by S. E. Smith
A second later, he jumped over the railing after her. The dark water felt like it rose up to greet him. The chill in it forced out the air in his lungs. He kicked upward with strong, powerful strokes. His head broke the surface and he twisted in a tight circle, searching for Makayla. He turned his head when he felt a hand on his shoulder.
“Wh… What now?” She asked.
“Get on the board and hang on,” Brian said, swimming for the anchor.
Their location shielded them from the spotlight. Brian helped Makayla up onto the board and untied it from the chain. Using the side of the yacht to help give him momentum, he pushed off with his legs and began swimming. The shouts coming from the men on the yacht warned them that they had been spotted. A round of bullets littered the water around them a second before they were drowned out by the hum of a motor.
“Grab her!” Brian yelled to Tyrell the second the Zodiac was close enough.
“I’ve got her,” Tyrell said, leaning over and grabbing Makayla under the arms and lifting her out of the water like she was a child’s doll.
Brian rolled into the boat and onto his back. He motioned for Tyrell to go. Within seconds, they were speeding across the dark water of the bay. Brian grimaced when he felt the rope to the paddle board slip out of his numb fingers. He was going to owe Kevin a new one.
“Brian,” Makayla whispered, climbing along the bouncing boat on her hands and knees to where he was lying.
Brian rolled and shrugged off the backpack and opened his arms. He hugged Makayla’s shivering form against him. Twisting, he sat down with his back against the side and her in his lap. He nodded his thanks to Tyrell when the other man reached into the compartment under the console and handed him a thin blanket.
“Are you okay?” She whispered, turning her face up to him.
Brian looked down into her worried face and raised a hand to run his fingers down along her damp, chilled cheek. She was safe. He cupped her face with his hand and kissed her like he would never let her go.
27
Makayla sighed and snuggled closer to the hard, warm body pressed against her back. Her hand slid down the hairy arm encircling her until she could wrap her fingers around the hand splayed across her stomach. She dragged the large hand upward until it was free of the covers and pressed a kiss to the knuckles.
“Morning,” Brian murmured, his voice husky from sleep.
“Good morning,” she whispered, rolling onto her back so she could see his face. “You really are here.”
Brian raised his eyelids, suddenly wide awake. He stared into Makayla’s dark brown eyes for several long seconds, thinking the same thing. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth when she raised her eyebrow at him.
“Yeah, I’m really here,” he said, leaning forward and pressing a kiss to the tip of her nose. “What time is it?”
Makayla turned her head to check the clock on the nightstand and groaned. It was almost seven. They had only been asleep for a few hours. She winced when she felt some of the bruises and sore muscles that she had accumulated in the last few days.
Tilting her head, a soft giggle escaped her when she heard Henry’s loud snores echoing through the wall. She looked up when Brian rolled over on top of her. He held his weight up on his elbows while he slid the lower half of his body between her legs.
“Thank you,” she said, gazing up at him.
Brian shook his head. His throat worked up and down several times before he bowed his head and drew in a deep breath. She lifted her hands to cup his face. Her thumbs caressed the deep lines etched at the corner of his eyes.
“This job is going to make you an old man fast,” she observed, partially teasing and partially being brutally honest.
“I feel it,” he replied. “I love you, Makayla. I have to finish this assignment, but I promise things will change after it.”
Makayla shook her head. “I don’t want you to change unless it is what you want. And to clarify, we will finish this together,” she said. “We make a good team, Brian.”
Brian’s gaze softened. “Yeah, we do,” he replied in a soft voice, lowering his head to press a hard kiss against her lips.
They both turned their heads when a knock sounded on the door before it opened. Kevin peeked in and grinned. Makayla bit her lip when Brian scowled at his friend.
“Sorry, love birds, but daylight is a‘wasting. You need to get a move on. Your dastardly friend either is as good as I am or has a friend who is because they have hacked the code and are on the move to The Red Brick House,” Kevin said.
