Ripple Effect (The Extractor Series Book 5)

by Mike Ryan

  “For what?”

  “I don’t know. But it’s probably going to be a bumpy ride.”

  16

  Considering it wasn’t a long drive to the airport, Bridge was fairly certain that whatever was being planned, it wouldn’t take long to find out what it was. They pulled out of the parking lot and got onto the highway. Bridge kept an eye on the mirror and the maroon car was following, though not very closely. It was a few cars behind them. Bridge thought it was funny that they were giving a loose tail. Considering how close they were to the airport, he really expected them to almost be on their bumper.

  “I wonder what they’re waiting for?” Bridge said.

  “Don’t complain,” Nicole replied.

  “Not complaining. Just…” Bridge started thinking. If they weren’t planning on pulling him over by brute force, they must have had another plan in mind. It took only a few more seconds to find out what that was.

  The maroon car sped up, coming up alongside their car. Then another car sped around both of them, getting in the right lane, ahead of Bridge. Bridge looked in the mirror, about to stop suddenly, and hit it in reverse when he noticed another car speeding up behind them. They, too, kept pace with the others.

  “They’re boxing us in,” Bridge said.

  They kept pace with their car for a minute or two.

  “What’s the plan?” Nicole asked. “Shoot our way out? Want me to get out the RPGs?”

  “We’re not in Iraq, Nic.”

  Bridge looked at the signs coming up ahead. There was an exit for an industrial park. It was their best bet unless they wanted to get involved in either bumper cars or a shootout on the highway. And neither option was appealing.

  “What’s going on?” Ava asked.

  “Just hang tight,” Bridge replied. “Told you it was going to get bumpy.”

  Bridge took the next exit for the industrial park. The car ahead of them kept on driving. It was too late for them to follow. But the other two did. The car behind them was easily able to keep up, and the maroon car next to them suddenly swerved in order to stay within distance.

  “Well, got rid of one,” Bridge said.

  The plan really started coming into play once they hit the dirt road. Bridge heard a noise. He started moving his head all around to figure out what it was. Then the steering wheel started pulling to one side. Now he knew what was going on.

  “Son of a b—”

  “What?” Nicole asked.

  “We’re getting a flat.”

  “Seriously? Now?”

  Bridge kept driving, though they were getting slower. “I have a feeling this isn’t some random nail in the road we went over.”

  “They put it in there before we got in the car? This was their plan all along?”

  “Yep. They didn’t need to do anything on the road. It’d already been done. They just wanted to get us here.”

  “Why here?”

  Bridge surveyed his surroundings. It was a pretty isolated spot. “Look around. We’re not near any buildings yet.”

  “Are they gonna kill us?” Ava asked.

  “Nobody’s killing anybody.” Bridge thought about it. “Well, not us anyway.”

  After another minute or two, the car finally came to a stop. Bridge couldn’t push it anymore. It felt like there was more than one flat. In reality, all four tires had puncture holes in them. It was just the front two that went first. The back two wouldn’t have made it another couple of minutes, anyway. With the car stopped, the other two cars stopped behind them. Nobody was getting out yet, though.

  “What’s the plan?” Nicole asked.

  “You don’t suppose we could hitch a ride with them, do you?” Bridge replied.

  “I’m thinking not.”

  “Looks like we’re on foot.”

  “On foot?!” Ava said. “We’ll never make it.”

  “Well, it’s the only chance we’ve got right now.”

  Nicole scrambled over the back seat and into the trunk so she could pull their bags of weapons and equipment over to take with them. There was silence for a minute.

  “There is another way,” Ava said.

  Bridge and Nicole looked at each other, surprised that she had something in mind.

  “Yes?” Bridge asked.

  “You could save yourselves by turning me back over to them.”

  Bridge and Nicole looked at each other again, thinking it was an odd thing for her to say. Most kidnapped victims would never ask to be turned back over to their kidnappers under any circumstances.

