Chimera

by Orion Gaudio

  “So, let me get this straight... you won’t tell me why I’m alive… and you won’t tell me who you’re working for.”

  “I guess I can give you a little hint. My employer wants you alive. He wants to have a little chat with you.”

  It had all started to make sense to Turner. He still had no idea who Rollins was working for, but the fact that he was holding him hostage meant that the person would be there at some point to get him. Turner was pretty certain they didn’t want to just talk to him. Whoever it was wanted to find out what he knew… likely through any means necessary… and they’d want to know who he was working for. Part of his training when he first started at NIA was in resistance to interrogation, so he knew he could hold out for a few hours. He had two chances to make it out alive. Howard could grow suspicious if he didn’t check in after a while, but it would likely be too late at that point. That left him with escaping before they arrived, which meant he’d have to overpower Rollins and get out of his restraints. Not an easy task. Rollins was still holding the baseball bat and he likely had a pistol hidden under his suit jacket.

  “And what happens if I refuse to talk?”

  Rollins smiled.

  “That would be great. I’d love to see what they’d do to you. I know you’re a highly trained agent… but everyone cracks eventually.”

  “Where’s the flash drive?”

  “Why would I tell you that? You realize that I’m the one in the position of power, right?”

  “For now.”

  “In fifteen minutes you’re going to wish I was the only one in this room with you.”

  That was exactly what Turner was fishing for. He knew that they weren’t going to move him for the interrogation and he had fifteen minutes before they arrived. It wasn’t much time to figure out a way to overpower Rollins, find the flash drive, and make his escape.

  “Why are you doing this?”

  “Money, of course. Isn’t that why everyone does what they do?”

  “So, you’re willing to betray your country for money?”

  “No… for a lot of money.”

  “I bet we could match whatever they’re paying you if you gave me the flash drive.”

  Rollins shook his head.

  “I bet you couldn’t. And… even if you could, the man I’m working for… he’s not the kind of guy I could cross and live. I like my life too much.”

  “An extra ten percent.”

  “Not gonna happen. You don’t even know how much they’re paying me.”

  Turner swallowed and glanced around the room. He needed to move quickly.

  “Tell me.”

  “Forty million to an offshore account.”

  “We’ll give you fifty if you let me go right now. We can walk out of here together and go back to headquarters. We’ll set up a wire transfer to an offshore account. You can disappear and spend the rest of your life sipping drinks on a beach.”

  “Yeah, and that would last about a day before they found me.”

  “I thought you were doing this for the money?”

  Rollins stood up and kicked Turner in the ribs. He saw his chance.

  Turner grabbed Rollins by the foot and yanked as hard as he could manage. He lost his balance and fell back onto the bed. Turner was on his feet before Rollins could react. Rollins reached into his jacket. Turner jumped on top of him and slammed his fists into his face. Rollins was momentarily stunned. It gave Turner enough time to pull the gun out of his jacket and stand up.

  Rollins shook his head.

  “Don’t do it.”

  Turner hesitated, his finger resting just beyond the trigger of the Glock. He had a few minutes before the people Rollins was working for showed up, and he was going to make the most of it.

  “Did you kill Rhys and Smith?”

  “Who?” Rollins asked.

  “Two of our agents. They were following you last night and someone killed them. I’m assuming it was you.”

  Rollins shook his head.

  “No, it wasn’t me.”

  “And I’m supposed to believe you?”

  “I wouldn’t if I were you.”

  “So… why shouldn’t I just kill you right now?”

  Rollins took a deep breath and looked toward the bedroom door. Turner knew he’d try to stall long enough for his boss to arrive. He wasn’t going to let that happen.

  “You’ll never find the flash drive without me.”

  “I beg to differ.”

  Turner raised the pistol and aimed at his head.

  “Wait!”

  “You’re of no use to me.”

  “I… I’ll take your deal. Fifty million and you can have the flash drive. I’ll disappear and you’ll never see me again.”

  “Not gonna happen.”

  “What?”

  “That deal was only good for as long as you were in control of the situation. I’m the one with the gun, so now it’s my call… and that deal is off the table.”

  “Fine… whatever… forty.”

  “Nope.”

  “Thirty-eight. That’s two million less.”

  “You think your life is worth two million?” Turner asked.

  “How much?”

  “I was thinking ten.”

  “You motherfucker.”

  “Come on Rollins, you’re telling me that you can’t live on a cheap beach somewhere with ten million?”

  “I should have killed you when I had the chance.”

  “Yeah,” Turner said, nodding. “You really should have. Knowing you, though, you probably would have found a way to screw it up… again.”

  “Fine, ten million, but we have to get out of here right now… so put the gun down and I’ll untie you.”

  “Nice try, Rollins.”

  “Five minutes and we’re both dead if we don’t get out of here.”

  “Don’t move,” Turner said.

  He bent down while still aiming the gun at Rollins. He picked up a zip tie and tossed it on the bed.

  “Put that on.”

  “You’re serious?”

  “Or I can just shoot you and take my chances with finding the flash drive myself.”

  “I told you, you’ll never find it.”

