Discoveries (Mercenaries Book 5)

by Tony Lavely

  “I can extend my stay by a day or two to help with this.”

  “Thanks.” Beckie took a deep breath. “Finally, the update. I find it necessary to change the fee structure that Willie Llorens suggested.”

  “How so? And why? I assume the change is not something trivial, ten euros per month for example.”

  “Correct. More on the order of… well, less than twenty percent. Fifty thousand euros per month.”

  Sher’s mouth dropped. He didn’t go pale, but Chouj did. “I don’t understand, Mrs. Jamse,” Sher said when he caught his breath. “Is this because of the weapons? If so⁠—”

  “No. The weapons don’t affect the fee schedule.”

  “Then, how could Mr. Llorens be that far off?”

  “Mr. Llorens did not have all the relevant details. And⁠—”

  “Even without the details, I cannot believe…” Sher scrubbed his short black hair. “I cannot hear this!”

  Beckie felt herself ready to blow up. Take a breath, Beck. “Leonid, get ready to cle⁠—”

  A touch on her arm stopped her. She snapped around to see Sam taking her wrist, pulling her up.

  “What are you doing, Sam?” Her voice was colder than she wanted.

  “Let’s take a walk, Mrs. Jamse. Just you and me.” He gently urged her to stand and shuffle behind him. “Leonid, Doctor Sher, please wait here.”

  Why should they wait? I don’t want to… Maybe you should follow… And then listen? You think? Rather than pull Leonid out of here. What purpose would that serve? Beckie had no good answer for the questions her mind posed.

  Out on the dusty street, Sam held her waist as he propelled her away from the base. After he’d walked about a hundred meters, he stopped and surveyed the area. Beckie watched his eyes as they flashed from point to point; it took him a moment to choose a blank wall to stand her against.

  Beckie’s anger at both Sher for unreasoning resistance and Sam for yanking her away from the meeting had abated very little. While she was willing to go with Sam, and listen to him before she pulled rank on him, she had no intention of starting the conversation. He dragged me out here; he can tell me why!

  “I hate looking down at you, Mrs. Jamse. It just isn’t right.” He took a deep breath while Beckie wondered what surprise would be next. She was almost ready to speak when, “We all talk a lot, you know. In particular, Elena. And Amy and Beth with her. And then she with me.

  “On the way in, I explained what we were planning, and she nodded… You know how she does. Then she said I should keep an eye on you… On your expressions. Watch out, she said, when Beckie goes all still. Stiff and statue like. It’s a tell. She’s stuck, about to break out and do something she’ll regret when she thinks rationally about it.”

  Beckie’s anger was almost killed by her confusion, her wonder that⁠—

  Sam was still talking. “As Sher was saying ‘No’ in there, I saw the look Elena described. You went unresponsive, like a shutter closed.” He glanced up and down the street. “I wanted to jar you enough to think before you made a snap decision, no matter what it was.”

  Beckie huffed out a huge breath, one she hadn’t been aware of holding. “Well, Captain, if it’s the look that preceded my major failures with Willie and Dylan and… and everyone, over the past several months, I guess I have to say thank you.” She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “But I still don’t know…”

  “How about we head back and try a bit of explanation on Doctor Sher. We know what the money’s for, and that he’s not footing the whole bill, but he knows neither of those things. To him, it easily could seem like jacking up the price to cover a one-time cost. Like the weapons problem.” He smiled, wide enough that Beckie recognized his good humor. “That’s not to tell you your job, though!”

  She laughed. “That is your job, Sam. And you’re doing fine.”

  They’d made about twenty meters back when simultaneously Beckie was pulled hard by a blow at her back and short bursts of automatic weapon fire rang between the mud brick walls. She slammed against the building, wondering why her face hurt, but nothing else. Strike that, my knee’s complaining. Sam! Where’s Sam?

  She tried to move and found that her body took direction pretty well. Better than after I was shot in the arm. As she rotated to look along the wall, Sam crawled into her vision. “Sam! Are you okay? What happened?”

  “You guys okay?” Elena’s voice was loud and clear in Beckie’s ears.

