Something scraped right behind him.
He whirled, just in time to get pistol whipped in the jaw. He stumbled back, white spots bursting in his vision.
“Isaac? Isaac, what’s going on?” Abigail demanded in his ear.
He backpedaled, putting as much distance between him and the two figures he could make out while keeping the door to the building at his back.
“Get out of here.” A guy in a hoodie with a bandana partially pulled up around his chin threw something at the kid.
The other man held the gun aimed at Isaac. It was a revolver, older, from the looks of it. Maybe some sort of family heirloom, but Isaac wouldn’t count on it misfiring.
“Drop the gun,” the one with the bandana demanded.
“Damn it. They got the drop on Isaac. We’re coming,” Abigail said.
“Where is she?” Bandana asked.
“She—who?” Isaac shrugged.
In moments, the others would swoop in and these two would be outgunned. A lot could happen in a moment. He’d lost his brother in a moment. Moments were dangerous. It only took one for someone to die.
The two men edged apart. They couldn’t flank Isaac, not without trying to get up on the dock, but he was going to have to pick one of them to deal with first. Tanya was safe inside the building so long as the lock held, and if these guys breeched the building security would be on them.
Voices jumbled together over the headsets. Something was going down elsewhere.
“I’ve got two friends here,” Isaac said.
“Coming to you as soon as we can. Hold them off,” Luke said above the rest of the noise.
Did he take the safety off? He didn’t want to kill anyone, but if it came down to these two guys or Tanya, she’d win.
“This could go a lot easier for you.” Bandana pulled a knife from his pocket.
“I could say the same for both of you.” Isaac drew his second gun from under the chef coat, aiming them at either man.
“Stop talking and start producing.” The man holding the revolver tilted his head and hand.
Isaac had to restrain himself from squinting at the guy.
Seriously?
Holding an automatic firearm sideways was stupid enough, but a revolver? The guy didn’t even have his thumb on the hammer. For as ancient as it was, did the guy even have bullets?
“You’re outnumbered,” Bandana man said.
“If I’m outnumbered, and you’ve got me so easily beat, why hasn’t your friend shot me, huh? Why isn’t this over already?” Isaac saw Bandana’s face contort, the lines of anger creasing into an ugly mask.
Bingo.
The revolver wasn’t loaded.
Bandana hurled the knife, end over end, at Isaac. He jerked sideways. The knife clanged against the concrete feet away from him.
Shit.
Bandana slammed himself into Isaac, driving him back against the loading dock. He grabbed at Isaac’s wrists and for control of the firearms.
“Hurry up,” Isaac shouted.
“We’re coming as fast we can,” Luke said.
Any second, the other guy was going to jump in, and that spelled bad news for Isaac.
A man’s strangled yell echoed off the concrete. Both Bandanna and Isaac glanced in the direction of the guy who’d had the revolver.
Tanya stood over him, his arm bent unnaturally.
“Hey!” Bandana shoved at Isaac.
Isaac dropped the gun in his right hand. He kicked out, sending it skittering sideways several yards. With his now-free hand, he decked Bandana, breaking the guy’s hold and sending him staggering backwards.
Tanya closed the distance between them, her face cold and impassive.
“You’re coming with me.” Bandana thrust his finger toward Tanya.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” Isaac side stepped and retrieved his dropped weapon, thankful that this time it worked out.
“What’s going on?” Abigail asked.
“You hear me?” Bandana’s voice went up in pitch.
“Our girl’s about to make someone really—Ouch.” Isaac couldn’t help but wince.
Tanya grabbed the man’s hand, twisted, turned and sent him sailing over her shoulder. He went down hard, thanks to the knee to his chest. Tanya might be slender, but it was all lean muscle.
Isaac closed in, his gun trained on the man.
Bandana stared up, his eyes dilated and his bell rung hard.
“How do you make that look so easy?” Isaac could have done the same move, but it wouldn’t have gone the same way. “We’re secure. Come and get us.”
