by S. L. Menear
When we surfaced, Lance pointed at where we could climb out of the water. “Hurry and swim over there.”
I grabbed our rubber-thong beach shoes floating nearby. Lance pulled himself up onto a flat rock and lifted me out of the water.
I handed him his beach thongs. “Let’s find a fast way out of here.” I glanced at the waterfall and slipped my feet into the flip-flops.
“Stay on the rocks so we don’t leave footprints while we find a way through this jungle.” Lance ran ahead, leading me into the trees.
A minute after we pushed through the thick foliage, I heard a loud splash in the pond. My gut tightened.
“Did you hear that?” I whispered.
He frowned and looked around. “If I boost you up into that palm tree, can you bonk the gunman on the head with a coconut on your first try?”
“Even if he stood right under the tree, I’d probably miss. Maybe you should wait in the tree and let me be the bait. I can’t throw, but I can kick butt with tae kwon do.”
“An automatic weapon beats martial arts. He’ll shred you to pieces long before you get close enough to hit him.”
“That maneuver in the Hummer was meant to knock us off the road, not kill us. They’re the men who came after me in Florida. I’m their kidnap target. They’ll want to eliminate you so it’ll be easier to take me. You should shimmy up the tree.”
“What if there’s more than one? A lucky hit with a coconut will only work once.” He glanced up the tree.
“I don’t think they’d risk sending more than one man down that kamikaze water ride.”
Lance hesitated, thinking. “Could be the other two are coming down a different way to cut off our escape. We need to get that first guy’s weapon.” Lance started up the tree.
“I’ll act like I have a sprained ankle and say you ran to get help.” I sat and leaned against the tree.
Seconds after Lance settled near the top of the tree, a wet burly man holding an MP5 submachine gun stopped in front of me. He looked surprised to see me just sitting there.
“Hands on your head! Good. Where’s your friend?”
“I sprained my ankle. He went for help. No telling how soon he’ll be back with the police and paramedics.” I rubbed my ankle and winced in mock pain. “Why’d you run us off the road?” I pretended not to recognize him and bit my lip as though trying not to cry.
He looked around and frowned, like he was unsure what to do. “Can you walk?”
“No, that’s why my friend left. I can’t go anywhere unless you carry me.”
“Get up.” He pointed the MP5 at me.
“If you’re here to kidnap me, I won’t be worth anything dead. You’re going to have to help me walk.” I reached for his hand.
He stepped closer. “You won’t be kidnapped today.” He pointed the weapon at my shoulder joint. “This bullet’s a message from—”
A coconut crashed on his head a second before Lance landed on top of him. I grabbed the MP5 as Lance knocked him out. Two loud splashes in the pond jolted me.
Lance focused on the automatic weapon I held. “Do you know how to shoot that?”
“I had experience with MP5s in Scotland. The shoulder strap is a lot stronger than it looks.” I checked the magazine and slung the strap over my shoulder. “Sounds like his buddies followed him.”
Lance frowned at the unconscious man. “He was going to shoot you.”
“Let’s get out of here. I think we need to bear left to intercept the road.” I rushed through the jungle.
Lance ran close behind me. I worried we were making too much noise, thrashing through the heavy foliage. I ducked behind boulders and searched for a path upward.
Lance stopped next to me and caught his breath. “I’m not used to chasing after women who run faster than me. Why’d you stop?”
“All three men from the Hummer are down here. Let’s climb up to the road and escape on our scooter before they realize where we went.” I turned and climbed up the steep hillside, working through stubborn foliage with Lance’s help.
Soon we were hiding in the bushes near the highway shoulder. We listened for the men. When we didn’t hear anything, we made a run for our scooter.
I paused by the Hummer. “I’d like to shoot out their tires, but the gunfire would draw them back here.”
“Too bad they didn’t leave the keys.” Lance ran to the scooter and started it. “Climb aboard, Sam. Time to haul ass!”
I jumped on the back, and we zoomed past the Hummer.
