by Nolan Thomas
Riley happily let herself be pulled onto Jeremiah’s lap. The Monster was coming after them, but inside this taxi she felt safe.
Billy got in the front seat next to Lester. “Get the hell out of here as fast as you can. Keep your lights off.”
No one said anything, mentally agreeing with Billy’s assessment. Lester made a sharp U-turn and accelerated heading back in the direction they came from. Billy called Jackson. In a matter of seconds, the angry FBI agent was on the line.
“Where in the hell are you?”
“Look, you can chew my ass all you want later, but there’s no time now. We have Casey and Riley. We’re most likely being pursued by Rolinska.”
Billy gave him their location, a description of Lester’s vehicle, the location of Rolinska’s house, and Casey’s condition.
“Let me get this straight. You three idiots skipped out of FBI protection and took a cab to the assassin’s house, which is wired to explode?”
“That’s pretty much it except for the idiot part,” Billy said. “Casey and Riley are alive.”
“Let’s keep it that way. I’m going to contact the local police to give you an escort back to the safe house. I’ll get an explosives team out to Rolinska’s house, along with a forensic team.”
Jackson ended the call.
“He’s thrilled,” Billy said.
“I can imagine,” Vince said.
“Hey, guys. I think there’s a car behind us a-ways. It don’t have no lights on, but I’m pretty sure it’s there.”
Vince and Jeremiah both turned in their seats to get a look, while Billy used the side-view mirror.
“I don’t see anything,” Jeremiah said.
“I do,” Riley said. She pointed her finger out the rear window. “Don’t look for a car, just look for a black splotchy thing. I think it’s getting closer.”
“She’s right,” Lester said. “It’s just a dark blob, but it’s a gettin’ closer.”
“I bet she’s driving her Hummer. One day Rocky and I went outside to play even though we weren’t supposed to. I peeked in the barn and saw this big dark-gray Hummer, just like the ones on TV.”
Billy immediately called Jackson, who answered on the first ring, and updated him on the Hummer and a plan he just conceived.
“I’m going to drop the others off as soon as we get to a place in the road where she won’t be able to see us for a few minutes. Vince will call in their location. I’ll take the cab and use it as a decoy for Rolinska. You can still have the cops give the cab an escort. That would make sense to her. But don’t have the cops pick up Riley and the others right away. Any sign of cops out here would tip her off. They’ll just have to lay low.”
Jackson didn’t like the plan, but agreed it made the most sense under the circumstances.
Billy quickly explained to the others in the car how the plan would work.
“That all sounds good ’cept for one thing,” Lester said. “I’m not gettin’ out with the others. I’m stayin’ with ya, and drivin’ this cab.”
“It’ll be too dangerous,” Billy insisted. “I’ve already put you in too much jeopardy. I can’t ask you to do this.”
“You ain’t askin’ me ta do nothin’. I want ta do this. I ‘spect I’m a better driver than you, leastwise of this here cab. No offense. Once we drop these others off, she’s gonna be mighty close on our tails.”
“I’ve had some evasive driving training in the service, Lester. You’ve done enough.”
“That may be so, but you ain’t had any trainin’ on this here cab of mine. I know ever inch of this baby.”
With no time to argue, Billy said, “Okay, Lester. You’re the wheel man. I’m shotgun.”
“A good place is comin’ up here shortly. We been goin’ round a slight bend. When we comeout a it, that Rolinska woman won’t be able ta see us stop.”
“Let’s do it,” Billy said.
“Hold on ta yur hats!”
Lester slammed the brakes and steered the cab to the side of the road. It skidded on the gravel and came to a stop. They scurried out. Jeremiah with Riley. Vince helping Casey. They ran for the cover of the brush and trees on the side of the road. As soon as they cleared the car, Lester slammed on the gas.
A few moments later the Hummer sped around the bend, closing in on them.
“Hold on, Billy. Here we go.”
Lester pushed the gas pedal even harder, and the car went from about sixty to ninety in a matter of seconds.
“What the hell kind of cab is this?”
“I like tinkerin’ with it in mah spare time. I added a turbo and a few other things that help goose it when I need it.”
