Just where were they going?
Igney bit his tongue to keep from asking more questions. It was obvious after the initial greeting that these two men weren’t going to divulge details. Igney wasn’t even sure why the two Chinese men were the ones to pick them up at the airport. There was a whole contingent of DSS in the city. Why hadn’t they come?
One thing Igney did know about the men who’d picked them up from the airport was that they were killers. It was the way they moved, how they looked at a person. Igney knew both had killed before.
The tunnel seemed to go on forever. Or maybe it just seemed that way because of the tight confines.
There were two doorways or offshoots that were bricked up, the bricks newer than those forming the walls.
The man leading them stepped aside and suddenly Igney was standing in a well-lit room. Narrow windows ran along the ceiling at one end. There was a man sitting at a table cleaning a gun. He gave Igney a once over so quick, if Igney hadn’t been looking at the man he’d have missed it.
“Come on. This way.” Li’s words were short and clipped.
Igney could practically taste blood from biting is tongue.
What mattered was that he would be the one to bring the traitor home. With his return, they could quell this mess that had begun. Clearly the so-called protest was tied to this man. It was his job to ensure there was no subversive outside influence and he’d clearly failed.
Li opened a door and waved Igney inside.
Three men stood around a white board. The words written on the surface were familiar. One cut off what he was saying—in Daurian—to glance at them.
Igney stared at the three young men.
They were younger than he or Pasley.
What the hell?
“Gentlemen.” Li inclined his head then left Pasley and Igney with the other three.
“Status?” Igney barked to see how high they’d jump.
All three stiffened.
“The traitor hasn’t said anything.” This was from the man who’d been speaking. “We were instructed to leave him for you to deal with.”
Igney inclined his head. At least they knew how to heel.
“I’m Alban. This is Delem and Michil.”
“The Chinese. Why are we working with them? What’s happened that I don’t know about?” Igney kept his voice cold.
Alban glanced at the others then Igney. “It’s how things are done. Sir. We have a small team. The local gang help us when we need it.”
“I see.” Igney didn’t like it. Accepting the aid of their ally, China, was one thing, but working with criminals? Didn’t that go against their code? “Show us the prisoner.”
“This way.” Alban gestured at the door.
Pasley opened it and the three of them stepped into the hall. Li stood a short distance down the hall speaking to someone, but mostly ignored them.
Alban opened the door to the very next room and gestured for Igney to step inside.
He entered and stared at the man sitting on a makeshift bench constructed out of cinderblocks and a board. He stank of fear so powerful it made Igney’s lip curl.
“Chayan Harnut, you are guilty,” Igney said in a cold tone.
Chayan stared up at him. His eyes didn’t quite focus on Igney and there was dried blood on his cheek. He didn’t say anything, just stared.
“Did you hear me?” Igney took a step closer.
“Yes,” the man whispered.
Igney bent so that they were eye to eye.
“I’m going to ask you some questions. It would go better for you if you answer them.” When Chayan didn’t respond Igney pulled his fist back and punched the older man in his soft gut. Chayan doubled over, grunting from the pain.
Igney snarled, “What did I say? When I ask you answer.”
“Then ask a question so I can answer,” Chayan wheezed.
Igney shoved the man back on the bench. Behind him he saw Pasley hovering in the doorway along with their new, young friend. Their low, hushed voices were a distraction, but one Igney could ignore.
“Who do you work with?” Igney asked.
“You’re DSS. You don’t have a roster listing who is in my department?”
Igney grit his teeth. The old man would tell him what he wanted to know. “Who helped get you out of the country? Who is instigating the riots?”
“The riots?” Chayan frowned. “That has nothing to do with me.”
“Who helped you escape besides the Kaur girl?” Igney kneeled in front of Chayan.
The old man chuckled. “It was just us.”
“Liar.”
Chayan chuckled. “Prove it.”
The old man was delirious. His pupils were blown out to large, black discs. There was nothing in them. No fear, no emotion whatsoever.
Igney turned and locked eyes with Alban. “What did you do to him?
Pasley was gone. That was odd, but it didn’t matter right now. Igney never did need him.
“Nothing,” Alban insisted.
The door opened and Li stared at Igney.
“Come with me,” the he said. Alban took a step, but Li held up his hand. “Not you, just him.”
Igney scowled over his shoulder at Chayan before following the new man.
In this state, the old man was useless. Numb to the world and without fear, there was only so much Igney could get out of him without committing bodily harm. Chayan still had to be transported back to Dauria, which meant he couldn’t be tortured too much.
Li led Igney down the hall, around a corner and into a small business office. There were two men sitting at either side of a desk, both wearing suits and blank expressions.
“What?” Igney asked.
Li shared a look with the other two before clearing his throat. “We have some sensitive information to pass on that cannot be handled through typical channels. It would take too long. And you will want to act on it now.”
Igney glanced from one man to the other. “What is it?”
“They should explain,” Li said. “They are the Huang brothers. They do sensitive surveillance work no one wants tracked back to who is asking the questions.”
