by Dee Davis
“I’m not so good at fishing,” Nash said, shaking his head. He’d always been too short on patience.
“All dads are good at fishing,” Adam pronounced. “But if you want, I can show you how.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Nash agreed, his voice hoarse with emotion.
“So now we’re a real family, right?” Adam asked.
“Yeah, something like that,” Annie said, chewing on her lower lip. “There’s still a lot to work out.”
“Why don’t we just take it one day at a time,” Nash suggested.
“Okay.” Adam shrugged, clearly at peace with the idea. “So when do you gotta leave?” he asked, his face tightening with worry.
“Pretty quickly. If we’re going to catch Wii guy we have to act fast, but we’ll be back before you know it. And in the meantime, why don’t you hang on to this.” He slipped off his watch and gave it to Adam.
“Wow,” Adam whispered, staring down at the watch with reverence. “It’s even better than the old one.”
“And I promise you,” Nash said, covering his son’s hand with his, “I’ll take really good care of your mother until we get back.”
“Of course you will.” Adam nodded solemnly, his little fingers curling around his father’s. “Cuz you’re a hero.”
“So what have we got?” Nash asked as he and Annie strode into the war room. The entire team was assembled, except for Tyler, whom they’d left deep in battle against Adam’s dragon.
“Glad you could make it,” Avery said, nodding at two empty chairs on the far side of the table. “I was just telling everyone that this is going to be a difficult operation.”
“Tyler said you’d found Kim,” Annie said, taking a seat next to Lara. “So where is he?”
“In Cyprus,” Hannah answered. “Or more accurately on an island just off the west coast. It’s a spit of land known as the Devil’s Horn.” She hit a button and a map of Cyprus popped up on the overhead screen. “Technically, it’s considered a part of the main island, but when the tide is high, it’s completely cut off with the only access by boat, similar to St. Michael’s Mount in Cornwall.” She hit the button again and the screen was filled with the photo of a small, rocky island.
“Why Cyprus?” Drake asked. “Seems a little far from home.”
“Devil’s Horn is owned by Anthony Zechar,” Avery said.
“The arms dealer?” Nash asked, trying to connect the dots between Kim and Zechar.
“Exactly.” Hannah nodded. “Although there’s never been enough evidence to take him out, we believe Zechar’s network is responsible for distributing munitions to some of the most powerful terrorist networks in the world. Including several groups in Asia.”
“Red Sword,” Annie said, leaning forward to study the man’s face. “That’s the group that Tom said Kim Jin affiliated with. Of course, one has to consider the source.”
“Right. And while we can’t definitely prove that connection, we do know that Red Sword has been involved for years in the plot for reunification of Korea under communist rule. And since we know that Kim Sun’s reputed reunification efforts have brought him into that sphere, it’s not that great a leap to assume that Kim knows Zechar.”
“And Zechar offered him sanctuary?”
“It looks that way. And it makes sense from a strategic standpoint.” Hannah switched the picture again, this new one showing a close-up of the island. No more than a couple of miles in diameter, it looked as if the landmass had simply been pushed straight up from the sea, sheer rocky cliffs marking the island’s boundaries, and on top, just visible below the line of the trees, the white gleam of a compound.
“Jesus.” Emmett whistled. “Not exactly a visitor-friendly place.”
“It was originally a temple,” Drake said, his advanced knowledge of ancient artifacts coming into play, “used at different times by both the ancient Greeks and the Ottoman Empire. Then, sometime during the fifteenth century, it was abandoned until the Second World War, when it fell into the hands of the Nazis.”
“The building supposedly sits on a maze of tunnels,” Hannah continued, switching to a closer view of the island, “some of them reputedly leading to the mainland. But as far as I can find, the only documentation to support that fact comes from ancient Greece. There’s a rudimentary map,” she said, hitting the computer button, and the map appeared above them, “but it dates back to the early fifth century.”
“Tunnels are tunnels,” Lara said. “It’s possible they’re still the same.”
