Vince kicked down Angel’s bedroom door. Three scantily clad women slipped down the stairwell from the bedroom. At the top of the stairs, they turned right, and Alex followed Raz into Angel’s bedroom. Colin and Joseph had handcuffed Trece’s cousin’s hands and feet to the bedposts. Naked, he lay spread eagle on the bed.
“Angel!” Alex exclaimed. “Long time no see. How’ve you been, man?”
Snarling, Angel strained against the handcuffs.
“You look a little tied up,” Alex holstered her weapon and sat down on the bed.
“You look like the same stupid GI,” Angel said. “How come you never grew any tits?”
Colin moved to punch Angel, but Alex shook her head.
“You know, you were right to worry that cousin Andy might take over your business,” Alex said. “He has a sharp mind.”
Angel spat in her direction. The spittle landed on his naked chest.
“You’re dehydrated, Angel,” Alex nodded to Vince. “Anybody have some water for Angel?”
Angel screamed when Vince poured his cold water bottle over Angel’s chest.
“You know, Trece was in the SHU for less than four days before he figured out your entire bioweapons operation,” Alex said. “It took us . . . uh . . .”
She looked at Joseph. He said, “Three days.”
“Three days to track down every guard, buyer, and your entire transport chain,” Alex said. “We even got the bank accounts. They’re ready to roll on every member of that supply chain in . . .”
Alex looked at her watch, and then back at Angel.
“Thirty-four minutes,” Alex said. “You must be proud. At least that’s what we plan to tell people.”
“What are you saying, bitch?” Angel jeered.
“We’re going to let it slip that you planned your escape by trading in your cousin,” Alex said. “Somehow, you forgot he was a black ops intelligence officer. He was able to figure out and take down your entire chain while you were lying on the beach. You’re proud of his ingenuity.”
“You can’t do that.” His voice was arrogant, but his eyes flicked back and forth with fear.
“Sure I can. If I don’t call in . . . ,” Alex looked at Matthew and then back at Angel, “I was at a wedding last night, so I’m not clear on the tiny details.”
“Two minutes after they roll,” Matthew said.
“Thank you,” Alex nodded to Matthew. “We have people in place in the SHU. The moment DHS rolls, they’ll tell everyone that you swapped places with Andy so that your friends would get caught.”
“You can’t do that,” Angel said. “They’ll kill me.”
“We’re taking you to Florence,” Alex said. “They’ll do worse to you than that.”
She looked at Raz.
“What did they do to the last guy?” Alex squinted as if she didn’t remember.
“Cut out his intestines and strung them around the cell,” Raz said. “He died about a half hour later.”
Alex nodded. Angel gave her a long calculating look. He glanced from one team member to the next.
“There’s a way out,” Alex said.
“I’m listening,” Angel said.
“You confess to killing the cop,” Alex said. “The whole thing, including framing Andy. Go to trial. Take the punishment, which honestly won’t be any different than what you have now.”
“Why would I do that?” Angel asked.
“So we don’t tell everyone how you screwed them,” Alex said. “This way, you get to say you escaped Pelican Bay and return to the Supermax a hero. Or a selfish, untrustworthy loser who won’t last a day.”
“What do you get?” Angel asked.
“I get to clear my friend’s name,” Alex said. “I allow his mother to breathe a sigh of relief after living in fear all these years. And I don’t have to look that moronic teardrop on my friend’s face. It’s worth it to me.”
Angel closed his eyes and didn’t respond. Alex shrugged.
“Tick-tock,” Colin said.
The rest of the team took up the call, but Angel didn’t respond. Alex held up her hand and they fell silent.
“This is your last ride,” Alex said.
Angel shook his head.
“Fine with me,” Alex pointed to Matthew. “Make the call.”
“He won’t deal,” Matthew said in to his cell phone. “Yes, that’s correct.”
“Get him dressed,” Alex said.
“Hey,” Angel said. “You can’t do that. I know my rights.”
