Tears welled in Lee’s eyes. He knew what he’d done was stupid, wrong, and cowardly; and now he was losing his closest friend in the world. He nodded and sat in silence.
“This is close enough, Priest,” Jake said. “Pull over here.”
Jake leaned forward to touch his brother’s body one last time before turning to Lee. “You’re going to drive the car to the gate and talk your way into the compound. We’ll be watching you. One wrong move and all your troubles will be over – got it?” Jake patted his M4 assault rifle.
Again, Lee nodded. Priest pulled the car over, one hundred-and-fifty yards from the main embassy gate. Jake gave Lee a final glare and got out of the car. Dozer and Priest followed him out into the night, and the three melted into the shadows. Lee pulled himself out of the rear door and limped to the driver’s seat. He had no plays left – and even if he did, he wouldn’t go against Jake ever again.
Jake watched through his rifle scope as Lee guided the big glossy limo toward the embassy gate. As the car turned into the driveway, two members of the Ukrainian Militsiya approached. Lee stopped the car, exiting with his hands in the air. There was a brief, heated exchange, the policemen barking commands until Lee could retrieve his passport. While one policeman kept his firearm trained on Lee, the other frisked him then went to the guard booth. He spoke through a speaker in the armored glass, and Jake could see through his small spotting scope that phone calls were being made. A few minutes later, several U.S. Marine Security Guards in fatigues emerged from the compound. One spoke to Lee for a moment before wrapping a zip-tie around his hands, while the others thoroughly searched the limo’s interior, engine compartment, and undercarriage.
Finally, after more than fifteen minutes, there was a loud hum, and the massive hardened-steel gate began to open. A Marine jumped into the driver’s seat to guide the car into the compound, while two other guards escorted Lee in on foot.
“Looks like he did it,” Dozer said. “What now?”
“He was always good at talking the talk,” Jake said before turning to the Australians. “Now we get to the airport. I’ve got an appointment at Langley. And I’ve got a special job for you, Priest.”
Chapter 36
Dozer and Priest followed Jake through JFK International and out to the parking structure where they’d left Jake’s Audi. As he drove the powerful machine toward his home base in Jersey City, Jake spoke to Equilibrium through his Bluetooth headset. “You’re certain of McAdam’s movements?” he asked her. “Our timing needs to be right on.”
“As certain as I can be,” the elite hacker replied. “I’ve been monitoring him through traffic and security cameras since you asked me to begin surveillance. He’s picked up a bodyguard, but that’s the only real change I can see. Let’s face it, though – no one follows exactly the same routine every day.”
“I hear you. Let me know if anything changes, and I’ll call back when we’re getting close to Arlington. Thanks – and I owe you dinner.”
“Good, I miss Tik’s cooking.”
“I thought I’d take you out for a fancy one when this is done.”
“Nice sentiment, but I’m craving Thai. If you know a place that does better spring rolls and green curry than Tik, I’d like to hear about it. Besides, I’d be happy to curl up on the sofa and watch a Clint Eastwood flick with you after dinner.”
“Okay, Tik’s cooking and an Eastwood movie it is.”
“I can taste it already, babe.”
Jake smiled at Equilibrium’s use of the term of endearment. His relationship with the beautiful and reclusive hacker was his first truly intimate, long-term bond. And while neither was in a hurry to push things along, they’d grown closer than anyone in their lines of work could reasonably expect. “Looking forward to it, Angie,” Jake said, using the only proper name by which he knew her. “And thanks for your help.”
“De nada,” she said. “Later.”
Priest turned to the back seat and gave his brother a wink. Dozer knew better than to tease Jake about being in a committed relationship, but Jake picked up on their silent interaction. “Not a word, boys,” he said. “Not a damned word.”
Dozer mimed a zipper across his lips, while Priest just grinned.
“So,” Priest said. “What’s the big plan, Jakey?”
“I’m going to see Director Ballantyne, and I need you to perform one of your Aboriginal confession tricks in Arlington. But for now, we drop Dozer off at my place while you and I pick up some gear.”
“My shoulder’s fine,” Dozer interrupted. “I don’t need any special bloody treatment, mate.”
