by Cara Charles
“You’re all grown up,” Shanti said touching her face, looking her over.
The reality of another loved one had aged beyond her crossed her face. Momentarily shaken by Elise’s mortality, Shanti put her mask back on.
“Someday,” Shanti caressing Elise’s face and wiping her tears, “I hope I can see the loss of your man and your daughter replaced by a beautiful memory in your eyes.”
“The loss of your children still haunts you too, Shanti. I know that look. I see it in my own reflection now. I will carry on their life’s mission. I’ve promised them. They’ll always be alive in that way. I think I learned that from you. You’re still as beautiful as when I last saw you. Come and meet everyone,” Elise said. “Sammie?”
Sam walked into their circle and kissed Shanti. “I remember Shanti.”
Shanti kissed Sam back. “You have been her savior, Sam. Truly.”
Dez and Sid hugged each other. Sid whispered in Desiree’s ear and she nodded.
Elise has assumed the new leadership of METAPHOR, quite naturally. Elise brings Shanti over to Sid and Desiree standing with Joseph.
Shanti kisses Desiree first. “Thank you for giving me the most precious of gifts. Your dedication, beyond measure. I am humble before you in my thanks.”
Shanti bows then kneels, placing Desiree’s open hands to her mouth, kissing their palms. Shanti rests her forehead in Desiree’s open palms in an ancient gesture of humility. Shanti rises.
Desiree curtsies, takes her hand, and kisses it as you would a Queen.
Shanti kisses Desiree’s cheeks. Tears flow down everyone’s face.
Sid kneels.
Shanti brings him to his feet. “It is I who must kneel.” Shanti kneels at Sid’s feet and kisses his palms, then rises and goes back to Sam.
Shanti takes Sam’s hand. “Do you remember me from USC and I was Elise’s weekend tutor?” Shanti asks Sam.
Sam’s eyes brighten. He does and grabs her, warmly embracing her.
“Yes. Yes I do. Everywhere I went, I’d see this beautiful woman smiling at me. When I’d cross the quad to speak to you, you’d be gone like I’d been dreaming. That was you!”
“Yes. You’ve taken wonderful care of Elise and you both have done wonderful things, selfless things for everyone. I’m honored to finally get to know you,” Shanti kissed him.
“Do you know how long I’ve waited for that kiss?” Sam said sighing.
The team climbed the stairs to meet this extraordinary woman instinctively knowing this moment was special.
Shanti kissed them all on the cheek, returning them down the stairs, a new person.
Shanti returned to Elise, “You’ve grown into such a beautiful woman, Elise. Your father would be so proud. Come, meet Joseph.”
After everyone had met Joseph, Sid wanted them out on position.
“Team? Let’s take up your positions and report in,” Sid said watching his team.
Dave was lost in thought. It came to him, “No?” Dave’s eyes went wide.
Mac nodded, yes with a big smile. Iain nodded yes, as he fanned out.
Mavra and Dimitri rode through the beautiful mountains with driver Mike Meiners, a real estate broker who had the biggest cabin vacation rental management company in the Meriwether County Mountains. He was a former mercenary, known through channels to Dimitri. Years out of training, he’d packed on sixty extra pounds.
“Tell Ms. Kimirov what you told me Mike,” D said.
“Joseph Jefferson is famous in these parts, a native son. I know his properties, his friends, and friends of his friends’ properties. Most people of means in these parts have vacation rentals. I told Mr. Vega, I’d find him. I know these cabins and woods like the back of my hand. Here’s the list I compiled. I know you’ll get a hit on one of these. The rental car info is in the glove box.”
Mike gave them the Warm Springs Realtor tour, pointing out the Warm Springs Pools. There was the Foundation where FDR received his polio treatments. Mike pointed out the old depot building and other points of interest in the tourist town. Mike pulled over and parked in front of his bank. It was just opening.
“Thank you. Our business is now concluded.” Mavra went back to her I-pad.
“Thank you ma’am. Don’t hesitate to call next time you’re this far south.”
Mavra slid into the driver’s seat, and drove to the sporting goods store. Minutes later she came out in a new camo outfit carrying a heavy gun bag.
Dimitri was engrossed his computer. “The biggest thermal hit is the cabin on Delano Road, ten miles south.” D set the GPS, and texted the address to Carlos in the Blue Van.
