by Aliyah Burke
Eyes moving to his surroundings and the device in his hand, he pressed on. He passed rooms where people lay in various stages of illness. Dread welled up.
Looks like they’re practicing this dirty bomb and seeing the reaction and how long death takes. He continued on. There wasn’t anything he could do for them; all he could do was prevent more.
Alarm skittered up the back of his neck and he whipped right, plastering himself against a wall, ready for anything. Or so he’d believed. He could have handled warlords, Cameroonian syndicate, but not what he saw. Albany crept down the steps, cautious and making no noise.
He waited until she was just about to him when he grabbed her, hand slapped over her mouth.
“What the hell are you doing here?” he growled in her ear. Her tongue flicked along the palm of his skin, and he dropped his hand away.
“The last one who came in today talked. He told me what was going on over here. Christ, I never knew they were experimenting on people with it to see what the best and most effective doses were.”
He found a small room that he didn’t even want to begin thinking what had been used for. All that mattered was they were alone. He whirled her to him and gripped her chin. “So, you, of course, came running down here.”
“You’re here.”
She said it so simply as if it explained everything and was the most natural thing in the world for her to have shown up.
“I told you to stay there and I would be back soon.”
“There are people dying around here; I’m not ignoring all of them. You do what you have to, and so will I.”
“Damn it, Albany. I can’t keep you safe if you go off halfcocked and make appearances where you shouldn’t be.”
“Yelling at me isn’t getting your mission done. Go, finish what you came to do. I’m going to see if there are people I can help.”
“I’m not leaving you.”
“Mission, first. I know the rule. Go. I’ll be fine.”
“Woman,” he growled, well aware she was correct. He had a mission to fulfill. Leaving her alone went against everything he believed in. “Fuck! Are you armed?”
“I have a Glock, but I prefer not to shoot anyone.”
“You sneak into a pyscho’s place where he’s been killing people slowly with polonium and you don’t want to shoot anyone?” I wish I had a team here, they could finish this, and I could get her out of here.
“You’re wasting time. Go.” She turned and went to walk out the door when he yanked her back to his chest, mouth by her ear.
“You and I have to discuss this behavior.”
“Set aside your need to protect me, Tate. Get done what you need to. My family is in the States, as well. I need to know this isn’t going to possibly hurt them. If that means giving my life, then so be it.”
“You’re not dying down here. I’ll get the polonium and you out.”
“You sound so confident. Go. I’m off to find others.”
He dug his nails into his palm to keep from reaching out after her when she slipped away. Tate glanced back to the reader in his hand and swore again when the signal took him in the direction she hadn’t gone. I should be with her. If they find her, they’ll sound the alarm. Trusting she could handle herself, he got back to his mission.
Through more doors until he reached a room, cool and dark. One silver case sat open and lying in the padded interior he saw seven vials filled with powder. After checking the rest of the room, he moved to the case and shut it, locking it closed. Grabbing the handle, he lifted it and turned to see a man standing in the doorway. He didn’t hesitate, just lifted the muzzle of his MAC 10A1A and killed him, the short burst silenced by the suppressor it had.
Stopping by the dead man, he pulled the Sat phone from his belt and swore. It may be a satellite phone, but he still needed a signal and that wasn’t happening this far down. Up and out.
The closer to the top he got, the louder everything around him became. He swore as he thought about Albany. Where is she?
He hit the main level and ripped off his headgear, the lights were on and relegated his stuff inefficient. A man shouted, and his blood turned to ice when Albany’s voice responded. Tate hesitated the time it took him to dial and give some coordinates to the man who picked up the other end. After that, he took off down the hall and skidded into a room in time to see Albany defend herself. She shoved the palm of her hand up into the man’s face, busting his nose and knocking him back.
“Let’s go,” he ordered. In the full light, he could see the bag draped across her midsection. He’d missed it before and figured it had been behind her. The color the same as her shirt. Dark.
Her clear gaze darted to the case in his hand. “Is that it? What you needed?”
Gunfire erupted, shattering the window in their occupied room. He moved toward her. “Get going.”
Together, they ran down the narrow hall, their footsteps accompanied by the telltale sound of bullets hitting a building, screams, and curses.
“Stay close.”
She jerked the case from his hand and when he glared down at her, said, “Two hands. Two guns.”
She made a good point. He palmed his SIG again in his left and held the MAC in his right. “When this is over, I’m going to kiss the hell out of you, Albany.”
She smiled, and the fear in her eyes faded slightly. “I’ll hold you to that. Which way?”
He wanted to ask what she’d found but knowing her as he had for these past weeks, if there were those who could have been saved, she would be carrying them on her back if necessary. So, he took it to mean it was just the two of them.
“More are inbound. We need to get out and to the east.”
“Why east? You don’t think they’ll look at the clinic as one of the first places?”
“Besides that’s where the exfil is going to be? They’ll be squinting into the rising sun soon, and hopefully, that will give us a bit more—” He hissed as a bullet grazed him. “Protection,” he grumbled.
