Slipping her envelope into the pocket of her jeans, she hurried outside. As she headed back to Max, she caught a glimpse of a moving figure out of the corner of her eye. Joe was following her. That’s the main point of this exercise, dummy, so don’t panic. With a knot the size of the Empire State Building clogging her throat, she walked across the parking lot as fast as she could without actually running.
By the time she reached the trees her breath was coming in short, hard gasps. She expected at any second to feel a bullet in her back. Where the hell was Max? She heard a noise behind her and whirled around. Max had Joe face down on the ground.
“You okay?” he asked her.
“I’m fine.” She sighed in relief and gestured with her chin toward their captive. “It was a good plan, wasn’t it?”
His answering smile took her breath away. “It was a very good plan.” He handed her the gun he’d taken from Joe then knelt down beside him. “Now, friend, Tess tells me your name’s Joe and you work for Nick. That true?”
When Joe didn’t answer, Max pulled one of his arms behind his back and twisted. Joe groaned, but made no other response.
“Search him,” Max told Tess. “See if you can find his wallet and car keys.”
She stuck the gun in her waistband, crouched, and went through Joe’s pockets, dumping the contents on the ground. Pulling out his wallet, she tossed it to Max then continued until she’d emptied all the pockets. She held up a set of keys.
“Good. Cover him, and you, Joe, put your hands on top of your head and interlock your fingers.” Flipping through the wallet, Max pulled out Joe’s driver’s license. “His full name is Joseph P. Madison.” He dropped the license on Joe’s head. “Okay, Joe, where’s Nick?”
Joe didn’t answer. Max threw the wallet on the ground and pulled out the eight-inch hunting knife he’d bought. Turning Joe’s head to the side, he stuck the blade in front of his face.
“See this. I can do all kinds of creative things to you with this. Now, once again, where’s Nick?”
Joe still didn’t respond. Max ran the knifepoint down his cheek, slicing a thin, red line.
“All right,” Joe squealed. “Nick’s at the rendezvous house south of La Paz. Map’s in my trunk.”
“When’s he meeting with Almasi?” When Joe didn’t answer, Max sighed. “Here’s the way it goes, Joe. I ask a question, you answer it. You don’t answer, I cut something off. By the time I know what I need to, you’ll be several pounds lighter. Fastest diet you’ve ever had.”
He placed the knife behind Joe’s ear and pushed. A trickle of blood flowed down the man’s neck.
“Okay, okay! Stop,” Joe cried. “The meeting’s tonight. People will be showing up at the house all afternoon, but they’re all supposed to be there by seven. That’s all I know. Honest.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes, damn it, I’ve told you everything.”
Just as Tess began to wonder what Max would do next, Joe grabbed Max’s wrist, rolled over, and pulled him off balance. Max landed on his side.
They tumbled over the ground, fighting for the knife. Their faces gleamed with sweat. Harsh breathing filled the air. The blade flashed and danced in the dappled sunlight streaming through the trees.
Tess couldn’t get a clear shot at Joe. Arms and legs tangled in a Medusa heap as bodies thrashed together. The fight had none of the graceful choreography of the ones she’d seen in movies. This was much too real. Too ugly.
Max got both hands on the knife. But Joe wrapped his hands around Max’s and tried to push the weapon into his throat. Max forced it back toward Joe while Tess fought the urge to scream. She wanted to look away, but didn’t dare. Then Max grunted and rolled clear. Joe lay still, the blade rammed up to the hilt in his left eye, blood and fluids running down his face.
Tess wheeled away, clutching her stomach.
Max scrambled to his feet. “You okay, angel? Tess?”
“Oh, God, Max.” She ran to him and started checking him for wounds, banging the gun against him in her haste. “You’re all right? He didn’t hurt you?”
“I’m fine.” He took her gun, stuck it in his belt, then held her tight as she burrowed into his shoulder. “I’m sorry you had to see that, angel.”
She swallowed. They didn’t have time for her to be squeamish. “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m fine. But we really need to get out of here.”
