Aftershock: A Donovan Nash Novel (A Donovan Nash Thriller)

by Philip Donlay

  “La Serpiente,” Donovan said, stepping forward until he towered over Hector. “You and I have some unfinished business.”

  “Who are you?”

  Behind him the door opened, and Donovan felt someone at his side. William.

  “To answer your question, I’m Robert Huntington. I’ve come back from the grave to kill you.”

  Hector’s eyes flew wide open as he searched Donovan’s face for any truth to the words.

  “I’m William VanGelder—the last surviving member of the conclave.” William reached out and slid the Glock from Donovan’s grasp. The pistol bucked twice in William’s hand. Donovan’s ears rang as Vargas’ corpse relaxed and slid down the steps until it rested on the first landing.

  William handed the gun back to Donovan.

  “Why did you take that from me?”

  “It was a murder, plain and simple. I have diplomatic immunity, and you don’t. I’ll deal with this.” William drew out his cell phone and punched in a number as they headed back to the helicopter. “Oh, and talk to your wife. She found out far more about me than anyone was ever supposed to know. I think she and I are good, but the FBI is involved. We may have to do a little maneuvering to make all the problems go away. She’ll explain it to you.”

  Donovan was about to ask questions when William put a finger to one ear to drown out the rotor noise and began speaking into the phone.

  “Can you get us to the airport?” Donovan called out to Janie as they climbed aboard.

  “You betcha.” Janie replied, and moments later the Bell 412 lifted free from the roof, pivoted smartly, and headed north.

  CHAPTER FORTY-TWO

  The moment the helicopter touched down at the Guatemala City airport, Donovan jumped to the ground, turned, and helped everyone to the tarmac. He gave Cesar a heartfelt handshake and then made his way to the cockpit.

  “Thank you both for everything,” Donovan said. “I’ll see you soon.”

  Donovan caught up with the others as William finally disconnected the phone call he’d made the moment they’d lifted off from the roof of the hospital.

  “That was the ambassador,” William said. “My diplomatic immunity has been stretched pretty thin. We all need to go as quickly as possible.”

  They all hurried toward the Galileo. Michael was waiting at the foot of the stairs. Donovan knew that no one but Michael would have flown the Scimitar into a kamikaze dive to save them.

  “Good to see you,” Michael said as the two old friends hugged.

  “Thank you,” Donovan replied, unexpected gratitude flooding his senses. “I don’t know what to say. You saved us all.”

  “I told you I’d always try.”

  Over Michael’s shoulder, Donovan saw three official cars come screeching to a halt. Armed men set up a perimeter.

  “They’re ours,” William said. “Courtesy of the embassy, but we all need to go, now!”

  “What about Janie and Eric?” Donovan asked.

  “They’re coming with William and Stephanie on the Galileo,” Michael said. “You, and Lauren, Marie, and Eva are going on the other Gulfstream. We’ll come back later for the helicopter, if we still have one.”

  Donovan, Eva following, hurried toward Lauren. Behind him, the first of the Galileo’s engines began to spool up. He climbed the stairs and wrapped his arms around his wife, hugged her tightly, and then kissed her. “I don’t know how you put it all together. But thank you.”

  “You’re welcome,” Lauren said.

  “Eva, this is my wife, Lauren. I’m pretty sure the two of you have a few things to discuss.” Donovan heard and then felt the right engine being started. He spotted Marie, then turned to Lauren.

  “Is Marie doing okay?”

  “I think she’ll be fine,” Lauren replied. “She knows that Eva is a friend of her mother. In fact, I just got off the phone with some people who’ve been helping us. We’re taking Marie to San Jose, California, to be with her mother.”

  Donovan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at an equally confused Eva. “We’re going to California?”

  “I can’t go with you,” Eva said. “I have no passport. I’ll use the chaos of the volcano to go into hiding. I’ll get home, eventually.”

