Discoveries (Mercenaries Book 5)

by Tony Lavely

  “Nothing’s impossible,” Else said, “but the look on her face in the plane…”

  “Hmm. So you think not? Can I see the video? No, never mind. I’m no expert. Has she said anything?”

  “Not once we told her to be quiet until you asked for her.”

  Beckie looked at Ian, sitting calmly beside her. She reached for his hand. He used both hands to hold hers as he leaned forward to whisper, “You should visit the girl.”

  She leaned back just enough to look into his blue eyes. God, he looks good! Enough! “I’m going to get my Sig. I think Else is right, but I’m not going to take the chance. Maurice!”

  “Yes, Mistress,” floated back from inside the house.

  “Please ask Shen to bring Cori, free of shackles and the like, here in… let’s say two hours. Amy, you and Lisa go with Else. Watch the video with her, then come back. You two and I will meet with her.”

  “Only us?” Amy’s eyes went to Ian.

  “Only us. Ian will be under the influence of your mother’s prescription and asleep by then, I hope. The only sentence I could impose that he can’t overrule tomorrow is if I shoot her, and I promise not to do that without major provocation.”

  She heard Ian’s small chuckle and turned to smile at him.

  “Okay, Else, we can free you, then, unless there’s something I should have asked and didn’t?”

  “I don’t think so, but if anything comes up…”

  “Cool. Take these two and we’ll talk later.”

  Beckie put Cori out of her mind and spent the next ten minutes with Ian and Willie deciding that they should call Leonid, since the contents of the cache, while intriguing and disturbing, weren’t of as much interest as the two ‘who’ questions: Who put them there⁠—and were they the ultimate users? Who were the targets of the weapons? She thought back to Brody’s⁠—Doctor Sher’s⁠—warning about Quetta and Gwadar.

  Beckie set the phone atop the table and listened as it rang once. Twice. Leonid answered on the third ring, though he sounded a little logy.

  “Sorry,” Beckie said. “I guess it’s not as reasonable a time there.”

  He sounded fully awake by the time she’d finished. “Mrs. Jamse, hello. Thanks for calling. I assume all is well there?”

  She waved to Ian, who spent a few words of greeting with the Russian, then nodded to Beckie.

  “So, yeah, everything’s wonderful here. But what about there? We talked to Else, so we know what she does. About the cache, anyway.”

  “I hate to ask this, take you away from Mr. Jamse and the baby, but… I think I need your diplomatic skills here to have any chance to avoid problems.” He paused and Beckie heard a muffled conversation without understanding any of it. Leonid returned and said, “My apologies. Both Fedor and Beth are still awake and curious. They also believe your presence would be quite helpful.”

  “You make it hard to turn you down, Lyeka.” She smiled at Ian when he gave her a questioning glance at her use of the nickname. “All that praise. Tell me what’s really going on.”

  “You remember Rezaei, from our meeting?”

  “The less amenable of the two? Yes.”

  “He has decided that his followers should be able to overwhelm our ‘puny’ force, as he put it. The rumors are that he will move in three days. If you can arrive before then, I will broker a meeting where we can… where you can explain his folly.”

  “And when he persists?”

  “I am hopeful that you might be accompanied.”

  “By? Really Lyeka, how many do you think necessary? Neither Ian nor Kevin are available, so…”

  “I expected neither of them. Two plus yourself should be sufficient.”

  “I have Ben Daley and Gillian Bespar. Sam, too, but he’s unavailable⁠—”

  “I am not!” Sam roared from the doorway.

  “Pardon me, Lyeka, while I reprimand my second-in-command.” She stood and walked to the slider, to give Sam a big hug. “My other hero. Has to get shot to protect me. Why do you think you should be going with me?”

  “I just heard a rumor that you’re thinking of commandeering my people. Imad, Stacy and the Chief are running lighter than I like, so I’m… I was going to say concerned, but I think interested is better. You haven’t made many mistakes.”

  “Well, thank you, Captain! I appreciate that, coming from you. What does Millie say about your condition?”

  “You should verify with her, but my understanding is cleared for duty as long as I keep the dressings changed and don’t get injured again. The wound’s not near anything important, she said⁠—”

  “So around your head, then?” Willie said with a laugh.

