Dangerous in Action (Aegis Group Alpha Team, #2)

by Sidney Bristol

  “I think the American diplomat and the MI5 agent who were also killed this morning were the two women in the triad over your training.”

  “It could be the CIA mole.” Tanya hated admitting that.

  “That’s a good possibility, and it tells us Orlando has resources in high places, likely more than one. We’d be smart to assume he has someone everywhere. The older woman was technically retired, and logistically the harder of the five to identify. My ex-husband was probably the easiest to identify.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tanya mumbled.

  “He wasn’t good to me, but he loved his country, and he believed in what he was doing.”

  “How long were you married?”

  “Not long. I was a teenager. I had no idea what I was getting into.”

  “I understand.” Tanya swallowed.

  “Shit. I’m sorry. I’m—this is not my best.”

  “I was engaged—twice—but never married. We were raided the night before my wedding.”

  Isaac slowed and glanced over his shoulder.

  “That’s it, with the purple flowers.” He nodded ahead of them.

  “I’ll go around back and let you in,” Tanya said.

  “Stay here. We’ll be back.” Abigail kept pace with Tanya. They turned down a narrow alley so neat and tidy there wasn’t a scrap of trash to be seen. “Do you know how to get in?”

  “Sort of.”

  “How likely are we to get caught?”

  “No clue. The house is old. It’s been in the Graham family for ages. It’s the row house, the garden, and what used to be the carriage house behind it. The caretaker comes by two or three times a week. There’s a lock box with a key to get inside, mostly for the lawyers.”

  “Was this on your list of crash pads, in case things didn’t work out?”

  “Yes, but I didn’t want to bring those people here, you know?”

  “I do.”

  “This is the garden.” Tanya glanced right and left.

  “Do you know the code?”

  “While I was in college, one of the lawyers needed a surviving child’s signature. I was easy to find. I signed, but on the condition I got a copy of the documents. You know, to cover my ass. It was an addendum to an original agreement that the access code would remain my great aunt’s birthday. There was a stint where they got nasty and did some changing to the locks and codes without sharing it to the other parties. This locked the codes in.”

  Tanya plugged the eight-digit number into the keypad.

  The green light flashed and the lock disengaged.

  “Every lock is the same code?” Abigail asked.

  “A variation of it. I memorized them when I knew I’d be doing this job. Just in case, you know?”

  “Smart. I’m beginning to like you more.”

  Tanya stared around the small garden. Whoever was entrusted with the management of the place took exceptionally good care of it. It was such a pity that a beautiful home like this couldn’t be appreciated by people who weren’t her.

  “There’s the box.” Tanya jogged across the stone path and up the backstairs of the house. A metal box hung off the doorknob.

  She’d memorized the numbers, but which combination went to which device was the real problem. She lifted the lid and examined the buttons.

  The eight had the most wear on it.

  She plugged in the code.

  The red light flashed.

  She tried again and the green light blinked.

  “Keys to the kingdom,” Abigail muttered.

  Tanya took the keys and opened the back door. Since the house had been unoccupied for so long, it hadn’t been upgraded with a security system. The only things protecting it were the locks and reputation of the neighborhood.

  “You let them in. I’m going to start searching the house and make sure we’re alone. And pull all the curtains.” Abigail headed for the stairs.

  To think, her ancestors had grown up here. Glancing around at the opulence, the marble and gold everywhere, she could understand some of her father’s ego. If she’d been born into a world like this, she’d believe she was special, too.

  Tanya crossed to the front door and unlocked the heavy, old thing.

  Luke, Felix, Shane and Isaac jogged up the stairs two by two, keeping it quiet. She leaned out, glancing up and down the street. Anyone with a trained eye would spot the four for what they were, trained soldiers. It was in the way they moved, how they carried themselves. Add to it they were obviously American, and it wasn’t the best for blending in. Still, the street was quiet and no one seemed to be the wiser.

  She shut the door and locked it.

