Dangerous in Transit

by Sidney Bristol

  “No—what?” Isaac blinked, his feigned innocence a joke. The look was ruined by his Cheshire cat grin.

  “Don’t even go there, man.” Felix side-stepped the other man.

  Isaac moved with him and braced one hand on the wall, the other on the hood of the truck, blocking Felix’s path to the stairs. Felix could try to go through him. He had a good twenty pounds of muscle over the other guy, but Isaac was a dirty fighter.

  “Oh, come on, newbie. She likes you. I don’t understand why she would. You’ve kind of become a grumpy son of a bitch lately, but whatever.” Isaac shrugged.

  “Talked to your girlfriend lately?” Felix stared right back at Isaac. Before the other man had set up his happy home with his new, live-in girlfriend he’d had more than a little reputation for sleeping with the clients. There was one on every team that gelled with the ladies, slipping in and out of beds every gig they were sent on.

  “Tanya’s doing wonderful, thanks for asking.”

  “Good. I’ve got work to do. Move.”

  “Listen to me for a moment.” Isaac dropped the cheerful act and stared at him with an unusually serious grin. “You can judge me all you want, but there’s a reason Kyle, Zain, Crawford—anyone in upper management—hasn’t busted my ass.”

  Okay, now Felix was curious. He’d wondered why things like flirting and sleeping with clients wasn’t one of the Do Not Do rules of the job. To him it seemed like it could create a problem rather than be a solution.

  “There’s something to be said for getting close to our VIPs. Getting them to trust you more than anyone else. Some of us are better with people than others, and if we can get inside our VIPs head, gain their confidence, then they’re going to be more likely to do what we need them to do when it comes down to the tough calls.”

  “And you have to sleep with them for that to happen?”

  “No, that was just a perk. I can’t do that anymore.”

  “Tanya would kill you.”

  “You are probably right, and she’s almost in good enough condition that she could. Which is why you need to make getting on Jackie’s good side a priority.”

  “Kyle said this?”

  “Not yet, but he’s going to, given the opportunity. She seems like the type to argue. I just thought I’d speed things along given my...history. I’m pretty good at feeling out who I can sweet talk into compliance and who I’m not. Jackie has picked you, for whatever reason, as the person she’ll talk to. Use that. This isn’t our average get in, get the girl, and get out. This is dangerous, and if she drags her heels—”

  “She won’t.”

  “She seems pretty hard-headed.”

  “We have an agreement in place.”

  “She’s already agreed to listen to you as the voice of reason?” Isaac’s obnoxious grin was back. “I think you need to go spend some quality time with our asset then.”

  “Go fuck yourself.” Felix shooed Isaac out of his path.

  “Hey, there’s no reason not to have a little fun if you can. These jobs suck sometimes.”

  Felix’s headset beeped, signaling that someone had activated their mic. Isaac stopped laughing, Felix’s stomach clenched, and neither spoke. They’d been comms-light to stay on the safe side of things. They weren’t dealing with pirates or a rogue group of people, the military was out there, and they wouldn’t appreciate their team’s perceived interference.

  “Alpha Team, assemble upstairs in five,” Kyle said.

  Isaac turned and led the way up the stairs. They passed Adam stationed at the rear exit to the building. He finished securing the door to the street and brought up the rear of their little trio. This whole job was ten times more complicated than they’d expected it to be. What else was happening?

  Jackie, Val and the rest of the medical team sat in what he assumed was the living room, lounging section of the loft. The bathroom was shut and Lemine was nowhere to be seen. Kyle and Shane had their heads together in the kitchen, the walled off bathroom between them and the others granting some level of privacy.

  Their team circled an island that completed the tiny kitchen.

  Kyle’s mouth twisted up in a grimace and his brow furrowed. Whatever they were about to discuss or decide, he wasn’t happy about it.

