The Gray Man Ch. 25 - Elizabeth

The drive home was quiet. Mario was trying to come to grips with what he had just experienced. He drove in silence as Gray pulled out his laptop and typed a report that sent via an encrypted satellite to Pierce. They finally arrived at Gray's house just before 4 as was anticipated.

Mario walked in and turned on the lights, his hand on the Glock on his hip. He moved throughout the downstairs and then up the stairs before coming back down. "It's all clear."

TJ nodded, "Did you check on Gretchen?"

Mario's heart sank, he had completely forgotten Gray's cousin was staying here.

Gray pushed past him as he took the stairs two at a time. He opened the closed door to the guest room where Gretchen should have been sleeping. The bed was empty, it had not been slept.

He picked up his phone and dialed her number. He heard it ring from downstairs.. He called the burner phone, and it rang in the drawer of the nightstand beside the bed.

Gray moved down the steps and looked at Mario. "We need to find her."

Mario following protocol took out his phone, Gray's hand shot out and grabbed his wrist faster than Mario could react. "Underwood has her, there is no sign of a fight or a struggle. We don't know who to trust outside of the team. Call Vicky, tell her we are all meeting here in 1 hour."

Gray picked up the phone and made one phone call, "Emily, I need the team gathered at my house by 0530. Tell them to bring a go bag."

Emily Dawson rubbed sleep from her eyes, "On it, boss. I'll head out and grab Dunkin for everyone."

Gray was overwhelmed, he had to fight back the tears, "Thank you. See you soon."

TJ looked at Mario, "Guest shower at the top of the stairs to the right, all of the shit you need is in there, go take one - it's going to be a long few days."

Gray went upstairs and turned on his shower. There was no need to have it warm up, as he needed nothing but the cold darts hitting him to remind him he was alive.

Slowly, the team gathered in Gray's living room, uncertainty written on their faces. They had no heads up other than to meet at the boss's house at 530 and an address.

The weight of Underwood's betrayal and Gretchen's disappearance hung heavy on Gray's spirit as he came down the stairs and took a position at the center of the room, his eyes scanning each team member in turn. "First the good news, we got Dragonfly. Now the bad news, Underwood is not clean and Barnett is compromised. Now the worst news, Underwood took my cousin last night."

Vicky slammed her hand against the bar, "God Dammit, I should have stayed here."

Aisha looked at Gray, "Are you sure it's Underwood?"

TJ nodded, ignoring Vicky's outburst for the moment, "No sign of a struggle, he and Gretchen were in a relationship." He turned to Vicky, "Don't own that shit, for fuck sake, I introduced the two of them. The man who sold me out to assassins fucking my own cousin under my own nose. No fucking directed other than at the proper target, Underwood"

Aisha nodded, "Then we take out Underwood"

Malik cocked an eyebrow at his team mate, "Take out or take down?"

Aisha turned a steely look back to Malik, "I said what I said."

Rebecca nodded, her voice resolute. "Enough people, we need to stay on target. Not a word to anyone outside of this room."

Caleb and Malik pulled out an evidence kit and headed up to Gretchen's room to gather anything they could find.

Rebecca looked at the two men, "Malik, take Aisha to grab evidence. Caleb, we need you to drag out your computer and do what you do."

Caleb, smiled as he opened his laptop and logged on, "I'll dig into every piece of intel we have on Underwood and his contacts. There might be a lead we missed."

Isabella's gaze was intense as she said, "We'll also run facial recognition scans on all of his known contacts. We can't afford to be blindsided again."

The team set about their work. Isabella walked over to TJ as the team dug into their tasks. "I need to ask, are we sure that she was taken against her will? You couldn't tell her that he had flipped, you didn't have full proof until Dragonfly. Is it possible that he convinced her to go with him voluntarily, or that..."

Gray turned his head, looking at the attractive woman, her dark hair pulled into a ponytail. He took a deep breath. Isabella anticipated a shart retort, instead Gray's eyes actually softened, "Thanks for asking the hard question. I don't think she turned, and I don't think she went by her own free will. She's a pretty prominent attorney and she didn't take her phone, and didn't take the encrypted phone that I got for her when I moved to town."

Isabella wanted to ask about the need for an encrypted phone, but realized that this wasn't the time or place.

Malik carefully inspected the room, his eyes scanning for any signs of struggle or anything out of place. He noticed an almost microscopic drop of blood on the nightstand. When he pulled out the blacklight it showed a bit more blood splatter that had been cleaned up.