The man closest to Igney turned and studied him, but didn’t offer a man. “While doing your government a favor, we ran across a message I think you in particular should be aware of.”
“What is this?” Igney accepted a tablet the man handed him.
He read the few lines of text then frowned at the signature. “What’s this supposed to mean?”
“It means that your partner may well be working with that man.”
Pasley?
Igney’s partner Pasley?
A traitor?
TUESDAY. SAFE HOUSE, London, United Kingdom.
Pasley tried to ignore the pointed stare of the man who’d called himself Li. The man was just staring at the side of his head.
“You are Pasley, correct?” Li asked.
“Yes,” Pasley said, keeping his attention on Igney as he demanded answers from Chayan.
“Is that a common name?”
“I don’t know.”
“How long have you been tracking this man?”
Why the sudden chattiness? Why was the man interested in Pasley?
Igney punched Chayan in the gut. Pasley resisted the urge to wince. Igney didn’t know how to do things in half measures. He wouldn’t have held back.
Li continued staring at Pasley’s profile.
What did he want to know?
Pasley knew that the Chinese offered support to the Daurian government. In many things they worked together closely. Including cyber security.
Was it possible he’d done something, even by mistake, that would make him a person of interest? Were there questions about him?
“The restrooms.” Pasley turned his head. “Where are they?”
The man directed Pasley down a hall and around the corner. By some stroke of luck neither Delem nor Michil were loitering in the hall.
/> Pasley had a bad feeling about this.
The only thing he’d done to expose himself was that message. But it had been the right thing to do. Pasley wanted out of this life. If he was going to get out, he had to start doing the right thing now. It was the only way to change.
He ducked into the restroom then went still, listening for movement. When he heard none he checked under all the stalls.
He was alone.
Pasley eyed the narrow windows at the top of the ceiling. They were maybe a foot tall. Could he fit through there?
Igney would be distracted with the prisoner.
Chayan.
Damn.
Without that man, Pasley wasn’t sure he’d have come to this conclusion. Without Ekko he wouldn’t have taken hold of the dream to be free.
Pasley closed his eyes.
Was there a chance he could get both himself and Chayan out of here? If he did that, could these people helping him also help Pasley? Or was he beyond saving?
He had to try.
Pasley washed his hands and dried them, searching his mind for a plan.
The Chinese were running a small operation out of this place. There had to be other ways in and out. Pasley could use that, or at some point during transport back to Dauria he could take Igney out and free them both.
His stomach tightened at the idea of going toe-to-toe with Igney. It would be a close fight, but Pasley wanted his freedom.
It would be worth it.
Pasley opened the door onto the hall.
No one was there.
He retraced his steps, only to find the door to the room where Chayan was being held was shut.
Where was Igney?
Pasley glanced up and down the hall then opened the door and stepped inside.
No Igney.
No Chinese operatives.
No overly zealous DSS.
Just the old man sitting with his shoulders hunched and his head in his hands.
Did Pasley dare do this?
It would forever change his life. But he didn’t want to keep going the way he was. This had never been his path. He could be different given the chance.
That change had to start now.
Chayan wore plastic restraints secured by a chain to the bench. He either had to be unlocked or the restraints cut.
He glanced around. A pair of scissors hung on a peg along with other odds and ends. Pasley ignored the rust red flaking off the blades and grabbed them.
“What demands do you have?” The man’s voice was weary.
“Get up. Get ready to move.” Pasley closed the distance between them.
Chayan glanced up, frowning.
“Get up.” Pasley grabbed the man’s hands.
The plastic restraints were thick. They wouldn’t be easily cut, but that could be done later. All Pasley needed to do was free Chayan from the bench.
“We’re getting out of here,” Pasley said in a low voice. “Do what I tell you. Do you know how to contact your friends?”
Chayan’s frown deepened.
“What are you really doing? I won’t give them up. I won’t.” He sat, pulling his hands from Pasley’s grasp.
At least that was what Chayan tried to do.
Pasley kept a tight grip on the restraints. He didn’t care what Chayan believed right now. Pasley could probably carry the man and force him into freedom. If he chose to run and get himself caught, well, at least Pasley had tried doing the right thing. Igney would want Chayan for answers. Pasley? Igney would kill him and likely enjoy it.
It took his brute strength to cut through the restraints. The chain fell to the ground with a clang that made him wince.
“Come on. Stay close to me. Keep your hands together,” Pasley ordered.
He wasn’t sure where Igney had gone or why he’d left Chayan for even a moment now that they had him. All Pasley knew was that they had to get out of here.
The windows here were too narrow. The ones in the bathroom had been wider.
There had to be other exits. And if not, the bathroom wasn’t that far away.
He opened the door and peered out at the hall.
Empty.
Too good to be true? A trap?
It was worth the chance.
“Come on,” he said over his shoulder. “Stay close.”
