Road To Babylon | Book 10 | 100 Deep

by Sisavath, Sam

  Sure, it was a little wishful thinking, but hey, sometimes it was better to think on the positive side.

  “Captain Optimism, this guy,” he imagined Danny saying.

  Not quite, but he was working on it.

  “Well, you took your sweet time.”

  Keo sighed. He’d spent the last two hours sneaking into Shaker Town, and then another hour and a half skulking around the backyards of a few dozen homes just to reach Harvey’s house undetected. He’d done exactly that, breaking into the kitchen door and moving stealthily—or he thought it was pretty stealthy, anyway—to the man’s second-floor bedroom.

  And who did he find when he opened the door?

  Claire.

  She was sitting in an armchair in the corner of the room and yawning when he stepped quietly inside. Apparently she’d been waiting for him for a while now, because there was no faking that long and lazy yawn of hers.

  “I was busy,” Keo said. He closed the door softly behind him and walked over. “You alone?”

  “Not anymore.”

  “What are you doing here, anyway?”

  “Probably the same thing you’re doing. Looking for Harvey’s key. I was going under the assumption that he didn’t take it with him.”

  “He didn’t.”

  “And how do you know that?”

  “I asked him politely.”

  “Uh huh.”

  Keo stopped in the middle of the room and glanced around. “Did you find it?”

  She stood up, then tossed something in his direction. Keo snatched it out of the air.

  It was a key. Identical to the one he’d stolen from Roy a few nights back and used to access the hotel. Like Roy’s, Harvey’s had his marking on it.

  “He kept it in a safe in the closet,” Claire said.

  “It wasn’t locked?”

  “It was. Otherwise there’d be no point in putting it in a safe in the first place, now would there?” She shrugged. Then, off his questioning look, “It wasn’t that hard to open.”

  He pocketed the key. “So what were you going to do with it if I hadn’t shown up?”

  “What do you think?”

  “By yourself?”

  “Not anymore,” she said as she walked past him to the door.

  She was dressed in black joggers and a sweater. Her hair was tied in a ponytail behind her, and her dark sneakers barely made any sounds as she stepped outside.

  He followed her down to the first floor. “You know what happened?”

  “The bombing?”

  “That, too.”

  “I heard about it. What else happened? Where did you go?”

  “With Harvey, to Arrowhead.”

  “Why?”

  “To pay them back for the bombing.”

  She stopped halfway down the stairs and looked back up at him. “Wait. Arrowhead bombed us yesterday?”

  “That’s what they want Black Tide to think. But Norris says they didn’t do it.”

  “Who’s Norris?”

  “Horatio.”

  “Why did you just call him Norris?”

  “That’s his last name.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hunh,” Claire said. He turned around and continued down. “What happened to Harvey?”

  “He’s back at Arrowhead.”

  “I guess he’s not coming back, since you’re tiptoeing around his house.”

  “You guessed correctly.”

  “What happened to him?”

  “Arrowhead has him.”

  “So he’s still alive?”

  “Last time I checked. Why?”

  “Just wondering.”

  Because you’re hanging around his kid? Keo thought. What is the deal with that, anyway? And should I be worried?

  He kept all of that to himself and said instead, “So you were going to go to the hotel with the key.”

  “I figured one of us has to finish the mission. Might as well be me since you up and vanished on me.”

  They walked across the first-floor living room and into the kitchen. If Claire had gained access to the place earlier through the same venue—the back door—then she’d done a good job hiding her entry, because Keo hadn’t spotted it.

  “How’d you get in?” he asked.

  “Back door, just like you,” she said.

  Damn. She’s really good at this.

  “What’s the next move?” Claire asked. “I assume we’re going to the hotel?” She glanced down at her watch. “Four more hours before sunup.”

  “I’m going to the hotel,” Keo said. “You’re going back to wherever it is you spend your nights.”

  They had stopped in the middle of the kitchen and were standing close enough that Keo was sure the kid just rolled her eyes at him.

  No, not a kid. Not anymore. He had to stop thinking of her as that. Claire had grown up.

  “You can’t do this by yourself,” she said. “You don’t even have a horse.”

  “I did, but I let it go.”

  “And why did you do a dumb thing like that?”

  “It’s a little hard to ride a horse into town and stay undetected. Besides, I don’t need a horse for what I’m going to be doing next. Alone.”

  “I’m going with you.”

  “No, you’re not.”

  “How long have you been here?”

  “What?”

  “Just answer the question.”

  “Two months and change. Why?”

  “I’ve been here even longer, and I’m getting really sick of this place. So let’s get this show on the road. The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can go home. I miss the island.”

  Keo wanted nothing more than to do just that. But it wasn’t the island he was missing. It was Lara. She was about to give birth, and he’d promised he’d be at her side when she did. He couldn’t keep that promise while stuck in Shaker Town.

  But could he trust Claire? Yes and no.

  She was capable, he didn’t have any doubts about that. She was a grown woman who had volunteered for this job. To look at her, she wasn’t even the least bit afraid of the dangers that awaited them.