“Possible, but not probable.” Drake shook his head. “Much of the compound was destroyed when the Allies attacked the island. It sat empty for years.”
“I’m surprised you archaeologists weren’t all over it,” Jason said.
“Cyprus was at war much of that time. And when things finally did settle down, the country, in desperate need of funding, sold it.”
“Since then,” Avery continued, “Devil’s Horn has had a string of private owners, most of them with reason to hide. Zechar bought the place about fifteen years ago, restoring the original buildings as well as some of the fortifications.”
“Bottom line, this isn’t going to be an easy in and out,” Emmett said. “So how do we do it?”
“We climb,” Avery said, switching to another slide, this one showing the stark face of a cliff springing directly from the Mediterranean.
“That’s a hell of a rise.” Nash frowned.
“Two hundred and ten feet at its highest,” Hannah said, “about a hundred and sixty at its lowest.”
“Definitely not for the faint of heart,” Annie observed.
Avery reached over Hannah and clicked for another picture, this one a topographical rendition of the island. “I’m thinking we go up here,” he said, pointing to a fairly smooth cliff face about 180 feet high. “There’s a small beach to land and the cliff fronts the back of Zechar’s compound.”
“No.” Annie shook her head, squinting a little as she stared at the map. “It’s better to the right. That curve indicates a fissure.” She stood up and walked to the screen, pointing to a small indentation on the drawing. “Do we have a photo of this part of the cliff?”
Hannah checked coordinates and then produced a split screen of the map and a photo of the cliff.
“Look,” Annie said as she studied both drawing and photo, “there’s a rock crevice here.” She pointed to a darker area of the cliff. “Almost a chimney. It’ll provide both cover and an easier ascent. Have you got the vertical figures for this section?”
“Looks like the chute tops out at about one-sixty.”
“And is there beach access?” Nash asked.
“Yes.” Avery nodded after consulting a sheaf of papers. “Not as wide as the other location, but it’s there. You’re sure this is better, Annie?”
“Absolutely. This is your best bet. It’ll be quicker and more contained. And considering proximity to the original site, it’ll still feed onto the backside of the compound.”
“You sound like you know what you’re talking about,” Lara said, her curiosity evident.
“I live in Colorado, which means spending a hell of a lot of time in the mountains.” She shrugged. “I needed a way to make a living and climbing is a huge sport with a high demand for guides. So for what it’s worth, I’m AMGA accredited.”
“AMGA?” Jason asked.
“American Mountain Guides Association,” Nash supplied. “And she’s being modest. Annie’s been climbing for years. I remember several times in particular when she managed to climb in and out of things no one else believed possible. Hell, she’s even been on K2.”
“Yeah, well, I didn’t make it to the summit.” She shook her head. “And that was a hell of a long time ago. But I do know my way around a rope.”
“Good, because you’re on the team,” Avery said, waving away her protest. “Normally, Emmett serves as our climbing expert. But since he took a bullet to the leg during a recent operation, I’m thinking i
t’s better if he sits this one out.”
“And you’re okay with this, Emmett?” Annie asked as she searched the other man’s face. “You were pretty damn certain I’d killed Dominico yesterday morning.”
“I was wrong,” he said, his gaze steady. “And Avery’s right, I’m not up to that kind of climb. I’d just slow everyone down. It’s got to be you. You’re the only one with the expertise to get them safely to the top.”
“Besides—Drake grinned—“you can’t tell me you don’t want to be there when we find Kim.”
“The idea has a certain appeal,” she admitted. “All right, then. I guess that means I’m in.”
“Just like old times,” Nash said, his gaze locking with hers.
“Two against nature.” She smiled, using the phrase Tom had tagged them with almost twenty years ago.
“Or in this case, two against Kim Sun,” Nash replied. “The bastard will never know what hit him.”
CHAPTER 24
The cliff stretched up out of sight, clouds cloaking the top as the surf crashed on the beach. Offshore, Annie could just make out the shape of the boat as Emmett maneuvered farther out to sea. He’d stay put until they’d safely reached the rendezvous spot, ready to call in backup should it be needed.
