“Sure it will.” Lisa tugged at one of the ramps, pulling it loose from the pile. “Grab the other side.”
Roger picked up his end and helped the small brunette muscle the heavy metal ramps into the back of the bus. “Will they all fit?”
She grunted and tugged at the next one. “They better. We only have time for one trip.”
The two stepped up the pace and loaded up their cargo. Roger could barely shut the rear hatch. Lisa pulled the garage doors open again. “Let’s move.”
Roger swatted away layers of grime from the driver’s seat and climbed into the shuttle. He twisted the key and was surprised when the diesel engine belched and roared to life. He held the side door open as he put it into gear.
Lisa stepped onto the loading step just as the tires began to turn and Roger fought the urge to whoop with joy that the beast still had life left in it.
“I wonder where they found this old thing?”
Lisa stood beside him as he pulled out of the garage. “Jay and the boys buy up all kinds of junk and store it all over the place. I used to bitch about the expenditures, but once he explained that in his line of work, you never knew what you might need…”
Roger gave her a curious stare. “He stores all of this junk locally? Like, here in the States?”
She nodded. “Not all of their work is overseas.” She pointed him toward the left. “That way.”
Roger drove the old shuttle and followed Lisa’s directions. She continued to glance at her phone then patted his arm. “Right up here. Pull over.”
“There’s nothing out here.”
She rolled her eyes and pointed to the other side of the road and up the hill. “Their land borders just the other side of those trees.”
“Are you serious? We have to lug these things up that?”
She shrugged. “Unless you can find a way to get the shuttle up there without getting it stuck.”
Roger studied the layout as best he could, but even in the dark, he knew there was no way the old bus would make it up the hill, much less back down.
“Looks like we’re doing this the hard way.”
Lisa lifted a pair of bolt cutters. “First things first.”
She pushed the doors open and hopped out onto the pavement.
“Where are you going?”
She shot him a silly grin. “We have to create a gate, don’t we?”
Roger followed her up the steep hill and nearly had a panic attack when she approached the cyclone fence. She began to snip at the metal fabric and Roger’s head spun side to side, waiting for a claxon alarm or the strobing blue lights of security vehicles.
When nothing came he felt his extremities go weak from the adrenaline rush. “You’re killing me, Smalls.”
“The fun is just beginning.” She pulled the section of fabric back and tugged a handful of zip ties from her pocket. “Help me zip this back.”
Roger took some zip ties from her in shaky hands and began securing the cyclone fence back, creating a roughly nine-foot gap. “What is this for?”
“Escape.” She shot him a crooked grin.
“Escape?” Roger was totally confused.
“Remember, the less you know…”
“Screw that.” He handed her back the unused ties as the two slid down the hill. “I want to know.”
Lisa paused at the back door of the bus. “Fine.” She twisted the handle and pulled the door open. “The boys are going in but they expect heat on the way out. You know what they’ll do at the guard shack if there’s trouble inside, don’t you?”
“Yeah, they’ll secure the gate and pop the bollards and whoever is stuck inside can’t get out until they lower them. At least, they can’t leave in a vehicle.”
Lisa nodded. “And the guards are definitely armed.”
“Definitely.”
“This is their back door.” She slapped him on the shoulder. “There. Now you know too much.”
“Wait…they can’t drive through here. What about all of the trees? Surely they don’t expect us to cut them down and nobody notice.”
Lisa smiled at him again. “They know what they’re doing. Trust me.” She tugged at the ramps. “Now come on. We’re burning moonlight.”
Roger groaned and helped her pull the metal ramp from the bus. “I don’t get the grass.”
“Camouflage. What line of work did you say you’re in?” She groaned as the pair carried the ramp up the hill.
Roger strained, trying to take more of the weight. “Why do they need these?”
Lisa set her end down at the fence and stood upright, stretching her back. “There’s a small creek just before the woods.”
Roger’s eyes widened. “I don’t know what kind of car they’re planning to use but there’s no way those ramps will get them over a creek.”
Lisa fought the smile tugging at her mouth. “Just lift the damned thing, will ya?”
Karachi, Pakistan
* * *
THE TWO VEHICLE convoy worked its way through town and encountered no less than three police or military road blocks. Just as Jeff had promised, they were waved through all of them.
As the Humvees turned into the access gate for the airport, Deric lowered himself from the machine gun turret. “Fuck it’s hot out there.” He pulled the BDU shirt off and tossed it aside.
“Everybody grab your gear and get the jet loaded pronto. I don’t know if they have eyes on the airport or not, but I don’t want to risk being stopped before we can get in the air.”
Viktor chuckled. “I doubt even your CIA could determine the true owners of our aircraft.” He paused and tapped at his chin. “To be honest, I’m fairly certain we don’t even know who owns them.”
“No sense in risking it.” Gregg pushed open the door as soon as the shade from the hangar darkened his window. “Head em up, move em out!” He snatched his laptop bag from the floor of the truck and trotted to the plane and its much needed wifi.
Bridger appeared from the other vehicle, al-Abadi in tow. “What do we do with him?”
