“Right, your lack of respect is noted Mr. Pearson, but when we get Deputy Director Munson on the line, and he authenticates our claims, you will be working for us, either as a loan from the CIA, or if you are no longer employed by them, you’ll be under Guardian’s authority. Both ways, you are my asset, and I don’t gamble with my men. Ever.”
“Archangel, Deputy Director Munson is on the line, and I have routed the satellite call through our systems. The line is secure.” The crisp female voice snapped both men’s attention to the phone that lay beside Asp’s leg.
“What the fuck is going on, King? I was getting ready to head to the hill this morning to testify before Congress. Those asshats are already pissed and I need some quiet time to prepare for that stupidity. This had better be good.”
“Like I’d pull you away from your ramp up time without good reason, Daryl. We need to discuss the assets Halo One-One formerly handled. How many of them did he have?”
“That’s classified.” Munson whipped out the automatic response.
“Fuck you, Daryl. How many of Halo’s assets went missing when he did?”
There was a long silence. “You’re sure this call is secure?”
“Yes, if Jewell says it’s secure, nobody but us is hearing this.” Archangel’s growl carried menace, a warning not to stall any longer.
“He had a total of six assets. Five disappeared when he did. The asset that figured out what he was doing and turned him in left our employment. We have no record of his whereabouts. He fell off the face of the map. The other five were scrubbed from our systems by Halo’s minions here at the Agency. He threatened one of our best security systems operators. Had pictures of her daughter at school. She deleted all the information. Permanently. We only know there were five records.”
“Do you have backups of those systems?” The woman’s voice interrupted.
“We do, but our best and brightest tried and failed to recreate the information.”
“Yes sir, but that was five years ago. Our tech is capable of putting information together based on what is missing. If you have a courier send over that hard drive, I can get you the information.”
“I could do it, but my question is why I would want to?” Munson asked.
“Because we believe some of Halo’s assets are still working in Colombia trying to continue his quest to reestablish the FARC,” Archangel explained.
“Halo was the brains behind that debacle, and we took him out for his crimes. Why would his flunkies still be in the area?”
“Because he was second in command, sir,” Billy responded.
“Who is that?” Munson whipped the question out like a knife, ready to attack.
“Billy Pearson, sir. I was one of those five. We believed Halo still worked for the CIA.”
“You’ve been with Halo the entire time?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Enough of the reunion, who the fuck is leading the spin up down there?” Archangel demanded.
“Robert Flowers.”
There was silence for a scant second before the woman’s voice cut in. “Sir, someone in Colombia is trying to triangulate the position of Pearson’s Sat phone. I’m bouncing them, but we need to cut the transmission. Power down the phone and get the fuck out of there.”
Asp and Billy were on their feet before the woman finished speaking. Asp tossed Billy the phone and grabbed his weapon and pack. Billy had the phone open and the battery out in a matter of seconds. He threw the phone at Asp and pocketed the battery before he grabbed his pack and weapon. “Where the fuck do we go?”
“Follow me. I know a place.” Asp set off at a jog.
Billy laughed at him. “No shit, Mac. You’ve gotten really good at hiding.”
Chapter 18
Lyric jumped for the millionth time since Isaac left. She sat by the cave entrance, just outside of the setting sun’s rays. Tonight she’d be leaving, going down the mountain. Only birds and butterflies traversed the small meadow. She’d spent the majority of the last two days watching their movements through the spaces in the marmalade bushes. Her fingers traveled over the book she held. Isaac had pulled it out of the hole where he’d buried it. Mentally, she couldn’t concentrate on the words. Every time she tried, the print blurred, and her thoughts returned to Isaac.
She’d gathered her things and packed up her backpack. There was nothing to do but wait and worry. Worry about Isaac, about her family, about the trip down. She hadn’t slept more than a few hours. Her head hurt from running the worst-case scenarios through her mind. She hated that she always defaulted to the worst possible thing that could happen.
