Black Ops Chronicles: Dead Run

by O'Neal, Pepper

  “Apparently we’ve got someone in Counterterrorism at Langley who didn’t realize the info shouldn’t be given to an FBI agent. Or so she claims.”

  “Either she’s an idiot or a mole. We never share black ops info with anyone outside the Company.”

  “I’m aware of that, Max. But she’s new, and she says she didn’t know.” Davis raised a hand before Max could argue. “I’m not sure I buy it either. I’ve already started an internal investigation.”

  “What’s the FBI say about all this?” Bradshaw asked.

  “They’re taking Tanner at his word,” Davis replied. “They claim Horton’s a cold-blooded killer.”

  Bradshaw fisted his hands on his knees. “That’s bullshit! I questioned her for hours. She’s just a sweet kid in a bad spot. There’s no way she killed the informant’s family. Or those two FBI agents at the safe house.”

  “Whether she did or not, it’s out of our hands.” Davis rubbed the back of his neck. “I know this isn’t what either of you want to hear, but Langley’s decided she’s not our problem. They’re letting the FBI have their way on this. So unless she’s got corroboration on her story, she’ll probably face a firing squad. Unless Utah’s gone to lethal injection.”

  Letting out a long breath, Max cursed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

  “Damn it, Tom, that’s not right,” Bradshaw said. “I turned the poor kid over to Tanner. That makes her current troubles my fault.”

  Max rubbed his eyes. Jesus, he was tired. “No, Jim. You’re not to blame. I am. I knew she didn’t have any info we could use, but I thought she’d be safer in protective custody.” He glanced over at Davis. “I’m worried about her, but I know Levi will do everything he can for her.” Swallowing, he forced the words past the lump in his throat. “He’s in love with her.”

  Davis blinked as his mouth dropped open. “Levi’s taken the big fall? You sure?”

  “Yeah, I could see it in his eyes.” The thought of Tess belonging to someone else weighed as heavily on Max as the knowledge she’d never be his. Bracing his elbows on his thighs, he cradled his head in his hands and held on to his only comfort. “I’ve got to believe he’ll find a way to exonerate her.”

  “I don’t doubt it. Regardless of who he works for, he never lets down a friend.” Davis took out a legal pad. “Okay, let’s move on. I want go over what happened on your mission step by step.”

  As he and Bradshaw recounted their experiences in Baja, memories of Tess flooded Max’s mind. She’d trusted him. He’d betrayed her. Now, he’d lost her. Without her, life held little that mattered. His job was all he had left. Maybe if he focused on work, the pain would lessen. Yeah, right.

  “Will you find out everything you can about Tanner?” he asked Davis when the debriefing ended. “He’s got a hell of a lot to answer for.”

  Davis looked up from his notes. “I can probably get the information for you. But what’re you going to do with it?”

  Max’s bark of laughter held no trace of humor. “Are you sure you really want to know?”

  ***

  11:33 a.m., the country estate of Jonas McKenzie, outside Salt Lake City, Utah:

  With Tess’s hand in one of his, Levi used the pistol in his other one to nudge Nick and Josh, into Jonas’s study. Once inside, he closed the door, holstered his gun, and cut the ropes binding their hands behind them. “Take a seat,” he ordered.

  With identical expressions of venom and hatred, both men glared at him. They shook their arms, rubbed their wrists, and glanced over at Jonas. When he said nothing, they sat.

  Jonas got up from his desk and embraced Tess. His eyes met Levi’s over her shoulder. “Thank you.”

  Levi grinned at him. “My pleasure.” He watched with satisfaction as the old man led her to a seat on the couch, murmuring endearments. Levi remained on guard, his back against the door—just in case Nick or Josh got cute.

  When he’d phoned Jonas from the plane to let him know Tess was safe, Jonas promised he’d have a plan for dealing with the FBI by the time they got home. Levi hoped whatever he’d come up with would clear her completely.

  Jonas didn’t go back to his chair, but eased a hip onto the corner of his desk. Levi blinked in surprise when the sly old devil slipped a hand behind his back and flicked a switch on the intercom, turning it into a transmitter. Interesting.