“Yeah, we do.” He picked up Joe’s wallet. “Don’t leave anything but the body.”
Tess grabbed the driver’s license and car keys then scrambled around gathering up anything else they’d dropped on the ground. When she turned back, Max was using Joe’s shirt to clean off the knife.
“Looks like we got everything,” she said, trying to ignore what he was doing. “Now, where do we go?”
“This way.” He pointed back toward the marina office. “We’re taking Joe’s car.”
She handed him the keys and followed him to the parking lot. Slowing to a casual stroll at the edge of the trees, he put his hand on the small of her back, and guided her over to the familiar black sedan.
“Get in,” he ordered, opening the passenger side door.
Tess obeyed in grim silence. She couldn’t get the picture of Joe out of her mind—the knife, the gore, the loss of life. Max started the car and drove out of the lot. Once on the street, he turned west and went back to their motel, where he hustled her into the room.
“Talk to me, Tess,” he pleaded, pulling her into his arms. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
Hearing the concern in his voice, she cursed herself. A knife in the eye wasn’t any worse than a bullet in the brain. And if she didn’t pull herself together, Max would be more determined than ever to leave her out of this.
She forced a smile and managed to keep her voice even. “I’m fine. It just caught me by surprise, that’s all.”
“You should have seen your face. For a second there, I was afraid you’d faint.”
“Not a chance. And the next time will be easier.” She raised up on her toes and brushed her lips across his. “So what’s our next move? We still have to take out Nick, Tony, and the terrorists, not to mention the two guys we left in the cave.”
“Tess—” he began.
Recognizing his tone, she cut him off. “If I go to Mexico City, will you come with me?”
“I can’t. I have to finish this.” He ran a hand down her arm. “Please, Tess. Be reasonable. It would kill me if anything happened to you.”
“And what do you think it would do to me if anything happened to you?”
“Nothing’s going to happen to me.”
She jerked away from him and threw up her hands in disgust. “Oh, of course not. And why is that?” she demanded. “It must be because you’re so brave and macho. I bet bullets just bounce right off you. Or maybe it’s that you’re so stupid, the bad guys won’t bother trying to shoot you. Is that why nothing will happen to you, Max?”
“Something like that.” He rubbed his mouth, but she caught the smirk his hand couldn’t hide. It infuriated her.
She jabbed a finger into his chest. “Yeah? Well, you’d better be smart enough to understand this—I’m through running. It’s my life at stake, and I’m going to fight.”
“Damn it, angel.” The smirk disappeared, and he jammed his hands into his pockets. “You’re going to get us both killed.”
She rolled her eyes. “And you’re assuming that because I’m just a dumb, weak female who couldn’t possibly have anything to contribute to the cause except getting herself shot. Right?”
“I don’t think you’re dumb. Or weak,” he added when she glared at him. “But what I have to do is dangerous.”
“I’m in danger every minute until we get Nick.” She sat on the bed and folded her arms across her chest. “So here’s the way it goes,” she said, parroting back the words he used on Joe. “You can take me with you, or I’ll find him and kill him on my own. It’s up to you.”
“Why the sudden change of heart?” he asked. “Yesterday, you only wanted to escape.”
“Yesterday, I didn’t know that Nick was collaborating with terrorists—or that other lives were at stake besides mine.” Pain nudged out her temper, and she groaned. “Don’t you see, Max? I can’t get past my failure to help those two little girls Nick murdered.” Somehow, she had to make him understand. “I have to do something to help save the lives of the other innocent children in danger. I just have to. Please.”
Max studied her long and hard. It made the hair on the back of her neck stand up. His eyes filled with sadness before he blanked them. “I guess you’re leaving me no choice.”
“Thank you.” She rose and hugged him. “So what’s the plan?”
“I need to get the map out of the trunk of the car and confirm what Joe told us. Hopefully, it will give me—us—more information than he did.” Max pulled the car keys out of his pocket. “I’ll be right back.”
