Now the hard part began.
He’d once promised himself he could be patient and wait for Kelsey. It was time to put that to the test.
24.
Tuesday. Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Washington, DC.
Skilton stretched out on the bed in the private cabin part of the plane. There were just a few more hours to go until they took flight. He couldn’t exactly rest. Not until they were in the air.
Americans were unpredictable. It was why he preferred not to do business with them and even more of a reason to stay out of this country. Dixon had been the perfect puppet. Skilton had operated through him without having to deal with the hassle.
He was getting too old for this job. Unfortunately, there was only one way out of this profession and he wasn’t ready to die yet.
Just a few more hours...
WEDNESDAY. RONALD REAGAN Washington National Airport. Washington, DC.
Kelsey strained to listen past Dixon’s labored breathing for any sound. Any at all.
They’d released her from her bonds for a while earlier. Mostly so she could use the toilet and bolt some food. Those were positive signs in her book. You didn’t feed someone you intended to kill. What was the point?
Case in point, Dixon.
They’d given him water, but not much else. It was clear to her that Dixon’s presence served two purposes. One, he was a potential hostage if anything happened before they departed. Two, Skilton intended to make a very painful example out of the man.
She had to get off this plane before they departed.
There was no way to get herself free from the flexible, plastic cuffs without a sharp tool. If she had any hope of saving herself, that was her first obstacle.
A shadowy figure stepped into view down the aisle of the plane.
“Pst,” she whispered.
The man turned his head and looked at her a moment before walking her way. He was quiet, but there was no way for someone of his size to be utterly silent. He came to a stop a few feet away.
“Think a girl could go to the bathroom? I know it’s inconvenient and all, but I’ve really got to go.”
He stared at her.
“Banyo? Um, sale de bains? Bagno?” Shit, how many more could she come up with? Who would have known those lists about how to ask for a bathroom in other languages would be useful?
The man grunted and bent.
“Oh, thank goodness,” she whispered.
He produced a pocket knife and easily sliced through the plastic tie connecting her bound wrists to the chair.
“Thanks,” she muttered. “I’ll be quick I promise.”
He grabbed her by the collar and hoisted her to her feet.
She hissed, unprepared for the sudden stabbing sensation in her legs. He shoved her toward the back of the plane. She staggered forward, doing her best not to grin with glee.
Step one had worked beautifully. She couldn’t have done better if she’d scripted it.
Kelsey focused on the galley ahead. When she’d first come through earlier she hadn’t been prepared to act. That, and there’d been too many people around.
Her captor didn’t seem concerned with staying on her heels, which was all the better for her. She reached the galley and staggered into the wall.
Now.
This was it.
Kelsey reached blindly into the darkness and found her holstered gun. The bullets had been removed from it, so the gun itself wasn’t useful. But no one had done anything with her stiletto knife. It was still in the sheath. Chances were, no one had noticed it. She pulled it from the sheath and held it along her arm, praying the man at her back didn’t become suspicious.
“I’ll be quick,” she said again and reached for the door with her other hand, keeping the knife out of sight.
Her heart pounded as she ducked into the tiny stall and secured the door.
“Holy shit. Holy shit,” she muttered to herself and held up the knife.
She’d done it.
The weak lights gleamed off the blade. She’d had to order it from a specialty store for it to be the right dimensions. Her partner at the time had mocked her, and now it was this knife that might very well save her.
With this, she could get free. But all in the right time.
She slid the knife into her boot.
Escaping right now wasn’t an option. Though the exterior door was open for a clean exit, Skilton had too many people around. No, she needed to wait until there were more people around. People who might be on her side. Who might call for help if they saw a woman struggling.
Truth was she didn’t have to get away. She just had to slow them down and buy time for someone to see her. If she blew their cover, chances were she would be saved.
WEDNESDAY. FEDERAL Detention Center. Washington, DC.
Logan gulped the awful coffee. It was so sweet it made his teeth hurt. If he had to guess, Felecia had made this pot.
The atmosphere in the room was tense. Everyone had their station and their list or a map or a task. If people weren’t focused on finding Skilton, and by extension Kelsey and Dixon, they were sleeping.
Now that Skilton had what he wanted, they’d all agreed that it wasn’t likely he’d stay in the country given what Karen had said about Skilton’s dislike of the US.
Diha had found roughly forty-seven potential individuals or companies who had planes arriving within the timeframe of Skilton’s arrival.
“Logan?” Diha’s soft voice cut through the room like a chilling knife.
He met her gaze.
“I have the security video,” she said.
Logan left his list of recent arrests and walked toward Diha’s desk. His body felt numb, and it was hard to swallow. Tucker and Harper squeezed in behind him.
“Play it,” he said.
Diha pressed a key on her laptop and stepped back. “She’s alive.”
Logan bent forward and watched the black and white feed. It was crystal clear, allowing him to see every aching detail.
Kelsey had hold of Dixon, as if he were an unruly toddler trying to get away from her. Her head whipped one way then the other.
