Dieter could sense the tension of distrust in the air as he stepped inside. He took a moment to study everyone’s expressions. “You wanted to see me, Mike?”
Mike shook his head. “Not me. Mister Cave wants to talk to you.”
Dieter wasn’t sure how much they knew about his plan, and decided to act unconcerned. “What can I do for you, professor?”
When Dieter called him professor, Alex realized some things remained the same. He just hoped Dieter’s connections were still the same, too. “Pull up a chair and sit down.”
Dieter knew this wasn’t just to chitchat, and reluctantly sat down. “What’s this about?”
“I know you have connections in the Russian mafia, and I need you to locate someone for me.”
“I don’t know where you get your information, but I don’t know anyone connected with the Russians.”
Alex studied Dieter’s expression before he dropped the hammer. “What about your friend, Blacktooth?” The subtle change in Dieter’s expression told him he was right.
Dieter tried to remain impassive. How could this professor know about Blacktooth? “Never heard of him.”
Alex reached into his inside jacket pocket and set an envelope on the desk. “This is a warrant for your arrest for murder from INTERPOL. I have one for Bartram, too.”
Dieter shifted in his chair. “You must be mistaken, professor. I have not murdered anyone.”
“Perhaps, but I’m sure Bartram will say you gave the orders. I’ll make it simple. You help me and I’ll help you.”
Dieter scoffed at the idea. “How could you possibly help me? You’re just a college professor.”
Alex displayed a grim smile. “The Director of National Security is a good friend of mine.”
Okana grinned when he saw the change in Dieter’s expression. He knew Alex would never ask Donner to let Dieter go free.
Dieter leaned forward. “Who are you trying to find?”
“Boris Kinski.”
Dieter’s eyes went wide. “He was the head of the Russian Mafia! Are you insane?”
Alex stared back evenly. “We have a history. Can you locate him, or not?”
Dieter leaned back in his chair. “You’re that Cave?”
“That’s right.”
“I’ve heard stories about you. They say you killed forty members of the Mafia, including Boris’s brother. Tortured them first, and then gave them a slow death.”
Okana laughed. “Forty, Alex? I thought it was only twenty.”
Alex grinned. “It was six, actually. Boris put his brother in charge of the operation to kill me. The incompetent bastard made the mistake of killing my wife and leaving me alive. I have no regrets about what I did to him and his men.”
Dieter shook his head. He was right about Cave from the first moment he saw him climb out of the motorboat. A killer. “The last I heard he was living in southeastern Siberia.”
Alex shook his head. “You’ll have to do better than that if you want my help with INTERPOL. He has people here in the states right now. I doubt he’ll be too far away. After that fiasco with his brother, he’ll want to keep a close eye on his people so they don’t make the same mistake.”
Alex looked up at Okana. “Give him the phone.”
Dieter realized he didn’t have a way out of the situation unless he cooperated. “The phone numbers are programed into my cellphone. Take me to the mainland and I’ll see what I can find out.”
“No deal. Where is your cell phone?”
“My cabin, top left drawer.”
Alex glanced up at Okana, who left the room.
* * *
Chapter 31
DARRINGTON, WASHINGTON:
When the van stopped, Derek and Jessica looked into each other’s eyes, wondering whether Jessica was going to die. They waited anxiously as Mikhail climbed out and opened the side door.
Jessica scrunched closer to Derek as they stared through the doorway across a small field of grass to the tree line.
Mikhail grinned and pointed at Jessica. “Get over here.”
Derek moved toward the door. “Take me instead.”
“No. Just girl.” When Derek didn’t move, Mikhail pulled out his pistol. “Get back!”
Sasha climbed out of the van and walked around to the open door. “Stop playing with the girl and get them out.”
Mikhail put away the pistol, brought out a set of wire cutters, and reached out toward Derek. “Give me your feet.”
