Deadline
Page 27
The front door opened and a tanned man with a full head of gray hair exited the home. He walked up to the driver and they shook hands. The driver leaned in and whispered something. The older man watched me, nodded his head and walked over with his hand extended.
“Doctor Vasseur,” he said.
“Jack.” I gripped his hand in mine.
He patted me on the shoulder. “Come with me.”
I followed him into the house, down a set of stairs and through a door that looked like rock on one side and reinforced steel on the other. I saw Bear sitting in a chair, head slumped on his shoulder, asleep. Next to him on a hospital bed was Sasha. She held a book in her hand but quickly tossed it aside when I entered.
“That was some trick shot,” I said.
She smiled. “I can’t say I would have done the same thing, but it was effective at getting that wench’s hands off of me.”
I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek.
Her expression soured. “You’re in a lot of trouble. You know that, right?”
I nodded and let my frown speak for me.
“The CIA wants blood. And as bad as that sounds, there are some terrorists who want even more than that. Between Frank, Awad and that mess in Texas, you’ve pissed a lot of people off.”
“So things are normal is what you’re telling me.”
“Your face is everywhere.” She bit her bottom lip. “It’s probably best that you disappear for a long, long time.”
“I can fight back. We both know what I did was the right thing.”
She grimaced as she sat up straight. “Perhaps, Jack. But this is about vengeance now. The CIA has men who will operate outside any semblance of the law. And the terrorists, well, I don’t think I need to tell you more about that. At least an Agency man might kill you on sight. Those other bastards will keep you alive for as long as you can withstand their tortuous methods.”
I glanced over at the slumbering Bear. “I might need to borrow him for a few weeks.”
Sasha looked away, tears filling her eyes.
“He’ll get back to you.” I ran my hand along the back of her head. “I promise. I just need a running start, and he’ll be helpful there.”
“It’s not that, Jack.” She drew in a deep breath and pushed it out quickly. “He’s going to be pissed at me for doing this, but here goes.”
“What is it?”
“There’s a tumor.”
“What?”
“In his head.”
“Bear?”
“Yes, Riley…Bear. He has a brain tumor and one doctor says it’s inoperable and another says we can operate but the chance of survival is not even fifty percent. Well, they both bloody say that.”
The words were worse than any sucker punch, blade, or bullet that I’d ever been on the receiving end of. Bear, the guy larger than life, my best friend, dying? “This can’t be happening.”
“I know what you mean.”
The big guy groaned, stretched his arms out and sat up. He looked at Sasha, then me. His forehead bunched up. He scratched his beard. “Where’s the funeral?”
“We’re just saying our goodbyes,” Sasha said, wiping the tears from her eyes.
Bear rose and reached for my hand. I met his half way. He pulled me in and wrapped his arms around me. He was more of a hugger than I was. Given the circumstances, I let him hang on as long as he wanted.
“This isn’t goodbye,” I said. “I’m gonna set this right.”
Bear pushed me back with his massive hands on my shoulders. “I know you will.” He dropped one arm and reached into his pocket. He placed the piece of paper he withdrew into my hand.
“What’s this?” I said.
“Safe house,” he said. “It’s in the middle of Italy on the west coast. The owner is only there on the weekend and no one else knows about the place. Figure it’s a good spot for you to lay low for a bit, maybe figure out your next step while the attention fades.”
“Herman,” Sasha said, “the man who drove you here, will get you past the border and arrange for transportation for the rest of your journey. He should have already provided you with your passport and so on.”
I nodded while looking at the couple in turn. The big guy’s face was etched in my brain, but I wanted to hang onto the image of him sitting there with Sasha, happy. I had a ton left to say, but decided to keep it in. Suppress and repress. My mantra.
We shook hands once more, then I left the room, perhaps laying eyes on Bear for the last time.
CHAPTER 71
Javier personally delivered the communication to Sean Noble. He remarked how the man looked like his brother. It only took a few minutes to clear up the confusion regarding Jack’s current situation and then present the information as he had instructed.
“Here is the signed form releasing Mia to your custody. It is your brother’s wish that you raise her as one of your own.”
Sean read the paper with the intensity of a lawyer, then set it down. He scrutinized Javier, as the official had expected Jack’s brother would.
“This is the information regarding her trust. You will now be the executor.” Javier placed another packet on the table. “These are three separate bank accounts for your use in taking care of her and the rest of your family. One is in the Caymans. Another in Europe. And the third is virtual. Petty cash, I suppose. Mr. Noble, it should go without saying that you should not return to your home in the United States. Jack has provided you with close to eight million dollars between these accounts. That should be enough to ease the suffering of leaving your business behind and uprooting your family, which unfortunately you must do.”
The older Noble brother clenched his jaw and narrowed his eyes, but he nodded and signed all of the documents.
“I would offer for you to remain in our lovely country, but just the other night we dispatched a man who had been sent here to execute you all. I feel it is in your best interests to leave immediately. I have arranged for a Gulfstream to carry you to the Caymans. Once there you will receive directions to the home you have full use of for as long as you need until you are settled elsewhere.”