  “That’s a chance I’m willing to take.”

  “Your boss would string you up,” Rollins said.

  “I’d have no problem telling him that we fought over the gun and it went off accidentally.”

  “You’re a real bastard.”

  “Do you want to keep talking or do you want to get out of here alive? I know you’re stalling. I’m not an idiot. Tell me now if you want ten million for the flash drive or if I should just shoot you. I don’t care either way. I’d be more than happy to put a bullet between your eyes.”

  “I’ll take the ten.”

  “Put the zip tie on and cinch it down.”

  Rollins finally complied. Once he’d tightened it to a satisfactory level, Turner nodded to the door.

  “Let’s go.”

  Turner bent down and took the knife out of his duffel bag. He cut off his own restraints before picking up the gun again and following Rollins into the living room.

  “You know they’re going to track you down and kill you, right?”

  “Shut up.”

  Turner pointed to the door with the Glock.

  “Go.”

  Rollins opened the door and walked into the hallway.

  “Take the stairs,” Turner said.

  When they reached the ground floor and walked toward the exit of the building, Turner walked up behind Rollins and pressed the gun to his back. It was the only way he figured he’d be able to keep Rollins moving toward the car at a steady pace without attracting the attention of anyone that might see them.

  “The Audi, right over there.”

  Rollins walked up to the car and stopped next to the front passenger door.

  “No,” Turner said.

  Rollins took two more steps and stopped.

&n
bsp; “Keep going.”

  “You can’t be serious.”

  “I’m not putting you in the front or back seats. I don’t trust you.”

  “No way,” Rollins said. “You can’t expect me to get in the trunk.”

  “Do you want your ten million?”

  Rollins sighed and walked to the back of the car. Turner popped the trunk and waited for Rollins to climb inside. He put the Glock into his duffel bag and took out his knife.

  “What the hell are you doing?” Rollins asked.

  “Just shut up.”

  Turner located the emergency trunk release and cut the cable with his knife. He didn’t want Rollins to get any bright ideas.

  “How long am I going to be back here?”

  Turner closed the trunk without answering and climbed into the front of the car. He put his bag on the passenger seat and started the engine. Turner looked up and saw a black Mercedes with tinted windows pull up in front of the apartment building.

  “Shit.”

  He looked over his shoulder to check for traffic. It was clear. Turner cranked the wheel and pulled a U-turn. He glanced into his mirror and saw the Mercedes coming after him. He’d been too slow in getting Rollins out of the apartment.

  Turner put the car into Sport Mode and smashed the accelerator to the floor. He needed to put some distance between him and the other car. There was a thumping in the trunk as Rollins rolled around. Knowing that he was getting tossed around back there made Turner smile.

  He turned the car down the next street. A quick look into the mirror confirmed the Mercedes was still following him as they took the turn at high speed and closed the gap between the two cars.

  The light ahead of him was red. Turner took his foot off the accelerator and the car slowed. He looked left and then right. There was a small gap, but big enough for the car. He pushed the pedal to the floor and shot across the intersection. One of the cars narrowly missed crashing into the rear of the Audi.

  He turned right at the next intersection and pulled onto the highway. The Mercedes sideswiped another car trying to merge at the same time. Turner watched in the rearview mirror as the driver almost spun out, but managed to wrestle the German sedan back onto the road.

  It gave him the chance to put a little distance between the two cars as he pushed the Audi over one hundred. He cut through the traffic, overtaking as many cars as possible.

  There was a car in each lane ahead of him, both moving at exactly the speed limit. Turner moved his foot to the brake pedal and slowed his car. He honked the horn and flashed his lights at the driver in the passing lane, but they seemed oblivious to his presence.

  His eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. The Mercedes was gaining on him quickly. Turner was trapped. He moved into the right lane and honked again, but still nothing.

  “Shit.”

  The Mercedes pulled up next to him. The passenger window was down. The man in the front seat held up a pistol. Turner jabbed the brakes and jerked the wheel to the left. The front of his car slammed into the rear quarter panel of the Mercedes.

  The other car spun around and the front passenger side slammed into the concrete barrier. The wheel buckled under the weight of the car as the suspension snapped. Turner maneuvered around them and got back on the gas. The driver that had impeded his progress had finally sped up and moved to the right.

  Turner looked in his mirror and saw the Mercedes was stopped and the traffic behind it had come to a halt. He pushed the accelerator to the floor and started to pick up speed again. A few more minutes and he’d be clear of the city and could turn north toward Altoona.

  30

  Turner stepped out of the car and walked around to the trunk. He popped it open and was instantly greeting by a dirty look from Rollins.

  “What the fuck.”

  “What? You didn’t enjoy the ride?”

  “You’re a maniac.”

  “Get out.”

  He grabbed Rollins by the shirt and pulled him out of the trunk.

  “Where the hell are we?” Rollins asked, as he looked around the parking lot.

  “We’re here to get you your money.”

  “Fine. Let’s get it over with.”

  Turner pushed him toward the entrance to the mine. He leaned closer to the access panel and waited for the retinal scan. The door slowly opened and Turner grabbed Rollins by the arm.