  The guys were already moving from room to room, lowering blinds and drawing the curtains aside.

  Isaac waited for her in the entry, studying her in a way that made her wonder what he saw.

  “You okay?” he asked, keeping his voice soft.

  “Yeah. Of course.”

  “Baron’s death hit Abby hard. You knew him?”

  “Yeah, though I didn’t know that was his name.” Tanya shoved her hands into her coat pockets and stared at the floor. “He was professional. Not exactly nice, but I liked him. I can’t believe he’s dead.”

  And if she had to guess, it tied back to her.

  Isaac wrapped his arm around her and pulled her in tight. She buried her face against his chest and breathed in deep.

  Why was she the only one still alive? What was so special about her?

  “Kyle and Adam are headed our way—with food,” Luke called out from the back of the house.

  “Hear that?” Isaac whispered.

  “Yeah.” She straightened and rubbed her face.

  “Food and some rest will do you good.”

  “There’s no time for that.” She could feel the ticking of the seconds slipping away from them. There was only so much time before Orlando—or his customers—did something.

  “Let’s go see what Abigail and Luke think about our next move before you decide anything, okay?”

  Isaac guided her into the formal dining room where Abigail and Luke were seated. The old table was long enough to sit twelve, with heavy, wooden chairs. The upholstery had seen better days, but the bones were good.

  “This is some place,” he muttered looking around.

  “It looks like a museum.” Tanya slid into a seat across from Abigail, who had her phone pressed to her ear, listening to what the person on the other end of the line was saying.

  Tanya groped for Isaac’s hand under the table and held on tight.

  This was her life they were playing with.

  “Okay, I understand. Please get back to me when you can?” Abigail said.

  “Kyle is here,” Felix called out. “Glad you guys found us.”

  Tanya smelled food first. Felix and Shane helped the other two haul the food into the dining room and pass out containers.

  “We got what we could.” Kyle thrust a bag their way.

  There were few things as comforting to Tanya as a sausage sandwich. It was one of the few British things her father had insisted on. Good tea and sausage were at the top of his priority list. Tanya unwrapped the sandwich and bit into it, needing the reassurance more than she needed the sustenance.

  “Where we at?” Kyle glanced at Abigail then Tanya.

  “Location is secure for now,” Luke said, taking the lead before Abigail spoke up.

  Tanya got the feeling that outwardly she was holding it together much better than she was on the inside. Baron might not be the man Abigail had chosen to spend her life with, but he’d left an impression on her, and Tanya.

  “I just confirmed, again, that the three people we suspect are responsible for Tanya’s training were killed. Today. Within an hour of each other. Professional hits. Not likely someone on Orlando’s payroll, which means it was a contract job.” Abigail picked at the sandwich Luke put in front of her, tearing the crust off the toasted bread. “Why were they all here? Was it because of this?�
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  “He’d have to hire out for something this fast and clean. I’d guess this wasn’t thrown together last minute,” Luke added.

  “So this is all part of a larger plan,” Abigail said.

  “Wouldn’t Rob have had to report talking to you guys to someone?” Isaac twisted to look at Tanya. “What if he didn’t check in or do something right and that’s why these three people were here? Because Tanya is now in the wind?”

  “That’s a theory better than any I’ve come up with,” Abigail said. “There’s not much of a reason for Baron and the others to all be in London, unless they were en route to the same place. Or working on a joint project. Her.”

  Tanya cringed.

  “No one’s saying you’re at fault,” Luke quickly added.

  “No.” Abigail shook her head in agreement. “We don’t even know if you’re connected. Like Luke said, this was a well thought out op.”

  “So we believe her, then?” Kyle asked.

  “I do,” Abigail said.

  “Okay.” Kyle nodded and stared at Tanya. “Welcome to the team. What’s our next goal?”

  That simple vote of confidence left Tanya feeling unsteady. Isaac took her hand in his and squeezed. They finally believed her, for real. No gut feelings or one person vouching for her.