Caleb, let his computer do the work he needed as he went to work on Gretchen's phone hoping to uncover any digital breadcrumbs that might offer a clue.

It took a couple of hours but finally Caleb walked into the living room, "It's definitely Underwood. He texted her at 1530 hours yesterday. She took one call from work at 1615, and then everything else was a missed call or unopened text."

Rebecca nodded, "Okay, that at least gives us a timeline."

Malik took a deep breath, "That's still a 16 hour head start on us. They could be anywhere."

Isabella shook her head, "No, if we don't think Gretchen left of her own accord, then Underwood isn't off hiding. He's using Gretchen for leverage. He wants something."

Aisha laughed, "Exactly, he wants out of the country to someplace that won't extradite him."

Vicky and Mario were at a loss, not sure how to be more involved. Mostly, they sat and listened. The room fell quiet when Mario spoke, "He's your best friend, you served together, he saved your life. Nobody knows his brain better than you, Mr. Gray. Where would he be to buy time?"

Gray nodded, "Underwood is methodical and always has contingency plans. He has contingency for contingencies. He wouldn't have taken Gretchen without a secure hideout. Let's search for any abandoned properties or hidden locations where he could be keeping her."

Caleb, determined to leverage technology in their favor, chimed in. "I'll look into security cameras, surveillance systems, and any digital footprint he might have left. We should be able to track his movements before he went poof."

Vicky rolled her neck, "What does he drive? What does she drive? There is no way he is in a Burcar"

TJ thought, "Gretchen as a Mercedes, but it should be here in the garage. Underwood was always practical and cheap, he drives a blue Explorer."

Caleb's fingers danced over the keyboard. Everyone sat, while Caleb did things that only a hacker could pull off. After 20 minutes he smiled, "BINGO."

Aisha cocked her head, "What the hell did you find?"

Caleb smiled, "I found our bad guy."

Malik sat back, "Bullshit. How?"

Caleb turned his computer around showing a map with a red flashing dot that looked to be inside of a building. "When Gray said he was cheap I thought that he probably had one of those plug in driving devices to get cheaper insurance. Check the state BMV database, get a VIN number, cross check it with known "black boxes" and there you go.

Before TJ could say anything else Emily said, "You have an appointment in 20 minutes with Pierce."

Vicky laughed, "We are 25 minutes from the office, there is no way."

Emily smiled, "Drive fast."

Fortunately Mario's SUV had red and blue led lights in the grill and on the rear bumper. He stood up, "Let's go, Sir."

Vicky and Mario jumped in the front seat and Gray climbed into the back as the SUV turned onto State Route 267. The large mens size 14 right foot pressed the accelerator as he turned on his cherries and berries and moved into the far left lane of the 3 lanes that headed west. The big SUV pulled to a stop in the Sally Port at ONDI in 15 minutes.

Vicky jumped out with Gray as they headed to the elevator. They walked into Pierce's outer office in 22 minutes.

Gray brought his boss up to speed. Pierce sat back in his chair as he absorbed all that Gray had told him.

At one point Pierce stopped him, "First off, Where is Smith? Senator Davis is losing his mind?"

TJ smiled, "She's being safeguarded at the moment."

Pierce's anger went up, "You can't fucking kidnap a Senator's Chief of Staff and hold her against her will."

TJ's anger met his boss's. "She's a fucking spy and maybe I shouldn't do that, but I did. Next question."

Pierce stood, "Who else?"

TJ looked at Pierce, "I have suspicions, but nothing solid."

Pierce nodded, "I fucking need answers."

TJ shrugged, "The intel that Dragonfly has didn't come from Underwood."

Pierce shouted, "Underwood? You are fucking kidding me."

Gray's eyes narrowed, "He's my best fucking friend, 2 years according to Smith.

Pierce sat back down, "It's too damn early for a drink. Okay, last question. How did you get that information?"

TJ looked at him and said nothing. Pierce shook his head, almost thankful that Gray was protecting him. A well trained intelligence operative doesn't just start singing and giving up people on their payroll easily.

TJ looked at Malcolm, "I need one favor."

Pierce shrugged, "No promises."

TJ said, "I need you to not push this up the chain until I get my cousin back."

Pierce nodded, "I'll spin up an agency Hostage Rescue Team."

TJ smirked, "Okay, two favors. Put the HRT into QRF status. I need Underwood, it's personal and he was my best friend. Fuck, he saved my fucking life."