  “Why would you want to do that?” Bridge asked.

  “Because I don’t want you guys to get hurt. I mean, you guys have already risked your lives for me. If they want me this much, there’s no need for anyone else to get hurt.”

  “That’s the risk we take.”

  “But I don’t want anyone else to get hurt. I’ll be OK. Like I said, they never touched me, so I’ll be fine. They won’t hurt me if you let me go.”

  Bridge stared at her for a second. He knew there was something else going on. He was sure of it now. He was seriously considering letting her go, but he looked at Nicole, who gave a small shake of her head. He really wanted to have a private conversation with his girlfriend at the moment, but considering they couldn’t just step outside, it was hard to figure out why she was so intent on believing this young woman. Bridge squinted his eyes as he looked at Nicole, trying to get inside her mind.

  “Remember the shack,” Nicole said, not wanting to say too many details.

  Bridge knew she was referring to the place they’d found Bodie Dermott. He nodded. He understood that she wasn’t shaking her head because she believed in Ava and didn’t want to hand her over. She was shaking her head because she didn’t think handing Ava over would get them out of their current predicament. The kidnappers had killed Ava’s father. Even if they handed Ava over, they would probably attempt to do the same to them. It was doubtful they’d just go on their way and leave them alive, especially if they thought they might come looking for Ava again. No, they were there to kill them. The only thing stopping them from attempting to do that now was Ava. For whatever reason, they wanted her. And they wanted her alive. Her safety was the only thing preventing the kidnappers from attacking them.

  “Thank you for the offer, Ava, but we can’t do that,” Bridge said.

  “Why not?”

  “Because your father paid us to do a job. And that was finding you and bringing you home. And that’s what we’re gonna do.”

  “But if he’s dead, you don’t even work for him anymore.”

  “He paid us in advance. We always finish the job. No matter what.”

  “That’s crazy. You guys are going to get yourselves killed over me.”

  “Part of the job.”

  “I just… I don’t want anyone else dying for me.”

  “We accept that risk with every assignment we’re on.”

  “What are you guys, like, some kind of military mercenaries?”

  Bridge smiled. “We’re highly skilled ex-government agents who are now working in the private sector.”

  “So you were spies.”

  “Well, I guess if you want to be blunt about it.”

  “So you’re spies and you can’t handle a bunch of people who barely graduated high school?”

  Bridge gave her a look. Now he not only didn’t trust her, but he was really starting to dislike her too.

  “Well, we can’t sit here all day. What are we gonna do?” Ava asked.

  “Why don’t you tell us why they want you so much?”

  “I’ve already told you, I don’t know.”

  “And I don’t believe that.”

  Ava shrugged.

  “Why are you so willing to go back to them?”

  “I told you, to save your life.”

  “Sorry for being so blunt, but that seems very unlike you. Out of character.”

  “How so?”

  “Because your fathe
r painted you as a spoiled rich girl who was self-centered and only really cared about money and shopping, and now you’re just gonna be a hero and offer yourself up to people who kidnapped you in order to save us?”

  “People change.”

  “Not like that.”

  “We’ve been sitting in here for a few minutes now and they haven’t fired one shot in our direction. Why do you think that is?”

  Ava shrugged, an arrogant look on her face. “I guess they like me?”

  “Maybe too much.”

  Bridge’s head turned toward the window again, seeing another car drive up. It looked like the same car that was ahead of them on the highway. They parked in front. Now they had two cars behind them and one in front.

  “We can’t just sit here all day, Luke,” Nicole said.

  “She’s right,” Ava said.

  “Nobody asked you,” Bridge replied.

  “We gotta make a move,” Nicole said.

  “Let them make the first one.”

  “I’d prefer to do that.”

  “I know.”

  “Let’s just see what they got up their sleeve.”

  “Let me toss a grenade or something.”