They dashed from the building and hauled ass to the east. After a while, they crested a small hill, and he spied a tight ditch near and headed for it. He had to bandage his wound.
“Fuck,” he swore as he dragged her down with him. “Lost the Sat phone. On the plus side, it sacrificed itself so I could survive.” Tate winced at the sting from the bullet that had grazed his side.
“Side okay?” She pressed against him, his injured one.
“I will be.”
She shoved the case at him. “I’ll do a quick patch. Can’t have you leaving them a blood trail. Or one for the animals.”
“Okay. We have to get this out of here. I can’t believe I’m running for my life across Cameroon carrying polonium.”
“To be fair,” she said, lifting his shirt and yanking some bandages from the bag at her side. “I’ve been carrying it, but now that you have it, feel free to keep it in your hands.”
He scoured the land around them, half-expecting to see vehicles tearing out after them. There weren’t any.
“Not the night you were expecting?”
“My nights with you are hardly dull and boring,” he said, nodding his approval when she lowered his shirt. “Let’s get going.”
They scrambled up the small side, and he shoved the case back at her.
“I don’t want it.”
“I need a hand free for the MAC.”
“You have two.”
“I need the other for this.” He took her hand in his. “You carry it.”
She squeezed his hand and didn’t argue, anymore. He wanted to touch her as they ran. The clinic had just come into view as the first strands of morning light crept over the horizon. One second, the area was quiet; then, he heard the unmistakable whine of an incoming RPG. Everything slowed down. He tightened his grip on her as he watched the explosion unfold. He anchored her to his side as the structure went up in a ball of flame. In the distance, he spied a Land Rover with two men leaning against the h
ood. Tate stepped back until he realized they weren’t looking around, figuring she’d been in the clinic. When they drove away, he didn’t relax his guard. He continually scanned the area for any signs of Mykelti or his men who’d just blown the shit out of the clinic.
“Oh, my God,” she gasped. “I could have had patients in there. Christ, what if I did have people in there and I just didn’t know it because I came after you?”
“I need you to remain calm, here Albany. I have to get to the extraction point with you and the toxin.”
“Calm?” Her voice rose an octave. “I’m calm. I’m so fucking calm who knows if I have a bloody pulse.”
He stepped back and smiled at her words before tugging and setting off once more at a trot. Tate had to hold tight for she kept veering toward the burning clinic and the people who’d come out of their huts to see what had happened.
“Stop, stop, stop!” she cried, digging in. “I can’t leave them like this. I have to go down there.”
“You know he’ll kill you.”
“He knows which hut is mine. If he’d wanted me dead, he would have blown it up. I think he’s sending a message.” She released his hand and passed over the case. “Good luck.” She pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek before running toward the place she called home.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” He scrubbed a hand down his face, the grip on the butt warm from his hold. “I can’t believe I’m doing this. Jon is going to fucking kill me, and if I’m lucky, he’ll just kick me out of GAPS instead of ending my life for this.” But he couldn’t let her go back there alone. He ditched the case and put the vials in his leg pocket.
Sarki came running out, tear stains on her face. “Where have you been? Did you see what happened? Oh, my God, I thought you were in there.”
Albany hugged her friend close. “Was anyone in there?” When the negative response came, she continued, “No, I’m sorry. I’m fine. I was…I was…”
“We were spending some time together away from the clinic,” Tate supplied, slipping a hand along the small of her back before settling it on her hip.
Albany turned her head to smile at him while she continued to hold Sarki. Her friend trembled in her embrace. “It’ll be okay, Sarki.”
“He’ll come back.” Another tremor shook her. “He’ll come back.”
Albany’s nerves were shot, having just witnessed her clinic go up, but there was something in Sarki’s tone which set her on edge. She tossed another look to the man beside her, his large palm warming her back. He sketched a brow, and she thought quickly to make him follow where she was going with this.
“Why do you say he’ll come back, Sarki?”
“Mykelti is pissed at you,” she said. “He’s going to come for you.”
Tate gave her a small nod, and it calmed her frayed nerves a bit. She gently put her friend from her. “I have to see if I can salvage anything. Maybe some equipment, anything.”
“I’ll come, too.” Tate gave her hip a final squeeze before releasing her. Sarki led the way, and Tate fell into step beside Albany. “You okay?”
“Am I okay? No. Hell, no, my clinic just got blown up. Christ, I could have gotten everyone here killed because I’ve been arrogant and assuming that he would leave me alone. Him and his asshole of a sibling.”
She stopped by the remnants of her clinic, tears welling up in her eyes, once more. It had burned hot and fast, leaving nothing more than a pile of rubble. She’d be lucky to find a single salvageable thing in there. Aside from possibly the safe.
“Sarki, can you go tell the others it may be best to leave, for a bit, at least until this has been cleared up?”
She looked between the two of them and nodded. “I’ll be right back.” She hurried away, and Tate crossed his arms, otherwise making no movement.
“What’s bothering you?”
“That Sarki knew it was Mykelti who did this. It was barely light, and you had those goggle thingies on when you told me who it was. So, how did she know it was him as opposed to the brother?”