“How do you know they hacked it?” Brian asked, rolling off of Makayla and sitting up.
“I might have slipped a little added script in there to alert me,” Kevin replied with a grin. “Tyrell and Helen are waiting for you two.”
“Thanks,” Brian said, throwing the covers back and rising out of the bed when Kevin closed the door behind him.
Makayla rolled out of the other side and drew up the covers. She grabbed her clothes while Brian disappeared into the bathroom to change out of the jogging pants he was wearing and into some jeans. Makayla quickly removed the oversized T-shirt and sweatpants she was wearing and pulled on a fresh pair of jeans, bra, panties, and blouse from the closet.
Brian came out of the bathroom buttoning a black dress shirt. Her eyes greedily ran over his lean frame. A rosy blush swept over her cheeks when he looked up and caught her staring at him.
“I’ll be right out,” she muttered, stepping toward the bathroom.
“Makayla,” Brian murmured, touching her arm when she started by him.
“Yes?”
“I like the way you look at me,” he said, lifting his hand to brush the back of his knuckles along her cheek. “I like looking at you, too.”
The blush on her cheeks deepened and she ran her fingers along the rough whiskers lining his jaw in answer. She stepped away and hurried into the bathroom. Behind her, she heard the soft click of the bedroom door. She quickly used the bathroom and brushed her teeth and hair before pulling it up into a messy ponytail.
Makayla grabbed her purse, socks, and boots off the floor and hurried out the door. She gave the others an apologetic smile before sinking down into one of the chairs and slipping her socks on before pulling her boots on and tying them.
“Ready,” she said, glancing around the room, skipping over Tyrell’s grinning mug.
“Here’s something for you to eat,” Kevin said with a somewhat self-conscious look. “I may not be good at espionage stuff, but I make a damn good egg and cheese biscuit.”
“I think you do a marvelous job with espionage,” Helen murmured, reaching for the small bag he was holding.
Makayla grinned when Tyrell whistled under his breath. “I think there is some kind of love potion in the water around here,” he muttered, grabbing one of the bags off the counter. “I’ll meet you guys up at the car.”
Makayla smiled her thanks at Kevin when he walked over and handed her a bag. “I’ll keep an eye on Henry. Kyle is supposed to come by again later this morning to check on how he is doing. I’ll also be following your progress and helping remotely if I can,” Kevin muttered, glancing over at where Brian was checking weapons. “Good luck.”
Makayla rose and brushed a kiss across Kevin’s cheek. She could tell that the other man, for all his brash talk, was really just a shy nerd trying to cover it up. She squeezed his hand when he shot Helen a glance before looking away.
“Are you ready?” Brian asked.
“Yes,” Makayla said, picking up her purse and sliding it over her shoulder.
Kevin walked with them as far as the end of the dock. “Don’t you guys get kidnapped or shot or anything,” he called out from behind them.
“Yes, dear,” Tyrell called down from the car.
They all laughed when Kevin lifted both hands and shot Tyrell a double middle finger. Makayla knew she was still grinning when she reached the car. Tyrell gazed at her with a raised eyebrow.
Tyrell’s laughter was infectious. Brian pulled out of the parking lot while Tyrell told Helen about what had happened the night before again, this time with a little more exaggeration. Makayla sat back against the seat and pulled out one of the egg and cheese sandwiches in the bag and took a bite. Hopefully, today would be the end of this adventure and life would return to normal.
*.*.*
Ren Lu stood in the empty red brick building. The muscle in his jaw tightened before he forced himself to relax. Pulling out his cell phone, he looked at the image of the puzzles once again.
He drew in a deep breath, turned, and retraced his steps. The incident last night had shown him that he had underestimated Jacobs. The fisherman in the boat had turned out to be none other than Tyrell Richards. He had to hand it to the small group, considering that Detective Woo and Jacobs were the only ones trained and experienced enough to carry out such an operation, they had accomplished a very surprisingly successful mission. Makayla’s resourcefulness was also not lost on him.