  “Close enough.”

  “Maurice, if Sam’s allowed a beer or something?”

  “Coming right up,” he said once Sam nodded with pleasure.

  Beckie returned to the table and addressed the phone. “Well, Leonid, you’ll need room for three plus me. Sam and his two crew. If we’re quiet, I won’t have anyone else hankering to get shot at if my negotiations fail. As seems likely, if Rezaei’s got his fighters ready.” She sighed. “But right now, I don’t see what else to do. We’ll leave tomorrow, after asking Smythe to grease the skids again. Maurice will call with the details. I assume, since you didn’t mention it, everything else is under control?”

  “As much as ever, Mrs. Jamse. As much as ever. And I fully understand why Ms Stadd is laughing right now.”

  “So do I.”

  Once she’d disconnected, Beckie looked around the lanai. “Right. I’m going to check on Ralf… No, you stay put, Ian. You rest; you don’t need to try everything at once. When I get back, I’d like to… I’d like to go over my jumbled ideas; see if we can make some sense of them. Yes, all of you. Be right back.”

  Ralf was sleeping the sleep of the innocent; she moved him closer to the center of his crib and closed the window part way.

  Beckie pulled the nursery door closed; when she turned, Angel stood with Ethian in her arms. “I’ll watch out for him,” the girl said. “Do you have any more milk, or…”

  She nodded in thanks. “I think he drained me earlier. Should be able to feed him in the morning, though. And I’m traveling again, so I hope you’re not leaving!”

  “Not likely, Miss. I keep sayin’ this is as good as I can remember. Ever. Not gonna screw it up!”

  Wonder what that really means? “Okay. You’re putting Ethian down for the night?” She touched his cheek. Lighter skin than I’d expect. None of my business. “He’s cute. Okay. I’ll check Ralf and with you later. Before I turn in. Thanks.”

  On the short walk back, Beckie contemplated her choices. Making sure I’m doing the right thing… or a right thing, at least, that’s one. And maybe even more important, give Ian a chance to ease back into work by thinking ’bout what I might have… or might yet screw up. She sighed then perked up. That’ll be good for both our confidences.

  Back on the lanai, the four men were muttering about something; while no one volunteered the subject, no one looked guilty either, so she decided she didn’t care. If it’s important to me, someone will say.

  “Okay,” she said once she’d taken her seat and sipped a bit of her wine, “you guys are here to listen to everything so far, and then help me plan the next bit… until the plan falls apart, anyway.”

  Sam eased around to face her. “First I have to ask, why are you headed back?”

  “As opposed to sitting here on my ass while my team gets… I don’t know, shot at? Killed? Waiting for news to come?” She turned her best glare on him, toned down only because as she began, she realized his intent. “Even before you guys took me under your wings and trained me up, I wouldn’t have left…” She caught her breath. “We have a bunch of people, you know. But not so many that I can’t be friends with them. I would never intentionally leave a friend or team member alone when I could help.

  “And of course, Leonid asked for me. I should call him back and say what, exa
ctly? That⁠—”

  “Hold on!” Sam raised his hand. “I don’t mean that kind of stuff. That’s background, do-what-I-gotta-do stuff. Before that, you’ve just gotten your husband back after what, eight months of him being dead? And your child, he’s not even three months yet. Don’t explain to me why the leader has to go. I want to know why you have to go.”

  She looked at each of the men in turn. Yeah, Maurice has his little I-know-what-you’re-thinking smile. I wonder if he’s right. And Ian… Ian’s… interested, I think. I hope. He would have said before if he was unalterably opposed to my going back. “If I answer this, will you all then help me with the plan? ’Cause otherwise, I’m going to take Ian, put him in bed and come back and order you all off the Nest for long overdue vacations. Clear?”

  Sam’s mouth had dropped as much as she’d ever seen. Maurice was about to laugh aloud. Willie’s eyes were wide, but otherwise he maintained his composure. Ian… God, I love him! Ian was relaxed, a tiny smile playing with his lips and eyes. “They will,” he said, “with more grace than I believe you expect.”