Jay glanced to Steve, who shrugged. “He is a material witness.”
“Is he now?” Jay turned and gave the man the once over. “I figured we’d dump him here and let him fend for himself.”
Bridger picked the man up by the back of his robes and carried him toward the plane. “If he can help clear our names, he’s coming.”
Steve grinned at Jay. “I guess he’s coming.”
Jay frowned. “I really wanted to fuck with him first.”
Jim and Deric loaded the containers into the belly of the plane while Viktor attempted to remove the machine gun turrets. Deric paused and turned to the mad Russian. “What are you doing?”
“Do you have any idea how much these are worth on the black market?”
Ryan dumped his aluminum case onto the ramp then turned to Marcus. “I think he’s serious. Want to give him a hand?”
Marcus groaned then climbed atop the Humvee. “I’m gonna need some tools.”
Viktor reached into his pocket and pulled out a socket set. “Never leave home without it.” He grinned as he handed the tools over.
Jay popped his head out of the door. “Are they stealing the machine guns?”
Ryan nodded. “Pretty sure. Yeah.”
He groaned then stuck his head back into the cabin. “Gregg, while you’re hacking the agency, mock us up some property tags for those machine guns. Just in case we get stopped stateside.”
“On it.” Gregg continued tapping on his keyboard then sat back and smiled. “Let the games begin.”
“Are you pinging their security systems?” Bridger leaned close and stared at the screen.
“We’ll get a pretty good average for how long those roof sensors stay down.” He shrugged. “Maybe we can wear down the system and buy you an extra second or two.”
“Joy.” Bridger stood and pushed his way to the back of the plane. He pulled the phone that Jay had given him and dialed Roger. As soon
as the man picked up, Bobby asked, “Is everything in place?”
“Barely. We had to scramble to clear out just as the sun came up.” Bobby heard the phone shift then Roger complained, “Do you have any idea how hard it is to be inconspicuous in an old airport shuttle bus?”
“I can only imagine.” Bobby fought the grin. “Stay safe. We’re about to be airborne.”
“I’ll put on a pot of coffee.”
Bobby closed the phone and shoved it back into his pocket. He could hear the engines slowly increase in speed and expected the plane to take off at any given moment.
Jay approached and fell into the chair next to him. “Looks like we’re now oil execs just headed home.” He leaned back and crossed his legs. “Makes me wish I had a big fat stogie to celebrate.”
“There’s nothing to celebrate yet.” Bobby dropped into the chair across from him. “This is only step one.”
Jay nodded. “But if they still think we’re in-country and we’re not, then they’re looking in all the wrong places.”
Bobby grinned at him. “You reckon Jeff could maybe throw them a false bone once in a while? Keep them thinking we’re still there?”
Jay smiled back. “I bet that can be arranged.” He pulled his phone and called Jeff’s private number.
Bobby leaned back in the seat and closed his eyes. He tuned out all of the background noise and tried to relax. They still had a lot of work ahead of them and even then, he wasn’t sure what they were going to do with the information if they survived this op.
Langley, VA
* * *
“ARE YOU CERTAIN?” Darren Chesterfield fought the smile that crossed his face and resisted the urge to let loose a woo-hoo! when the call came in. “Double check the information and take action. Do NOT let them escape the safe house. I need them taken alive, if you can.”
He wanted to tell them to shoot on sight, but that would contradict his corrective actions proclaiming the group wanted for questioning. It’s hard to question someone if they’re shot dead first. Maybe the agency should hire psychic mediums for just that occasion?
He hung up the phone and blew out a heavy breath, more weight lifting from his shoulders. His phone buzzed and he picked it up again. “Chesterfield.”
“Come to my office.”
Darren stiffened at the voice. What time is it?
He glanced at the wall clock and groaned. The next day had already begun. “Yes, Colonel. I’m on my way.”
He stood on shaky legs and ran a hand across his unshaven jaw. He glanced in the mirror and paled; he definitely looked like something the cat had dragged in.
He pulled his suit coat from the hook and slipped it on, praying it not only covered the sweat and coffee stains but that it made him appear less unkempt. He ran a quick hand through his hair and tried to straighten his tie.
When he walked into the colonel’s office, the man had his nose buried in something that, apparently, was more important. He didn’t lift his head as he waved the younger agent inside.
When Darren stood at the end of his desk, the colonel lowered the file in his hand and gave him a questioning look. “I understand you were visited by a certain FBI agent last night?”
Darren’s face twisted and he stared at the older military man. “How could you…”
Colonel Nelson raised a brow at him. “Son, I’ve told you enough times that you should know it by heart. Nothing happens in this office without my knowing about it.”
Darren’s face fell and he nodded. “That is affirmative sir. Agent Brenda Weston came to my office last night.”
Colonel Nelson raised a brow. “And what golden nugget of intelligence did she have to share with you?”
Chesterfield felt his face flush. “She, uh…had a list of files that a rogue FBI agent may have tried to access.”
Colonel Nelson was stoic. Finally he gave a slight nod of his head. “And?”
“And, that agent may…or may not be, working with Bridger and the Baba Yaga group.”
