Jungle Inferno

by Desiree Holt

  Rick related his conversation with the two officers almost verbatim, doing his best to control his own irritation with the political red tape that hamstrung them. He wanted to blame someone but logically that would be the traitor who’d leaked the mission. So he simply passed along what had been said and waited for a response.

  Dan handed him a cold drink. “Joey was awake for a while, a bit more lucid and able to give us some more information. Let me show you.” He bent over the map on the table, his finger tracing a line to a spot marked with a pen. “The team landed at Iquito. It’s well known in Peru the terrorists base themselves there. They chose a place accessible only by air or water, easily protected and just as easily defended. No surprise attacks for them to worry about. Except the one from SpecOps.”

  “Did they do a helo drop? And wasn’t that a little dangerous? The noise of the bird alone would have warned these people someone was coming.”

  Mike, who had been standing to the side, shook his head. “Iquito’s a port on the Amazon. That means there are a lot of places for water landings. The helo dropped them and a Zodiac at night far enough downriver from the target spot. They moved up while it was still dark, ditched the boat and set up the comm gear at the extraction point.”

  Dan picked up the thread again. “By the time the helo would return it wouldn’t matter who heard them. Except the tangos were ready for them. Joey got into position, the others moved forward and all holy hell broke loose.”

  “Okay.” Rick’s finger moved over the surface of the map. “Next question. If this was a temporary spot, where’s their permanent encampment? Someplace they could train, also.”

  “That’s the rub,” Mike answered. “There’s about five different spots an hour or two away from there. We have to figure out which is the one. And do it quickly.”

  “Yeah.” Troy walked in from the bedroom. “Joey’s very uptight about what kind of hell they’ll be putting Halloran through. They’ll want to know who told about this meeting so they can do their own cleanup.”

  “One more thing.” Dan’s jaw was set and a muscle jumped in his cheek. “There was someone meeting with the tangos, I think the real target of this little exercise.” He looked around the table. “The meet was to conduct business with the Wolf.”

  The tension in the room ratcheted up several notches. The men knew the Wolf too well by reputation. The most prolific arms dealer in the world and supplier to every terrorist group with the bucks to pay him. In Central and South America, drug money provided an endless bank account to purchase an inexhaustible supply of weapons. He alone had been proven to be the supplier for the firepower in the worst of the Al Qaeda attacks as well as arming the rebels in several third world countries. In South America he sold to both the drug cartels and the guerillas, creating circumstances that put the government troops at risk on two fronts.

  Whoever talked about him did so in whispers. Disloyalty was, in his mind, the worst crime of all. It was rumored he’d personally shot his own wife because he thought she’d betrayed him to one of his enemies. He would go to any lengths to learn who had told the United States government about his meeting with El Serpiente. If he thought Mark Halloran could tell him, hell would be a more pleasant place for the captured soldier.

  Mike broke the tense silence. “We have to get this going ASAP.”

  “But not until we have every bit of information,” Dan told them, “and know exactly what we’re doing. It won’t do Halloran any good if we get shot too.”

  “I’ll boot up the Dragon and get everything I can,” Troy said.

  The Phoenix and the Dragon were Chinese good luck symbols and seemed appropriate for their organization. Dragon was their very sophisticated computer system with the ability to tap into anything anywhere. Phoenix had seemed appropriate since it rose from the ashes of too much war and too many disappointments.

  “Remember, guys,” Dan went on. “This is why Phoenix was formed in the first place. To do things the government couldn’t even consider. Off the books missions that needed doing. And to service corporations that couldn’t approach normal organizations. That’s never been truer for us than right now.”

  “Rick.” Mike looked at the tall man staring through the bedroom door at his brother. “Did you get hold of that woman yet?”

  “Negative. We’ve been exchanging voice mail messages.”

  “Do it,” Dan told him. “I have an itch at the back of my neck that tells me she’s more involved in this than just someone looking for an interview.”