  She smiled at him, then met each of the others’ eyes. She heard “Yes, Beckie” or its equivalent three times.

  “Cool. I’m going back because Leonid asked for my help. I’m going back because it’s my job, one I took, one I need to see through. I’m going back because I left it unfinished… for good reason.” She gripped Ian’s hand and pulled him closer. “But it’s not finished. I’m… I’m afraid it’s going to come apart, and if I can’t stop it, I can at least be able to explain to next of kin just what happened. I owe it to everyone on the team to be able to do that for them. I’m going back because there’s a little tickle in my mind that tells me I’ve forgotten something big and it will be really bad. I’m going back so when I’m here again, I can look at Ian and Ralf… and you guys, too, and know I did the right thing.” She took another deep breath, grabbed her ponytail and pulled it around front. “That’s why I’m risking my lover, my love, my… life. Now, Maurice, I really would like another glass of wine, please.”

  She needed several minutes to sip from the fresh glass, then review current events.

  Finally, Ian asked, “The man who delivered you to Al-Shazar; the one you injured. Did he have anything to say?”

  “We only questioned him about the phone. You’ve found another reason to head back.”

  “Hmm.” Maybe that wasn’t the answer he wanted. Ian continued, “While I agree about the connection between the people in Pakistan and those in France and Monaco, what evidence is there to confirm it?”

  “Besides the phone, you mean?” He nodded. “Well, Maryam admitted Al-Shazar was one of them, though I guess, it was pretty indirect. But she definitely knew his name. So there’s that to connect them, too.”

  Fifteen minutes after she’d kissed Ian good night⁠—after watching him take Millie’s pills⁠—and checked Ralf once more, she was back on the lanai. Atypically, her Sig P238 was in its shoulder holster, over her shirt and obvious to anyone who looked her way.

  Boynton stuck his head through the open slider to say, “Shen and Ms D’Costa are in the water, approaching. I believe that Miss Amy and Miss Lisa are a minute or so behind them.”

  “Thanks. I can’t believe that Shen starved Cori, but Amy and Lisa probably haven’t eaten anything; see what everyone would like.”

  “A gracious opening, Mistress?”

  “Indeed, Maurice. What would you have me do? Oh, in case it hadn’t crossed your mind… I’d be happy if the intercom between the lanai and the kitchen, say, were to develop the specific flaw of never turning off. Can we arrange that?”

  Boynton’s smile warmed her heart. I know he’s not happy about having her here, after she put not only all his girls but Ralf, too, at risk. He should be able to save face.

  She stood when he returned with Shen and Cori, followed quickly by Amy and Lisa. The three girls had welcomed each other at the dock, but Beckie could see it was uncomfortable for all of them, though Shen… I guess he’s done that scene before.

  “Thanks, Shen. Ladies, please find a seat. Maurice will offer snacks. Shen, you and Maurice are the designated observers, I’d prefer you not have any mind-altering substances, if you don’t mind.” She watched Shen’s eyes flick to her weapon. “Uh-huh. I know you’re not armed, and none of the women better be. I’ll be very judicious about using it, I promise.”

  He nodded, then Boynton entered with drinks. “Snacks will follow directly.”

  “Very well,” Beckie said. “First, Amy? Lisa? Did the video change your opinions?” Since I’m pretty sure I know what their opinions were.

  Both girls shook their heads, and Lisa added, “Not at all.”

  “Good. Before I get to asking Cori what-the-fuck? I want to ask you, Shen, what’s her status as far as you are concerned?”

  “With everything Else Meyers found, we agreed to hold her in what amounts to protective custody.”

  “Ah. The nice, upstairs cell with windows and running water, then?”

  He chuckled and agreed.

  “But no visitors or contacts?”

  “Correct. Whether she’s after one of us, or as we fear, someone else may be after her… Well, isolation works for either of those.”

  “I see her garb is not what a California girl would choose willingly.” Cori was wearing a slightly baggy lime-green jumpsuit with matching sneakers.

  Shen colored, just a hint.

  “I trust keeping her in the cell avoided the necessity for strip searches?”

  “She’s been treated with every respect, Mrs. Jamse.”

  “Meant nothing else, Shen. Thank you for that. Now, rather than talk past you any longer, Cori, would you grace us with your song of heartache and woe?”

