Steel Trap: A Jack Steel Action Mystery Thriller, Book 4

by Geoffrey Saign

  He shuffled to Therese. She was barely breathing. Even dead, the snake’s weight and curls might suffocate her. Falling to his knees, he crawled to the tail of the python. He’d read that the best way to unwrap a constrictor from its prey was tail first.

  The first coil was easy.

  The snake’s body was heavy.

  It was a Herculean effort, but he was able to unwrap three more coils before he passed out.

  PART 7

  OP: LUCIAN’S COMPOUND

  CHAPTER 33

  Angel, Zeus, Val, and Prizrak sat around the kitchen table in Angel’s safe house. A thin briefcase full of banded stacks of money rested at the center of the table.

  Angel had allowed everyone to grab weapons from his garage vault, while he withdrew the briefcase from a hidden floor safe. Still dressed in his old man disguise, he would leave them shortly. Advice, weapons, and the money was enough. He didn’t owe them anything else.

  “What is your decision, love?” Prizrak eyed him. “Are you in or out?”

  Val turned to him with hopeful eyes, and Zeus regarded him with a furrowed brow.

  “Out.” Angel sensed their disappointment and resented it.

  “Please,” said Val. “I can’t live if Matt dies tonight.”

  “We need you, sir.” Zeus sounded subdued.

  “I have paid my debt!” he insisted.

  Val leaned closer to Angel. “I know you’re not an old man. You’re like Prizrak. Excellent at acting.”

  Angel glanced at Prizrak, but she shook her head. “I didn’t tell her anything.”

  “I knew you weren’t an old man on the boat ride from the Bahamas.” Val cocked her head. “I didn’t want to make you feel bad about your disguise. It’s very good, but Prizrak often dressed in disguises to entertain me.” She shrugged. “Zeus didn’t tell me your real name, but he told me how you killed four of Lucian’s men before you met us. You’re a master, like Prizrak.”

  Angel didn’t know how to respond and remained silent.

  “Val can be trusted to keep any secret.” Prizrak spoke matter-of-factly. “And we can’t do this without you. You know that.”

  Angel agreed with her assessment. Without him, they would fail. Renata was right on that account. But even with him they might fail. He had never been in this situation before. Good people asking him to do something good, with no selfish ulterior motive on their part or his—Prizrak might be the exception to that. Still, it felt strange, odd, and inclusive. He found himself not wanting to disappoint them. Remembering Renata and Jasmine, he clung to his decision.

  “Fear is never a good basis for a decision.” Prizrak studied him. “I know you’re not afraid of these men. So what fear is holding you back?”

  Silence.

  They all looked at him.

  He found himself unable to use Renata and Jasmine as an excuse. So what was holding him back? He had lived a rough life for decades, and six months of bliss—he wanted more. And he wasn’t sure he was up to the task of what they had to do. That puzzled him. Never before, while working for the cartels, had he ever worried about defeating the enemy. He never questioned his ability to succeed.

  And then he understood. In the past he had only one responsibility—keep himself alive to take care of Renata. As he looked around the table, he realized if he led them, he would hold all their lives in his hands. That responsibility scared him.

  “There is no guarantee any of you will survive this. In fact, it is likely some or all of you won’t.” He stared at all of them, and none of them objected. They had already made their decisions. That didn’t make it any easier for him.

  Surprising himself, one word tumbled off his lips. “Alright.”

  “Yay!” Val jumped up and threw her arms around his shoulders, resting her face on his head. “Thank you, Old Man.” She sat down, smiling and wiping her eyes.

  “Yes, sir!” Zeus raised two fists.

  Prizrak smiled.

  Angel couldn’t smile. Somewhat embarrassed, but feeling suddenly relieved, he studied Prizrak. She had exceptional skills, but he still wasn’t sure he could trust her completely. She was a mystery, like Renata said, and maybe that’s why he wasn’t sure of her. He had brought her here, but if anything bothered him tonight, he would kill her. Zeus had called Christie and found out she was bringing Clay; they both had superb skill sets. He wanted a bigger team, but it would have to be enough.