Moments later, I glanced back and saw the gunmen burst from the jungle and leap into their SUV. No way we could outrun them.
“They’re coming! Look for a narrow side trail. Maybe they won’t be able to follow us.” I scanned the sides of the road as the Hummer roared after us.
Just when I thought we were about to become road kill, a Navy Seahawk popped up from behind the hill. The helicopter allowed us to pass under it and then hovered low in front of the Hummer.
Lance pulled behind a big boulder so we could watch the takedown.
Our pursuers found themselves facing the business end of a hellfire missile ready to launch.
Honolulu Police Department cars raced up the road and surrounded the SUV.
The gunmen surrendered and were taken into custody as the helicopter climbed and turned.
Lance and I saluted as the Seahawk flew past.
“Thank God for the Navy.” I took a deep breath. “Good thing their base is only about a five-minute flight away.”
Lance looked puzzled. “How did they happen to be here and know to block that Hummer?”
“Uh, that would be me. I signaled them with my watch.” I tapped my DARPA watch.
Lance laughed, and the tension in his face relaxed. “If anyone else had told me that, I’d think it was BS, but you I believe.” He shook his head. “Let me guess, your twin brothers in the Navy had something to do with that watch.”
“Actually, it was a governmental decision between the US and the UK, but my brothers helped.”
“So it was decided letting you get killed would make for bad PR on both sides of the pond.”
“Something like that. Lucky me, huh?” I noticed his cuts and scratches. “Our jungle fun took its toll on you. You’re bleeding.”
Lance looked me over. “So are you, but nothing serious. Just a few cuts and scrapes.”
The police officer in charge walked over.
A former Air Force fighter pilot, Lance took a deep breath and remained calm as he shook the officer’s hand. “How did you know to come?”
The cop nodded at me. “She signaled the Navy. SEAL Team Nine zeroed in on her GPS location and called us to arrest the gunmen.”
“Officer, I’d like to thank you and your men for coming to our rescue.” I smiled and shook his hand.
“I’ll take that.” The officer reached for the MP5 slung over my shoulder.
“Oh, right, we took this from one of the bad guys.” I handed it to him.
“The paramedics will take care of your wounds, and then we’d like to ask you a few questions.” The officer led us to an EMT truck as lights flashed on HPD cars blocking traffic.
Although we were safe, adrenaline still hummed through my veins as I tried to relax and drop my heart rate. My hands shook as the paramedics made short work of dressing my minor wounds.
I’d left my cell phone in the hotel room. Ross would know I activated my emergency signal.
I didn’t want him to worry, so I borrowed a cop’s cell and fired off a text: It’s Sam. SEAL Team Nine rescued me. I’m OK, don’t worry. More later.
After interviews with the police, we arrived back in our rooms at 5:30 p.m. Our flight was scheduled to depart in four and a half hours. I bolted my door.
A long hot shower soothed my tension. I considered a nap, but I was too pumped up. A call to Ross went straight to voice mail. Must be on a mission.
A soft knock on the connecting door caught my attention.
Lance looked serious. “Sam, I’ve been thinking about what happened. It might not be over. I doubt the men in the Hummer were the masterminds behind the attack. We may encounter worse adversaries in the Middle Eastern countries on our itinerary. Maybe you should call in sick and fly home.”
“Screw that! I may as well quit my career and lock myself in a vault. I’ll steer clear of you if you’re afraid to be around me.” I started to walk away.
Lance grabbed my arm and turned me around. A pounding noise interrupted us. The sound came from my entry door.
“Ignore it and they’ll go away.” He tried to pull me against him.
The knocking grew louder.
I slipped free, checked the peep hole, and opened the door. Carlene shoved me aside and rushed to Lance. She was surprisingly strong for her tiny stature.
Lance’s eyes widened. Before he could react, Carlene yanked his arm, pushed him into his room, slammed the connecting door, and locked it.
I stood frozen. It had all happened so fast.
Lance must’ve spent some time in Carlene’s room last night. Just as well.
