by Mike Gomes
Tim’s face rested in a patch of mud only hearing what sounded like far off mumbling. He knew the feeling it was a concussion. There was no way to just shake it off. Lifting his head it dropped down to the mud and his eyes saw the giant man walking toward him. His mind snapped back to the situation but his body was not willing.
Pulling Tim to his feet Wyatt faced the older man away from him and applied the same choke hold to him that Tim had attempted to use on Wyatt.
“I am going to show you the right way to do this. See how I have it cinched in tight?”
Wyatt snapped the head of Tim back and forth. “See I can break your neck or just choke you to death. But you can only really use it when your opponent is compromised like you. I was not hurt when you did it to me. I could just slip my chin and break it.”
Wyatt’s arms tightened cutting of the air from getting into Tim’s lungs. The big man straightened himself up and leaned back bending his back and causing Tims feet to raise off the ground.
Gasping for air Tim’s hands flailed banging against the arms of Wyatt but they had no effect.
Wyatt bounced himself with little bursts getting the choke hold to sink in deeper.
Tim’s eyes started to roll in his head and sound became muffled as his brain lacked the oxygen to function. His arms fell to the side and there was no fight left in him.
Hitting the ground hard face first Tim was jolted out of his fog by a rush of blood and oxygen racing to his brain. A hand reached down grabbing him by the shoulder and he focused all his energy to fight off Wyatt one last time. The cowboy was toying with him and amusing himself with killing him. Tim’s hand thrust backward connecting with a cheek and a grunt was let out. He rolled himself over and pulled back his fist to punch again before seeing the silhouette in front of him was a woman. On the ground behind her was the cowboy lying flat with his eyes closed.
“Never leave anyone behind.” said the woman’s voice as she came into focus. It was Gabriela. “Isn’t that what you taught us? Never leave anyone behind.”
Chapter 35
Entering the tree line Gabriela took Tim’s hand with her own. Leading the way she had increased confidence of the way to go carrying the knowledge of the previous two trips. The moonlit spots directed her. Her pace was slowed with Tim still feeling the effects of the fight he had just been in. They stayed steady and slow reaching the far side of the woods next to the highway in twice the time it should have. The two climbed the slight embankment and found Falau sitting in the car Tim had come in. Gabriela took the front seat but held the door for Tim to get into the back.
“Where the hell is Duke?” snapped Tim pulling himself toward the front seat as Gabriela closed her door.
“In the trunk.” said Falau turning back to Tim and smiling. “Thank you. You saved my ass.”
Falau extended his hand offering it to Tim who grasped it tightly and shook while looking him in the eye.
“Thank you too for coming back for me. I would have understood if you had left. The mission comes first.”
“No. Not on this team.” said Gabriela. “We all come back or none of us come back.”
Tim leaned back in the seat letting the smile fill his face. His adrenalin was pumping and he was back in the fight after too many years of stagnation.
EYES OPENING WYATT looked up at the limited stars in the sky. His head throbbing in pain. His head did not lay true on the ground. It was tilted to the side due to the large lump that seemed to be growing by the second. His clothes were moist from laying in the grass of the field and the pain from the strikes he had endured in his fights started to set in.
Pulling himself to the sitting position he let out a long and low moan. The throbbing in his head jumped tenfold making him squint his eyes with the pain.
“Son of a bitch. I hate that broad.”
Gingerly Wyatt placed his hand on the lump forming on the back of his head. The woman with the green eyes had returned to the field. She must have kept herself on the tree line and came up from behind. Leaning back hard holding the old man in the air he caught her out of the corner of his eye. Her teeth exposed in a look that was far from a smile. She had the look of hell on her face. Her eyes cutting through him and narrowed down to thin slits. She looked ready to take his life and with the tire iron she had raised to the side of her head she was ready to do it.
He let go of the old man trying to cover himself from the crashing iron against his head but he only got his arm partially up. The iron rod hit his arm and slid down still cracking against the back of his head. If not for the partial block Wyatt knew his brains would have been all over the field for the children to find the next morning.
Pulling himself to his feet his legs felt loose and without substance like a drunken man leaving a pub. He held his hands out to the side and leveled himself off to keep from falling. Taking short steps he started to regain control of himself and was able to retrieve his coat and hat that had laid on the ground.
The sport jacket was stained with mud and grass but the big man took care to place it on and button it. He took his hat and placed it on his head and pulled the brim slightly leveling it out. His eyes looked at the tree line and he started to walk toward it.
“Last chance.” he said to himself knowing that if he were to get Duke he had to catch up to the others fast and even that may not be enough.
Wyatt increased his speed balancing it with keeping from falling to the ground. The more he moved the more his instincts took over and pushed him faster and faster. Entering the woods he had gotten himself up to a jog and went straight forward. He was back on the attack and the singular focus that had served him well in the SEALS and Israel was now back in full bloom. If he didn’t catch them his mission was over and he was not sure how long of a head start they had on him.
