"Put down your guns! This is Department of Energy land leased within the reservation, damn it! You're breaking the law by being here."
"This is leased territory, Deputy. You have no jurisdiction."
"Deputy, you have no jurisdiction. You're violating federal law—drop your weapon."
The security guards' attitudes shifted instantly, including Sergi Meyers, who had been smiling earlier but now spoke with a serious tone.
"Fuck you! Your men deliberately surrounded us. Do you think I don't know what you're planning?" The deputy sheriff retorted angrily, not backing down. His two officers quickly formed a back-to-back stance, covering each other.
"If you don't drop your weapons, we'll start shooting."
One of the security guards hadn't even finished his sentence before a police officer pointed his Glock at his head. "Go ahead, try it, white boy! Fire a shot!"
Jan had also drawn her weapon, and aside from Jack, who hadn't drawn his gun, she was the only one with her weapon pointed down.
"FBI! Hey! FBI! This is federal land, and I have the authority to enforce the law here. Do you understand? Now, put down your guns—everyone, quickly!"
Seeing Jan step forward into the middle of the group, the old sheriff also barked, "Everyone calm down and lower your weapons."
The tension seemed to ease slightly as Sergi Meyers was the first to lower his gun. He turned to Jan and said, "Ma'am, you'd better get your men under control."
"No, it's you who needs to control your men." Suddenly, Jack, who had moved behind Meyers, sprang into action, taking him by surprise.
Jack grabbed Sergi Meyers by the back of the neck with his left hand, applying just enough pressure to make him cry out in pain, while his right hand disarmed Meyers, dropping the gun to the ground. Then, with a swift move, Jack pulled out his FK7.5 from his waistband and pressed it against the back of Meyers' head.
Jan stood frozen in place, feeling like the situation had once again spiraled out of her control. She couldn't understand Jack's intentions for acting now.
"Officers, slowly retreat while keeping your guns up. Do exactly as I do—got it?" Jack instructed as he dragged Meyers, using him as a human shield, slowly retreating toward the mobile cabins.
"Fuck, who are you? Let go of our boss!"
"What are you trying to do? Let Sergi go!"
The security guards were genuinely panicking now, unsure whether to aim at the tribal police they had been confronting or at Jack, who was holding their leader hostage.
"Everyone, stay where you are! Nobody wants this to end in tragedy, right?"
Jack estimated the distance to the mobile cabins—less than 200 meters. They had already covered about half the distance, and he had sensed the danger earlier than the deputy sheriff.
There were twelve security guards in total, yet when Jack had probed earlier, they had readily admitted that only six were present. So, where were the rest? Ordinary people might not have noticed, but Jack had clearly seen the blinds on the cabin windows moving despite the absence of wind.
If the other security guards had automatic rifles, at this range and on this open snowfield, it would be a massacre. Even Jack couldn't guarantee he'd make it out alive, let alone everyone else.
Although he didn't know how the security guards planned to cover up after taking out the tribal police and the FBI, Jack wasn't one to hesitate. He acted decisively, taking advantage of the momentary distraction.
Hostages might not always work against police, but when roles are reversed, they can be surprisingly effective—ironic as that may be. And it proved true in this case.
The remaining security guards stood dumbfounded, watching as Jack, the tribal police, and the female FBI agent slowly retreated to their snowmobiles.
"What are you planning? Arrest me? No matter who you are, I guarantee you'll—"
Before Sergi Meyers could finish his threat, Jack kicked him into the snow. Meyers was about to explode with rage, but when he looked up, he found himself staring down the barrels of several guns.
The tribal police, now back where they had started, had retrieved their rifles from the gun racks on the backs of their snowmobiles.
Jack mimicked Meyers' earlier smug grin and said, "How about we pretend we were never here today?"
Everyone, including Meyers, was stunned. The others gave Jack puzzled looks—why was he backing down when they clearly had the upper hand?
"Are you serious?" Meyers slowly stood up, raising his hand to stop his comrades from advancing. He rubbed the back of his neck where Jack had grabbed him.
"Just a little misunderstanding, right? How about we all take a step back? We were never here, and you didn't see anyone. How does that sound?"
Without waiting for a response, Jack holstered his gun, mounted his snowmobile, and started the engine. He waved Jan over, signaling for her to get on.
Sergi Meyers stood there with a grim expression, his eyes filled with malice as he memorized each of their faces.
"The next time you show up in this territory that doesn't belong to you, we won't be so polite."
Whether Jack heard him or not, he gunned the engine, drowning out the rest of Meyers' words, and sped off.
It wasn't until then that the security guards stumbled over to Meyers. One of them, his face also scratched, asked, "Are we really letting those bastards go? We were so close."
"Fuck, what else can we do? This mess is all your fault, you idiots!" Sergi Meyers angrily yanked open his jacket, pulling out two bulletproof plates from his vest, and threw them heavily to the ground, finally easing his labored breathing.
—
Two hours later, in the tribal police station's conference room, the old sheriff sat silently, while Jan paced irritably by the door. The deputy sheriff and his two officers exchanged uncertain glances, unsure what to say.
"I understand. You two stay safe." Jack, holding a satellite phone, walked into the conference room, closing the door as he ended the call.
"They had six men in ambush, hidden in those mobile cabins. Braxton and Cory are keeping an eye on them."
As soon as Jack spoke, the deputy sheriff and his men erupted in outrage.
"Fuck, I knew something was off!"
"Were those bastards planning to wipe us all out?"
"Who the hell gave them the guts to do this?"
I had planned to go out for the holidays, but knowing that my dear readers were eagerly awaiting today's update, I painfully canceled my reservation at the hotel and came home to write this chapter.
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