  Maybe that was why he was so worried about her. Fear was a good thing. It kept you alert and ready.

  He stared at her, not saying anything for a while.

  Claire squinted back at him in the semidarkness. “What? What are you staring at?”

  “You.”

  “What about me?”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Danny asked me.”

  “Same reason.”

  “He said you volunteered.”

  “He’s wrong.”

  “Is he?”

  “Yes.” Then, before he could say anything else, “Are we going to do this or not?”

  He didn’t answer her.

  “Keo,” she said.

  He still didn’t answer her.

  “Goddammit,” she said.

  “We do this my way,” Keo said. “You understand?”

  “What’s that mean?”

  “It means you do what I say. When I say it. Understand?”

  This time it was her turn not to answer him.

  “Well?” he said.

  “Yeah, sure,” she said.

  Now why don’t I believe that? Keo thought.

  Nineteen

  “Are you sure it even exists?” Keo asked Danny a week before he left Black Tide for Shaker Town.

  Danny nodded. “Claire thinks it does.”

  “She’s seen it?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “How exactly?”

  Lara, the only other person in the room with them, clearly shared his doubt when she exchanged a glance with Keo.

  “She knows people who’ve been around it,” Danny said. “Some of them were tasked with guarding it. Shaker Town wouldn’t commit that many resources and manpower if there wasn’t something important happening in
that hotel.” Danny sighed. “Look, I’m not saying it’s the best foundation for a mission, but it’s all we have. If Shaker Town is working on something that could challenge us…” He shook his head. “It’s a big if, I know, but the potential threat here is enormous.”

  “You’re asking Keo to go into the lion’s den to find something that you don’t even know actually exists,” Lara said.

  “Yes, I am,” Danny said. He’d looked back at Keo. “But I can’t make you go in there. I can only ask you to.”

  “It’s too dangerous,” Lara said.

  “It’s always too dangerous,” Keo said.

  “Keo, this is too dangerous.”

  “Danny’s right. If they have it, it’s too dangerous to let them keep it. It’s also too dangerous to just attack it with everything Black Tide has. If it’s there, I have to neutralize it first, then you and Danny can swoop in with the cavalry and finish the job.”

  “Does a dozen Warthogs count as cavalry?” Danny asked.

  “Sounds good to me,” Keo said.

  “Sounds like shit to me,” Lara said.

  Keo looked over at her and she stared back. More importantly, he focused on the bump in front of her. There was no hiding her belly now.

  “I’ll be fine,” Keo said. “This is what I do.”

  “What’s that?” Lara asked. “Walk into a minefield with just your boxers on?”

  “Well, yes.”

  “This isn’t fun and games, Keo.”

  “Of course it’s not.” He moved closer and placed his hand over her stomach. “Nothing about this is fun and games. But it has to be done, and you know I’m the best man for the job.”

  “There are others…”

  “But they’re not me.”

  She rolled her eyes. “Who do you think you are? James Bond all of a sudden?”

  “No, but I’m the guy who will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Whatever it takes.”

  They locked eyes. He could see the indecision on her face, the fear in her eyes as she grappled with the situation. Lara was used to taking control and giving orders. She hadn’t liked it when Danny told them why he’d brought them here, but Keo thought that even she knew Danny was right.

  Next to them, Danny cleared his throat. “Don’t wanna disturb this cute moment—”

  “Shut up, Danny,” Lara snapped.

  “Yes, ma’am,” Danny said. He walked to the door. “I’ll be, uh, outside. You guys take all the time you need.”

  When Danny was gone, Lara slipped her hands around Keo’s neck and leaned her cheek against his chest. He tightened his arms around her body, careful not to use too much pressure because of the baby between them. He was always thinking about the child growing inside her these days and how to safeguard it.

  “I’ll get it done, and I’ll be back,” he whispered. “Just don’t drop this baby before I do.”

  “No promises,” she whispered back. “It might not give me any choice.”

  “Make it.”

  “And how am I supposed to do that?”

  “Whatever it takes.”

  She pulled her head back slightly and pursed a smile. “Whatever it takes, then.”

  He smiled back. “Whatever it takes.”

  Whatever it takes.

  Keo thought about that conversation as he and Claire made their way from Harvey’s house over to the resort area. They both knew the place well enough to get there with blindfolds on, but Keo let her take the lead anyway.

  When they finally arrived, he put a hand on her arm and pulled her back. “Stay here.”

  She shot a quick glance at him, and he thought, If looks could kill. Damn.

  “What did you say?” she asked.

  “Stay here. I’ll go alone.”

  “Why?”

  “I need someone to watch my back,” he said, letting go of her arm.

  “No. Really. Why, Keo?”

  “That is really.”

  “Keo, I can tell when you’re lying.”

  “No, you can’t. Because I’m not.”

  “I came here to do a job. I’ve spent months doing just that. Now you want me to just sit here and wait for you like a helpless little girl?”

  “No, Claire, I want you to sit here and watch my back. Is that too much to ask?”

  “Yes, if this is your way of protecting me.”

  “It’s not.” He sighed. “I need backup. In case something goes wrong. And there’s a very good chance something might go wrong before tonight is over. You’re the closest thing I have to a cavalry right now.”

