by Robert Boren
“Here’s my suggestion,” Malcolm said. “I’m betting on a plant. I’d say George and I go to the location talked about at the base. Sam and Erica can meet Sid and Yvonne at the other location.”
“Anybody object?” Ivan asked. “If not, I’ll send a reply into the drop box now.”
“Are we sure two for each team is enough?” Ned asked. “We could send more.”
“I’d rather we didn’t,” General Hogan said. “We need to concentrate on hitting them where it hurts. I’m not so sure I want to lose George and Malcolm to this operation now.”
“It won’t take long, General,” George said, “and we have the right talents for the job.”
General Hogan sighed, turning to Ivan. “What do you think?”
“We need to send a strong message, because our main operation will be hampered by these kinds of attacks. I’d send Mr. White and Mr. Black, but they’re almost to Manhattan already, and we need them there. George and Malcolm are the only other two who have the stomach for what needs to be done.”
“Hey, don’t sell me short,” Dick said.
Ivan chuckled. “Okay if I send the message?”
“Send it,” General Hogan said.
***
“Big Apple. We take bite, no?” Mr. White asked as they cleared the tunnel.
“Behave self,” Mr. Black said from the passenger seat of the big Lincoln. “Not like last time. Important job to do. Dangerous job.”
“Relax, I kid. Call Ivan.”
Mr. Black nodded, pulling out his phone and hitting Ivan’s contact. It rang twice.
“You made it?” Ivan asked.
“Yes, just drove into Manhattan. Where stay?”
“You’ve got rooms at the Lexington. Know where that is?”
“Yes, boss, stay there before. You know owner?”
“No comment,” Ivan said. “Get rooms and relax. It’ll be a few days. I’ll call you. Enjoy the town, but don’t get caught doing anything that will blow this mission. It’s the most important thing we’ve got going at the moment.”
“Not worry, boss, we be good. I keep Mr. White in line.”
“Shut up,” Mr. White quipped.
Ivan chuckled. “I know I can count on you both. Take care. We’ll talk in a couple days.”
Mr. Black ended the call. “Lexington again, on East 48 and Park Avenue.”
“Nice. Probably take two hours to get there.”
“Underground parking. We look for parking location with no surveillance cameras,” Mr. Black said.
“What, you think I idiot?”
Mr. Black chuckled. “You say, not me.”
{ 6 }
The Trap
T he business jet landed at Manchester Airport, stirring Charles from his nap. He sat up straight in his office chair as the plane rolled towards the hangar, turning to look out his window. It was the dead of night, the tarmac deserted. Somebody knocked on his door.
“I’m getting up,” he said, unbuckling his seat belt and heading for the door. Sebastian was waiting for him. “Are you sure nobody found out about our arrival?”
Sebastian nodded. “As sure as I can be, sir.”
“Well, pretend your life depends on it, because it does.”
Sebastian nodded, a solemn look on his face. “We’ll pull into the hangar before we transfer you into the luggage cart.”
“The limo isn’t in the hangar?”
“Nope, the cart will be towed to another area, where our operatives are waiting. The transfer into the limo will happen there. That’s what we paid for.”
“Why not use the hangar?” Charles asked.
“The UK doesn’t allow that anymore. Too much smuggling going on.”
“Wonderful,” Charles said, sitting in one of the seats near the front of the cabin, watching out the window. There was a luggage cart train slowly heading in their direction. “Is that it?”
“Should be,” Sebastian said.
“It’s already pulling four.”
“Probably an easier way to hide what we’re doing. Relax. This isn’t that risky.”
“Uh huh. Where will you be?”
“I’ll be escorting your secretary and the CFO to the customs office,” Sebastian said. “Don’t worry, they’ve got the proper paperwork. It’ll be a breeze. Then I’ll head for your transfer spot and make sure you get off okay.”
“We hope it’ll be a breeze,” Charles said. “I’ve got a bad feeling about this.”
The plane pulled into the hangar, the engines shutting down.