“She told me she used to work on cars with her father. Got to where she could identify them just by the sound.”
Disbelief and ice filled her. “Sarki?”
“What’s wrong?”
“Did she tell you that?”
“Yes, when you were gone, and I was taken to the Mansion to do some work.”
She pursed her lips and nodded. “I see. You should get going.” She had to get him out of here. He had a mission to accomplish. “You can’t just leave polonium lying around out there.”
“I didn’t.” He moved with her as she circumvented the smoldering remains.
She stopped. “So, where is it?”
“Safe.”
“I…I…” She sank to her knees, chest heaving as she struggled to breathe.
“Doctor?” Sarki’s cry reached her before she did. “What’s wrong? What happened to her?”
“She’s a bit overwhelmed. Give her a moment,” Tate ordered, sinking to one knee beside her.
“I’ll be fine, I just… Christ, it’s hard to breathe.”
In her periphery, she noticed Tate checking his watch, and she knew he had to get going. He was jeopardizing everything because he was worried about her. She didn’t want that on her conscience.
“Will they leave, Sarki?”
“Heading to the river and the few structures there. We’ll set up camp and go from there. Are you coming?”
She pushed to shaky legs. “Yes, get them moving, I just want to grab what I can from my hut.”
“Don’t be too long; we have a ways to go.”
“I know.” She couldn’t search for her safe, it was too hot, so she returned to her hut and packed her duffle.
Tate stepped up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. He rested his chin on her head, and she relaxed into him. “You should be on your way.”
“I’m not going anywhere until I know you’re safe.”
A bark of laughter slid free. “You have a mission. Complete it. I’m sure your men are waiting for you.”
“I’m staying with you. The river is to the east, so I have to head there, anyway.”
She slipped free of his touch and shoved her few items in her bag before slinging it over one shoulder. “You should get your things.”
“I’m packed.”
She didn’t argue. This had been her home for nearly a year, and she paused leaving the hut, gripping the packed mud with one hand as she again surveyed the destruction. How often had she gone without just to put every bit of money she could into the clinic and the people she treated here? She wasn’t complaining, not at all; she loved it here, the untamed savagery of the land. But this…
The group headed away into the sun, and she squinted looking after them. Was this her fault? Had her mouth done this? All she could do was thank the good Lord the clinic had been empty. But what if it hadn’t been?
“Don’t do that to yourself.”
She jumped at the intrusion of Tate’s voice. “What?”
“Play the what if game. No one was in there. No one was injured. Count your blessings.”
“This time,” she retorted. “If it is my fault, me going with them is just going to be bringing the danger back.”
“Come on,” he said. “They’re getting on without us.”
Leaden feet slowed her as she departed her hut. “I think,” she began, only to stop.
“That Sarki is in on it?”
“Yes.”
“Okay, plead your case.” He adjusted the pack on his shoulder.
Grateful he didn’t dismiss her fear out of hand, she licked her lips and started again. “She didn’t ever work on cars with her father. He’s dead. Been dead since she was two. She can’t stand grease under her nails; she wouldn’t be working on them, even if he was alive.”
“You went to school with her.”
“Yes, we attended University together. But I’ve met her family.”
“An
d you don’t think what she took you to meet was a rouse?”
“Don’t know what reason it would be. Back then, for all intents and purposes, I was heading back to the US to work in one of Atlanta’s top hospitals when I finished over there.”
“So, no plans to come here, at all.”
“No. Quite the opposite. I was actually finishing up purchasing my flat in Atlanta when I came over here for a friend’s wedding. They had it near Mt. Cameroon. I fell in love with the area and began coming back when I could. I met Missy when I went through her school with some other doctors as we were doing a charity bit but then kept moving.” She avoided a snake. “Sarki only came once I set up here.”
“And now?”
“I don’t know. Christ, I feel horrible for thinking this way, but I can’t stop it. She never wanted to be around when Mykelti arrived, and I didn’t blame her; he’s a scary bastard. She would stay when his brother showed, however.”
“You only call him ‘the brother’ why is that?”
“No one knows his real name. His men call him Chinedu, which means ‘God leads’ or ‘General’, but if that’s it or not, I haven’t a clue. Even Mykelti refers to him as ‘brother’ but not in a good way.”
“Okay, and back to Sarki?”
“I can’t describe it, Tate. Please, don’t ask, anymore.” They gained on the group, moving with a good clip.
The rumble of vehicles approaching had fear lancing her heart. Old vehicles. The other brother. Tate put a hand on her back in silent support.
The five trucks circled the group. All the villagers stopped and waited, unsure if they were about to die or not.
Mykelti’s brother hopped out and cracked his neck as he pushed through the group to stop before her. He spat a stream of tobacco juice to the ground.
“Where are you running to?”
“Not running,” she said. “Your brother blew up my clinic, so we’re going to the river, for a few days, until I can have it rebuilt.”
His gaze narrowed, and he turned it to Tate. “You stand close to her. Too close.”
“We’ve had a hard morning.”
“Why did he blow up my clinic?”
