by Robin Mahle
“I am aware, sir.” Sweat had begun to form at his hairline.
“Then by all means, tell us why you are so concerned with the former ambassador? Are you privy to information we are not?”
Of course he was, but he dared not say. “I don’t believe so, sir. I was just—well I wanted to try to help Agent Axell, sir. I believe he has been wrongly accused.”
The woman, to whom Aaron had yet to be formally introduced, continued to stare at him, as though she was attempting some sort of mind-game interrogation technique. “Mr. Hunter, we have a problem here, you understand that?”
“Yes, ma’am. I do.”
“Good. Then I must inform you that pending further investigation, you are hereby dismissed and will be stripped of your credentials.”
“I understand.” Aaron began to feel relief sweep through him. However, no one had yet given him permission to leave and the idea that he was going to be put in jail right at this moment remained at the forefront of his thoughts. “I’m very sorry for any trouble I have caused.”
“I’d like to speak with Mr. Hunter alone for a moment, if you all wouldn’t mind?”
The three other men in the room appeared somewhat surprised but dismissed themselves at her request.
“Thank you.” When they departed, she finally began, “I’m Elizabeth Ward, Station Chief at the D.C. office. I believe you and I are after the same thing.”
♦ ♦ ♦
The protracted journey had come to an end when Will pulled into the parking lot of the Sandy Point Motel. A shadow stretched across the pavement as the sun fell behind the neglected building. And the only thing Lacy brought back with her was a sense of conflicted feelings. Rejected by her children, whose only wish was to return home with their mother, and encouraged by the knowledge that they finally had the upper hand on Lei Jian. They knew where he was, who he was with, and now they needed to know what he intended to do. The result of which could fix the first problem and offered hope that in time, her kids would forgive her.
Will opened the door to the dimly lit room. “Where’s Hunter? He should be here by now.”
Lacy entered behind him and switched on another light. “I haven’t heard from him. Will, he has no one protecting him now. He could be in trouble.”
“I don’t want to jump to conclusions just yet. Let’s touch base with Delgado. He might’ve heard from Aaron already.”
“Yeah, okay.” She sat down on the edge of the bed. “It’s been a long day and I’m exhausted. I’m sure Aaron’s fine.”
“I’ll call Delgado now.” Will retrieved his phone and the line rang. “It’s Caison. Where are you?”
“We’re holed up at the hotel where Jian is staying. We’re sitting tight until you and Lacy returned.”
“Any word from Hunter?”
She looked to Will with anticipation.
“No. Not since he got us the surveillance video earlier this morning. Why? He’s not there yet?”
“I’m sure he’s just caught up with something else. I’ll reach out to him again, see what I can find out. What’s your plan?”
“Fraser has to take off. Turner put a call in to him earlier. He’s hoping to find out why he met with Jian. So far, it doesn’t seem like he knows Fraser’s been talking to us on the side.”
“Right.”
“I’ll stay here and keep watch. You two should stay at the motel. No point in coming out here. I got this.”
“Okay. We’ll track down Hunter and get back to you. Keep us updated and I’ll do the same.” Will ended the call.
“He doesn’t know where Aaron is, does he?”
Will shook his head. “We’ll find him.”
“I’ll try him again now.” Lacy dialed his number and waited. Still no answer. “Where the hell are you?”
The door handle jiggled and Will drew his weapon. He raised his index finger to his lips as he turned to Lacy. The handle continued to rattle until a voice emerged.
“Lacy? It’s me. This key isn’t working. Let me in.”
Her heart dropped into her stomach, relieved at the voice she immediately recognized. “Oh, thank God.” She brushed past Will and opened the door. “Where the hell have you been?”
Aaron stood in the shadows of the corridor, his eyes reflecting her fear. “I’m sorry, I was told not to call you. That they probably already have my number.” He began to walk inside.
“Who’s they and who told you?” Will asked.
“I nearly shit my pants when they took me away. I thought I was going to jail right then and there.”
“Who took you away? Aaron, what the hell happened?” Lacy grabbed him by the arm and led him to one of the beds. “Sit down. You want some water?”
“No. I’m fine. Just shaken up is all. I thought we were all going up the creek.” He pushed his hands through his hair. “So after I got that hotel footage over to Delgado and Fraser, I got busted. They said I wasn’t authorized and, of course, they were right. So, anyway, they take me to this room, a conference room, I guess, and start grilling me. Jesus, Lacy. I swear I never been so damn scared in my life. And that’s saying something.”
“What did they do, Aaron?” she pressed on.
“They said I was fired and a formal inquiry would be initiated and I was lucky I wasn’t going into holding right then and there. But then these guys left and there was this woman. She didn’t introduce herself at first, just kept asking me questions and I figured she was one of the department heads or something. But after they left, she told me that we were on the same team.”
“Who was this person?”
“The Washington station chief, Elizabeth Ward. She gave Axell the go ahead to bug Meeks’ house. We know how that turned out. Anyway, she said that one of her team was already dead.”
“Agent Colburn.”
“Yeah, and she knew something smelled bad when they took Axell away. So she wants to help us.”
“How can she do that?” Will asked.