Building to a run he weaved in and out of trees trying to make out the ground through the darkness. His foot caught an exposed root and the cowboy fell to his face crashing hard against the ground. Wyatt popped back to his feet forging ahead until he made it to the end of the woods. He missed his mark and was fifty yards behind where he and the Mini went over the edge of the highway.
The hazard lights of the ford blinked on the side of the road causing the big man to pull back wondering if a bystander saw the accident and had pulled over to call for help. Wyatt pulled back into the tree line watching the car. A man sat in the front seat motionless.
Over the berm shot the woman and the older man getting to the car with the flashing lights. Wyatt started to run forward watching the car pull away.
“Fuck!” he yelled to nobody.
Sprinting hard he covered the fifty yards quickly only to find no real way to get the Mercedes they had been driving back up onto the highway. His hand banged down on the hood of the car causing a dent.
The Ford would not be fast and they would not speed and draw attention to themselves with a prisoner in the car. Wyatt was sure of that but he had to close the gap fast before they turned off the highway.
With no options left the Cowboy claimed the berm and made his way into the breakdown lane. Due to the tattered and stained clothes he looked like he had been in a bad accident. He waved his hands over his head getting a car to slow down and to the side of the road willing to help.
The car was fine by Wyatt’s standards. It would do the job. It was a new Volkswagen Bug painted Yellow.
The window came down and a young man in his twenties leaned out calling to Wyatt as he walked up.
“You okay mate? Did you have an accident?”
“Am I happy to see you.” said Wyatt breathing hard and reaching the side of the man’s car.
“Happy to be of service.”
“Oh you will be.” said Wyatt reaching down and opening the door of the man who suddenly had a scared look cross his face.
“What are you doing?” he questioned reaching for the door and trying to close it.
With his opposite hand the cowboy grabbed the man and pul
led him from the car in a dragging motion and pushed him to the side. The man regained his feet to only be met with a fast punch to the mid-section from the large man. He grabbed him by the back of the shirt and pushed him down the embankment causing him to tumble and roll. Wyatt got into the car, closed the door and drove away as fast as he could.
Chapter 36
Falau kept the car under control driving with just one hand. The pain had become more intense and he could feel the blood starting to seep through the rag he had used to cover his wound. With any luck Tim could work his magic again and close the deep gash living on the front of his shoulder.
“Gabriela, reach under your seat and get my laptop please.” asked Tim leaning forward.
Gabriela did as she was asked and handed the computer back to him. “Too many thieves around here to leave it out in the open, right?”
“You got that right!” quipped Falau. “Haven’t been here a day and look at the beating we have taken.”
Tim’s computer came to life with the familiar sound of the software loading. His fingers clicked away without telling his teammates what he was doing and nor did they ask. Occasionally he whispered something to himself and raised his head but would quickly return to his work.
“Back to the same airport. The plane will be ready. Drive straight to the tarmac and we can get on from there. Destination is unknown until we have Duke secured and in the air. Then we find out where the judges are and go directly there.”
“Done.” said Falau.
Gabriela kept look out watching the rear view mirror that she had adjusted for her to see everything happening behind them. A set of headlights weaved its way up through the traffic. The lights did not look like the kind of lights a sports car may have. They were round and utilitarian in nature. The car had a high top and a thin frame.
“I think we have trouble coming up from behind.” she said.
Falau looked into the side mirror to see the headlights moving through the traffic just a hundred yards behind them. The car passed under a light and Falau could see it was a bright yellow VW Bug. “Only Wyatt would drive that car that fast.”
Falau’s foot pushed hard on the gas causing the car to increase speed with no jump forward. The sensible sedan would need to be increased moment by moment and not a jump.
A gunshot rang out causing the back window of the car ahead of Falau and one lane to the right to blow out. The man driving twisted the wheel and skidded into Falau’s lane directly in front of him eventually crashing into the center guardrail pushing the car into a spin.
Falau turned the wheel hard to the right dropping into the breakdown lane avoiding any debris that broke from the car at impact. He turned hard back to the center lane looking back in the mirror to see the Bug miss the crashed car within inches.
Another shot rang out and nothing was struck that they could see. Falau targeted the nearest exit and went down it at full speed followed by Wyatt.
Falau did not break speed ignoring the red light and racing into the traffic. He turned the wheel and the rubber of the tires slid letting out a high screech but dug in keeping him from crashing over the curb. The Bug had to cut speed. It was too tall to make such a move without risking tipping over.
“Tim, can you give me some GPS?”
“Already on it boss. Next left! Now!”
Falau turned the car hard into the corner having the feel for it better and less skid was the result. The Bug again slowed for the corner and slipped slightly back.
Falau recognized the advantage and took the next right and then the next left disregarding Tim’s instructions.
“What the hell Falau are you just using the force to find your way? That only works in the movies.”
“He can’t keep up.”
“He’s right we are gaining approximately thirty yards per turn.” said Gabriela matter of factly without turning her head to look at the men, her eyes still trained on the side view mirror.
Falau and Tim glanced at the woman for her detail on the situation. The car fell silent and she had to acknowledge them “I can’t help it. When in a chase my brain just does all the calculations as a reflex. It’s my training.”
