An Unlikely Hero (1)

by Tierney James

  Kneeling down behind some boulders, Chase and Tessa watched as the Enigma team moved toward Global Navigation, prodded forward by armed men. Several of the guards got in the trucks and drove them around the back of the building while the others meandered after them. Their posture revealed confidence of their take down. The crackle of radios communicating drifted in the air but the chatter was too distant to understand. The guards didn’t bother to keep a constant watch around them which was a tipoff that they were amateurs. Soldiers wouldn’t have let their guard down.

  The smell of smoke, sweat and dried pine needles swirled around Chase and Tessa as they sat down to catch their breath. Tessa’s labored breathing told Chase he’d pushed her too hard. She wasn’t up for this kind of grueling march or confrontation, yet for the last hour no complaints escaped her parched lips. When he’d ask her if she needed a break, the response came as a nod forward. Sweat dripped down her face as the sound of heavy breathing followed him without question. Finally he realized her attitude adjustment concerning his trustworthiness compelled Tessa to become something more than a hindrance. Resting her head back against the rock, she drank in as much air as possible while rubbing her drawn up legs. With her body, so close to Chase, he sensed her heartbeat through the pale skin of her arm that lay casually against his. Reaching over with his other hand he moved the wayward blond curl hanging down across one eye. This time Tessa did not push him away, but smiled and squeezed his forearm.

  “I’m a mess, I know. I bet Sam still looks fresh as a daisy.”

  “Probably.” Chase grinned boyishly. “Of course, she didn’t run through a forest fire, jump off a cliff and hike for hours. I think you’re entitled.”

  Tessa nodded, smiling at Chase. In spite of herself, she liked him, even though he manipulated her at every turn. His bullying came from needing her to do what was required. Chase Hunter was a remarkable man in Tessa’s mind although she wasn’t quite ready to forgive him of all the entanglements of danger he’d managed to drag her into these past few days. He’d kept her from Robert and the children and in her place put a dangerous, back-to-nature beauty that apparently impressed her family. After this whole mess ended she would drive straight to Tahoe to show a little appreciation.

  She realized in that moment that the mess she’d tried so hard to escape had managed to rejuvenate her life. Everything around her appeared sharper, more beautiful. Although dangerous, the people at Enigma were intoxicating and fascinating. Intrigue fueled her heartbeat. Nothing would ever be the same Tessa realized as she tilted her head and looked up at Chase’s profile. In a rugged sort of way, he was handsome. It was hard to imagine him teaching literature and playing the violin. Perhaps that paradox created a cocoon of safety for what he really might be on the inside. But here, hidden by white boulders, breathing air that tasted like smoke, Captain Chase Hunter looked like the guy you wanted in a tough situation. She tried to imagine Robert doing this macho, G.I. Joe, crazy hero stuff she’d experienced with Chase. The quiet laughter that escaped her mouth caused Chase’s forehead to wrinkle in bewilderment.

  “Sorry,” she whispered innocently. “I was just trying to imagine Robert doing something like this.” Another broad smile.

  “And?”

  “Robert would be slapping subpoenas down so fast your head would spend. I imagine search warrants would fall in there somewhere after contacting an old fraternity buddy who’s a judge somewhere. Next he’d be calling news channels and a private investigator.”

  Chase smiled too. “That’s not really how it works in the world I live in.”

  Tessa pushed her hair back behind her ears. “Yeah. Well, I won’t mind going back to the basics when this is all over. But,” Tessa paused and bit her lower lip which seemed to force his eyes to her mouth, “if I should get killed or…”

  Chase laid a large hand on her knee and squeezed. “I won’t let that happen.”

  It felt so natural just to cover his hand with hers. “Okay,” she smiled. “So what’s the plan, captain? I’ve caught my breath. Ready when you are.”

  “We wait until the sun starts to set. That shouldn’t be long up here. The sun will drop like a rock behind these mountains. I’m betting by now Carter has overpowered the guards with his bullshit and Sam has rearranged somebody’s face,” he patted her knee, not wanting to remove his hand. Tessa still rested her hand on his and he wasn’t ready for that to change. “Zoric is either taking care of Jericho or is torturing some deserving soul into hell.”