  “You’re fine,” Lauren said. “The immigration details have been taken care of. You’re coming with us.”

  “How is that possible?” Eva asked.

  “Apparently, nothing is impossible,” Donovan said.

  Donovan placed his hand in the small of Lauren’s back as the flight attendant closed the main cabin door. They walked down the aisle toward the twin, facing club seats near the rear of the cabin. Lauren sat in the aisle seat, and Marie slid next to her in the window seat. Eva took the seat across from Marie, which left one seat for Donovan. Lauren helped Marie fasten her seat belt as the door closed and the left engine was started.

  “You should have seen Michael when the four of you burst out onto the roof of the hospital,” Lauren said to Donovan. “He’s the one who immediately understood what was happening, that you might not get airborne in time. He never hesitated, he never even blinked, he just took control of the Scimitar, told Janie to hover over the roof in case she lost power, then dove the Scimitar straight between you and the shooters. Then he picked up the microphone and told Guatemalan air traffic control that the Scimitar had suffered a malfunction and that we’d lost contact with the drone.”

  “He’s one of a kind.” Donovan tilted his head. “How are we going to enter the country without Eva or Marie having passports?”

  “Taken care of,” Lauren said.

  “Who’s meeting the plane?” Donovan asked.

  “Marie’s mother, for one, and most likely some FBI agents. They and the US Marshals Service are going to help Marie and her mother with a new place to live.”

  Donovan nodded his approval. “Witness protection—nice work.”

  “I don’t want to talk to the FBI,” Eva said.

  “I’ve arranged for you to receive immunity, in return for your testimony involving events related to repatriating Marie with her mother. We have it in writing. You’ll be going with us to Washington, DC. Donovan and I will take care of everything, and, after you’re finished with the FBI, I understand William has something for you.”

  “Money?” Eva’s eyes grew wide.

  “A deal is a deal, is what I was told.” Lauren shrugged.

  “Then I’d like to give half of it to Marie and her mother.”

  “That’s incredibly generous, but there’s no need,” Lauren replied. “Donovan and I have already made arrangements for Marie and her mother.”

  The Gulfstream swung out on the runway and powered down the pavement, until the nose lifted and they pulled free from the earth and climbed skyward. Donovan looked to the west; the towering plume of ash rose from the distant volcano. He said a silent good-bye to Buck as they banked toward the northwest.

  Once they leveled off, Donovan got up, found his suitcase, and ducked into the lavatory. He looked in the mirror, at the eyes that reflected back. They were all that remained of Robert Huntington, and he also found something he didn’t recognize. With the thinnest of smiles, he understood that for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, he was seeing something besides guilt and anger.

  CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

  Lauren closed her eyes. She hadn’t had any sleep for what seemed like days. When she opened them, Donovan was standing in the aisle. His long hair was still damp, but his clothes were fresh and his beard was gone.

  Donovan ran his hands over his freshly shaved face. “That part’s taken care of, the haircut will have to wait until tomorrow.”

  She smiled—her old husband had emerged from a hairy, dust-covered cocoon ready to face a different world.

  Eva did a double take, then nodded her approval as she slipped past him to take her turn in the lavatory.

  Lauren yawned and stretched. The flight attendant brought several blankets and used one of them to
cover Marie, who was sound asleep. She took drink orders, and when she returned, she brought a tray of small sandwiches. Donovan put several on his plate and leaned back to eat.

  “How long since you’ve eaten anything?” Lauren asked.

  “It must have been yesterday,” Donovan replied between mouthfuls.

  “We won’t have much time to talk in private until we get back to Virginia,” Lauren said. “You do want to go to Virginia, right? I guess I shouldn’t jump to conclusions. I suppose we could make arrangements to get you back to Montana.”

  “I’m going to Virginia. I want to see Abigail.” Donovan looked at his watch. “It’ll be really late when we land. Do you want me to get a hotel room?”

