“Major, it’s going down now, I’ll be sending Piper and Satterfield in that direction shortly, Potomac airfield.”
“I’ll be there to collect them,” Jeremy said quickly. “Be careful, Bailey.”
“Thank you, Major,” she said emotionlessly.
She disconnected and glided into her bedroom.
———
Martin sat nervously with his bag packed at the kitchen table trying to forget the sound of the scream Bailey had emitted. He looked up with wide eyes as she emerged from the hall with a large black canvas shoulder bag and wearing black fatigue pants. She had a bulletproof vest on over a tight black T-shirt and her hair was greased back and tied firmly away from her face. The katana was already sheathed on her back and two pistols adorned the sides of her belly, magazines encircled her waist.
“Martin,” she said tonelessly as she placed the bag on the table with a clank and withdrew two soft leather document bags which she sat on the table. “Listen carefully. The brown bag is for Major Watts, give it to him immediately, he’ll be at the airfield you land at and escort you to the embassy. Understand?”
“Yes,” he said nodding.
“The other one is for Piper,” Bailey said her voice cracking at the name and she looked away for a moment before continuing. “Give it to her, after you get settled there. Understand?”
“Yes,” Martin said becoming frightened. “What’s happened?” he asked as her cell phone rang.
She looked at the phone with cold eyes and irritably powered it off. “Come with me,” she said to Martin emotionlessly and led him down the hall and into her office. “Listen to the phone call I’m about to receive,” she said, standing in front of the speakerphone at her desk. They waited only twenty seconds for it to ring and she answered it immediately.
“Wraith.”
“We’ve got her, Bailey,” Terry said pleasantly.
“I know.”
“Then you know what we want.”
“Yes, give me your terms.”
“You, the file, and that puke Satterfield,” Terry said. “In return, I’ll guarantee you she survives as well as your family, which we know is currently residing with the British in Washington. Turn yourself over to Kevin Marland within an hour and you have my word, I’ll stand by my promise.”
“Marland and his men are dead,” she said and could hear the rumbles of several voices in the background.
“I see,” Terry said trying not to act surprised. “We’ll send a car for you.”
“Not unless I get what I want.”
“And that is?” Terry asked curiously.
“I want to speak to Piper, uninterrupted and unmonitored.”
“I can arrange that, can you hold?”
“Yes.”
She waited unmoving for five minutes until he returned to the line. “Do you have a pen?”
“Go ahead,” she said and scribbled the number down.
“They’ll let her talk for five minutes, alone.”
“Call me back in half an hour,” Bailey said and hung up.
“They have Piper?” Martin asked in shock.
“Yes,” Bailey said with a hitch in her chest.
“What are you going to do?”
“I’m going to get her back,” she said. “You’ll both be leaving shortly.”
“You know where she is?”
“Yes, they have her at the building where they have everyone stationed.”
“Bailey, that’s too many men,” Martin said unbelievingly.
“It doesn’t matter how many they have,” Bailey said. “One way or another, Piper will be leaving with you. Now give me a minute so I can talk to her, please.”
“Alright,” Martin said sadly, walking out of the office and back down the hall.
Bailey leaned against her desk and put her head in her hands to fight off the sobs as soon as Martin left the room. She got herself under control quickly and with a deep calming breath, she dialed the number Terry had given her.
V
Out of the blue and into the black.
—N. Young
Piper sat quietly behind a desk in a room with four men trying not to cry. They studiously ignored her and shortly another man entered and addressed her.
“Miss Tate,” Robards said. “As soon as this phone rings you’ll have five minutes to talk. Five minutes only. We will not listen in and will be outside the room. Do yourself a favor and don’t try anything stupid. Have I made myself clear?”
Piper nodded and took the cell phone that he offered her. She sat uncomfortably for several minutes until it rang and the men filed quickly out of the room.
“Five minutes,” Robards said as he closed the door behind him.
“Hello,” she answered uncertainly.
“Hi,” Bailey said hoarsely.
“I’m so sorry,” Piper said bursting into tears.
“Did they hurt you?” Bailey asked with difficulty.
“No,” Piper said. “Don’t let them use me against you, Bailey.”
“Hush,” Bailey said. “I know where you are, I’ll be there shortly.”
“No!” Piper said alarmed. “There’s too many.”
“It’ll be okay.”
“No, Bailey don’t,” Piper sobbed.
“I’m coming to get you,” Bailey said. “It’ll be okay, I promise.”
“They’ll kill you,” Piper cried.
“They can’t kill me, love,” Bailey said gently. “But a lot of people are going to die today.”
“Baby, please don’t do this,” Piper pleaded.
“I’ve no choice,” Bailey said. “I’ll be there soon,” she added and hung up.
Piper dropped the phone on the desk and put her head in her hands, crying uncontrollably. The men came back in the room after a moment and Robards gently took the phone off the desk and put it in his pocket, trying his best to ignore her.
———
“Anderson,” Josh answered quickly.
“I’m on my way,” Bailey said. “Any idea what room she’s in?”
“No,” Josh said his mouth dropping open. “Bailey, you can’t go in there that’s fucking crazy.”
