by Mark Nolan
“It’s my friend Dylan’s boat, not mine. I’m just taking care of it for him.”
“Dylan is on board if you are.”
“What’s in it for me, besides danger and pain?” Jake asked.
“You’d serve your country.”
“I already served. My mind and body have taken a beating. Somebody else can step up to the challenge. Maybe you could do it, McKay. What are your plans for this weekend?”
McKay ignored the question. “It’s a great honor to be asked to join this team.”
“Napoleon said something about how men will fight and die for a piece of colored ribbon. I’m past that stage, so you can keep your honors, medals and ribbons. Thanks anyway.”
“You’d have the protection of the government when you get into trouble, the way you always seem to do.”
“But the government would have control over me too. I want to live a life of freedom, without pushy bureaucrats bothering me. I’d rather work at a car wash if I could just have some peace of mind.”
“Is this actually because you don’t want to have a woman as your boss?” McKay asked.
“No, I have great respect for you. I just don’t want a boss, any boss—least of all a government boss,” Jake said.
“You’d have a lot of latitude. You’d be more of an independent mercenary and a troubleshooter.”
Jake looked out the window, far into the distance. “McKay, have you ever killed anyone?”
She sat there staring at him for a moment. “No, never.”
“Well, let’s be perfectly clear. That’s what you’re asking me to do—to kill high value targets for you when the president gives the order. That’s not normal. When will Cody and I ever live normal lives?”
Jake felt torn in two directions. He wanted to help protect his country, and he was like a fire horse who heard the bell and had to go into action. But he’d already done his duty, more than any of the people he saw driving in cars or walking down the street. When would it ever be enough?
They rode in silence for a while, then McKay nodded. “Most of the time you’d live in peace and quiet. The missions would be few and far between. You’d only be called upon in an emergency.”
“For me to consider it, I’d have to see proof in writing that I have the option to say no to your demands. I want the right to walk away at any time I choose, with no repercussions. My lawyer would have to read it and approve it.”
McKay sat up straighter. “That can be arranged. We can run it past your attorney. Bart Bartholomew, correct?”
“Really? You’d have to give Bart top-secret clearances.”
“We’re willing to do that.”
“You want me bad, huh McKay?”
She shook her head. “No, we want Cody, but he’ll only listen to you.”
Jake smiled. “Good one. You and I might get along after all.”
“Are there any other complaints or prima-donna demands?”
“Sorry for being difficult, but you know my history of getting screwed over by the bureaucracy I fought to protect.”
“Most of your troubles were caused by your CIA case officer, Chet Brinkter. The man who recruited you to do black ops missions in war zones.”
“Brinkter abandoned me behind enemy lines while bounty hunter terrorists were hot on my trail. If they’d caught me, I would’ve been tortured for days, and then beheaded in a video on YouTube,” Jake said, looking her in the eye.
She nodded. “You’ll be happy to know he’s been reassigned and shipped off on an icebreaker to a listening post at McMurdo Station, Antartica.”
Jake grinned. “Brinkter the sphincter is freezing his ass off at the South Pole right now?”
“Yes, where all twelve months have an average temperature below freezing.”
“Who do I have to thank for that?”
“You have me to thank. I pulled some strings on your behalf,” McKay said.
Jake’s body language changed, his shoulders relaxed and he looked out the window. “That means a lot to me, Shannon.”
McKay paused for a moment. He’d never used her first name before. “I know, that’s why I made it happen. And FYI, there’s more to this mission than you acting as an assassin. We’d want you to help protect the harbors, the bridges and the coastline from foreign threats.”
Jake thought that over. “If I was to join your team, I’d want Easton and Greene to get big raises in pay. And I’d want them to be available for me to call upon, if and when I get into a hopeless situation that you created.”
“We can’t have Secret Service agents at your beck and call,” McKay said. “You’ll be assigned somebody who will—”
“No.”
“What?”
“No, I will not be assigned somebody. I want these two, or you can forget the whole thing,” Jake said.
“They’re two of my very best agents.”
“Exactly. That’s why I want them to cover my six when things get real.”
“I thought you’d want some wild-eyed former black ops types.”
“Greene fought like hell to save my life when a psycho was trying to shoot me in the back. Easton is calm in a crisis, utterly reliable, and always thinking two steps ahead. We all worked well together as a team once, and we could do it again.”
“It’s not a bad idea, but you’re not running this show, I am,” McKay said.
“Sorry, this is how I roll. What do you say, Cody?”
Cody stuck his head into the backseat area and barked several times.
Jake knew that his dog was feeling separation anxiety and wanted to be closer to him. Jake used Cody’s interruption to test a theory on McKay.
“I think my dog is trying to say you’re hiding something from us—so you might as well come clean now.” He watched McKay’s face for telltale clues. Yes, she was lying by omission. What potentially deadly details had she left out?
Chapter 25
McKay shook her head at Jake. “Your dog is not a person. All he’s trying to say is that he wants us to pull over so he can pee on a tree.”
