by Dirk Patton
“Another door? Could they have moved her without being seen like they did at the first house?”
“Front’s covered with a street cam. Betting they just missed spotting the neighbor’s system.”
“Thanks, Chief!” I said, preparing to sign off.
“Hold on, sir. Got a hit on that photo you sent me. Popped up in an intel file from a few years ago. Vladimir Tsurenko. SVR muscle out of their embassy. Was scheduled to be PNG’d out of the country, but, the attacks, and...”
“Why was he tagged with a persona non grata? What’d he do?”
“Doesn’t say in the intel file, sir.”
“Thanks, Chief. Keep watching that house and send everything you’ve got on it to my phone.”
“Will do, sir!”
She dropped off and I looked out the door. We were flying over agricultural fields, heading for the northern part of the island.
“Hey, Captain. Got enough fuel to swing out over the water?”
“Yeah... Why?”
“Better view,” I said. “Take us a few miles out if you would.”
She didn’t say anything else, but I got a strange look from Rachel. I gave her a smile in return.
A few minutes later we were over the ocean, Oahu receding behind us. Sitting near the open door, I watched the view for a few moments, then stood and moved to the Russian, hauling him to his feet.
“Really a beautiful view, Vlad. You should check it out,” I said in his ear.
His head snapped around in surprise and I could smell the stink of fear roll off him.
“What are you doing? I told you what you wanted!”
“You did, and I thank you,” I said pleasantly.
“Then, what the...”
He screamed as I suddenly ran him to the door and shoved him out into space. I watched for a moment as he fell, legs flailing, toward the ocean, then closed the door and dropped into a seat. Rachel was looking at me, but I couldn’t tell what she was thinking.
“Still want to go to those coordinates?” Martinez asked.
“Yep. Maybe the Colonel has a vehicle he’ll let me borrow.”
21
Martinez kept us only feet above the trees as we followed the slope of a mountain. I could catch occasional glimpses of the primitive road that led to Chapman’s compound, and if I hadn’t known what it was would have dismissed it as an occasional thinning in the undergrowth.
We popped up over a ridge, surprising half a dozen armed men who were spaced out in a small area that had been cleared, leveled and planted with grass. Flaring the big helo, Martinez brought us down to a feathery landing and immediately cut the engines. Dog and I jumped down from the side door, looking around as a Humvee emerged from the jungle and drove toward us.
The Hummer pulled to a stop and Tom Chapman stepped out. I walked forward to greet him and shook his hand as he leaned to the side to see into the helicopter.
“Thought you had a prisoner.”
“Had to let him go.”
He looked at my face for a beat before nodding understanding. Dog had taken to him when we’d first been here and now pushed forward for an ear scratch.
“Get what you needed?”
“Got an address,” I said. “Can I borrow a car?”
“Let’s go,” he said, turning and getting into the Hummer.
We climbed in and he spun us around, heading for a narrow break in the tree line.
“Know what you’re up against?” he asked as we bounced through the jungle.
“Was told there’re six shooters and a nanny. Means there’re probably about twice that many.”
“Russians for sure?”
“Guy I got my hands on was SVR.”
“And you got one of those bastards to talk that fast?” Chapman asked in surprise.
“Low ranking muscle. Would have been PNG’d if not for the attacks. Not really sure why he didn’t get scooped up and thrown into a cell.”
“Priorities,” he said as we pulled to a stop at a large outbuilding.
Inside was a pair of black Suburbans with dark windows. Eight armed men stood in front of them, waiting for the Colonel.
“Thought you could use some backup,” he explained as he got out of the Humvee. “Good men. Force Recon or Raiders.”
“Can’t ask them to put themselves at risk for me.”
“You didn’t,” he said, leading the way inside. “They volunteered. Figured you’d get the info you needed and might need some help.”
We approached the waiting men and Chapman turned to introduce them but stopped when he saw Martinez.
“That was you flying?”
“Yes. Why?”
I recognized the dangerous tone in her voice.
“How the hell do you fly like that in a dress and heels?” he asked with a grin.
A smile broke across her face and the Marines came forward, quickly introducing themselves.
“You and the dog with me,” Chapman said pointing at my chest as he headed for one of the Suburbans. “Ladies in the other.”
Rachel looked at me and I nodded. While there was no reason to separate us, there was also no reason for us to ride together. I got into the front passenger seat after waving Dog into the back with four of the Marines.
“Where we going?” Chapman asked, starting the engine.
I rattled the address off and he nodded, shifting into gear and pulling out of the building. We passed through a well-concealed gate, then began the slow, grinding drive down the side of the mountain.
“Why’d they take your daughter? What do they want with you?”
I took a breath and tried to think of a reason not to tell him the story. And failed. It’s not like it was a national secret any longer.
“Barinov and I have a history. Not personal, but he wants me dead.”
Chapman glanced at me with a frown.
“Back when Germany reunified, the KGB was interfering in their national election. So were we, for that matter, but the Russians took out the team the CIA had on the ground in Berlin. I led the team that responded in kind. Took out a high-ranking KGB officer, who also happened to be Barinov’s mentor.”