When he slipped out the door, she felt edgy and couldn’t sit still. Something about the look he’d given her. She paced until he returned, his arms full of papers.
“I found all this in the trunk.” He dumped his load on the bed and sorted through it. “Mostly travel brochures, road maps, and girly magazines.” He’d unfolded a large sheet of paper. “Hello. Look what we have here.”
“Joe’s map.”
“Yeah.” Holding it out to her, he pointed at a spot circled in red. “See here? And these words written in Spanish to the right of the circle say, ‘Rendezvous here, arrive after two p.m. February fifteenth.’ Joe said everyone would be there by seven.” He looked at Tess’s watch. “It’s not quite ten, and we won’t be able to approach the house until dark, so that gives us all day to find the place and scope it out.” He stuffed the map in his pocket. “You’re sure you won’t reconsider going to Mexico City?”
She gave him a sour look and didn’t answer.
He sighed. “Okay, but before we go, I need to run a quick errand. And I want you to stay here.”
“Why?”
“Because the guys from the cave have probably been rescued by now, and if Joe was at the marina, the others might be combing the town for you. I don’t want to take a chance that they’ll see you.”
“I can wear my disguise.”
“Don’t you think they might recognize it from yesterday?” He didn’t give her time to answer. “They knew you’d be at the marina, Tess. We don’t know how they found out or what else they know.”
“What errand do you have to run?”
“I just need to pick up a few supplies for today. Bottled water, sunscreen, and snacks. I won’t be long.” He gave her a quick kiss. “What’s the matter, don’t you trust me?”
Tess wasn’t sure she did, but his logic made sense. “Okay, I’ll wait for you here,” she agreed, thinking of a quick way to test him. Pulling Karl’s envelope out of her pocket, she handed him some of the cash.
“That’s over eight hundred dollars, Tess. I can’t take it. I don’t need it. I’ve still got some of the money you gave me last night. And I owe you too much already.”
He didn’t want her money. So he wasn’t planning to abandon her here. Guilt only made her more determined. “Please, Max. If you want me to wait here for you, you have to do this for me. If something happens and we get separated, I won’t have you helpless down here without enough money.”
“All right. I’ll just hang onto it for you. For now.” He stuffed the money in his pocket then pulled her into a long and desperate embrace. “Stay in the room. I’ll be right back.”
She watched him leave, panic filling her mind over the emotion in her heart. I’m in love with him. And, God, she didn’t want to be.
“I’m in so much trouble,” she muttered. “It’ll kill me if he doesn’t love me back.” Tears stung her eyes. Besides her father, no one she’d loved had ever loved her back. “How in the hell did I allow this to happen?”
***
Max hurried down the street, hating himself for what he intended to do. But damn it, Tess had left him with no other way to keep her safe. Never had he known a more stubborn woman.
He’d made some difficult calls in his life, but none as hard as this. No matter what the cost, he wasn’t losing another partner. Especially not Tess. He knew she’d never forgive him, but he couldn’t allow that to influence him.
Why was he agonizing about this? He’d never let personal feelings interfere with a mission before. This time he’d been distracted and unprofessional. The head injury and amnesia hadn’t helped, but it was mostly Tess. The woman could drive a man to despair.
He went into a small market and bought sunscreen, bottled water, and candy bars. Then, feeling like he was going before a firing squad, he headed to the payphone he’d seen last night.
When he reached the booth, he paused and rested his head on the glass, racking his brain for any plan other than this one. He could take Tess and run with her, but if he did, Nick and the terrorists would get away.
Max couldn’t do it. Almasi’s group would cause too much carnage in the U.S. As Tess had said, there were more innocent lives at stake than just hers. But none that meant as much to him. He had to keep her safe.
Out of time and ideas, he dialed the number he’d memorized before he and David came to Baja.
***
10:47 a.m., Hotel La Siesta, La Paz, Baja California Sur:
“I don’t understand what we’re doing here.” Fighting off the doubts that nibbled at her gut, Tess followed Max into the hotel lobby. He’d been so quiet since he came back from his supply run. Tense. Nervous. It frightened her. “I thought we were going to the rendezvous house.”