Cody barked twice at McKay then tried to climb over the seat. Jake gave Cody a command, grabbed onto his collar and held him at bay.
“McKay, you have to watch what you say around Cody. Please don’t insult him. He understands far more than you’d ever believe.”
“Great. That will make him even better at his job when you two work on my team.”
“Look, I admire you for what you’re trying to do, but I should probably put this scheme of yours on hold until I have time to confer with legal counsel.”
“Where’s your patriotism, Jake?”
“Nice try. Don’t lecture me about patriotism. I’ve killed for this country. I’ve also died for it and come back to life. I’m done being a disposable warrior. There are thousands of other war veterans who’d be glad to do these crazy missions for you.”
McKay squared her shoulders and said, “Sometimes you have to work with what you’ve got, and try to make the best of it. Greene, take us to the drop point.”
Agent Greene drove for a ways and then pulled into an empty parking lot and stopped. Jake looked out the window and saw a brand new, shiny black Jeep Grand Cherokee sitting there. It reminded him that his own Jeep was still in the shop. He either had to spend plenty of money on further repairs or buy a new car.
McKay got out of the Suburban and motioned for Jake to do the same. When he opened his door, Cody climbed over the backseat without waiting to be asked. He followed closely behind Jake, sniffing the air and looking left and right for threats.
Jake observed his dog’s body language and studied the scene. “What are we doing here, McKay?”
“If you agree to work with us, this Jeep will be your signing bonus.” She held up a key fob and pressed a button. The back passenger door on the driver’s side of the Jeep opened on automatic hinges. “That’s a K-9 door, just like many police cars have. If a K-9 cop is threatened, he or she can open the dog doo
r from a distance and unleash his partner on the criminals.”
“Right. I’ve seen one of those. My K-9 cop friend Ryan has one for his dog, Hank.”
“You can activate the remote door release from as far away as one hundred yards.”
“That could come in handy.”
“This particular device will also close the door. That function is dangerous and controversial, but your dog is smart enough to avoid getting his tail or a paw caught in the slamming door.”
“Cody is smarter than most of the people you know.”
McKay tossed the key fob to Jake. “Go ahead and take a look. I know you’re curious about that K-9 door.”
“I was planning to have one of those installed on my rig,” Jake said. He walked over to the car and opened the driver’s door.
Cody went to the K-9 door, sniffed the backseat and looked at Jake for orders.
Jake gave Cody a hand command and said, “Climb inside and check it out.”
Cody jumped into the backseat and sniffed all around. He stretched out on the leather seats and seemed to be right at home. Jake sat in the driver’s seat and checked out the dashboard and the interior. He liked what he saw.
McKay stood by the driver’s window and read a list on her phone. “This vehicle is fully armored and equipped. It has everything. Bulletproof glass, run-flat tires, protection for the battery and electronics, reinforced suspension, tailpipe protection, reinforced pillars, operable front windows, a heavy-duty brake system, emergency lights, a siren, a PA system, video cameras on all four sides, a fire suppression system, and a high-powered engine with plenty of horsepower.”
Jake was amazed but he acted unimpressed. “No coffeemaker?”
“You want a coffeemaker? You’ve got it. And the Secret Service has installed some of our latest electronic technology. That dashboard display looks normal, but with the flip of a switch, we can turn it into a computer just like the police cars have. If you join us, we’ll add satellite phone links, thermal imaging technology to see into other cars, hidden weapons, war dog equipment, and a few newly developed breakthroughs I can’t tell you about unless you sign the nondisclosure paperwork.”
“I might be getting a technology boner right now,” Jake said.
McKay shook her head. “Well, then, this vehicle is having the desired effect on your bro brain. The first time we met I told you we needed your help on rare occasions. You were undecided, so I used an off-the-books black budget to pay for this incentive.”
“Where does that kind of money come from?”
“One example would be what you did out on the Bay this morning. There was a reward for the terrorist you killed. I’ll put through a request on your behalf, listing you as a citizen asset I’ve cultivated. That cash reward will soon go into our budget and pay me back for what the Secret Service spent on this beast over the past month.”
“Well, I’m glad I can pull my own weight. You mentioned needing my help on rare occasions. How rare would these occasions be?”
“It’s impossible to speculate about future threats and—”
Jake held up a hand. “Forget the weasel words, McKay. Just give me a number.”
She stared at him for a moment. “My rough estimate is that maybe once a month for the next year, you might be asked by the government to intervene in a situation that threatens the safety of the citizens of the United States.”
“A dozen times, max? Either twelve ops or twelve months, whichever comes first? And then we’d part ways?”
“You’d have the option to part ways, or to continue doing the work you seem to excel at. The government will pay you for every mission. And of course you and your family and friends would be under the protection of our group.”
“What happens if I’m arrested while serving my country in a secret operation? Will you disavow me and leave me to rot in prison?”
“We can’t claim you, so yes, you’d be disavowed. However, we’d secretly pay for the best lawyers to help you. Bribes, threats, and blackmail would also be put into play. None of our team members are in prison. We intend to keep it that way.”
