by Saul, Jonas
Vivian’s messages always seemed to be a riddle when they involved Sarah personally. But the go here and save someone’s life, or run there and stop a kidnapping were messages with clear details. When the message was regarding Sarah, Vivian never gave specifics, just cryptic notes. Maybe she wasn’t allowed to offer Sarah too much of a glimpse into her future. Maybe there were rules about this kind of exchange after all.
Focus Sarah. Come back to the here and now. They could arrive at any moment.
Sarah headed around the side of the building until she had a clear view of the front. She hung back in the shadows and waited for the three SUVs to arrive as she knew they would.
And they didn’t disappoint her. Not two minutes after being in place three Cadillac Escalades pulled up about half a block down from the hostel. Sarah leaned out of the shadows and watched as the passenger doors of the first and third Escalade opened and two men got out. No one moved from the center vehicle.
The two men dressed in suits and wearing fedora hats walked with purpose to the front of the hostel and stepped inside.
Sarah edged along the building. Staying as close to the wall as possible, she made her way toward the three parked vehicles. If anyone inside either vehicle saw her she was sure they’d recognize her for who she was, even with her new hair color, and the problems would escalate quickly.
Five feet from the SUVs she could make out a little of the interior of the first vehicle. A lone driver sat staring at the hotel his passenger had just entered.
She was as close as she needed to be to the lead vehicle. With the stealth of a cat, Sarah hopped across the sidewalk and dropped down below the hood. If she’d been seen the driver would exit his vehicle so she waited to a count of three.
Nothing. No noise of any kind.
The three vehicles were parked one after another. The way she had approached them kept her out of view of the other two. Since no one had exited the center SUV to go into the hotel Sarah assumed Parkman was in that one.
She crawled along the baseboards of the lead vehicle until she reached its back bumper. A quick peek around the bumper revealed two men in the front of the second SUV.
Her time limited, knowing that the two men who entered the hotel were going to be coming out soon, or radioing down the condition of their colleague, Sarah had to act and she had to do it fast.
She lunged out from behind the lead vehicle, staying low, and reached the front tire of the second SUV undetected. The steak knife sat firmly in her grip as she lay down on her back and slid along in the dark feeling for the brake fluid line. It was all she could think of on such short notice.
Or maybe she should puncture the gas tank? What kind of damage could she do that would slow them down or stop them? They’d only jump into the other vehicles.
She lay there in the dark, going through scenarios knowing that time was running out and she was in a precarious spot.
She realized that she needed to steal one of the SUVs. Preferably the one with Parkman in it. She set the knife down gently and rolled away from the underside of the vehicle. She continued to roll across the sidewalk until she hit the side of the building and was covered in another shadow. This low on the ground, someone would have to be looking right at her to have seen the movement.
She got to her feet, careful to do it slowly and remain covered by the shadows. Then she removed one of her weapons and clicked off the safety. As fast as she could, Sarah fired with precision and care into the front tires of the lead and rear SUV. Instantly doors opened on both vehicles. The drivers walked around, a gun in hand, to inspect the damage. Unless they changed the tires themselves or called a tow truck, both SUVs weren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
Both men stood armed about ten feet on either side of her.
“Drop the weapons,” Sarah said.
She watched as they both looked her way and tried to find her in the shadows.
“Who are you?” one of the men asked.
“Your first mistake,” Sarah said. She fired in his direction aiming a little left. The bullet hit the passenger side window and ricocheted off in the distance.
Of course, bullet-proof glass.
It startled the guy enough for him to set his weapon on the pavement and raise his hands as he stepped back.
“Take it easy,” he said.
“You too,” Sarah aimed her weapon just enough out of the shadow for the other guy to see the barrel.
He lowered his gun and stepped back. She was amazed that neither one had tried to shoot at her, but then she remembered that this group of men couldn’t kill her. She was too valuable. How would they explain that to their bosses? Oh, sorry, your United States government property has been terminated by accident. Might piss people off.
Movement caught her eye. The two men who had entered the hotel were back. They had just walked out the front door holding their injured friend between them.
Time was against her and so was the manpower. Run away or act now and act violently.
She stepped from hiding and fired her weapon openly toward the three men in front of the hostel. The two guys dropped their friend and ran for cover. She turned toward the man by the SUV on her right and fired at him. Each bullet was not meant to hit her targets, only scare them. Before anyone returned fire she made it around to the driver’s side door of the middle vehicle and pulled on the handle. The driver shook his head and smiled.
He mouthed the words, no way.