“Don’t get your panties in a bunch, big fella,” Jake said. “Priest can handle this by himself – and you’ve had a 9 mm slug through your shoulder.”
“Besides,” Priest added, “I reckon you and Tik could do with some alone time. That little woman’ll be all over you like ants on Pavlova, mate.”
Jake and Priest laughed at Dozer’s embarrassed protestations until he gave up trying. He was secretly happy at the prospect of some uninterrupted time with Tik, but wasn’t about to admit it to his older brother.
“She’s a good little nurse, too,” Jake said. “Should have you back in the saddle in no time.”
Jake and Priest laughed again, but this time Dozer wasn’t biting. “Whatever, mate,” he said. “As long as it gets me away from you two clowns.”
“Do I finally get a ride in that airplane of yours?” Priest asked Jake. “I’ve been hearing about your King Air for ages. I’d love to see it.”
“I’ll take you both for a spin when this is all over, but it’s not practical for this trip. It’s only two-hundred and twenty miles, and with flight preparation and landing times, it’ll be quicker to drive.”
“I don’t doubt it,” Dozer said. “How fast can this rocket-sled on wheels go?”
“Want to find out?” Jake asked, stamping on the gas.
The customized and lightened Audi A8’s twin-turbos whined at full revolutions, dumping over five-hundred horsepower onto the road through its sophisticated all-wheel drive system.
“Whoa there, Jakey boy,” Priest said through gritted teeth. “We get your point.”
“Bugger that,” Dozer said. “Give it to her, mate – let’s go!”
“We don’t need the attention,” Jake said, easing off the power. “Suffice to say we’ll get where we’re going pretty damned quick once we hit open road.”
“What about the coppers?” Priest asked.
“That’s what we’ve got radar detection and a computer hacker for. Equilibrium will guide us through the hot spots, and the detector will pick up anything she can’t find.”
As they rounded the corner to Jake’s building, he went silent, focusing on the roadside.
“What’s up?” Priest asked.
“We’ve got company. The guy pretending to read the paper inside that restaurant – same guy in different clothes was there before we left for Kiev.”
“Who do you think it is?”
“My money’s on DARPA, but who knows? Point is, someone knows where my place is, and I don’t like that.”
“You want me to take care of him after you’re gone?” Dozer asked. “I bet people disappear all the time in this city.”
“I’m sure they do, Dozer. But there’s no way he can get in, so I’d rather let him waste his time until we find out what’s going on.”
Jake pressed his garage door remote and guided the Audi up to a hidden panel in the wall. As he slid his window down, the outer door closed behind them, and Jake redialed Equilibrium. He opened the panel to reveal a sophisticated biometric security system and placed his hand on the screen. The huge solid-steel blast-door opened as Equilibrium answered his call.
“Up for some multitasking?” Jake asked her.
“You know it.”
“Access my exterior security cameras. There’s a guy in a restaurant across the street. He’s pretending to–”
Before he co
uld finish, Equilibrium said, “Read a newspaper? Yeah, I’ve been watching him the last couple of days. He’s definitely got his eye on you.”
“Have you run facial rec?”
“Yup. He looks pretty good for a dead man.”
“DARPA it is,” Jake said to the Australians. “We’ll stick to the plan and let him be for now. We don’t know if he’s legit or running an off-book op. I guess we’ll find out eventually. Thanks again, babe.”
“Now it’s ‘babe’? I kinda like the sound of that. Safe trip.”
Jake drove into the main garage. The trio once again made the trip past Jake’s specialized vehicles and up the stairs.
“That’s two trips you owe us, Jakey,” Dozer said. “One on the bikes, and one on the plane.”
“And you know I keep my promises,” Jake said, opening the door. “Now, get in there and give Tik your best little-boy-lost look, Dozer. Priest and I have got some weapons to choose.”
Dozer rolled his eyes and followed the others in. Passing the living room, Jake gave Tik a quick hello and led Priest through to the armory. The little Laotian sat on Jake’s oversized leather sofa, watching the television in her pajamas. She said hi, but didn’t look up from her movie until Dozer took a seat beside her.