  “You don’t have to treat me like a prisoner.”

  “Be quiet. You have no say here. You shot me… I’ll treat you however I want.”

  “You’re an ass,” Rollins said.

  Turner smiled and shook his head. It would be a rude awakening when he found out he wouldn’t be getting his money. Turner just hoped he could be in the room for that conversation so he could see the look on his face.

  Jess looked up from her computer.

  “Tell Howard.”

  She nodded and darted into the office. A few seconds later she came out and nodded toward the door. Turner walked him in and sat Rollins down in one of the chairs. He sat in the other.

  “I’m assuming this is Rollins?” Howard asked.

  “Michael Rollins, nice to meet you. I’d shake your hand, but this heathen you call an agent has me restrained.”

  “And it’s going to stay that way.”

  “Look, just get me my money and I’ll go.”

  “Your money?”

  “Yes.”

  “What’s he talking about, James?”

  “I told him we’d pay ten million for the flash drive.”

  “Right… so that means it’s not here?”

  “Of course not,” Rollins said.

  “And you just expect me to give you ten million dollars and let walk out of here without it?”

  “I’ll give you the location. A friend of mine is holding it. As soon as you let me go with the money, I’ll call them and let them know you’re coming for it.”

  Howard shook his head.

  “This ain’t my first rodeo, boy.”

  “What are you proposing?” Rollins asked.

  “I want to have that flash drive in my hand… and I want to check and make sure the file is on there. Then you can have your money.”

  Rollins shook his head vigorously.

  “Not a chance. It’s my only guarantee that you’re not going to kill me.”

  “James, take him to the holding cell. That should cool him off a little.”

  “My pleasure,” Turner said.

  He stood up and grabbed Rollins by the arm. Turner led him out of the office and down the hallway toward the holding cell.

  “What the hell?”

  “What?”

  “I thought you said you’d make sure I was paid,” Rollins said.

  “He just wants you to think about what options you really have.”

  Turner pushed him into the holding cell and closed the door. He walked back to Howard’s office and sat down.

  “So, ten million?”

  Turner shrugged.

  “He wanted fifty. Whoever he was selling it to offered him forty, and the other ten was to risk his life by backing out of that deal. I managed to pull a gun on him and convince him that ten was more than fair.”

  “You do realize there’s no way we’re going to pay him… right?”

  “Of course,” Turner said. “I only did it because the person he sold it to was on their way over to his apartment, and I wanted to get him out of there before they showed up. I didn’t think he’d be dumb enough to leave it in his apartment, so I figured we needed him.”

  “We’ll make sure he talks.”

  “Good.”

  “Did he admit to killing Rhys and Smith?”

  “No,” Turner said, shaking his head. “I found a 9mm shell casing where they were killed, but that was as far as I got. I assumed that recovering the flash drive was more important, so I focused on getting to Rollins.”

  “Good. Nice work. I’ll have a conversation with Rollins to see if I can find
out where he stashed the flash drive. In the meantime, you should head home and get some rest. You look awful.”

  “What about Rhys and Smith?”

  “Let me worry about that.”

  “Thanks.”

  Turner stood up and walked out of the office. He headed to the parking lot and got into his own car. He’d miss driving the Audi, it was a lot more exciting than his four-cylinder Japanese sedan, but the Audi had been involved in a high-speed altercation with the guys in the black Mercedes. They wouldn’t give up easily since they knew he had taken Rollins in the car, so it was best to leave it parked for a while… at least until one of the guys could give it a new paint job.

  He drove back to his house and went inside. Turner took a shower, changed into some clean clothes and sat down on his couch. He looked at his phone for the first time in hours, and saw that there was a message from Alice. Everything in D.C. had happened so fast, that he’d forgotten to read her last message… so she had sent another one.

  I would love that. I’m free pretty much every night, so just let me know what’s good for you. Look forward to seeing you soon.

  He smiled and read the next message.

  I guess you’re probably busy and haven’t seen the last text from me. Do you want to grab dinner tomorrow (I guess technically tonight?). No pressure. I totally get it if you’re busy or have to work.

  Turner wrote a response and hit send.

  Hey, sorry. I meant to respond earlier, but work was busy. I just got back home, but I might have to go back to work tonight… not sure… so tonight probably wouldn’t be the best night for me to go out. Sorry.

  He put his feet up on the coffee table and sighed. Turner wanted nothing more than to spend time with her and relax, but he knew Howard could call him at any moment to tell him Rollins had revealed the location of the flash drive. He’d have to drop whatever he was doing and head to where the flash drive was… likely somewhere in D.C.

  Alice responded and his phone buzzed. Turner picked it up and read the message.

  Are you on call tonight?

  He’d never thought of that question and wondered if that was something a miner would do. It seemed a little strange, but he had told her they were shorthanded and that’s why he was working so much.

  Something like that. Sorry. I wish we could have dinner.

  Turner got up from the couch, went into the kitchen, and poured himself a whiskey to calm his nerves. His day had been challenging and the brown liquid was just what the doctor ordered.