  “We’re waiting for one of Baron’s men to help us confirm Tanya’s identity for certain. Once we have that, we can work with Mossad to figure out who we should contact on the American side to get some movement on the bigger problem we aren’t yet talking about.” Abigail didn’t look as happy about it as Tanya thought she might. “I’m concerned with how long it will take. Losing Baron is going to complicate things. Add in the other three, and we’re talking about people trying to catch a lot of spinning plates. Their deaths are going to be a disaster to sort out for the agencies they work for. I’m hoping to get one of Baron’s minions to help us out, but their priorities aren’t us at the moment, even with the threat of the weapon.”

  “It might be easier to make a list of who is a threat right now,” Isaac said.

  “Orlando, his hired assassin, The Patrol, the three customers with bids in on the weapon and then anyone else who wants what’s in my head.” Tanya ticked each off on a finger.

  “How much do you know about the customers?” Abigail asked.

  “A lot. I made notes when we were at the estate, trying to figure out who I thought Orlando would sell to. It’s not all about getting the most money, it’s about hitting the right target.”

  “You said the three customers were a terrorist cell, a political group, and a homegrown terrorist group?” Abigail ticked each off on a finger.

  “Correct. The terrorist cell is too risky, and their target was a football game. Orlando wanted something more central to D.C.”

  “And the rest?”

  “The grassroots group is more disorganized, but chaos creates opportunity. They want to hit a convention center, make a splash. My money is on the political group. Yes, Orlando’s message of revenge would get buried in their broader campaign, but it would work. They’ve done business before. It’s the safe option.”

  “Where did they want to hit?” Luke asked.

  “They wanted to sit on the weapon for a few weeks and use it at some big lobbyist thing. I wasn’t clear on the details. Orlando required less from them because they’re repeat customers.”

  “Okay, then we need to know all three inside and out. Can you write down all you know? I’ll turn it over to our guys at home, and we’ll do our homework on them.” Abigail slid a pad of paper and pen across to Tanya.

  “Do you think Orlando would send someone after you?” Isaac asked.

  “Honestly? I’m not sure.”

  “Well, we know Orlando isn’t coming here on his own. Considering the close timing of the other deaths, I’m guessing the assassin wasn’t expecting us or they’d have waited for Abigail and Tanya. That leaves The Patrol and other intel-hungry people, am I right?” Isaac said.

  “Sounds about right, yeah.” Kyle nodded.

  “The Patrol and anyone else is going to have a hard time keeping tabs on us. Staying here probably isn’t the greatest idea, but it’s a good place to make a plan.” Kyle shrugged.

  “I’m hoping my contact comes through in a few hours. They have to know the importance of what it is we’re trying to do.”

  “So we hang tight?” Kyle said.

  “That’s a good plan. Abigail and I need to sleep at some point, if at all possible.” Luke draped his arm across the back of Abigail’s chair.

  “How long do we wait, then?” Kyle’s frown grew more pronounced.

  “These things take time,” Abigail said.

  “But that’s just it.” Tanya leaned forward. “We don’t have a lot of time.”

  14.

  Sunday. London, England.

  Isaac peered out on the street, watching for any sort of movement or people showing too much interest in the house.

  So far, nothing.

  The street was more or less quiet, the traffic minimal considering its proximity to the gardens and palace. No one paid the drawn blinds any mind. A few cars had come and gone, but a quick surveillance loop showed no one inside the newly-left vehicles. They’d even gone so far to jot down all the license plates in the event they needed to run one.

  He glanced over his shoulder through the archway into the formal dining room. Tanya and Abigail had their heads together. Even Luke had been banished from the room while they spoke at length about God only knew what.

  Isaac could see Tanya’s hands, how she’d placed them on top of her thighs. At a glance it was a relaxed pose, but he’d grown to know her. He could recognize her carefully posed posture for what it was. A way to mask the stress she was going through. She was so tightly bottled and controlled, every glance and sigh done with purpose. He wanted to hold her, stroke her back, help her remember they were on her side, but if Luke—Abigail’s soon to be husband—was barred from the conversation there was no way they’d allow Isaac to be in on it.