“He’s going to these lengths, this many years later?” Chapman asked in surprise.
“One thing I’ve learned is, Russians can hold a grudge like no one else. This isn’t the first time he’s come for me. Took a run at him in Australia. Watched him walk past me, no more than twenty feet away.”
“You didn’t pop the cock sucker?”
This from one of the Marines in the back.
“Had four rifles aimed at my chest at the time and wasn’t armed. Long story.”
We were quiet for a bit, only the rattle of the Chevy bouncing down the mountain breaking the silence.
“Figured out who the traitor is?”
“Not yet. Honestly, haven’t had much time to think about it.”
It was at that moment that I realized he probably didn’t know about Major Black. Fuck. I took a deep breath and let it out slowly before speaking.
“You hear about the drone attack on Pearl last night?”
“Heard we lost over three hundred people. Were you there?”
“In the middle of it. My pilot back there, Captain Martinez, saved a lot of lives. Disabled most of the drones with an EMP generator aboard a Sea Hawk.”
He nodded in appreciation of who and what she was.
“But something you should know. Major Black was killed in the attack.”
His head snapped around and he stared at me for several seconds before turning back to face the trail.
“How?” he asked after a long stretch of silence.
“Don’t think he was a target, but the drones carry a small shaped explosive. They fly into your head and... well, you get the idea.”
“Why don’t you think he was a target?”
“No reason, really. Just think he was probably trying to save others instead of seeking shelter. He was at my quarters when t
he attack started. Alerted as an air raid. Everyone figured it was a Russian nuke and was scrambling for shelter. He ran to find Admiral Packard and make sure he was safe.”
He drove for several more minutes without saying or asking anything else.
“Thanks for telling me,” he finally said.
There was no further conversation as we descended the mountain. Bouncing onto pavement, Chapman made several turns, then we got onto a highway and drove for ten minutes before exiting into an upscale neighborhood. He pulled to the curb, the Suburban behind us tucking in tight against our rear bumper.
“Three blocks in,” he said after double checking the directions on my phone. “Wish it was dark.”
Staring ahead, I agreed with him. Large homes were crammed onto small lots, leaving no room for a lawn. There was little chance of two big SUV’s stuffed full of heavily armed men reaching the target location without being noticed. Best case scenario, someone calls the cops. Worst case, the Russians are alerted to our approach and decide to use Mavis as a shield to escape or simply kill her and run.
“Your daughter, your call. How are we proceeding?” Chapman asked, watching me and waiting for an answer.
22
Fifteen minutes later I stepped out of the Suburban and slipped on a pair of sunglasses. We’d pulled back from the neighborhood before someone wondered who we were and what the hell we were doing.
I’d decided I was going alone. Chapman hadn’t argued, but Rachel had thrown a fit. It had taken several minutes for me to calm her down and get her to see reason. Well, at least my reason.
While I’d been doing this, one of Chapman’s men had dumped his weapons and run down the street to a small store, returning quickly with a ball cap, a pair of cheap shades and the most godawful looking Hawaiian shirt I’d ever seen. But it was way oversized to accommodate obese tourists and was perfect for my purpose.
I’d borrowed two suppressed pistols from the Marines and an even dozen spare magazines. A long-bladed knife was on my belt and a short-bladed dagger was strapped to the back of my neck. Four flash-bang grenades, meant to stun and not kill, rounded out my weapons.
The man had also bought a collar and leash to complete the charade. Dog was going in with me, though he wasn’t too happy about having the collar buckled around his neck. I rubbed his face in apology and he snorted in mine to reinforce his displeasure with the situation. I felt bad for him, but I needed to appear like nothing more than a guy out walking his dog.
“The Chief is up on comms,” Chapman said, handing me a small earbud.
I inserted it and could hear the background noise of Jessica’s work area at Pearl.
“Got me, Chief?”
“I’m with you, sir,” she answered immediately.
“You need help, we’re there in thirty seconds,” Chapman said.
“That’s a long time!” Rachel complained.
I looked at her and shook my head while I buttoned the voluminous shirt to conceal my armory.
“Best it can be,” I said, giving her a kiss before turning to Chapman. “Thank you.”
“Go get your girl.”
I nodded, gave Rachel another look then clipped the leash to Dog’s new collar. While I’d prepared, one of the Marines had worked on the hook, filing it until only a sliver of cheap metal held it together. A sharp yank would snap it in half and Dog would be unleashed to wreak havoc on Mavis’s kidnappers.
Without a backward glance, I headed up the street with Dog tight against my leg. The leash hung in a slack loop between us as we walked. A knowledgeable observer might wonder about a dog that wasn’t straining against its master to sniff any and everything it encountered but even then, the disguise was good enough to get me to the house.
“Talk to me, Chief,” I said as I walked.
“Big house. It’ll be on your right. Driveway leads to the side where there’s a three-car garage. Side entrance into the home off the drive. Front walk up to a set of double doors protected by wrought iron grids. Not getting through that without explosives or them being opened from the inside. No other entrances in front.