Was she trapped?
Logan curled his hands into fists.
The back of two men in tactical gear slowly came into view.
“Everest Security,” he snarled.
“What the hell are they thinking?” Harper muttered.
Logan crossed his arms over his chest to keep from punching the screen. “My guess? Skilton hired them, then waved more money around if they’d do exactly as he said. Lot of guys out there who’ll do things for money.”
An older man rounded the corner. Kelsey turned to face him as he spoke. There was some exchange. Words spoken. And then Kelsey stood down. The men closed in, stripping her of her firearm and secured her wrists.
“The video is excellent quality. And there are other shots of his face.” Diha paused the video and zoomed in. “We’ve got him. I’m working on getting this shot to every agency. With luck, by the end of today we’ll know his whole life story.”
Cat stretched her arms up over her head. “I’m printing the list of flights departing today.”
Logan turned from the laptop toward the printer. “Give it to me.”
He needed something to do.
The printer slowly spat out the first page of the list.
Kelsey was alive.
Why? What purpose did she serve? Would they find her dead, mangled body somewhere? Or was there another plan in the works?
He picked up the first sheet of paper and tried to refocus his mind, but seeing Kelsey like that rattled him.
Focus.
He needed to focus.
None of the flights on his list were commercial. Someone like Skilton would want to travel privately, where he wouldn’t be seen. There was a reason no one had his face on camera until now. The man was beyond careful, so they couldn’t rely on cameras picking him up to tell them where he was or what hi
s movements were.
He skimmed the list of cargo planes and private citizens. Diha had pulled the country of origin to include on the list, thereby giving them more data. While it wasn’t impossible for Skilton to use an American citizen or company’s resources, it seemed unlikely given his aversion.
He frowned at one line for an Austrian diplomat’s plane. “What does the asterisk mean?”
“Um, let me check,” Diha muttered and tapped her keys.
How she did ten things at once and still paused to answer each question was beyond him. When this was over, they all deserved a long Christmas break. It wasn’t likely to happen, but a guy could dream.
“Oh. So the asterisk means that the flight plan changed. Either a different route, or they moved the departure date. Let me look at that one.” She spoke slowly as she typed.
All of the bells in Logan’s head were ringing.
“A diplomat and a flight change?” he repeated out loud.
Diha nodded. Her eyes had gone large, probably because she’d made the same connection as he.
Tucker came to stand next to Logan. “What’s going on?”
Neither Diha nor Logan answered.
He was holding his breath, unwilling to breathe a word of it.
Diha’s head snapped up. “They moved the flight up by four days. They were supposed to leave Sunday, which would be—”
“After the senator’s party,” Logan said almost in perfect synch with her. “Get me all you have on that diplomat and the plane. Where’s it now? Who is flying? A warrant, if possible?”
Diha shook her head. “It’s a diplomatic plane. Without tangible proof, no judge is going to sign off on that. I don’t know that they even can...”
Logan’s gut twisted into knots. “I’m going. Send me the details.”
“Logan,” Diha called out.
He didn’t hear what else she said.
This was the only thing they’d found all night that came close to holding water. He’d be damned if he didn’t look. Especially because the plane was due to leave at ten. That was six hours from now. Not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things.
Harper caught up to Logan. “You going to give the others a chance to come, bro?”
“I need to get there,” was all Logan could say.
Harper shook his head. “Do you know how to get out of here?”
That made Logan pause.
Harper snorted a laugh. “Come on, let’s get gear and go. I can show your dumb ass how to get out of here.”
They turned and headed back the way they’d come. Logan still hadn’t oriented himself to the rooms in this part of the detention center. They all looked the same.
“In here.” Harper gestured to a small, dark room.
Normally it would be a one-person office. For now, it appeared to be a room full of bags. Harper grabbed both of theirs and handed it to Logan. Their firearms would be in the secure lockers watched over by the detention officers closer to the exit.
Feet pounded the tile.
Logan glanced over his shoulder to see Jamie, Evan and Tucker sprinting down the hall. They skidded to a stop and Harper grabbed their bags, tossing them over.
“Zora will meet us there,” Tucker got out between breaths.
That made Logan pause.
Despite her words, he’d still feared she wouldn’t go after Kelsey.
Emotion clogged Logan’s throat. He was so damn grateful for these people.
“It’s just us then? For now?” he asked.
Tucker nodded. “For now.”
Logan wouldn’t have it any other way. These were the men he’d walk into hell with. They were the very best.
WEDNESDAY. RONALD REAGAN Washington National Airport. Washington, DC.
Kelsey balanced her knife hilt down on the floor while pressing the plastic band to the point. She thought she had it this time.
Carefully, she pressed down. Not too hard. She didn’t want to cut the bond. Not yet. Just perforate it. Things were still too quiet outside for her to make a move. The guards on duty hadn’t failed to make their passes on time for the last few hours. She couldn’t rely on someone getting sloppy.
Dixon’s breathing rattled, sounding worse now.