I felt like I was still vibrating from leftover adrenaline. Chocolate would take the edge off. I popped a dark truffle into my mouth and savored the sweet flavor as it melted.
I dressed in running gear, ran a hard thirty minutes on the treadmill in the hotel’s exercise room, and took another shower, this time cold.
Where was Ross? I needed to hear his voice. Even though I had known him a short time and could only see him once a month, he was worth waiting for. I called him again.
Ross answered and fired out sentences. “I was out on maneuvers. Just received the message you activated the emergency button, and SEAL Team Nine responded. Then I saw your text. What happened? Are you all right?”
When he took a breath, I said, “I’m okay.” I briefed him on the three men.
“What about Nicolai? Did you see him?”
“No, just the men who came after me in Florida, minus the murdered one.” I paused. “I miss you, Ross.”
“I miss you too. Please be careful, especially at your next destination. We don’t have any assets in Hong Kong, and neither does the US.”
“The police detective said someone from the FBI would call me after they interrogate the prisoners. It might have been unrelated to Nicolai, but the guy who tried to shoot me in the shoulder said it was a message. Lance knocked him out before he could name the sender.”
“Maybe Lord Sweetwater sent them. I don’t trust him.” He sighed. “Call me if you learn anything about the men who attacked you. I wish I could be with you right now.”
“Me too. I can’t wait for Paris. And watch out. Nicolai might come after you first.”
“I hope he does. Then I won’t have to worry about you. Take care, lass.”
Five
Bahamas
“Blond sooka escaped because your men are amateurs. They were supposed to shoot her in non-lethal area and leave her bleeding. Instead, all three are in jail. They will ruin everything.” Nicolai smashed his empty vodka glass on the stone terrace.
“Relax, the lawyer I hired said they haven’t said a word. He’ll bribe prison guards to take care of them,” Sweetwater said.
“Island is boring, and I am tired of waiting. Let me take her.”
“We’ve been over this. We’ll terrorize her for a month or two, then back off. When she thinks she’s safe, you’ll deal with her and the two Scottish brats when they meet in Orlando, but not a minute before. Are we clear?”
“Let me send Russians after her. They are more efficient.”
“Nicolai, Interpol is hunting you. Any Russian involvement will jeopardize our plan. I’ll handle this.”
“Then hire better men!” Nicolai tossed the satellite phone onto the hammock. “Damn Brit!”
Hawaii
I stood in our Honolulu flight operations center and checked the paperwork for our charter flight to Hong Kong. I hadn’t seen Lance since Carlene invaded. I assumed he was doing the walk around—inspecting the outside of our Boeing 767.
An FBI agent had called and said the men from the Hummer were more afraid of their employer than our justice system. They refused to talk.
Pete Winston walked up with a big smile. “Hey, Sam, I’m your relief pilot for the next ten days. Should be fun. I heard what happened at the luau.” He laughed.
I gave Pete a friendly half hug. “It’s good to see you again.”
“What do you have planned for Hong Kong—a delicious dinner prepared tableside by a chef with a blow torch?” He grinned.
“Very funny. Wait until you meet the passengers, especially Carlene. You may end up providing relief duties outside the cockpit. I think she wore out Lance earlier tonight.”
“Now that you mention it, Lance was walking funny when I saw him a few minutes ago.” Pete hesitated. “So, uh, how good looking is she?”
“She’s Carlene Jensen, the movie star.” I tried to keep my tone neutral. “It would be nice if at least one of my copilots would stay out of trouble. That ship has sailed for Lance. Can you be the sensible one?”
“Don’t worry. I’m happily married with a baby due soon.” He patted my back and chuckled. “Try not to take your job so seriously. Loosen up a little.”
“Easy for you to say. The captain gets blamed for everything the crew does regardless of whether I’m involved in the questionable activities. Not so fun. You’ll change your tune when you’re promoted to the hot seat one of these days.”
“You’re paranoid because crazy shit happens to you a lot. I heard about the men who attacked you and Lance. What was that about?”