Once his legs were clipped free, Derek climbed out and turned to wait for Jessica. When Mikhail reached inside to cut her ankle strap, Derek used the distraction to slide a small knife from his front pocket, and then they followed Sasha around the van. When they saw a ranch-style house, Derek looked at Jessica and gave her a nod, knowing she was not going to be shot. At least not yet, thought Derek.
*
MYSTIC:
When Okana returned to Mike’s office, he held the cellphone out to Dieter while holding up the sat phone. “Bring up the number on the screen and set it on the desk. I’ll dial.”
When Dieter did as asked, Okana turned the speaker on and set the sat phone on the desk. After four rings, Blacktooth answered and Alex paid close attention to the tone in Dieter’s voice.
“Who is this?”
Dieter leaned forward to the phone. “It’s Dieter. I need your help.”
“What? You no change our deal.”
“I need to find Boris. It’s urgent.”
“Are you crazy? He is wanted man. What you want that is so important?”
“He owes me money, and I need it to pay you.”
“He has safe house in States. Small town in Washington. Darrington, I think.”
“Do you know the address?”
“One moment. Seven eight one, Holly road. Yes, Darrington.”
“Thank you, my friend.”
Alex looked at Mike. “Are we good here?”
“I’ll take care of everything. Get him off my ship.”
Okana leaned away from the wall. “I’ll go with you, Alex.” He looked at Mike. “I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“We’ll be fine, Okana. Do what’s necessary.” Mike looked at Alex. “If you wouldn’t mind, take the others, too.”
Alex stood. “We’ll take care of it.”
Everyone stood and left the office. When they arrived at the motorboat, Bartram was waiting for Dieter, but Harrison was nowhere to be seen.
Rita had been waiting in the lounge when she saw the four men headed out to the stern. She crept out to the rear door and stared through the window. When she saw Alex putting handcuffs on Bartram, she realized her sense of paranoia was justified.
“What’s going on?”
Rita flinched and spun around, staring up at Joshua Mason, Bett’s husband. “I don’t know. I was just about to go find out.”
Joshua reached over Rita’s head and pushed open the door. “After you.”
Mike noticed Rita and Joshua coming in their direction and waited until they joined the group. “Where is Harrison?”
Joshua indicated the inside of the ship. “When I woke up he was sitting in his cabin.”
Mike looked at Rita. “Go pack your belongings. Your service in no longer required.” He looked at Joshua. “Escort her down and bring Harrison back with you. Tell him he’s fired. I want him off my ship.”
Rita felt a sense of relief. This friend of Okana must have powerful connections. It was probably only a matter of time before they would learn what she was up too, so it was a good time to leave. She followed Joshua back inside the ship and down to the cabins.
Dieter looked over at Alex when Okana stepped behind him and slipped a Zip-tie around his hands. “I thought we had a deal?”
Alex grinned. “We do. I’ll ask INTERPOL to wave the death penalty. I’m sure the word of a professor will make them change their minds.”
Dieter glared at Alex. “You will not get away with this, Cave. I have connections al
l over the world. I will never see the inside of a prison, and I will hunt you down and make you suffer.”
Okana grabbed Dieter’s arm. “Be careful stepping into the boat. I’d hate to see you fall overboard. I’ve heard people have a hard time swimming with their hands tied behind their back.”
Okana shoved Dieter toward the stern, and then did the same with Bartram. Once Rita and Harrison arrived and climbed into the motorboat, Joshua joined them to bring the boat back.
Alex held his hand out to Mike. “I appreciate your help, Mike. I’ll call you once my family is safe.” He climbed into the boat and Joshua took them to the dock below the Marina office.
They left Rita and Harrison at the marina to fend for themselves and put Dieter and Bartram in the back seat of the rental car. Okana drove them out of the parking lot toward the Mount Vernon county jail.
Once Alex had cellphone reception, he entered Donner’s number. “I have them, Martin. Send the US Marshals to Mount Vernon to pick them up. Mike Tanner agreed to help salvage the device here in the Pacific, but a situation has developed and Okana’s coming with me until it’s resolved.” Alex explained what was happening to his family.