  “We can’t stay here,” Kyle said in a low voice. “I don’t trust Lemine, and I had no idea how closely tied in he was to the PPM leadership. To be able to get his hands on all the surveillance he handed us—he has connections. When he doesn’t show up for work today, there’ll be questions. We’ve got a couple hurtles. First, our asset isn’t going to agree to leave without the rest of her people. Second, we have to keep her hidden. If we can believe what Lemine is saying, the PPM leadership wants to use her to force her father’s company into backing off their support of the president—whose convoy was just attacked. It’s all over the news, and they have no idea where the president is. Things are heating up in a bad way.”

  “You know there’s an easy way to get our asset to comply?” Felix pitched his voice low.

  “We aren’t going there.”

  “Okay. I’ll do what I can to handle Jackie,” Felix said. He could feel Isaac grinning at him. The urge to punch the other man was strong.

  “You think she’ll listen to you?”

  “We came to an understanding.”

  “Okay. That’s one thing off the list.” Kyle blew out a breath and laid his tablet on the island in front of them. “I’ve got good news. There’s a group that works for the African Court close by. The guy in charge used to take Aegis contracts from time to time and a lot of his guys are still an active resource for us though we haven’t worked together in a long time. The guy in charge is named Duku, but we always called him Duke. We found Lemine through them. Now, they’ve moved into the slums here. It’s a small force, maybe two dozen guys. Officially they’re supposed to be evaluating what’s going on and checking into human rights violation claims.”

  “That’s close to where we picked up the asset,” Shane said.

  “Exactly.” Kyle tapped the map in two places, dropping virtual pins. “This is where we picked up Jackie. Duke is sending a small group to check out the location while the rest of them are doing something else. They have their own objectives for being in the area, but I convinced them to meet us here. It’s downtown, but it’s the most secure hotel.”

  “Why wouldn’t we go to the American embassy?” Isaac asked.

  Felix could see the value in that point. Even if they weren’t all Americans, he was pretty sure they could get protection there.

  “Lots of glass, no fences, and they’re constantly understaffed.” Kyle’s grimace deepened.

  “No embassy. Got it.” Isaac nodded.

  “I’d like to move us soon. Duke has reserved a suite for us under his real name. They will join us tomorrow in the morning after they achieve whatever objective they’re after. We need to figure out how to disguise everyone and the gear.”

  “I’ll get Jackie to help with the disguises and let her know we’ll be moving soon.” Felix grimaced.

  “What are we hoping to accomplish with these other people? Duke’s bunch?” Shane asked.

  “We need backup. We need someone who can assist getting the rest of Jackie’s people out of here. She’s made it clear she won’t leave unless they’re taken care of, and I think we’re all in agreement we’d like to help them. The airport isn’t able to get many flights in and out. Anyone who isn’t from here or has money is getting out of town.”

  “What about the roads north?” Felix reached out and shrank the map so it showed more than just the city.

  “What? You mean the Egypt house? That’s a four-thousand-mile drive, man. We would be better served heading to the closest airport or port out of the country.” Kyle shook his head.

  “Dakar?” Shane gestured to the Senegal capital right on the coast.

  “No, there’s an airport in St. Louis just across the river.”

  “St. L
ouis? They have one here?” Isaac snorted.

  “These used to be French territories,” Felix said.

  “Okay, we get into trouble, head south. We’ll meet up in St. Louis and charter a plane somewhere to get us home. Got it?”

  The team made noises of agreement. Kyle handed out jobs to everyone except Felix, who already had an assignment. Isaac gave him a thumb-up and grin.

  Giving the other guy a black eye wasn’t going to help their team at all.

  Felix ducked around the bathroom to where Jackie and Val had their heads together. They glanced up at him, expressions grim.

  “Something on your mind?” He knelt next to the floor cushions that made up what might be called a sofa.

  “Have you seen the news?” Val gestured at the TV.

  “The PPM attacked the president’s convoy.” Jackie kept staring at the screen, her lips moving.

  “It’s not sure it was the PPM.” Val glanced at Jackie.