“Zip ties?” She held out her hand.
“Back pocket.” He turned his hip toward her and kept one gun aimed at both men.
Judging from the whimpers the other guy was making, he wasn’t going anywhere soon.
Tanya bound Bandana’s hands behind them, securing the biggest cause for concern.
“Where’d the other one go?” she asked.
“He was a kid, a decoy.” Isaac hated that they’d fallen for that trick, but they’d survived. “You think you can get this one in their van?”
“Yeah.” She hooked her arms under Bandana’s shoulders and dragged him toward the van.
Isaac secured the guy with the broken arm. He’d have felt bad for the guy, except for the gun. They weren’t toys, and carrying one meant accepting that it might need to be used. Brandishing it around as a threat was just a bullying tactic.
He hauled the guy into the van and got Bandana inside. That done, he secured both to what he could inside.
“Tanya?” Isaac glanced at the back of the van.
Where the hell had she gone?
“Tanya?” He jumped out the back of the vehicle and tore the chef’s coat off.
“Isaac, we’re coming around the corner. What’s going on?”
“Tanya’s gone.” He glanced around, looking for some sign of another vehicle.
The back door of the hotel banged open and Tanya backed out, dragging two five-gallon buckets.
“What the hell are you doing?” Isaac rushed up the loading dock and grabbed one.
“Acid. Haven’t you been listening to the radio? They’re worried about acid attacks.”
Isaac stared at her for about half a second.
She was planting evidence to make sure these guys didn’t get off free.
The SUV whipped around and into the narrow loading dock. Isaac pushed both buckets into the van and shut the doors.
“Get in,” he called over his shoulder at Tanya.
She scooped the broken cell phone off the ground and slid into the waiting SUV, Isaac hurrying in after her.
“What the hell happened?” Abigail demanded from the very back seat.
It was close confines with eight people—and gear—sitting on top of one another inside the vehicle, but they were all out.
“They used a decoy, some kid who dropped this, to lure us out. The kid left fast, and the other two Patrol guys are in the van.” Tanya handed the phone back to Abigail.
“You think he’s involved?”
“I think someone paid him to be there, and we might need that later.”
“Maybe.”
It wasn’t Abigail’s tone or even her words, just a sense about her that spoke of...pride. Maybe even approval.
“I thought you weren’t supposed to engage,” Luke said.
“Who, me?” Tanya blinked at Luke.
“We’re a team now,” Abigail said, putting an end to that.
If Isaac had any doubt about what side Tanya was on, it was gone now. She could have jumped in, ran away, anything except come to his rescue. And that was what it was. He’d let himself get cocky for a half a second, even though he knew better. Things could have gone differently, and someone could have died. As is, he was glad they were headed elsewhere.
He found Tanya’s hand with his and squeezed.
The skies turned from black to dark gray, the rain starting u
p after days of sunshine. He wasn’t ready to celebrate. It was still going to be a long day ahead of them.
Tanya hung onto Isaac’s hand. Every bump in the road jarred her skull. If she clenched her teeth any harder, she was going to break a tooth.
Isaac rubbed little circles on her knuckles. Occasionally he’d squeeze her palm a little tighter. He probably meant the contact to be reassuring or comforting, but she couldn’t take an easy breath until she met this person Abigail thought so highly of.
“Should be up here.” Adam leaned forward, gripping the wheel with both hands. His left eye had swollen slightly, and from this angle, she could see the bruising.
No one had mentioned the difficulty in getting out, they simply moved on.
She didn’t know what she’d done to deserve their help, but she prayed she was worthy. That the trouble they were going through would be worth it in the end. That they would save lives and stop Orlando.
“That arch right there. Pull in and find a spot to stop.” Abigail shifted in the very back. “We’ll get out, and you—wait for us.”
Adam eased the SUV through the arch. The courtyard between the old buildings was packed with tiny, economical vehicles. There wasn’t room for the large people mover.