“What can I do to help, Alex?”
“I won’t know until Okana and I check out the safe house. I’ll call once I have a plan.”
After dropping their prisoners off in Mount Vernon, Alex and Okana continued up the mountain to Sparrow Valley. Alex recognized his father’s old pickup truck in front of the Sheriff’s Office as they drove into the parking lot. When they stepped inside, he saw Kristy sitting in the waiting area and wondered if she would remember him.
When Kristy heard the front door open, she looked up and smiled. “Uncle Alex!” She leapt off the chair and ran up to him.
Alex thought about how he felt with Halona, and knelt down to give Kristy a hug. When she wrapped her arms around his neck, he smiled. “It’s good to see you again.”
Kristy let go. “Derek’s been kidnapped, Uncle Alex.”
“I know, and I’m here to rescue him.”
Alex stood when his father walked into the room with a scowl on his face. “Hi, dad.”
“Get away from him, Kristy. It’s his fault Derek’s in trouble. Did you make the call?”
“Not yet.”
“Damn it, Alex! You have less than an hour until that Boris person kills one of those kids!”
“I know, and we still have time to save them.”
Robert looked at Okana. “Who are you?”
“He’s here to help, dad. This is my friend, Okana.”
Robert gave Okana a brief appraisal, then looked at Alex. “We’re running out of time.”
Alex looked over at Arnie. “Hello, Sheriff.”
“Hi, Alex. I see you’re still causing problems for your father.”
Alex ignored his remark and turned to his father. “I might know where they are holding the kids. It’s in Darrington, seven eight one Holly Road.”
“I know that house. It used to belong to the Dain family.”
“That’s why I came here first. Okana and I are going to check it out, and I need a description of the area around the house.”
Robert shook his head. “That’s no enough time to get there and back.”
Alex stared at Robert. “What do you mean? We won’t be coming back until we have the kids.”
Robert stared at Alex and shook his head adamantly. “I’m going with you.”
“It’s too dangerous, dad. Okana and I can handle it.”
Robert ignored him and looked over at Okana. “I have two deer rifles in my truck. You ready to go?”
Okana glanced at Alex, who shook his head Okay. “Yes sir.”
Alex silently fumed as he turned and headed for the door. Damn it, Dad Now I have to worry about you, too.
*
DARRINGTON:
Derek noticed Boris look at his watch and wondered what it meant. “You haven’t told us why we’re prisoners. I don’t even know your names.”
Boris glared at the boy, but didn’t answer. Cave is running out of time. If he didn’t call within the next ten minutes, the girl would be the first one he killed.
Derek looked over at the woman sitting in a stuffed chair. When Boris turned to talk to her, he opened his pocketknife and began cutting at the plastic strap around his wrist. He figured once the strap was cut he could hang on to the long end to keep it around his wrist until the time was right to fight back. The four men outside were armed, but he didn’t see the man or the woman carrying any guns.
Derek stifled a gasp when he cut his thumb and dropped the knife on the floor. He quickly used his shoe to shove it under the couch, silently cursing his clumsiness before the strap was cut.
*
THE WOODS BEHIND THE SAFE HOUSE.
Alex handed the small binoculars to Okana. “I count four guards. Two walking the perimeter and two in the trees.”
Okana looked through the binoculars. “Same here. They’re carrying machine guns with silencers, and it looks like Glock 9mm as side arms.”
Alex crawled back into the forest to join his father. He looked at his watch. Five minutes until he had to make the call.
“What are you waiting for?” Robert demanded.
Alex ignored him. “Okana and I will take out the two guards in the trees. Once I get inside, wait for my signal. When you hear a single shot the two guards outside will instinctively stop walking and look at the house. That’s when you and Okana take them out. And dad, shoot to kill.”
Alex brought out his cellphone and entered the number. After two rings, Boris answered. “It’s Alex Cave. I want my nephew and the girl back, unharmed.”