  He raised a hand a few inches. “If I am going to lead you, then I have several demands.”

  Everyone watched him intently.

  He swept all of their eyes, making sure they saw he was serious. “I plan everything. And everyone does what I ask.”

  “I promise!” Val clasped her hands together and sat up straight. “I’m ready!”

  “Of course, sir! Anything you want, you got it!” Zeus beamed.

  “At the exchange things might change.” Prizrak sat back, her blue eyes calm.

  “I understand.” Angel wondered if she had already made plans.

  Zeus raised a hand. “Did you count the money, sir?”

  Angel waved to the briefcase. “It’s close enough. They won’t count it. They’ll just examine some of the bills to make sure they are not counterfeit.”

  “Which of course they are, right love?” Prizrak eyed Angel.

  “But they’ll know if it’s counterfeit! Then they won’t take us to Matt.” Val’s forehead bunched up.

  Angel picked out a bound stack of bills from the center of the briefcase and held it up. “All the stacks have a few bills on the top and bottom that are real. This middle stack is all real. If they demand to inspect any other stacks...” He replaced the money. “Then we will have to improvise.”

  “What’s the plan?” Prizrak cocked her head at Angel. “You do have one, don’t you?”

  “I do.” Even though he had not planned on leading them, his mind had been on automatic, working out the details to defeat Lucian. Perhaps another sign that deep down he wanted to join them, and more than that, wanted them to succeed.

  He glanced around the table. “As I said, it is going to be very risky for all of us. No exceptions. But we have one thing in our favor. I know where Lucian’s compound is, and I’ve been in it before. Thus we can set things up ahead of time and be prepared. Surprise, not numbers, is often the key to winning in these situations.”

  Zeus’ forehead furrowed. “Ah, when were you in Lucian’s compound, sir?”

  “In another life that I left behind.” Angel glanced at Val. “Val, you are going to stay here at the safe house, with the flash drive.”

  Val gaped at him. “I’m coming!”

  “That is your goal, isn’t it? To ensure the CIA gets the flash drive? That is what this is all about, correct?” Angel waited.

  “You can’t keep me from coming!” exclaimed Val.

  “I’ll drive up separately,” Prizrak said firmly. “Without Val.”

  Val stood up, her posture and eyes seeming ready to erupt, but Prizrak patted her hand and winked at her. “I’m sure everything will be okay, love.”

  Slowly settling down into her chair, Val became serious and winked back. “Okay.”

  “Lucian will have a lot of guns.” Zeus hunched his shoulders. “So how do we come out of this alive, sir?”

  “Do you know how magicians make tricks seem like magic?” Angel smiled. “Distraction and diversion.”

  “I like it, sir! Great!” Zeus lifted a hand off the table. “Ah, what’s the distraction and diversion?”

  Angel raised an eyebrow. “How do you feel about gators and snakes?”

  Zeus spread his hands. “You know, I think they’re cool. I’ve always loved reptiles.”

  “Wonderful, because it will be dark at midnight.” Angel pushed back his hat. “Lucian’s guards throw live rats over the fence daily into the surrounding marsh to feed the snakes and gators there.”

  Zeus gulped.

  CHRISTIE WAS FRANTIC. Zeus had called. The exchang
e would occur at midnight. They would meet Lucian’s inspector, who would verify the flash drive and the money, and then be led to Lucian’s compound. Zeus had also shocked her with the news that Angel had decided to help them and had planned everything. She had considered calling the CIA, but after talking to Zeus she decided not to. But she still felt conflicted.

  Zeus said they would pick up her and Clay at the airport. Everything would be set into motion. She would have little say in the plan, and would have to trust Angel. Glad as she was that Angel was helping, it kept her thoughts racing.

  “Clay.”

  They sat next to each other, the only two on the private jet.

  Clay put down the magazine in his hands. His solid face had a stubble and his forehead was furrowed. His cowboy hat partially covered his face.

  “Yes, Christie.” He twisted to her, looking sleepy.

  “Angel’s advice, to keep the CIA out of this.” She gripped the armrests. “He might just be protecting himself.”