“Change of plans,” Abigail called out. “Tanya, get out. Adam, circle the block, keep comms on. We will mute ours. We’ll call if we need you.”
“Here.” Isaac pressed his comm into her hand.
Tanya slid the earpiece on. Isaac opened his door and glanced around, no doubt considering the lay of the land.
She slid out and met the other two at the back of the vehicle.
“Mute comms,” Abigail said.
Tanya had to tap hers a few times before she got the hang of it.
Abigail leaned into the SUV.
“This shouldn’t take long. Keep a look out for anything suspicious. Unless you need us, we’ll be radio silent.” She closed Isaac’s door.
“Come on.” Luke placed his hand on Tanya’s shoulder and gestured for her to follow Abigail.
“We’re going to cross this building and our meet is on the other side of this wall. I’ll go first, you and Luke hang back until I tell you to approach, understood?” Abigail’s words were hard to make out over the noise from the building on their right, but Tanya got the gist.
“Sure,” she replied.
Abigail led them to the left, through an unlocked door and down a long hall. Windows that had seen better days let in some dreary light, enough to see by, at least. Despite the grimy windows, the walls and floors were clean and freshly painted.
“How do you know where we’re going?” Tanya didn’t see any marks or indicators to tell them where they should go.
“I’ve been here before,” Abigail replied.
“Ssh,” Luke whispered.
Tanya glanced over her shoulder.
Luke hung back several feet, almost walking sideways to keep an eye behind them.
Did he hear something she didn’t?
“Wait here.” Abigail grasped the handle to the only door on the hall and pulled it open. She stepped out into the drizzling rain, leaving them behind.
Tanya edged toward Luke. His mouth was set in a hard line and he didn’t look entirely at ease.
“What’s wrong?” Tanya asked.
“Nothing.”
That was the most unconvincing single-word answer she’d ever heard.
She licked her lips and considered keeping her question to herself, but why the hell should she?
“Then why—”
“Oh my God.” Abigail’s voice was nearly drowned out by the patter of rain.
It wasn’t her words that made Tanya’s skin shrink until her whole body felt tight. It was the tone of Abigail’s voice, the hushed horror.
“Abby?” Luke jerked the door open and darted out.
Tanya followed, giving the hall another glance in either direction. She stepped into a courtyard that was a little bigger than the other one, but empty of all but one vehicle.
The black car idled, its doors open.
Tanya slowed to a stop.
A man with dark hair and a gray suit soaked in water lay face down on the stones. His blood had spread, diluted by the rain, so that it was almost the same color as the red cobblestones.
Her stomach tightened and she stumbled forward a few steps.
“I know him,” she said to no one in particular.
“Abby, get back.” Luke went to a knee, feeling for a pulse.
“Shit.” Abigail walked in a tight circle and tapped at her ear. “Adam? Pick us up on the other side, now.”
“Is he...?” Tanya couldn’t say the word.
Luke stepped over the downed man to the driver slumped over the wheel.
“They’re both gone, and we need to be, too. Come on.” He wrapped an arm around Abigail, propelling her ahead of him.
Tanya only knew the dead person as Mr. X, an impeccably dressed man who would occasionally share a coffee with her. She hadn’t particularly liked the man. He’d been professional and to the point, which she appreciated but that was where his personality ended.
Abigail spoke something that wasn’t English, her cell phone pressed to her face. Some words were familiar, but she spoke so fast Tanya couldn’t hope to keep up. Every few words she’d sob, swallow the sound and begin again.
Luke herded them out on the sidewalk, glancing every which way. Whoever had killed Mr. X could still be there.
Tanya spotted the SUV first.
“There,” she said.
“Cross the street. Go. Go. Go.” Luke kept his hand on Abigail’s back.
Whoever Mr. X was, he’d been someone to Abigail.
Tanya pulled the back doors of the SUV open and held them for Luke and Abigail to crawl in the luggage space. Isaac had the side door open and scooped her in the moment she shut the other two in.
