by Jaci Wheeler
“I’ll make sure to get every type, make, and model of phone and computers so that you can switch them out without them instantly knowing. It will buy you a few minutes to download the information you will need and make the switch.” I smile at him.
“You will have comms with your handlers as well as the guys on the train at all times. If you are feeling uneasy or uncomfortable, they will step in, but only if absolutely necessary. We do not want our cover blown because there's nowhere to go. Once you have completed your task, you will instantly need to extract yourself.”
“From a moving train?” I ask.
“You will make your way to the roof and wait with the girls until the next stop where you will depart. Your handlers will be back at the command center and will be your eyes and ears. Aria, I assume you speak fluent Russian?”
“Da, darling,” I say in a perfect Russian accent.
“You three ladies will be stupid American girls. Do not, for any reason, let on that you know Russian. They will more than likely talk in front of you if they don’t know you understand.”
Got it.
“You will have tranquilizers on you, but only use them if absolutely necessary. The goal is to get in and out before they realize what’s happened. If you can succeed in doing this, the guys will follow them to their meet location to get info on the buyers. But the op is to get that info; anything else is secondary.”
Now you will have a sleeper car, but try not to take them there unless absolutely necessary. Same goes for theirs. You may break into theirs to access a laptop, but don’t go with them unless you are prepared to drug them. Got it?”
“Got it,” the three of us reply.
“Your handlers will give you your new identities along with wardrobe.”
“Good luck.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
Aria
“Okay Aria, here is your comm. You won’t be able to see it at all. Your mic is in this necklace that you are not to take off, understand? You will also have a camera in it so we can have a visual. Your back story is that you are all rich college kids from America. Your parents are sending you on holiday and you are spoiled dumb brats. Got it? You need to be in character. You have brown contacts and a red wig. Make sure you pour your drinks in the nearest plant or whatever is around you. You will need to play tipsy and stumble a bit. The more harmless you appear, the better,” Hayden briefs me.
“Spencer said they are Russian. KGB?” I ask as I start getting ready.
“No, some black ops break off group. They are off grid which makes finding out who they are working with crucial. But remember, your job is to retrieve data and get out. The guys will do the rest. If necessary, you need to incapacitate them long enough to get the data and get out. If that’s the case, then the jig will be up, so the guys won’t be able to follow, but it’s more important to get that intel. Best case, you girls pull your ninja moves and they are never the wiser,” he says with his ever-present smile.
“Got it. Now turn around so I can change.”
He turns around, still talking.
“I will be on comms with you the whole time. It’s important to keep the communication open. You need to tell me what you are doing, what you see, and what’s happening so I can best assist you, alright? If you need train specs or a quick way out, I’m your man.”
“Got it. Now how do I look?”
He turns around and whistles.
“Like a million bucks! Here is your designer purse, and your Manolo’s which cost way more than anything that should ever go on the feet.”
I roll my eyes but look at my pretty shoes. I wonder if I can keep these.
“Are you ready?” he asks, looking a little concerned.
“Of course. I got this Hayden,” I say, hoping to God I actually do.
***
Once I reach the rest of the group Travis pulls me aside.
“Barbie, you got this? You feeling comfortable?”
“Yes Travis, for the hundredth time I’m fine now. I can do this.”
He smiles wide.
“You know you are the only one but my Gram who calls me Travis?”
I smile back.
“I think I like it that way.”
“Me too,” he says, messing up my hair. Gah, men!
“Alright girls, let’s do this. T and Vic will board first, then you three. Once you are on, I will be the last to board. Girls, you wait until you hear from the guys that they are in place and have eyes on the men. We got you tickets right across from them. Let do this.”
I take a deep breath. I don’t have nerves, only excitement. My first real mission. It’s a little scary that it all relies on me getting the information, but it’s also exhilarating.
Ritz sprays some perfume in the air and walks into it. Nix rolls her eyes, but smiles.
“Heads up, ladies. Remember, we are better than the rest,” Ritz says. It’s like magic watching her transform from mega spy to super swanky rich girl. It’s like watching her morph right in front of your eyes.
She takes the lead and I follow as Nix brings up the rear. We stand in position waiting for the go ahead.
“Ok ladies, the targets have arrived. Two middle age, one mid-twenties. If I had to guess, the younger is the one with the power. I would check his devices first. He has an iPad and cell phone. I already have both ready to be swapped. I placed them in a designer bag along with anything else you’ll need. Aria leave your bag behind. I’ll make a quick pass to you with the new bag.”
“Score. Copy that, Vic.”
I look to Nix. “Wouldn’t it seem odd that the young one is the one in charge? I don’t think that sounds right."
“Actually, it doesn’t surprise me. The Russians train them young. Plus, it throws people off. That’s also why they are traveling in threes and identities aren’t known. I trust Vic, but I should be able to size them up in no time. The first man that I touch will be the one I think has the info. I’ll pocket his stuff and make the switch, but don’t take your time. You need to get in and out. Ritz will check the others too, just in case.”
