by R. A. Lamb
That left Farod guarding us. I pulled the class ring off my finger and slipped it under the mattress of the bunk. I remembered what Hank told me about the imbedded GPS and thought, keep looking Hank.
I waited until the terrorists pulled away, went to the sink and unplugged the light. I yanked the cord loose from the lamp and ran water in the sink splashing it on the floor in front of the door. Next I took the salt shaker and dumped the salt in the spilled water and stirred it around with my shoe. I put the bare end of the wire into the salty puddle and shouted, “Hey, I need to go to the bathroom.”
Kathy looked at me questioningly.
“It’s called electrical conductivity,” was all I had time to say.
Farod still bare footed, unlocked the door and knife in hand stepped inside and into the salty puddle.
I plugged in the cord.
The tendons in Farod’s neck tighten and his eyes narrowed. He looked at us as I swung the wooden folding chair catching Farod under the jaw knocking him backward through the doorway.
With his knife hand he tried to break his fall which was a mistake. The curved blade entered his lower back, the tip exiting just below his ribcage.
The circuits overloaded and the boat went dark except for the light from the parking lot coming through the small windows.
Kathy stood frozen, staring at Farod’s form jerking in the last moments of life on the floor. I grabbed her hand and dragged her into the main cabin and to the sliding glass door.
“Just a minute,” I turned back and grabbed the plastic pouch from the table and stuffed it inside my shirt. We were on the dock almost to shore when the maroon Honda reappeared.
Chapter 8
“Jump,” more a reaction than anything rational I pulled Kathy into the chilly water. We bobbed up under the dock. Moments later Alkobar and the three others walked above us.
I motioned to Kathy to swim between two boats moored in their slips. It was now pitch dark. Our only light was the reflection on the water of the spot lights in the parking lot. We quietly paddled our way to the next dock, passed between the boats and then to the next. The river was cold and we moved slowly.
“Todd I’m freezing. I need to get out.”
“Me too. Hold onto this boat. I’ll be right back.” I paddled out between the docks so I could see the line of boats then returned to Kathy.
“Follow me.” We made our way to a cabin cruiser and climbed up the ladder to the deck. I tried to open the cabin door. It was locked. The deck chairs and table were pushed to one side and in the middle were two saw horses, a stack of paneling and a tool box. I rummaged through the tools and found a putty knife.
A light breeze made it worse. Kathy shivered and clutched her arms to her chest.
I went to the cabin door. “Here’s the story.” I picked up the putty knife, “When I was a Junior I locked myself out of the house.”
I slid the knife along the door jamb until it made contact with the bolt. I continued, “I used a credit card to push back the catch on the lock and --”
The bolt moved and the cabin door slipped open. “It worked again.”
Just being out of the wind seemed warmer. We felt our way around the cabin. “Todd, I found some matches on the counter. Do we dare?”
I opened the book of matches. There were only a half dozen left. I struck one and made out a stairway to a lower deck before the light extinguished. “Let’s check that out,” I lit another and pointed to the steps.
We carefully felt our way down the carpeted stairs until we came to a wooded door. I turned the knob. “Let’s get inside before we light another.”
I shut the door and we stood in complete darkness.
The match stayed lighted long enough for us to see we were in sleeping quarters. The windowless room had a polished wood floor and smelled of fresh paint. A recliner was in one corner, a double bed pulled away from the wall had no sheets or covers, just two pillows. The match went out. I struck another. It didn’t light. I struck it again, still nothing.
There was fear in Kathy’s voice, “Oh, Todd, are the --”
“Hang in there, Kathy.”
I tore out the two remaining matches and struck them at the same time. There was a burst of light. We scanned the room once more. I held the match book just above the flame trying to set it on-fire to keep a light going.
Kathy said, “On the wall.”
There clipped to the wall, next to the door were a fire extinguisher and a flashlight. Kathy reached for the light.
Once it was on we began to relax. I pulled out the plastic pouch and tossed it on the bed. Kathy noticed me staring at her. Her wet blouse was transparent and clung to her like a second skin. She glanced down and slowly raised her head. She didn’t say a word, just stood there holding the light and looking at me. Water dripped from the sleeve of her blouse. The drops made tiny splashes on the polished wood. She reached for the wall switch. “The power’s off.”
Kathy turned and opened a louvered door to a closet and looked through the clothes hanging there. A couple of men’s blue denim work shirts, a pair of jeans and a dark green workman’s jump suit were hanging among a half dozen tee shirts.
