No point in telling him about Enigma. They never took credit for anything connected to national security. Living in the shadows gave them certain autonomy; no questions asked and no restrictions on solutions.
The other men slowly pulled themselves together and pushed toward Chase.
“The Speaker of the House. Is he still here?” Chase scanned the area.
Carter moved up behind the old warriors and shook his head that he hadn’t seen the speaker.
Another man nodded to Chase. “He’s gone. Took Jake Wakefield and his niece too.”
“Who did?” Chase felt Director Clark at his elbow.
“Another one of them.” He pointed at the wounded captors. “Except that Amon fella took pains to make us comfortable.”
“Oh, shut up, Mel!” It was Mike Strafford. “He was in charge. He left us here at the mercy of these guys. They were just about to kill us.”
Zoric came out of one of the rooms. “They were packing up, my friend. Looks like they were getting ready to burn the place down. Gasoline all over the floor. A few packed boxes of supplies. Guess they didn’t want it to look like anyone had been staying here.”
“Do you know who this Amon in charge was?” Chase looked back at the old warriors.
“No. But he was a heck of a lot nicer than the speaker. That guy is a snake.”
“What do you mean?” Chase didn’t like where this new information was headed.
“He was in on it.”
They all took turns telling their small bits of information which started to piece together like a puzzle.
“Do you have any idea where they took Jake and Mrs. Scott?” It was the director.
“No. But by the time they left, we thought the Egyptian in charge was trying to make a call to someone he claimed would give them sanctuary.”
The feeling of doom fell over the director as he remembered the prime minister’s phone ringing periodically. His brother would look at the caller I.D. then ignore. Was his brother telling him the truth about not being involved? “Did he say who?”
“Sorry.”
Chase touched his ear as Montgomery began to speak. “Saw some activity a few minutes ago. A car pulled out from another garage about 60 meters west. Cooper and I took one of the cars and followed, lights off. Stopped at another building. Looks like maybe three. Advise.”
“Get a closer look. Speaker Jim Gault may be a hostage.”
“Sir, it didn’t look to me like anybody was being held against their will.”
Chase paused with a sense of bewilderment. Three. That meant the possibility that Jake and Tessa had been moved somewhere else or they were still here, or maybe dead.
“Captain, this place is wired to blow. Plastic explosives up high on the beams. See.” Sam pointed up. “We can’t reach them in time. The building comes down, the gas burns and all that is left will be vapors. Probably be detonated by a cell phone.”
“Get everyone out except the Egyptians. Bring them to me.”
She nodded and disappeared.
Sam shoved one of the Egyptians toward Chase as the others began filing out the building.
“Thanks, Sam. Now get the hell out of here.” Chase eyed the Egyptians with a stern frown.
“I’d like to stay, Captain.” Sam’s eyes turned on the Egyptians who made the mistake of eyeing her with lust. Her next words were in Egyptian Arabic. “I would like to tie these dogs to a pillar before it blows.”
Chase raised his chin in stubbornness without taking his eyes from the nervous men before him. “Very well.” He too, spoke in their language. “Any gas left in those cans?”
“Nearly 4 liters.”
He smiled satanically. “Pour it over their miserable heads.”
Director Clark walked up and clasped his team leader on the shoulder. “Hurry it up. We don’t know how much time we have.”
“We have more time than these girls.” Chase watched Sam throw gas on the Egyptians. They tried to back away until he lifted his gun.
“I wouldn’t start moving around. My gun might go off and spark a bar-b-que.”
They stopped fidgeting.
“The old man and the woman. Where are they?” Chase felt the director pull away and move with the FBI to escort the Liberty crew toward safety. Carter hung back and Zoric held an Uzi at the Egyptians’ backs.
Nothing.
Chase nodded at Sam who threw the gas can off to the side. She walked to an abandoned tool bench and lifted a butane torch. The self-igniter needed to be connected to the end and Sam made it a point to attach it with a slow, methodical style as she smiled wickedly over at the Egyptians. With little effort, she had a flame going in seconds before moving like a tiger stalking its prey.