“Won’t that seem suspicious if we are both gone at the same time?” I ask.
“No, because you won’t be. Ritz is great at flitting in and out so they won’t even notice, I promise. You just focus on the devices. We will rule out the first two. She will twist her ring if it isn’t a match; if it is, she will drop them in your bag.”
“Ladies, it’s time to grace us with your presence and enter.”
On cue, Ritz walks in like she owns the world. I follow closely behind, narrowing my eyes a bit at our accommodations, which are beautiful. But I act like I’m above it.
“Why didn’t we just fly to an island in your dad’s private jet for vacation? This seems so…common,” I say with as much disgust as I can bring to my voice.
“Oh relax, will you, Tiff? The best things happen on trains. Let your hair down once in a while. It won’t kill you to loosen up a bit,” Nix says, wagging her eyebrows at me.
We approach the guys but none of us make eye contact. In a flash, Vic grabs the bag on my shoulder and I keep walking. We make our way to our seats in first class and see our targets with drinks already in hand. We completely ignore them and all the other passengers and take our seats.
“What does it take to get a drink around here, geez?” Ritz says loudly. I try not to wince at the look on the face of the server who hurries over to us.
“Yes miss, what can I get for you all?” she asks, looking very nervous.
“Three margaritas and two rounds of shots to start off with,” Ritz says with a wave of her hand. Luckily I spot a plant over to our right that we can dump out drinks in!
The waitress hurries back with our drinks and we all raise our glasses.
“To trust funds,” Nix says and we all “toss them back.”
Several rounds of shots later, and a plant that is very close to being murdered with alcohol, and we are finally starting to get the guy
s’ attention. Vic’s voice comes through on our comms.
“Ok ladies, you have the young one’s attention. It looks like they must be discussing you. Time to give them a little bit of attention.”
Ritz turns in their direction with a wink. “Good evening, gentlemen.”
“Good evening,” they all say.
A few minutes later, another round of drinks comes by.
“This is from the gentlemen,” the server says before hurrying off.
We all turn and smile and the youngest raises his glass.
“Well don’t be shy. Why don’t you three come and join us? This train is awfully dull and we could use a bit of excitement,” I say in my southern drawl.
“One moment. I must confer with my colleagues,” he says in a very thick Russian accent.
I listen in close and can pick out most of what they are saying. A creepy old guy, who hasn’t stopped looking us up and down since we got here, wants to join us. The young one, who I am now starting to believe really is in charge, doesn’t think it’s smart; he wants to “keep his eye on the prize.” Of course, that’s the gist of it anyway, but the third guy pipes up saying it would be best if they blend in. The leader concurs and they all smile and join us at the table.
“Hi there, sugar. I’m Paige,” Nix says, touching his arm. Yep, this is our man; he has to be. I notice he leaves his bag at his table, which means the device isn’t in it. It must be on him.
“So, you are all from Germany, huh?” I say, putting on my best ditzy voice.
They all look at me like I'm crazy, so I follow it up with, “Wasn’t that German you were speaking? I went to Germany once with my father on a business trip, talk about depressing. The trip, not the country, of course. I wouldn’t want to offend,” I say batting my eyelashes. Hayden laughs in my ear.
“German? How dare-” The oldest man looks affronted, but the younger one taps his arm quickly.
“Why yes, how clever of you for catching that. Sorry to be rude; we try to speak English as much as possible on our travels. Let me introduce ourselves. My name is Andrei. This is Ivan and Valentin,” he says, pointing to his two friends.
“It’s very nice to make your acquaintance,” I say, shaking their hands. Ritz leans over and hugs all the men.
“Sorry, she’s a bit friendly,” Nix says.
“I think this calls for drinks and I don’t feel like waiting. I’ll go get them.”
And just like that Ritz is off. I know she’s checking the devices she’s just pocketed. The girl is good; I was watching and I still didn’t see anything amiss.
***
“So, what kind of business are you in?” purrs Nix. I didn’t realize she was capable of being this pleasant.
“We are historians. We travel a lot looking at ancient documents. It would bore pretty girls like yourselves,” Andrei says. I smile politely even though I find his comment horribly offensive. I’ll make him eat those words by the end of the night.
Hayden comes through on my comms.
“Ritz just ran all the phones. They are clean but the young one, Andrei, looks to be in charge as previously stated. The names are all aliases, but we are running their faces now. That means he either has a secondary iPad, something on his person, or it is stored in his room. You are going to, for a lack of better words, feel him up and see if you can find another device. Watch for anything that can be used to store information.”
I look at his wrist, nothing. I pull out my cell phone just as Ritz comes back with a tray of shots.
We all start taking them and I can tell the guys have quite the tolerance. We are all acting pretty tipsy, but we would be good and trashed by now so we better work fast.
“What this party needs is some music,” I say playing some dance music on my phone.