They headed out of town, while the Kimirov crew got in their gear.
Five miles from their destination the Blue Van pulled down a dirt road about a mile. All the guys got out to take a leak. So did the local driver, Earl.
Earl asked, “Is this where the party is, fellas?”
“Ya. They’re going to ambush us further down. We fight best on empty.”
“Can I watch?” Earl asked.
“If you don’t snap a twig and give us away. We’ll give you glasses to watch from top of the van. Two hours, tops. We gotta get back to the bright lights, big city.”
“Where bouts y’all from?”
Kenny handed him the glasses, “Southern Mason-Dixon Line. Best we can do for now.”
“I hear ya,” Earl broke off a hunk of chewing tobacco.
“Tell me if you see anyone down the road there.”
Earl lifted the glasses to his eyes. Jess pulled his arms up and backward, as two guys stuck a needle in each side of his neck, and pushed the drug. He was out in three seconds. They laid him down near a tree, and covered him with leaves for warmth.
Jess said, “New record. Fourteen seconds.”
“Should be worth a bonus,” Kenny said, as the guys high-fived.
“Gonna buy me a 57 inch for the Super Bowl,” Jess said
“That’s the best you can do?” the fourth guy said.
“Think big, man!” the fifth guy said. “Paid cash for my house.”
“Wow, Man! Shit then, it’s settled. We party at your place.”
At the three-mile marker they pulled onto a dirt road and geared up.
Mavra checked out her new Dragunov.
The Kimirov team jogged the next mile. It was hard going in the wispy, tightly growing trees. Mavra kept up.
At their one-mile marker, they fanned out and crept to the cabin on Delano Road.
Carlos was the first to reach the quiet cabin. Through his thermoscope he saw nothing. Carlos never assumed. They had a cellar. He looked into the small windows with the thermoscope.
Carlos returned to Dimitri’s eye line, shook his head no, made a zero with his fingers.
Dimitri turned to Mavra and shook his head.
She knew to let the professionals do their job.
Dimitri checked his wrist computer and the satellite again. He’d lose it within two minutes, and then he’d have to wait until it came around again. He checked all the other properties and got a hit, a few doors down.
Dimitri signaled ‘go another one thousand feet, this side. Follow me.’
They proceeded on this new course, Carlos on point, Kenny bringing up the rear, watching Mavra’s ass.
Dimitri signaled ‘fan-out.’
Carlos went left.
Kenny thought, ‘If she ever tires of D, I’ll make my move.’ Kenny watched D go wide.
D signaled to Carlos to walk in front of him. D shadowed Carlos until he got to a rock outcropping then disappeared, confusing any eye on Carlos.
D pulled the tabs on his gear, releasing the cold gel to mask his body heat. D crawled on his belly toward his objective.
Trevor whispered, “Kenny is on your six, Carlos now on your three. Give them the benefit of the doubt,” Trevor felt heavy saying that, directing his team to spare their two old friends. ‘When you’re on the wrong team man, you’re on the wrong team.’
>
Kenny, hypnotized by Mavra’s swaying hips came crashing back when something flew by his ear.
Suddenly they were all under fire from silenced rifles.
Jess, guys two, three, four, and five went down, like bowling pins.
Kenny checked on Mavra again. She’d disappeared.
Everyone had their own assigned assassin.
Mavra was going to find Joseph. The red light of a laser was on her chest. She hit the deck, but kept crawling, deciding it was now or never.
Trevor knew every one of his ex-soldier team members dreamed of going out with purpose, and in a blaze of glory, but not at the hands of former foxhole mates.
As Sid and Desiree were busy checking their gas masks, vests, assisting Elise, Sam, and Shanti into theirs, checking their guns, rifles, and ammo, Elise and Shanti were preparing to move, when they turned to help Joseph.
“Let me help you, Joe…” Sid said. “God! He didn’t…”
Joseph wasn’t with them.
Shanti panicked. “Joe?” Joe!” Shanti ran for the door.
Sid and Desiree grabbed her, preventing her from running after him.
“No, Shanti. Let the team and Trevor find him.”
Shanti turned, glaring at them. “No one else is going to die because of me.”
“We’re all dedicated and honor bound to protect you. Joseph is one of METAPHOR. I’ll alert the others. Please let us handle this,” Desiree said.