  Beckie waved and then grabbed at Sam’s helmet to see his face. “Are you okay? You know who you are?”

  His smile lit up again. “Yeah, Beckie. I’m the one stands in front of you when people shoot at you.”

  “You hit?” she screamed in his face, trying to pull him around where she could see.

  “I’m fine.” She collapsed in relief. “Relax. Armor did its job. And you?”

  “My face hurts,” she said when her breath came back. “And my knee. But⁠—”

  He was up on his knees turning her head back and forth.

  “Stop! What about the shooter?”

  “Lena got him. Now, your face. Slammed into the wall when you fell, looks like. Fabien gets to work on your nose again.” He had transferred his attention to her leg and knee, checking both sides… Yeah, I didn’t say it’s the left one. “I can cut your pants open here, but I think the knee just got dented when you fell. No rips or tears like a bullet came through.”

  “Give me a hand up, then. I’ll see if it works.”

  By the time the two of them were vertical, not only Elena, but Leonid and the others had cautiously made their way to them.

  “I think we’re fine,” Beckie said, acknowledging the expressions of concern, “thanks to Elena and KDH Defense body armor. Let’s go back inside where we can have coffee, tea or we still have some Murree beer, I think.” She held Elena back as the others left. “Thank you! What about… Is he…”

  “He’s not a risk. I’ll send one of Muhammad’s cops to take care of him.” She reached to give Beckie a hug, but stopped short. “Wow! Lucky!”

  “What?”

  “When we get in, get a new vest. This one’s got a bullet wound across the back. Not yet!” she hollered as Beckie began to unfasten it.

  Back in the meeting room, Beckie sipped from the mug of sweet tea Leonid had given her once she’d swapped the body armor for an undamaged vest. Swirling the fluid through her mouth, she smiled, then set the mug down.

  “Very well. First… Unfortunately, Doctor Sher, neither Ms Ardan nor Mr Llorens are here to keep me calm and collected. I am supremely grateful that Captain Dabron is here to take their place, allowing me to make enough of a fool of myself that I can learn from the experience, but not enough of one that our business will suffer.” She turned to Sam. “I thank you once again, Captain.”

  She faced Sher. “At least, my hope is that I have not derailed our work with you. Permit me to begin again.” He nodded. She thought it was a cautious nod, ready for either disappointment or, not pleasure, exactly, but reflective of the ability to get back to work. “I did hit you with an increase in our fee with no explanation or context. While it got the unpleasant news out of the way, it gave you no reason to believe I wasn’t just playing you for a fool. A poor position for either of us.

  “First, I reiterate that the problem of the devices in the cave does not affect your fee, because they are the sort of problem Willie did factor in when considering the risks. However, Leonid, Fedor and I, with Doctor Chouj’s significant help, have struck a deal with tribal leader Amir Khan. Under the terms we agreed, he will assist in protecting the site and workers by keeping his people from joining those who wish us harm.

  “In exchange, Leonid will arrange for a hospital or clinic to be located here in Surab, with either low cost or free care, immunizations and such available for anyone who comes to the door. Also, I will arrange for agricultural supplies when Khan and Leonid agree on what they should be. Leonid and Fedor may have agreed to other, s
imilar non-combatant stores, but I believe those are the ones of significance.

  “I gave Leonid a budget of one hundred thousand euros per month. Your new additional payment covers half. I will cover the other half, as well as recruiting the medical staff and doing the requisite purchasing and transportation. I am hopeful that you and Doctor Smythe can continue to assist with Islamabad’s paperwork and bureaucracy.

  “I hope that better clarifies the purpose and rationale for the change. Consider also that if I needed to double Leonid’s force, the increased fee would be more than three times what we are discussing. This amount brings tens if not hundreds of new ‘recruits’ under your banner, and improves their health and condition as well.”

  Sher had looked stunned since Beckie’s words about building a hospital. He drank deeply from his Murree, then sighed. “I understand. I cannot say for certain that the increase can be met, but I will talk with Smythe as soon as I return to the site.”

  Tarquin popped his head around the door frame. “I can offer a secure sat phone, if that would make it easier?”