Already about 120 feet up the cliff, Annie carefully placed a camming device, and then, stretching out with her right hand, she felt for a handhold and carefully worked her way up along the crevice.
Just below she could see Avery. He shot her a thumbs-up as he braced himself against a rock and pulled upward, following her path. Drake came next, along with the haul bag containing their gear and weapons. And finally, bringing up the rear, she could just make out Nash’s head.
Pressing her back into the side of the crevice, she adjusted the cam, making sure the carabiner was secure, and then waited for Avery to reach her previous position, tightening the rope to maintain tension. He in turn tightened the slack as Drake moved upward, and finally Drake did the same for Nash. At Avery’s signal, Annie again began to move upward.
So far the climb had been routine, but they had only just reached the most difficult part. The chimney she had chosen was wider than expected, especially at the top, which meant that the final forty feet would be extremely slow going.
Because of the clouds, the moonlight was dim, a boon for keeping them concealed, but a definite detriment when it came to the climb. Every move she made was determined by touch. The crevice narrowed, and she was able to move upward using her feet, hands, and back. It sped up progress, but meant that there were fewer cams for protection.
Traveling in silence added an element of danger, and also gave the night an eerie feel, the hiss of the wind against the rocks swirling around them almost like a living thing. She stopped for a moment to adjust the rope’s tension, waited for visual confirmation that everyone was all right, and then began her ascent once more.
She tried to keep her mind clear, but there were so many thoughts rushing through her brain. Adam. Nash. Their future as a family. It had been her dream for so long. And now here it was within her grasp, and yet, he hadn’t told her he loved her. He’d shown her as much, maybe, but it wasn’t the same. And then there was the question of A-Tac.
For so long she’d believed that distancing herself from her past had been the way to keep Adam safe. To give him a shot at a normal life. But instead, she’d set him up for Kim. And her little boy had been through more in his short lifetime than most people ever go through.
She shuddered as she thought about what could have happened.
But it hadn’t. Adam was safe. And with a little luck, they were about to put an end to Kim Sun’s threat once and for all.
She closed her eyes for a moment, pushing away her thoughts. She needed to stay focused. Reaching upward, she felt for a handhold, surprised when her fingers met something soft and warm. Instinctively, she jerked her hand away as a gull came careening out of the chimney, screaming in protest.
The resulting melee left her hanging by only her right hand and foot. She swung her body inward, reaching with her left hand for the rock face and the now-abandoned crevice. Connecting with a scraping thunk, her fingers closed on the tiny ledge, but the rock broke free, sending a hail of scree sliding down behind her.
She fought the urge to scream a warning, instead concentrating on securing herself as the rope tightened with a sickening jerk. Below her, Avery spun out away from the cliff, his body weight threatening to pull her with him.
Holding her breath, she braced herself, fighting to hold the rope steady as he swung out and then back, desperately scrambling for a second handhold before gravity had the chance to win the day.
Her shoulders tightened with the effort to hold on to the rope, and she pressed into the rock, bracing herself with her feet. Then, just when she was certain she couldn’t hold on any longer, the rope went slack as Avery regained his footing.
She leaned against the mountain, gulping in air.
“Annie,” Avery’s voice crackled in her ear, “we’ve got a problem. The rope’s splitting. I can see it. About four feet up. It’s holding, but there’s no way it’ll take my weight again.”
“Everybody just sit tight,” she said, already climbing down to where Avery was clinging to the rock. Working quickly, she removed the damaged portion of the rope and spliced the remaining ends together. Then, after setting an additional cam, she moved back into position.
“Everybody okay?” Nash asked, his voice sounding tinny in her ear.
“Well, it’s raining rocks down here,” Drake said, as usual using humor to deflect the intensity of the situation. “But no bodies, so I guess that means we’re good to go.”
