Black Ops Chronicles: Dead Run

by O'Neal, Pepper

  He called Yellow Cab from his car. They put him on hold. His mind screaming with frustration, he drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. When the cab company official came back on the line, he said the driver had dropped Tess off at the Salt Palace Convention Center.

  Levi drove as if the world was exploding in his rear view mirror. But when he got to the Salt Palace, she wasn’t there. He showed around the picture of her he kept in his wallet and questioned several people who’d seen her—mostly men who’d noticed only her, not where she went. At last, he found a janitor who told him that Tess had gotten a phone call at the payphones on the main floor and then asked him where she had to go to find a cab.

  ***

  9:32 a.m., Salt Lake City, Utah:

  In a cab heading toward her next destination, Tess clutched her arms across her chest as dread for herself and fear for Max consumed her. She closed her eyes, thinking of the call she’d gotten in the Salt Palace.

  “We’re going to play a little game,” Tony had told her when she answered the phone. “I want to be sure you’re not rescued. Komakov’s only a passable skip tracer, but I can’t afford to be careless.”

  “As long as you don’t hurt Max,” she’d responded, “I don’t care what you do.”

  “Good. Good. And don’t worry. I’ve got no quarrel with Max. Now, catch another cab and go to the Intermodal Hub—to the payphones there—and wait for my call.”

  She fretted over what Tony had said about Levi being a skip tracer. Did that mean he could follow her? She’d asked him not to, but he wouldn’t listen. She could only hope Tony’s game would keep Levi from finding her. Tony would kill him if he tried to save her—he was probably lying in wait right now, hoping to shoot Levi in the back. Wasn’t it bad enough she’d gotten Max involved? She didn’t want to lead Levi to his death, too.

  Travelers crowded the Intermodal Hub. Tess could hear one of the payphones ringing. She fought her way through the throng and grabbed the receiver.

  “Well done,” Tony said. “There’s a ticket waiting for you at the Amtrak counter. One way to Omaha, Nebraska.”

  She glanced at the display boards. “From what I can see, that train comes through here at four in the morning.”

  “That’s true for the regular train. But they’ve just added a second train for the season,” he said, his voice smug. “That one leaves in about twenty minutes. I got you a sleeper cabin. Stay in it as much as possible. I don’t want people to notice you on the train. Understood?”

  “Yes.”

  “Fine. Now, before you get to Omaha you’ll come to Lincoln, Nebraska. Get off in Lincoln, wait by the payphones in the station, and I’ll call you with further instructions. Got that?”

  “Yeah, I got it. Ticket to Omaha, get off in Lincoln, wait by the phones.”

  “Great, Tess. See you tomorrow.”

  Tess went to the counter and picked up her ticket, glad Tony had gotten her a sleeper. At least she could cry in private. She bought some sandwiches and sodas to take with her and went out to board the train.

  ***

  At the Intermodal Hub, Levi showed Tess’s picture to the clerks at the ticket counters and found out she’d picked up a prepaid ticket to Omaha. On a train that left half an hour ago.

  “Bloody hell!”

  He could probably catch the train. But since no one still at the station had seen Tess once she left the ticket counter, he couldn’t be sure she’d even gotten on board.

  Checking the credit card used to purchase the ticket, Levi discovered it was billed to Nick’s penthouse—worthless for tracking Tony.

  As he walked back to his car, pondering his options, his cell phone rang.

  “Yeah?”

  “Have you found her?” Jonas asked.

  “No. I tracked her to the Intermodal Hub where she picked up a ticket to Omaha, but I can’t find anyone who saw her get on the train. Tony could’ve told her to pick up the ticket and then take a commuter train or cab to somewhere else.” His voice broke with pain and frustration. “I just don’t know, Jonas. I can’t chase the train and risk losing her here.”

  “I haven’t found anyone in Utah who’s seen any sign of Tony. If he’s here, he’s very well hidden. But I don’t really think he’s here. This is my home base. Too many people here know me and would help if I asked.”