Sebastian got up. “C’mon, we’ve got to hurry before the inspectors get here.”
“What if they look in the luggage cart?”
Sebastian chuckled. “Damn limeys have been at this for years. The cart has a false bottom. The luggage will be on top of you.”
“The inspector won’t notice that?”
“If he does, I’ll erase him,” Sebastian said, “but he probably won’t. You’ll feel better when you see this setup.”
Charles followed him out the door and down the steps, where the luggage train was waiting, Sebastian leading him to the last cart. He opened the top and pulled a sheet-metal floor out, helping Charles to climb inside. Then he put the false bottom back on. It started right away. The claustrophobia. The racing heartbeat. Dizziness. He tried to catch his breath as he heard luggage being put over him.
“How long?” Charles asked.
“Half an hour. Don’t talk anymore. The inspector is coming.”
“Dammit,” Charles muttered to himself. He heard a vehicle pull up, two car doors opening, and some muffled voices. Then the car doors closed, the car driving away. The luggage train jerked into motion, the luggage shifting above him, the cart bumping along with no suspension on the rough tarmac. It sped up, making the sensation even worse. The ride seemed to take forever, finally slowing to a stop. He heard the luggage being removed from above him, then the sheet metal was lifted.
“Come on, sir,” the man said. “Time is money.”
Charles climbed out and rushed to the limo with the first man, as somebody else tossed the luggage into the trunk.
“Get out of here fast, sir,” the man said as he helped Charles through the door. Jean was sitting in the limo.
“What are you doing here?” Charles asked as the luggage man shut the door.
“I had to escape as well, so I made a deal with Maggie while she was flying over. You don’t mind, I hope?”
“Why wasn’t I informed?” Charles asked.
“You were already gone, and Maggie’s secretary told me not to call your cell.”
“I don’t like surprises,” Charles said. “How’d you get here?”
“My brother-in-law’s private jet. He’s well connected.”
“I thought you divorced.”
Jean chuckled. “I did, but there was a lot of business partnering before it happened. That was more important that the marriage.”
Charles chuckled. “Frenchmen.”
The driver’s phone rang. He picked it up, had a hushed conversation, and then started the limo’s engine. “Your CFO and your secretary have been detained. This might be a wild ride. Put on your seatbelts.”
“Son of a bitch,” Charles said, fastening himself in, Jean doing the same. The limo took off at a good clip, heading towards a gate in the back, which was closed. The limo driver hit the remote to open it, and nothing happened.
“They’ve made us, so I’m crashing the gate,” the driver said. He sped up, the limo tearing through the chain link like it wasn’t even there.
“We’re gonna get caught,” Jean said.
“No we aren’t,” The driver said. “We’ve got a few tricks up our sleeves, and some friends as well. Look out the window on either side.”
Charles looked, seeing a motorcycle next to him, one rider driving, the man behind him holding a sub-machine gun
“They’re going to see where we go,” Jean said. “The UK is riddled with video c
ameras.”
“Leave that to us,” the driver said.
“Did Sebastian get picked up?” Charles asked.
“No, he’s already out. He’ll be pulling up behind us soon, with more armed men.”
“Sirens,” Jean said, his eyes wide.
The limo roared ahead, the motorcycle on Jean’s side slowing down. They heard a blip of machine gun fire behind them, the limo speeding up more.
“Shit, they knew this would happen,” Jean said.
Charles nodded. “Wouldn’t put it past them. How far are we going, driver?”
“We’ll be pulling into the main road of the estate momentarily,” he said.
“You don’t sound English,” Jean said.
“I’m a Merc from the states, part of the team. Don’t worry, we’ll get you guys there safe.”
More machine gun fire erupted behind them, then a shot gun blast. Jean looked out the rear window. “Lost one of the motor bikes.”
The other motorcycle slowed, the man in the rear spraying fire at the line of police vehicles as another car roared in from a side road, doing a pit maneuver on the first police car, spinning it out, the other police cars slamming into it.
