A four man security team led Smith and Bugle to an abandoned hideout. Two men stayed with them while the other two went scouting the direction where the gunshot was fired. One of them sighted Bugle's man giving another a chase.
"Hey, Bullet" AK whispered to his second. "I'm going after them".
"Okay. Give me heads up if you can't handle it", Bullet said as they both departed.
AK went after Bugle's man, Don, to help him nail the suspect while Bullet continued on the path to the cottage. AK, had calculated the suspects move, so, he thought of outsmarting him by going around him. He went a different path, running sideways, until he took a turn to his right. He took his position, lying in wait for Don and his suspect. By now, they should be in view. He listened carefully for any sound of running heels but it was quiet, save the the sound of waves from the ocean, few feets away. He feared the guy might have tried to overpower Don, so he carefully abandoned his position, going after them once more.
Bullet could see the cottage ahead but it was an open ground and dangerous to proceed without careful strategy put in place. He decided to keep a close watch on the cottage for any suspicious movement, so, he hid himself amongst the pine trees. He watched for about ten minutes, seeing no activity going in or around the cottage, he draws out his gun as he ventured towards the building, mindful of making any sound. He kept taking quick steps, looking round and about until he got to the side of the cottage. He looked around once more, going through the backdoor. He became even more alert, seeing a body lying on the ground at the entrance of the garage.
He pointed his gun around the garage, his eyes searching, his sense heightened, and his fingers poised, ready to pull the trigger. When all was clear, he relaxed his hold an inch on the trigger, then squatting to his knees, he checked for pulse on the man lying in his pool of blood. He had immediately identified the man as one of Bugle's men, seeing a mark on his left wrist. There was no pulse, the man had died from a close range shot, as though, he didn't see his assailant coming.
He followed the door that led to the house through the garage. He moved around, from one room to another. The place appeared empty. Not a sound or movement. Bullet pulled out his radio, to brief the rest of the team about his discovery.
"This is bullet speaking. I repeat this is bullet speaking. Currently inside the cottage, one of Mr. Bugle's men is lying dead, identity not confirmed". He paused, contemplating how to break the other news to them. Knowing Smith and Bugle could possibly be listening. "And subject is not in sight sir"
"What? Ella is not there?" Smith exploded.
Bullet was right about them listening in on his report. He was about reaffirming to Smith, when he thought he heard a sound. He immediately became alert once more. Tightening his hold around the revolver. His ears picking on the slightest sound, but there was nothing.
"Answer me Bullet!" Smith shouted from his end.
"N_no sir", Bullet struggled to say, at the same time a tiny voice called out...
"Daddy?"
Bullet turned sharply towards the voice. He saw a pair of small fearful eyes peaking at him from the back of an armchair.
Smith had heard the voice too. He was not sure if it was his desperation or his mind pulling a fast one on him but he knew that voice anywhere.
"Ella?' Smith called loudly, praying he had heard right the first time.
"Daddy!" Ella called out once more from her hiding place, still unsure if it was safe for her to come out.
Bullet talked into the radio this time.
"I have sighted her now sir. She was in hiding."
Smith felt a surge of relief. He went down on one knee, his body shaking violently.
"Give her the radio. Let me talk to her"
"Sir, I think you might need to assure her first that she could trust me. She's still hiding." Bullet said.
"Okay... Ella?" Smith called calmly
This time, Ella did not respond. She just listened, afraid now that Bullet knew where she was hiding. Her father had thought her that bad guys can easily manipulate or reproduce one's voice. She was hasty to expose herself because she heard a voice that sounded like her father's. She began devising means on how she would escape through the front door and out of the cottage since that was the only closest escape route to her. Bullet is already backing the other door and his attention fully on Ella's hiding spot.
"Ella," Smith called again.
Not waiting for a response this time, he continued.
"I know what is going on in your head right now baby. You're right to be distrustful at this moment. It shows you remember all we have discussed about bad guys".
He paused, searching his mind on what he could use to convince his daughter to believe it was him. Then he remembered his last vacation with her. They had traveled abroad. At her insistence, he had taken her to hollywood where she divulged her nanny's heartache to him with a pinky promise that he would never tell it to a soul. Smith had almost laughed that day but for the serious look Ella wore. It made him realized how deeply she cared for others. So he had promised her he would do something, anonymously, to make her happy.
Before Smith could finish recounting the tale, Ella sprang to her feet. With her outstretched hands, she signaled Bullet to give her the radio.
"Daddy!" She called, relief evident in her voice. "It is you daddy!" She said again, reassuring herself.
"Yes baby, it is me" Smith said with great enthusiasm.
Ella turned to Bullet, her eyes pleading.
"Please take me to my daddy,"
Bullet nodded. Thoroughly impressed by Ella's witty moves, at such tender age.
"Yes ma'am", he answered, touching the tip of his cap.
Ella smiled at his funny gesture
"Bring her here at once, Bullet", Smith barked out order, feeling his old self back in control.