  “Geeze! Is he really that violent?”

  “Second thoughts on your coffee date with him?” Chase’s face was near enough to taste those lips that moved so easily when she spoke to him now. Trust created a dangerous situation he knew he couldn’t afford to compromise.

  Tessa removed her hand from his and stared ahead so she could stop drowning in those dark chocolate eyes. “He said you’d not approve so I said I’d do it.” When Chase moved his hand to his own drawn up knees she continued. “Why wouldn’t you want us to have coffee? Is there something I should know?”

  He sighed as he ran his hand over the top of his head. “When we’re done here, really done, you go back to being a Grass Valley housewife and Zoric goes back to being—Zoric. You’ll never see us again, be able to find us, or find any trace that we were ever in your life. Zoric likes you. You remind him of his family. You aren’t like us. Sometimes I think we’re not all that much different that the men who are stealing the isotopes. We couldn’t do what we do if…” he stopped, not wanting to tarnish the good karma growing between them. He felt her blue eyes on him, waiting for an explanation. “None of us are choir boys, Tessa. Nightmares stalk all of us, not just me.”

  She nodded in acceptance. “I kind of figured that one out on my own.” Her elbow jabbed Chase good naturedly in the side. “So tell me what you want me to do so I can get back to my boring, meaningless life in the suburbs.”

  Again a jab of pain stabbed his heart. He rolled to his knees and rose up to look over the boulder at Global Navigation. “How are you at acting?”

  “I’m a woman. I’ve had lots of practice,” she said proudly.

  Chase looked down into her upturned face and smiled with admiration. “I just might buy you a cup of coffee myself, Tessa Scott.”

  “Captain, when this is done, really done, you’ll never see me again or be able to contact me. It will be as if I never existed.” Her stoic voice mocked him. “Besides, that soldier I saved in Knoxville is ahead of Zoric. So I’m not sure I could fit you in.”

  “Good to know you’re making friends.”

  Chapter 26

  When the expansive glass doors swooshed open at Global Navigation, the Enigma captives quickly assessed their situation. Carter’s quick observation that only two armed guards carried weapons which had seen better days realized how nervously they paced across the sparkling floors. The reflections of the guards appeared to bounce up from the polished floor resembling glass. The black guard uniform, worn by the one with a sparse mustache and rolled up shirt sleeves didn’t really impress Carter that he was dealing with a spit and polish outfit. A rag tag bunch with mismatched uniforms would not be guarding a facility holding enriched uranium or the lifesaving Molybdenum 99 for isotope development.

  The half wall of dark granite topped with a chrome counter, minus a pretty and efficient receptionist, revealed five computer screens constructed of some kind of clear translucent material that seemed to levitate over the shiny surface. Carter surmised the real security people manned those computers during a regular work day. Their absence meant hostages, maybe even causalities.

  The lobby, a three story atrium, revealed balconies with steel guard rails that looked like they should be on the bow of a ship. A fusion of blue and green tiles rose up to the third floor next to the walls of glass that normally matched the California sky when it wasn’t blanketed with hazy smoke. A spiral staircase on either side of the lobby leading to the upper levels looked more like a piece
of art than a functional means to ascend to the mezzanine level. Elevators were probably tucked neatly down the corridor opening up in the center of the building. There were no people milling about, no idle conversations coming from the teal blue sofas and chairs scattered about the lobby. The quiet spoke volumes.

  “Do those guys look like security guards you’d have in a place like this, Joe?” Carter whispered out of the corner of his mouth.

  “Hey! Carl, takin’ these two to the john. Can you take Amazon woman?” Joe said suffering the angry glare of Sam. He looked at the guards. “John?” No response. “Where’s the toilet?”

  Nothing.

  “They don’t speak English, Joe.” Carter tried to speak without his lips moving.

  “Geeze, Louise. Serious fellas, huh?” Carl frowned as he motioned for Sam to join Zoric and Jericho who had begun to limp and move slowly. “You,” he waved the gun at Sam. “Help the man in black with the old guy. No funny stuff.”