Jean laughed. “The road just got blocked.”
“There’s side streets all over the place,” Charles said. “Don’t you have police chases on TV in France?”
Jean chuckled. “I’ve seen enough of them while I’ve been in the states, you know. Spend more of my time there than in Europe.”
Charles shook his head. “That’s changing now, I suspect.”
“Possibly. The car that stopped up the police vehicles is behind us now.”
“Sebastian,” the limo driver said. “Hold on, I’m making a fast turn.” He spun the wheel, making a right turn into the long driveway, with dense trees and bushes on either side, out of sight of the road within seconds, roaring towards a closed gate a few hundred yards in front of them.
“You’d better slow down,” Charles said, fright in his eyes. The limo driver laughed, and then the road ahead of them dropped, the limo going down a ramp, putting them in a long tunnel.
“Nice,” Jean said, looking out the rear window again. “That ramp just closed back up.”
“They’ve got to know where we’re going,” Charles said. “Probably had choppers in the air.”
“They didn’t,” the driver said. “We took care of that beforehand. None of them will start.”
The limo finally slowed down in the tunnel, which was curving to the right, opening up into a large space. It parked against a wall with a door on it, several guards there waiting.
“Home sweet home,” the driver said, hitting the door unlock button. “Hope you enjoyed the trip.”
Charles and Jean shot each other a glance, both of them smiling.
“Well, I’ll have to say I’m impressed,” Charles said. “Thank you.”
“You’re quite welcome, sir. Enjoy your stay.”
“Will we see you again?” Jean asked.
“Only if we get attacked,” the driver said. Charles and Jean got out and walked to the guard, who opened the door for them. A long, dimly lit hallway was before them. They walked down it. There was a guard next to an elevator door, at the end.
“Take the elevator please, gentlemen,” said the guard in a British accent. He pushed the button for the elevator, the door opening after a moment. They got inside, the guard sticking his arm in and pushing the button for level B2.
They rode up one floor, the door opening onto a well-decorated hallway, with a handsome red and gold rug on the floor, and ornate lamps hanging from the ceiling every so often.
“Where are we supposed to go from here?” Jean asked. “You’ve been here before, haven’t you?”
“Never,” Charles said. “I’ve only been to Maggie’s flat in London. We’ll probably find somebody at the end of this hallway.”
They kept walking, the hall making a left turn after a while. They could see another guard at the end of that hallway, sitting next to a door, in a nicer uniform than the guards below.
“Hello, gentlemen. Please follow me.” He got up, putting a card into the reader on the door, then holding it open for the two men, who walked through. “Third door on the right.”
They walked to that door and opened it. There was a reception area there, tables of food and drink on one side, couches and chairs arranged in the middle, a flat screen TV against one wall. A butler stood behind the food table.
“Hungry?” he asked.
“I could eat,” Jean said, approaching the table. “I had to leave New York rather suddenly.”
“Where’s Maggie?” Charles asked.
“Margaret is in her chambers upstairs, still recovering from the last surgery. You’ll be able to see her tomorrow, unless things go badly.”
“She’s still in danger?” Charles asked.
“Very much so, I’m afraid. You may choose any of the five doors on the opposite wall of this room for sleeping quarters. They are well stocked and appointed.”
“We’re being held here,” Charles said, glancing at Jean.
“I don’t care,” Jean said, loading his plate with food. “I’d rather be down here where the authorities can’t find us, than risking a trip up top. Wouldn’t you?”
Charles sighed. “Yes, I suppose you’re right. Might as well eat something.”
***
Garrett looked over Ed’s shoulder as he pulled up the documents from the drop box. Sid and Yvonne sat in chairs next to Ed. Trevor and Kaitlyn were on the other side, also watching. Ji-Ho came into the room with Anna, Clem, and Sarah.
“This isn’t good,” Ed said as he read, the others doing the same.
“Justin and Katie are lucky to be alive,” Yvonne said.