Billy flashed him a big grin. “I think Rita is right. You’ve got the brains and personality of an entrepreneur.”
“Thank you kind sir, but none of that’s gonna help us now. You best hope I got me the drivin’ skills of Mario Andretti.”
87
THEY REACHED THE EDGE OF the trees, and threw themselves down flat onto the ground. Jeremiah placed his arm protectively over Riley. Within seconds the Hummer sped by.
“She’s less than half a mile behind them,” Vince said.
The others remained silent, not knowing what to say. They were filled with worry for Billy and Lester.
Jeremiah got up and brushed the dirt off his clothes as he said, “The local cops are going to catch up with them and give them an escort. The Feds should already be on their way. I suspect they’ll be here shortly to pick us all up.”
Riley brushed herself off. Vince helped Casey brush the dirt from her clothes.
“How are you doing?”
Casey smiled weakly at him. “I’ve been better, but it’s not so bad. I think the bleeding stopped.”
Vince gingerly took her arm and looked at the wound. “You’re right. Jeremiah’s makeshift tourniquet seems to have done the job. Let’s head back towards the house. It will be easier for the Feds to find us there.”
“We can’t go in the house,” Casey interrupted. “She said there was a bomb.”
“We know,” Vince said. “She sent us live pictures of you, Riley, and the bomb. The Feds are aware of it. Besides, we won’t go in the house, just get close enough to be found more easily in the dark.”
“I agree,” Jeremiah said. “Come on, Riley.”
As they walked toward Rolinska’s house, they heard sirens in the distance.
“Do you think that’s Jackson and company?” Casey asked.
“No. It’s too soon for them to be here. It’s probably the local police sent to escort Billy and Lester,” Vince said.
“Thank God,” Casey said, relieved that Billy would soon be safe. Her renewed spirit added a quickness to her pace. “This nightmare will all be over soon.”
88
LIGHTS FLASHING AND SIRENS BLARING, two County Sheriff’s Department vehicles pulled onto the roadway. One passed the taxi and positioned itself as the lead vehicle. The other stayed behind the taxi.
Rolinska had to make her move now, before every cop in a twenty-mile radius joined in. Moving into the oncoming traffic lane, Rolinska accelerated and quickly gained on the trailing police car. She lowered the passenger-side window. An Uzi 9mm and extra magazines waited on the passenger seat. Keeping her left hand on the wheel, Rolinska picked up the submachine gun with her right hand and held it level and steady. She pointed it straight at the passenger window, then pulled up even with the sheriff’s car. The deputy riding shotgun saw her, yelled a warning to his partner, and reached for the radio. Rolinska sprayed the car with bullets, shattered the window, and killed the driver.
Immediately hitting the brakes, Rolinska steered her Hummer into the right-hand lane, as the Sheriff’s car swerved into the oncoming traffic lane. The deputy in the passenger seat tried to control the car, but could only steer, not brake. It quickly jutted back into the other lane, and sharply swerved again into the oncoming traffic lane. Rolinska hit the gas, and passed the Sheriff’s car on its ri
ght as it careened off the side of the road and slammed into a tree.
“Sweet Jesus! Did you see that?” Lester exclaimed. “The Sheriff’s car behind us lost control and slammed into a tree. Holy Mother a God!”
Billy called Jackson. “We’re under attack. The rear car in the Sheriff’s Department escort was taken out.”
Lester looked over at him, and asked, “Taken out?”
“That wasn’t just an unfortunate accident. We didn’t anticipate this level of aggressiveness,” Billy said. “She should’ve backed off once the cop cars showed up.” Billy pulled out his SIG.
The lead Sheriff’s car moved over into the oncoming traffic lane.
“Do you reckon he wants us ta pass him on the right?” Lester asked.
“Yeah. Go for it. I’m pretty sure they want to position themselves between us and Rolinska.”
Lester pushed down on the gas pedal so hard he actually lifted his butt off the seat. “It ain’t gonna go any faster than this.” He kept his rear end elevated—flat-out, nonstop, pedal to the metal.
Lester flew by. Billy nodded at the deputies as they passed. The deputy riding shotgun tipped his head and saluted with his drawn firearm. The Sheriff’s car fell in behind them, allowing for a reasonable distance between the vehicles.