“She knows about the groundbreaking ceremony. In fact, there’s a joint effort between her office and the FBI’s Washington Field Office. Looking out for any unusual activity and stuff. I kind of mentioned what we were thinking of doing. I figured, she was already sticking her neck out just by talking to me.”
“That’s where Fraser works, the WFO,” Will added.
“She knows that it was Jian we were looking for and has now put her people on finding out who he’s talking to through her overseas contacts. She said he wouldn’t be able to do much without help from the MSS. Apparently, he still needs them and vice versa.”
“That’s not the way it seems right now,” Lacy began. “It seems like he’s out there on his own, building his own little army here to come after us.”
“Right now, she’s not in the loop with everything we’ve discovered. Her plan is to visit Axell and get the download. She’s the only one authorized to see him.”
“Then she can get word to him,” Lacy said. “We can update her on our progress.”
“Yeah. If she hadn’t been there to diffuse this shit I got into today, I wouldn’t be here right now. With Axell gone, we need her.”
♦ ♦ ♦
Delgado knew the Washington station chief well enough to know she was on the right side of this. After getting the call from Agent Caison, he’d begun to understand that perhaps they weren’t out there alone and help was within reach. But even she didn’t know about his arrangement with Meeks. It had been the man himself who’d put Delgado in place at FBI headquarters, a risky move that Delgado had played to a tee, until it all turned to shit when Axell went off on his own and bugged Meeks’ house. If only he’d known, he could’ve put a stop to it and Axell wouldn’t be under suspicion of killing a top CIA official. And a friend.
Maybe it was his fault for not coming forward on first meeting with Lacy Merrick shortly after the attack. He knew then she didn’t trust him, but to involve her at that point would have only put her in greater danger. Th
at was the complete opposite of what he was trying to do, which was find the truth behind the attack and keep her and her friends out of it, a task in which he had failed.
Now, here he sat, watching out for one of the most dangerous men this country had ever known, only second to perhaps the premier himself. And the Dalian company was simply a puppet. Shen Yang was doing exactly as Beijing had asked. And so far, it had served him well. Dalian company stock had risen sharply since the decline of Liwa Properties and Nova Investments, their subsidiary. It was exactly how the plan was supposed to play out. Except no one had counted on Lacy Merrick. Not Lei Jian and certainly not Delgado himself. However, the dangers ahead of her and everyone she loved were still very much alive and kicking.
Delgado rubbed his eyes as the hour approached midnight. He was glad the others were back at the motel and safe, for now, although his night was merely beginning. The time had come for him to do what he was really there to do. Lei Jian couldn’t be allowed to live. Yang was helping him and he believed Yang was behind Meeks’ murder. Take out Jian, then destroy Dalian. That was the plan—his plan. And while he knew Deputy Turner was also involved, well, he couldn’t get away with snuffing him out too, no matter how much he might want to. Instead, he would settle his grievances with Jian himself.
26
The front desk was manned by only two staff members, both of whom appeared young and were probably low on the totem pole, bearing in mind that they’d been assigned the night shift. Delgado eyed them and ascertained which one was most likely to provide him with information. Still youthful and handsome, by only a hair’s breadth, he could attract a sideways glance from the so-called fairer sex, although he was wise enough not to refer to women in such terms. However, this offered a path of least resistance. “Evening, or is it morning?” A smile flashed brightly on his face.
“Good evening, sir. How may I help you?”
Right away, he knew he’d made the right choice. Her eyes gleamed just enough to spot the lightning bolt of instant mild attraction. “I’m supposed to be picking up a gentleman and drive him to the airport for a red-eye flight. And, well, I’m afraid he’s not answering his phone and I have a sinking feeling he might have overslept.”
“Oh, what’s the gentleman’s name? I can call his room for you, if you’d like.”
“Actually, I think I’ll take up some coffee for him. Help him wake up.” He leaned over the counter. “Could you tell me his room number, though? He didn’t mention it since we were supposed to meet down here.”
With a shifty gaze, the woman eyed her colleague to confirm her inattention. “Well, I guess so. I’m not really supposed to give that out, but you got a job to do and I would hate it if our guest missed his flight.” She typed on her keyboard. “What’s his name?”
“Lei Jian.”
“I see it here.” She peered up at him. “Room 1510. Up at the top. He must be very important.”
“Well, he thinks he is.” Delgado flashed his smile once again and rapped his knuckles on the desk. “Thank you for your help, miss. You have a good night.” He continued toward the elevators.
The doors parted and Delgado stepped into the corridor. A sign on the wall ahead pointed to rooms on the left and rooms on the right. 1510 was on the right, at the end of the hall. That figured. His swift departure once the deed was done would be slowed by the football-field-length number of steps he’d have to take to make it out of there.
Given the late hour, he assumed most of the guests were asleep, which presented its own set of problems and he’d begun to consider the only way out would be through the stairwell, which was very near where Jian’s room was located. Finally, he had something going for him on this mission.
He’d accepted certain guidelines during his tenure as an inter-agency spy, one being that there was no one else on which to count. He alone was responsible for his success or failure and if it was to be failure, then he would willingly pay the price. But Delgado didn’t believe in failure.