  She stared at him but didn’t say anything. Even in the darkness of the night, he could see the doubt on her face. She wasn’t buying it.

  Not completely, anyway.

  “What?” Keo said.

  “You better not be messing with me.”

  “I’m not.”

  “I still don’t believe you, but I’ll stay out here and watch your six.”

  He nodded. “Good.”

  “Fucker,” she said.

  He grinned and got up, then unslung the tactical pack full of supplies he’d brought with him from Arrowhead and handed it to her. “Hold this for me.”

  She took it. “What am I, your maid?”

  “I don’t need the extra weight.”

  “Then try losing some of that flab you’re carrying around.”

  Keo smirked. “Don’t be such a bitch.”

  That got a grin from her. “You better come back, or I’m going in there after you.”

  “Yeah, yeah.”

  Before she could change her mind—or mouth something unpleasant at him—Keo turned and jogged down the slight decline in the hillside.

  Damn, I can’t believe that worked, he thought even as he moved between tall stalks of grass that slapped at his legs, some going up as high as his thighs. Crickets scattered as he slid across their paths. Somewhere behind him, yards from where Claire was waiting just inside the tree line, a pair of owls hooted loudly.

  Sorry, kid, he thought. It’s safer this way.

  He wasn’t entirely sure who it was safer for, though. It wasn’t like he wanted to go at this alone. But if experience was anything to go by, it was just easier this way. Add to that Claire’s slightly unpredictable nature, and Keo couldn’t justify putting his life in her hands.

  And that was exactly what he’d do if he’d let her come with him to the hotel.

  No, it was better to proceed solo. If things went wrong—and there was a very good chance of that—than he’d have no one to blame but himself. This way, at least, he didn’t need to watch out for someone else. When the shit hit the fan, he wouldn’t have to hold his fire for fear of hitting a friendly.

  Damn. Almost convinced yourself, pal.

  Yeah, almost.

  If Shaker Town were on alert after the skirmishes with Arrowhead, Keo couldn’t see it in anywhere. There seemed to be just as many guards tonight, and at the same locations, as there had been four nights earlier when he’d attempted this. Which meant he didn’t have to do anything fancy to cross the field that separated the resort from the woods. The ease with which he was able to approach what was essentially Shaker Town’s command center should have put him on high alert, but it didn’t.

  Keo just didn’t feel it.

  We’re going on feelings now, are we?

  Yes, but only because it felt right.

  Because of feelings.

  Damn right. Besides, he was due for some good luck anyway.

  Keo gripped the MP5SD tightly in front of him, the submachine gun hanging off a sling. It felt good to have the weapon at his disposal again. The MP5 from earlier was a good reintroduction, but there was nothing quite like a suppressed weapon that could spit 9mm Parabellum rounds faster than the opposition could breathe.

  Cold air brushed against his exposed cheeks, and his nostrils flared slightly as he maneuvered around a mound of shit. Someone apparently couldn’t wait to find a bathroom to do their business. At
least he hadn’t stepped on it. He didn’t think he had anyway, but didn’t spend the extra few seconds to check.

  The former five-star hotel came up on him faster than he had anticipated. Solar-powered lights ringed the rooftop on all sides. Prior experience told Keo there were more lights along the balconies that faced the beach. He couldn’t spot those at the moment, because he was approaching from the rear.

  Silhouetted stick figures moved around the edge of the rooftops, looking more like chopsticks than people with rifles that could end him. The guards were wearing night-vision gear and had similarly equipped scopes on their rifles. If they spotted him he was a dead man, even from a distance.

  So better make sure they don’t spot you then, pal.

  With fifty meters to the hotel, Keo’s pace slowed and so did his progress. He spent more time on one knee, submachine gun in front of him, waiting for random patrols to pass. He counted four two-men teams in all, though one of them could have already passed him once already. He couldn’t be sure because he was seeing with just his night eyes and a little bit of moonlight. Not enough to make out details about the patrolmen, unfortunately.

  Or fortunately, since if he couldn’t see them clearly, they would have a problem seeing him in return. The fact that he was crouched in the middle of a field of grass that’d been allowed to grow unfettered helped, too.

  Keo timed the last patrol—they were showing up, give or take, every 10 minutes or so—until they were out of view and earshot. They were all wearing boots, and the crunch of their shoes against the hard ground was audible in the crisp night. Of course, that meant he was making just as much noise, so letting them get out of earshot was doubly beneficial.

  Then, once he made sure the guards on the rooftop were somewhere else, Keo got up and continued. The lack of anything resembling a perimeter fence meant the only obstacles he had to deal with besides the patrols was a twenty-meter or so patch of gravel that separated the back of the hotel from where the grass grew. He hadn’t expected that. The last time he approached the hotel was from the east side, and the floor there had been dirt and, eventually, concrete walkways.

  He slowed down to keep his boots from crunching too loudly against the loose rocks. Even so, he made a lot of noise. Too much noise. Maybe it was just his imagination, but he seemed to be making way, way more sounds than necessary.