.  “I’ve got eyes on them.”

            “Okay, Malcolm you stay there.  Charlotte, find a way out into the hallway outside the room I’m at.  When I tell you, Marcus take out the two downstairs and Charlotte make a lot of noise in that hallway.”

            “Not our usual style, but It should work.”  Jayme replied.

            Charlotte squeezed back through the door and shut it behind her.  She back tracked to the next closest door and eased it open.  The room was dark and musty.  It felt like it hadn’t had a person in it for centuries.  She crossed the ten feet quickly and tried the door.  Unlocked, that was lucky she though.  “Okay Tony, I’m in the hallway.  Now where?”

            “You need to head up two levels.” Tony guided. 

            Charlotte chose to try going right to look for stairs.  She made her way down the carpeted hallway quickly, not needing to hide from anyone.  The hall was dimly lit and if she had more time she may have appreciated the landscape painting s lining the walls.  Clearly the previous owner had not planned on vacating the building or they would have thought to bring those with. 

            The hall turned left and Charlotte saw a stairwell entrance at the end.  “Found some stairs.”  She announced, keeping the team appraised.  She jogged to the door to make up time.  There was no sense in dragging the operation out any longer than she had to.  The door swung open easier than she anticipated and banged against the wall.

            “Jeez, I heard that up here.”  Jack hissed.

            Charlotte dashed up the stairs, taking two at a time.

            “Looks like you have attracted some interest.”  Malcolm warned.  “Moving in to distract.”

            Tony quickly directed Charlotte to the room she wanted.  As she ran she heard Malcolm doing his “drunk tourist” impression for the guards.

            “Two of the heat signatures in the room are moving around.  One looks like it’s headed for the door.”  Tony warned.

            “I’m in position.”  Charlotte informed as she slid to a stop outside the door.

            “Okay, Charlotte make as much noise as possible and Malcolm, you take out those two downstairs.”  Jack coordinated.

            Charlotte, struck by sudden inspiration started to stomp around the hall and bang on the walls while chanting “I want to be an Air Force Major I want to live a life of danger” as loud as she possibly could.  It took halfway through her second round of the chant for the door to open.  She drew her gun and was prepared to shoot whatever came out of the room when she heard the tell tale sound of a silencer shooting two rounds and she saw the top half of a body fall to the ground in the doorway.  Shot to the head, gets them every time Charlotte thought as she approached the room. 

            “Clear.”  Jack reported.

            Charlotte stepped over the dead body on her way into the room.  There was a second body across the room near where Ruth was tied to a chair.  Jack had shot him in the back of the head.

            “You’re all clear guys, so let’s grab the girl and go home.”  Malcolm sounded a little impatient.

            Jack had Ruth free in a matter of seconds.  Charlotte noted that she looked a little shook up, but it didn’t appear that there was any major damage.

            “Who are you?  Why should I go with you?”  Ruth eyed Jack and Charlotte with suspicion.

            “Well, my name is Charlotte and this is Jack.  We’re from The Firm.  As for trusting us,” Charlotte introduced and hoped that Tony was still listening.  He was.  “Adam says that the last conversation you two had was about how you were considering changing your cat’s brand of food.”

            Relief washed across Ruth’s face.  “So Adam sent you after me then?” 

            “Actually, he’s with us back at the hotel.”  Jack replied and offered her his arm like a gentleman. 

            “Well, then I guess I’ll be going with you.”  Ruth took his arm and let him lead her out into the hallway.  “Thank you for the rescue.”  She told him with just a hint of fawning.

            Charlotte rolled her eyes and followed, shaking her head.  Yep, she thought, he could definitely charm his way into a nun’s bed.