by David Archer
After speaking with Marco, he’d called Albert Corey at their base of operations, asking the London agent to come deal with the local authorities. Albert confirmed that he was already on his way, ready and willing to do whatever they needed.
The third reason they needed to leave quickly was Renée. If Dawson went straight back to the hotel, even if returning via the bistro, there was a strong likelihood that he’d beat them back to their St. Aloysius. Renée was critical to their plans, but Noah didn’t want her to expose herself to Dawson until they were all in place for backup.
As he made his way down the hall, he could hear tones of disagreement going on between his team members, their voices arguing in hushed tones. He couldn’t hear all of what was being said, but he could imagine, and he hoped Neil was as okay as he was insisting. Gary and Jenny seemed to be having a hard time getting him to sit still.
“Is he all right?” Noah asked them as he drew close.
Neil was sitting with his back to the wall, his low voice making an intent case to the other agents. He looked pale, and a little shaky.
“He seems to be,” Gary answered, releasing Neil’s shoulder and rising from his crouch. He took an added step back to allow Noah room, looking relieved at his presence.
“He is fine,” Neil carefully enunciated, throwing a glare at Gary before starting to get up again. To his obvious annoyance, Noah clamped a hand on his shoulder, keeping him floor-bound while taking over Gary’s previous position of squatting in front of him.
Neil met his eyes immediately. The pupils were even and his eyes full of clarity. Noah looked up at Gary for anything else he might need to know.
“Just banged up with a few scratches, I think,” Gary answered, “but he’s bruised his back pretty close to the kidney.”
“But that’s all it is,” Neil cut in. “A bruise. I’ll let you know if anything else seems wrong.”
Noah, again, peered intently into Neil’s eyes, then nodded. “I think you’ll make it,” he said. He hooked a hand under Neil’s shoulder and helped him get to his feet. “What about Geraldo? Is it salvageable?”
“He’ll be fine,” Neil said. “He might need some new clothes, and we won’t be able to use my face again most likely, but he’s made of steel and ceramic. Not much chance the explosion could have damaged him more than I can fix. Let’s go, if we don’t get back to our hotel soon, we won’t be there to back up Renée.”
NINE
Marco followed Dawson vigilantly as he strolled the river walk, looking like any overworked businessman anxious to enjoy some fresh air at the close of a hectic workday. As they got closer to the bistro, Marco spotted the taxis waiting in a line, relieved that Catherine Potts had already taken care of switching them out for agents of her own. When the river walk ended, that precaution paid off. Dawson stepped into the third cab in the line and told the driver to take him to the St. Aloysius Hotel.
Marco relaxed, watching him go, the anxiety that had been eating his stomach fading into memory. Of course, he still had one reason to worry; they’d set Renée up in a position where Dawson would most likely decide to kill her before it was over. He hoped her performance that night would be as good as it had been that afternoon.
* * *
By the time they exited the hotel’s grand lobby, Neil had convinced the others that his injuries were minimal. The four of them hurried to their car and rushed back to the phony St. Aloysius, arriving just as dusk was seizing the city. They found Renée waiting for them in the command center.
“How’d it go?” she asked.
“Smooth as butter,” Neil lied, shooting Gary a warning look.
Jenny scowled. “Not so much,” he said. “Neil was almost killed by a bomb blast. Dawson decided to blow up a big part of the hotel, rather than get too close.”
During the ride back from the Teagarden, Neil had very carefully tried to maneuver Noah and Gary and Jenny into letting it go, but obviously Jenny wasn’t having any. Gary rolled his eyes, but Marco’s voice suddenly came through the subcoms.
“Dawson’s on his way,” Marco told them. “He’ll be there in less than five.”
“Are we all set?” Noah looked at Renée, then back to Neil. They both nodded.
“Yes,” Renée said. “Catherine’s people have briefed me on everything they got out of the real messenger, so I can play the part. She’s never met Spear, she’s always worked through a contact person; the odds are good that Spear doesn’t know anything about her at all.”
“All right,” Noah said. “You’d better head on up.”
With a deep breath and a confident smile, she started up the stairs.
“And you’d better get some ice on your back if you don’t want to wake up too stiff to move tomorrow,” Noah chided Neil, who was already back to work on his computer.
“There’s an ice pack in the brown supply box,” Gary said as he moved up the stairs after Renée.
“I know,” Neil said sarcastically, now completely annoyed with the unnecessary fussing. “I packed it.”
* * *
The sun was getting low in the sky by the time Dawson made it back to his hotel room. He was still feeling the rush he often felt after successful jobs, and this time he was allowing himself to enjoy the feeling just a little more. All that remained was arranging the funds transfer. After that, he could be gone, if he wanted to be.
That was something else to consider, however. The payment arrangement would give him a chance to see Spear’s redhead again. Maybe, if things went well, he really would contemplate staying a few more days. He’d certainly earned it this time.
A new clerk was manning the front desk when he walked in and he figured it must be time for the night shift. The man barely seemed to notice him as he passed. Dawson was fine with that. Hotel night staffers were never as observant as the day personnel.
