Sighted in the center of his scope was a bearded fighter and a short-barreled AKS-74U—almost like a machine pistol. Jack wanted to waste him, but he was hiding behind two platform technicians in oil-stained coveralls. Both women. One brunette, the other a stunning blonde. Even from here he could see the blonde’s blue eyes. The bearded man held the two women by their collars in one fist, half choking them. His other hand held the weapon, pointed at their heads.

“Drop your weapon!” Jack shouted.

“I kill them both!”

The red dot on Jack’s gunsight centered for a second on the man’s face. Jack’s finger twitched, but he didn’t pull. The first ROE on any op was to save the hostages if at all possible. Putting a slug in this puke was secondary. It wasn’t worth the risk. The bastard was scared. Maybe Jack could still talk him down.

In that moment of hesitation the terrorist shifted his position and hid again behind the women. Too late, even if Jack wanted to shoot.

“Drop your weapon!” Jack shouted again.

“Fick dich, Kapitalist!”

Jack held up a hand. “Don’t be stupid. Drop your weapon. I’ll guarantee your safety.” Jack didn’t budge. He prayed the psycho would expose himself again.

Instead, the terrorist walked the two women forward out of the stall and toward Jack, keeping them in front of him like a human shield, and worked his way toward the steel exit door on the east wall leading toward the wellhead.

Jack stutter-stepped left and right to keep from being an easy target, but he was out in the open—why didn’t this guy just shoot him? He kept his weapon trained on the killer, hoping for a clear body shot. If the man escaped, he might take out his friends and blow the rig. But if Jack took the wrong shot, he’d kill the hostages.

The bearded terrorist reached the door. His gun hand searched for the knob, but his eyes stayed fixed on Jack. “Don’t even think about it!”

“No, man, we’re cool.”

The door opened slightly and the Green Army fighter backed into it—then suddenly thrust the two women forward and slammed the door behind him.

The women ran toward Jack, shouting and crying.

Jack raced for the exit door, but the two women grabbed him and wrapped their arms around him. “Thank you! Thank you!”

“Get back! Please!”

Jack grabbed them both by the waist and shoved them firmly but gently away from the door for their protection. “Are you hurt?”

Both women shook their heads. “No, no. We’re okay. Thank you!”

Jack heard two gunshots ring out from the other side of the shut door.

“Wait here!”

The women nodded, compliant, stepping back toward the far wall.

Jack raised his weapon high and approached the door.