“Are the gas tanks bullet-proof too?” Sarah asked as she turned and emptied her gun into the rear of the lead SUV. When that weapon clicked empty, she tossed it into the street, removed her other gun and aimed it. Things were going downhill fast. If she ran out of bullets in this weapon, she’d have no way to defend herself. If she actually hit the gas tank and succeeded in blowing the SUV up, how much damage would take place? Could innocents get hurt? How exposed was she right now? Amid all the questions another thought struck her. If this was the end wouldn’t Vivian have warned her?
She didn’t have to wait long. The SUV’s driver side door clicked as the driver opened it a crack.
“Okay, I’m getting out. Stop shooting.”
Lucky for Sarah she hadn’t used a single bullet from the second gun yet. She stepped back and gave him room.
“Step aside and go join the others.” She leaned into the vehicle a little and said to the guy still sitting in the passenger seat, “You too.”
When the two front seats had been emptied she jumped up behind the wheel, closed the door and leaned across to close the passenger door. Now fully secure in an armored vehicle Sarah looked into the back of the SUV and saw Parkman. Sitting beside him was the man who had approached her in the Best Western hotel lobby.
Rod Howley.
“Good to see you Sarah. I wasn’t sure we’d meet again so soon. Parkman here and I have been enjoying a little chat. We’re glad you could join us.”
“There’s no more chat. Get out.”
“I don’t think so.”
Sarah turned enough in her seat to show him her weapon.
“Go ahead Sarah,” he said with a smile. “Shoot me. Get it over with. More will come for you when I die.”
Sarah held the weapon tight, aiming it at his face.
“I know who you are, Sarah. You help people, you don’t kill them. You and I both know that you won’t shoot to kill me so let’s be done with the bravado and have a little chat.”
“There’ll be no talking,” Sarah said as she shifted in her seat, dropped the SUV into drive and hit the gas. She spun the wheel around to clear the lead Escalade and bolted down the street. With a look in the rear-view mirror she could see Rod’s men step into the street to watch her leave. Then her eyes met the fedora wearing American in the back.
“If Parkman has any restraints on remove them.”
“He’s unrestrained.”
“Good. If there are any restraints back there Parkman, use them on this guy.”
In the mi
rror she saw Parkman shrug his shoulders and shake his head.
“Where are you taking us?” Rod asked.
“To the airport.”
“And why’s that?”
“So Parkman and I can leave this country.”
“Where will you go? Do you really think you can get through customs without me knowing about it?”
“I’m going home to the States,” Sarah said, trying to be as convincing as she could be. “I haven’t done anything wrong. I didn’t kill anyone or break any laws and yet my life is in danger. I’m being followed by you guys, my own countrymen. And my friend Parkman, who has been there for me countless times, was kidnapped by you. If anyone is breaking any laws it’s you people. Parkman and I are buying two tickets back to the States and we’re leaving and there’s nothing you can do about it.”
“Good. It’ll be easier to deal with you on home soil.”
Sarah looked back at him in the mirror. Parkman was being strangely quiet. Something was wrong. He looked outside and then back at her.
Five blocks from the airport Sarah pulled the SUV over into a large economy parking area for long term travelers. She drove to the back corner and turned the SUV off.
“What now?” Fedora Man asked.
“Parkman and I are going to leave. That’s what now,” Sarah responded as she swiveled in her seat to look at the two of them, her gun hand loosely aimed at Rod.
“I don’t think so,” Rod said.
Then Sarah saw why Parkman had been so quiet. The American Government man was holding a syringe against Parkman’s leg.
“If you shoot me, I will plunge this into his leg. If your bullet is a perfect shot and I die instantly my nervous system will contract my hands enough to plunge this baby into Parkman’s leg and my thumb will depress the snake venom.”
“Snake venom? Are you kidding me?” Sarah asked. “You couldn’t think of something better? Fucking amateur.”
“Well it’s not actually snake venom but the juice in this needle will act the same way on the human body. Death takes place in less than five minutes. Pretty potent shit.”
Sarah had had enough. Rod needed a bullet for being such an asshole but her finger stopped short of pulling the trigger as she ran through the options.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“You.”
“You can’t have me. Next demand.”
“There are no other demands. We need you. Come back to the States with us. I will personally escort you to America and make sure your stay there is quite comfortable. After a few months of tests and experiments you can go home. It’ll be like nothing had ever happened.”
“Yeah right. You sound like you’re a member of the Flat Earth Society or those people that run around saying we never put anyone on the moon. Even though there’s scientific proof, you’re the kind of guy to debunk reality.”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’d do your tests and experiments and realize that I’m the real thing and never let me go. There’ll be no going home and none of the like nothing had ever happened shit. So drop the syringe and ease back in your seat, or die with Parkman when I shoot you. Whatever decision you make, I’m leaving this vehicle in one piece.”