  Bridge thought about it. He took a deep breath before agreeing. “OK. But only if they haven’t done anything in the next few minutes. Just give them a couple minutes to make the first move. If not…”

  Nicole smiled. “Then it’s my turn.”

  Ava looked at her kind of weird. “You like blowing things up?”

  “Some people knit, play video games, or do crossword puzzles. I make things explode.”

  “Wow. Interesting point of view.”

  Less than a minute later, the door opened from the car that pulled up in front of them. The driver stepped out.

  “Here we go,” Bridge said.

  “Oh, man,” Nicole said, disappointed she didn’t get to make the first move.

  “That’s Hatch.”

  Hatch walked about halfway between the two cars and stopped. Assuming he was about to talk, Bridge rolled down his window, though he was careful not to stick it out and risk getting it blown off.

  “Hey, um, Luke? Is that your name? Luke?”

  Bridge turned and looked at Nicole, surprised that he knew his name. “How’s he know that?”

  “Trust me, he’s smarter than he looks,” Ava said.

  Bridge looked back at Hatch and yelled out the window. “Yeah?”

  “Listen, nobody has to get hurt here,” Hatch said. “All we want is Ava. Just let her out of the car, I’ll take her with me, then we’ll be on our way. Then you can get to the airport and go home.”

  “‘Fraid I can’t do that.”

  “Why not?”

  “I was hired to bring her home.”

  “By who, her father? He’s dead. I don’t think he cares anymore.”

  “So why’d you kill him?”

  “I didn’t.”

  “Yeah, like I believe that.”

  “Why would I kill him?” Hatch asked. “I wanted to get a few more payments out of him. I didn’t want him dead. I wanted more money.”

  “So who did, then? Maybe Diego?”

  Hatch shook his head. “No. Diego’s a little hot-headed at times, but he wouldn’t do that without my OK.”

  “Well, somebody did.”

  “Maybe he just ran into the wrong person. Anyway, enough about him. How ‘bout you let Ava go so we can all go on our merry way?”

  “I already gave you my answer.”

  “Why? Why you gotta be like that? I mean, you’re not going anywhere. We’ve got you surrounded. You can’t escape. The only chance you’ve got is to turn her over.”

  “Why do you want her so bad? With her father gone, it’s obvious you can’t get any more payments for her.”

  It now occurred to Nicole what was going on. She tapped Bridge on the shoulder. “Luke, it’s not about payments anymore.” She then looked at Ava, knowing they’d been scammed.

  “What?”

  “I’ll tell you later.” Nicole sat back and kept a close eye on Ava as Bridge continued negotiating.

  “Maybe I’ve just become fond of her,” Hatch said.

  “Well, you can’t have her,” Bridge replied.

  “Well, I guess I can wait as long as you can. Only thing is, eventually you’ll get tired, fall asleep, get thirsty, get hungry, eventually, and I’ll get her anyway. So why not just do the smart thing and save yourself at the same time.”

  “You want her? Come get her.”

  “Guys, it’s obvious we’re not getting out of here unless they have me,” Ava said. “So I’ll just offer myself up and you guys can go. Really, I’ll be OK. I’ve been with them a couple weeks now. I’m not afraid of them anymore. Let’s just get it over with.”

  “You’re not going anywhere,” Nicole said.

  Ava sighed and shook her head. “Are we just gonna sit here all day?”

  “Nope,” Bridge said. “Nic, you ready?”

  Nicole smiled. “Aren’t I always?” She started reaching into her bag and removed a couple of grenades.

  Ava looked startled. “Wait, you’re gonna blow them up?”

  “Something wrong with that?”

  “Uh, no, no. Not at all. It’s just… I’d hate to see anyone else get hurt.”

  “Admirable of you.”

  “Sure is,” Bridge said. “But the time for talk is done. Now it’s time for action.”

  17

  Bridge took the rifle that Nicole passed him over the seat and held it in his lap as he got ready. Nicole put her hand on the grenade that she was about to throw through the window.