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry,” Shanti said as Elise came to her side.
Sid radioed all hands, “Our old friend is outside. Watch your crossfire.”
“Copy, copy,” All team members copied.
Joseph had Shanti’s Five-seveN FN and vest piercing ammo with him.
Kate swung her rifle, scanning for Joseph. She didn’t see him, yet. She went back to Mavra, her assignment. There she was, playing soldier.
Kate thought, ‘I should shoot you, you corrupt, demented bitch, the source of everyone’s problems. But their orders were to…’ ‘Draw her in to arrest her, so we can take care of Ms. Kimirov in our own way,’ ‘Desiree said in her briefing in the van.’
Kate hated that old, impotent feeling that lay heavy on her. Kate really hated the heartless privileged, now more than anything.
Sid searched the woods through his thermoscope. He recognized Kenny with his red hair, then Carlos with his curly black hair prematurely flecked in gray.
“Give the red headed big guy, and both smaller, black curly haired guys a bit of latitude. They are former boys of mine. If they fire on anyone, take them out.”
“Copy,” they all said.
Trevor thought, ‘Shit, you two are not gonna have your cake and eat it, too.’
A shot. Then three rifle repeats.
Mavra’s team opened fire but Kenny and Carlos watched, not firing, wanting to know where the shots were coming from.
Carlos lay in the dirt, “Three o’clock behind the large tree, one hundred yards.”
A guy in that zone opened fire and bought it from another direction.
Kenny saw the guy on his left go down. The guy on Carlos’s right fired over his head at the guy who got his friend. The guy on their three got him. Other bodies hit the ground hard, caught in the crossfire, pinning Kenny and Carlos.
Kenny felt that old panic creep in.
Carlos felt it, too.
‘Shit, they’re good. Where the fuck are they?’ Kenny broke out in a cold sweat. ‘I’m next.’ The leaves jumped up inches from his hands. The laser lit up his face.
Trevor smiled, ‘Put your fucking hands up Kenny. You dirtbag.’
Dave had a guy in his sights in his zone. Dave fired.
A body hit the ground, twenty-five yards to Kenny’s right.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN — LET THE BODIES HIT THE FLOOR
‘WAS IT MAVRA?’
“Another one bites the dust! Good shooting Mate” Iain said.
“Iain? Let’s peel them. If you have Carlos, plant one at his shoulder,” Sid said.
“Copy.”
Iain planted a bullet at Carlos’ shoulder, the laser moved to his hands, up to his forehead. Carlos lay on his right cheek, put his hands up.
D HAD VANISHED.
Kenny saw Carlos put his hands up. He would too.
‘What the hell?’
“Carlos is surrendering. Kenny’s out, too. Three left. Mavra, D, and a third.”
“Copy. Keep looking for Joe,” Sid said.
KATE WATCHED Mavra in her Magnum scope.
Mavra stood up. She was walking toward the cabin, and their position.
“T? She’s walking in again! For fuck sake! Keep coming, you bold bitch. She has a side arm by her side, her rifle is on her back.”
Trevor said, “Sir?”
“Boys? Paint her up!” Sid said
Dave and Mac searched the trees up and down.
Trevor searched for Joseph and Dimitri, then planted his laser on Mavra’s chest. She kept walking, shaking her head and grinning, knowing he could see her in his scope. Then she flipped them off.
Iain and Kate painted Mavra too.
Her chest covered in red lasers, didn’t faze her. She kept on coming.
Kate wanted to shoot some new part of her. Her peripheral eye on Trevor and her team, she watched them move in on Kenny, Carlos. D, and one other weren’t visible.
“Sir, I’d like to dart her. Got the dart rifle right here.”
“Yes! Great call, Kate! Go get her!” Sid said.
“Hell ya! Best news I’ve had today,” Kate said feeling that prickly feeling lift. Kate was going to give the little bitch some real hurt, after all. She got out the dart, tapped the end on the barrel to dull the tip. It would hurt like hell going in. Kate released a one tiny drop of the drug. She loaded it, the dose still set for the big guy, Chips. She wanted Mavra peeing her pants, and drooling for at least twelve plus hours. Kate shot the bitch in the thigh.
Mavra screamed as she fell on her knees in pain. She pulled out the dart, too late, and opened fire.
