Sara looked across the table at her brother-in-law. Jake appeared as confused and upset as she felt.
“I know nothing about this, Sara. You know I refused to press charges.”
The female agent, Monroe, took hold of Sara’s arm, and did so none too gently.
Tanner stood and glared at the woman.
“What do you want to happen here, Sara?”
Sara reached out and touched him on the back of his hand as she stood.
“Stay calm. I’ll go with them and get this settled.”
The two of them kissed. Afterward, Tanner and the others walked outside and watched as Sara was placed in the rear of an unmarked vehicle.
“Come with me in my car, Tanner; we’ll follow them,” Warren Blake said.
“I’ll get on the phone and try to find out why this is happening,” Jake said.
“Thank you,” Tanner told him. And although he didn’t voice his suspicion, he thought Sara’s arrest was somehow connected to him. If so, whoever was behind it would pay.
3
Somebody Wants Something
Sara’s father followed Driskell and Monroe’s car to a police station and watched the unmarked vehicle be allowed access to a fenced-in area behind the building. As he parked across the street from the station, Warren Blake wondered aloud what was going on.
“Somebody wants something,” Tanner said.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m not sure yet, but this might be happening because of me.”
Warren’s grip tightened on the steering wheel.
“Is my daughter in danger?”
“Not physically, or they wouldn’t have sent Feds.”
“Who wouldn’t have sent them?”
Tanner released a sigh as he pointed out past the windshield to where a man and a woman were walking down the stone steps of the police station. There were cops nearby, as well as several men in suits, which Tanner took to be more federal agents.
“Those two are behind this.”
Warren studied the pair. The man had graying hair and a young face. The woman was beautiful, with long raven tresses, however there was a coldness about her that told you she was the no-nonsense type.
“That man looks familiar, but I don’t know the woman,” Warren said.
“Her name is Vanessa Benedetti; she’s with the CIA. The man is the director of the FBI, Nicholas Carson.”
“Carson, right. I met him once at a party in D.C. What do they have to do with you?”
“I recently stopped them from carrying out a plan that involved a friend of mine. I guess they’re looking for payback.”
“Then why not arrest you instead?”
“Because they want something from me.”
“Whatever the hell it is, give it to them. I do not want my daughter going to prison.”
Tanner gazed into Warren’s eyes.
“I’ll do whatever it takes to free her.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
They left the car and headed toward the steps of the station.
“Let me talk to them alone, Mr. Blake.”
“All right. In the meantime, I’ll go inside and act as my daughter’s lawyer.”
Warren glowered at Benedetti and Carson as he walked by them. They didn’t notice. Their eyes were fixed on Tanner.
“Hear us out before you do anything stupid,” Benedetti told him.
Tanner ignored her and stared at Nicholas Carson. Carson broke eye contact and moved closer to the largest of his agents.
“Tell me what you want,” Tanner said.
Benedetti chuckled. “I’d like to see you behind bars or dead. Although, since you helped to rescue Thomas Lawson there’s not much chance of that happening.”
“Lawson can also get Sara free.”
“In time, yes, once he recovers,” Benedetti said. “But who knows when that will be? Until then, Sara Blake will be behind bars… where anything could happen to her.”
“I’ll ask you again, what do you want?”
“We, that is, the CIA, needs you to go on a mission,” Carson said.
“A mission? What happened, Benedetti, you people run out of spies?”
“An unusual situation has arisen that forces us to use an outside contractor. I immediately thought of you when I learned the mission could end in death.”
Tanner studied her.
“You hate me. Why is that?”
“You ruined one of my best operatives and he’ll be lucky if he’s ever fit enough to return to the field.”
“You’re talking about the redheaded man, Garrett?”
“He’s on crutches thanks to you.”
“Garrett helped kidnap Lawson and kept his whereabouts a secret. CIA agent or not, I was going to make him talk until you butted in.”
“Garrett was a dedicated agent following orders. That’s something a thug like you would know nothing about. As I said earlier, if I had my way you’d be the one behind bars, not Miss Blake.”
“How is it you know about her?” Tanner asked.
“I’m with the CIA, Tanner. We know everything.”
Tanner thought back over the previous interaction he had with Benedetti and the circumstances that surrounded it. He then realized where Benedetti must have gathered her information.
“You people bugged the FBI safehouse in Texas that Mr. White and I were using.”
“What?” Carson said. “Is that true, Vanessa?”
“He’s lying, Nicholas. We found out about the relationship through a different method.”
Carson wasn’t buying it, even so, he let the subject drop as Benedetti brought the conversation back on point.
“Be at the Arsenal inside Central Park at noon tomorrow. I assume you know where it is, yes?”
“It’s in the sixties, off Fifth Avenue, but what’s this mission you want me to go on?”
“That will be explained to you tomorrow by my superior.”
“And what’s the name of this superior?”
Benedetti smiled. “Tomorrow, Tanner. For now, sweat out the wait.”
“I want Sara released.”