Pasley stepped into the hall, back straight, shoulders squared and began walking. He heard the steps of someone behind him and was relieved to a degree.
Chayan was at least playing along.
Pasley slowed as they reached the corner.
“Are you really escaping?” There was hope in Chayan’s voice.
The hall was clear.
Pasley glanced over his shoulder. Movement behind Chayan caught his eye.
Delem and Michil.
No.
Oh, no.
Pasley whirled.
The hall leading to the bathroom was blocked by three people. Li, the man from the hall’s entry with the gun, and Igney.
“I should have known.” Igney stepped into the opening leading back to the bar. “You never were strong enough. Traitor.”
“He wanted to go to the bathroom. What are you talking about?” Pasley did his best to sound neutral, but he was sweating.
Igney flicked his hand and a knife appeared.
Pasley took a step back, almost running into Chayan. He glanced over his shoulder.
If he hadn’t hesitated. If he’d had a plan. If a hundred things.
“I’m sorry,” Pasley whispered right before Igney closed in.
16.
Tuesday. Safe House, London, United Kingdom.
Silas’ heart throbbed in his throat. He caught sight of Chayan ahead of them down a continuation of the subterranean hall through a group of people.
Who was the other victim? Was there someone else?
Was Ekko okay?
He shoved the last whisper of fear aside.
“What’s happening?” Brett demanded.
“On three,” Paxton said in a steady tone.
Neither actually counted out loud. They’d worked together for so long that Silas could feel the count under his skin.
One...
Silas picked his target. The man on the right holding back.
Two.
Paxton would obviously focus on the left side.
Three...
Silas fired in unison with Paxton, but it was Silas who moved first. He darted forward. The remaining two men hovering over the downed man whirled, but Silas was already on them.
“Fucking, fuck, fuck, fuck,” Brett growled over the headset.
The man on the right struck out before Silas could fire.
It was that guy. Iggy or whatever his name was. From the park.
Silas’ right arm smacked against the wall. He swung with his left fist, driving it into the man’s jaw. His eyes bulged as he pitched backward, caught off guard by the blow. Silas grinned. These DSS guys might be bad news, but they’d never survived a war zone like Silas had. He was always ready to defend.
Paxton shot the fourth man while the fifth was sprinting away from them.
Silas glanced at the downed man, the one the others had been kicking.
Was that...the other DSS operative?
Silas moved past the man and grasped Chayan’s wrist. The man looked the worse for wear. Hell, he was shaking.
“Come on. We have to go.” Silas tugged Chayan to his feet.
“Where are you two?” Brett yelled.
“Hurry up.” Paxton grabbed Chayan’s other arm and together they turned for the hall.
Silas did the mental math.
The hall was barely big enough for a person to walk down. Paxton had to hunch in places. Not to mention the long stretch of hall was totally devoid of places to hide.
“Chayan, buddy, you’re going to have to run.”
Someone would have to cover their retreat. Paxton was strong enough to carry Chayan with some speed if need be. Which meant S
ilas would have to watch their back.
Footsteps pounded the floor.
Reinforcements were coming.
“I’ve got him,” Paxton said.
Silas grinned.
Working together again made it all better.
He whirled, both guns out, as two men peered around the corner. He fired, taking a chunk of the wall with the shot.
In the hall, the other DSS operative sat up. His face was bloody. Next to him the other DSS agent was getting up.
Silas fired another shot, hitting the second one in the leg. The man went down with a scream. The first scrambled to his feet. Silas took aim. The man began running away from them.
Something, some uncertainty, kept Silas from pulling the trigger.
“Keep up,” Paxton roared over his shoulder.
Silas whirled back and sprinted on. The cool air in his lungs burned.
Paxton was half carrying Chayan in an awkward, loping run.
A gun fired. Bits of the wall broke off, pelting Silas with shards of brick.
They made a right turn. It was the only real turn.
“Go. Go. Go!” Silas urged.
“I can run,” Chayan got out.
Paxton let go of him and together the three of them sprinted forward. They burst into the basement.
“Keep going.” Silas whirled, grabbed the employee lockers and jerked.
The lockers rocked.
He hauled back again until he felt gravity tip in his favor. Silas threw himself sideways as the lockers fell, haphazardly blocking part of the entry.
Paxton and Chayan were gone.
Good.
Silas grabbed the rail and vaulted to the stairs. He took them two at a time.
The bar doors swung shut, both Chayan and Paxton framed in the glass as they dove into the waiting car.
Silas wished there was something he could do to further impede the people who would be hunting them, but he had to get out. Now.
His footsteps sounded like drumbeats on the wooden floors. He burst out of the bar, leaped down the stairs and threw himself into the car.
Vito slammed on the accelerator, causing Silas to almost lose a leg as the door barely missed swinging shut on his knee.
“How you doing back there, Chayan?” Silas twisted in the front seat to face the others.
Brett was sandwiched against the far door, scowling at Silas.
Dangerous Connections (Aegis Group Book 9) Page 21
