Maya heard the large engine and glanced right. Out of the corner of her eye she saw a dark vehicle, larger than a car, but she couldn’t be sure. The man in front of her slowed and reached back with his hand. Maya took it and felt herself being pulled forward. Then as the van swerved in next to them the man flung her towards the open sliding door. She somehow made it through the door and into someone’s waiting arms. The man came in next and he barked an order. The van door slammed shut as the driver gunned the engine and the van propelled forward.
Her rescuer was tossed unceremoniously to the back of the van, his body being tossed like a rag doll. Someone flicked on the overhead light and whoever was holding Maya asked, “Still in one piece?”
Rubbing his head from the collision with the back door, the man said, “I’m fine.”
Maya went to him.
“Judah?!”
He grinned.
“When did you know it was me?” he asked.
“When you sprinted in front of me,” Maya answered, returning his grin.
“Are you sure it wasn’t when I whispered in your ear?”
Maya shook her head in exasperation but laughed. “You haven’t changed one bit.”
Judah shrugged, his youthful features taking Maya back to when she’d first met Judah Burns. They’d only been eighteen at the time, both fresh-faced and determined to graduate at the top of their basic training class. Rivals at the beginning, the two teenagers had soon found they had much in common, namely a proclivity for hard work and a natural talent for languages. On their down time the two would square off like live stand-up comedy. Maya was the master of American English, particularly from the deep south, and Judah did the most hilarious Russian impressions.
In the end, Judah graduated at the top of their class and Maya second. It was not the last time they would meet.
“It seems that I am now in your debt,” she said.
“Does that mean you’ll finally go on a date with me?” Judah did his best starry-eyed lover impression. It was always the same with Judah. While Maya considered herself pretty, and at times beautiful depending on the time of day, what she wore, and the amount of makeup she sometimes donned, Judah Burns could have been a model. He’d put those good looks to use not only with many of the women who couldn’t resist his charms, but also he’d turned it into a tool in his current line of work.
“You’re not still dating that French model, you know, the one with the rich daddy?”
Judah snorted like he had never done such a thing in his life.
“I would rather date someone who is beautiful and smarter than me,” he said.
Maya bit back a blush, suddenly realizing that there were four other people listening in on their conversation. Reality came crashing down around her. The chase. The silenced rounds. Maya’s mind snapped back to the business at hand – staying alive.
“How did you find me?”
The smile slipped from Judah’s handsome face.
“I can’t tell you.”
He was serious. It was probably because his men were there.
“And who were the ones shooting at us?”
“I don’t know.”
Judah could be infuriating. One minute he was flirting with her and the next he was playing master of intrigue.
Maya glared at him but he did not budge.
“Can you at least tell me who sent you?”
Judah nodded, exchanging a glance with the man who’d caught her.
“Your aunt.”
“Hannah?”
“Yes.”
“How did she know where I was? I didn’t…”
“It’s not important, Maya.”
She could have punched him in that moment. Of course it was important. She was a professional, and they’d tracked her down in a matter of hours. The thought sent shivers up and down her spine. Maya took a calming breath.
“Where are you taking me?”
“You’ll see. I’ll tell you everything when we get there.”
Judah then got up and made his way to the front of the paneled van, plopping himself into the passenger seat. He could be so infuriating.
Maya estimated they’d been on the road for just over twenty minutes when the van pulled curbside. One of Judah’s men slid the side door open and held out his hand to help her out. She ignored it and stepped out onto a brightly lit sidewalk, immediately recognizing they had arrived at the airport.
Judah got out and motioned for her to follow. They’d walked fifty feet when he stopped and produced a large manila envelope from his coat.
“Your flight leaves in thirty minutes. It won’t wait.”
Maya unclasped the envelope and pulled out the smallest item - a passport. She opened it and found her own image staring back at her. It was her face accompanied with a new name. There was also a stack of stapled papers and a cashier’s check made out to the person on the passport.
“I don’t understand.” she said. “Where am I going?”
“You’re listed on the manifest as a courier with diplomatic privileges. The rest of the passengers are diplomats, lobbyists and low-level government employees. It’s a private charter so it shouldn’t be hard keeping to yourself.”
“Judah, I don’t understand. Where am I going?”
“To America.”
“What? Why?”
“Your aunt thought it would be the safest place for you now.”
America? Why America? And then his words sunk in.
“You said for now. When am I coming back?”
Judah looked away, pretending like he was scanning the area, but Maya knew better. He was avoiding her.
“I asked, when am I coming back?”
“I don’t know, okay?” He looked as upset as she felt. “Look, I shouldn’t be telling you this, but you’re not safe here anymore. We have not identified the people who killed Colonel Osman or the ones who were following you. You have to board the plane now, Maya. Then read what’s in the envelope.”
“You haven’t read it?”
“No. Your aunt said it was intended only for you.”
“And is she safe?”
“Yes.”
“Are you sure?” Maya pressed.
“She said she was as safe as possible.”
There were so many questions that Maya wanted to ask. How she wished she could speak to Hannah. Maybe she could on the plane, or maybe once they’d landed.