  He turned and strode across the house.

  Felix had his feet up on an ottoman, phone in hand.

  “Everything okay at home?” Isaac asked. He had no clue what Felix might be up to, but Isaac needed to get his mind off Tanya.

  “Yeah. My cousin posted some silly videos of the guys dancing again.”

  “Yeah, what’s up with that?” Isaac sat in an armchair built for perfect posture, not comfort. He’d seen the dancing prince’s videos and given Ian shit for whatever it was he had going on during his off hours but he’d never really understood the purpose.

  “You know Ian, he gets a great idea and runs with it.”

  “How come you didn’t get involved? What’s he doing with that anyway?”

  “I had a job to do that weekend, and there’s no way you’re getting me into frilly gold jackets.” Felix fluttered his fingers on his shoulders. “They were just doing it for Ian’s niece’s birthday party, but some volunteer photographer went wild with the pictures. And now they’re the dancing princes.”

  “Do I want to know what dancing princes do?”

  “Charity things. Mostly they make asses out of themselves trying to dance. Kids love it, though.” Felix shrugged and glanced away. “Maybe I should have cleared my schedule to play along, but there’s no way I’d do all the stuff they’re doing now. I do feel kind of bad I didn’t pitch in with the others for the birthday party. Ian and his sister have been really great to everyone relocating to Seattle.”

  “They should have asked me. I’d look great in spandex.” Isaac grinned.

  Felix flipped him the bird.

  “Gotta take this. It’s my aunt.” He got up and pressed the phone to his ear, ambling off into the deeper recesses of the house.

  Isaac leaned his head back and stared up at the ceiling.

  What the hell were they going to do next?

  He was well versed in the waiting game. Most of the time
that’s what work was, hurry up and wait until something else happens. The difference was that in those circumstances the job was clear-cut. One goal. Right now, they did one thing and it spawned a whole new set of problems.

  They’d rescued Tanya and were now embroiled in a complicated spy game. If they got out of this, it was to handle a terrorist plot. What then? Where did they go next? What would happen to Tanya?

  “Drink?” Shane offered Isaac a bottle of water.

  “I could go for a beer right about now.” He took the water and drank some, more out of the need to do something than thirst.

  “I know that feeling.” Shane sat on the dainty sofa, recently vacated by Felix, and propped his elbow on the arm rest. “How’s she holding up?”

  “Tanya? Fine, I guess.”

  “She’s got you wrapped around your finger.” Shane chuckled and shook his head.

  “Excuse me?” Isaac narrowed his gaze and stared at Shane.

  “I find it funny you’ve given me tons of shit about Lacey, and here you are getting worked up over an asset.”

  “That’s totally different. You endangered the team because of her.”

  “And we haven’t bitten off more than we can chew now?” Shane spread his hands and glanced around them.

  “We were paid to do this for Tanya. It’s no different than another asset.”

  “Keep telling yourself that.” Shane outright laughed.

  “What the hell is your problem?” Isaac scowled.

  “You’re the one who keeps sniping at me whenever you get the chance. I put my problems to rest a long time ago.” Shane leaned back, perfectly at ease.

  “You fucked up. You got Cisco nearly killed, and now he’s out of the game.”

  “I did.” Shane nodded his head.

  “That’s all you have to say for yourself?”

  “I did a lot of blaming myself after the accident. A lot. But Cisco and I talked, and...we can’t keep blaming ourselves for the split-second decisions that go wrong. When I looked at that kid I saw someone we couldn’t leave behind. How was I to know that kid had a gun? Are we supposed to start turning our backs on people who need us? Should we have left Lacey with those mercs?”

  “We nearly got our paying assets killed because of Lacey. Hell, we could have died. Cisco was one of us.”