A soft scurry of sound popped her off her ass and sent her scrambling back into the darkness of the inner cavern. She’d put out the fire this morning because she’d be leaving tonight. The darkness consumed her, but she could see the front of the exterior cave. Her body shook as fear, no, terror, dropped adrenaline through her system. Lyric gasped. Her book! She could see it by the wall. No, no, no! She moved forward. If she could get to it before…she heard footsteps of more than one person and quickly darted forward to grab the book. She sprinted back into the darkness but forgot to duck. Her head slammed into the lip of rock that hung down. The pain and her momentum dropped her like a ten-ton stone. She blinked up, her vision wavered. She turned her head as a pair of boots came into view.
A stranger’s voice echoed, too loud in her mind, “Well, well, well, what do we have here?”
Asp held back, watching their six. He hadn’t seen anyone following them but bringing danger back to Lyric wasn’t an option. Once they made it into the cave, they could reassemble the phone and get an update. He held his position and let his eyes find any movement that shouldn’t be there.
Billy emerged from the cave, “Dude, there’s a woman in here, and she’s hurt.”
Asp sprinted past his friend and slid to a stop beside Lyric. “Oh fuck, baby.” Asp’s hands shook as he cupped her face. There was a huge goose egg on her head. He looked up to the lip and grimaced. The wound was fresh and still swelling.
“You know her?” Billy knelt down beside him. “She was just lying there when I came in. I thought she was asleep until I saw the abrasion. Oh hell, that is going to leave a nasty bruise.” He reached out to touch Lyric’s forehead, and Asp couldn’t help himself. He snarled, literally snarled.
“Wow, dude, not touching the pretty woman.” He raised his hands and sat back on his heels. “See? No touchy.”
Asp shot Billy a quick glare before he lifted Lyric and took her into the smaller cave, into the sun so he could assess her wound. Asp gently laid her down and moved the hair away from the blood that seeped out of the abrasion. She moaned and shifted her head. “That’s right, wake up, sweetheart.” Asp cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb gently over her cheekbone.
A low moan parted her lips. Her eyelids fluttered for a moment before she opened them. A smile curled her lips, and she lifted her hand to touch his face. Her fingers tickled over the thick beard that had grown since he last shaved. Hell, that seemed like forever ago, but it was just over a week. The things they’d been through in such a short period of time. Lyric closed her eyes for a moment before they popped open. She gasped and bolted upright, nearly braining Asp with her forehead in the process. She grabbed her head and her stomach at the same time and moaned.
“You’re safe.” Asp ran his hand up her arm. She swung toward him and then lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his neck, and damn near strangling him in the process. She knocked him off his knees, and they both tumbled back onto the cave floor. Asp ran his hands over her back, trying to quiet the sobs that wracked her body.
He opened his eyes to see Billy standing over them, hands on his hips. That shit-eating half grin slid across his voice. “So, are you seeing anyone, Mac?”
Lyric jumped at Billy’s voice. Asp released her when she twisted in his arms and sat up. “Lyric Gadson, Billy Pearson. Billy Pearson, Lyric Gadson.” Asp made the f
ormal introduction.
Lyric wiped her tears and blinked up at Billy before she reached out for Asp’s hand without turning around. He placed his hand in hers and gave it a squeeze as he sat up beside her. Lyric looked over at him, her pupils a little too dilated for his liking. “You got help?” “After a fashion. How did you hit your head?”
“I forgot my book,” Lyric responded as if the answer made perfect sense. Asp could assure her it didn't.
“This one?” Billy leaned over and picked up the small book. He brushed it off and handed it to her.
She took it and murmured her thanks a second before she leaned into him, “I’m so happy you’re back. Is it over?”
“Yes, and no. I’ll explain in a minute. First I need you to look at me.” He checked her eyes. Both pupils were the same size, and the dilation could be due to the darkness in the tunnel. “Now explain it to me again. How did you knock yourself out?”
Lyric cast her eyes down. “I heard someone coming and ran into the back cavern. I needed to see who was coming but I didn’t want them to see me.”
