“Troy’s already in the air in a borrowed Gulfstream C-38A. Ihave no idea whose arm he twisted but he had the plane ready and medicalsupplies and a doctor loaded an hour after your first call.”
“What’s their ETA?”
“I can only give you an approximation but Troy will call youfrom the air and give you a better idea. They’ll use Grainger Caldwell’sclearance information to land. Can Rick hang on until they get there?”
Again Mike looked toward the trailer. “There’s no can aboutit. We’ll do it. I just hope to hell they get here fast.”
“They’ll have to refuel both going and coming. I want fuelavailable to them at BIAP too.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Mike assured him, although at the momenthe wasn’t sure exactly how.
“I’ll have Ed with a chopper waiting at the field when theyland. We’ll take him to Houseman’s place.”
Dr. Janet Houseman ran a private clinic that was better thana full-service hospital. It was used by high-profile agents and corporateexecutives who didn’t need word of their situation to leak to the press.
“All right. Let me go check on Rick. Then I’ll do somereconnoitering here, see what anyone knows and tell them a Grainger Caldwellplane will be coming in. I know the company made refueling arrangements.”
“Call me when Troy gets there.”
“Dan?”
“Yeah?”
“There are a million reporters over here. There’s no way tokeep a lid on this. I’m surprised we haven’t collected a mob already.”
“I know.” The heavy sigh was audible over the connection.“Just station some of the guards around the area to keep them away until theplane gets there. And tell everyone the first person that opens his mouth willwish they’d never heard of us.”
Mike clicked off the phone and headed for the trailer. He’dcheck on Rick, then go about his business.
* * * * *
Kelly Monroe clutched her cell phone to her ear, her wholebody trembling. She could hardly believe what Dan had just told her.
“I knew it,” she kept repeating. “And Xena knew it too.”
“You can’t blame yourself for any of this,” Dan told her.“Even if you’d been there, what could you have done?”
“Not me. Xena. She’d have known and helped me find a way toprotect Rick.”
“Rick recruited Greg Jordan himself,” Dan pointed out. “Thisis a kick in the pants to all of us.”
“But Rick was the only one shot.”
“That’s because Ed and Mike drank the drugged coffee,” Danexplained. “As did all the security agents we brought over from the states.Rick was the only one who didn’t.”
“Will you call me the minute they’re back and let me knowhow he is?”
“Of course.”
Kelly disconnected the call and dropped the phone into herpocket, then poured herself the last cup of coffee in the carafe. Xena rubbedup against her, whining and she rubbed the big head.
“We screwed up, girl,” she told her. “Big-time. Actually,not you. I screwed up. I should have agreed we’d go with them.”
Xena pushed her nose into Kelly’s palm, a wet gesture ofcomfort.
“Yeah, thanks but I don’t think this will make me feel a lotbetter. And you know what? I don’t think the danger’s over yet. We’ve got tofigure out a way to protect him, Xena. Come up with a plan.”
Xena’s eyes locked with hers.
You know what we have to do.
Yeah, yeah, I do. But it means making some complicatedarrangements. And we have obligations here.
Take care of Rick or he’ll be dead.
Kelly sucked in a breath, shocked at the thoughts radiatingfrom Xena. Drawing in some long calming breaths, she picked up a pen and pad ofpaper from the counter and began making a long list.
* * * * *
“We’ll be landing in Maryland in an hour,” Troy said intothe sat phone. “Be sure the chopper is waiting for us.”
“Ed’s good to go,” Dan told him. “And Dr. Houseman’s readyfor him too. How’s he doing?”
Troy cast a look at Rick’s still figure strapped down on thegurney, life-giving fluids pouring into him through intravenous tubes, heavylayers of gauze wrapped around his chest. The surgeon Janet Houseman had sentwith him had operated the moment Rick had been lifted onto the plane.
“It was touch and go for a while. I’ll be damn glad to gethim into the clinic but I think he’ll make it.”
Troy could hear Dan let out the breath he’d been holding.“Thank God. And you were able to take care of things at BIAP without aproblem?”