The room was just ahead. He slowed his approach and flicked the latch from his holstered weapon, ready to draw. He placed his ear to the door and heard nothing; however, he remained confident Jian was inside as he’d monitored the lobby for the better part of the day and into the night, having followed him from Turner’s hotel only blocks away. There wasn’t a chance Jian had left without Delgado noticing, unless he’d been smart enough to leave through the emergency exit from the stairs. An idea that had only just occurred as he considered using that very exit. Still, that would mean Jian was onto him and he didn’t believe that was the case.
He peered down at the security lock and smiled. Yet one more thing that was going right. The credit-card style lock was well known to have an easy hack, one which Delgado had his people create for him some time ago, and had kept at the ready for just such an occasion.
From his jacket, he pulled the device, which was similar to a small motherboard with an auxiliary cord attached to the end of it. At the bottom of the door lock was a data port, which was used when a battery was to be changed or software updated. He plugged in the cord that allowed the device to retrieve the code imbedded in the magnetic strip of the keycard, and within moments, the door opened. It still amazed him how so many hotel chains continued to use this type of lock. But it was lucky for him they hadn’t upgraded because that would have created a bit more of a problem that would’ve meant charming the young woman downstairs enough to get her to give him a key. He was good, but he wasn’t under the impression that his prowess was that on-point.
Delgado drew his weapon and pushed inside. The room was dark, so dark he couldn’t see his hand in front of his face. He had no idea what he was walking into and a tingling sensation crawled up his spine. Something wasn’t right and he began to get the feeling that Jian wasn’t alone inside.
Movement sounded ahead. Someone was coming toward him. Delgado found a switch and flipped on the light, blinding the man who was approaching and himself. The man before him appeared to be a bodyguard and Jian was nowhere to be seen. Delgado fired his weapon.
A bullet whizzed by him at the same time, but when he heard the thud, he knew he’d hit the other man, although he would not escape without injury. With only seconds to spare before security and/or police would arrive, he continued inside the room in hopes of finding Jian.
Delgado made his way to the bathroom door. “Jian, I know you’re in there. Come out so we can talk.”
No answer.
“We might be able to help one another out, if you’re willing. Yang is a mutual friend.” When there was again silence, he had but one option. He reached for the handle, standing to the side, and slowly pushed it open. A nightlight burned above the basin and illuminated a reflection in the mirror. It was then Delgado knew he’d screwed up. He thought Jian had been alone, but he wasn’t. Not in the room and not in there. The man he saw in the mirror aimed his weapon at the door and fired. The bullet tore through the hollow core door and into Delgado’s side.
Delgado darted back through the room and out into the hall. Footsteps followed closely as he pulled open the stairwell door and began to run down the fifteen floors as quickly as he could. His side burned with pain. Blood spilled down his leg, but he continued to run. There was no choice. He had to get to the bottom and exit through the rear door. From there, he stood a half-decent chance of making it to his car.
The stairwell door he’d just passed through slammed shut and the man who’d fired back was gaining ground. Delgado looked over his shoulder and dashed toward the left of the staircase, zigzagging down so as not to be caught in the man’s crosshairs. He’d begun to feel weak-kneed from the loss of blood and his head was growing dizzy. “Keep going, damn it.”
By the time he’d reached the fourth floor, his pace was slowing. Still under pursuit, it became clear that Delgado was about to lose this race and if that happened, Lacy and her friends would be on their own.
♦ ♦ ♦
A sliver of light slice
d through the closed curtains, landing in Lacy’s eyes. She was already awake, though, because today marked just over twenty-four hours before she would speak at the groundbreaking. Today, they would meet with the station chief at the grounds where they would make their final attempt to end this once and for all. “Aaron?”
He lay in the bed next to her, above the covers, never presuming to get too close. His eyes fluttered open. “What time is it?”
“Time to get up.” Will was already sitting up in his bed.
“Have you heard from Delgado or Fraser?” Lacy pulled herself up and smoothed her hair back with her fingers.
“No. Better get in touch with Delgado first and see how last night went.” Will pushed off the bed and walked toward the bathroom.
“I assume he would’ve told us if Jian had left.” Lacy pulled on a t-shirt over the camisole she wore to bed, while Aaron pulled on his jeans. Any sense of modesty had evaporated days ago when she began sharing a space with these guys. It was as though the normal things in life, like attraction, didn’t exist in this world where people were out to kill them. And that was fine by Lacy. She was neither interested in nor cared to revisit that part of her life any time soon.
Will returned dressed and fresh-faced, as though he’d just splashed ice water on himself. Perhaps he had. Either that, or he had a boundless energy she did not possess. He was, though, a man who lived by the seat of his pants. No wife and no children, he came and went as he pleased and his time in Afghanistan surely made him care little for the spoils of suburbanites. He’d seen too much, in all likelihood, to care about anything else except the task at hand. “I’m going to step outside for some air. I’ll try Delgado and let him know where to meet us.”
Lacy watched as he walked out of the room and turned to Aaron. “You think he’s all right?”
“Yeah. Looks fine to me.”
She peered at the door, which was now closed. “I don’t know. Seems off to me.”