  “Okay, someone did it, but let’s be honest, PPM is who would benefit.”

  “All the more reason to get you out of the country.” He glanced at Val and the traditional garb she wore over her clothes. “Think you could help us kit out everyone so we blend in better?”

  “We just need clothes for the two of us, right?” Jackie glanced from Val to him.

  “Yeah, but let’s be honest, what we’re wearing looks like it came off the wash line we stole it from.” Val held up the well-worn hems. “We left money behind, if that’s what you’re about to ask.”

  “The plan is to take everyone to a hotel downtown that’s more secure and wait for backup there. We need to look the part. The goal is to slip in under a false name so no one will know you’re even there.” Felix grimaced. “You and Kyle are the only ones fluent in the language. He’s got to stay here to organize our movements, which means we need you to outfit us.”

  “What about the rest of our people?” Jackie was nothing if not persistent.

  “Kyle’s got some contacts with the African Court. Their people are going to try to evacuate them.”

  “Seriously? That’s perfect,” Val said.

  “That’s amazing. Okay, let’s see about us.” Jackie nodded and glanced at her friend. “I need cash and—Val, mind giving me the shirt off your back?”

  “Gladly.” Val shimmied out of the dress and dug the accompanying scarf out from between the cushions.

  “I’m guessing you’re going with me?” Jackie asked him.

  “You’ll need someone to hold your shopping bags.” And make sure she wasn’t snatched off the street. He wanted to take another guy with them, but they were already going to stick out as is. They couldn’t risk drawing more attention.

  “You need to put something on over those greens. You look military.” Jackie stood and shimmied into the long, flowing garment. It was a touch too long, but that meant all of her was covered.

  Shane thrust his gown at Felix along with some sort of wrapped head thing. Jackie took the last bit from him while he got into the dress.

  “What’s this thing called?” he asked.

  “Men wear a daraa, women wear melahfa. Bend down.”

  “You have a lot of practice wearing this stuff.”

  “My dad has owned rights to the mines here since the 2008 military coup granted him access as a thank you for his support. He worked with the people who owned them before, sort of subletting the mines.”

  “This wouldn’t be the first time the gold trade instigated a war then?”

  “Except in that situation they approached him, cutting out the middle man, not the other way around. My dad might not be a shining example of humanity, but he has a strict don’t get involved policy. That’s not to say he’s not financially invested in the success of the current president and political system, but he wouldn’t start a war. People don’t buy jewelry when they’re busy killing each other. There you go.”

  Felix felt the material wound round his head. Nothing about this get up was good for tactical purposes. Jackie wrapped her head in a matter of moments. With part of her face obscured behind the material, he could almost see her as a native.

  “How much will your accent stick out?” he asked.

  “As soon as I open my mouth. We’ll want to do all the buying in one spot, so we may pass up a few vendors before we get to one where I think I can knock it all out at once, okay?”

  “Copy that. Let me get the spending money.”

  Felix got the cash from Kyle, who gave him a protect-her-with-your-life speech before they left the over shop apartment. They couldn’t spare another man to go with them while they prepped the others. By the time they got back, Felix hoped they had a plan for getting to the hotel without too much trouble.

  The street still boasted a fair amount of traffic, but people traveled in clusters. There was a decidedly more nervous air to things than there’d been an hour ago. Was this because of the attack on the president? Was the PPM threat to social order being felt in the inner rings of the city finally?

  All the more reason to get Jackie out of here so she couldn’t be used to further the agenda of either side.

  Within one block it was obvious to Felix he was going to stick out regardless of what he did. Most men only wore a little cap if they wore anything at all on their heads. The turban type thing Jackie had fashioned for him was noticeably different. But if he took it off, his blond hair and braid would be a beacon that they weren’t locals, much less from this hemisphere.

  If the PPM forces were advancing from the slums into the rest of the city, they would have very real problems. Soon. It wasn’t like their former hideout was all that far from where they were now. It was simply a matter of time until the military line failed unless reinforcements came to the rescue.