“You’re cutting it close, Cave. Another minute and the girl would be dead.”
“Just tell me where to meet, Boris.”
“Where are you?”
Alex had an idea. “I’m at the Mount Vernon Airport,” he lied to buy a little more time.
“I’m sure you know where Darrington is, so stop at the Mobil gas station and one of my men will pick you up. You have fifteen minutes or the girl dies.”
“I need a couple hours. I have to get a rental car first, and it’s a long drive to Darrington.”
“You have one hour.”
“I’ll be there.” Alex hung up and looked at Okana. “There must be a fifth man inside. He’s to pick me up and bring me back here.”
Okana looked at his watch. “How much time?”
“Only an hour, and I need to get to Mount Vernon and back. You’ll have to deal with the guards in the trees.”
“I’ll take care of it. You’d better get going.”
Alex looked at Robert. “Be careful, dad.”
“I can take care of myself. Just save Derek and the girl.”
Alex headed for his car.
*
Boris looked at Sasha. “Take Mikhail and wait for Cave to show up.”
* * *
Chapter 32
SAFE HOUSE:
Okana put his hand on Robert’s shoulder. “Keep still.”
As soon as Alex moved away, the guards in the trees began walking back to the house.
Once the guards were out of range, Okana sat up. “Shit!”
Robert sat up to see what happened and noticed one of the guards enter the house. “So now what do we do. Alex is walking into a trap!”
“If I know Boris, he won’t kill Alex right away. He wants to make him suffer first.”
“He’ll use the kids, won’t he?”
“I’m afraid so. I have an idea. After Alex gets here, drive your truck up to the house and act as if you are lost. That will distract the guards long enough for me to get up behind them. I’ll take them out one at a time.”
“Are you crazy?”
Okana grinned. “I suppose I am.”
“Look. A woman and one of the guards just drove away in a van.”
Okana managed to see the woman before the van drove away. “Sasha K
inski. I figured she’d be here.”
“Who is she?”
“Bad news. Let’s get to your truck and watch for the van to return. I’ll come back when everything’s set.”
Robert stood. “Were you with Alex in the CIA?”
Okana got up and they headed for the truck. “Yeah, I’m the guy you should blame for your other son, not Alex.”
“What do you mean?”
“It was my bullet that killed Boris’s brother, Yeaman, that night. When the bullets started to fly, everything got crazy. Alex spun around and fired just as Yeaman was about to shoot him, but he missed, so I took him out. When Alex thought he’d finally killed Yeaman, I didn’t have the heart to tell him otherwise. When we heard sirens, I got Alex out of Russia.”
“Why was he acting that way?”
Okana stared at Robert. “Didn’t Alex tell you he was married?”
Robert suddenly stopped. “What? No, he never said a word.”
“After Alex sliced off a piece of Boris’s face, he got a little pissed and sent his thugs to kill Alex. They planted a bomb in Alex’s place in Holland, but they didn’t know Alex’s wife was there, too. Alex was out getting flowers when it blew up. He went crazy until he killed Yeaman.”
Robert continued walking. “He never told me. After Ken was killed, I never gave him the chance.”
*
When Alex drove into the Mobil station, the only other vehicle was a dark blue van so he parked beside it. As the passenger window in the van went down, Alex recognized an old enemy. “Hello, Sasha.”
Sasha smiled. “Alex. Handsome as ever, I see. Leave your gun in the car and get in.”
“I’m not carrying.”
Sasha looked over at the driver, and then pointed her pistol at Alex from inside the van. “Get out and take off your coat. Slowly, Alex.”
Alex studied the man getting out of the van. It was one of the guards from the trees. Boris must have called them in after the phone call. That meant Okana had not had time to kill them.
After doing as asked and being frisked, Alex looked at Sasha and indicated his car. “I thought you’d be here, so I’ve brought a friend of yours.” He leaned into his car. “Get out and say hello to your old friend.”
The Alex Cave Series. Books 1, 2, & 3.: Box set Page 80