“Where did they take the woman?” Chase felt almost amused as the men stared at the flame Sam carried like a bouquet of flowers. “You’ve got five seconds or you’re left here to roast.”
“Where is your humanity?” One of the men was visibly shaken.
Chase shook his head as his lips thinned. “Not one of my strong suits. The woman. Then I’ll get you out of here. One. Two. Three. Four.”
The Egyptians all started talking at once. Two were begging so loudly tears ran down their face.
“Five.”
One of the men jumped forward. “There’s a room below. We took them there. They would be buried and forgotten soon enough.”
“If you’re lying to me I will kill all your family and make you watch. Then I will lock your worthless ass in a cell with a film rolling for eternity how I killed them. Do you understand?” The man nodded his head so fast Chase thought it might pop off. “Is he telling the truth?” The others also agreed. “Take them out. This one goes with me.”
“Yes. Yes. I show you. Then we leave.”
Sam pointed the flaming torch toward freedom as the two remaining men awkwardly skittered toward the door Carter swung open and held against the wind. Just as they started through Carter stepped back. The wind caught the door and slammed it into the Egyptians, knocking them to the ground. They crab-crawled away as Sam leaned over them with narrowed eyes.
“Have I told you today how sexy you are with a blow torch in your hand?” Carter put his shoulder into the door and opened it again. “Something about a woman and fire.”
Sam gritted her teeth as the two Egyptians cautiously stood. “You really know how to turn a girl’s head.” Her bark could be heard above the dying wind. “I almost set them on fire you idiot.” The gas covered men were now shaking in terror as a returning FBI agent motioned them to follow him.
Carter smiled at his partner. “I love it when you get excited. You know we could be making our own fire every day of the week.” The door closed behind them as they entered the darkness. “You’re not fooling me with the hard to get routine.”
She whirled around as the light of the torch went out. He crashed into her chest. “I am never going to be with you, Carter, so shut the hell up.”
“Guess you prefer the older guys.” Carter’s face was close enough for Sam to read the sour expression. “Since Tessa may join us from time to time you’ll have to abandon your Chase Hunter quest.”
Shoving against Carter’s chest didn’t move him, only caused his smirk to reappear. “But hey. That’s good for me.”
Storming off into the dark, she tried to catch up with the FBI agent who took her prisoners.
Carter turned back to go inside. He wasn’t going to leave Chase and Zoric on their own if they needed an extra pair of hands.
~~~
Chase headed toward the end of the room where trucks once parked for service. Now it was empty except for a flatbed truck used in parades. The floor, smeared with a wet mixture of oil spills, rain and now gasoline, felt slippery.
The hostage got a shove if he slowed. Zoric brought up the rear.
Holding his hand out for Carter to stop at the door, Chase wanted someone to be at the top of the stairs to escort them to safety if things went sidew
ays. He nodded and held up a flashlight as he propped the door open.
“Down there.” It was the Egyptian. “Now can I go?” Zoric jammed his Uzi into the man’s kidney. A groan of pain echoed down the steps. A shove started him forward into the darkness.
Chase pulled a small flashlight from the FBI jacket he’d secured from the car. The beam was dim but when shaken, offered enough light to allow safe passage. The smell of dampness and gasoline assaulted their noses as they reached the bottom of the steps.
A sound in the corner drew their attention. The beam of light jerked in that direction. Bound and gagged on the floor, lay Jake. His eyes were wide open until the light forced them shut. He squirmed violently as if that would somehow make a difference. They did not rush to assist.
No sign of Tessa. The first thought in Chase’s head was his prisoner lied.
The Egyptian shivered at the cold and nodded for them to move forward as his eyes started to scan the recesses of darkness. The moment Chase wondered why his prisoner appeared uneasy; the sound of someone else in the room caught his attention.