  Clay nodded slowly. “Well, it’s either the CIA or us. The CIA won’t let us go along for the ride. They also won’t trade the flash drive, or bring two million to give to Dima and Lucian. They’ll bring in a helicopter, snipers, and loads of officers. Lucian and Dima will probably fight it out. It will be chaos.” He shrugged. “Who knows what will happen?”

  Exasperated, she couldn’t keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “So you’re saying a few of us, against dozens of them, is going to be safer?”

  Clay grunted. “Not for us, but for Steel and the others, maybe. Look, I still want to put a bullet in Angel too. But from what Zeus said, he’s saved their butts a number of times already. Angel is on Steel’s level. You know that. He managed to survive in the cartels for decades. He’s smart. Savvy. Steel once told me that Angel is the most dangerous man he’s ever gone up against. And he’s on our side, thank God. There’s only risk for Angel to help us, no payoff. Thus his only motivation is that he cares enough to risk everything. He’ll be fighting for his life and ours.”

  “That’s what worries me.” She flicked a hand. “If things go south, will he cut and run? Zeus said Steel offered Angel money, and he turned it down. Maybe he didn’t want to feel obligated.”

  “You’re asking can we trust Angel to have our backs.” Clay settled into his seat. “I don’t think there’s a great solution either way, Christie. Calling the CIA takes all risk away from us though. What do you want to do? As Steel would say, what does your gut tell you?” He rolled his eyes. “I’m starting to think like your crazy boyfriend. No offense.”

  “None taken. My gut says to go with Angel. But that scares the hell out of me.”

  “Me too, because I don’t know what kind of crazy thing he’s going to ask me to do at midnight.” His eyes narrowed for a moment but then relaxed. “I hope it’s relatively safe. Now let me get some sleep.”

  CIA DIRECTOR BILL BISHOP sat in his office, and knew immediately when Jones arrived that he had bad news. Jones’ face was taut.

  Remaining standing, Jones sounded disgusted. “We found our men in the trunks of two cars submerged in a ditch off a road cutting through the Everglades. All dead. The SUVs were there too. Edwards was shot in the chest and thrown down the ditch. When our men found him, his head was out of the water on the bank, and a gator had grabbed his left leg and was dragging him under. Two of our men ran down into three feet of water and kicked and shot at the gator until it released Edwards and swam away.”

  Fury erupted in Bishop’s chest. “So Edwards is dead too?”

  Jones blew out an exhalation. “He was conscious enough to whisper to one of our officers that a man named Lucian has his niece. Edwards is in a coma in a hospital. They might have to take his leg off.”

  “Unbelievable.” Bishop tented his hands. “Was his phone with the video of his niece recovered?”

  Jones shook his head. “Edwards didn’t have a phone on him when they rescued him. None of our men did.”

  Frustrated, Bishop swiveled in his chair. “What’s the progress on Steel’s associates?”

  “His daughter is in Montana, but his partner Christie hasn’t been located. She was in Montana a day ago, and rented an ambulance for her brother, Harry. He claims he doesn’t know where she is.”

  Bishop leaned forward. “Christie flew back to Florida because the hand-off blew up and Steel is in trouble. Put everyone and everything we have on finding Lucian. Monitor every airport and flight in southern Florida for Christie. She can lead us to Lucian and Steel.”

  Jones said, “We’re on it.”

  “Our priority is to get the flash drive and bring down Dima and Lucian.” Bishop sat back. “I hate to say it, but Edwards’ niece, Steel, and Steel’s team might be a lost cause at this point.”

  “What about Mattia Leone?” Jones frowned. “He’s one of ours.”

  “If he’s still alive, he knew the risks. He also broke protocol by bringing in Valentina Sokolov, and then he blackmailed us for witness protection. I don’t think witness protection is going to help him much now.” Bishop made a fist on the table. “Anything from M4N?”

  “Karbu said he doesn’t feel they have liability for this mess, when one of our own people may have compromised the hand-off, and probably the pickup in the Bahamas.” Jones flicked his hand. “He wants to know where you stand on using them for assignments going forward.”

