Igney and Pasley stood shoulder to shoulder and watched the video roll.
The woman and two men arrived in a taxi. At first he wasn’t sure it was their targets, not until an interior camera caught the woman’s face in profile. She had a nose that was slightly upturned at the end.
“Your clerk, they confirmed it was them?” Pasley asked.
Igney grit his teeth and willed Pasley to shut up.
“Yes, she confirmed they were Ekko Kaur and Chayan Harnut.”
Pasley tapped the screen. “The other man?”
“American. S something. The clerks were more focused on the other two.”
Igney leaned forward and watched the trio. Ekko was pressuring the clerk now. Chayan hung back. She was the ring leader here, pushing forward. Right up until the American snatched the passports out of hand and bustled the other two out and into a taxi.
The hair on the back of Igney’s neck rose as he watched their targets leave and the American remain behind.
It was the man from the park. And he was possibly still here...
Were they hunting him, or was it the other way around?
The game was on.
FRIDAY. ULAANBAATAR, Mongolia.
Silas paid the driver and got out of the taxi. He was going to run out of cash soon and that’s when the problems would start. If their passports weren’t valid to fly out of the country, then they were dealing with a much bigger problem.
“Why are we getting out? Why are we stopping?” Ekko stood so close they almost touched.
Chayan glanced around nervously under his hood.
They were conspicuous.
“Come this way.” Silas waved the two to follow him into a shop.
“What’s going on?” Ekko asked.
Chayan planted himself in Silas’ path and looked him in the eye. “There were DSS enforcers at the airport.”
“Were any of these them?” Silas pulled out his other disposable phone and began swiping through the pictures he’d taken of people arriving.
Chayan took the phone from him, studying the faces.
“What are we going to do?” Ekko bounced on the balls of her feet.
Silas gripped her by the shoulders. “We’re going to do this my way now.”
“But what are we going to do?” Her eyes were wide with panic.
He hated seeing her so afraid and desperate. He wished her plan would have worked, but he’d known it wouldn’t. Which was why he knew what to do next.
“First, we’re going to take a deep breath.” He looked deep into her eyes. She still wore her blindingly blue contacts from yesterday.
She glared at him but took a breath, anyway.
“I imagine the Mongolian government wants to keep the peace, and with Dauria being China’s pet, it’s in Mongolia’s best interest to turn a blind eye or cooperate with them. I’m sure all of that’s very scary to hear, but those are the facts. We need to deal in facts now.”
“But, Mongolia is safe. That’s what everyone says.”
“Maybe it’s safe for the average person. People Dauria doesn’t care about, but the two of you are different. Think about it. It’s kind of smart. They know people won’t escape into China. They’ll be deported back. You’re backed up against Siberia. That’s hard land to try to traverse so not ideal for escaping. South is the natural path. They know where their people can go. They just don’t care about most of the ones who get out.”
“Here. These two.” Chayan shoved the camera in Silas’ face.
The image was zoomed in on two men.
One was fair haired and built like the biggest linebacker Silas had ever seen.
The other was darker. He was a big man, but next to the fair-haired one he looked small.
Could they be the men from the park?
Silas hadn’t gotten a good look at them. The lights had been off or nonexistent. At least one of them had a knit hat on. It was too hard to say.
“Those two looked suspicious.” He glanced up and around, but no one was paying them any mind yet.
At least he had faces to look out for now.
“Here’s what we’re going to do.” He peered at the ATM sitting near the door. “I’m going to get as much cash as I can, then we’re going out the back of the shop. We’re going to walk a few blocks, get a taxi or a bus. We’re going to ride around for a while. Eventually we’re going to end up at a safe house my boss is lining up for us, and we’ll stay there until arrangements can be made. Okay?”
Chayan nodded.
Ekko frowned. “But—”
“This isn’t up for discussion,” Silas said over her, putting steel in his voice. “I’m telling you the plan so you know we have one. We aren’t debating it.”
“We need to listen to him,” Chayan said to Ekko.
“Fine. I also have cash.” She placed her hand against her pocket.
“Keep it in case we get separated. Go to the back door and wait for me. I want to be out of here fast. This is the last time I’ll be using plastic. If I’m right and the Mongolian government is cooperating, they’ll be on this shop in minutes.” He nodded at the back door. “Go.”
Silas didn’t like being so forceful, but with just him doing all the work he couldn’t do his job and entertain their arguments. It had to be this way. His job was to protect them, not make friends.
Ekko and Chayan ambled toward the back of the shop, pausing to look at this or that.
Satisfied they were on their way, Silas approached the ATM. He said a silent prayer that Zain was on top of things then slid his debit card into the machine. Moments later he had as much tögrög currency as the machine would allow. He divided the bills between four pockets then headed to the back of the shop to join the others at the Exit sign.
“Come on,” he said walking past them and opening the door without hesitation.
Someone in the shop yelled, but they were already striding down the alley by then.
“Ekko, I need that phone back, please?” He held out his hand.
She slapped the burner phone in his palm without a word.
He hit the dial button and listened to the phone ring.