  “No,” Lauren said, as she took a sip from her bottle of water and helped herself to a sandwich. She’d put a great many wheels into motion, and she wasn’t going to tell Donovan until the very last minute. What he needed now was rest, and, if she explained her actions ahead of time, he’d never be able to sleep.

  “William said he’d talk to General Porter, Buck’s uncle,” Donovan said. “Tell him what happened.”

  Lauren nodded as her husband’s eyes grew moist at the thought of the former Navy SEAL. The two men had forged a friendship out of a work environment, and Buck was a member of the inner circle of a tight-knit, Eco-Watch family. “Did William say anything else to you?”

  “He mentioned that the two of you had a little dustup,” Donovan replied. “He also said he thought you both were good.”

  “Yes.” Lauren was relieved that Donovan seemed in no mood to hear all the details. “The FBI put some things in motion, but we have the proof that should shut down their investigation of William.”

  “It’s not the first time he’s caught their interest,” Donovan replied. “You’d think they’d learn by now.”

  “Was I right about Eva? Was she there?”

  “Yes.” Donovan set down his water and looked at Lauren. “She told me some things.”

  Lauren nodded. It was obvious that Donovan wasn’t yet in a place where he could talk about what he’d learned. She, herself, needed to understand that he’d talk about it when he was ready.

  “So, we’re taking Eva all the way back to Washington with us? What’s the play? I don’t want her to spend any time in jail.”

  “The deal brokered with the FBI was immunity for Eva, in exchange for everything she knows about Vargas and his cronies.”

  “Who are all mostly dead at this point. Does the FBI know about her connection to Meredith? Is her knowledge of that part of the deal?”

  “I think that’s between you and Eva. Did you tell her what your relationship was to Meredith?”

  “I did. I had to, or she would never have told me what she knew. For twenty-two years she carried a message for me from Meredith. She never told a soul until today.”

  “Then you need to talk to her. I’d say you both need each other right now. I think she could easily make the FBI happy with a detailed account of Vargas’ activities, beginning with Marie’s abduction.”

  “I do need her right now,” Donovan said. “I can’t just thank her and send her on her way with a suitcase full of cash. That’s a recipe for disaster.”

  “Not that you need it, but you have my full blessing to help her in any way you can.”

  “That’s important to me. In fact, I’m going to need your help and advice with several other things I’ve been thinking about.”

  Lauren heard the words she’d longed to hear. Donovan needed her and was reaching out to her first, instead of telling her after the fact. Perhaps it was a start?

  Eva opened the lavatory door and stepped into the cabin. She was wearing the same clothes, but she looked remarkably fresh and clean, the dust and ash were gone. At the sight of the food, she grabbed a plate and helped herself, then sat down next to Donovan. “What are you two talking about?”

  “You,” Donovan said, then stood as he pointed toward the couch that ran along the wall. “Now, I need to grab a nap.”

  In the quiet hum from the engines, it didn’t take long for Donovan to drift off to sleep. Lauren unbuckled her seat belt and motioned for Eva to follow her to the front of the plane. Lauren took a seat and offered Eva the seat across from her.

  “I’m glad you and I finally have a chance to talk,” Lauren said.

  “How did you figure out who I was?”

  “It started with some photographs, and ended with the FBI, the NSA, and your angel tattoo. I have a friend—in fact, she’s the one who worked out your deal with the FBI—she’s a brilliant detective. We know you didn’t kidnap Stephanie on purpose. Then, when we figured out you were the one who grabbed Marie, but never asked for a ransom, we knew that you had no intention of returning her. You were working for Marie’s mother, and blackmailing Vargas into eliminating everyone who had anything to do with the death of your family.”

  Eva nodded.

  “It worked, because you’d figured out who they all were.”

  “I always knew who my kidnapper had been, but he was untouchable, or at least in the eyes of a young girl. I was willing to kill him, but I wasn’t willing to go to prison. So, for years, I watched and waited. I discovered he had a son living in Los Angeles and I began to dig into his life. That was when I found his wife and daughter.”