“They want to use us for bait,” Sid said. “I accept.”
Yvonne looked at him, nodding in agreement. “We have to know if we’ve got a plant, that’s for sure. Until we solve this, we’re all in danger.”
Ji-Ho eyed them. “You know this dangerous. Be sure.”
“I’m sure,” Sid said.
“I wouldn’t want to be those guys if they show up where George and Malcolm are,” Trevor said.
Clem nodded. “Me neither.”
“We need to determine the locations carefully, so the enemy doesn’t get wary,” Ed said.
“Yes,” Garrett said, “and we’d better pay attention to the place as well. I know George and Malcolm are tough, but there’s only two of them. The team that went against Justin and Katie was more like ten people.”
“Let’s think this through, and get a reply sent,” Sid said. “Where’s a good place for the leaked location?”
“I’ve got an idea,” Clem said. “The parts for the water wheel generator are in. We have to pick them up in Dulzura. I’ve mentioned that to more than one person around here. The plant probably knows about it by now.”
“That’s an excellent idea,” Garrett said. “It’s at Steely’s electronic supply house, right?”
“Yep,” Clem said. “I’d better call Elmer, though, and make sure he doesn’t make the trip there himself beforehand. He was talking about it earlier today.” Clem whipped out his phone and had a hushed conversation while the others continued reading the document. He ended the call. “That’s covered.”
“Good,” Garrett said. “Where’s the alternate location? I think we ought to use a place that’s pretty close, in case either team gets more than they can handle.”
Sid smiled. “Sam’s RV Park.”
“Are you sure, honey?” Yvonne asked.
“We know how to lay an ambush there, and how to recognize one too. So does Sam. He’ll be meeting us there.”
Garrett thought about it for a moment. “We’re still running routine patrols with the cavalry over there. Perhaps it’d be a good idea to send a few. They could ride into Dulzura if we need them to.”
“The off roaders would be better,” Trevor said.
“Yeah,” Sid said. “That’d be a big tip off for sure.”
“So, we’ll tell everybody Sid and Yvonne are going to Steely’s, but they’ll really go to the RV park,” Ed said, “along with some cavalry. Anybody got the address for Steely’s? I’m sure they’ll want to check it out with their GPS app.”
“Should we warn Steely’s?” Kaitlyn asked.
“No way,” Trevor said. “I know it sucks, but we don’t have much choice.”
“Timing?” Ed asked.
“They’ll have to provide that,” Garrett said.
“Of course,” Ed said, “but do we want to suggest anything?”
“Sooner the better,” Yvonne said.
Sid nodded in agreement. “Yes, sooner the better.”
“Okay, I’ll put the document together now,” Ed said. “Stick around so you can proof read.”
He got to typing, the others getting off their chairs to mill around in the intel room.
“Wish they could take us back with them,” Sid said. “I miss Sam a lot.”
“It’ll probably be too dangerous for them to do that,” Garrett said.
“Okay, I got it,” Ed said. “Take a look.” He moved away from the PC, and the others came back over.
“That looks perfect to me,” Sid said.
Trevor nodded. “Yep.”
“Nobody wants changes?” Ed asked.
“Nope, send that sucker,” Garrett said.
Ed got back into the chair and sent the document to the drop box. “Done. Now we wait.”
“Wonder how long it’ll take them to get here?” Anna asked.
“We have no idea where they are, honey,” Garrett said.
“When are Justin and Katie coming home?” Kaitlyn asked.
“They’re on the way now, and they’re bringing Katie’s brother and his wife. They can’t stay in Wrightwood now.”
Ed’s PC dinged. “Hey, we’ve already got the reply.” He downloaded it as the others gathered around again. “Here it is.” He loaded it.
“Day after tomorrow?” Garrett said. “They must be a lot closer than we thought.”
“Or they can fly in,” Ed said. “Ivan’s got deep pockets. He might have a private plane at his disposal. Wouldn’t surprise me.”