“You’re dead, hear me? All of you, dead! Dead!”
Mavra shot into the windows of the cabin. Those inside were luckily down in the basement, which had a back door.
Kate shouldered her new Sharpshooter rifle, and shot Mavra’s healing earlobe.
As Mavra grabbed for her ear, dropping her rifle, it was falling down off her shoulder, Kate shot the sidearm out of the cocky bitch’s hand. As Mavra’s Dragunov lay in the leaves, Kate’s next shot pierced the mechanism.
“Yes,” Kate congratulating herself watching Mavra through her Magnum scope, crying, running like a drunken teenager, trying to escape the cops at a frat party.
The drug was coursing through Mavra as she ran full out up the dirt road. Her legs were turning to lead.
‘D said to run this way if things went wrong.’
One guy provided cover for Mavra.
In two seconds, the dug-in M4 B teammate shot him. Finding him up in a tree. His body hit the ground with a heavy thud.
“DIMITRI AND JOSEPH are still out there. Status?” Sid asked.
Trevor answered, “Carlos and Kenny surrendering, faces in the dirt. Kate darted Kimirov. Kimirov’s running. She’ll be out in another minute. Seems she’s got a destination in mind. Joseph’s AWOL and D senses he’s about to pay the piper.”
“Too small of a world, sometimes,” Sid said.
“That swine turned our own guys. I find that sad, sir,” Trevor said, still in shock.
“Money changes everything for certain souls who can be easily bought.”
JOSEPH HAD HAD Secret Service training every year, since 1961. He’d forgotten to remind Dez, to be their Ace in the hole, an equally prepared asset to their team. Joe was hiding in the woods, not too far from the only road in and out, under the leaves, when he heard a drunken woman crying, swearing in Russian, and stumbling through the leaves. He waited. She fell, got up and walked a few feet and fell again.
�
��D?” she said with such low energy, Joseph barely understood her.
He peeked at her.
She was crawling in slow motion. “D? Where are you?” She fell face first into the moldy leaves.
Behind Mavra, someone was running toward them.
Joseph waited.
Hoping it was someone from METAPHOR, Joe reviewed his maneuvers in his head. Still he waited, tightening the grip on Shanti’s gun.
It was Kate. Kate had followed her prey until she was out of gas. Kate poked Mavra with her rifle butt. Mavra was out cold. Kate bent down and pushed her hair aside with her barrel, and looked at Mavra’s bloody stump of an ear.
“Ha!” Kate chuckled. She was missing another half inch of her ear lobe. Kate spoke into her headset. “Kimirov is out cold, east of the cabin, fifty yards, twenty yards from road. Bring that turncoat bastard Kenny, to carry her back.”
Kate rolled Mavra on her back. She was drooling. Kate giggled and took a cell phone picture of her, Mavra was her new target practice poster face. Kate checked her pockets and vest, patted her down, found keys, and threw them at the base of a sycamore with a funny branch. Kate would remember it. Kate worked hard to hock up mucus, then spit in Mavra’s face.
“Check ‘spit in the face of a billionaire criminal’ off my Bucket List.”
Joseph laughed to himself, ‘Include me in that good feeling, too, Kate.’ He was waiting for someone to ambush Kate. Joe could feel him out there.
EVERYONE HAD LEFT the cabin and scattered.
Desiree still inside had put on her jacket, pocketed her .45 when she felt, an energy.
The top stair creaked.
Dimitri was inside. He winced when the stair creaked.
Desiree hid in the secret room Joseph had shown them.
There was Dimitri, her former student. He’d wrapped her around his finger. D was disarmingly charming. He’d gotten even to her. When they came face to face, could he bring himself to kill her? Could she? She watched D scan the room, her .45 ready.
Dimitri ran up the stairs.
Desiree quietly followed, avoiding the stair.
OUTSIDE NOW AND out of practice with fieldwork, she centered herself, allowing her senses to take over. Desiree stepped when D stepped with the same foot, paused when he paused.
‘He could find Shanti by mistake, put two and two together. She’d be worth millions.’ Dez quieted her mind. ‘He’s tenacious.’ Desiree keyed her walkie in code to Sid and the team. Two short clicks, meant ‘Rover’. ‘East’, two clicks, one long one short.