“You’re on the move?” Zain said by way of a greeting.
“Yeah, our passports won’t get us out of the country.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” He sighed. “Well, I was able to find a condo for you to hide out at. Texting the address now.”
“I’m going to send you a picture of two guys, mid-twenties. They’re enforcers on our trail. After that I’m getting rid of both devices.”
Zain’s voice was grim. “I’ll wait to hear from you.”
“It’s just nice knowing you’re there.”
“Yeah, well, lot of good it’s doing you. I should have people to send your way tonight, but it’s going to take them a while to get to you.”
“I figured as much.”
“I’m going to call Paxton—”
“No,” Silas snapped. He winced then cleared his throat. “No, boss. Don’t bother him. Got to go.”
Silas’ best friend was the last person he wanted to see right now.
He hung up the phone then proceeded to pull it apart and toss the pieces in a trash can, another in the gutter and the third went into an unsuspecting woman’s grocery bags. He was vaguely aware of Ekko staring at him, but he didn’t pay her much mind. He quickly sent the images from the other burner then dismantled and disposed of it in the same fashion as the first.
“Was that necessary?” she asked when he was done.
“Yes.”
“Is that what you did to my phone?”
“Yes.”
Silas had expected a fight about the phone, so he’d simply asked her for it last night and disposed of it while she slept. That wasn’t how he liked handling things. He’d have preferred to let Ekko do it herself, but he just couldn’t wade through another fight with her.
One way or another he was going to keep both Ekko and Chayan aliv
e. Being their best friend wasn’t necessary to accomplish that.
7.
Friday. Safe House, Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.
Ekko was relieved to step inside the third floor condo and hear the locks click behind her. She sucked down a breath and felt the tension ease from her shoulders at long last.
They were safe. Or something close to it.
Her feet ached. Her head was pounding. Despite keeping herself in good shape, her muscles were screaming at her. At least she’d been smart and worn her comfortable boots, otherwise she’d be a lot worse off right now.
“Is there somewhere I can lie down?” Chayan asked.
Silas glanced at him. “There are three bedrooms. Take your pick. But I’d like to check each one first.”
Ekko plopped down on the sofa and folded her hands on her knees. Her wool coat was long since gone and now she wore something Silas had handed to her. She didn’t know if he’d bought it or stolen it and she didn’t care.
If it weren’t for him she’d have stood at that ticket counter and argued until the DSS agents arrived. If Silas was right, and she feared he was, they’d have taken Chayan right then and there. Maybe her, too.
How had she been so naïve? She’d thought the hardest part would be getting Chayan over the border and into Mongolia. Now it seemed like they’d only begun.
Silas and Chayan disappeared down a hall, leaving her alone with her thoughts.
She’d had a lot of time to consider every one of her mistakes over the last few hours walking and riding around the city.
How had she ever been so idealistic?
Today Chayan could have died if it weren’t for Silas.
As if thinking his name summoned him, Silas was there, checking the front door again.
“Chayan’s already asleep,” he said without looking at her.
“Not surprising.” She sighed and another worry settled on her shoulders. “He’s been living under so much stress. His body’s just shutting down on him. He’s lost so much weight. He’s a complete zombie.”
“What kind of stress?” Silas turned to face her. “Why is he so important?”
“He is—or was—the head of the government’s cyber division. It was his job to keep the internet firewalls in place and gather data on anyone with an internet connection. But that also means he sees outside the country and inside. He knows what they’re doing, how much people are being lied to.”
Silas sat on the coffee table directly in front of her, his knees on either side of her legs. She eased back farther into the cushions trying to get away from that stare of his.
“We need to get on the same page,” Silas said. “There’s only one of me and for a job like this we’d usually have five guys and a lot of equipment. I don’t have the time or ability to argue with you. It’s not what I want to do, but I also know what needs to be done in a situation like this.”
He paused, watching her with as much wariness as she was feeling.
“I understand,” she said.
He frowned.
Ekko took a deep breath before beginning. She’d known these things needed to be said. Why not start now?
“When I get stressed or I panic, I talk. I say things I don’t really mean. I’ll argue. I can’t stop myself, I just do. I know you’re right even when I’m running my mouth sometimes. I don’t want to argue and I know you’re our best hope.”
His frown deepened. “You’re serious?”
“Yes,” she snapped. “Look, I get it now. I was idealistic about how this was going to go down. My plan was unrealistic and if it weren’t for you...I don’t know where we’d be right now. So, thank you. And I’m sorry for being a pain in the ass. I’m going to do my best to hold my tongue and just do what you tell me to do. I’m going to fail a few times, but I am listening to you. I want us to live.”
Silas blinked at her a few times. “Oh. Well, good. And I’m sorry, too.”
She arched a brow. “For what?”
“I was short with you today. I cut you off a lot—”
“Because I was panic arguing. It was my fault, not yours, and if I’m being honest, that’s the best way to deal with me in a situation like this. I haven’t exactly given you a lot of reasons to trust me.”
“I could have been better, too.” He grimaced. “Now I feel like an ass.”
“Isn’t that kind of your job?”