Pierce did an exaggerated shrug, "You are going to get me fucking fired. You have until 1100 tonight. At 11, everything goes to the HRT."

Gray nodded, "Good to go, boss. I owe you a bottle. Blanton's, right?"

Pierce shook his head, "You owe me an entire fucking cask."

Just a few hours later, Gray stood in the shadows, his eyes fixed on the imposing warehouse that held Gretchen captive. The weight of the world rested on his shoulders, and his heart pounded with a mix of fear and determination. He had made the decision--to face Underwood alone. The team was not happy, but listened to the order to stand down.

The team had insisted on joining him, but Gray knew the risk was too great. His excuse was that Underwood was cunning, and any large operation would likely tip him off. Gretchen's life hung in the balance, and Gray believed that a solo assault was their best chance at catching him off guard. In truth, he needed to face his old friend alone.

In the dim moonlight, Gray double-checked his gear, more than anyone would think necessary. He felt the reassuring weight of his pistol holstered at his side, and the tactical knife tucked securely in his boot.

As former Ranger Recon, Gray had been trained to handle high-pressure situations, but this was personal. This was his cousin, in the hands of the person that used to be his best friend.

His mind filled with the memories of Underwood's team rescuing him from Aziz's compound at the cost of three members of their team and two pilots. The scars on his back burned as Gray stepped out of his truck and slipped into the alleyway

Taking a deep breath, Gray steeled himself for what lay ahead. He and Underwood had been in this exact warehouse just a couple of weeks before with Isabella. He hadn't seen much of the warehouse, just the front area with the table they had used to spit roast the woman.

He needed surprise, he had no idea if Underwood was alone. His entrance had to be swift and quiet. Gray looked around, found a dumpster that led to a wall where Gray could reach a broken window on the upper level. With cat-like agility, Gray stepped onto the dumpster, scaled the wall and slipped through a broken window on the upper level. The adrenaline surged through his veins as he landed with a soft thud, his years of training taking over. He took a minute to allow his eyes to adjust and his breathing to calm.

Silently, he moved through the darkened corridors, every sense on high alert. He encountered a single guard making his rounds, a Chinese QCQ-171 sub machine gun. Every piece of Gray wanted to slip out his Yarborough Knife and slit his throat. Instead, he reached his hands around him applying a rear naked choke, rendering the operative unconscious. Gray dragged him into an office, secured him with duct tape and zip ties. Gray removed his machine gun, and searched him for knives before he slipped back into the hallway.

The further he ventured, the more dangerous the situation became. He encountered a few more guards, each taken down with expert precision. Gray's mind was laser-focused, his years of counterintelligence experience guiding his every move. As he moved from guard to guard he noticed that there was very little that united them. Some appeared Asian, some Hispanic, some European. This was a paramilitary organization and not a direct action by a nation state.

Reaching a locked door, Gray used his skills to bypass the security system, his heart racing with anticipation. He knew that time was of the essence. Gretchen's life was on the line, and Underwood would be aware of any intrusions.

Finally, he reached the room where he believed Gretchen was being held. Pressing his ear against the door, he strained to listen for any sounds inside. He heard muffled voices, confirming that she was indeed in there.

Gray's hand tightened around the doorknob as he prepared to enter. But before he could act, doubt crept into his mind. What if he was walking into a trap? What if Underwood was waiting for him?

Taking a moment to steady himself, Gray reminded himself of Gretchen's bravery and resilience. She would do whatever it took to survive, and he needed to do the same. With newfound resolve, he opened the door and stepped inside.

The scene that greeted him was nothing short of heart-wrenching. Gretchen was naked,bound and gagged. She was suspended from the ceiling as a fucking machine consantly drove a dildo in and out of her pussy. Her eyes were wide with fear. Her body was battered and bruised. Underwood stood nearby, a malicious grin on his face.

Gray's blood boiled with anger, but he maintained a calm exterior. "Let her go, Underwood," he said, his voice low and controlled.

Underwood chuckled, clearly enjoying the upper hand. "Ah, Gray, always the hero," he taunted. "But you see, you're too late. I have a contingency plan. She's coming with me. Mr. Li has a plane enroute to take us far, far away." He stroked Gretchen's long red hair, that was dripping with sweat. "Won't we dear?"

Gray's heart sank, but he refused to show weakness. He knew Underwood was trying to bait him into making a mistake. "Shooter let her go, and I'll let you walk away, to a waiting plane to wherever you want to go." Gray said, his voice unwavering.