“Perhaps,” Bailey said. “Tell me what you see.”
“I can see several men that seem to be hanging out in the lobby but that’s it.”
“Very well, I might need support when I come out.”
“Bailey, that’s fucking nuts,” Josh said. “Dying won’t get her back.”
“Just stay put and wait for my call,” she said and disconnected.
“Holy Mary Mother of God,” Josh said, putting the phone in his pocket and dropping to his knees to assemble his rifle.
———
“Martin,” Bailey said emerging from the hall wearing her poncho over her weapons. “I’m leaving, remember my instructions,” she said as she walked to the kitchen table and collected her bag.
“Bailey, are you sure about this?” Martin asked worriedly. “That’s a lot of men, trained men.”
Bailey stared at him for a moment. “I’m beginning to think that neither you or Piper really read my file,” she said with a shake of her head. “I’ll be back shortly,” she added as she turned and walked out of the flat.
Her cell phone rang again in the elevator and she looked at the ID before she answered.
“Wraith.”
“It’s time,” Terry said.
“Send your car, I’ll be down with Satterfield in thirty minutes.”
“Very well,” Terry said. “And Bailey?”
“Yes?”
“If you fuck with me, I’ll have her raped before she dies.”
“Thirty minutes,” Bailey said and hung up.
She passed through the lobby and entered the door to her garage quickly, despite Tom’s frantic attempt to get her attention. She threw her bag and sword into the passenger seat of the Barracuda and backed out into the parking garage, pulling over to park as she approached the street ex
it. She got out and jogged behind the first row of parked cars facing the street, using them as cover until she found what she was looking for. She walked several car lengths up before she emerged from the garage and approached the surveillance car in its blind spot, drawing one of her pistols. As soon as she got close enough she fired two rounds through the rear window of the car into the heads of both men, killing them instantly. She turned and despite several people on the street who were witness to the act, she walked quickly back into the garage and sat down behind the wheel of the Barracuda. Driving as though she was out for leisurely tour of the city, she pulled out onto the street and slowly disappeared into traffic.
———
Terry hung up the phone and turned to Bob. “Have Robards send three of his best men to C-Corp. They’re to park on the street and wait for her arrival. They’re not to speak to her in anyway, she’ll submit to a frisking but for the Love of God no handcuffs. If they try to restrain her or get rough with her, she will snap and we’ll have to send another team for her. Keep it polite and respectful. Clear?”
“Yes,” Bob said picking up the phone and relaying the instructions to Robards.
“Terry,” Keith said cautiously. “What do we do if she changes her mind?”
“We send in the troops,” Terry said. “Pray that doesn’t happen.”
“I already am,” Keith said.
“Let’s get a chopper in the air, we want her and Satterfield here as quickly as possible,” Terry said.
“Robards has a team on the way,” Bob said hanging up the phone.
“Good,” Terry said looking at his watch and trying not to smile. “I’ll call her in another twenty minutes.”
———
“Zack, wake up,” Russell said urgently, shaking the sleeping form of his friend.
“What?” Zack asked irritably and looked at his watch. “Our shift doesn’t start for another five hours.”
“They grabbed her girlfriend.”
“What?” Zack asked alarmed, rapidly sitting up straight. “Are you kidding?”
“No,” Russell said shaking his head gravely. “They have her in an office a few doors down.”
“Holy shit,” Zack said getting out of bed and hurriedly putting on his clothes. “Let’s go find the loneliest part of the building and hide out for a few hours.”
“Do you think she knows how to find her?” Russell asked worriedly.
“I’m taking no chances,” Zack said tying his shoes and putting on his gun. “Let’s go.”
———
“Make the call, Terry,” Bob said hanging up the phone and glancing at the clock.
“Alright, our men at C-Corp yet?”
“They said they’re about two minutes away.”
“Very well,” Terry said and with a smile he dialed the number.
“Wraith,” Bailey answered.
“Our car will be out front shortly, head that way.”
“Terry?” Bailey purred.
“Yes?” Terry said suddenly uneasy.
“Even God can’t fucking save you now,” she said ominously and the line went dead.
Terry fell into the back of his chair. “Holy Christ,” he said quietly. “Call surveillance on C-Corp, find out if she’s moved. Now!” he said almost screaming the last word.
Bob urgently punched a number into the speakerphone and the room waited breathlessly through twelve rings.
“No answer,” Bob said hanging up as the phone in front of Terry rang.
“McKraken,” he said urgently.
“This is Walsh,” came the voice. “We just arrived at C-Corp, there are several police cars out front and our surveillance team is dead.”
“My God, she knows where Tate is, she’ll take them all by surprise,” Terry said in horror, the world caving in on him. “Alert Robards now!” he screamed at Bob who urgently dialed the phone.
“Robards,” he answered calmly.
“You’ve got incoming!” Terry yelled over the table at the speakerphone.
“What?” Robards asked in alarm but his attention was drawn away from the phone at the sound of automatic gunfire.
“Oh my Christ,” Keith said.
Terry went sickly pale and sank into his chair as the line went dead.
VI
And the perverted fear of violence,
Chokes a smile on every face.
