Ten Percent Better

33.

I am the last of the three black Expeditions to leave the premises. We roll out into the soft twilight and com check. I update Drysdale on the plan providing him with twenty minutes to wrap up his work prior to pick-up. We will be doing a two-part sweep, part one is to gather as much on-site info as possible on the two locations, and although intel was obtained under duress I feel a high level of confidence in its accuracy. Alpha Unit, Davis and Calahan, will case the Prince hangout while Bravo Unit along with Drysdale and myself as Charlie Unit will target the house indicated as Saunders’ possible holding location. I wish we had more time to simply release and follow the perps but we haven’t that luxury. We will have to make a critical assessment of the probability that Saunders is being held hostage in a heavily armed, well protected and totally exposed private residence. 

Traffic along the suburban arterial streets is light. Davis estimates his arrival at the Prince location in twelve minutes also saying that it appears to be a retail section of town and most likely an auto parts store. I arrive at the front entrance of Community General and Drysdale hops in. He wastes no time in his mobile debrief.

“Cap is still in a coma, guards on 24/7. Dr. Hamsten is not the plant we suspected, matter-of-fact I think he is hiding something, the results of the blood samples show them to be from the same person, they are just now completing the data scan and will report findings as soon as they have a match.” 

“What about the old man?” I ask.

“He is an ornery, irritated and sedated, but I don’t think part of any covert operation.” 

As I lay out the current whats of the strategy and the hows of the tactic I get an update from TOM. “A pair of F-4 Phantom II’s from Pendleton have gone silent and off their scheduled course. That was twenty minutes ago. They could be anywhere from LA to Denver by now. We haven’t heard a word from anyone except that all military ground radar systems are experiencing substantial technical interference of an unknown origin.” 

“This is it.” I offer. “We are approaching the site where we hope to find Saunders and Alpha Unit is nearing the second chain of command hideout. We need to get lucky.” 

“This is going to take more than luck Bogart, your boys are going to have to be about ten percent better than their best.” 

“Copy that sir.”