  “I cannot say easier, but it would be quicker. Where shall I go?”

  In a moment, Elena traipsed down the stairs. “Got thrown out of your room, Beckie.” She chuckled. “Like Grand Central up there.”

  “Thanks, Lena. Appreciate everything.”

  “Oh, go on with ya,” the woman replied with another laugh. “Jes’ doin’ me job.”

  Tarquin entered as Elena finished. “Your accent leaves a bit to be desired, I fear.”

  “I hope so,” she replied with a snicker. “Any beer left?”

  “Saved you one,” Beckie said.

  After five minutes of small talk, Elena said, “ He’s coming down; I’ll go back to watch out the window.”

  Sher trod slowly across the wooden floor. Wonder how this part of the meeting will go.

  He took his seat, then tipped the chair back to lean against the wall. “Well,” he began. “Your message was not met with praise and huzzahs, as you can imagine. I am happy to say it was not rejected outright. Smythe believes the principle of the thing well founded, and he will attempt to renegotiate with our financial backers. He does wish to know if it is all or nothing?”

  Beckie shared a glance with Leonid and then Fedor. “It is not. We will simply be unable to provide as much assistance.”

  Chapter XI: En Route The Nest

  NOTHING MORE HAPPENED BEFORE Leonid and Anatoly drove the three travelers to Karachi’s Jinnah International airport. After well-wishes, they all waved; the truck left as Beckie forged through the doors. Their plane was closer to on-time than she’d expected; it left forty minutes late. Not enough to interfere with the connection at Doha.

  Once the plane achieved cruising altitude, Sam, sitting next to Beckie, said, “Mrs. Jamse, a question if you don’t mind, before you go to sleep?”

  “Taking lessons from Ben, Sam? Sure, ask away.”

  “Okay. I was wondering… Did anyone ever say why Ian and Kevin were attacked in South Africa?”

  Yeah, he’s probably not the only one… “Well… Kind of. The people who had them in Peillon?” She sighed. “An unbelievable combination of competence and stupidity. They wanted them to coordinate two or three terrorist attacks against the US.”

  “Those things Amy was talking about?” She nodded. “Ok, I understand the stupidity part. Where’s the competence?”

  “They arranged for the smugglers to haul the dagga⁠—marijuana⁠—through the deVeel’s property… They would have used Ian’s parents’ property if Kevin hadn’t reacted. Anyway, they started that months early. They brought in medics to declare them both dead, and then revive them… It wasn’t an issue for Kevin; no one pushed to see him. Maryam told me they had a couple of the policemen helping them, too, but since I had Ian back, I didn’t listen much.” She pulled her ponytail around front to play with.

  “They really thought those schemes were viable?”

  “I guess so, at least until everyone they talked to said, in effect, what, are you crazy? And I’m still not sure they’ve given up on the attack on the Supreme Court.” She smiled. “That at least is Chelsie’s problem!” She sat upright. “Damn! We should tell her about the weapons.”

  “I think that can wait til we arrive,” Elena said.

  “Yeah. Not sure what she’d do with the information anyway.”

  Beckie’s sleep was again interrupted a couple hours out of Doha. Her satellite phone buzzed in her pocket; after a wave at the flight attendant, she answered. “Hi, love. Anxious?”

  “I am,” Ian answered, “but that is not the reason for the call. Boynton, Willie and I have been talking to Leonid. The attack you were concerned over took place a few hours ago⁠—”

  “Damn!” Oops, too loud. “Sorry,” she said to Sam and Elena, who’d both roused at her expletive. “I guess we should have stayed one more day, huh?”

  “Leonid’s thought is that Rezaei waited until you left. He would not have attacked whilst you were there. Leonid thinks that he believed you would take troops with you; therefore he would not take the risk until you left. The team rebuffed the attack; however, two were injured.”

  “At least you didn’t say dead. Who and how seriously?”

  “Bethany and Tarquin. Bethany suffered a gunshot wound in her lower abdomen, below her armor. After consulting with Millie, Boynton arranged an air ambulance from Karachi to here; Bethany will arrive shortly after you. Fabien told Leonid and Millie that Tarquin’s injury, to his shoulder, was much less severe and he could treat it there.”