“Why you not go with Jake?” she asked, turning to look at the big Aussie. Then she suddenly sat bolt upright, reaching for Dozer’s shoulder. Blood had soaked through his shirt into his jacket, leaving a dark brown stain on the outside of his sleeve. “What happen?” she almost yelled.
“Had an argument with a 9 mm,” Dozer said. “No big deal – some doctor already stitched it.”
“Bullshit! You take off jacket.” She was already moving toward the kitchen.
Dozer began to comply, gingerly pulling at his left sleeve. Swelling had set in, and the dampened material wouldn’t budge from his arm. Tik returned and set to work at once with scissors to cut the sleeve up the middle as Dozer protested in vain.
“Do you know how hard it is to get a jacket in my size?” he asked.
“Yes. I buy for Jake many time.”
“Oh, come on now, little lady – Jake’s a big boy,” Dozer flexed his good arm. “But he ain’t packin’ guns like these.”
“Stupid men,” Tik scolded. “Think everything about muscle. Muscle not stop bullet – see?”
“Yeah, fair call, love.”
“Love?” Tik jerked away. “What you talk about ‘love’?”
“Settle down, darlin’ – it’s just a friendly Aussie expression.”
Tik shook her head angrily. “Crazy Aussie man! Bloody this and bloody that. I reckon this, and I reckon that. She be right, mate. He not a bad bloke, mate. Stupid talk – why you alway talk silly talk?”
Dozer took his verbal beating on the chin until Tik was finished, then looked deep into her eyes. The chemistry took immediate effect. They both leaned in to kiss passionately, separating only for a moment as though surprised by their own actions. But there it was again. Tik grabbed the back of the big man’s head, pulling him to her again.
“Oy, oy, oy – that’ll be enough of that,” Priest called out as he and Jake returned from the armory. Priest held up his bag of goodies for his brother to see. “Here’s me off to work again, and you’re in here smooching it up with the cook. Bloody hell, mate!”
The lovebirds turned to look at Priest. Dozer’s mouth was covered with heavily smudged lipstick. Jake and Priest both broke into laughter, dropping their heavy bags to the floor. Only then did Tik look back at Dozer and see his clown lips. She quickly succumbed to the comical vision and began to giggle. Dozer was mystified. He didn’t know what they were laughing at, but it was contagious, and he couldn’t help but join in.
Priest picked up his bag and walked toward the sofa. “Good onya, Bozo the Clown,” he said to Dozer. “Go look in a mirror. You look like our Grandma Phillips after a few gin and tonics.” His chest heaving with laughter, Priest turned to Jake. “Come on, Jakey, let’s get out of here, and leave these two alone. My gut can’t take any more of this.”
*****
Nearing the outskirts of Arlington, Virginia, Jake called Equilibrium again. “We’re five minutes out,” he said into his Bluetooth headset. “Any update?”
“Nothing’s changed,” the hacker replied. “His SUV’s still in the parking lot. I suggest your guy waits near the vehicle.”
“Sounds good – have you got the tags?”
Equilibrium gave them details of the SUV and its license plate number, while Priest readied his equipment. The Audi pulled over a hundred yards from the parking lot entrance, and Priest jumped out. Jake watched the Aussie disappear through some bushes then drove off, turning the car toward Langley. But Jake had one important stop to make before he went to see Director Ballantyne.
An hour and a half later, Jake had cleared security at CIA headquarters. The phone call he’d made to the Director’s assistant several hours earlier had obviously had the desired effect. The former CIA Special Operations Group member was led through the building directly to Ballantyne’s office. His guide walked him straight past the Director’s secretary in the outer office and opened the door for Jake, before turning to walk away without a word.
Jake stepped through the opening, where two imposing security officers in suits and ties stood at the ready. As the men approached to frisk him, Jake turned to the Director seated at his desk. Jake tilted his head toward the security men. “Seriously?” he said.
Director Ballantyne smiled. “Sorry, Jake, it’s protocol. That’s enough, gentlemen. If this man wanted to hurt me, you’d both be unconscious or dead already.”