“Do we look like we care?” Vince asked.
Once dressed, they escorted the prisoner out of the house. They turned him over to the Policia de Puerto Rico police. The team made their way back to their Coast Guard escorts.
“How long do you think he’ll make it?” Leena asked.
“I doubt he’ll last the day,” Alex said.
“Why would he do that?” Matthew asked. “We weren’t even asking that much from him.”
“No idea,” Alex said.
“Maybe he just can’t deal with going back,” Margaret said as she walked by. “I couldn’t do it.”
“Maybe,” Alex said. “Either way, it doesn’t matter. Trece and his mom are free, finally.”
“Let’s go get him,” Matthew said.
The team cheered. They got into the SUVs and made their way back to base. It was just getting dark when they landed at Petersen Air Force base where Zack had waited for them. Cliff joined Zack in the cockpit, and they flew the few miles to Florence, Colorado. Zack flew over the prison and landed in the parking lot.
Alex, Joseph, and Matthew went into the prison to collect Trece. After filling out a stack of forms, their friend Freddy brought Trece and White Boy from the prison. Alex had the pleasure of unlocking his handcuffs. She let Joseph unlock his shackles, and White Boy unlocked the restraining belt. They walked to the helicopter where the team greeted Trece with champagne and hugs. When they were in the air again, Alex nodded to Joseph.
“Fey Team?” Joseph asked. “You are dismissed for the Thanksgiving holiday.”
The team cheered.
“Report for duty on Monday, November 29,” Matthew said.
“What about the mind controls and everything else?” Vince asked.
“My father’s team is going to follow up,” Alex said. “But for now, we believe they have completed that plan. We need to be ready and able to pursue our next objective, whatever that might be.”
“We’d like you to relax and enjoy your families,” Joseph said.
“We don’t know what the rest of the holiday season will bring,” Matthew said.
“But we’re still having Christmas at Alex’s house, right?” Trece asked.
“We are,” Alex smiled.
“So how was it?” MJ asked Trece.
“I . . . um . . . ,” Trece shook his head.
“Let’s give him a day or so to get his story straight,” Alex said.
They laughed. Alex settled back into her seat. Raz put his arm around her.
“Are you all right?” Raz asked in her ear.
“Tired,” Alex smiled.
“Did you hear Steve’s coming home?” Raz asked.
“Dad told me, but I wasn’t sure what that meant,” Alex said.
“He’s medically stable,” Raz said. “He needs to heal up before he has more surgery. You know the drill.”
“Surgery, heal, surgery, heal, surgery, PT, surgery,” Alex said. “Yes, I’ve done that.”
“Me too.”
“Fong is back in China, right?”
“She had to go back to work,” Raz said. “She’ll be here at Christmas. The hope, I think, is that she’ll do half-time here, half there, until she retires.”
“I can’t believe Steve’s not retiring,” Alex said.
“He doesn’t feel like it’s necessary,” Raz said. “I think he wants to see this whole action through.”
“This whole action?”
“With you,” Raz
said.
“Oh,” Alex said. “We think this will be over?”
Raz chuckled, and Alex smiled.
“Where’s Steve going?” Alex asked.
“Know any place with easy access to doctors, good medical care, few stairs, social environment, workout, healthy food, and spa equipment? Oh, and is familiar to Steve?”
“He’s coming to our house?” Alex turned to look at Raz. She shook her head in disbelief.
“Something the General and Ben set up,” Raz said. “The General’s house has too many levels, and Steve’s never stayed there. So he’s coming home to our house.”
“I wonder why John didn’t tell me,” Alex said.
“I think he didn’t want to bug you,” Raz said. “No one’s wanted to put more pressure on you since . . . you know.”
Alex nodded.
“How are you with Steve coming to our house?” Raz asked.
“Fine,” Alex shrugged. “I love the man. He was really great when I was injured.”
“You’re planning on getting retribution for his painful recovery workouts?” Raz smiled.
