Rescue

By Louis De Martinis

A small group of highly skilled mercenaries who report directly to the vice president are sent anywhere in the world to defend America's interests. Their mission can be rescuing a scientist in a Chinese prison to eliminating a bomber inside Iran.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Stratton Press
• Release date: Mar 29, 2021
• ISBN: 9781648953453

Louis De Martinis

Louis De Martinis was born and raised in New York. He lived in New York until his eighteenth birthday, when he joined the Marine Corps. After the marines, he married and went on to finish his education, working days and attending college at night. He received his master’s degree from the State University of New York at the Stony Brook Campus. After over forty years in law enforcement, he retired and lives with his wife in Georgia.

Book preview

Chapter 1

He woke up in a hospital with tubes in his arms and one in his nose sending oxygen into his body. He could hear the beep, beep of the heart monitor keeping track of his heart rhythm. He opened his eyes, and to his delight, a beautiful nurse was standing over him.

Well, hello there. She smiled. Welcome back.

Was I away? Jim asked through a dry and scratchy throat.

Not really. You just needed a lot of sleep.

He tried to move his arm, but the pain made it unbearable. How long have I been here, and where am I?

You are in His Majesty’s Hospital, and you’ve only been here a couple of days. Your friend Tony just went to the cafeteria to get something to eat. He should be back in a little while. He has been here ever since you were admitted. It must be nice to have such a loyal friend.

I don’t know whether he’s here for me or the nurses. Jim tried to laugh, but it hurt too much.

Do you feel up to having something to eat? the nurse asked.

No, but I would like a drink. My throat feels like sandpaper.

The nurse took a glass of ice water from the nightstand next to Jim’s bed and held a straw to his lips. The water felt great going down.

I’m very tired, he said.

Yes, you’re heavily sedated with painkillers so you can catch up on your sleep. You lost a lot of blood and need your rest. I’ll leave you now, but I’m only a buzzer away if you need anything.

Jim had a million questions he wanted to ask, but he immediately fell off to sleep.

He woke again, this time to see Tony sitting in a chair next to his bed.

Hi, Tony said with a big smile on his face.

What happened, Tony? Did I get Marcos?

Take it easy, boss. I’ll explain everything to you, Tony said. He alternated calling Jim by his name and boss and sometimes even Lou, a derivative of Lieutenant. They went a long way back together, from the NYPD, where Jim was his lieutenant and Tony was a detective, to working with The Group, a team of mercenaries working for the vice president. They had been on many dangerous assignments together and had become close.

What do you remember? Tony asked.

I remember taking a cab to a deserted house in a slum of London and then facing Marcos. Marcos was a dreaded assassin wanted by every agency in England for trying to kill the prince.

Well, Tony started, it was like the shootout at the O.K. Corral. From what we can piece together, Marcos fired first, but thankfully you had your bulletproof vest on. The force of the bullet sent you flying into the wall, where you probably got that knot on the back of your head. You must have fired your arm gun, the one the tech man from MI5 made for you, as you went down. Then we think Marcos got off one more shot, hitting you in the collarbone.

Did I get Marcos? Jim asked.

You sure did. When we got there, he was bleeding profusely. You hit him twice, once in the thigh and once in the groin area. I doubt he’ll ever have children. Tony laughed out loud. All that practice at the range paid off.

Is he dead?

No, he’s alive and kicking. He could have bled to death, but we saved him. Why we did, I have no idea.

Where is he now? Don’t forget he escaped before. He’s as slippery as a snake, and twice as poisonous.

He’s in here, this hospital, I think. Don’t worry, they have all kinds of guards on his ass. He can’t even take a breath without permission, Tony tried to reassure Jim.

A doctor entered the room and interrupted the conversation.

Hello, James. I’m Dr. Freidland. How are you feeling today?

Sore as hell, Jim replied.

I’m not surprised. That’s a pretty nasty wound you have.

When will I be well enough to get out of here?

If the bone mends, and there’s no reason to think it won’t, I guess we could let you go in about a week. I really don’t know what we’re doing wrong. We try to make everyone comfortable, and all they want to do is leave us, the doctor kidded.

You even have very pretty nurses, Tony chimed in.

Okay, let me see that shoulder cast. The doctor touched Jim’s shoulder, causing him to grimace with pain.

Sorry about that. In a couple days I’ll want another x-ray to make sure the bones are aligned properly and then it’s up to them to mesh and become like brand new. In the meantime, you can get plenty of rest and enjoy our hospitality. By the way, you will need about three to six weeks of physical therapy after you’re discharged and the cast comes off. I want you to have it here at this hospital because we have the perfect therapist.

For the first time, Jim realized he had a plaster cast on his collarbone and covering his left shoulder as well. He could only move his arm from the elbow down.