“That depends on you. She’ll spend the night alone here in a cell. If you don’t show up for the meeting tomorrow, I’ll have her shipped off to a hellhole and locked up with women who will hurt her.”
Tanner took a step closer to Benedetti.
“Do you think I won’t kill you because you’re with the CIA? If so, you’re wrong.”
Benedetti’s smug look faltered for an instant, only to return.
“Tomorrow at noon, Tanner. Don’t be late.”
Benedetti and Carson walked away with their entourage of armed agents. Tanner let them. Nothing would be gained by killing them, at least, not yet.
Tanner’s Thomas Myers’ identification passed examination by the desk clerk inside the station. The FBI director, Carson, had arranged it so Tanner could speak to Sara. He found her handcuffed to a table with her father sitting across from her.
“They’re holding her, although she hasn’t been charged yet,” Warren Blake told him.
Tanner explained the situation to them, and Warren shook his head in confusion.
“Why the hell would the CIA need you to go on a mission? Have you been trained as a spy?”
“I’m not a spy, but I am as capable as any of their agents. That still doesn’t give me a clue what this is all about. I’ll go to their meeting tomorrow and learn what they want.”
“And in the meantime, my daughter is just supposed to rot away in here?”
“I’m not pleased by the situation either, Mr. Blake.”
“Daddy,” Sara said. “This isn’t Tanner’s fault. If I hadn’t shot Jake years ago, they would have nothing to hold me on.”
“Once I meet with Benedetti’s boss I’ll see that you’re released tomorrow, Sara.”
“Don’t agree to anything too horrible, baby. I can still fight this through the legal system.”
“No, I’ll see
that you’re freed.”
Sara looked at her father.
“Please don’t hold this against Tanner. My being locked up in here is not his fault.”
Warren turned his gaze from his daughter and stared at Tanner.
“This meeting you’re having tomorrow, call me when it’s over. I want to know the name of the son of a bitch who’s using my daughter like a pawn.”
“I want that name as well,” Sara said.
Tanner looked at father and daughter and saw the fire burning in their eyes. It occurred to him that Sara’s single-mindedness and ruthless streak may have been inherited.
“Whoever is behind this will regret it. If I don’t get them, one of you will.”
“It will be me,” Sara said, and Tanner believed her.
4
When A Legend Meets A Legend
The following day in Central Park, Vanessa Benedetti looked down at her watch and made a face of disgust.
“He’s late.”
Seated beside Benedetti was her superior. He was the head of the CIA’s Clandestine Operations, Lyle Hanover. Hanover was in his sixties and had gray hair, and yet, his eyes were the eyes of a younger man. Hanover was tall, and his formerly athletic build had become thin over time.
Lyle Hanover was a legend in the world of covert operations and had been America’s leading spy during the cold war years of the late 1970’s and early 80’s. Hanover had a well-earned reputation for ruthlessness. He had killed over twenty men and women while working as a spy.
There was another man inside the limo. His name was Garrett and he had a head of red hair. Garrett’s left hand was bandaged and had a missing finger, while his left knee wore a brace and he needed crutches to get around. Both of his injuries had been delivered by Tanner recently in Texas, when Tanner, along with Mr. White, Blue Steele and Jake Caliber were there to rescue Thomas Lawson.
“Did you make it clear to him that this was the only way to keep his woman out of prison?” Hanover asked Benedetti.
“Yes, but perhaps he cares about no one but himself.”
“If that were true, Miss Blake wouldn’t be wearing an engagement ring in the photo you sent me of her sitting in her cell.”
“She was wearing an engagement ring?” Benedetti said.
“You didn’t notice?” Garrett asked. “The damn diamond in that ring looks big enough to marry five women. Tanner must have some money.”
Benedetti furrowed her brow, took out her phone, and looked at the photo Hanover and Garrett had referenced. An examination of Sara’s left hand revealed a diamond ring.
“How the hell did I miss seeing that? The rock on that ring is huge.”
“You’re an excellent handler of operatives and assets, Miss Benedetti, be that as it may, you were never a field agent,” Hanover said.
“If your life relied on noticing details, you would have spotted it,” Garrett assured her.
“Fiancée or not, Tanner isn’t here,” Benedetti said.
The limousine they were in was parked near the front entrance of the Central Park Arsenal. The huge brick building had been built in the mid-nineteenth century and was older than the park itself. Several tourists were in the area and more were at a nearby fountain. Employees of the city’s Parks and Recreation department came and went from the building, which housed their headquarters.
Hanover pinned Benedetti with his ice-blue eyes and asked a question.
“Have you taken any measures that might scare Tanner off?”
Benedetti looked away as she answered.
“I placed a man on the roof with a rifle… just in case.”
“Call him, and don’t be surprised if your man doesn’t answer.”
“You think Tanner spotted him?”
“If he’s anything like his reputation, yes,” Hanover said.
Benedetti called her sniper and the call went to voice mail.
“Shit. Tanner must have taken out Collins.”
Lyle Hanover opened his door and stepped out of the limo.
“You two wait here until you see Tanner, then join us.”
“What if he tries to kill you?”