Annie smiled, despite herself. “I’m here. And in one piece. Rope should be secure.”
“Avery?”
“Not to worry. I’m fine. Just went for a little ride,” he said, his breathing contradicting his casual tone. “View is damn fine. But I think if it’s all the same to you, I’d rather get off this rock.”
“Copy that,” Nash said. “Annie, we still good to go?”
“Yeah,” she said, already beginning to climb. “Let’s get it done.”
The crevice fortunately proved to be less of a problem than she’d anticipated, or maybe after their close call it just seemed that way. They made good time, stopping only once when Drake needed to resecure the haul bag.
Nearing the top, Annie moved more cautiously. According to intel, there were three pairs of guards, two working the perimeter and one stationed at a gatehouse on the north of the island. She checked her watch, the luminous dial showing sixteen after. The guards should be about fourteen minutes out.
“Fourteen minutes,” she whispered into her headset, reaching upward to pull herself onto a ledge about four feet below the top. She anchored the rope for the last time as Avery pulled himself up beside her, a long scrape down the side of his face serving as a reminder of their near miss.
“You sure you’re all right?” she asked, wincing in commiseration.
“I’m fine. It’s just a scrape. Damn bird’s fault. Guess I must have severed the rope when I swung across the rocks.”
She nodded as Drake climbed onto the ledge, pulling the haul bag behind him.
“Get up there and see if you can spot the guards,” Avery said, checking his watch. “They ought to be visible in five.”
Drake grabbed a pair of night vision goggles from the bag. He popped up for a quick look, just as Nash pulled himself onto the ledge.
“Good,” she breathed in relief, “everyone’s safe.”
“So far.” Nash shrugged, a half smile lifting the corner of his mouth.
“They’re right on time,” Drake whispered, dropping back down beside them. “ETA two minutes, coming from ten o’clock.”
“Should we take them out?” Annie asked, pulling her gun from the pack.
Avery shook his head. “Only if absolutely necessary. We’ll take them later, after you and Dra
ke get inside. Better to have them reporting in for as long as possible.”
Annie nodded, seconds passing slowly, until laughter in the distance indicated the men were finally approaching. Avery motioned them all back against the wall, as Drake pulled the bag deeper into the shadow.
The sounds grew closer until the men, speaking Turkish, stopped just above them. Frowning, Nash looked upward, muscles tensing for attack, but Avery shook his head and Annie held her breath as the smell of cigarettes wafted over the edge of the cliff.
Sons of bitches were taking a break.
She pressed back against the cliff, her hand tightening around her gun, finger lightly pressed against the trigger. A cigarette sailed over the edge, the end glowing as it spiraled downward, landing just to their left.
Rocks skittered across each other as something in the darkness moved. Crouching now, ready to spring, the team held steady as the men above grew silent, their flashlight beam sweeping back and forth across the face of the cliff, until it settled on the source of the noise, a mountain goat, clearly startled by the incoming tobacco.
The flashlight flickered off as the men walked away, talking again, their voices receding as they headed out, clearly satisfied that everything was as it should be. Two minutes later the area above was totally quiet, and Annie drew a deep breath in relief.
The goat bleated and Drake let out a soft laugh. “At least they didn’t decide to take a piss.”
Annie smiled, the tension of the last few moments easing as she holstered her gun and then carefully pulled herself up and over the cliff’s edge. Nash and Avery followed suit, with Nash reaching down for the bag as Drake boosted it up. Then he slid it back into the shadow of a rock, while Avery offered a hand to help Drake.
The company fully assembled, Drake and Avery began to check the equipment, while Annie walked to the edge of the cliff to make sure their climbing ropes weren’t visible from above.
The moon had broken through the clouds, bathing the rocky terrain in silvery light that fell off the edge of the cliff, cascading down into the water below. In any other circumstances she would have considered it breathtaking, but her overriding thought at the moment was that it robbed them of cover. Fortunately, due to the angle of the cliff and overhang, the ropes were hidden from sight.