The stairs and hallway were well lit and as he opened the lock on his hotel room door, he had to let his eyes adjust to the darkness. He shut the door behind him and felt around the wall for the light switch. He found it easily, flipping on the entryway light before moving farther into the room, preparing to relax a bit before he decided whether or not to leave.
He reached out to flip on the main light at the edge of the entry hall and was pleasantly surprised by the sight that greeted him.
“Welcome home.” Spear’s redhead was standing on the far side of his room, looking sly and inviting.
“Well, well, well,” he said, setting his briefcase on the floor and letting a smile spread over his face. “I was looking forward to seeing you again, but I didn’t expect to find you waiting for me.”
She shrugged demurely. “I wanted to see you again, as well,” she said. “It isn’t often that a lowly messenger gets to meet a man of your caliber.”
Dawson chuckled at her pun. “Caliber? That’s an interesting choice of words. Aren’t you concerned about my reputation?”
Renée shrugged again. “You’re talking about the fact that you try to never let anyone see your face and live? If that’s what you have in mind, I’ve already seen enough to sign my death warrant, haven’t I? On the other hand, are you sure you would want to anger our employer? He does use me a lot, you know.”
“Messengers are expendable, my dear,” Dawson said. “However, I have made exceptions to that rule in the past. If Spear trusts you, then perhaps I can as well. I suppose a lot of it depends on what other benefits you might bring to the relationship.”
“Well, the main benefit I bring,” Renée said, “is your payday.” She picked up a small USB drive that was laying on the bed and held it out to him. “This is the confirmation of payment, just as you required.”
Dawson took the drive and walked over to the table in the room, where a laptop was sitting. He opened it up and turned it on, then plugged the thumb drive into the USB port and tapped a sequence on the keyboard. A window opened up and he checked the information that was displayed, then turned back to her with a smile.
“Perfect, of course,” he said. “Now, the question on my mind is why you decided to be here when I returned.”
She smiled. “I would think that would be obvious,” she said. “I have been playing messenger for Spear and his people for more than a year, now. Obviously I’m not afraid of what’s going on, so I thought perhaps it might be time to try to move up in the organization. My contacts don’t want to allow that; I thought perhaps you and I might come to an arrangement that would benefit both of us.”
Back in the command center, Noah and Neil looked at one another. This was the point where things could get dicey. While it wasn’t a common practice, all E & E operatives were aware that there were no limits to what they might have to do in service of the mission, and that included sexual activities. Both Marco and Renée had been fully briefed on the plan to get close to Spear, and that it could conceivably involve Renée engaging in a sexual relationship with Dawson. Neither was thrilled about the idea, but both of them understood the importance of the mission. As Neil had put it, people in their line of work couldn’t afford jealousies. Marco had agreed, and assured Renée that he would not hold against her whatever she had to do.
Dawson looked her over, and admitted silently to himself that he had been hoping for just such an eventuality. This woman was quite attractive, and exuded a sensuality that had caught his attention the first time he laid eyes on her at the bistro.
“And what would be my part of this arrangement?” he asked.
Renée moved toward him, her slow, sensual walk causing him to look her over again.
“That’s pretty simple,” she said. “I want to go with you when you leave. If the people you deal with become aware that you trust me, then I might get a shot at more important responsibilities. I’m a girl who likes the material things in life, Jonathan. Being a messenger doesn’t pay well enough to keep me in the style to which I hope to become accustomed.”
Dawson grinned as she raised her arms and put them around his neck. “Oh, I think we can definitely be of benefit to one another.”
Their lips met, and Renée forced herself not to consider the fact that the entire team was going to be able to hear what would happen next. She had every intention of convincing Dawson that he was the most exciting lover she had ever known, and she only hoped that Marco would understand that it was an act. In reality, kissing this man was the most disgusting, vile thing she felt she had ever done.
Dawson let go and stepped back, looking her in the eye. “You know, it occurs to me that I don’t even know your name.”
She smiled. “It’s Abigail, Abigail Willis. My friends call me Abby, so you can, too.”
* * *
Two hours later, Dawson and Renée left the hotel. The intelligence they had on the assassin indicated that he was due to return to his employer after this last hit, and Noah had devised a plan that would keep a trackable asset on Dawson.
That asset was Renée. Now posing as Dawson’s lover, Renée would be able to keep them apprised of his location, and sometimes his plans. With her wristwatch hotspot, she was rarely going to be out of contact for more than a short time.
That was about the only comfort Marco was getting from the deal. He was the one assigned to follow them when they left, although they already knew that Dawson was taking Renée straight to Heathrow. He hadn’t told her yet where they were going, but there was little doubt that he would plan on meeting Spear within the next few days.
The next thirty minutes saw the E & E agents furiously preparing to leave England. A lot of their equipment would be taken care of by the MI6 agents and, where necessary, sent to them later. They would take only what they could, the essentials.
“Neil, don’t lift that, it’s too heavy.”
“I can carry my own computer, Gary, I brought it in here.”
“We just don’t want you straining your back,” Jenny said, taking the computer out of his hands before he had time to protest. He watched her carry the computer outside, and when he looked back, Gary was laughing.
“Uh huh,” Neil said. “Better laugh it up now, because someday soon, you’re going to get kicked in the shin and I’ll convince everyone on the team that your leg is broken.”