How long am I going to have to wear the straitjacket, Doc? he asked.

Probably for five or six weeks depending on how fast you heal. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it. Do you want anything to help you sleep?

No thanks, Doc, I think I’ll be all right.

I’ll leave an order with the nurses. In the event you decide you want it, they can give you a sedative. With that, the doctor left the room.

Damn, five or six weeks.

The time went slowly, weighing heavily on Jim. He could not do much with the heavy cast on his shoulder restricting his movements. Finally, the cast was removed, and a physical therapist showed up every day to torture him, as he liked to say. The pain was excruciating as she forced him to move in ways the shoulder did not to go. It did work, though, because after the first three sessions, he realized much more movement in his arm and shoulder.

He called Helen almost nightly and was even able to speak with her when she wasn’t on assignment with the FBI. It had gotten to be a source of aggravation, and he hated calling when all he could do was speak to her answering machine.

I guess that’s what you get when you date an agent, he thought. She is worth it, though.

Chapter 2

He was finally given the clearance by the doctor to go home to America. He couldn’t wait, and with Tony carrying the luggage, they went to Heathrow and flew home to Dulles airport. From the airport, he said goodbye to Tony and took a cab home to Burke, Virginia, where he had purchased a small ranch-type house a few years before.

Upon his arrival home, he paid the cabdriver extra to take his suitcase into the house as his shoulder was hurting from the long flight. He sat on his easy chair and immediately fell asleep. He awoke at 3:00 a.m. and went to bed still feeling groggy. He awoke again at 6:00 a.m. and knowing there was nothing edible in the house, called for a cab to take him to a diner, where he indulged himself with bacon and eggs, toast, and three cups of coffee.

Feeling better and more refreshed, he once again called a cab to take him to a car rental place where he rented a sedan. He drove himself home with little pain from his shoulder.

At 10:00 a.m., he decided to call Bob Corcoran, his boss, who had an office in the Department of Justice building even though he worked directly for the vice president. Jim considered Bob a friend as well as his boss and spent some nights at his house having dinner with his wonderful family.

After his secretary put him through to Corcoran, he was warmly greeted.

Jim, how are you? How’s your shoulder? You had us worried taking on Marcos, one of the most feared assassins in the world.

I’m fine, and I feel remarkably good. Those doctors in England really did a great job on me.

I don’t doubt it, as they were assigned to you by the prince himself. You might say you got the royal treatment. Corcoran snickered. When do you think you’ll be ready for another assignment?

I’m ready now. Anything in the hopper?

Nothing I can’t assign to others. I want you to be in tip-top shape before I send you out again. After all, we don’t want to take chances with our star performer. Why don’t you take some time off and make sure you’re okay. I’ll call you in a couple of weeks. In the meantime, why don’t you have dinner with us tomorrow night? My wife and kids would love to see you, and we can catch up.

Great. I look forward to it. Seven okay?

That will be fine. See you then.

With that, they hung up.

Chapter 3

Jim always looked forward to having dinner with Bob and his family. It was not only the food but the warmth he felt watching the loving family interact. He envied Bob and wished he still had his family. Then it bought back the horrible memory of the day his wife and child were killed in an auto accident.

How about a drink, Jim? Bob bought him out of his melancholy. I bought a bottle of Valentine Vodka. It’s your favorite, right?

Sure is, thanks, Bob.

They sat for a while making small talk and sipping their drinks.

Dinner is ready, a call came from the kitchen.

They rose and went into the dining room where, as usual, Jim feasted on a great home-cooked meal.

After dinner and coffee with a delicious homemade apple pie for dessert, Jim took his leave.

He finally hooked up with Helen, and once again they went to their favorite Italian restaurant, where they had a good meal and drank some great wine. He thoroughly enjoyed her company but felt the spark that had ignited their relationship in the past had waned, and she seemed more of a friend than the lover she once was. It was probably due to her being an FBI agent. She always seemed to be on an assignment when he was available to be with her. What was worse, he got the distinct impression that she felt the same way. Their jobs seemed to be in constant conflict.

Chapter 4

It was only a week later when Jim got the call from Corcoran.

How are you doing, Jim?

As I told you before, I feel fine, just a little sore from time to time. I’m going to watch when I get the pain as I may be able to forecast rain and get a job on TV forecasting the weather. I’m sure I can do a better job than some of the forecasters, Jim kidded.

I have an assignment for you…if you feel up to it. Corcoran’s voice had a serious tone to it that piqued Jim’s interest.

I’m ready, Bob. Where is it, on some exotic island somewhere?

Why don’t you come into the office this afternoon and we can discuss it. How about 2:00 p.m.? Is that okay?

Fine, I’ll see you then.

Jim looked at his watch and decided to grab some lunch and then head downtown to the Department of Justice.

