Hetman: Hard Kil Read Free Page B

The helos had been scheduled as a classic diversion whilst the Det team were inserted.
    Such was her anger at Fannon’s death that O’Connor had also requested and been approved top cover in the form of an Army Air Corp’s Gazelle from 'Bat Flight'. The helo carried video and Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) surveillance cameras enabling it to follow suspects whilst staying out of sight and sound of anyone below. As yet the Bat had not picked up any movement from the opposition.
    The OP was an empty house. It had been for sale for over a year after the death of its elderly owner, and provided an elevated view of Taylor’s property and the only access road to it. Napp was to loop around the hill and position his car out of sight but near the road before joining Gord, who was already cold and wet under a hedge on the other side of the field.
    Fox went prone, Snow copied a millisecond later. Fox motioned for Snow to remain static whilst he crawled forward; he had seen something he wanted to check out. Snow felt the cold mud seeping down his collar and trickling into his mouth but he remained still.
    Fox reappeared. He moved close to Snow and spoke into his ear. “Would you believe it, it was a bloody fox?”
    Snow smiled and wished he hadn’t done as more mud entered his mouth.
    “OK. It’s all clear. The house is just ahead and empty. Taylor’s place has lights on in the back bedroom.”
    They moved off, quicker this time as the rain became even heavier. Cresting the hill the house loomed over them. They dashed towards it and pressed against an outer wall. Unheard and unseen by either man, the helo had made a pass over the house and detected no movement or heat signatures but the men on the ground were not going to rely on the FLIR cameras alone.
    They un-holstered their SIGs, took up positions by the back door and then to compensate for the loss of ambient light inside the building, switched their NVGs to IR ‘torch mode’. Snow nodded and Fox burst inside. Holding his SIG two handed he moved to the right, ‘cutting the pie’ as Snow took the left.
    “Clear.” Fox’s voice was low but not whispered.
    They moved through the kitchen, its appliances removed and cupboards skeletal, to the hall. Empty. Doors led off to the lounge and dining room before the passage ended at the entrance hall, front-door and the stairs.
    Methodically they crept into the lounge, again working different arcs to confirm it was clear. Once they had cleared the dining room they moved to the hall. Taking the stairs two at a time and sticking to the sides to avoid the betraying sounds of complaint from the floorboards, they advanced. This was potentially the most dangerous time.
    Upstairs there were three bedrooms and one bathroom to clear. The master bedroom, where they would set up the OP, looked directly downhill and into Taylor’s house. Fox turned left and moved swiftly into the first bedroom, whilst Snow covered him from the landing. Clear again. They repeated this process with the bathroom and bedroom number three before both men entered the master bedroom…clear. Fox leant against the wall and sweating from concentration, let out a sigh of relief. Snow moved closer to the window and stood in the shadows, invisible to anyone outside.
    “We’re on station.” Fox spoke into his throat mic.
    “Have that.” Napp replied.
    Snow removed a bottle of water from his webbing and sluiced out his mouth before spitting it on the floor.
    “Were you raised in a stable?”
    “No, a circus.” Snow drank some more
    “Ah I see it now, your mother was the bearded lady?”
    Despite himself Snow almost choked on his water.
    “Seriously, we’re not meant to leave a trace.”
    “Shit.” Snow realised his mistake.
    Fox started to laugh quietly. “You think they’ll spot your spittle and not our big muddy footprints? I’m just jazzing you, you southern Jessie!”
    Snow emptied his pack and set up the OP in silence.
    Through IR scopes the pair