“Believe it or not, most of my clients find me charming.” He flashed her a smile that had her insides wobbling.
“You? Charming?” she managed to get out.
He let the smile go and once more looked at her with a serious expression. “I think we’re going to be stuck with each other for a while longer.”
“You think?” Despite her sassy words fear nibbled at her.
Silas placed his hands on her knees. It was a comforting touch and if she weren’t so damn aware of him, it might have been nice.
“It’s going to take us a while to get out of here. I want us to be able to coexist.”
“Can we start over? Like totally over?” she asked. “I promise to be less of a bitch.”
“I’m game for that if you are.”
She extended her hand and gave him her brightest smile. “Ekko, nice to meet you.”
He grinned in return and took her hand in his, but instead of giving it a shake he gently kissed her knuckles. “Silas. Pleasure is all mine.”
She decided to not argue that point. At least not for now.
“So, Silas, I understand you’re here to rescue me and my friend.”
“That is the plan, ma’am.” He released her hand and titled his head to the side. “Mind telling me how all this started.”
She couldn’t hold the smile in place.
“That’s a very long story.” And an emotional one for her.
“It would help me if I understood the situation better.”
All those warm fuzzy feelings stirring in her died a fast, cold death.
“Sit?” She gestured at the other end of the sofa and curled her legs under her while Silas settled in.
Where did she begin?
How did she begin?
This wasn’t something she talked about, not with her viewers or her family or even alone in her own head.
“My parents left Dauria when I was little. I think I was six. My brother, Efim, was ten. I guess it all really started with him. Growing up I didn’t realize how much being from Dauria impacted us. Both of my parents were in tech. That was more or less how they got us out, by promising to work for other companies. But the government didn’t want to let them go. When they wouldn’t move back, as best as I understand it, the Chinese government got involved.”
“Why? Did they get out legally or did they escape?”
“The answer depends on who you ask and when,” she said slowly. “I’m still not entirely clear on how it happened, but I think they did a legal escape? Like, they got papers because someone—the company they were supposed to work for—bribed people. So when it all came out, it was illegal. My parents hate talking about it.”
Silas had a thoughtful frown on his face, if a frown could be called thoughtful. “Why were they so important?”
“Oh, well, see, my parents helped develop some of the hardware that allows the software to keep tabs on people. Since that’s kind of important to both Dauria and China they didn’t want anyone else hiring them. That meant that anyone who tried to employ them suddenly couldn’t source work or get funding from anyone with China’s money. They effectively blackballed my parents from working and forced them into other fields.”
“Seriously? What do they do now?”
“My dad started a cell phone fix-it shop. It might sound silly, but he’s grown it into something really cool. He builds custom computers and handles security for a few small companies on top of fixing things. It’s not what he wanted to do, working on the development side, but he made it work. Mom went to work at a bakery and now she manages the shop. They both l
ove what they do, but it took a long time for them to be happy.” Ekko smiled fondly at the floor, thinking of all the times she’d spent at the shop or the bakery. Their lives hadn’t been easy, but they’d been free.
“That’s crazy,” Silas muttered.
“It was, but that’s just the beginning. That’s the backstory.” She turned to face him and sat cross legged.
Silas’ gaze narrowed. “Right. Your brother.”
“A few years back Efim was after me to do something with him. So I started playing the Drudge video game with him. At first it was just this stupid thing we did together, then I started to like it. It was our thing. He was the one who started a streaming channel. Most of the time it was just us and a few of our friends. It was stupid, but we had a lot of fun doing it. None of us were serious about it and we never hit the point at which you get paid to stream content.”
This next part was going to hurt. Thinking about her brother always hurt. She took a deep breath and braced herself.
“Efim decided he was going back to Dauria. He and I, we were in good standing so it was allowed. Technically. We were worried they would force him into the mandatory military service everyone has to do.”
“Mandatory military service?”
“Five years. A lot of people get programmed that way. They meet their spouses.” She shrugged. “It’s a highly effective system.”
“Wow. I didn’t know that part. Sorry, continue.”
“Efim still had friends from when we were kids he talked to and we had family there. Our parents were totally against the idea, but Efim was Efim. He came back and stayed with Chayan’s son, Bataar.” Her mind blanked on her and for a few moments she stared at nothing, unable to continue.
Silas didn’t say anything. He remained still, listening to her.
The last time she’d seen her brother she’d thrown a pillow at his head. He’d retaliated by nailing her with a stress ball. It had left a fist sized bruise on her thigh. For weeks she’d press the bruise to feel the ache that reminded her of him.
“We don’t know the events that led up to it. Obviously Efim and Bataar were careful, but not careful enough. They got involved in a protest about the government censoring outside news sources. Both Efim and Bataar were arrested and charged with treason. One of the guys in Bataar’s unit turned them in. See? Effective.” She swallowed. She could say the next sentence and not cry. She could do it. “They were executed on national TV. For some reason I never understood how big it all was until Efim died. I mean, I knew things in Dauria were bad but that was half a world away from me. Efim dying made it real to me.”
Dangerous Connections (Aegis Group Book 9) Page 9