He stepped out of the building and closed the door behind him. Crossing the street, he pulled his cell phone out when it vibrated. A look of distaste crossed his face when he saw Sun Yung-Wing’s number. He slid his finger across the screen and raised the phone to his ear.
“Yes,” he answered.
“They… They say time is up,” Sun Yung-Wing muttered in a desperate, disorganized sentence. “I’m out of time. You have to have the information.”
“Even with the information, your time is up, Mr. Sun,” Ren Lu stated, opening the door to his car and sliding in.
“You promised…,” Yung choked out.
“I promised I would protect your family and I have done that. My employment with you is now completed,” Ren Lu replied. “I suspect you will be dead by the end of the day.”
“You can’t quit,” Yung screamed into the phone.
Ren Lu ended the call. There was nothing he could do to save the other man even if he had wanted to. Sun Yung-Wing had made some deadly enemies, including some of the most powerful and ruthless governments in the world. He had kept his promise to protect the man’s wife and daughter. Both had been sent to live in a province outside of Beijing. In a country with almost ten million people, it was easy to get lost.
Ren Lu merged into traffic. A few minutes later, he accessed the GPS in the rental car belonging to Tyrell Richards. A satisfied smile curved his lips. He would simply follow them and let them lead him to the information he had been assigned to retrieve.
28
The sun was shining by the time they arrived at Tian Tan Buddha in Ngong Ping on Lantau Island. The massive, thirty-four meter, bronze statue rose up into the air and could be seen for miles. Makayla read through the information about the statue online.
“According to the Internet, this is one of five large Buddha statues in China, but the only one facing north,” she said, reading the information out loud. “There are two hundred and sixty eight steps and three floors behind the statue.”
“That’s a whole lot of steps to climb. We have the GPS location that Harrington left, so that should help,” Tyrell said, peering inside her breakfast bag and grinning when he saw another biscuit. “Are you going to eat this?”
“No, go ahead,” Makayla replied with a wave of her hand. “The three floors are the halls of the Universe, the hall of Benevolent Merit, and the hall of Remembrance.”
“What time does it open?” Brian asked with a frown, turning to follow the signs leading to the park.
“This says ten o’clock,” Makayla replied, glancing at her watch. “We should be okay. It is five after ten.”
“Should we split up?” Helen asked.
“No, I think it would be better to stick together. We have the location. We just need to find the next clue, solve it, and get to the final location where Harrington stashed the information,” Brian muttered.
“What about Ren Lu? Do you think he will be able to figure anything out based on the information he has?” Makayla asked, leaning forward.
“I wouldn’t put anything past him. We need to keep our eyes open,” Brian replied, turning into the nearly deserted parking lot and parking the car.
Makayla opened the door and slid out of the car. She glanced around. There was hardly anyone at the temple yet. Adjusting her purse, she closed the door and walked around the other side with Brian.
Together, the small group made their way across the parking lot to the ticket and information center. Makayla reached into her purse and pulled out her sunglasses. Slipping them on, she gripped Brian’s hand and started climbing the stairs. From a distance, they looked like a young couple on vacation.
*.*.*
The top of the temple was circular and offered a breathtaking view of the mountains surrounding the temple. Six smaller statues, three on each side of the staircase stood as silent sentinels. Makayla read that they were known as the Six Devas and symbolized the Six Perfections. Makayla walked over and studied each one. She wished they had more time and really were here as tourists.
“Makayla,” Brian called to her.
She turned and gave him an apologetic smile. “It’s beautiful,” she said.
Brian held his hand out to her. She slid her hand into his and felt his strong fingers wrap around her hand. He drew her close to his side and let go of her hand to wrap his arm around her waist. A shiver ran through her when he caressed her hip. For once, she was grateful that Tyrell was distracted and in heaven taking pictures.