“Yup. Two of the security guards we hired knew the drillcold and greased the skids for us. We landed, refueled, did what we had to andgot the hell out of there.”
“What about the media?”
“We managed to keep them away because technically theGrainger Caldwell compound is private property. And I threatened everyone leftthere within an inch of their lives. The guys we brought over for this aregood. They’ll keep as tight a lid on things as they can but you know it’s gonnaleak out.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah. We’ll just have to handle it. How did theoperation go?”
Troy looked at his friend. “He’s a tough bird, that’s all Ican say. The shot to the thigh did some ligament and muscle damage but waseasily repaired. But that chest wound was bad news.”
“I’ll be glad to get him into Janet’s clinic,” Dancommented, his voice still ragged with concern. “Had Mike and Ed learnedanything when you got there?”
Troy thought about the scene on his arrival. It had beenlike something out of the Mad Hatter’s tea party. One hundred very angrysecurity guards tumbled out of bed, clad in jeans, shorts, whatever they’d puton. But all wearing side arms. Everyone talking at once and Mike and Ed tryingto take control of the situation. And the media hovering at the edge of thecompound, angry because they were being kept out.
Two Iraqis who guarded the back motor gate to the airporthad been standing to one side, alternately wringing their hands and spoutingangry retorts. It was not their fault. They had nothing to do with it. Theystayed away from whatever the Americans were doing. It was none of theirbusiness. They were not to blame. And on and on and on.
“Nada. Although to be truthful, they’d just really gottenstarted.” He gave a rough laugh. “The security guards we brought over were somepissed and ready to tear heads off. Mike’s getting them organized into teamsand handing out assignments.” He paused. “Have you spoken to Charlie Graingeryet? Or Matt Caldwell?”
Dan snorted. “Oh, hell, yes. I’m lucky I still have my headon my neck.”
Troy could just imagine the reaction of the huge man withthe hair trigger temper. For once he was glad Dan got to be the front man.
“Did you manage to let him know this wasn’t just a bunch ofrebels stealing equipment? That is was a well-planned, well-organizedoperation?”
“Yeah, for all the good it did me. Greg Jordan was our man.We recruited him. We should have known what he was up to.” Dan blew out abreath. “In any event, we’ve got to find out how this happened and where thoseweapons are.”
“I have a feeling Greg Jordan is only a small cog in thiswheel,” Troy told him. “This took a lot more than him. Everything’s gone.Just…disappeared. Someone had to make this happen.”
“Grainger’s going to be in my office tomorrow.”
“I think it’s probably just as well you’re meeting with himalone,” Troy pointed out. “You and Rick are the only ones who ever seem able tohandle him.”
“Thanks. I think. All right.”
“And Dan?”
“Yeah?”
“You might want to see if Kelly Monroe and her psychic dogcan shake themselves loose.”
In the midst of tension, Dan found himself smiling. Troy,the pragmatist, actually believing in something he couldn’t see?
“I’ll call her back. Any special reason why?”
“Two, actually. Not that I don’
t trust Janet’s security butthese people want Rick bad enough to find a way in there. And on the flip side,I think our boy’s got a thing for the hot redhead. Her presence might helpspeed the healing process.”
“Playing matchmaker, are you? Okay, I’ll call her rightnow.”
Both men hung up.
* * * * *
The city of Baqubah, located approximately thirty miles fromBaghdad, had a population of more than three hundred thousand. While thecoalition forces for a time had maintained some semblance of control, it wasone of the heaviest scenes of guerilla fighting and was now firmly in the handsof Sunni insurgents. While the people involved in the theft of the weapons andHumvees were Shi’a, as was the al-Dulami family, politics had made strangebedfellows. United in a common goal—regaining control of Iraq—the two groups of“friendly enemies” had managed a détente that seemed to work for them both.
Thus it was that the convoy carrying the stolen goods,moving one truck at a time at the direction of Greg Jordan, had made its way tothis city of turmoil and a well-prepared hiding place. With the transfer offunds confirmed, al-Dulami and his men had taken delivery of the goods and weremoving it out of the city as it had been moved in—piecemeal.