  “You’re probably right. Okay, keep checking other states. Especially check with anyone you can in Nebraska and see if you can get a line on him there.”

  “What’re you going to do?” Jonas asked.

  “I’m going to contact my plane crew and head out to the airport so that when we find her, I can get there in as little time as possible.”

  “All right, I’ll get everybody on it right away. I’ll have someone meet the train in Omaha just in case, but I don’t really think she’ll show up there. Even if she did get on the train, Tony could’ve told her to get off anywhere along the line.” Jonas paused for a moment. “I think I’ll have Gloria fax a picture of Tess to every station the train stops at on the way to Omaha and offer another reward for information. If she is on the train and gets off anywhere before Omaha, we should hear about it.”

  Levi felt a brief stab of hope. “That’s great. Thanks, Jonas.”

  Sliding behind the wheel of his car, Levi wondered if Tony was dumb enough to think he’d let Tess die without avenging her? Maybe so. Not many people knew how much she meant to him. But Tony would find out. No matter how long it took, he’d pay for this.

  As he drove to the airport, Levi thought about what he’d learned from Dr. Smith. Take nothing for granted. Pulling out his phone, he called the U.S. Embassy in Mexico City and asked to speak to Tom Davis.

  “Levi,” Davis said. “Well, um. This is a surprise.”

  Levi heard the caution in Davis’s voice and had to smile. “Don’t sweat it, Tom, I’m not collecting on any favors. Yet.”

  “That’s good to hear. Even though I know we owe you.”

  “And I can just imagine how much you hate that. Listen, have you heard from Max? I’ve got a source who says he’s been kidnapped.”

  “Kidnapped? Where’d you hear that?”

  “I don’t have time to explain, Tom. Just tell me what you know.”

  “I don’t know where you got your information, but Max has been transferred to The Farm. He’s an instructor there now.”

  “A desk job? You’re kidding! And you’re sure he’s okay?”

  “Yeah. Well, no, actually. I’ve been trying to reach him for several days. He’s been on leave and hasn’t been answering his phone lately. But he hasn’t been kidnapped. At least as far as I know.”

  “When’s the last time you talked to him?”

  “It’s been about a week. He’s still broken up over that girl, but he won’t go talk to her. I thought he was just tired of me nagging him about it.” Davis hesitated. “Maybe I should call The Farm and see if he’s at work today.”

  “Yeah, I guess maybe you’d better.”

  ***

  Tuesday, April 29th, 6:50 a.m., Lincoln, Nebraska:

  Her eyes, and brain, blurred with exhaustion, Tess waited by the payphone in the station, fighting the fear that had robbed her of sleep most of the night and trying not to think about the dream she’d had when she’d finally drifted off. It had been filled with horrifying images of men dressed all in black, spraying the air with bullets. She only hoped the dream was a reflection of her fears and not a foretelling of what was to come.

  Her concern for Max was the only thing that kept her going. I got him into this mess. I have to get him out. If I’d had better control of my emotions in Baja, Tony wouldn’t have known I cared for Max at all. She just hoped Tony would keep his word and let Max go if she followed instructions.

  The ringing of the phone made her jump, and her hand shook as she answered. “Tony?”

  “Who else?” he said. “How was your trip? Was it enjoyable?”

  “Stop playing around,” she snap
ped, too frazzled to tolerate his dark humor. “Just tell me what to do.”

  “So serious.” He gave an exaggerated sigh. “I guess, if that’s the way you want it. You did come alone, didn’t you?”

  “Yes, I’m alone.” She’d never felt more alone in her life.

  “Good. Take a cab to the airport. There’s a private plane waiting for you. Go to the information desk in the terminal and tell them that you’re on the chartered flight. They’ll tell you how to get on. You won’t need a ticket.”

  “Damn it, Tony.” In a fit of terrified exasperation, she snarled, “Why can’t you just kill me and get it over with?”

  “Now, now, Tess. Temper, temper. Don’t you remember what I told Nick in Baja about revenge being sweeter?”