  “You think this is someone who knows Mark? Why wouldn’t she use his name?”

  Dan shrugged. “Could be he never discussed us with her. Why would he?”

  “I guess for the same reason all he told us about the woman he’s lost his mind over is her nickname. The less anyone knows about his life, the harder it is for anyone to get at him. He’s all about keeping people safe.”

  “Well, now it’s time to take the lid off the pots. Find out who she is. She could be someone trying to get information on us and if we’re going to do exactly what we’re planning.”

  “That would mean someone’s actually admitting they pulled the switch on this.” Mike’s voice was heavy with anger.

  “We could sit here and speculate all day,” Dan commented, “and get nothing done. Troy, set up the Dragon and ride its tail. Rick, talk to this woman. Mike, you and I will go over this map again with Joey and expand what we know as soon as Troy gets something for us.” He rapped his knuckles on the table. “Let’s do it.”

  * * * * *

  The day had not gone well for Mr. Brown and Mr. Green. They’d done a few things they thought would give Faith Wilding at least second thoughts about whatever she was doing but they all depended on her being home, which hadn’t happened yet. They needed her to check her email and answering machine. And their boss didn’t think too much of their plan. Too many holes, he said.

  Now his voice was pounding in Green’s ear.

  “What you want to do takes far too much time. We can’t wait to see if you frighten her. And from what I’ve learned about her, she’s one determined bitch, anyway. Get it done.”

  Green laughed, an unpleasant sound. “We can’t exactly walk up to her house and shoot her.”

  “Be inventive.” The voice was nasty. “That’s what I pay you for. And while you’re sitting on your asses there and making empty gestures,” the voice snapped, “I promise you she’s stirring the waters any place she can. Get her out of it before someone takes her seriously.”

  “How do you know they haven’t already?” Mr. Green asked.

  “So far we’ve only got kicking and screaming from one source and I’ve gotten it squashed. All the way down the line. We’re keeping as tight a lid on this as possible but there’s always some rogue out there who wants to be a Boy Scout. And I certainly don’t want her connecting with Latrobe’s brother.”

  “You’re sure that’s who made the snatch?”

  “I feel it in my bones. Right now I just see it as a former military person who’s overreacting to those negative reports about Walter Reed. Wants to keep his brother close and doesn’t trust anyone. We need to make sure that’s all it is. That somehow this woman hasn’t gotten to him.” The voice was like a sharp icicle.

  “I thought you could find out anything about anyone,” Green said resentfully.

  There was a long, empty silence. Green thought maybe the other man had hung up when the hard voice spoke again. “There are some people who know the government so well they can protect themselves from it. Unfortunately.”

  Well, well. The great man has found a pie he can’t stick his fingers in.

  “So what would you have us do?”

  “We know she flew back to San Antonio today. Go there. Dispose of her and I mean dispose. Forget your stupid plan. Let people think she’s still traveling. Figure out how to accomplish that. Call me when it’s done.”

  “But—”

  “Don’t give
me any more of your crap. Quit stalling and do it. And I don’t want it coming back to me, you hear me?”

  “Yes, sir.” Green snapped his phone shut and stared at it. He felt a major case of indigestion coming on. He was about to do something for which he was long out of practice and mistakes would not be tolerated.

  “Well?” he partner asked, impatient with the whole thing.

  “We’re out of time. His Highness wants this taken care of right now and all evidence swept under the rug.”

  Brown snorted. “Easier said than done. Doesn’t he know that?”

  “He doesn’t care.”

  “So what do we do?”

  Green popped a Tums in his mouth. “We get on a plane and go to Texas.”

  * * * * *

  “That’s quite a story.” Tia finished the last of her tea and wiped her mouth very carefully with a paper napkin.

  “But not one you believe,” Faith commented, a sinking feeling in her stomach.