  Cori set the wine glass on the table and twisted in her chair to more directly face Beckie. She took a deep breath, swiped a few stray hairs back over her ear and began. “It’s not real easy, Mrs. Jamse, when you’ve been as foolish in your actions… foolish in selecting friends…” Beckie could hear the air quotes around the word. “… foolish in… in every damn thing I’ve done! I guess that pretty well sums up my life so far.”

  Beckie sighed. “All that may be true. However, let’s be clear. I want to know how and why you called a missile to my plane. My plane carrying my son, and some of my closest friends, not to mention team members. And yourself. One of the reasons Else and Shen didn’t shoot you as you got off the plane… No, we’ll hold that. What the fuck were you doing? And why?” She pressed her hands to her thighs. “To be clear, I may be judge and jury in this proceeding, but Ian will have to approve any sentence I mete out. Now, I’m going to shut up and listen.”

  “Finally!” she heard either Amy or Lisa whisper sotto voce. She didn’t bother trying to see who would avoid her glare, just sat back and attempted a calm appearance.

  Hearing that she wouldn’t be executed tonight didn’t relax Cori as much as Beckie intended. Probably wasn’t even thinking of that possibility, that she would⁠—

  “I’m sorry, Mrs. Jamse. Really I am. For everything… Putting all your people and your son in danger. I’m mad, too, for putting myself in a place where my best friend… my love… would die alongside me, before I even told her…” When she blinked this time, Beckie could see tears glistening.

  That raised some eyebrows. Confession: good for the soul, but not always easy on other relationships! I’m gonna trust her some more, I think. She’s not good enough to carry this act if it’s not real.

  “Amy, you and Lisa take Cori to where you’ve got some clothes. One of your outfits will fit her, and I don’t need her in Shen’s lovely jumpsuit any longer.” Shen started to rise. “No, Shen, please stay. I still need two disinterested observers. I suppose it’s possible she’s fooled me… But I don’t think so. Amy, go, put her in more… put her in something so she’s more comfortable! But don’t even think of losing her; I want her back in… in five minutes.”

  A
fter the girls had left, Beckie turned to Shen to say, “I know that thinking she’s not fooling me is the first step to being smacked upside the head. That’s the main reason I want you here, to watch for something I miss because I’m on her side. Okay?”

  He agreed, and took a bottle of water from Boynton’s tray, raised it in a toast. She laughed and raised her glass, nearly empty though it was.

  In another few minutes, Lisa pushed Cori through the slider, followed by Amy, who nodded sagely to Beckie from behind Cori, then made a production of adjusting her bra. Ah… I’ll bet we can track her now, if we need to. Both Lisa and Cori had somewhat red eyes, and Lisa was still snuffling. I wonder what that’s about.

  “Thank you, Mrs. Jamse. I do feel better in this. Amy outfitted me from the skin out; much better!” I thought I recognized those shorts. And the cut-off top. How many of those did Dylan buy her? Cori continued, drowning Beckie’s fashionista thoughts, “But feeling better doesn’t make what I did any smarter. So.

  “I went to church⁠—”

  “Just let me say, you don’t need to go back to ‘I was born.’ Hit the high points and what I… or we don’t understand, we’ll ask. Okay?”

  Cori nodded. “That might make this easier. Quicker, at least. Anyway, our church is really evangelical, and conservative to beat all. Especially about… gays…

  “A couple weeks ago, that was more important to me.” She smiled at Lisa. I wonder if she’s ever tried a boy. Oh, well. None of my business. “Now… Well, anyway, before graduation, one of the guys at church, and school, too, Jose, you know him, Lise.” Lisa made a face, but nodded. “He caught me between Sunday School and the service, and pulled me out into the flower garden… what’s left of it, anyway, with no water. He sat me down and said he’s been watching me looking at…” She stared at Lisa. “… at you…” Her cheeks blazed red. “Then he put a necklace around my neck and told me if I didn’t wear it… he’d tell everybody in church and school that I’m a lesbian.” She looked at Lisa. “And you are, too.” She was crying softly; Beckie nodded to Lisa, who slipped up beside and held her.