  “Right.” She shuddered. “You want me to suffer.” Her mouth dried out while her skin grew clammy. She swallowed and rubbed one damp palm on her jeans. “I get it.”

  “Do you really?” He sounded as if he really needed her to understand. “You see, whenever I’ve killed for Nick, it’s always been business. But this one’s for me. I intend to enjoy my time with you.”

  The glee in his voice sent chills up her spine. She closed her eyes and tried to take comfort from the gun in her backpack. “So where am I going now?”

  “You’ll find out when you get there. The pilot will give you further instructions. Don’t keep me waiting, Tess.” He was laughing as he disconnected.

  God, how will I ever get through this? A pool of nausea flooded her stomach as she considered Tony’s words. He wanted her to suffer. So, it wouldn’t be just a quick bullet in the brain. Remember Max.

  As she headed for the door and her brief, unspeakable future, she noticed a railroad worker staring at her. Tears stinging her eyes, she wondered if Tony had paid him to make sure she’d come alone. When she walked outside, he followed until she got into a cab.

  ***

  “Shit,” Tess muttered as she walked away from the information desk at the airport. The clerk had given her a map with directions to the area where she’d find the exit door leading to the private plane. But she’d have to pass through the security checkpoint to get there. I can’t take the gun through security. Not only would they confiscate it, she’d be arrested. And Max would die.

  She had two choices: ditch the gun or find a way to bypass security. Desperate for a plan—any plan—she wandered the terminal hoping for inspiration. But nothing came to her.

  Ditching the pistol was her only option, she decided. So she searched for a restroom where she could dump it in the trash without being seen. As she passed the open doorway of what appeared to be a storage room, she saw a cleaning cart poking out. A uniform smock with an ID badge hung on the doorknob. She could hear someone out of sight in the room, slamming cabinet doors and cursing.

  Without giving herself time to back out, she grabbed the smock and slipped it on. Then she pulled the cart out of the room, shoved her backpack in it, and pushed it toward the security checkpoint. She heard Max’s voice in her head. ‘If you act like you’re just doing what you’re supposed to, nobody notices.’ So she kept her eyes on the cart and concentrated on acting like a harmless airport employee.

  Detouring around the outbound lines of people waiting to pass through the metal detectors, she headed over to the inbound side. At the gate where disembarking passengers entered the main part of the terminal, Tess took a deep breath before pushing the cart through the gate and past the security checkpoint. Braced for a shout from the guards, with her heart stuck halfway up her throat, she watched them out of the corner of her eye as she passed. But no one even spared her a glance.

  Sagging with relief, she continued down the hallway and followed the directions on her map to a small door halfway between the security checkpoint and the boarding gates.

  She stopped beside the door, took off the smock, and draped it over the edge of the cart, praying people would assume she was just an employee on her break. Grabbing her backpack, she pushed through the door and hurried across the tarmac to the waiting private plane.

  A grin broke across her face as she pumped her fist in triumph. She’d done it.

  Don’t celebrate yet, cautioned that little voice in her mind. You still have to get it past Tony.

  “Shit.”

  ***

  8:44 a.m., Salt Lake City, Utah:

  Levi had spent a sleepless night pacing beside his plane. But he couldn’t take off without information, and Jonas had a much better chance of getting it than he did. The poor old man probably hadn’t slept all night either.

  When his phone finally rang, Levi leapt on it. “Yeah?”

  “I found her,” Jonas exclaimed. “She got off the train in Lincoln, Nebraska. A worker spotted her at the payphone in the station and called me, though he waited until he went on break to do it.”

  “And?” Levi demanded. The reasons for the delay didn’t interest him as there was nothing he could do about it now.

  “He told me what cab she got into, so I called and found out the driver dropped her off at the airport. On the way, she’d said something about a private plane. So—”

  “So you found her and lost her again,” Levi grumbled in despair. “Just like me.”

  “Now, hold on,” Jonas admonished. “You know as well as I do that planes have to file flight plans. So I called the airport. For a small bribe, I found out she’s going to Santa Fe, New Mexico.”