When he arrived at the Department of Justice, he passed through security and headed directly to Corcoran’s office. As usual, even though it was midday, Bob had coffee and doughnuts waiting. It had gotten to be a ritual ever since the cartoons in the papers touted how all police love doughnuts. It became their little joke until the day he and Tony received awards from the vice president, and afterward they were ushered to a room full of doughnuts. That was a little too much as far as Jim was concerned.

Welcome, Jim, Corcoran started. Are you feeling up to snuff and ready for an assignment.

Yes, I’m ready. I was getting very bored hanging around doing nothing. What have you got in the hopper?

Well, if you’re sure about your health. This job will probably require you to go through some very strenuous ordeals.

Okay, now you really have my attention.

I just want you to be certain that you’re up to it and that you have the right to refuse the assignment if you feel you’re not.

Bob, you’re beginning to sound like a lawyer again. What’s the damn assignment?

Okay, Senator Cramer on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs has a niece that went missing, Corcoran began.

So, what’s the big deal? A lot of nieces go missing, Jim responded.

Yes, but she was with Peace Corps.

Where? Jim asked.

I’m afraid it was in the Congo. She was helping the locals get fresh water by rigging up piping from a well when she was taken.

Taken, by whom? Jim asked.

We really don’t know. We think it was a ragtag group called Mayi-Mayi. She was working near Kivu in the Congo, and we have reports that they were active in that area at the time.

What does this senator expect me to do?

Of course, Jim, he wants her back. They are probably looking for ransom if they haven’t already killed her. The big problem is we have no contact with them and are not sure they were the ones who kidnapped her. All we have is a couple of people from the village that said she was kidnapped by three armed men who took her into the jungle. If you are lucky enough to make contact with them, do whatever it takes to get her released.

When was she kidnapped, and how do I get the funds in the event they are looking for money? Jim asked.

She was taken almost a week ago. It took time to find out as there are no means of communication in that area. It just so happened a medical team was in Kivu and heard about it from some local natives who then told the FIB, a UN group who, in turn, notified us.

Wow, this is really convoluted. Is there anyone I can work with over there? I don’t even know the language, and I probably never will find this Mayi-Mayi group without someone to guide me.

We will contact a travel guide who seems willing to take you into the jungle and act as your interpreter, of course for a large fee. Say the word, and we’ll contact him and get things into motion. If you take this job, you had better leave ASAP since who knows how long they’ll keep her alive or what they are putting her through.

You know me well enough, Bob, to know I’m taking the job. What’s her name, and do you have any background on her or the Mayi-Mayi?

Corcoran picked up the phone and told his secretary to make arrangements to get Jim to Kinshasa as soon as possible.

I’ll have a couple of files made up for you to read on the flight to Kinshasa. I’ll arrange for the guide, Akwasi, to meet you in Kinshasa and take you to the last place we know the Mayi-Mayi were spotted. From there, hopefully, the two of you can pick up their trail and find her. The senator’s niece is Carole Mans, and she is twenty-nine years old and very well versed on the people and territory in and around the Congo. I understand she’s pretty tough and can take care of herself.

I hope so, for her sake, Jim said.

By the way, I’ll make arrangements for you at the medical facility in the State Department to get some shots before you go. You can’t be too careful going over there.

The secretary interrupted and informed that there was a plane leaving from Dulles airport and with connections, could get Jim to Kinshasa by 1:00 p.m. the following day. Jim nodded okay to Corcoran, who told the secretary to book the flight.

I’m out of here, Jim said as he headed for the door. I don’t think I have to pack much, but I will want a weapon when I get there.

I’ll have someone meet you at the airport with the files on the Mayi-Mayi and Carole, and I’ll try to make arrangements for a weapon for you when you arrive in Kinshasa. I can’t guarantee that because of the short notice, Corcoran said. Good luck and be careful. These terrorists can be vicious. When you can, keep me informed. I know the senator will be on my case until we get this done, but don’t worry about that, I handle him.

See you when I get back, Jim said as he left Corcoran’s office.

I’ll have the doughnuts waiting, Corcoran said with a smile to Jim’s back.

Chapter 5

During the flight to Kinshasa, Jim perused the file which had been waiting for him at the check-in counter at Dulles airport. It contained very little about Carole, other than the college she attended and her work with the Peace Corps, although it did contain a picture of her, which Jim placed in his pocket. As far as the information on the Mayi-Mayi, there was practically nothing. They occasionally raided small villages and took hostages and usually let them go after a small ransom was paid or after the women were raped. The file contained nothing on their size or who their leader was. This gave Jim pause as he was going into their territory without any real knowledge of who he was coming up against. He hoped his guide would know a lot more about them than was in the file. He turned out to be wrong.