“What the hell happened?” Kyle demanded the moment the doors shut.
“Someone killed Baron.” Abigail’s voice wavered.
“Who?” Isaac twisted to stare at the back of the vehicle.
“Her ex-husband,” Luke replied.
“Not just Baron, but an American diplomat, and an MI5 officer.” Abigail wiped at her face. “Tanya, did you know them?”
“Your ex-husband, yes.” Tanya swallowed. “He trained me.”
“Shit.” Abigail closed her eyes.
“Back up. An MI5 officer and American diplomat?” Isaac’s face scrunched up. “How is all that connected?”
“Later. I’m sorry, Abigail, but—where are we going?” Kyle asked.
“Do we have another location prepped?” Luke asked.
“No,” Kyle replied.
“We need somewhere we can regroup,” Luke said.
“I have an idea,” Tanya said.
The others grew silent.
“My father’s childhood home is off Hyde Park. Because of the trial, it’s been caught up in a series of ongoing legal battles considering how valuable it is.”
“Is anyone in it?” Kyle asked.
“No, that’s why it’s perfect. Because of how it’s all tied up, no party can step foot in the house. There’s a caretaker that stops by, but otherwise it’s been locked up since my aunt passed.”
“Let’s go,” Luke said.
“Address?” Adam asked.
Tanya had to look the address up on Isaac’s phone before she could guide Adam. The morning traffic had begun, not that anyone could go faster than twenty inside London. It took them well over an hour to reach the area surrounding Kensington Palace.
“We need to get rid of this SUV,” Kyle said.
“Why don’t half of us go with Tanya to the house, secure it, and you guys get rid of the truck?” Isaac suggested.
“Let’s do it. At the next light, Isaac, Tanya, Luke, Felix, Shane, and Abigail, why don’t you guys go for the house?”
Tanya didn’t point out the math. The SUV rolled to a stop and
Isaac got out. The drivers behind them gestured, but otherwise said nothing. Not even when Abigail and Luke crawled out of the back.
“This way.” Isaac guided them using his phone.
The drizzle had lightened to a mist. She pulled the hood on her coat up to keep the water from running down her neck.
The houses had a pristine, white façade with bricks, stately columns, and picturesque windows full of flowers. Some of the plaques on the doors proclaimed this house or that one an embassy. She was well aware the area was extremely expensive to buy into, which was a motivating factor for the numerous lawsuits fighting over who would get it. Wilson Graham’s children sure as hell weren’t on the list, and she wouldn’t want it.
Tanya fell into step beside Abigail. The other woman had dried her eyes, and except for the frown, appeared back to herself.
“I’m sorry about your ex,” Tanya said.
“I can’t decide if I’m sorry or not.” Abigail glanced at Tanya. “It’s complicated.”
Tanya glanced at Isaac’s broad shoulders. That was a word that described her whole life. From how and where she was born to this very moment.
“He’s a good guy,” Abigail said softly.
“Hm?” Tanya glanced at the other woman, aware she’d been caught staring.
“You know, if you like that kind of person.” Abigail shrugged.
“It’s nothing.” The words were true, but they still stung.
“You recognized Baron. He trained you.”
Tanya swallowed. Abigail wasn’t asking questions and Tanya wouldn’t insult her by answering.
“Who else trained you?”
“Do you mean all the people involved or the ones in charge?”
“The in charge ones. That’s who I care about right now.”
“Two women, one at least ten years older than me, the older one was probably—fifties?”
“Shit.” Abigail sighed. “I’m making a stab in the dark here, but I think your handler sold out the people who trained you. Someone who knew what was going on with you. No matter how people try, there’s always a trail.”
“Rob wouldn’t know who trained me.”
“Then he found a trail. A lead. Someone who knew something. We need to make a list of everyone you interacted with. One of them is responsible for Baron’s death.”
“You said two others died today. Who were they?”
Dangerous in Action (Aegis Group Alpha Team, #2) Page 15
