Hunted

HUNTED Chapter 31

Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada

Detective John Levett frowned at his cell as it rang. It had nothing to identify the caller or its location, which had him puzzled.

"Detective Levett."

"Detective, I'm Gunnery Sergeant Gibbs, we met earlier today at the Campbell home."

"Yes, I remember you." He looked at his watch, it was approaching seven in the evening. He really wanted to get home for dinner, but it was the tone of this Gibbs man, that had him waiting for why he'd called.

"We have a situation up on Moresby Island. Do you have any contacts up here who can help us?"

"What kind of situation? Moresby Island?"

"Yes. It's related to yesterday's shooting."

"What haven't you told me, Mr Gibbs?"

"Stephen Campbell and his family are in danger. We've been trying to fight off Russian mercenaries, but there are too many of them. We need support. Mitchell Inlet."

"How many are you talking about?"

Gibbs disconnected the call, one of the Russians was moving in his direction.

"Hello?" John slammed his hand on his desk and dialled his counterpart in Queen Charlotte. It sounded to him that they needed more than the few men stationed up that way. He gave what little information he had on the situation and the location, then he made the call through to his own men. By seven-twenty, they were ready to head up there in their own helicopters.

Mitchell Inlet, Moresby Island, Canada

The sun was slowly sinking lower in the sky. It was fortunate it was close to the longest day of the year. They would have light for at another two hours. He hoped they managed to help Mr Gibbs and the Campbell family before nightfall. The flight seemed longer to him, which he knew was attributed to the urgency of the situation.

John Levett's eyes widened when he caught first glimpse of the burned out cabin. Gunfire came close to their helicopter, his men fired back, in hope they helped in some way. The local rangers had arrived to the south and supported them from higher ground. From where they were situated, he could see that whoever these Russian mercenaries that Mr Gibbs had referred to were, they were concentrated near to the cabin.

Thoughts on what he had been told by the Campbell's neighbours, had him sick in the stomach. Two young children caught up in a war. No child, no matter who they were, what country they came from, should ever be witness or victims in any form of acts of crime.

"We need to get down there and help rescue the Campbell family," Levett called over the comms.

"We can land to the south, there's a sea plane down there, it looks similar to the one reported to have been fired upon in Victoria yesterday," his pilot replied.

John nodded, it seemed a good idea. Their rangers had the higher ground, they could come from the south and hopefully surround these armed men.

Leroy Jethro Gibbs fired his rifle at the Russian nearest to him. He went down with a thud. Another shot fired in his direction, he ducked and narrowly missed the bullet. He turned to make sure no one in their group were hit. Tony gave him a nod of reassurance before firing at another.

Gibbs had heard the helicopters. He hoped they were the help he'd rung through for. The fact that the Russians were firing up at them, gave him hope.

They were losing light. Only another hour at the most left, before it sunk below the horizon. But with the mountain range to the west, it was certain to fall into darkness sooner. Gibbs directed Deeks and Kensi to move around the back of the rock they were hiding behind, hoping they could separate a few of them and take them down. They needed more captive to question, in hope they would provide more intel than the man Gibbs was certain was in charge of this group, would provide them. Although they had removed him from the island, his men still moved on with the task of finding Callen. Not on his watch!