He arrived in Kinshasa three hours late after a holdup due to mechanical problems with the plane. After disembarking, he was met by a tall thin man holding a sign that read, Mr. Jim.

I’m Jim, he said to the man.

Hello, Mr. Jim. I’m your guide, Akwasi, he said, reaching out to shake Jim’s hand. I have booked you into a hotel for the night, and I thought, if you like, we could start out first thing in the morning.

Thank you, Akwasi. I am tired and would like to get some rest. Jim noted that his handshake was firm. Did anyone give you a gun for me? Jim asked, hoping for the best.

No, sir, I know nothing about any gun, he said to a disappointed Jim.

The hotel was awful. It contained a small bed with a wrought iron headboard and a fan to circulate the air. Jim could barely get any rest due to the heat and the noise of the traffic below his window. He could not close the window as it would be stifling in the room without the circulating air.

After falling asleep soaked in sweat, he awoke and was again disappointed to find no shower but just a small sink in the bathroom. He washed himself as best he could and then sat on the bed and waited for Akwasi to pick him up.

An hour went by when there was a knock on his door.

Good morning, Jim. I hope you slept well.

As a matter of fact, it was pretty hot and noisy. I was surprised that the traffic didn’t let up till way past eleven, Jim responded.

I am sorry, Jim, but we are in downtown. Let me take you to a good restaurant for breakfast to make up for your uncomfortable night.

That will be fine, Jim answered. I could use a good meal.

After eating a surprisingly good breakfast in a restaurant that advertised Good American Food and was run by a man who emigrated from Brooklyn, they headed out on the open road toward a town called Kivu. To Jim’s surprise, it was only three hours away. From there, they took a run-down dirt road with many ruts that jostled the car and its occupants.

Finally, they came to a fork in the road where a sign had been obviously run down and was lying facedown next to the road and not readable from the car. Jim jumped out of the car and was attempting to lift the sign when a shot rang out from nearby bush. He ducked down low, and to his dismay, his driver/guide/interpreter put the car in gear, turned it around, and sped down the road in the direction they had just come, leaving Jim in a cloud of dust.

Jim lay flat on the grass next to the road in an attempt to conceal himself, but to no avail. Three heavily armed men, dressed in khaki uniforms, came out of the jungle and pointed their automatic rifles at Jim, who immediately raised his arms in the air in an attempt to surrender.

The men came to where Jim had been lying, and one of them nudged him with his rifle. He motioned for Jim to get up, and Jim complied, still keeping his hands in the air.

The men looked Jim over, and then they started to argue with each other. Jim was afraid they were arguing whether to shoot him or not. In desperation, Jim reached into his pocket and pulled out Carole’s picture and showed it to the men, who seemed to be very interested. He took money out of his pocket and made motions as if to pay them for Carole. The men appeared to understand, and one of them shoved Jim toward the jungle from where the men had emerged. One of them took the lead, with Jim following, and were trailed by the other two.

Within a few feet off the road, the jungle seemed to envelop them. It was thick with growth, and you could not see more than a few feet in front of you. The men with Jim seemed very sure of themselves and walked as if having been through the thick foliage before. Even so, their progress was slow.

About a half hour later, they arrived at what was their camp. Jim was sweating profusely as he looked around, seeing only a small clearing with a pup tent on one end and a tarp that was strung between two trees on the other side. To his disappointment, there was no sign of Carole, or anyone else for that matter. The men talked to each other again and then one of the motioned to Jim to put his hands behind him. Then he tied them together with some rope that was made of vines. He unceremoniously shoved Jim, causing him to fall backward and sit on the jungle floor.

The men busied themselves making a small fire and gathering wood. Jim sat on the ground not knowing what to do as the men seemed to ignore him.

About fifteen minutes later, another band of men came into the clearing carrying a dead animal on a pole slung between two men. If not for the uniforms they were wearing, you might have taken them for natives by the way they moved and the prey they were carrying. To Jim’s delight, a white woman was with them and was carrying a plastic jug containing what appeared to be water. Jim twisted his body in order to make eye contact with her. She seemed taken aback and appeared very surprised at seeing Jim sitting o the jungle floor.

Hi, you must be Carole. Jim tried to smile.

Yes, I am, and who are you? How did you get here?

My name is Jim Vara, and although I don’t look it right now, I was sent by your uncle to rescue you.

Carole couldn’t help but smile at the irony. It looks like my rescuer is needing rescuing.

I’m afraid so. How have they been treating you?

They’ve been okay, considering how bad they could have been.

A few of the terrorists were talking among themselves and looking over at Jim and Carole. They apporached them, and one of them spoke to Carole in their native tongue. After he was finished, Jim asked, What did he say? I didn’t know you could speak the language.

"I’ve been here with the Peace Corps for quite a while. I was bound to learn some of it. I can understand it,