  Jonas studied Nick. “Here’s how we’ll play this,” he said. “If you want my help with the mess you’re in, you give me the straight scoop. I won’t lift a finger for you unless you tell me all of it, with none of your bullshit lies.”

  Nick stared at him, panicked self-pity plain on his face. He glanced at the door then back at his grandfather. His Adam’s apple bobbed several times before he spoke.

  In a high-pitched whine, he admitted that Tony had suggested they sell drugs to make extra money above what Nick’s part of the family businesses, and his trust fund, provided. Since they didn’t have the startup capital for the drugs, Tony had come up with a plan to smuggle terrorists into the U.S. aboard Nick’s Folly and provide them with guns, ammo, and vehicles in exchange for heroin from Afghanistan. “This whole mess is Tony’s fault,” he insisted.

  “How did Tess get involved?” Jonas demanded.

  Nick glanced over at her then recounted everything he’d done from the time he discovered Jose Vargas had talked to the CIA. He told how FBI agent Nathan Tanner, from the Salt Lake City field office, had helped track Tess, and when she’d evaded even the FBI, Tanner managed to bring the CIA into the search by telling them she was working with Almasi.

  “I realize I made a mess of things, Grandfather,” he conceded. “But I was getting it under control.” He flicked a scowl in Levi’s direction. “If Levi had just stayed out of it, I’d have fixed it.”

  “Fixed it how? By killing Tess? By smuggling terrorists and drugs into our country?” Jonas reached back and switched the intercom off then turned to Tess, “How much has all this cost you financially, my dear?” When she started to protest what he was obviously planning, he looked at Levi. “How much?”

  “Since Parks had to quick-sell her business, I’d say at least fifty thousand. And that’s conservative.”

  Jonas nodded. “Talk to Parks and get a better estimate. Then I’ll take that amount out of Nick’s trust fund to repay her losses.”

  Both Nick and Tess gaped at him.

  Tess shook her head. “That’s really not—”

  Jonas cut her off. “Hush, child. It’s the least we can do.”

  Her chin shot up. “No. I don’t need or want Nick’s money. I appreciate the thought, Jonas, but I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself.”

  “I don’t doubt it.” He pressed the intercom button. “Please come in, Special Agent Wilson.”

  She frowned. “Really, I won’t take—”

  Levi held up a hand. “Save your breath, luv. You know how he gets when he’s trying to be one of the good guys.” Chuckling at her outraged expression, he added, “And put your chin down before someone throws a punch at it.”

  At the knock, Jonas waved a hand toward the door. Levi opened it. The man who entered was tall, fair-haired, slender, and fiftyish, with a no-nonsense look about his dark business suit and tie and a cold, hard glint in his blue-green eyes.

  He turned his gaze on Levi and nodded. Levi acknowledged the nod then closed the door as Wilson continued across the room to the desk.

  Jonas pulled a cassette tape out of a small tape recorder and held it up. “You heard?” he asked Wilson.

  “Yes.”

  Jonas handed him the tape. “Good. The whole confession’s on here.”

  “What?” Nick demanded. “Hey, wait a minute!”

  “That’s the breaks, kid.” Wilson pocketed the tape and walked over to Nick. “Your grandfather’s not very happy with you. Neither is your government. Let’s go.”

  “Go where?”

  “I’m with the FBI. You’re being placed in federal custody. If yo
u cooperate and plead guilty, there’s a chance the prosecutor won’t seek the death penalty.”

  “The death penalty?” Eyes wide, Nick turned to his grandfather. “You said you’d help me.”

  “I am,” Jonas said, his voice flat. “I’m putting you someplace you can’t cause any more trouble for our family.” His eyes dark with pain and disappointment, he turned to Wilson. “What about Tess?”

  Wilson glanced at her then back at Jonas. “Tanner’s disappeared, so we can’t question him at the moment.” He sighed then shook his head, as if fighting an internal war. “But whether he’s apprehended or not, I’ll see that the charges against Ms. Horton are dropped.” Patting his pocket, he added, “With what’s on this tape, and the fact that she reported the Vargas murders to the FBI within twenty-four hours, there shouldn’t be a problem.”