Lounging back on cushions in the home of a friend of hisbenefactor, Greg closed his laptop with a satisfied smile on his face. Everytime he’d had satellite access he’d checked his bank account, just to makesure. But he needn’t have worried. The money was there. Every dime he’d beenpromised. Two more days and he’d be on his way out of here.
“I believe we are about to move the last of the Humvees. Inshort order everything will be hidden in the Zagros Mountains where we willlaunch our attack.”
Greg started. Al-Dulami had entered the room so quietly Greghadn’t even heard him. He slid the laptop back into its case and stood up.
“I’m sure you’ll be happy to have this completed,” he toldthe man.
“Ah but this isn’t the end, only the beginning,” al-Dulamisaid with a secretive smile. “Our plans are made. Now we have the means to putthem into play. Soon the al-Dulami family will regain the position of power itonce held.”
“I’ll be sure to be thinking about you when I’m sunningmyself on my private island,” Greg joked.
Al-Dulami frowned. “Mr. Jordan, this is not a frivolousmatter. The future of a country, of history, is at stake here.”
Greg swallowed his sarcastic retort and inclined his head.“I beg your pardon. My remarks were improper. I wish you the greatest successwith your mission.”
Al-Dulami returned the bow. “Thank you. I appreciate yourwords. Please pass along my gratitude to our mysterious benefactor.”
Now Greg couldn’t suppress his laugh. “I think you know aswell as I do who that is. Your son certainly should. But I’ll be sure to givehim your message.”
As soon as al-Dulami had left, Greg pulled out his sat phoneand punched in a familiar number.
“We’re all set,” he told the familiar voice that answered.“The last of the merchandise leaves tonight. My money’s in the bank. Latrobe’shistory. All’s right with the world.”
“I think your celebration is a little premature,” the voicesaid, the words falling like ice chips.
A funny feeling skittered along Greg’s spine. “I don’tunderstand. Everything’s been taken care of.”
“Everything but your friend Latrobe.”
“What do you mean? I shot him myself. Twice.”
“Then your aim must not be so good. Or you didn’t stayaround to make sure you finished the job. He was airlifted out of BIAP toMaryland and has disappeared off the face of the earth. Find him.”
Greg squeezed the phone. “Disappeared? Are you sure he wasactually alive? That this wasn’t just a stunt to fool people?”
“No stunt, you idiot. I have eyewitness accounts. So beforeyou get too comfortable on whatever island where you plan to drink yourself todeath, I suggest you find out where this man is and get rid of him. I canarrange the evidence. You take care of the body. And make sure you do it rightthis time. We need a dead culprit, not a live liability.”
Greg felt every muscle in his body tighten. “Find him? Youmean come back to the States?”
“I mean, do whatever it takes. A little bird managed to tellme that they suspect Latrobe has a contact that gave him information we can’tafford to have leaked. And that’s on top of what you think he saw on yourcomputer. When the shit hits the fan, we cannot afford to have him put forthhis assumptions. His finger is the only one that can point our way because he’sa very smart bastard. Tell me what you need and I’ll get it to you. But this isyour mess. Clean it up.”
“Why can’t you have someone already in the States do it?”
“Because we cannot have one more person privy to thissituation,” the man said angrily. “Do you understand? Too many people areinvolved already.”
“Yes.” Greg swallowed the bitterness in his voice. “Allright. But I’ll need a way to get into the country unseen as well as some otherthings.”
“Just tell me. I’ll get you in and whatever you need will beready for you.”
Greg clicked off the connection, aware that his hands wereshaking.
Well, shit. Was it possible for anything else to gowrong? Damn Rick Latrobe, anyway.
* * * * *
Zarife al-Dulami moved into the alley between two stores sohe could speak more privately on his cell phone.
“Yes,” he told the man on the other end. “My father tells meall is well. Everything has been received and moved to the appropriatelocation. Thank you.”