  Was this where she and Tia would part company? Where her friend would say she couldn’t work for someone this crazy? On the other hand, she hadn’t leaped up from the table, a look of total disbelief on her face.

  “On the contrary. I know a lot about psychic powers. My grandmother had them.”

  Faith’s eyes popped open. “She did?”

  “Yes. She could sense things before they happened.” Tia balled her napkin and threw it on the table. “The family blamed her for a lot of things that weren’t her fault because of that. I wish she’d had something like The Lotus Circle to help her. She could have used the support.”

  “Aunt Vivi and her friends have been lifesavers,” Faith sighed. “I don’t know what I’d do without them. And they’ve really helped me with this situation.”

  “So all those attacks you’ve had, or whatever you want to call them, have been you empathizing Mark’s pain?”

  “Yes. God, Tia, I know he’s in agony. I can’t even begin to imagine the kind of torture he’s going through. What I feel is just empathetic pain. His is the real thing. I don’t understand how he’s even holding on.”

  “He’s strong, kiddo. Men like Mark outdo us all.”

  “Yes but where do I go from here? I have to get help from someone.”

  Tia began clearing away the debris of their food. “Your friend, Senator Winslow, couldn’t help you?”

  Faith made a sound of disgust. “Trey Winslow won’t do anything that would compromise his image or his position.”

  Whatever Tia was going to say next was interrupted by the ringing of the cell phone, which Faith had placed on the counter.

  “I’ll check your emails,” Tia mouthed and headed for the den.

  “Miss Wilding?”

  Faith frowned. The voice was unfamiliar. “Yes. Who is this?”

  “Rick Latrobe.”

  “Rick?”

  “You seem to know me as Eric but I haven’t used that name since I enlisted.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. Thank you for calling me back.”

  “What can I do for you?” There wasn’t a note of friendliness in his voice. Ice would have been warmer.

  Faith clutched the phone. “I-I’m a writer. You may have seen some of my books.” She rattled off some of the titles. “I’m working on a new one, about Special Ops and I was told you might be able to provide me with some information about how the missions are run. I strive for accuracy as much as possible.”

  She could feel the chill racing through the connection.

  “Can I ask you exactly who gave you my name?” His voice sounded like an executioner’s might—cold, sharp. Emotionless.

  No, because my friend found you by hacking into secret databases.

  “I’m not sure I remember at this moment,” she waffled. “I’ve been talking to so many people.”

  “I see.” Pause. “What is it exactly you’re looking for?”

  “I actually have a lot of questions. About how things are run, how the—I believe they’re called units—are put together. What happens if a mission goes bad. Perhaps if you tell me where you are I can fly there and we can meet. Lunch or dinner on me.”

  “I see.” The chill escalated but something more had been added in just those two words. Suspicion.

  Faith waited through the silence on the line.

  “Sorry. I’ll have to think about that. I’m a little busy at the moment. Perhaps if you could be a little more specific, I could suggest someone else.”

  No, no, no. It has to be you.

  She was losing him. “Actually, you came so highly recommended I’d prefer to work something out with you. Where are you right now?” she persisted.

  “I sense something behind this that’s a little more than just research for a book.” His voice still had that frosty edge. “Otherwise anyone might do, right?”

  “I—”

  “Miss Wilding. Or whoever the hell you are. Can we just cut to the chase?” If the voice was cold before, it was lethal-sounding now. “What is it in fact you want from me? What’s really going on here? You haven’t made this many calls to me just for some interview. There are resources all over the place you could contact.”

  “Mr. Latrobe. Rick. I—”

  “Faith?” Tia’s voice from the den. Panicky. “Faith, you need to come here right now.”

  “Could you hold on for just a moment” she told the disembodied voice on the other end of the connection. “Just one second. Please.”

  She hurried into the den where Tia had booted up her computer and was checking her emails. A message in large type filled the screen.

  “Drop your story. Don’t talk to anyone else. This is your last warning. Next time you’ll be dead.”