  Jackie snatched his hand and pulled him into a stall of nothing but spices. It was packed with other people calling out for help, prices and what he could only assume was haggling.

  “What?” Felix glanced over his shoulder.

  “PPM jacket across the street,” Jackie whispered.

  Fuck. How had he missed that?

  Felix ducked his head, trying to appear as small and normal as possible. A woman standing nearby squinted at him.

  “Come on.” Jackie tugged him through to the back of the stall.

  The man at the rear of the shop yelled something at them that Jackie didn’t need to translate. She ducked through a doorway and out an entry similar to the loft entrance at the back of the shop into an alley between the buildings.

  “What was that about?” Felix asked.

  “PPM jackets, PPM patrol, PPM looking for us. Me.” Her voice was strained and her hands clenched as she swung them in time to her steps. He didn’t need to see her face to picture the grim set of her mouth and the kick-ass glare. “Let’s cut through here and buy what we can. There’s no time to make sure it’s all right.”

  “You lead, I watch your back.”

  Jackie picked her way through the alley and they joined another bustling shopping street one over from where they’d been. She tugged on his arm and turned to the right.

  A stall sported several mannequins, dressed in the flowing garments he was beginning to hate.

  While Jackie began dealing with the shop owner Felix turned, surveying the street, searching for more people in the distinctive black and red jackets of the PPM. If they really were patrolling this area, they were closer than he wanted to believe.

  If it came down to it, they could split the team. Two people traveling light could make it south to St. Louis faster than their whole group. He was pretty confident that Jackie would leave. She understood that her presence meant risking everyone’s safety, and if there was one thing she placed value on, it was human life. He’d feel a little guilty manipulating her like that, but not enough to lose any sleep over.

  “Okay. Here. Help me carry this?” Jackie thrust a pile of cloth at him. The colors were muted, the sort of thing that would ideally fade into a cr
owd. She had a good eye.

  A bit of black in the crowd caught his attention.

  “Shit. Back through the alley.” He grabbed pushed Jackie with his arms full of fabric toward where they’d cut through between the shops.

  To her credit, she ducked her head and quick-stepped into the alley the way they came. He couldn’t be certain they weren’t spotted, but they’d at least broken the line of sight.

  “Let me go first,” he said.

  If the PPM forces were patrolling either street, it stood to reason they could be checking out the narrow alley between the buildings as well.

  Felix peered around the corner first one way then the other.

  Except for a few people sitting on their stoop sipping tea, the coast was clear.

  “Come on.” He jerked his head.

  This was about the worst scenario. He had his hands full to the point he couldn’t get his hands on his weapon under the damn dress.

  Jackie picked up the pace until they were jogging. Her breathing was ragged, but she didn’t once utter a complaint.

  Isaac opened the back door, his rifle tucked barely out of sight. By the grim set of his face, they weren’t the only ones who’d seen the PPM patrolling the streets.

  “Everyone’s ready,” Isaac said as they passed.

  Shane took the stack of clothes from Jackie and led the way up the stairs, leaving Isaac to watch the door.

  “You made it.” Kyle leaned over the opening looking down on them. “We need to get out of here, and quick. You, Jackie and Lemine will take the truck. The rest of us will break into pairs and follow on foot, got it? Everyone know who your walking buddy is? Good. Get dressed, Jackie will double check your clothes, and then we leave.”

  “Do we know about the team headed to the rest of our people?” Jackie asked.

  “Not yet. We need to focus on getting us safe,” Kyle said.

  “I’d really like an update.”

  “Jackie.” Felix nudged her. Now was not the time for pushing the point.

  “Sorry,” she muttered and turned.

  Jackie strode to Adam and began adjusting his man dress thing. Felix couldn’t help but feel a sense of dread about the moment they’d inform her about her mother, he knew that was going to come back to bite him. He’d promised to be honest with her, and he wasn’t.