Sean shuffled through the papers until he arrived at the three deeds, each for a house in different parts of the world.
“I guess I know what it’s like to be my brother now,” he said.
Javier smiled, full well knowing that this lawyer-man had no idea. But he looked like a decent fellow, and obviously Jack trusted him enough to have the man raise his little daughter.
An hour later the family was packed into the Gulfstream. Javier sent a coded message that notified Jack Noble his loved ones were safely on their way out of the country.
Javier’s debt to Jack Noble was partially repaid. In some ways, he hoped he’d have the opportunity to fully repay the man. At the same time, he prayed he’d never hear from him again.
CHAPTER 72
After crossing the border into Italy, Herman navigated to a small town and stopped in front of an abandoned warehouse. He cut the chain around the doors with a pair of bolt cutters. The chain piled up like a snake in waiting in front of the door. The building was fifty feet long and thirty feet wide. And there was only one thing inside.
He started the BMW motorcycle and then asked me if I knew how to ride. I nodded. He proceeded to punch the coordinates of my destination into the GPS unit, then fixed the device to the bike.
As we changed positions, he placed a cell phone in my hand. It was a simple device unlike the massive tablet looking things people carried around these days. “Don’t get pulled over.”
“I’ll try not to.”
“If you do, kill the cop.” He smiled and half-heartedly shook his head.
I pulled out of the warehouse and followed the digital map. I thought about Bear a lot for the first part of the trip. I knew if anyone could beat the odds, it was him. And as much as I wanted to send all the positive vibes I could, I had to focus on staying alive. There would be time to contemplate
my old friend’s future. Just not right now.
The ride took close to five hours and ended with me ascending a long hill into a town that had been built into the cliff. I parked the bike and set out on foot with the GPS now in hand. The worn streets grew narrower until they reached a size no automobile could pass through. There were several steps along the way. The shadows grew longer and longer until the sun disappeared behind the mountain. Voices erupted from the windows of every home I passed.
Sunday evening dinner. I could smell the bread. The sauce. Taste the wine.
I climbed the final set of cracked steps to my destination. The white house had yellow trim around the windows and a door that was now red but looked as though it had been painted several times over the last couple centuries. I reached out and rapped my knuckles against the weathered wood. A paint chip fell and spun as it drifted to the ground.
The door opened and I stood face-to-face with the woman who for so long had been a major part of my life. Her hair was different, blonde. But her eyes were the same emerald green.
“Jack?”
“Clarissa.” I looked past her to see if there was anyone else inside. The room was deserted. “I guess Bear didn’t call first.”
She bit her bottom lip. Shook her head.
Bear had said she was only there on the weekends. “Does anyone else know about this place?”
“No.”
“Look, I wouldn’t have come here if I had known. They said this was a safe house, and I’m in need of a place to hide out for a while.”
She reached out and gestured me inside. “Say no more. I’m rarely here and no one knows I own the house. Stay as long as you need.”
I grabbed a large bottle of red wine as I passed the kitchen and collapsed on the couch. A moment later, Clarissa joined me, setting two glasses on the wooden table in front of us.
Our reunion only lasted for a few hours. She left before midnight, had to get back to Rome for some big job. I watched her disappear into the darkness, then settled into my temporary home.
Only one thought remained on my mind.
I had to clear my name.
At any cost.
Jack Noble will return soon.
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Other Books by L.T. Ryan
Jack Noble Series in Order
The Recruit
Noble Beginnings
A Deadly Distance
Thin Line
Noble Intentions
When Dead in Greece
Noble Retribution
Noble Betrayal
Never Go Home
Beyond Betrayal (Clarissa Abbot)
Noble Judgment
Never Cry Mercy
Deadline
Visit http://ltryan.com/noble-intentions/ for purchasing information.
Mitch Tanner Series
The Depth of Darkness
Mitch Tanner #2 - Coming Fall, 2016
Affliction Z Series
Affliction Z: Patient Zero
Affliction Z: Abandoned Hope
Affliction Z: Descended in Blood
Affliction Z: Book 4 - coming soon
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Lee "L.T." Ryan lives in Central, VA with his wife, daughters, and two bully breed dogs. He enjoys writing fast-paced suspense thrillers, and post-apocalyptic fiction. When not writing, he enjoys reading, hiking, mountain biking, fishing, and spending time with the ladies in his life.
Current and upcoming projects include continuations in the Jack Noble, Mitch Tanner, and Affliction Z series.
Join L.T. Ryan's New Release Newsletter and receive a complimentary Jack Noble short story: http://ltryan.com/newsletter
To Learn more about L.T. go to http://ltryan.com
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Contents
Title Page
Copyright
Quick Links
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Chapter 63
Chapter 64
Chapter 65
Chapter 66
Chapter 67
Chapter 68
Chapter 69
Chapter 70
Chapter 71
Chapter 72
Other Books by L.T. Ryan - ePub
About the Author