Asp smiled and nodded. “Of course, you did.” His woman was a spitfire.
“I looked back, and I must have dropped my book when I was startled. I couldn’t leave it there because if whoever was coming saw it, they might come back farther and find me, so I ran out, grabbed it and ran back.”
Billy chuckled. “I think you forgot to duck.”
Lyric frowned at him. “Exactly who are you?”
Asp stood up and offered Lyric a hand to help her up. He nodded his head at Billy. “That’s the guy who shot me.”
Of all the actions or responses Lyric could have come back with, he would never forget the sight of Lyric doubling up her fist and clocking Billy’s smiling face. She dropped him on his ass and reared back with her boot ready to kick the man right between the legs. He shot an arm around her waist and lifted her off the ground. He spun her, putting down behind him. She shoved at him and lunged at Billy again, screaming at his friend. It was a recital of every Spanish curse word he’d ever learned and a couple that he hadn’t.
“Stop! Lyric, stop!” Asp put his arms around her pinning her arms to her sides. She still kicked at him with both feet. Billy slid on his ass as far away from her flying appendages as he could get.
“Holy Shit, man. Control that hellcat!”
“Hellcat? I’ll show you a hellcat, you…” Lyric launched into a string of Spanish that singed Asp's ears.
Once Billy was out of the reach of her boots he reached up and moved his jaw as if he was afraid she’d broken it.
“Lyric, he’s helping us. He has a phone, and I called my company. They are sending a team to take care of your family.” That got her attention.
She stopped struggling and turned to look back at him. “What about the FARC? Did you stop them?”
“Not yet, but we will.” He loosened his grip on her, but only a little bit.
“He was the one who shot you?” She pointed at Billy without looking at him. Billy’s brow furrowed behind her as he continued to move his jaw.
“He was.” Asp tried to suppress the smile that Lyric decking Billy brought to mind.
“And you know him?” She glared at Asp.
“I do. We worked together and were friends.” Asp glanced over her shoulder. “Close friends.”
Lyric’s eyes got wide, and she nodded. “Oh, so your close friends shoot you and leave you for dead?”
“I didn’t leave him for dead.” Billy made the mistake of talking, again.
Lyric snapped, “No, according to what he said, you were hunting him to kill him, you bast…”
Asp spun her and dropped a kiss on her lips. She tried to speak for about three seconds, then melted into him. He kissed her until he had to come up for air. He tucked her head under his chin and held her. “Billy didn’t know it was me when he fired that round. He’s been a pawn in a seriously fucked up situation. He could have set a trap for me today, but he didn’t. He’s had my life in his hands all day and not once would I question anything he’s done.”
“So, you trust him?” She picked at his shirt when she asked.
Asp glanced over at his old friend. The man stared at him. Asp met his eyes. “I trust that he is trying to do the best thing for himself right now. He’s in a fucked-up situation. I’ve been there. I know what it’s like when your trust is violated, and you’re used as a weapon against innocent lives. He won’t betray us, because we are his one shot at redemption.”
Billy tipped his head slightly and lifted a brow. They held each other’s gaze. Billy nodded. Once. Asp had an up close and personal relationship with what he believed was going on in Billy’s mind right now—the idea that his handler had fucked him, for years. Asp returned the nod before he rubbed circles on Lyric’s back. “Besides, if he makes a wrong move, I’ll let you loose on him.”
Lyric snorted and squeezed him tighter. “Are we going to the farm?”
“No.” Billy shook his head. “There are patrols in this area. We increased them when we got information that Sanders was killed.
Lyric turned in his arms to face Billy, but Asp made sure to keep them secure around her. He wasn’t sure how the man would respond to getting clocked again.
“Then what do you suggest? We can’t stay in the cave forever. We don’t have food.” She tilted her head back and winced. “I could slip out and get some fruit.”
“I brought food. Just MREs but there is enough.”
“MREs?” Lyric parroted the acronym. Billy grabbed his backpack and opened it, pouring out nine brown plastic packages.