  “I agree with Karbu’s assessment. They’re still valued. Find the damn flash drive. And have an assault team on standby in southern Florida.” He paused. “And we better start looking for a Russian mole in the CIA.”

  CHAPTER 34

  Steel came to, experiencing déjà vu. Sprawled on concrete again, he felt woozy and a little nauseous. And chilled lying on the cement. No shirt. His right calf, back, and side were sore—where he’d been stung by the drones.

  Therese had a wet rag on his forehead again. This time he could sit up on his own. His hands were handcuffed behind his back again. Thirsty, he willingly drank the water Therese gave him, asking for two more scoops before he was satisfied. The hallway outside the cell was empty.

  “Hey, you’re finally up.” Matt smiled from across the cell, lifting his healthy arm. “It’s good to see you back, Steel.”

  “It’s good to be back.”

  Therese studied him. “Thank you, Jack.”

  “They brought you back here?” Steel didn’t see signs of trauma in her expression.

  She leaned her head back. “Dima did. Lucian was screaming about you killing the snake, but Dima ignored him and protected me from Lucian’s men.”

  He filed that away, though he couldn’t forgive Dima for his part in all this. “How’s your body?” He wondered what that felt like, having a two-hundred-pound python squeeze the life out of you.

  She crossed her arms. “I’m okay. I read somewhere that pythons don’t usually break their prey’s bones and stuff, they just squeeze the air out of their lungs.”

  “Oh, is that all? Well, that’s just great.” He gave a brief smile, but she didn’t reciprocate. Still, he saw more hope in her eyes and wanted to fulfill it. “How long was I out this time?”

  “About an hour,” she said. “I think it’s early evening. They took all the girls out while you slept. I think they were taking them away.”

  “How many?” he asked,

  She avoided his eyes. “Eleven.”

  He felt as bad as she did. “Can you help me with something?”

  “Of course.” She appeared eager to do anything.

  He dipped his chin. “My belt is rolled up in my pocket. Can you take it out and put it on me again?”

  “Okay.” She took it out of his pocket and unrolled it. Her gaze rested on the middle inside of the belt. Her eyes widened.

  “What is it?” Matt leaned forward.

  Therese put a finger to her lips, and held up the belt, pointing to the OTF knife in the sheath hidden inside.

  Matt gave a thumbs up.

  Therese thre
aded the belt through Steel’s jean loops again, and buckled it for him. “What about the handcuffs?” she whispered.

  “Take the drone out of the other pocket.”

  She reached in, a little red in the face, and removed it.

  While she held it in her palm, Steel studied it carefully. “You need to pull it apart. Get me a stiff piece of wire or metal that will fit into the handcuffs’ lock.”

  She worked at it on the cell floor, and soon held up a thin piece of metal. “Will this work?”

  “Good job! Put it in my hands and let me see.”

  She did, and Steel worked with it for a minute before he unlocked the handcuffs. He smiled. “Cuff me again.”

  She did. He kept practicing until he could do it in seconds. Satisfied, he thought of something else. “Get me one more piece of metal off the drone that will work, Therese.”

  She spent a few minutes prying another piece of metal off the smashed tech. Steel tried it in the handcuffs—and was able to succeed in opening them. Placing one piece at his back, behind the belt, he kept the other in his hands.

  Then he leaned against the wall, thinking of the compound layout. They had to make it to the boat. He closed his eyes and tried to envision how to make that happen. It was something he did in his virtual reality training sessions; repeat actions, and repetitively visualize actions, until he owned them.

  “I feel like we have a chance.”

  Steel opened his eyes. Therese was staring at him, as if she wanted confirmation from him. He wondered who was left of his team, and what they were planning. “Of course we do.”

  “Do you have a plan?” She slid closer.

  Matt leaned forward to listen.

  Steel nodded. “Yes. They have a dock and speedboat in the back. We’re going to find a way to get to it. There’s a back door on this building. If I take out the men here, and get a gun, we can get to that back door, and then down to the dock.” It sounded doable, but Lucian would have to get careless. That seemed unlikely, except the man was arrogant, and arrogance led to mistakes.