“Maya, you need to go. They won’t hold the plane.”
She didn’t want to be mad at Judah. It wasn’t his fault this had happened. He’d even saved her life less than an hour before. But, he was the only person she could unleash her anger on.
“Fine, thanks.”
She pushed past him, ignoring his goodbye. If she said anything she knew the tears would come.
Ten minutes later, she was sitting in the over-sized leather chair on the posh private charter, holding a mimosa in her hand. The plane taxied to the runway and Maya looked out the window as the first glimmers of light tickled the horizon. Judah was right where she’d left him, by the fence, watching her depart. He waved to the plane and without thinking she waved back even though he couldn’t possibly see her. A moment later he retreated and returned to the black van.
The jet’s engine growled as the pilot announced that they were about to take off. Maya’s eyes were still glued on the van. Then, just as the jet roared to life and launched down the runway, Judah’s van exploded in a fiery ball.
Maya let out a silent scream as the aircraft catapulted into the air.
Chapter 12
Wild Dunes
Isle of Palms, South Carolina
August 28th, 10:12am
Cal winced and put a hand to his eyes when he emerged from the master bedroom. The sunlight was blinding and it didn’t help his pounding head.
“Good morning,” a voice said from the nook just off the kitchen. It took Cal’s addled mind a moment to realize it was Daniel. He squinted and saw the sn
iper reading a newspaper at the kitchen table.
“What time is it?” Cal asked, shuffling to the fridge.
“Just after ten.”
“Is anyone else up?”
“Top stopped by after his run. Said he was picking up coffee and breakfast stuff for everybody.”
Cal groaned at the thought of exercise and food. His body was not getting any younger and a night of hard drinking couldn’t just be shaken off anymore. He’d given Diane the bed while he slept on the floor. That only added to his aches and pains.
Cal grabbed a glass from the cabinet and filled it with tap water. He pounded one glass and then a second. It didn’t help his rumbling stomach or the headache, but it did clear away some of the cobwebs.
He took a seat across from Daniel, easing his way down gingerly as he felt the prickles rack his skin.
“I hope you’re happy,” Cal mumbled.
“Happy about what?” Daniel asked.
Cal looked up in confusion. “What? Oh, no, sorry. I was thinking out loud. Actually, I was talking to Trav. Bastard wanted a throw-down party and I’d say we gave him one.”
His memory of the end of the night was spotty. He did remember howling as Top did cartwheels down the beach and Gaucho followed with much less grace, more of a tumbling rock than a gymnast.
Daniel chuckled. “We’ve got one bottle left. You sure you don’t want a little hair of the dog?”
Cal gave him a disgusted look followed by a middle finger.
The sound of the master bedroom opening made Cal swivel in his chair. He felt his heart race a few beats faster. While he didn’t remember everything that had happened during the party, he could clearly see Diane’s face in the firelight. She’d enjoyed herself as much as the rest of the team, but they’d said maybe ten words to one another last night, and five of those were, “You can have the bed.”
Diane came out of the master bedroom with sunglasses in her hand. She quickly put them on when the sun assaulted her senses.
“Please tell me you have coffee,” she said, trudging into the kitchen.
“Top’s gone to get some,” Cal said.
Diane nodded and flopped down in the seat next to Cal. Without asking, she grabbed his half-full glass and chugged the water.
“I can’t remember the last time I had that much to drink,” Diane said, handing the glass to Cal and motioning for more water. Cal was happy to comply.
“Daniel says we didn’t kill it all. Can I interest you in a shot of Jack to go with your water?”
Diane rolled her eyes with a moan. She chugged the second glass like a recruit at boot camp and then stood up suddenly.
“I need to go for a walk,” she said, looking to Cal. “Coming?”
Cal nodded and tried to ignore the sly grin on Daniel’s face.
“Let me get my sunglasses.”
The cool breeze coming off the Atlantic greeted the pair as they emerged from the sandy path and stepped out onto the beach. It was probably 75 degrees but with the wind it felt more like 65 degrees.
They walked north, neither saying a word as they skirted the surf through ankle-deep water. Cal thought about all the times he’d walked the same stretch of beach during the preceding months. Not once had he felt the way he did now, his feet tingling from bubbling surf and his nose inhaling the perfect salt air. He felt like he was coming back to life. Everything felt new and untainted.
And then there was Diane. He suddenly felt the overwhelming urge to hold her, to smell her hair and taste her lips. But he didn’t do any of those things. Instead he kept walking.
“How have you been?” he asked after he’d finally gotten up the nerve to speak.
“How do you think I’ve been?” she said, an edge to her tone that she’d never leveled at him. “I’m sorry.” Diane stopped. Her right hand reached out and touched his arm. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
Cal shook his head.
“It’s my fault. I’m the one who ran away.”
“You were in pain.”
“I was, but it wasn’t fair just leaving you like that. I can’t imagine how that made you feel.”