“Brian, Makayla, this way,” Helen called out.
Makayla saw Helen holding the small GPS that Kevin had given them. They walked around the circle of the Buddha to the other side. Helen moved back and forth, until she stopped in front of one of the small statues. This one was holding incense.
“Morality,” Helen murmured, looking up at the statue.
“Harrington said you never knew when your time was up and you had to make the right choice based on how you wanted to live your life. He refused to stop living because of his job. He had a wife and son,” Brian remarked in a quiet voice.
“There has to be some type of message and location,” Tyrell said.
They spread out to look around. Makayla studied the statue. Harrington must have left them some type of clue, something to guide them. She stopped to look at the bronze plaque. Squatting down, she read the bottom of it. She was about to stand up again when a tiny spec of plastic caught her eye. Glancing around, she shifted and knelt on one knee. It took several tries before she could get a good enough grasp on the tip of the plastic that was barely visible and gently pull it out. Her heart sped up when she saw a piece of paper in the tiny plastic bag.
“Brian,” Makayla called out, standing back up. “Brian, I think I found something.”
The other three hurried over to her. She carefully opened the zip lock top and withdrew the paper. Unfolding it, she saw a set of numbers and the words.
The White Rabbit
“What does that mean?” Makayla asked, looking up at Brian.
“The coordinates are to Tai Po. That is over ten hours from here,” Helen said.
“I’ll let Kevin know,” Brian replied, sliding his cell phone out of his pocket. “He’ll be able to pinpoint the location.”
“Kevin, we have the last clue,” Brian muttered. He relayed the coordinates and glanced at the other three while he waited for Kevin’s response. “We’re headed there now. I’ll keep you posted as to what we find.”
“What did he say?” Tyrell asked, shifting the camera bag on his shoulder.
“Fong Ma Po Tsuen. It is in the Lam Tsuen Valley,” Brian said.
“What is there?” Makayla asked, puzzled.
“The Wishing Tree,” Helen answered. “It is a very respected place. The tree is believed to be a medium, allowing us to communicate between the gods and spirits. When I was young, my father took me t
here to hang a wish from the tree.”
“Did it come true?” Tyrell asked, tilting his head to stare down at Helen’s bemused face.
Helen blinked and nodded. “Yes,” she replied with a serene smile. “Yes, it did.”
*.*.*
Ren Lu sat in his car in the parking lot. He had located the car that Tyrell Richards had rented, and parked so that he could keep an eye on it. For the hundredth time, he looked down at the drawing of the Buddha. If he was to believe the information Harrington had left, there should be one last place – the place with either the final clue or the actual information.
His hand moved to the gun he had laid across his lap. He checked the clip. Laying it on the seat next to him, he covered the gun with the coat he had removed.
He didn’t have long to wait before he saw Brian Jacobs and the others winding their way through the cars. His gaze followed Makayla. Jacobs was holding her hand and smiling down at her. A shaft of emotion, possibly jealousy, shot through him. His fingers itched to erase the smile from Jacobs’ face.
Ren Lu frowned. He had never experienced such strong emotion before. He focused his gaze on Makayla when she brushed a strand of hair back from her cheek. The memory of her touching that cheek when she had spoken of the man who had hurt her mother ignited a slow, burning rage at the unknown man who would hurt Makayla. Her comment about having the choice of either going to live with her grandfather or the state-run facility had hit home. Up until his ninth year, that was exactly where he had grown up. It had shaped who he was to become, especially after he was recruited.
Ren Lu started the car. He would give them plenty of leeway. Since the rental car had GPS tracking in case the car was stolen, there was no need to keep a visual on them. He waited ten minutes before he left. His gaze moved to the device mounted on the dashboard of his car. He relaxed and breathed deeply. Instead of working out the details of his assignment, he let his mind roam. This was something he seldom allowed and focused on more pleasurable thoughts, like Makayla.