“Gate into the back yard is on the right side of the garage near the back wall. It’s secured with a padlock on the inside. Only way is over, but it’s eight feet and so is the wall around the rear of the property.”
“Doors in back?” I asked.
“Two. One standard entry door at the far end away from the garage and one set of French doors at the structure’s center. A swimming pool directly out from those.”
“Sounds like the door off the driveway is option one.”
“Agreed, sir. No plans I can find, so I can’t give you the layout.”
“Guards?”
“None visible. I’ve tried thermal, but the roof is too hot from sunlight and I can’t get an image.”
“Cameras?”
“None.”
“Odd,” I said.
“Not really. If they know anything, they know they can be hacked and used against them. I was hoping there were internal cams, but no luck.”
“What else, Chief?”
“That’s it, sir. Good luck. Muting my end now. I’m here if you need me.”
The circuit went quiet as I turned onto the street. Three houses ahead, I could see the target. It was big, filling the tiny lot other than a cramped area of tropical plants and gently swaying palm trees. I noted each of the features Jessica had described and confirmed the side entrance was the best way in. As long as there weren’t two heavily armed men standing just inside the door, waiting for some idiot to try and breach the building.
At the bottom of the drive, I made a sharp right and sprinted around the side of the house. Dog stayed at my side, putting no pressure on the leash. I tugged it hard and it came apart, releasing him as we pulled to a stop at the side of the door.
My back was against the wall and I yanked the stupid shirt over my head, tossing it into a bush. Dog was primed, his body coiled like a spring and pressed against my right leg. My heart pounded, pumping adrenaline through my veins and hardening my muscles. The beast inside screamed in anticipation of blood.
Then the knob rattled and the door swung open. Viktoriya stepped out and smiled at me. A drink was in her hand and she was wearing a purple bikini as if she’d been lounging by the pool. I blinked in utter confusion, unable to reconcile what the fuck was going on.
“About time. I was growing bored.”
I stared at her as the pieces slowly began to click into place.
“Well, do not just stand there. Come inside. We have much to discuss.”
23
Strickland sat with Igor and Irina near the fire in the main room, eating some of the food he’d scavenged. Though she looked like hell, Irina was recovering from her ordeal. She may have been on the mend but had so far been unable to shake the chill of nearly dying from hypothermia. Several blankets were wrapped tightly around her and she sat as close to the heat as she dared.
“Saw a convoy heading up the coast,” Strickland said around a mouthful of SpaghettiOs he’d warmed in the fireplace. “Few BTRs for security and a whole bunch of trucks.”
Both Irina and Igor stopped eating and looked at him in surprise.
“How many is a whole bunch?” she asked.
“Thirty-seven.”
“Truck empty?” Igor asked.
Strickland nodded as he shoveled more into his mouth.
“What could they be doing? Where are they going?”
Strickland shrugged and Irina traded a concerned glance with Igor.
“What is in that direction? Anything important?”
“Vandenberg,” Strickland said.
“An Air Force Base,” Irina said in thought.
“Yep. Lots of things go on... or went on, there. All kinds of top-secret shit.”
Irina watched him a few moments then turned to stare into the flames, food all but forgotten.
“You have to eat,” Igor said, chastising her in Russian.
She looked at him, then slowly raised a fork to her mouth.
“Whatcha thinkin’?” Strickland asked, watching her as he continued eating.
“That nothing good could come of this. I am aware of much of what was being tested at Vandenberg. In fact, it should not surprise you to learn that developing an asset among the Air Force and contractors who worked there was a high priority for the GRU. But that is because, as far as we were ever able to determine, the base was almost exclusively used for the testing and development of defensive weapon systems. Not offensive.”
Strickland stared at her for a second, then shook his head and grinned at how surreal it was to be having dinner with a GRU officer.
“So, what the hell could they be looking for?” he asked, setting his empty plate aside.
“Perhaps Hawaii still has more offensive capability than I am aware of.”
“Or Barinov thinks they do,” Strickland said.
“Can be offending,” Igor offered, drawing curious looks from both Irina and Strickland.
He sighed in frustration and spoke to Irina in Russian.
“Igor says it is not hard to imagine a defensive weapon being used for offensive purposes,” she translated. “Though I find it difficult to understand why that would be necessary. Russia must still have an offensive capability equal to America’s.”
“You’re not thinkin’ like a warrior,” Strickland said. “Equal don’t mean shit. You always want a superior capability than your enemy. Either to frighten them into not starting a fight, or to overwhelm their defenses if you decide to attack.”
Irina considered his comment before nodding in agreement.
“You are, of course, correct. But why would they send a convoy on the ground to an Air Force Base? Russia possesses any number of heavy transport aircraft that could land at Vandenberg. For that matter, I am certain there are numerous captured American aircraft that could be pressed into service.”
They all fell silent, thinking about Irina’s point.
“They ain’t goin’ to Vandenberg,” Strickland suddenly said. “You’re right. Makes no sense to send a convoy when they could fly in, grab whatever the hell they want and fly it back to LA.”