  “Who do you want me to get first?” Nicole asked.

  “You’re actually gonna kill these people?” Ava asked.

  Nicole shrugged. “They started it.”

  “Start with Hatch,” Bridge said.

  “No, you can’t,” Ava said.

  Bridge slowly turned his head and glared at her. “Why?”

  Ava looked at both of them. “Uh, I just… I just don’t want anyone else hurt because of me.”

  “It’s their call. Not ours.”

  “How ‘bout it, Luke?!” Hatch yelled. “Do I get the girl?”

  “Get ready, Nic.” Bridge leaned toward the window without sticking his head out. “No! But I’ll give you something else!”

  Nicole quickly stuck her arm out the window and threw it in Hatch’s direction. Hatch, recognizing what it was, ran and dove as far away from it as he could as it exploded. Ava leaned forward to look over the seat to see if Hatch was OK. Nicole then grabbed another grenade and tossed it at the two cars behind them. As she did that, Bridge sprang out of the car and started firing his weapon relentlessly. He split his concentration between the two cars and Hatch’s direction, who had now gotten up and started running further away. He was no longer an issue for them.

  “C’mon, Nic!”

  To give her enough time to get out and find cover in front of the car, Bridge ran towards the back of the car and continued firing. Nicole and Ava hurried out of the car and ran in front of the hood. Nicole then grabbed her weapon and started firing towards the cars to give Bridge enough time to retreat back to the front.

  They stopped to figure out what to do next. They weren’t getting any return fire, which somewhat surprised them. They either killed the others or they weren’t interested in getting into the type of fight they were now thrust into. They either didn’t expect Bridge and Nicole to fight back the way they did, or they were unprepared for it.

  “What’s the plan now?” Nicole asked.

  “Who said I had one?” Bridge replied with a laugh. Bridge looked back and saw the car that Hatch had come in. “Hey, you think he left the keys in there?”

  “Couldn’t you hot-wire it, anyway?”

  “I’d rather do it the easy way.”

  They all ran to the car, with Nicole shoving Ava into the back seat. Nicole stood just outside it, ready
to fire again if necessary. Bridge jumped into the driver’s seat and looked for the key. They were in luck. It was still in the ignition.

  “We’re good, Nic.”

  Nicole hopped in the back seat as Bridge started the car. They then sped off, with Nicole turning around to look through the back window. The other two cars were also on the move. Bridge was driving without a clear destination. While they were originally headed for the airport, he wasn’t sure that was such a good idea at the moment. Some of Hatch’s words stuck with him. They knew where they were going.

  “Are we going to the airport?” Nicole asked.

  “I don’t know.”

  “Why not?”

  “They knew that’s where we were going. He said then we can go to the airport.”

  “You think he’s got people waiting there for us?”

  “Wouldn’t surprise me.” Bridge kept driving, eventually getting onto the main highway. After a few minutes, he drove right past the airport.

  “Where are we going?” Ava asked.

  “You’ll know when I do.”

  “Still behind us,” Nicole said.

  As Bridge drove, he was doing a lot of thinking. He periodically looked in the mirror, seeing Ava’s face. That nagging feeling he had that something wasn’t right kept pestering him. Nobody other than Bodie Dermott knew who they were. Bridge knew they weren’t followed back to the hotel after rescuing Ava. He was on the lookout for it. And he knew a bunch of low-level criminals weren’t going to be smarter than him or outmaneuver him. There was something else at play. And the more he looked at Ava in the mirror, the more he figured out that something was her.

  Outside of the brief crying spurt she’d shown at the hotel, she hadn’t shown much emotion over the loss of her father. She did seem awfully concerned about Hatch not getting hurt, though. She also didn’t have much of a problem going back to them, offering herself up to let them escape. As Bridge continued putting two and two together, he started coming to the conclusion that she was in on it. Everything. Maybe it was even her idea. He wasn’t sure about that part, but he was becoming convinced that she was involved.