Underwood smiled as Gretchen moaned into a ball gag. "TJ, my friend. Don't you see what I've done for her. That dildo is about the size of your own. You see, your cousin talks in her sleep and I know that my cock was never enough for her, so I am giving her what she really wants."

"I won't let you use her as a pawn," Gray declared, his voice tinged with a mix of anger and determination.

Underwood chuckled darkly. "You don't have a choice, Gray. We are all pawns. Surrender now, and perhaps I'll let her live," he taunted.

Gray moved a step closer, he needed to buy time. "You have Gretchen. Where is Angela?"

Underwood laughed, "I thought you'd never ask. She's right here." Sharpshooter's cold smile widened, and he signaled to an associate. From the shadows emerged a striking Chinese woman, her allure both seductive and dangerous. Angela was being dragged behind her, naked, a collar and chain around her neck, clamps attached to her nipples and clit, with a vibrator secured inside of her.

Gray's worst fears had come true--both Gretchen and Angela were in Underwood's clutches. His mind raced with fury and desperation, but he knew he needed to remain calm and focused.

"What have you done to her?" Gray's voice trembled with a mix of anger and heartache.

Underwood chuckled darkly. "Well, I fucked her, of course. You know she was always too dangerous. She couldn't resist poking her nose where it didn't belong," he taunted, relishing the pain he inflicted.

Angela's disoriented gaze met Gray's, and there was nothing in her eyes. She was drugged to a place that her feet slid along the floor as her captor moved her.

Gray's anger grew, his instincts urged him to act, but he knew that any rash move could endanger her even further.

"I'll do whatever you want, just let her go," Gray said. Defeat filled his voice.

The Chinese woman holding Angela grinned provocatively, savoring the power she had over them. "Such a brave man, willing to sacrifice himself for his lover," she said, her voice dripping with malice.

Underwood laughed, "Where are my manners? Thomas Patrick James, meet Mei Li. She is Mr. Li's daughter.

Gray sized up the newest adversary. He guessed her height to be 5'8" with a slender, athletic build. She wore a sleek and form-fitting black tactical outfit, black boots, and fingerless gloves.

She smiled, "This is the famous Ghost? Surrendering so easily? He's a broken man."

Gretchen groaned as the machine kept plunging the dildo in and out, in and out. Mei followed Gray's gaze then laughed again as she whispered in Angela's ear, "See, he wants to fuck his cousin as much as she wants to fuck him." Mei Li's eyes, a mesmerizing shade of deep brown, held Gray's venom filled gaze.

Gray reached to his hip, with two fingers to surrender in exchange for freeing Gretchen and Angela. "You win, we are all pawns, but I'm the pawn Fatima, Nazir, and Mr. Li want. Let them go."

The door flew open behind Gray as a flashbang rolled into the center of the room, followed by a second. The element of surprise was on their side, catching Underwood and his guards off guard. Aisha, Mario, Vicky, and Malik rolled into the room.

Amidst the chaos, Vicky's eyes locked onto Underwood, her weapon steady and unwavering. Aisha's swift actions had momentarily disoriented their adversaries, and Vicky was poised to neutralize any threat.

Underwood's malevolent grin faltered, replaced by a look of surprise and panic. He was a man accustomed to being in control, but the sudden and audacious intrusion of Gray's team had shattered his carefully laid plans.

Vicky's commanding voice broke through the disarray, "Drop your weapon, Underwood, and surrender peacefully."

The room seemed to close in around Underwood as he assessed his dwindling options. He knew he was outmaneuvered, and there was no escape.

Seizing the opportunity amidst the chaos, Mei Li shoved Angela at the advancing Mario and slid out of a door and down a narrow passage.

Gray took off after her, "You've got Underwood, I've got her." Gray's heart pounded as he chased down the dark corridor in pursuit of his new enemy.

Underwood was not going down without a fight as he pulled a Glock from his waistband, but he was too late. Two shots, from Aisha and Vicky's silenced pistols cut through the air. Gretchen screamed into her gag as her former lover fell backwards. The room was engulfed in silence as the assaulters looked at Underwood's lifeless body laid on the floor, a stark testament to the price of betrayal and treachery.

Meanwhile, the still disoriented Mei Li made her way down one darkened hallway after another. The warehouse was a labyrinth of steel and shadows, a haunting reflection of her mental state. Gray pursued her with an unyielding determination, his boots echoing in the empty expanse as he navigated through the maze of stacked crates and dimly lit corners. His heart pounded in his chest, every instinct honed to anticipate her next move.