She moved her hand to make sure the weapon was aimed at Rod’s face. Was he bluffing or not? No way was he going to kill a decorated American police officer. He didn’t have that kind of power. Or did he? Sarah was sure he was the one bluffing. At least he’d better be because she wasn’t.
“We’re running out of time. I’m not good with patience. Make a decision or you force me to.”
He held the needle firm, his gaze never wavering. During the standoff she forgot to check on Parkman. He seemed tense like he actually believed the guy would inject him. Time was wasting away. Now or never.
“Okay, time’s up.”
Sarah closed one eye, aimed from a few feet away and began to depress the trigger. With only a couple pounds per square inch to spare, Fedora Man moved the needle away from Parkman and held his hands in the air. Parkman breathed an audible sigh of relief.
“Okay, okay, you win.” He tossed the needle into the back of the vehicle and addressed Sarah. “What now?”
“Get out Parkman,” Sarah said.
The side door opened and he hopped out. Alone with Fedora Man, Sarah asked, “Are you wearing a belt?”
He cocked his head sideways. “Why do you ask?”
“Don’t toy with me or I’ll shoot you on principle. Are you wearing a belt? I won’t ask again.”
“Yes.”
“Good. Pull it off.”
Parkman knocked on the driver’s side window and said let’s go through the door. Sarah held up a finger to motion for him to give her a second. Fedora Man pulled his belt through all the loops and held it up for her to see.
“Okay, you’ll need your belt as a tourniquet for your wound.”
“What wound?” he asked, a look of bewilderment on his face.
“This one,” Sarah replied as she lowered her weapon and shot him in the right shin. The bullet entered a little to the right of center. He gasped more out of surprise at the loud report in the closed vehicle than the pain. That would come in a few moments.
Knowing she couldn’t take a gun into the airport she had to get rid of it here. Fedora Man was furiously tying his leg off below the knee and reaching for a cell phone.
Sarah jumped out of the SUV and opened the door Parkman had just left. She grabbed the cell phone before he could dial out. After that she turned toward the front of the Escalade and emptied the rest of her bullets into the dash making the vehicle useless. Fedora Man and his SUV were now immobile. There was no way he could follow her or contact his friends.
“Ciao,” Sarah said as she closed the vehicle’s door.
She leaned down and placed the empty gun under the SUV behind the back tire, grabbed Parkman’s hand and ran for the airport terminal.
Chapter 13
“They will catch up to us before we land and have an even larger team waiting for our plane. And that’s even if we can board without being stopped. This plan isn’t very good,” Parkman said.
“We aren’t flying anywhere.”
They entered the sliding doors to the main terminal. Sarah started looking for a ticket booth and found one off to the right.
“Then what are we doing at the airport if we aren’t flying anywhere?”
“We’re buying two tickets to the cheapest American city with a plane leaving as soon as possible and then leaving the airport on foot before the cavalry arrives.”
Parkman followed alongside her. She could tell he was enjoying how she thought everything out.
“Then where are we going?”
“Montone, Italy.”
“Italy!” he stopped and stared at her. “Why are we going to Italy?”
Sarah turned around. “Come on, let’s buy the tickets and I’ll bring you up to speed after that.”
Within twenty minutes they had two tickets to New York flying Hungarian Malév Airlines, leaving in forty-five minutes. The two of them headed for the security gates and once they were out of sight of the ticket booth they turned and headed for the exit doors. The airport was getting busier as the early morning rush was starting up.
Once outside Parkman grabbed her arm and spun her around.
“Bring me up to speed. We’re in a lot of trouble and I’m sure my career is over when I get back home. Those Sophia Project guys are serious assholes.”
Sarah pulled her arm out of his grasp. “Yeah well, we’re more serious. There’s a human trafficking ring that we are going to bring down. These are the people that let Armond go from country to country without being detected. My suspicion is that it’s the same group he uses to locate any girl he needs and then brings them to America for the highest bidder. The way to Armond Stuart is through these people in Italy.”
“Where in Italy? Do you have a destination? A name?”
&
nbsp; “Sure. I told you. Montone. A guy named Tony Soprano.”
“Oh and we’re the serious ones. Get real here,” Parkman said, looking even more exasperated.
Sarah walked away. Parkman followed.
“We need a car,” she said. “We have to get into Germany or the Czech Republic and then use the train from there to get to Rome. After that we can catch a train to Montone, wherever that is.”