“I have to make a quick stop here, first, to talk to someone. It won’t take long.”
His words and tone were casual, but she couldn’t shake the feeling of dread that plagued her. “Can you trust this guy?”
“Yes. I’ve known him for years.” In the elevator, Max pushed the button for the third floor. “It’ll be fine.”
“If you say so.”
Naturally, Max would want to reconnect with old friends, now that he had his memories back. It made sense. So why was he acting like a man going to his own execution? Distant, distracted, and sad.
The knot of fear in the pit of her stomach and the chills running up her spine told her he was betraying her, but she refused to believe it. Needing reassurance, she reached for his hand. As soon as she touched his fingers, he yanked them away and combed them through his hair.
“Max, please tell me what’s wrong.”
“Nothing, angel. I’m just a little preoccupied.” He shrugged, but it looked forced. “There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
Nothing for her to worry about. Right. Her survival instincts screamed for her to run.
“I’ll wait for you in the car,” she said when the elevator doors opened on the third floor. “You don’t need me for this. I’ll just be in the way when you meet with your friend.”
“Of course, I need you for this.” He put his hands on her shoulders, pushed her through the doors and down the hall. “This is important, angel,” he said, knocking on the door of room three-twelve.
Run! Panic seized her by the throat and she had to fight for breath. This was just like her dream! She jerked away and fled down the hall just as the door opened. Max caught her, tossed her over his shoulder, and carried her inside the room.
“Damn it, Max. Put me down.”
“I’m sorry, angel. I couldn’t see any other way.”
“I dreamed about this. I’m in danger here!”
“Nonsense. You can’t predict the future from dreams.” His voice was cold and hard. As he set her on her feet, the door closed behind them. “I’m only doing this to protect you.”
“You don’t under—”
“Ms. Horton, I’m Jim Bradshaw.” A man dressed in a dark business suit stepped forward and offered his hand. When she stared at it but made
no move to shake it, he shrugged and stuffed it into his pocket. “I work with Max at the CIA, and there are some questions I need to ask you.”
Max works for the CIA? God, no. This can’t be happening. She looked at Max and saw a man she didn’t recognize. The warmth and humor she’d grown accustomed to seeing in his eyes had been replaced with ice. Apparently, she’d fallen for another Nick. Max must’ve enjoyed the irony.
“You’re CIA? Then you were after me the whole time.” Her heart shattered, and she recoiled in agony. “You told me I could trust you.” And she’d hoped, against all odds, that she could. Tears filled her eyes. She forced them back with rage. “Amnesia, my ass, you lying bastard! You used me.”
Giving into her fury, she shoved him. Hard. It felt so good to watch him stumble backward, she decided to do it again.
But he caught her wrists as her hands came up. “I’m so very sorry, Tess. I needed to keep you safe.”
“Safe?” She spat the word at him. “You don’t give a damn about my safety. You did this because it’s your job. You were paid to do it.”
“Tess, I—”
“I can’t believe you’d do this to me.” Her hands itching to slap his lying face, she curled and uncurled her fingers. “God, I should have just left you on the beach!”
“You refused to save yourself!” Frustration had replaced the ice in his eyes. “And damn it, I couldn’t let you get hurt.”
“No more lies, Max. I’ve heard enough.” She yanked her wrists out of his grasp, turned away, and stared out the window, keeping her back to him. Her temper ebbed as the shame at letting herself be used, again, made her flush. “You’ve done your Judas deed. So collect your thirty pieces of silver and get the hell away from me.”
“I’ll bring up your bags.”
“Screw the bags, and screw you.”
The door opened and closed. She heard Bradshaw on the phone, discussing protective custody with someone, but she tuned out what he said. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw him leaning against the door. She’d never get past him. Defeated, she turned back to the window.
Black Ops Chronicles: Dead Run Page 19