  “Did you kill Hector’s son?”

  “No. He was violent like his father, but without the brains. His stupidity got him killed.”

  “And then Hector came and took Marie away from her mother.”

  “At the time, Marie’s mother was having problems. She had gotten into trouble with prescription painkillers. Hector viewed it as a weakness and decided that Marie would be better off with him, so he had her abducted. I came into the picture after Marie’s mother had cleaned up and was actively trying to find her daughter.”

  “So you offered to help.”

  “Yes, I thought I could exact my revenge and return a young girl to her mother,” Eva lowered her head. “Something I never had.”

  “So it was you that demanded the death of Gordon Butterfield and Elijah Knight?”

  Eva nodded. “There is also a man who currently works with the FBI. His name is Curtis Nelson—he’s Butterfield’s inside man at the Bureau.”

  “He’s dead,” Lauren said.

  “Good,” Eva replied.

  “Why not go after William VanGelder?” Lauren voiced the question just to hear the answer from a completely different point of view.

  “At first, the evidence pointed toward him. But, as I dug deeper, he seemed to be destroying the men who’d hired Hector to do their bidding. I finally ruled him out.”

  Lauren felt a wave of relief wash over her. Eva had just confirmed what William had said, and this from the perspective of a woman who had been digging for years.

  “You still haven’t answered my question. When did you know I was part of the Rocha family?”

  “I didn’t for sure, until you told me. I had a hunch. Your age was about right. Your motivation fit. Then there’s the fact that you shot my husband in the back to keep him from being killed.”

  “So, based on a hunch, you kept him from killing me?”

  “If I was wrong, I suppose he could have shot you later.” Lauren shrugged.

  Eva’s expression softened, and she reached out for Lauren’s hand. “I know your secret. I know who he used to be, and I think what I was able to tell him was…helpful.”

  “In what way?” Lauren asked, desperately wanting to know more.

  “From the moment I met your husband, I knew he was a troubled man. You could see it in his eyes. I’ve watched as he drifts off into deep thought, it’s as if he goes to a different place or time. He once said Meredith’s name aloud. Which is why when you called his room and identified yourself as his wife, I thought your name was Meredith. I didn’t make the connection to that Meredith until he told me.”

  “Exactly why were you in his room?”

 
“Hector’s men had found me. It was my own fault. I’d trusted the wrong man. They were going to remove me from Guatemala so Hector’s men could break me and find Marie. I was a dead woman, but Donovan stopped them. Donovan took me back to the hotel, where he kept me safe while they figured out what to do next.”

  “Is that when you dreamed up your plan to run the ransom drop from the inside?”

  “No, that was always the play. The first night I met Donovan was at the hotel bar. There was a plan for one of my men to make it look like someone was trying to kill me. I was going to play the victim to gain attention and sympathy, but Hector walked in, and everything went wrong.”

  “That was a pretty gutsy move,” Lauren said, impressed.

  “It was actually Stephanie who helped me fine-tune everything. I needed a way to get Marie out of the country, but I wanted Stephanie to be safe. She knew what would get Donovan’s attention and allow me to control events from the inside. The outcome depended on me being long gone before Donovan and Stephanie were rescued at the lake. I had no idea a drone was being used to follow my every move.”

  “We’re clever like that,” Lauren replied. “I know it’s none of my business, but, for my husband’s sake, do you think you were able to pass anything along from Meredith that might make it easier for him in the future?”

  “I think it already has.”

  “So, is my husband’s secret safe?”

  “Yes,” Eva said, without hesitation. “Robert Huntington and I have a shared past, an event that forever changed who and what we were. It’s why I had to hide. If it was known I was alive, I believe a great many people would have wanted to silence me. I vanished, and, in a way, so did he. If anyone understands what that’s like, it’s me. Our continued safety and freedom depends on keeping that secret.”