In the instant they stepped forward, their feet hit something slick. The Egyptian prisoner fell face down at Zoric’s feet, tripping him up so that he staggered toward the bound man on the floor.
“Tess…” Before Chase could finish her name a large metal container smashed into his face causing his flashlight to fly into the air. He staggered backwards as someone shined the light into his bruised and battered face. “Damn it! Get that out of my face!” He demanded knowing that Tessa had taken his light.
In the next second he felt arms around him in a grateful embrace. Chase didn’t have time to savor the feeling of her hair beneath his chin or the heaving of her breasts against his body. With one hand he touched his ear wig and with the other he managed to encircle the woman that continued to excite and mystify him.
“Got’ em. On our way.”
Tessa released him and ran back to her uncle who Zoric managed to free with his knife. The Egyptian prisoner started up the steps at a run when Chase reached him in two steps and grabbed his ankle with a jerk. He fell down against the step with a thud.
“Not so fast.” Chase pulled him back down the steps on his stomach. The hostage tried to grasp at anything to stop the pain as he was dragged down to the floor. “I’m not finished with you.”
Zoric helped Jake stand, but knew right away, that something was wrong.
“I think I got a couple of busted ribs, boys.” Jake sounded almost nonchalant. “I’m pretty sure they broke my arm.” He nodded at Tessa. “They were getting a little rough with her. I wasn’t going to stand for it.” She put her arm around him to assist with his walking.
“Oh, Uncle Jake. They could’ve killed you.”
Zoric slung his Uzi and helped Tessa with Jake’s weight.
Chase grabbed the prisoner by the collar and jerked him to his feet, although he slipped in the solution Tessa had spilled on the floor. He finally managed to stand and tried not to look at Jake.
“That’s the fella that wanted to take advantage of Tessa.” Jake spit out the words as he tried unsuccessfully to lunge forward only to be held back by Zoric and Tessa.
Chase tensed as he shook the prisoner then kicked him in the butt so hard he sprawled head first into the wall.
With a groan he turned around and faced the light shining in his face.
“What did he do, Tessa?” When she didn’t answer, Chase’s eyes shifted to her with such deadly intent, she shuddered with fear. “Tessa,” he demanded.
“He tried to touch me. When I kicked him…”
“He knocked her down.” Jake tried to pull free only to be pulled back by Zoric.
“Let’s go. Those explosives are wired to blow by remote.” Chase nodded toward the stairs. The prisoner pushed off the wall and stepped forward. “Not you.”
He panicked. “I did what you asked. You can’t leave me here.”
“Watch me.” Chase started up the stairs and felt the man hurry forward. With one swift swing he turned his gun to hit him upside the head, sending the man staggering down to the floor.
“I can tell you who gave the orders. I know who hired us. They intend to do your government harm,” he begged. “I can help you find them before they continue the killing.”
Chase paused half way up the steps. “First tell me who planned this?”
“Your government man.” He edged back up the steps; both hands gripped the hand rail for support. “And someone more powerful.”
“Who?” Chase let the Egyptian walk up a few more steps.
“When I get out. The explosives will go off soon. We must hurry.”
Chase nodded then shoved him up the steps before catching up with the other three.
Carter yelled. “Let’s go.” He waved as a flash of lightning lit up the night behind him.
In that instant the Egyptian darted for the side of the room and grabbed one of the guns taken off the dead mercenaries earlier in the evening. He aimed it at the three and laughed. In the next instant he pulled the trigger and Jake fell. Tessa’s scream smothered beneath the rumble of thunder that shook the building. His weight pulled her to the floor.
Zoric swung his Uzi around, but not before the Egyptian fired three more shots into Chase’s chest. The team leader dropped to his knees as Zoric turned and emptied his weapon into the Egyptian. The Serbian started to reach for Chase but was waved off.
“Get her out!” He panted like a man that had run a race. “Now. I’ll take care of Jake.”