“They’re the men who attacked me in Florida last week.”
“Good thing they’re in jail now, thanks to the SEALs. That reminds me, are you still dating the SAS badass?”
“Ross and I see each other once a month. I’m hooking up with him in Paris for the overnight layover.” I patted his back. “Congratulations on the baby. When’s it due?” I picked up my flight papers and walked beside him to our airplane.
“Right after I get home. Sure hope it doesn’t come early.”
“All my friends and relatives with children said their first babies were late, so don’t worry.” I stepped into the cockpit and slid into the left seat.
Pete stowed his bag in the crew closet in the back of the cockpit.
Lance was seated to my right in the copilot’s seat. He looked busy programming the flight computer.
Pete eased forward and tapped his shoulder. “Hey, I hear you’ve been getting a lot of action. Want me to take the first shift so you can rest?”
“Hell no! The crew rest seat is in the front of the cabin. I’m hiding from Carlene. If I were you, I’d seriously consider sitting on the cockpit jumpseat.” Lance turned and looked at Pete, avoiding eye contact with me.
Pete stood in the open cockpit doorway. “You’re complaining about a beautiful actress in your bed? Seriously?”
As if on cue, Carlene walked to the doorway. “Ooh, another hot pilot! Are you coming with us, handsome? I hope you’re replacing that switch-hitter, Captain Sourpuss.” Carlene was too short to see me with Pete blocking her view. She craned her neck. “Where’s Lance?”
Pete turned to me with a big grin. “Wow, Sam, sounds like I missed a lot last night. Next time you play for the home team, can I watch?”
If the fire that flashed from my eyes could kill, Pete would have been incinerated. He stepped aside so Carlene could see me.
“Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Jensen, but you’re stuck with me for the duration.” I shot her my don’t-mess-with-me look.
“Oh, I was just kidding, Captain. You’re doing a great job. Now, which copilot is coming back to the cabin with me?” She looked from Lance to Pete.
I was tempted to send Lance back to teach him a lesson. I glanced in his direction.
“Do you
want to sit in the cabin for a while, Lance?” I asked sweetly.
“I can’t. I have that re-qual thing I have to complete. Sorry, Carlene.” Panic flooded his eyes.
I couldn’t pass this up. “What re-qual thing, Lance?”
“Uh, you know, my international overwater requalification seat-time requirements because I flew too many domestic flights. I’ll need to stay up here all the way to Hong Kong to make up the time.” He shot me a pleading glance.
Lance had squirmed enough.
“Oh, right, the international overwater re-quals. There’s no getting around those, FAA mandated and all. Sorry, Carlene.” I gave her a not-really-sorry smile.
Carlene looked up at Pete. “That’s okay. I’ll have plenty of time to break in the new guy. You only need one up here with you, right Captain?”
Pete interrupted, “She needs two copilots on long flights like this. That’s why I’m here, an FAA requirement.”
“So she gets to keep both of you? That’s hardly fair.” Carlene’s frown quickly changed to an evil smile. “Don’t worry, boys, we’ll make up for it in Hong Kong.” She winked and left.
Pete didn’t seem to notice the tension between Lance and me during the long flight to Hong Kong as we discussed antique airplanes, fast motorcycles, and favorite sport cars.
According to the senior flight attendant, nothing too drastic happened in the passenger cabin. The passengers were their usual loud rambunctious selves, using the mid-cabin bar as party central.
Several hours later, most of the passengers didn’t notice the landing as they slept.
Hong Kong
A dank cellar in an abandoned Hong Kong tenement reeked with the scent of burnt flesh, blood, and fear.
A tall man with spiked blond hair grasped pliers and ripped off the last fingernail on the screaming man’s left hand. He spoke English with a German accent, “I will ask again, where is Poseidon’s Sword?”
The Asian man had been stripped to his undershorts and bound to a metal chair. He took a deep breath. “Stop—I talk,” he said in a weak, tremulous voice before his eyes rolled back in his head.