  Joe pointed to his crotch with one hand while keeping a firm grip on his weapon with the other. “Toilet!” he yelled at the guards. This time they understood and pointed down the corridor and to the left. “I’ll be right back. Al should be here any minute.”

  As Joe shoved his two hostages into the women’s restroom he lowered his Tactical M40 rifle. and shook his head. “Sorry.” He let Carter take his weapon as Vernon cracked the door to see if Carl would follow. “I had no idea!” He moved away from them and pulled up his sagging jeans again. “I would never have thrown in with terrorists. You gotta believe me. I’d never double cross Homeland.”

  Carter checked the rifle and found it fully loaded. He wondered how a truck driver came into possession of a Marine Corp weapon system. Making a mental note to pursue that line of questioning later, he realized the poor guy still experienced a Homeland Security high from helping out Chase earlier in the week. Joe probably never considered the possibility Essid was a terrorist.

  “We don’t exactly work for Homeland Security, Joe, but we’re on the same ball team.”

  “I don’t understand. Chase said…”

  Vernon closed the door. “Clear. Chase is our team leader. Hopefully, he made it through the fire with,” Vernon paused trying to remember the name she’d been assigned, “Melanie.”

  “That little scrawny woman who mouthed me?”

  Vernon and Carter looked at each other and grinned. “Yeah. If you think Sam out there is trouble you should be around Chase’s partner for a few hours.”

  “He was pretty rough on her when I saw them.”

  Vernon took another peek out the door. “That’s the only way to handle her. You know how 007 has a license to kill?”

  Joe nodded as his mouth began to hang open beneath heavy cheeseburger jaws.

  Carter slapped him on the shoulder. “She makes Bond look like a boy scout. Good thing you didn’t cross her.”

  Joe released air from his lungs as if he’d been carrying it around for a while and shook his head in disbelief. “Man!”

  “They’re getting on the elevator,” Vernon turned to look at his partner. He pulled open a janitor closet door, then reached for a mop while eyeing the contents. “Well, well, well. Looks like we have all the ingredients we need to call in a HAZMAT team.”

  “What’s that? Look, fellas, I donno what you’re planning but I don’t want to get into any more trouble.” Joe bobbed his head and hands at the same time. “I gotta kid to take care of. If something happens to me he dies, cuz I ain’t got no insurance to pay the bills.”

  “Then I guess we better wrap this up nice and pretty so when Chase arrives we can get you back home.” Carter joined Vernon at the janitor closet and smiled. “Hmm. I just love janitorial supplies.” Looking over his shoulder at the suddenly nervous trucker Carter tried to reassure him. “Here.” He tossed a bottle of glass cleaner to Joe. “We’re going to freshen up the men’s restroom next door. Then you’re going to go get our two armed,” Carter looked up at the ceiling as if pondering some revelation from God, “hmm, armed ‘death to America’ friends carrying those ridiculous guns.” He took the bottle of bleach from Vernon’s hand. “Better get to work. We don’t have long before they come looking for us.”

  As they entered the men’s restroom Joe looked at the glass cleaner. “How is all this stuff going help us?”

  “Spray every faucet, sink and mirror. Then spray more over the paper towel dispenser and up into the towels if you can. Most glass cleaners contain ammonia, or at least that one does. The fumes can irritate the skin, eyes and even the respiratory system. Prolonged exposure can even cause death. Great stuff.”

  “Holy cow!” Joe said as he began spraying the surfaces.

  Vernon began pouring the toilet bowl cleaner in and around the toilets. “And this stuff by any other name is hydrochloric acid which will definitely affect their breathing.”

  Carter filled some paper cups with bleach and sat them around the restroom where the terrorists would be sure to kick them over once they tried to wash their faces only to get more ammonia on them. If the other chemicals didn’t get them maybe pulmonary edema would set in to assist. A cough escaped Vernon and Joe. The fumes were already filling the small space. “Let’s get out of here!”

  Joe took back his rifle, leaving Vernon and Carter in the women’s restroom. He ran to the hall corridor and whistled drawing the two gunmen’s attention. He waved to them desperately to come help him, talking loud and pointing at the restroom. The scowl on their faces revealed they believed Joe was unable to manage the prisoners. They stormed into the men’s restroom and lowered their weapons as if to make a point. In that instant someone tapped them on the shoulder. When the two jerked around, Vernon and Carter sprayed them in the eyes with the glass cleaner. With a scream they dropped their guns and started rubbing their eyes.