Tessa jumped to her feet. “No. I won’t leave you. Zoric do something.” She reached for Chase who put his hand on his heart. The last bolt of lightning had snuffed out any electricity available for the building. He looked at his hand to check for blood but fell to a sitting position without determining how long he had to live.
~~~
Dropping his weapon Zoric jerked her around to face him then threw her over his shoulder like a sack of flour. She tried to escape but he began to run for the door where Carter kept yelling “Hurry.”
Just as Zoric ran through the door Carter took a step inside. He knew he had to try and reach Chase. Another bolt of lightning hit the building, sending sparks through the windows. They fell to the floor and ignited the gasoline sending up a wall of fire. Throwing up an arm against the sudden flash of light, he felt a hand grab him by the collar and pull him backwards. It was Sam.
“Are you crazy? You can’t go get him!” Sam yelled over the rumble of thunder. He started in again and she wrapped her arms around him in desperation. “No. Carter, it’s too late. I can’t lose you too.” He pushed free and turned to see the main floor ablaze. Sam hooked her arm through his and pulled with all the force she could muster. “This is going to blow. Pull yourself together.”
Carter nodded and started to run with his hand tightly on Sam’s arm. The rain started dumping on them as they reached the director and the others who made it out safely.
~~~
Tessa eased off Zoric’s shoulder and started forward only to be slammed down to the ground when an explosion made everyone duck and cover. She staggered back to her feet and into Zoric’s embrace as tears flooded down her face. Her screams fell silent above the sound of breaking class and finally another explosion that caved in the front part of the building.
Watching the destruction swallow the Enigma team leader, Director Clark’s face twisted in rage. The others came up to stand as helpless onlookers. It wasn’t a feeling they were accustomed to. Somewhere in the distance a siren faded in and out as the thunder storms rolled over the burning building.
Only Tessa openly wept. Her body convulsed with grief for an uncle who had always been a part of her life and a heart that burst for a love that would never be discovered.
Chapter 29
T he three men stood silent, waiting for the sound of cleansing. When the explosion rattled the door, the Speaker of the House smiled before exhaling. He nodded toward the door
for his mercenary to lead them out as he pocketed the cell phone which sent the signal to detonate the explosives.
Amon shook his head in disgust as the speaker showed no remorse for leaving American citizens to either be burned to a crisp or smashed to unrecognizable pieces by fallen beams, bricks and concrete that rained down upon them. The thought of his own men being left behind would haunt him forever. He should have known the speaker wouldn’t let anyone survive the tale of deception.
“And Americans call us monsters.” Amon’s voice sounded bewildered. “You should never have told the old warriors you were working with us. They could have escaped.”
“What’s done is done.” The speaker pulled his collar up closer to his face.
He’d taken the windbreaker from Tessa when Amon’s men took her away. Running a finger over her bare shoulder, the speaker regretted for a moment having to destroy such a lovely creature. Then she’d spit on him like a rabid dog and hurled insults that reflected poorly on his mother.
When he insisted the man holding her take advantage of the situation, she refocused her attention on getting free. It only managed to inflame an already interested jailor. Her uncle succeeded in jerking free and landing a few punches only to receive a beating of his own. Seeing Wakefield shoved down the stairs gave him a feeling of dusting his hands of a dirty problem. Unfortunately Amon intervened on Mrs. Scott’s behalf and ordered the men to return to their duties after securing their prisoners.
“I want nothing more to do with this.” Amon pushed past both the speaker and his mercenary and got behind the wheel of the car. “All hell is going to come down on my people if there is a connection. You didn’t follow the plan and now I am vulnerable.”
The speaker fastened his seatbelt as his man shut the car door and got in the backseat. He sighed. “Things change. You can still be the hero in this. Drop my friend off at Union Station.”
Amon shifted his eyes to the rearview mirror to look at the dangerous man in the backseat. His words were of no comfort. “I can find my way to the airport. My plane doesn’t leave for Mexico City until late afternoon.”
The Enigma Series Boxed Set Page 66