  “Does Leonid need more troops?”

  “We can discuss that when you arrive, but his answer is no. He said that Khan has… has accepted the bribe. I’m not sure I understood him, however.”

  “I’m sure you did,” Beckie said with a chuckle. “I offered non-combatant aid⁠—medicine, a clinic, water pumps, solar generators⁠—up to a hundred thousand euros a month worth to Khan to support Leonid… or at least, not attack him or Smythe’s crew at the site.” Beckie watched the flight attendant coming up the aisle. Over his laugh, she continued, “I have to get off now. See you soon and I love you!”

  Beckie spent a few moments sharing the lack of information that Ian had shared with her. Sam’s distress at the news about Beth didn’t seem at all contrived; Beckie said, “Don’t get all angsty on me, Sam. I was the one didn’t give her a choice, not you. If you feel really strongly about it, I’m sure you’ll be able to talk to her.”

  “Did Ian say what her prognosis is?” Elena asked.

  “He didn’t. I guess Millie’s getting ready for everyone. But you know as well as I do how she feels about other doctors… Shakti excluded… probably. Most of the time.”

  Elena and Sam snickered under their breath to avoid bothering any other passengers trying to sleep, then nodded in agreement. “We can talk more about it when we get back,” Beckie said. “Try and rest now; that’s my plan.”

  She didn’t find it as easy to implement as to suggest. Worry over, as she’d said to Sam, her order that Beth stay to get shot left her sick that, once again she⁠— No, dammit, I’m not to blame for this. This is a consequence of the work we do, not some… evil karma getting back at me.

  Somewhat more relaxed, she crawled out of the big seat and headed toward the forward lavatory. On her return, Elena sat up on the bed her seat had become and grabbed Beckie’s arm. “Hey, sit here a minute.”

  The bed was pretty flat, for a recliner, anyway, and there was plenty of room for the two women. Elena stared at her but just for a second. “Don’t you go getting angsty either. No more⁠—”

  “Yeah, I reached that conclusion before I got up. Kinda an occupational hazard. isn’t it?”

  Elena rubbed her bandaged shoulder as she agreed. “Yeah, it is… So, you thinking of changing that occupation, now that Ian’s back?”

  Beckie took a deep breath. “Not really, especially now he’s back.” She turned to face the
other woman. “I wasn’t kidding, you know. Doing this scares the shit outta me.”

  “I know. That’s part of what I was trying to tell you… back after you gave Kerry that work out. And also… It seemed completely obvious to me that you suffered survivor’s guilt, and you were subconsciously trying to get hurt because of it.” Her lips curved upward. “‘Course, being a much better merc than psychoanalyst, I probably screwed up the diagnosis and the treatment.”

  Beckie leaned forward to give Elena a gentle hug. “I don’t know if that’s why, but even I knew I was making everything about me. Once I realized it, it was easier to… to restrain myself. And to tell Devon his answer wasn’t mine.”

  “You gonna tell Ian about that?”

  “Of course!” She felt her expression become wry. “Maybe not in… you know, detail, but yeah.”

  Elena chuckled quietly and shoved her off the bed. “Over there and sleep. Still like ten or twelve hours to go.”

  Chapter XII: The Nest

  BECKIE WAS OUT OF the air taxi as soon as the door opened, almost flying down the steps herself to crash into Ian’s waiting chest and arms. After a crushing kiss, she took Ralf from Angel and hugged him as well. Maybe he even recognizes me, she thought, or maybe, grinning at Angel, he’s just ready to eat again.

  Ian finished greeting Sam and Elena before Janni took their passports and Millie led them to the dock for a trip to the hospital. He then took Ralf and Beckie hugged herself to his side as they made their own way to the dock on the way to Home Cay and home.

  “Maurice!” Beckie called as they entered the front door. “Angel’s got Ralf and Ethian. Ian and I, we’ve gone away. No way to get hold of us. Our phones are off.”

  “Not even a glass of wine, Mistress?”