Colonel Nelson nodded slowly. “So, you’re screwed again.”
Chesterfield shook his head. “No, sir. The files are encrypted. I spoke with one of the best encryption coders at the agency and he assured me that it would take them too much money and way too much time for the theft to have any effect.”
Colonel Nelson raised a brow at him. “Is that so?”
“Yes, sir.” Chesterfield felt a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “And I just got off the phone with our operatives overseas. They have a bead on Bridger and his cohorts. It’s just a matter of time before they close in on them and we’ll have them in custody.”
Colonel Nelson continued to stare at the man. “Then carry on, agent. You have a lot of work to do.”
“Yes, sir.” Darren fought the urge to fire off a mock salute and turned to leave.
“Just, one more thing.”
Darren paused at the door, dread rising up within him. He turned slowly. “Yes, sir?”
“Remember, regardless of what happens, I still have no knowledge of this operation.”
Chesterfield nodded knowingly. “Of course sir.”
He stepped out of the office and glanced to the security cameras mounted along the ceiling. Is he tapped into those things or what? How could he know about the FBI coming in last night?
He turned and made his way back to the elevators, his body suddenly drained. He needed coffee.
Again.
Karachi, Pakistan
* * *
MAMOON PUSHED THE little car as hard as he could around the corner, putting as much distance as possible between them and the angry mob they had just escaped.
Balil continued to stare at Sameer. “You killed those men.”
Sameer was stoic. “It was them or us.” He turned to Balil and his face was stone. “I had no choice.”
Mamoon glanced to the rear view mirror and the panic that was setting in on Balil’s features. “You were the one demanding blood just moments before, Balil.”
Balil stared at the eyes in the mirror, his face turning pale. “That was for Muhammed’s blood. He killed Tariq and all of the others!”
“Blood is blood, Balil. We cannot know of Muhammed’s involvement in this.”
Balil threw his hands in the air. “And of course, you defend your friend once more.”
“And yet you try to shame Sameer for saving our lives.” Mamoon shook his head. “Is that any different?”
Balil looked as though his eyes would pop out of his skull. “Of course that is different. Sameer was…” He glanced at his coworker and didn’t recognize him. “He was trying to save us.”
“You say that because you were there. You knew what was happening.”
“Of course!”
Mamoon nodded. “And were you there with Muhammed when all of this occurred?”
Balil’s eyes narrowed on his boss. “You know I was not.”
“Then how can you know of his involvement?”
Balil yelled an epithet and beat on the car door. “Let me out! I do not want to ride with you any further, Mamoon!”
Mamoon pulled the car to the side of the road and Balil had the door open before it stopped rolling. “Go. Find your friend. Defend him if you will.” He slammed the door and stepped away from the car. “But tell him that once I find him, I will personally cut his throat like a goat!”
Mamoon shook his head as he pulled the car away. He watched Balil’s form shrink in the rear view mirror until he turned and put him out of sight. He looked to Sameer, who seemed in shock. “Are you okay, my friend?”
Sameer turned to him slowly and nodded. “They blame us, Mamoon. They think that we could…that we…” His eyes welled with tears and he looked away.
“Do not worry, Sameer. The truth will come out. Allah will not abandon—”
Mamoon’s ears rung with the report of the pistol. Something wet and chunky splattered the side of his face and he swerved the car, locking up its brakes. He d
idn’t want to look, to see what he knew had happened.
He opened the door; he saw the blood, bits of bone, hair, and brain dripping from his sleeve. He felt his stomach turn and he bent over to throw up.
When the first wave stopped, he braced a hand against the roof of the car. His eyes wandered and he saw his friend leaned over the gear shift, his eye dangling from the ruined socket of his face.
Mamoon turned again and fell to his knees. He didn’t care that his own sick was soaking into his trousers.
He bent low and began to wail.
23
Baba Yaga Satellite Office, Baltimore, MD
* * *
ROGER WALKED OUT of the hangar and onto the tarmac as the plane’s front tires screeched in contact. He heard the engines spin up as the pilot reversed the thrust and watched as the jet slowed dramatically. Once it had turned and began to taxi, Roger pressed himself to the open door and watched as the craft slipped into the blue lights of the hangar.
The door opened and steps descended, allowing the Baba Yaga group to disembark. Bobby quickly made his way down the steps and practically jogged to the other side of the hangar.
“Yeah, I’m doing good. So happy you asked,” Roger quipped as he fell into step behind him.
“I knew you’d be good.” Bobby pulled open the doors of the metal locker and began rifling through the contents.
“What’s the rush?” Roger stepped aside as Bobby tugged the parachute out and began to inspect it. “What is that for?”
“This is my ticket into Langley.”
Gregg walked past the duo and slid into his chair, plugging his laptop in as he wheeled back and forth across his workspace. “I’ll be up in thirty and I’ll tax their system for as long as I can.”
“I need more than a ten-second window,” Bobby grunted as he tugged at the harnesses.
“I’m working on it big guy, but I can only give you what I can give you.”
Flags of The Forgoten Page 20