“I guess I should thank you,” the voice told him. “This wasa sweet deal for both of us. Nice and clean.” He paused. “However, yourinformation that Rick Latrobe is not dead doesn’t make me very happy.”
“I have explained all that to you,” Zarife said, rubbing histhigh nervously. “I’ll be happy to work on that again, if you wish.”
But not with that idiot Gabir.
“That’s being taken care of. But you’d better tell yourfather that none of those weapons can end up in the wrong hands. We don’t needanything coming back to smack us in the face. Certainly not while Latrobe isstill alive to put the pieces together.”
“I assure you,” Zarife told him, “nothing like that willhappen. My father is very, very careful.”
“He’d better be. I chose the buyer carefully for thisbecause I didn’t want any slip-ups. The kind I could run into selling on theopen market. If it comes back on me, I won’t hesitate to sacrifice whoever Ihave to.”
“Understood.”
Without waiting for the man to close the conversation Zarifehung up. His first instinct was to call his father but he knew the elderal-Dulami was out of reach for two days, meeting with his advisors andformulating their final plans. In any event, it would be an insult to tell hisfather to be careful. All he could do was wait until it was time and he wassummoned.
* * * * *
Kelly appreciated the fact that Dan had been very good aboutcalling her on a regular basis and updating her on Rick’s condition but itwasn’t enough. From the moment she learned he’d been shot, maybe dying, she’dhardly been able to concentrate. Her panic eased slightly when Dan informed herRick had been operated on, albeit in a specially equipped plane rather than ahospital, and that he was being flown back to the States. But she knew shewouldn’t have a moment of peace if she didn’t see him with her own eyes.
And that wasn’t all. Xena, with the incredible mental linkthey had, was doing her best to let her know more danger was around the corner,from places least expected. How could she warn Rick, protect him, all the wayup here?
Xena was right. She had to be wherever he was. She reviewedthe list she’d made earlier, going over her situation at the farm. Most of thedogs were ready to be released. She’d scheduled the clients to come for thefinal sessions over the next two days. Her helpers could handle the two thatwere left. But could she wait two days? And then still have all that dr
ive timeahead of her.
She opened her cell phone at least a dozen times to call DanRomeo, then flipped it shut. A man in the middle of a crisis didn’t have timeto take calls from her. She was grateful he kept her in the loop as much as hedid. But she couldn’t just show up and bang on his door. She didn’t even knowwhere he was at the moment—Texas or Maryland or someplace unknown.
The sound of car doors slamming told her both of herassistants had arrived, fortunately at the same time. Kelly looked at the clockon the stove. Six thirty. Right on time. Good. If she could make this work shecould be at the airfield by late afternoon.
Swallowing the last bitter dregs of cold coffee, she headedout toward the kennel. These were good people. She’d trained them herself. Itwas time to let them know how much she trusted them and to feel confident they couldhandle the clients. Then they could take some well-earned vacation time.
They fed and watered the dogs, then let them out into theruns for exercise while Kelly sat down with the two people and discussed thesituation. An hour later she headed into the house with a clear head. Theycould do this and whatever it cost her financially was nothing compared to thechance to be with Rick.
Inside she opened her cell phone and called Harry.
“Kelly.” There was no disguising the pleasure in his voice.“It’s always so good to hear from you, honey. You doing okay? Everything allright?”
“Well.” She chewed on her bottom lip. “Actually, Granddad,not quite so good. I was wondering if I could come visit you for a few days.Xena and I, that is.”
There was just a moment’s pause at the other end of theconnection. “Well, sure, honey. You know the two of you are welcome any time.But you were just here. What’s going on?”
“Let me ask you something, first. Have you heard anythingabout Rick?”
Now there was a longer silence before Harry spoke again. “Itake it you’re not asking about that accident.”
“No, Granddad. I know what happened in Iraq. I’ve spokenwith Mr. Romeo.”
She could almost see her grandfather frowning. “You have?For what reason?”
“It’s a long story and it started with Xena’s connectionwith Rick at the airfield. Remember?”
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