“And what training was that?” asked Falau turning the car again and then stomping on the gas.
“Nice try Falau but I don’t think so.” smirked Gabriela. “On that last corner he barely got eyes on us. Take the turns faster and we will lose him.”
Falau took the advice of the Mantis and took rights and lefts at random, widening the gap until the Bug was out of sight for three consecutive turns.
“GPS again Tim.”
Tim navigated as Falau kept the car moving at a rapid pace. A series of turns resulted in a route to the airport that would keep them off the highway where Wyatt could close in on them or see them from a distance.
Getting to the gate of the airport Falau reduced the speed of the car and drove directly to the tarmac entrance and pulled the car inside.
The three teammates jumped from the car seeing the plane just a short way away.
“Hello, glad to have you flying with us again.” said the male flight attendant from the earlier flight. He walked out from the darkness of a doorway that lead into a hanger. “I understand you have some cargo.”
“Yes. In the trunk.” said Falau walking to the back of the car and placing the key in the trunk. Reaching in he grabbed Duke by the shirt. The young billionaire’s eyes widened and he attempted to talk through the gag in his mouth. Falau pulled him to his feet and pushed him forward toward the plane.
The screech of wheels echoed through the air catching Gabriela’s attention. Looking back she saw the same headlight from the highway coming toward the tarmac gate.
“The cowboy is here let’s move!” she barked grabbing one of the arms of Duke as Falau took the other dragging the man to the plane.
Falau dragged Duke up the steps of the G5 and pushed him to the floor. Gabriela, Tim, and the flight attendant were on their heels and boarded the plane instantly.
The flight attendant pressed the button causing the stairs to lift and lock into place, but before they could, the pilot had started to move to the runway.
A shot rang out causing Falau and Gabriela to look out the window to see Wyatt holding his gun at the edge of the tarmac.
“No problems folks. This plane is bullet proof. We know our clientele.” said the flight attendant with a wink.
The pilot did not break his pace. He straightened himself out at the top of the runway and pushed the throttle to its maximum. Three quarters of the way down the runway the plane lifted off heading for parts unknown and leaving Wyatt Houston behind.
Chapter 37
The G5 ripped across the top of the water less than one hundred feet in the air. Detection from radar was a concern but a far-fetched one at that. Anyone with that kind of equipment would have aircraft of their own to send out. But it was always better to be safe than sorry. Not that anyone on the plane had a choice. The destination was not revealed to the members of the team. The plane landed three times and took off again. They had been on the trip for over ten hours patching their wounds and finally having a chance to rest. Duke was duct taped into a chair and Tim sat next to him clacking away on his keyboard.
“The one chance you have is to tell me where all the money is. Every dollar, every pound and every Rubal. If you don’t then you’re going to die.”
“I will tell you anything you want just let me live.” begged Duke his eyes filling with tears.
“That’s not my call but this is the best way you can help yourself.”
Duke pulled slightly on the duct tape holding him in knowing even if by some miracle it broke he had nowhere to go. He was outnumbered and had no idea how to fly a plane. He spilled everything he could remember. Banks, stocks, safety deposit boxes, off shore accounts. He gave Tim access to his private accounts and they were depleted to every last dime. The money was placed in a secure bank in Sweden until the judges d
ecide how to dole it out to the people who had been scammed by Tristan Duke.
Several hours later the plane settled down and the flight attendant pushed the button to release the stairs of the plane. Falau sat up quickly thinking it was just another stop until the stairs dropped.
“Is this the place?” asked Falau looking up to the flight attendant.
“Yes it is. There is a hanger about fifty yards away. That is where you all need to go.”
“Where are we?’ asked Gabriela shaking herself awake after a long sleep.
“We are in a Africa...or the middle east... or India. It’s really not important. The meeting for Mr. Duke is why were are here now. After the meeting the rest of you are to return to this plane. No stopping for anything. Not a chat or to go to the bathroom. We go wheels up five minutes after the end of the meeting. If you are left behind good luck finding your way out of this place. Is everything understood?”
All the members of the team indicated with head shakes or grunts of recognition. Being shuffled around was the last thing they expected after the mission they had just been on.
Two burly men of dark complexion wearing sunglasses and what looked like montane uniforms entered the plane and approached Duke.
“Mr. Falau?” one asked looking across the room.
“Ya that’s me.”
“Welcome, sir. Is this man the package?”
“Yes he is.”
“We will be removing him now per the orders of Tyler.”
“Go ahead guys do your job.”
The slightly bigger of the two men pulled a box cutter from his pocket and extended the blade. Duke started to thrash in his chair trying with all he had to get away from the man.
“Oh Shit No! Don’t kill me! Not like this! Not here!”
The man disregarded Dukes pleas and moved the box cutter closer to him. The metal shined in the light and the razor edge still had flecks of cardboard on it from its last job. Duke closed his eyes and pursed his lips pulling his head away as far as he could. Tears started to burst through the closed eyes with gasps of sobbing starting.