  The restroom door slammed shut and Joe slid a mop through the handles of both restrooms to provide a lock. “Why not just do this in the first place?” Joe said watching the two Enigma men checking the newly acquired weapons. He could hear the men inside moaning, running water, crying and stumbling around the room. Finally one of them rammed up against the door, moving the make shift lock.

  “That’s why. In a minute they’ll not be able to breathe enough to break out. Since we can’t lock the door we needed them incapacitated enough to not break through.”

  Joe smiled. “You fellas are smart!”

  “Your tax dollars at work, Joe,” Carter said with a wink as they moved down to the corridor. “Vernon, get to work on those computers. Shut this place down and make sure Essid can’t see a thing that’s going on.”

  Vernon nodded and slipped out into the lobby. He could see guards outside watching something coming out of the woods. Whatever that distraction might be it gave him time to locate the main frame in the building. Another glance at one of the monitors, he saw a woman staggering out of the trees onto the road toward Global Navigation. Although her clothes were ripped and that wholesome L.L.Bean look had faded, there was no doubt that Tessa Scott would soon be joining them. “What are you up to?” he mumbled as his fingers flew across the keyboard. His eyes alternated between his monitor and the image of Tessa approaching the guards at the gate. “And where the hell is the captain?”

  Ben knew that the approach of a helicopter normally could be heard for miles. Fortunately the latest technology provided the military with a stealth helicopter now used by Special Forces. After Homeland Security Secretary Tobias Stewart pulled the necessary strings, one became available. As he neared Global Navigation in the smoky haze of sunset, Ben felt his heartbeat begin to increase and adrenaline surge through his veins. His hand lifted to his bullet proof vest then fell to his sidearm. A sigh escaped his chest thinking that this fight should not have gotten to this point. All the contingencies in the world to ward off a terrorist attack could not match the incredible stupidity of one reckless cabinet member trying to get his sexual jollies with a man he’d just met. Hopefully the p
resident did shoot him at point blank range and had the Secret Service bury him in the rose garden.

  “You have a coded message coming in, Director Clark. Check your phone.” The co-pilot looked around his seat at Ben through a shaded visor attached to his $25,000 helmet. “Be there in twenty if we can see to land, sir.”

  Ben nodded as he retrieved his Enigma phone from inside his vest. Frowning at the screen, he once again realized how complicated the world had become. He remembered the rotary phone his mother had growing up and wished things could be that simple again. It was Vernon. A wave of relief washed over him. After reading the text, Ben quickly erased the message before one corner of his mouth turned up slightly in a show of satisfaction.

  Limping really wasn’t that much of a stretch for Tessa since she could barely put one foot in front of the other. Every bone and muscle in her body seemed to be screaming to stop and go to the local spa for a massage and makeover. Glancing down at her hands, she noticed several of her manicured nails were chipped or torn. Scratches, now covered in dried blood, itched along her arms. The blond hair had dried into cascades of curls that circled her slightly oval face and fell to her shoulders. Before leaving the woods Tessa had unfastened two of her buttons and tied the bottom of her shirt into a knot where her midriff showed smooth white skin. Her ripped jeans, tight from drying onto her body, didn’t leave a lot to the imagination. The scent of sweat on her body horrified her almost as much as the metal gates swinging open and two guards pointing their weapons at her. She staggered, then groaned before lifting a hand toward them for help. Several colorful, unladylike words formed in her mind when they remained rooted to their position.

  Tessa tried stumbling to a fall. Nothing. Looking up at them from the ground, she noticed both men fixed gazes down her shirt. Pulling herself up for one last time she approached with all the false courage she could muster and fell against the smaller man. The bigger one slung his weapon as he muttered something to his partner. He put his arm around her waist to remove her embrace long enough for the small one to also reposition his weapon. Both spoke rapidly, in some kind of confused state, nodding toward the entrance to Global Navigation. Neither seemed concerned that their personal hygiene could repel a female goat.