Jake reached into his jacket and pulled out the U.S. Marshals badge. “What’s my status after being deputized by Marshal Garcia? Can I use this badge to arrest people, or is it just for show?”
“You were deputized to capture one particular fugitive, but you’re still on the books as a deputized citizen, and you have the power to capture wanted felons if you’re participating in a task force.”
Jake nodded thoughtfully and put the badge away. “If I worked with you, I’d need several new bulletproof vests for my dog. And an implanted chip that says he’s protected by the government. It should say that if you find him, there’s a large reward for returning him in good health—and if you don’t, you’ll go to prison for a very long time.”
McKay reached a hand up and rubbed the back of her neck. “These details can all be negotiated. Are you in, or out? Decide right now, or the offer is withdrawn and you can give me back the key to this Jeep.”
Jake pulled the key out of the ignition and held the fob out the window. “Here you go. Sorry I have so many questions, but I simply don’t trust political types from D.C. all that much. No offense, McKay.”
McKay turned her back on him and walked away. She looked over her shoulder. “Drive that beast for a while, with no obligation, while you make up your mind.”
“Hey, wait a minute,” Jake said. “Now that I think about it, you said the work I did this morning will pay you back for this Jeep. That means it’s already mine with no obligation. Ha, this is great. Thanks for the Jeep!”
McKay didn’t reply. She got into the Secret Service vehicle, and left.
Jake turned on the police lights, making them flash blue and red under the front grille and in the back window. He whooped the siren one time at the departing SUV. “Cody, be careful. I’m closing the back door.” Cody sat up on the seat with his tail and paws away from the door. Jake looked at him in the rearview mirror to make sure he was in a safe position, and then he pressed the key fob. The back passenger door slammed shut automatically. “I could get used to this vehicle.”
Cody barked once and nodded.
“McKay knows me too well. This thing is hard to resist. She’s using the puppy dog sales pitch. Take this puppy home for a few days, with no obligation. Next thing you know, you can’t imagine life without the puppy. Or in this instance, the bulletproof Jeepzilla.”
Jake started up the engine, and it made a deep growl. He drove through the city, getting the feel of the armored SUV. His route took him toward the office building of his attorney. It was time to complete the final formalities and become a lawyer.
High above the Jeep, a drone quietly followed. It was similar to the one Jake had shot out of the sky, and was similarly armed with a video camera and a weapon.
Chapter 26
As soon as Dmitry’s flight landed in San Francisco, he rented a car and drove the city streets. On the seat next to him was a tablet that displayed a photo of Jake Wolfe.
In his opinion, this hit wouldn’t be much of a challenge. The target didn’t look impressive. He would shoot Jake in the head at close range and then walk away. Hopefully he wouldn’t have to shoot the dog, that would be a shame. The only difficult part of this operation would be escaping without being caught—and he had plenty of practice at that.
Perhaps a drive-by shooting would be the best strategy. That might be blamed on one of the armed criminal gangs that plagued every big city around the world. The organized crime gangs were barely held in check by the local police. Dmitry didn’t like the police, but he had to respect them for their selfless dedication and sacrifice.
He took out his phone and made a call. A woman answered with one word. “Report.”
“Elena, my dear girl, I’m here in your charming city of San Francisco. It can’t compare to Las Vegas, but it’s not bad.”
“Vegas isn’t a city, it’s an amusement
park.”
“Perhaps, but I find it … amusing.”
“Plans have changed. I’m going to take Wolfe’s girlfriend as a hostage. Then he’ll come to us.”
“Does he have the item you seek?”
“I hope so, for his girlfriend’s sake.”
“Will you let her live after the exchange?”
“No, of course not, but if I get what I need, I’ll make her death quick and painless. If I don’t get it—she will suffer in creative ways.”
Dmitry ended the call and shook his head. He could easily imagine the suffering she was referring to. He had suffered through it himself before she’d been born. When would it all end? As a child, he’d wanted to be a musician, but now he was a killer.
He didn’t want to participate in the infliction of pain upon Wolfe’s girlfriend, but the only way to stop it was to inflict pain upon the power-drunk woman named Elena. He couldn’t win, unless he found the thumb drive and ended the life of Jake Wolfe. Then he’d be in charge of things.
That was the answer—find the drive and kill Wolfe while sparing everyone else a world of pain. He continued to drive through the city, intent on his mission of mercy.
Chapter 27
Jake parked his new Jeep on the street in front of Bart Bartholomew’s law office.
He and Cody walked inside the building, and there was a new receptionist at the front desk who presented a serious and professional image. She was a young Asian woman, wearing a charcoal-gray dress suit and black pumps. Her dark hair was up in a complicated bun that was pierced by two chopsticks. She stared at Cody in surprise and said, “I’m sorry, but I don’t think you can bring a dog in here.”
Jake gave her a warm smile. “I’m sorry too, because I already did. He’s a service dog. If you know the law, you’re aware that you can’t legally prevent me from bringing him inside your offices.”