  “We always seem to be a step behind her.” Levi signaled his pilot. “I’ll be on my way in twenty minutes, but I won’t make it to Santa Fe before she does.”

  “I know. I’ve called someone already there and asked him to meet the plane and nab her, if possible. But I don’t know if he’ll get to the airport before she lands. I’ve also alerted airport security. They told me they can’t grab her without a warrant, but if they see her, they’ll keep an eye on her and let me know which cab company she takes. For now, that’s all we can do, but we’re getting closer.”

  “Yeah, finally. I’ll be in the air. Call me as soon as you know anything more.”

  “Will do.” Jonas hesitated. “You’re doing everything that can be done, young man. No matter what happens, no one will blame you.”

  “Right,” Levi muttered as he disconnected. “No one but me.”

  ***

  9:48 a.m., New Mexico airspace:

  Levi stared out the window as his plane hurtled toward Santa Fe. If Jonas’s man had nabbed Tess at the airport, he’d have called by now.

  Bloody buggering hell, Tess. Why couldn’t you have trusted me? Why didn’t you talk to me? We could have figured this out together. He sighed. No, she knew him too well. He’d have stopped her, no matter who was in danger.

  The ringing of his cell phone was a welcome distraction.

  “Yeah?”

  “My man missed her at the airport by fifteen minutes.” Bitter discouragement echoed in Jonas’s voice. “But he talked to the pilot of the plane she was on. He’d been instructed to tell her there was a car waiting for her out by the taxi stand, but that was all he knew. One of the security personnel followed her outside and got a look at the car she got into. It’s from a car hire firm in Santa Fe. The only thing the dispatcher there could tell me is the car’s heading for Las Cruces. He didn’t know where. The driver’s supposed to call a cell phone number when he gets there. He’ll be given the address then.”

  “Can’t the hire firm just call the car back?” Levi demanded. “They must have some way to contact their driver.”

  “Yes, they have radio contact, but they have the same trouble airport security had. They’re afraid to act without a warrant. But they’ve agreed to contact me with the address as soon as their driver finds out what it is.”

  “If they’re in contact with the driver, I hope they’re careful,” Levi said as warning bells rang in his mind. “If Tess knows I’m coming, she’ll try to cover her trail to protect both me and Max.”

  “Yes, I’ve thought of t
hat. But don’t worry. I told them my granddaughter’s being manipulated by a gold digger, and she’s run away to meet him. I said if she finds out I’ve tracked her, she’ll try to lose me again. So they know not to spook her. With that story and a generous amount of cash to anyone with information, everyone’s been most cooperative.”

  “I’ll bet.” Levi felt a smile break across his face. “That’s bloody brilliant, old man. I’m impressed.”

  “I’ll be writing checks for a month, but if we save her, it’ll be worth it.”

  “I hear that.” Levi looked at his watch. “It’s a three-and-a-half to four-hour drive from Santa Fe to Las Cruces. So if I tell the pilot to change course now, I’ll get there ahead of her.”

  He called over one of the flight crew and gave him instructions then said to Jonas, “But we still have to know where in Las Cruces she’s going, if that’s even her final destination.”

  “I think it should be, don’t you? He’s run her all over the place, and it has to end sometime. It’s a good-sized city. Lots of places to get lost.” Jonas paused a moment. “Las Cruces is in Dona Ana County, isn’t it?”

  “I think so. Why?”

  “I know someone in law enforcement there who’s honest and who owes me a favor or two. I’ll call him and see if I can get you some help. If I can pull it off, I’ll have people meet you at the airport.”

  Levi snorted. “Some cop who’s ‘honest’ owes a favor to the head of a crime family? How’s that work?”

  “I bought them some fancy technical equipment for their SWAT team,” Jonas said defensively. “They fight a lot of drug wars in that part of New Mexico. The DEA handles most of that, but the local cops get pulled in sometimes, too, and their budgets are miserly.” He sounded a bit sheepish. “Well, you know how I feel about drugs.”