“The man wants to talk, otherwise he wouldn’t be here at all. Once he satisfies himself that it’s safe, he’ll approach me.”
Hanover traveled with two guards, one of whom acted as his driver. He told them to stay with the limousine and walked toward the steps of the Arsenal, where he leaned his left shoulder against a tree. As he stood there, Hanover scrutinized the people around him.
It was possible Tanner had donned a disguise, although it would be difficult for the man to camouflage his unique eyes, which were intense and piercing. With that in mind, Hanover gave extra attention to any man wearing sunglasses.
He was staring at a man with an athletic build who was pushing along a baby carriage. The man had dark hair and wore mirrored glasses. If there was a baby inside the carriage it was making no sound and was hidden from sight beneath a layer of blankets.
Hanover was certain he was looking at Tanner, right up until the moment a man in a Parks and Recreation uniform approached him and asked a question.
“Do you want to talk or were you trying to kill me?”
Lyle Hanover was a man who was rarely surprised, and yet, shock was showing on his face as he stared at Tanner.
“You look almost nothing like the photo I saw of you. The one that was taken when you were arrested in Mexico.”
“I thought they were all expunged from the databases.”
“Oh, they were, thanks to your friend, Thomas Lawson, however I kept a printed copy.” Hanover looked closely at the eyeglasses Tanner was wearing and realized they were engineered to thwart facial recognition technology. They weren’t perfect at the task, but they did change Tanner’s appearance slightly.
“Those glasses were designed by my people. I wasn’t aware anyone in the private sector was offering them. I must say, they certainly tame those eyes of yours.”
“You haven’t answered my question,” Tanner said.
“I’m here to talk. My name is Lyle Hanover and I’m going to offer you a chance to serve your country.”
“Save the patriotic speeches. I’m only here because you’ve threatened to lock up Sara Blake.”
Benedetti and Garrett emerged from the limousine, with Garrett balancing on his crutches. Hanover held up a hand, telling them to stay where they were.
“We should talk inside the limo where we’ll have privacy. By the way, did you kill the sniper Miss Benedetti placed on the roof?”
“He’s alive, bound, and gagged, but he won’t be using a rifle for a while; I broke both his arms.”
Hanover smiled. “I think you might be just the man we need.”
Tanner was seated beside Garrett inside the limousine. The covert operative gave Tanner a look that could kill and received no response from Tanner, who had removed the glasses he’d been wearing.
Benedetti was seated directly across from Tanner, while Hanover sat to her left.
“What’s this about?” Tanner said.
Benedetti had a leather portfolio on her lap. She opened it, removed a photo, then passed it over to Tanner.
The photo showed a man with blond hair who had a beard that was turning gray. Looking out from the photo were a pair of intelligent gray eyes. The eyes appeared large behind the lenses of eyeglasses that were set in a thick black frame.
“That man is Owen Bishop. He’s an American living somewhere in Europe, possibly in Italy. He’s also the head of a terrorist network that targets government institutions.”
“He looks familiar.”
“Bishop is the spokesperson for the citizens’ rights group he uses as a front. You’ve likely seen one of his infomercials. The damn things play non-stop and he has millions of followers on social media. If you heard his distinctive voice you’d remember him.”
“What does he have to do with me?”
Benedetti smiled.
“Yo
u’re going to kill him for us.”
Tanner tossed the photo back at her and looked at Hanover.
“What’s really going on here? You must have a hundred men you could send off to kill this guy.”
“I’ll go into the reasons why when we’re prepping you for your mission. Just know that we’re using you out of desperation. Owen Bishop is your target, however, before you kill him we’ll need you to obtain something from him.”
“And what would that be?” Tanner asked.
“A data drive,” Benedetti said. “This device should be small, conversely, it might be concealed within something large, but it will likely be on Bishop’s person. That means you can’t just shoot him from a distance and meld into the background. The man also never seems to go out in public anymore; you’ll have to get inside his inner circle.”
“How am I to do that?”
“We have a plan,” Hanover said. “If all goes well, you should infiltrate Bishop’s organization in a matter of weeks. Once you’re accepted, you’ll work your way closer to the man.”
“You expect this to take weeks?” Tanner said.
Benedetti chuckled.
“This isn’t some bookie your friend Joe Pullo needs whacked, Tanner. Owen Bishop runs an extensive organization that has people in place throughout the world. The man knows our government is out to kill him, and he won’t be easy to get to. If you carried this assignment out in less than a month I would be amazed.”
“How many men have died going after Bishop?”
“We’ve lost eight of our best men.”
“All right, he’s a tough target. Still, you have enough trained killers to send an army in after him. I don’t understand why you want me for this.”
“Four of those men were a team. They never got near Bishop before they were killed in their sleep.”
“Bishop’s security is that good?”
“It’s adequate,” Hanover said. “What’s more, the man has an ace up his sleeve that gives him a huge advantage.”
“What is that?”
“That’s on a need to know basis,” Benedetti said. “If you don’t take the assignment, you don’t need to know.”
The Spy Game Page 2