The Sheriff’s car slammed its brakes, skidded, and made a sharp U-turn fishtailing towards the Hummer. Rolinska pulled into the oncoming traffic lane and accelerated. Racing headlong, straight for the Sheriff’s car, she switched on the Hummer’s headlights and flashed the high beams. The deputy reflexively reacted by slowing, but kept heading straight for the Hummer.
Surprised, Rolinska gripped the wheel tighter. As the distance between the two vehicles shrunk, both stayed their course. The Sheriff’s car swerved at the last minute, but Rolinska didn’t allow maximum clearance room.
She caught the front-right side of the bumper. The Sheriff’s car spun as it slid down the highway. Rolinska killed her lights, slammed her brakes, and wheeled the Hummer around—now following the Sheriff’s car.
The deputy desperately fought for control. Sparks flew as the car skidded off the road and slammed sideways into a tree.
Rolinska slowly drove her Hummer along the shoulder of the road emptying her Uzi into the disabled Sheriff’s car.
89
“JESUS!” BILLY EXCLAIMED. “THE SHERIFF’S car just pulled a major U-turn.”
“Looks like they’re gonna go after her instead a waitin’ for her ta come after us,” Lester said, never easing his foot off the accelerator. “I ain’t gonna slow down. No sense in takin’ any chances.”
“Good thinking,” Billy agreed.
As Lester navigated a bend in the road, Billy lost sight of the Sheriff’s car.
“I know some county roads and stuff that’ll get us back ta DC. There’s a turn-off comin’ up. If’n I take that, even if she does get past the po-lees, she’ll most likely be thinkin’ we’d be headin’ for the interstate.”
“Go for it. We need every possible advantage with this woman.”
Lester turned the car sharply onto the county road, slowing as little as possible.
Billy called Jackson to brief him on the status and location of the two Sheriff’s cars. He held the phone up so Lester could give the agent the route he planned to take back to DC.
Jackson then gave Billy an update on the others. He’d talked with them, and they were all fine. A special unit was on its way to Rolinska’s place to defuse the bomb, and another forensic team would go over every inch of the place.
Billy thanked Jackson for the update. Turning to Lester he said, “Riley and the others are okay.”
“Thank you Jesus! Looks like this night’s gonna turn out okay after all.”
Suddenly the interior of the taxi flooded with bright light, blinding Lester and Billy as they tried to look in the rearview mirrors. Billy turned around in his seat and shielded his eyes with his left hand.
“I can’t see a fucking thing!” Billy’s eyes involuntarily squinted and watered from the intensity of the light. “It’s got to be her.”
“Hang on,” Lester cried as he quickly moved the car into the oncoming traffic lane. Fortunately, there weren’t many cars on this road. Rolinska stayed directly behind them. Lester maneuvered back into the original lane. As if attached, she stayed right on his tail. Lester stood on the accelerator but couldn’t get any more speed.
Sweat poured down Lester’s temples as he painfully gripped the steering wheel. “She ain’t lettin’ me maneuver at all. I’m tryin’ ta get us next ta her, so you can shoot her ass.”
“You’re doing great, Lester. That’s no ordinary Hummer your up against—not with that speed and maneuverability. Just do the best you can.”
Billy reached into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out his sun glasses. Sliding them on, Billy hit the button to roll down the window. He unbuckled his seat belt and leaned out the passenger window, hanging on to a small bar at the top of the door, customarily used to help get in and out of the cab. He fired three shots, aiming for the Hummer’s right front tire. Rolinska rammed the back end of Lester’s cab. Billy bumped his head on the door frame, but kept a grip on the bar.
“Holy shit!” Lester blurted as he desperately fought to keep control of the car.
Billy again leaned out and shot at the Hummer’s tires. Rolinska slammed on her brakes and sprayed the back of Lester’s cab with machine gun fire, but Billy had already pulled himself back in and had fastened his seat belt.
“Those fucking tires must be bulletproof!” Billy yelled as the barrage of bullets spewed out. “I know I hit that right front one.”