—C. Rea
Josh saw Bailey drive the Barracuda into the parking lot like she owned the place and park just to the side of the front doors. He shook his head in disbelief as she got out of the car, sheathed her sword, shouldered a large canvas bag, and what appeared to be a shotgun diagonally across her back. He could make out the gleam of her katana as she leaned back into the car and produced an M4 with a high capacity drum before walking casually through the front doors. He could hear the gunfire start immediately and jumped in surprise a moment later when a large explosion blew glass and debris out of several windows on the first floor.
“Fuckin’A,” he said in amazement as he searched the building intently through the scope of his rifle.
———
Piper closed her eyes at the sound of gunfire and put her head on the desk in front of her. “Be careful, baby,” she whispered.
———
Bailey walked through the doors and instantly shouldered her rifle to take out the fifteen or so men gathered around a big screen television with several long automatic bursts. As the last ones fell, she caught the motion of a man in the hall next to the elevator and he fell dead on the floor when she fired a quick burst of armor piercing rounds through the drywall corner he was taking cover behind. She ran to the corner where the man had fallen and caught two more in the hall with another burst. Reaching around to the bag on her back she retrieved a small brick of C4 attached to a Frisbee. She set the electronic timer for a ten second delay and flung it down the hallway where it struck the floor and skipped to the far end of the hall. Walking back into the lobby, she pulled another Frisbee out of her bag and set it just as the first one went off with a ground shaking detonation. She threw the second one down the other hall and jogged over to press the button on the elevator as it went off with another concussive blast.
She walked back several paces to the right of the elevator doors and placed her back against the wall. Cocking an ear when the elevator arrived and waiting patiently until she was satisfied that it was empty. She pulled another block of C4 from her bag, peeling the strips off the adhesive on the back as she entered the elevator and placed it on the wall just above the control panel. She set the timer for forty seconds and hit the button for the second floor, jogging out in the direction of the stairwell.
———
“It’s coming up!” a man yelled, prompting over a dozen men to take up firing positions in front of the elevator.
They waited patiently as it stopped and the doors slowly opened to reveal an empty compartment.
“Move away!” Robards yelled from the far end of the hallway a second before it exploded.
The blast sent shrapnel and body parts flying in all directions as the cables snapped and what remained of the elevator plummeted to the basement with a horrendous crash.
“Fuck,” Robards said as he picked himself off the floor and wiped blood away from a laceration on his cheek. The sound of automatic gunfire from downstairs again reached his ears and he winced as he ran down an adjoining hall.
———
Philips fled wildly down the stairs that led to the basement, having just narrowly survived the blast from the first explosion. He burst through the door and screamed in both pain and surprise as he found his forward momentum violently stopped by a katana that impaled him through the shoulder and pinned him to the wall.
“Where is she?” Bailey purred.
“Dead, just like me,” he gasped in pain as he found himself looking into a pair of enraged black eyes.
Bailey twisted the sword and he screamed. “Where is she?”<
br />
“Second floor, Room 217,” he rasped.
“You’ve something on your shoes.”
Philips gasped and slouched against the wall as the blade left his body, his eyes following her as she nonchalantly collected her rifle from a few feet away and walked into the depths of the basement. Feeling faint and oddly warm from the waist down, he let his gaze travel down the front of his body as he began to lose consciousness. The last image his mind processed was the sight of his intestines protruding from a ghastly wound in his belly and hanging morbidly in ropes down the front of his legs.
———
“Shit,” Mike cursed as the lights flickered off. “She cut the power,” he pointed out uselessly to the seven men gathered around him.
“Mike!” Robards yelled out as he ran down the hall towards him. “The elevator’s history, she’ll be coming up the stairwell, get over there. I’m gonna grab everyone else I can find and take up a position next to the Tate lady.”
“Alright, we’re on it,” Mike said. “Grab your balls, boys. Let’s go,” he said, leading his men hurriedly down the hall and around a corner.
As they approached the stairwell, Mike came to a stop and looked around carefully. “Stagger yourselves on opposite sides of the hallway, look sharp!” he ordered the men who hastily complied with his command.
“Mike, we got smoke behind us,” one of the men called out.
He snapped his attention from the stairwell to see a thick white smoke drifting evilly down the hallway towards them. Knowing instantly what it meant, he dropped to one knee and attached himself to the wall.
“She’s already up here,” he said quietly. “Keep your shit wired tight.”
Bailey let another smoke canister roll down the hallway and reached around to her bag for the visor. Slipping the bulky apparatus over her head, she stepped into the hall from the office she had been taking refuge in. Squatting on her haunches in the smoke, she patiently observed the eight heat signatures of the men perhaps twenty yards away laying in wait for her. Noting their positions, she placed the visor back in her bag and situated herself on one knee. Shouldering her rifle and aiming from memory, she fired several automatic bursts down the hall until the weapon locked open empty. She stood and quickly stepped back into the office, tossing the now useless rifle to the floor and estimating from the return fire that had been directed at her in retaliation, that most of her bullets had found their mark. She took off at a run, drawing her katana as she raced through the smoke towards the surviving men.
Engravings of Wraith Page 50