  He studied her. “You’re a material witness, so you’ll have to stick around to give a deposition, at the very least. And if Nick decides he wants to go to trial, you’ll have to testify.” When she nodded, he turned back to Jonas. “As long as she keeps in contact with me and shows up when we need her, she’s free to go where she pleases.”

  “Thank you,” Jonas said. “And Josh?”

  “The FBI can’t touch him. If he committed any crimes, they happened in Mexico, and we don’t have jurisdiction.” Wilson shot a glance at Josh. “He’s no good as a witness, either. I doubt a jury would find a punk like him very credible. And with what’s on the tape, we don’t need him.” He shrugged. “What you do with him is up to you.” Pulling out a pair of handcuffs, he jerked Nick to his feet, cuffed his hands behind his back, and pushed him toward the door. “Come on, shithead. It’s time to pay the piper.”

  “So, what do you want to do about Josh?” Levi asked when the door closed behind them.

  “I think that depends on him.” Eyes narrowed and lips pursed, Jonas turned to Josh. “What was your part in all this?”

  Josh linked his hands together, glanced at the door then at his shoes. “I just followed orders. I didn’t even know who she was.”

  Levi snorted. “You and Glen offered Max a share of the contract fee if he’d turn Tess over, and you expect us to believe that you had no idea who she was?” When Josh just glared at him without answering, Levi shook his head. “Not bloody likely.”

  “I agree.” Jonas pondered a moment, then a sly smile broke across his face, deepening the crevices around his eyes and mouth. “Put the word out on the street that Josh no longer works for us and isn’t under our protection. He can take his chances on the outside.”

  The blood drained from Josh’s face. Without the McKenzie family’s protection, he would be fair game for any hoodlum with a grievance against him, personally, or against Nick. And knowing Nick, there’d be plenty of petty crooks out there with complaints—and ready fists.

  All in all, an elegant and effective solution, and a just punishment, Levi decided. “I like it.”

  “Josh, your services are no longer required,” Jonas announced. He gestured toward the door. “You’re free to go.”

  Levi opened the door again as Josh stumbled out then closed it behind him with an immense feeling of relief. It was over. Tess was safe. “Thanks for getting her off the hook, old man.”

  “You’re welcome. After your phone call, I contacted Wilson. He wanted to take Tess into custody immediately, but he finally agreed to listen first.” Jonas walked over and patted her on the shoulder. “Thank God, you’re safe now.”

  Levi sat down on the couch beside her and pulled her against him, wishing there was some way to make her love him as much as he loved her.

  On the trip home, after her tears stopped, she’d told him everything that had happened. Then she fell silent, except for an occasional sigh. Now she looked so lost, he wanted to do something, anything, to take her pain away. But all he could do was hold her. He understood why Max had done what he did. Tess was both courageous and stubborn, and Max hadn’t seen any other way to protect her. Levi could relate.

  She snuggled into his side and he wrapped his arms more tightly around her, resting his chin on the top of her head. When Jonas cleared his throat, Levi glanced up. The look on the old man’s face worried him.

  “I’ll be right back, luv,” he said. He rose and followed Jonas into the hall. “What is it?”

  “It’s just occurred to me that Tony might blame Tess for the failure of his operation. Even though she’s not directly responsible.” He headed down the hall to Levi’s office. “You don’t know if he survived when the house blew up, right?”

  “There wasn’t time to look for his body. I had to get Tess out of there before the Federales showed up.”

  “I understand.” Jonas hurried to the desk, picked up the phone, and dialed a number, flickers of uncertainty on his face. “My secretary will know—Gloria,” he said into the phone. “Do we know anyone in the Mexican Federales?” He listened. “Juan who?...That’s Prado, with a ‘P’?...Okay. Is his number in your Rolodex?...Great.” Jonas scribbled notes on a pad on the desk. “We still keep photos and fingerprints of all employees, don’t we?...Where would I find—Oh, right, the personnel files.” A chuckle. “Should’ve figured that out for myself.” A pause. “No, but Tony’s missing down in Baja. I need to find out if he’s alive or dead...No, there’s no need for you to come in on a Saturday. I know how to use a fax machine. I’ll get Prado the information he’ll need, and then if you’ll follow up next week, I’d appreciate it...Yes...Great. Thanks.”