Lester and Billy slid as low in their seats as they could.
The cab swayed from the violence of the onslaught.
“Hang on tight, Billy! Ain’t no way I’m gonna be able ta keep her on the road.”
90
LESTER TURNED INTO THE SKID applying the brakes as best he could with two worse-than-useless tires. The cab careened off the left side of the road into rough terrain as both men lurched in every direction—seatbelts straining to do their job. Lester did everything in his power to stop the car and avoid the trees.
After what seemed like an eternity to the two men, the car slammed into a tree. Fortunately, Lester had managed to reduce the speed down to about fifteen miles per hour, so the impact, although jarring, wasn’t fatal. The deployed air bags kept the men from slamming their faces into the windshield.
Billy shook it off and got his bearings first. “Lester. Lester, are you okay? Have you been hurt?”
With his hands on his pounding chest, Lester said, “I ain’t sure. I been better. Can’t tell if’n I’m hurt or if’n I just got the ever lovin’ crap scared outa me.”
Billy looked out the passenger window, then peered into the side-view mirror. He pulled his Sig, which he’d managed to holster while Lester tried to maintain control of the car, not wanting to lose the weapon.
“Do you see anything, Lester?”
Lester raised his head and looked in the rearview mirror. He unfastened his seat belt and tried to open his door.
“Don’t!” Billy cried. “We don’t know where she is. She’s armed.”
“Good point,” Lester said. “Can’t git mah door open anyways. Hey, did you hear that?”
“Hear what?”
“I’m not sure. It sounded like someone walkin’ on twigs or somethin’.”
Both men held their breath as they listened. Nothing but silence. Then a car door closed. Both men steeled themselves against the impending attack. Rolinska had a machine gun. Billy hoped he could get a shot off at her before she unloaded. He unbuckled his seat belt and turned himself in his seat just as the Hummer’s engine started. She was about twenty feet behind them.
“Christ, she’s going to pin us between her Hummer and the tree. We’ve got to get out and take our chances,” Billy yelled as he pushed on the passenger door. It was stuck. Billy put all his we
ight behind a shove, and the door gave way just as Rolinska’s Hummer pulled past them.
Both men stared as the beautiful woman behind the wheel of the Hummer drove past them, pulled onto the county road, and accelerated.
“Thank you Jesus, again,” Lester said. He wiped sweat, or maybe blood, from his forehead. At this point he wasn’t sure.
Billy jumped out of the cab, turned back, and reached for Lester. “Get out of the car!” he screamed.
Lester sat there, stunned by the change in Billy.
“What’s the matter with ya, Billy? That badass woman moved on. Why don’t you call yur agent friend an tell him where we are so’s they can come an git us? It probably wouldn’t be a bad idea fur us ta git checked out at a hospital or somethin’. If’n she comes back, we’ll see her comin’ this time and you got a gun.”
Billy leaned in through the passenger door, grabbed Lester’s jacket at the shoulder, and pulled.
“Get your ass out of the car now! There’s a bomb!”
91
THE CAB EXPLODED. ALL HER loose ends in one car. Problems solved.
Rolinska enjoyed the scene in her rearview mirror, and considered driving back to her house. As she pondered the pros and cons of this course of action, her phone rang.
“Agent Rolinska?” the Voice asked.
“Yes.”
“I have a request from Major Bortnikov. I need your verification sequence to proceed.”
“Red Tide 3359X.”
“Verification accepted. The Major wants to see you immediately. We estimate your arrival time to be approximately twenty-five minutes. Do you concur with that estimate?”
“Yes, I do. Please give a message to Major Bortnikov prior to my arrival.”
“Proceed.”
“Tell him I have good news for him. The loose ends of this operation have all been eliminated.”
“Is that all?”
“Yes.”
Rolinska knew Major Bortnikov would be pleased. Even though the Judge was out of the picture, their mission was not in jeopardy. They still had General Parker inside Empirion, the largest oil company in the world. Some things had spiraled out of control for a while, but the operation to derail the sale of Empirion Oil to China, and obtain the company for Russia, sustained little or no damage. Russia’s overarching mission, Operation Red Tide, had not been damaged or impaired in any way.