Gary laughed more.
“I’m actually part of this team, remember?” Neil complained. “I mean, did everyone forget that Gary is just a loaner?”
Gary’s smile abruptly died. The look he threw Neil spoke volumes. He wasn’t part of the team. He’d been brought in for one mission, and one mission only. The rest of them pointedly ignored the silent exchange.
The illusion of the alternative was enticing. The ability to think as if he really was part of the team had come about so easily that it already felt real. And because it was so easy to think about, it was easy to joke about also.
Neil stopped and returned the look, but Marco interrupted the silence over the subcoms.
“You might not believe this, Noah,” Marco said, “but Dawson just bought two tickets to Atlanta.”
“Interesting news,” Noah agreed. “What about us?”
“Our plane is waiting on the runway now. I spoke to the pilot and crew, and the flight plan is being filed now. All you have to do is get here.”
“You heard the man,” Noah said. “Let’s go.”
With a last look at Neil, Gary nodded quickly. He picked up his own equipment and headed out.
The final item in the room was the E & E printer, already folded into its case and ready to move. Neil reached for the handle, but Noah beat him to it. The younger agent exhaled, exasperated, but it didn’t seem to bother Noah.
He set a gentle hand on Neil’s shoulder. “Neil,” he said, giving his shoulder a squeeze. “Sometimes you’ve got to learn to take some help from your friends.” Then, looking around the empty room with a satisfied nod, he gave Neil’s shoulder one last squeeze and followed Gary out the back door.
* * *
“What?” Gary tore his gaze from the scenery outside the car window, meeting Neil’s eyes.
“I asked if you were okay, man. You looked a little out of it.”
“Tired, I guess,” he answered, his mood still dark. “It’s been a long couple days, for everyone.”
“Yeah.” Neil seemed to accept the answer. “We’ve got a long flight ahead of us. Hopefully you can sleep on the plane. You didn’t really look rested when you showed up at Noah’s the other night.”
“I don’t always sleep well on planes,” he hedged, shrugging, then considered Neil with a critical eye. “You look kind of tired yourself.”
“Like you said,” Neil said, “it’s been a long few days for all of us.”
Gary nodded his head toward the front seat of the car they rode in. Cut off from their conversation by the taxi partition, they could still see Noah at the wheel and Jenny looking tired in the passenger seat. “For Noah most of all; I’m not sure he’s really slept at all.”
“He never does on a mission. It’s just the way he is.”
“He needs to rest,” Gary said. “We are the ones who are all dependent on him. He’s got to be able to think clearly, or we could all end up dead.”
Neil flashed a half-smile, nodding in return. “Don’t worry about Noah,” he said. “He’s always on top of his game. That’s why he’s the best.”
“I know that,” Gary said, “but anybody can become exhausted, right?”
“I guess so,” Neil said, offering a grin. He looked out his window a moment later to see that they’d arrived at the airport. Marco was waiting for them at the foot of the ramp leading into the Gulfstream.
“Now, if you can just manage not to get blown up again,” Gary threw at him suddenly, “everything might be okay, but just remember that your kidneys can only take so much abuse.”
Neil shot him a dirty look, but Gary only grinned. On the other side of the car, Marco leaned in through Neil’s open door. He’d apparently overheard, because he laid a hand on Neil’s shoulder and asked seriously, �
��Are you all right?”
“He bruised his back in the explosion,” Jenny explained as she got out of the car. “He tried to catch a door that got blown off its hinges.”
Noah popped the trunk and Gary started unloading the things they were taking with them.
“Neil, are you okay?” Marco asked.
“As long as he doesn’t strain himself, he should be,” Noah cut in. Gary looked out at the co-pilot, who was jogging across the tarmac to join them, and kept his gaze pinned to the approaching figure, eyes averted from Neil’s, pretending to be completely focused on other things.
Neil scowled deeper, glaring at Gary over the car’s roof. “Will you all just drop it already?” Gary chuckled as he picked up a couple of bags and headed toward the airplane.
TEN
The Gulfstream G550 carried them all the way to Atlanta. It was a long flight, and though Noah had encouraged his team to rest, he knew none of them got much sleep. He himself managed to doze less than an hour in all. He called Sarah and spent a half hour assuring her that everyone was okay, then checked in with Allison to give her a progress update. The rest of the time, he simply sat there and considered what could go wrong with the rest of his plans.
One of the advantages to using the Gulfstream was that it was not necessary to make connecting flights. Dawson and Renée were flying Delta, which required them to make a connection in New York City’s LaGuardia, while the rest of the team flew nonstop to Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta.
“Noah,” Neil said, touching Noah’s shoulder to get his attention. “The pilot says we’ll be touching down in about twenty minutes.”
Noah blinked, looking up into his face. “How far behind us is Dawson’s plane?” he asked, sitting up straight and buckling his seat belt.
“Over eight hours,” Marco answered from the seat adjacent. “Renée says they have a six hour layover at New York, and they just touched down an hour ago. By the time they board their connecting flight and get here, you can add another three hours to that, so we’ve got about eight hours to get ready.”