“Oh, of course,” Alex laughed. “I bet Max and Colin will want in on that action.”
“Brutal?”
“Done with love,” Alex smiled.
“Of course,” Raz laughed.
“Mostly, I’m glad to have some time off. Are you staying around this week?”
“Sami is hosting Thanksgiving,” Raz said.
“Our family Thanksgiving?” Alex asked.
Raz nodded.
“When did that happen?” Alex asked.
“When you were working overtime to take care of . . . ,” Raz nodded in Trece’s direction. “I was supposed to tell you, but since Y, I . . .”
His grey eyes filled with sorrow, and she squeezed his hand.
“We’ll have fun,” Alex said.
“You’re bringing the pie,” Raz said.
“Cian makes great pie,” Alex said.
“Cian’s going with Margaret to the reservation,” Raz said. “You’re going to have to bake the pie.”
Alex pointed to herself and shook her head. He laughed.
“It will be fun,” Alex smiled. “No injury. No drama. Just good food, nice family. I can’t wait.”
“From your lips to God’s ears,” Raz said.
“Ain’t that the truth?”
“Lieutenant Colonel?” Cliff cut in over her headset.
“Go,” Alex said.
“We have confirmation,” Cliff said.
The laughing and talking came to a halt. Every ear focused on Cliff’s report.
“How?” Alex asked.
“Ambush,” Cliff said. “They were transporting him from lock up to the airport to fly him back to the states. The Policia believe it was MS-13.”
“Collateral damage?” Alex said.
“No sir,” Cliff said. “Motorcycle pulled up to the vehicle and took out the target. Shooter was wearing black with a full helmet. They’re looking for the bike, but it didn’t have a license plate.”
“Thank you, Sergeant,” Alex said.
Trece looked at Alex, and she nodded.
“It’s over,” Alex said. “You’re finally free.”
Overcome, Trece folded forward and cried into his hands. The team cheered and the celebration increased a notch. Raz leaned over to speak in Alex’s ear.
“Did you release the information about his cousin?” Raz asked.
Alex shook her head.
“I didn’t either,” Raz said. “Mattie?”
They looked across at Matthew. He was joking with Troy about Thanksgiving. Alex shook his head.
“Then why?”
Alex shrugged.
“Do we look a gift horse in the mouth?” Raz asked.
Alex nodded.
“I thought so,” Raz said.
F
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Four days later
Thursday, early morning
November 25 – 2:39 a.m. MST
Denver, CO
The second washing machine bell got Alex’s attention. She’d been so focused on her gallery of miscellaneous objects that she’d missed the bell from the first washing machine. She grimaced. Now she had two full washing machines and two full dryers to deal with. She got up from her desk and started toward the laundry room.
Remembering that Steve and Neev were in the basement, she almost turned back to lock her office. She glanced down the hallway. They were sound asleep. Plus, other than her gallery of random objects, everything else was locked up. She trotted to the laundry room and set to work.
She groaned.
The top dryer had cooled, and everything inside was wrinkled. She pulled out a few items and started the dryer again. She kneeled down to pull the line-dry items from the bottom washer. Her head was in the washer when she thought she heard someone speaking. She leaned back to look.
“Alex?” Steve asked. He wore walking boots on each foot, casts on his forearms, and most of his fingers were taped together. Sheer stubbornness allowed him to move around on forearm crutches.
“I’m inside this washing machine,” Alex said.
“Ah,” Steve smiled. “Finding anything good?”
“Bras,” Alex said. “You’re lucky you can’t see. You’d be embarrassed at our collection of underwear.”
“Yes, underwear,” Steve said. “There’s nothing worse than a display of wet laundry. Underwear would do me in. You know me well.”
Alex laughed. She got up and went to him. She put her hands on his shoulders, and he hugged her.
“What are you doing up?” Alex asked.
“My internal time clock is turned around,” Steve said.
“I bet,” Alex said.