Diane let out a nervous laugh. “It wasn’t pretty. I was a wreck. Top would stop by every couple of days to check on me. He was really sweet and he even brought me dinner when he could tell I wasn’t eating.” The thought of Diane in pain made Cal’s heart ache. He’d done this to her. “But I got through it. We all did. Jonas said I could stop by The Jefferson Group whenever I wanted and for a while I did. I hope they didn’t get sick of me. I just…I had this crazy feeling that one day you’d walk through the front door and everything would be exactly like it had been.” Diane’s voice trailed off sending the dagger deeper into Cal’s gut. He took her hand in his. She didn’t let go.
“The day Trav died, a part of me died too,” Cal said, vocalizing the pain that he was only now beginning to comprehend. “He was the only family I had left. He was more like my brother and for months the only way I could remember him was from the last time I saw him with blood on his face and those eyes staring into nothingness —” The image stormed into his brain but this time he was able to push it away replacing it with a happier memory of the good times he’d had with his cousin. “I’ve lost people before, only this time it felt so final, like everything had been taken. I wasn’t in a place mentally where I could be any good to you. I honestly never expected you to talk to me again.”
Diane squeezed his hand. “I’m here now.”
“I know.”
“And you were wrong.”
“About what?”
“You have family. Neil, Top, Jonas and the rest of your guys. I mean, the president is one of your best friends. You’re not alone, Cal. You’ll never be alone.”
“What about you? Are we still friends?” The words felt childish, but Cal didn’t care. Diane nodded. “Is there a chance we can be more than friends again?”
Diane stepped closer and said, “We’ll take it slow, okay?”
Hope sprouted in Cal’s chest, warm and inviting. Her answer was more than he’d believed himself worthy of.
“I’m good with slow,” he said.
Diane grinned. “But not too slow.” She squeezed his hand again and they stood there for a minute, just enjoying the morning and each other.
By the time they arrived back at the house, Diane had filled Cal in on her studies and her career path. She’d graduated from UVA in May and was temporarily assigned to the Naval ROTC unit until a slot opened up for the Naval Intelligence basic course in Dam Neck, Virginia. Cal was happy that she was pursuing her dream to be an intelligence officer. Her experience as an enlisted intelligence analyst would only add to her considerable skill as an officer. She’d be a valuable asset to any command, and at one point Cal had even entertained offering her a position within TJG. Maybe it was better that they kept their professional lives separate.
They were still holding hands when they entered Cal’s vacation rental. The Secret Service agent at the door nodded a curt hello and said something into his mic. Cal and Diane followed the sounds of happy chatter and the smells of coffee and breakfast.
When they entered the kitchen, the whole gang was there. They were spread around the room eating bagels and sipping coffee, everyone except Daniel. Trent and the Secret Service agents looked like they’d just woken up. The president was sitting on the couch nursing a mug of coffee as he talked with Jonas. They both looked up when Cal and Diane walked in.
“Well, good morning, sunshine,” Cal said, letting go of Diane’s hand and taking a seat next to Brandon. Diane went in search for coffee.
“I think Travis would’ve been proud of the mess we made of ourselves,” Brandon said, rubbing his head like it would help the pounding.
“How's your detail feel about it?”
Brandon chuckled.
“I don’t think they’re too happy about the leader of the free world getting hammered, but they’ll get over it.”
Diane
was back a second later with a mug of steaming coffee for Cal. He took it gratefully and Diane left to give them some privacy.
“So, what’s new? What did I miss during my sabbatical?” Cal asked, taking a sip of his coffee.
“Have you not seen the news?” Brandon asked, one eyebrow raised.
“No, not a bit.”
Brandon and Jonas exchanged amused looks.
“Let’s just say that in your absence I’ve somehow managed to stir up a virtual hornet’s nest on the world stage.”
“Would you care to elaborate?”
Brandon nodded and told him about the speech at the U.N. and the resulting tsunami of confusion.
“What brought that up? Something you’ve been planning for a while?” Cal asked, surprised that his friend would go out on such a shaky limb. It wasn’t that he didn’t agree with Brandon, but to say those things in a public forum, and especially at the United Nations of all places seemed more than a bit out of bounds.
“Would you believe me if I said I thought it’s what you and Travis would’ve done?”
“You’re serious?”
“I am.”
“But you’re the president. Aren’t you supposed to be more politically correct than us dumb grunts?”
“Watch who you’re calling a dumb grunt!” Trent bellowed from across the room. It seemed that everyone was listening in.
“I guess I just thought that I needed to shake things up.”
“Well you sure did that!” laughed Gaucho from his perch at the bar.
“So what’s your plan?” Cal asked, warming to the idea as his mind continued to wake after months of long hibernation.
“Well, I was just talking to Jonas about that. Now that you’re back, I was hoping you guys could help us track down some of our leads.”
“What leads?”
“We’re already seeing a lot of money being moved, lots of chatter in social media and over the cell networks. The NSA and CIA are working overtime to find the commonalities to gather the intel we can exploit.”
“So, what you’re saying is that you beat the bushes and now the rats are running for new places to hide,” Cal said, imagining the panic in places like Iraq, where U.S. dollars had filled the pockets of officials and criminals alike.
The Zimmer Doctrine (Corps Justice Book 11) Page 6