She’d tried talking to him earlier. He hadn’t responded. Not even a shake or nod of the head. For all she knew he could still be in shock. She doubted Skilton had used anesthesia for cutting his tongue out.
All of that could easily happen to her.
She doubted Skilton was merely keeping his options open or holding her as a hostage. He struck her as a man with multi-layered plans. She didn’t want to wait around to see what else he had in store for her.
Something creaked in the forward cabin.
Was someone coming?
Kelsey used her knees to pinch the stiletto knife and pull it from the plastic. It was awkward, but it got the job done and the blade free. She twisted her arms, picked the knife up, and shoved it into her boot again.
She was getting faster at this.
Leaning forward, she watched the shadows shift and move. They’d closed all the windows in the plane, creating a thick darkness inside.
A light came on.
She lifted a hand, shielding her eyes.
Was that a cell phone?
She swallowed as the light came closer.
The footsteps weren’t heavy, so this wasn’t the guard.
Shit.
Kelsey scooted back so no part of her was in the aisle.
The figure holding the phone stopped a few feet away. Close enough she was visible. She peered up at them, trying to see past the bright phone flashlight.
There was no missing the pale blue sweater.
Skilton had come to call on her.
“Morning,” she croaked.
“I suppose it is.”
He took another step closer, turned and sat in the very chair she was attached to. Even leaning back against her bonds, she was practically sitting at his knee.
“I imagine you aren’t terribly comfortable,” he said.
Kelsey lifted a shoulder. “I’ve been in worse positions.”
He flipped the phone light off. She heard a click and the overhead lamp came on, illuminating them both in soft, yellow light. It was easier on the eyes at least.
“My people, have they treated you well?” he asked.
“Well?” She swallowed her instinctive laugh. “I haven’t been beat up or raped, so I guess.”
“We all have our place in things.”
And hers was here? Or was he talking about something else?
She was too tired to make heads or tails of his cryptic statement.
“I’ve read up on your work history,” Skilton said.
“Did Nadine have nice things to say about me?”
“Not only Nadine.”
Kelsey stiffened. Who else was he talking to?
“Have you considered becoming a solo operator?” His tone was too casual, too light.
She snorted. “You expect me to believe that question just came to you? What do you want? Don’t bullshit me.”
Skilton inclined his head. “You are a woman caught in a tricky position. I cannot let you go. You cannot get away. Your worth to me is limited once we reach our destination.”
“And you’ll what? Give me work out of the goodness of your heart?” Her brain screamed at her to shut the fuck up. He had plans for her. If she could keep breathing, she could find a way out of here.
“You know things and have skills that have proven better than some of my own people. It’s merely an option.”
Kelsey swallowed. This time she was able to take command of her words before they flew out of her mouth. “I’ll think about it.”
“Very well.” He glanced at his phone. “We will be departing in a few hours. You may have the flight to ponder your options. A woman like you could do very well for herself.”
“Don’t you usually recruit people slower? Smoother, maybe
?”
He met her gaze. His blue eyes bored into hers. “Unintelligent people must be led to make the choice you want them to make. Intelligent ones can see the facts and make a decision. I estimate you are a very intelligent and capable woman, Ms. Young.”
Translation, he saw her as the weak link on their team. A person he could turn against the others.
It was damn insulting.
She kept her cool though. Instead of kicking him in the shin she smiled, preened a little even.
“Thank you,” she added.
“Whatever happened with Nadine? Where do you think she went?” His tone was casual, yet his words shocked her.
“I’d assumed she’d gone to you,” Kelsey said.
“No.” Skilton shook his head. “I’d have killed her. She’s somewhere now. I’d like to find her. Tie off loose ends.”
“You and me both,” she said.
He offered her a smile. “Maybe that will be your first assignment?”
Kelsey felt as though she were in a staring contest with a cobra. She didn’t like her odds.
WEDNESDAY. RONALD REAGAN Washington National Airport. Washington, DC.
Logan whipped the SUV into an employee parking lot. Tucker was the first out, moving to intercept a security guard Logan had driven past in his haste to get as close as he could to the entrance. Hell, he hadn’t even bothered with a parking spot.
He knew he was being rash. His better sense was telling him to slow down. Yet he couldn’t make himself follow through.
If there was any chance at all Kelsey was on that plane, he wasn’t going to allow it to take off.
She was smart. She’d do something to signal them. He believed in her.
“TL? TL, man, slow the fuck down.” Jamie caught up to him and grabbed his arm.
Logan resisted the urge to pull out of Jamie’s grasp.
“What’s gotten into you, man? Hold up just a damn second. Don’t go in alone.”
Logan nodded and let Jamie pull him to a stop.
“We all want to catch this guy and get Kelsey back, I swear,” Jamie said in a low voice. “But we do that together.”
“What time is it?” Logan asked.
“Just past five. We’ve got five hours to do this.”
Intercepted Risk (Aegis Group Task Force Book 5) Page 34