The three of us stand up and pull the men up to dance with us. Luckily this gives me every opportunity to let my hands roam. Nothing. I find nothing, not even a wallet. He is hiding something and it’s got to be in his room.
“Excuse me, but this girl has got to tinkle.” I start to stumble out of my seat.
“Would you like an escort?” Andrei asks.
“Oh, come on. If you took her every time she had to pee, you’d be up and down all night. Stay with us handsome,” Nix says, grabbing his attention so I can slip out.
***
“Ok Hayden, I’m approaching his room now.”
“In and out, Aria; this has got to be fast.” Tell me something I don’t know, I think to myself.
I don the gloves in my purse and pick his lock with a quickness. Once I’m inside, I lock it behind me. I go through the room, systematically checking everything.
“Crap Hayden, I can’t find anything.”
“It’s got to be in there. Keep looking. Trap doors, under the mattress, check everything.”
It’s hard to do this with speed and without leaving any sign you’ve been in the room. I keep looking in and under everything when I spot a lamp in the corner and unscrew the bottom.
“Jackpot. I found the drive, Hayden. But there's no device; it's just the drive.”
“Please tell me you have something in that bag from Vic.”
“I take offense to that,” Vic pipes up. I almost forgot they were even there.
“Yes, I’m downloading it and breaking the encryption now; just thirty more seconds and I’ll be in. I got it. I’m sending it to you now; tell me when you have it.”
“Got it. Now scramble it and get out of there now.”
“On my- crap!” The door knob is rattling.
“Aria, what is it?”
I’m looking around for a place to hide, but there's literally nowhere.
“Aria?” Hayden is yelling.
“It’s him, there's nowhere to go.” I can tell the panic is seeping into my voice, just as the knob starts to turn, I have no choice but to open the window and hoist myself outside. Thank God there is a handle. I close the window just in time.
“Aria, are you there? Aria!” It’s freezing and I’m barely hanging on to the side of this train that is going at what feels like lightning speed.
“I’m hanging on outside the train, Hayden, but I’m not going to last. My hand is already slipping!”
“Spence is on his way to you now. You need to hold on, Aria. Is there a way to get a foothold or something? Any way you can hoist yourself up?” he asks, letting the fear come through his voice.
“There's nothing. We are going too fast and I’m in freaking heels, Hayden. Did you miss the part about me barely hanging on to a moving train?!”
“Ok, calm down. Spence is almost there.”
“Spencer?” I ask, sounding like a child. “My fingers are slipping; I won’t make it.
“Yes you will, Aria. I’m on top of the train. I’m almost to you. Just hold on, sweetheart, and look up.”
Just then I see the best sight I’ve ever seen. It’s Spencer and he has a rope with some type of waist strap.
“Strap this on and I’m going to pull you up. Pull once on the rope when you are ready.”
“I can’t let go to strap it on Spence; I’ll fall!”
“Ok then, just grab it and hold on; I’ll pull you up.”
I do as he says and let me tell you, all those spy movies that make this kind of stuff look seamless, well they lie. I grab the rope but as he pulls me, the speed of the train and the direction of the wind has me slamming against the side of the train several times with my hair whipping me in the face so I can’t see anything.
“Crap, this freaking hurts!”
“Almost there,” Spencer pants.
He reaches out his hand when I get to the top.
“Are you ok?” he asks, assessing me for injuries.
“Well, let’s just say I’m going to be hurting like crazy in the morning, and I might have a cracked rib. But yeah, I’m fine,” I say, trying to be brave and not think about the fact that I was just dangling from a freaking train.
“What am I
going to do? I’ve been gone much too long; they are going to miss me.”
"No, they won’t. I have an idea. Put on some lipstick.”
“I don’t care how cute the color of my lipstick is, it isn’t going to save me, Spence.” He rolls his eyes.
"Your hair is a mess and your dress is rumpled, the only way we are getting out of here is if you make it look like we were otherwise entertained. You get my drift?”
Just great!
“Well, you are lucky I find saving my life irresistible.”
We crawl down the hatch in the back where he climbed up and then I start kissing him on the neck, his collar, and then his lips. I make sure he has a nice lipstick trail before I step back, talk about a strange night. We hurry back to my seat. Just as we are approaching, I can see the fear in Nix’s eyes, but she quickly masks it. The guys are looking downright squirrelly, so we have only one chance to nail this.
I walk in giggling and hanging onto Spencer’s arm. I try to smooth down my crazy hair and stumble into my seat. Spence kisses my cheek.
“It was nice to meet you,” he whispers in my ear like a caress, and I don’t have to fake the shiver. Then he walks off with a swagger I’ve never seen from him before.
“Wow,” Nix says.
“You couldn’t hold off until we even get there. Geez Tiffany, you can be such a hoe bag!” Ritz says.
The guys look at me knowingly.
“Well I might have gotten a little lost on the way to the bathroom, what can I say?” I say with a glint in my eye and a giggle. And just like that, the suspicion is erased from the men and the three of us share a quick look of relief.