  He hung up and looked at Levi. “I’ll have Prado find out if Tony’s body has been recovered. If it hasn’t, we’ll have to take precautions.”

  “Bloody hell!”

  ***

  Monday, February 25th, 8:10 a.m., Mexico City, Mexico:

  Cursing the smog that stung his eyes, Max took a taxi from his apartment to the U.S. Embassy for his appointment with Davis.

  Max loved Mexico City, but over twenty-two million people lived here, with all the trappings of a large human population: industries, buses, cars, homes with fireplaces—things that caused a lot of pollution. And here, the mountains kept all of it locked in.

  It could’ve been a wonderful city. It was beautiful and high enough in elevation that it didn’t get unbearably hot. Filled with magnificent buildings, friendly people, European style cafés, and a wealth of culture, Mexico City was colorful and exotic. A marvelous place to live. If only he could breathe the air.

  When he arrived at the embassy, Davis greeted him with raised eyebrows. “You look like hell.”

  Max rubbed his tired eyes. On the rare occasion his painful thoughts had let him sleep, he’d dreamed of Tess. He couldn’t eat. Most of the time he could barely function. He’d raked his fingers through his hair in frustration so often, he was amazed he wasn’t bald. “It’s been a long week. And considering the way I feel, hell’s probably an understatement.”

  “Then, sit down before you fall down.” Davis motioned him to a chair and handed him a manila envelope. “Replacement cell phone, passport, driver’s license, cash, and credit cards.”

  “Thanks. I owe you.”

  Davis chuckled. “Always, Max. Always.” He passed him a two-page report. “As you can see from that, we’ve had Jim Bradshaw thoroughly checked out. Phone and email logs, interviews with family and friends, financial records. There’s no evidence Jim had any connection with Tanner before he showed up at the hotel in Baja.”

  “I never thought he did. I’ve known Jim for years, Tom, and I trust him.” Max tossed the report back on the desk. “What about Almasi?”

  Davis picked up a file folder and handed it across. “Here’s everything I could get on Almasi sightings.”

  Max opened the folder and scanned the contents then looked up in surprise. “There’s been no sign of him in mainland Mexico or Baja at all?”

  “Nada,” Davis confirmed. “The analysts at Langley think he may have had a prearranged backup plan. A number to call for an emergency retrieva
l if things went south. Probably drug lords. They’re very good at hiding people.”

  “Yeah, that sounds like Almasi.”

  “He hasn’t crossed into the U.S. We have pictures of him in every border crossing station and FBI office in every state along the border with Mexico, as well as the security office of every airport with international flights. If he tries to get in the legal way, we’ll nab him.”

  “You say that like you think there aren’t any illegal ways to get in.” Max thought for a moment. “Do you have anyone in the Mexican drug and coyote communities who owes you a favor”

  “People always owe me favors, Max. That’s how I work. What have you got in mind?”

  “We need to know how he’s planning to get across the border and when. If we know that, we can ambush him.”

  “You realize he may not go across any time soon, don’t you? From what you said, you and Levi decimated his current forces in Baja. He’s not pulling off this attack with only two men.”

  “Levi said it’s happening on Easter. That doesn’t give the bastard much time. But if he changes the attack date and stays here a while, that’s a good thing. The longer he’s here, the more likely it is we can get someone to talk. Let’s offer a reward.” He handed back the file. “I have to find him, Tom. He killed my partner. I need to make it right.”

  “That wasn’t your fault,” Davis snapped. “If we’d had any intel that Almasi’s group was warned you were coming, you wouldn’t have walked into that ambush. If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s mine.”

  “Yours? How do you figure?”

  “I’m supposed to provide the intel.” Davis paused and exhaled. “Look, Max, I’m really sorry about David. He was a great kid. But these things happen, and you can’t make it personal. You did the best you could to keep him alive and almost got yourself killed taking out as many terrorists as you did.” He pointed a finger at Max. “You did not kill David, Almasi did. You hear me?”

  “I hear you,” Max replied. “But the kid trusted me, and I let him down.” As he said it, he couldn’t help but think of someone else who’d trusted him—someone with liquid gray eyes that haunted his every dream. He’d let her down, too. “I have to fix this, Tom,” he said, unsure if he meant David or Tess. “Somehow I have to make it right.”