The guards shot Jake an incredulous look, but complied with Ballantyne’s order, backing away suspiciously.
“Give us the room please,” Ballantyne said.
“Sir?” one guard began.
“I wasn’t being melodramatic about his capabilities. Leave us!”
“We’ll be right outside,” the other guard said as he closed the door behind them.
As Jake walked over to take a seat across the desk from the Director, Ballantyne apologized. “Sorry for the formalities, but you can’t blame them for doing their jobs.”
“I understand – orders are orders, right?”
“That’s true. But believe me, Shane wasn’t under orders. His staged death and deep cover were all his idea. I know what you think of bureaucrats, Jake – and to be honest, I generally agree with your sentiments, but it wasn’t my idea to keep the truth from you. It was a matter of necessity for Shane’s plan to work.”
“I’m still listening – for now. But I’d better hear something convincing very soon.”
“I know that’s not an idle threat, but let’s cut to the chase, shall we? The only reason you’re here is because your brother obviously told you before he died to come see me. So the question is, do you go with your base instincts or do you trust Shane Burton’s final words?”
Jake lifted his left wrist to look at his watch, then turned his gaze back to Ballantyne without a word.
“I’ll get to the point,” Ballantyne said. “We believe your parents’ death was orchestrated and covered up by a cohort of very powerful men.”
“And you sold this shit to Shane? I find that hard to believe.”
“I didn’t have to sell anything to Shane. At the same time we got our information, he’d turned up something on his own – quite by accident. What he found made him distrust his chain of command, so he came to me. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn’t spare the time for such a meeting – even with a decorated Navy SEAL – but he was your brother, and you were a vital part of one of our elite operations groups. I thought he was due the courtesy.”
“Enough – quit blowing smoke up my ass,” Jake said.
“I’m not, Jake,” Ballantyne continued. “I was always fully aware of your value to the agency. More times than I care to remember, our operational successes have come from the actions of a single man when our well-in
tentioned code of teamwork would have failed. As much as I find that fact disturbing in itself, you were that man. As you know, we eventually grew to appreciate the benefits of you functioning as a lone wolf, so your operational value flourished. That’s why I gave your brother some preferential treatment.
“The upshot is, Shane brought what he found to me. I’d already researched his service record, so on hearing his suspicions I upgraded his security clearance and read him in on what we had. Our combined intel indicated the possible existence of a well-funded, well-organized conspiracy of the highest order. The level of secrecy they’d managed to maintain was startling – even to me. Shane suggested an idea, and together we worked that idea into a plan. But in order for our plan to succeed, we needed to be every bit as carefully clandestine as our quarry.
“Shane knew the effect his staged death would have on you, but he was willing to make the sacrifice. He also knew his chances of success were slim at best – in fact, neither one of us thought he would survive as long as he did. But a talent for spycraft obviously runs in your family. Shane’s cover held firm, and his infiltration exceeded all expectations. He climbed the ladder in Ugolev’s organization with surprising speed. Of course, a few well-timed hits on his potential competitors helped, but most of it was Shane. His abilities to convince, combined with his formidable physical skills were what drove his rapid rise through the syndicate ranks.
“He soon caught the eye of Ugolev’s biological father, Vasily Koskov – our true intended target, and founding member of the cabal that took your parents’ lives. But as much as I hate to say it, your parents’ deaths were purely incidental to a much darker plan. A plan so deep and dangerous, it could bring the world to the brink of the most devastating war in history.
“There was no way Shane could have gotten close to Koskov directly, so our plan was for him to get close to the Russian’s illegitimate son, Sergey Ugolev. The day before he died, Shane had finally made the first step in gaining Koskov’s personal confidence. If not for the cunning of that rogue Romanian gangster, Gyorgi Albescu, I’m confident Shane would be taking his first steps toward a new cover within Koskov’s own inner circle.” Recognizing his own insensitivity, Ballantyne added, “I don’t mean to be callous, Jake, but the mission was more important to Shane than his own life – I’m just trying to get you up to speed.”
The Killing Chase (Beach & Riley Book 2) Page 25