circling helicopter. Seven found his landing zone in the backyard and he sat her down hard. The violence of the landing sent the occupants of the cargo hold to the floor of the chopper.
The three-man recovery team exited the chopper as planned. Their fluid, well-rehearsed movements were seamless as they made their way out of the helicopter and to the rear door of the farmhouse. Seven opened the side widow of the cockpit and drew a pistol from his flight bag. He positioned the helicopter’s landing so that he could maintain a view on the last remaining perimeter guard. He extended the pistol out of the open side window and fired a round each time he saw the neon image appear from behind the tree line in his night vision goggles. So far, the operation was going as planned.
Mike was point man on the entry team. He kept his assault rifle at eye level as he scanned the forward area and led the team to the back door. Colt was in the center of their single-file line. His left hand was affixed to Mike’s right shoulder; a pistol was in his right hand. He used his left hand to guide and steer Mike with pressure from his grip to Mike’s shoulder. Colt was driving the team and covering the left and right flanks. Robert kept his rife pointed to the rear. They moved without the need of verbal communication. Three guns moving as one. Colt drove the rescue team up the walkway to the door. He gave Mike a slight squeeze on the shoulder, the go signal to breach the door. Mike lifted his right leg and cocked it to the rear. With one very violent thrust directed just below the door handle, the door gave way. Mike crouched and cleared the room with a sweep of his rifle. With no targets or hostages in sight, the team entered the home.
Joey was entering his third day of captivity. The beatings had begun upon his arrival at the farmhouse. The men worked in shifts. One would conduct the beatings and various torture techniques in the living room of the home while the off-duty assailant would rest in the only bedroom of the home. Joey was rarely left alone in the room. He was secured to a wooden dining chair with duct tape. His