  “Oh my God.” The words fell out of her mouth on a gasp. She dropped into the chair in front of the desk, hands shaking.

  “Hello?”

  She’d actually forgotten the man on the phone. “Oh! I’m sorry. I…Mr. Latrobe. Rick. I can’t talk to you right now. Is there a number where I could call you back in a few minutes?”

  “Something’s wrong,” he guessed. “What is it?”

  “Nothing.” Her voice sounded false even to herself. “I just have to hang up right now.”

  “Miss Wilding? Listen.”

  “I told you. I have to go. I have…my email…I just…” She couldn’t stop stammering.

  “Email?” The tone of his voice had changed. “What kind of email?”

  “I can’t…” She let out a shaky breath. “I have to check this out.”

  “Don’t hang up.” He snapped the words as a command. “I’m going to assume you know who I really am so we can cut through all the bullshit. Has someone sent you a threatening email?”

  “Y-Yes.”

  “Leave it. Don’t touch it. I’ll be in San Antonio first thing in the morning. Whatever’s going on, will you be all right until then?”

  “I don’t… I guess…” Would she? What did this email mean? Was someone even now watching her house?

  “I can have someone there in ten minutes if you’re in immediate danger.”

  Was she? No, the email was just a warning. She had a little while before the threats become physical, didn’t she? Didn’t people like whoever this was always give warnings first?

  “No. Thank you but I don’t need anyone right now.” She hoped that was true.

  “Lock your doors. Set your alarm.”

  “I-I don’t have an alarm system.” But I sure wish I did now.

  The silence that followed was so heavy Faith could almost feel it reach through the connection and wrap itself around her.

  Then Rick said in a measured tone, “You don’t have an alarm system. Well isn’t that just great. All right. Then definitely check all the locks. Windows too. Don’t answer the landline. I’ll call your cell when I get in.”

  “What is it you know that I don’t?” she asked, trying to stifle the fear overtaking her. “What’s going on and why is someone after me?”

 
; “I’ll explain when I see you. But first you can answer some questions for me and we’ll see where we go from there.”

  The line went dead. Faith stared at it before hitting the End button. Then she leaned forward toward the computer. “Can you tell where this came from, Tia?”

  She shook her head. “It says Admin but that could be anything. It’s got to be a false IP address. Call Andy. He can find out for you.”

  “No. Not yet.” She couldn’t pull her eyes away from the screen.

  “Well, you can believe you’re rattling someone’s cage. And badly, if they’re resorting to stuff like this.” Tia snapped her fingers. “You haven’t checked your answering machine.”

  She pushed the button next to the blinking red light that showed fifteen messages waiting. As predicted, several were from Abigail Loudon. Two were from her publicist about a book tour. There were some from her parents wondering when she’d be home. Even one from Andy that made her sit up and take notice.

  “Curiosity got the better of me, Faith,” his nasal voice droned on. “Most of the stuff I found I can tell you when you call but you should know that Mark Halloran spent a lot of downtime with Joey Latrobe, his brother and their friends. Someone who should know—and who’ll deny they ever told me—said there was even an offer on the table to join Phoenix when Mark’s current hitch was up.”

  What did that mean?

  Mark surely had mentioned her to them, so why hadn’t they recognized her name in connection with his? Because he only referred to her by her nickname? More than likely. Mark was very closemouthed about things like this. Part of his “keep things separated” philosophy.

  She’d have to call Andy and make sure he played this one close to the vest.

  The last message made the blood drain from Faith’s face.

  “Consider this warning number two, Miss Wilding. Stay out of things that don’t concern you, or you could be out of them permanently.”

  “Faith, you have got to call the police,” Tia insisted.

  “No. No, no, no. How will I explain this?” She ran her fingers through her hair, pushing it off her face. “I just need to get through until morning. Rick Latrobe will be here in the morning. Then we’ll discuss it.”