“I heard you moving around and thought I’d come down,” Steve said. “I hope that’s all right.”
“You’re always welcome,” Alex said.
“Is Jesse here?” Steve asked.
“He’s with Maria,” Alex said. “I’m just doing the laundry.”
“Do I smell coffee?” Steve asked.
“In my office. Would you like me to bring you some?”
“No,” Steve shook his head. “I’ve only just moved up to solid food. Coffee would probably take me back a pace, but I can dream.”
Alex grabbed a metal stool from the corner of the room and brought it to him. Placing it near his right hip, she said, “Stool.”
He nodded his thanks. She held the stool until he was situated.
“Do you mind if I keep dealing with this laundry?” Alex asked.
“No,” Steve said. “I can’t tell you how glorious it is to smell coffee or sit in the warm moisture of this room. Everything is so clean and safe. It’s . . .”
Teardrops slid down his face. Alex went back to pulling items out of the bottom washer.
“I know,” Alex said. “I think that’s why I do the laundry. It’s like being immersed in home.”
“Typical American life, yes,” Steve nodded. “I don’t know what I thought would happen. I wished many times that they would kill me. And all of the sudden, here I am at Alex’s house. Fong and Ji are coming next month for the holiday.”
Steve shrugged.
“But this room?” Steve asked. “The smell of coffee and laundry detergent? The warm moisture? Your voice? It’s like falling through the ceiling of pain and finding yourself in heaven.”
“It’s really just laundry,” Alex smiled.
“You, of all people, know exactly what I’m saying,” Steve said.
“I do,” Alex said.
Steve pulled his clip knife off the band of his pants. Using only his thumb, he began clicking the knife in and out. For as long as she’d known him, he’d had a still, almost motionless presence. This nervous tick was new. He spent most of his time clicking it. He even joked that Fong had returned to work to avoid the sound of his new habit.
Everyone had something to say about Steve and his knife
. Alex told them to stuff it. She hadn’t been as religious about wearing her Glock 9 mm until everyone was killed.
“Has Colin made his cinnamon rolls since you’ve been here?” Alex asked. “The way they smell . . . the feeling of a warm bath.”
Steve smiled. Alex grabbed the bin of towels and rolled it over to the empty washer.
“Cian decided to wash the linens while I was gone,” Alex said.
“And by ‘decided to wash’, you mean . . . ?” Steve asked.
“He piled everything not in use down here,” Alex laughed. “He said we needed to wash it all before everyone comes for Christmas. And, before you ask, ‘we’ is me.”
“Nice of him,” Steve smiled.
“Well, he really does all of the household managing and cooking,” Alex said. “The laundry is mine. It’s is the least I can do. Plus, like I said, it feels like home when I’m down here.”
“Why are you up washing clothes in the middle of the night?” Steve asked.
“John’s working,” Alex said. “He traded with someone to get tomorrow off. That means he’s on call tonight. He always seems to be called in when he’s on call. We’re talking about getting an apartment near the hospital so he has a place to sleep between cases.”
“Sounds hard,” Steve said.
“Oh,” Alex slammed the door of the washer. She grabbed the liquid laundry detergent bottle. “Honestly . . .”
She looked up at Steve while she squeezed the detergent bottle. A stream of detergent went into the detergent holder.
“I miss the days when he was hanging around waiting for me to get home,” Alex said.
Steve laughed.
“It’s pretty different now,” Alex said.
“Different bad?”
“No,” Alex said. “Just different. I’m happy for him. He seems to be growing into himself. That makes me happy to see. And he’s happy.”
Steve nodded.
“Did you hear he’s interviewing gestational surrogates for us?” Alex asked.
“Ben told me,” Steve said. “I asked him why you didn’t just take one of his kids.”
Alex laughed. She pulled the sheets out of the lower dryer.
“Yeah, what are you going to do with all these babies around?” Alex asked. “You should see Christmas! There are kids of every age, shape, and size.”
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