“Meals Ready to Eat. They're okay. If you’re starving,” Asp interjected. Speaking as someone who enjoyed food, MREs were his last choice. Hell, he’d take a protein bar over an MRE, but he was curious. “Why so many? Wouldn’t filling your ruck with food raise questions?”
“No. Not anymore. I’m supposed to be gone three days, but hunting you, I’d stay out longer.”
“So we have food, but how do we get out of this cave?” Lyric leaned her head on Asp's shoulder and closed her eyes. “I need something for my headache. I have some pain relievers in my pack.”
“Do you always travel with meds?” Billy asked as Asp helped Lyric sit down.
She narrowed her eyes at him. “I do when I’m trying to save a man’s life.”
Billy lifted his hands in surrender before he stood. “Fire pit?”
Asp motioned with his head towards the back cavern. He grabbed his last chem stick and popped it, lighting their way. Billy busied himself stacking a fire while Asp searched through the pockets of Lyric’s pack.
“Does she know what you do?” Billy struck metal against flint sending sparks into a bit of dried bark he’d stripped from a few logs.
“Yes.” Asp found a bottle of pain relievers and shook two out.
“And she’s sticking with you?”
Asp zipped the pouch and gazed across the fire pit at his friend. “She is. Why?”
Billy shrugged. “Not sure Amanda would have.” He gently blew on the smoldering spark igniting a small flame. Billy looked up at him for a second. “Not that I’ll ever be able to find out.”
“Do you keep track of her?” Asp stood and glanced out toward Lyric.
“Yeah. She hasn’t had an easy life.” Billy’s expression hardened, and his jaw clenched. He drew a deep breath before he shrugged and nodded his head toward the front of the cavern. “Go take care of your lady. We can call the cavalry when she’s settled.”
As soon as the fire was burning, and Lyric was relaxing beside it, Asp led Billy through the back entrance. They assembled the Sat phone and called in. This time the operator acknowledged him by number and patched him through immediately.
“Authenticate Cookie.” Anubis’ voice snapped across the connection.
“Monster,” Asp responded and looked at Billy. Of course, he was laughing. “I don’t choose these damn authentication codes.”
&nb
sp; “Yeah, but the person who does knows you well.” Billy grinned at him.
“Yes, yes I do,” Anubis confirmed.
“All parties online, and I’m bouncing the hell out of their signal.” The female voice had to be Bengal’s wife. At least Asp assumed it was, he’d never met the woman.
“Let us know if the tracker comes back online,” Archangel commanded. “Let me get straight to the point, gentlemen. Robert Flowers is a cover identification. We’ve traced it through shell corporations and offshore accounts to one Gerald Layman. Does that name ring any bells?”
“Multimillionaire investor? Building mogul from the Midwest? The guy that golfs with the President of the United States, that Gerald Layman?” Asp asked.
“The one and only. The thread connecting the two identities is as clear as crayons on a white wall, and that is the problem. Someone wants us to react to the breadcrumbs, but any criminal worth his salt would have made it harder to find his real identity. The entire situation stinks worse than a three-day old dead fish,” the woman replied. “Additionally, Gerald Layman hasn’t left the country in six months. He is currently the keynote speaker and lead partner at a business development expo in Kansas City. So the question is, who is the man in the compound and what connection does he have with the President’s friend.”
“Just thinking out loud here, but it sounds like someone wants to discredit Layman.” Billy threw that thought out.
Asp nodded. “If they taint Layman, it could throw shadows on the President. They could say he has knowledge of what is happening down here.”
“That would be disastrous,” Alpha spoke for the first time. “A close friend of the President trying to undermine governments by funding terrorists. I can see the headlines now.”
Asp tapped his thumb against his thigh. The shit down here just got thicker and thicker. The mission he’d originally been assigned should have scattered the masses. Billy’s involvement stirred the pot and convoluted everything. Add the latest information about an arrow pointing to Layman and the entire thing resembled a powder keg with a ticking timer on top. “What are my orders?”
Asp (Guardian Shadow World Book 2) Page 14