“Green’s not my color,” Kathy said and tossed me the jump suit. She stepped into the closet and closed the louvered door behind her.
I changed as quickly as I could.
She emerged in jeans and a tee shirt three sizes too big, “At least they’re dry,” she said as she slipped into a denim work shirt and tied the tails in a knot around her waist.
The flashlight began to dim. I cleared my throat, “Alkobar and the others are probably still searching for us. We’d better stay here till morning.” I sat down in the recliner. “You take the bed. Throw me a pillow. I’ll be fine.”
The pillow came with more force then necessary.
“You sure know how to treat a girl on the first date,” she grinned and her fingers touched her damp hair.” I was too tired to reply.
The sound of people talking woke us. I turned on the flashlight. It barely glowed but enough to get to the door of the cabin and open it. Sunlight poured down the stairs and into the room. Kathy sat up. The plastic pouch was still on the bed. She unzipped it and looked inside. “Todd, this is real money. I mean hundred dollar bills. There must be thousands of dollars here.” She dumped it out and we started counting.
I was amazed, “Whew $8,130.”
Kathy put the money back. The pouch had leaked during our escape and some of the bills were wet. We would dry them later.
The noises outside were louder. Kathy closed the pouch and we eased our way upstairs. People were standing on the dock next to the boat. They were obviously a family out for a day on the water. A boy and girl about ten or twelve were poking each other and the two adults paid no attention to them but were looking at something in the parking lot.
“Let’s see what’s going on,” Kathy said as she picked up an Orioles baseball cap lying on the counter of the galley and tucked her hair under it. She’d never pass for a boy but it did change her appearance.
The maroon sedan was gone. There were several men in suits talking to policemen. Others were walking on the dock toward the terrorists’ houseboat. Kathy and I slowly made our way along the dock and were almost onshore when one of the suits saw us. He took out a pen, scratched something on a card and put the pen and card in his pocket. He said something to the group and turned toward Kathy and me. My heart jumped to my throat. It was Hank. I started to wave when Hank gave a brief shake of his head and diverted his gaze to a group of curiosity seeker near us. Kathy and I walked over to the group and tried to blend in.
Hank stood directly in front of me and spoke to the man on my right, “Did any of you see anything odd last night? If you did I want you to talk to one of the officers over there.”
Hank never looked at Kathy or me. “If anyone else thinks of anything I want you to call this number immediately. Here is my card.”
He passed out
several cards then reached in his pocket for more and handed one to Kathy and a folded envelope to me. Without hesitation he turned and walked back to his group.
Kathy and I walked behind the crowd. One man about our age in jean cutoffs and tee shirt opened the door of his pickup.
Kathy smiled, “Could you give us a lift?”
He needed a haircut and hadn’t shaved.
“Why, did your car break down?”
“No, our friends want to stay and watch, but the police make me nervous. I just want to get out of here,” she said and tightened the knot on her shirt.
“Sure if you’re going to Georgetown.”
“That’ll be great,” I opened the door and Kathy slid in. The guy checked out something in the back of his truck giving me time to sneak a peek at what Hank handed me.
Inside the envelope were a credit card, a driver’s license with my picture on it and some twenty dollar bills.
In Georgetown we got out across the street from a Starbucks. As the pickup drove off I winked at Kathy, “I’m buying,” and pulled a twenty out of the envelope.
She gave me that devilish grin, “That’s an improvement.”
We sat at an outside table and I showed her the credit card and license.
“Todd, it’s your picture on the license but the name is Timothy Brock. Tim Brock is on the credit card too.”
I put them back in the envelope, “What did Hank give you?”
“Just his card,” she handed it to me.
I saw the note when I flipped it over.
Call ASAP.
A number was written under it but it wasn’t his office phone.
“That makes no sense, Todd.”
“The note’s clear. Let’s find a phone.”
It wasn’t that easy. Pay telephones were hard to find, however there was one in the corner of a Shop and Go.
“Holland.”
“Hank what’s going --?”
“Hold on.”
It sounded like he was in traffic. I held for a couple of minutes and heard a car door slam.
Hank finally said, “You there?”
“Yes, will you explain --”
“Later. The credit card is clean. Use it to rent a car and a room. Don’t tell anyone. Call me at this number when you get settled. Let’s say around eight tonight. Both of you hang tough. We’ll work it out.”
There was an audible click and a dial tone.
Chapter 9
“We have things to do,” I motioned to Kathy and hung up the phone.
We hopped on a bus and rode it until Kathy spotted a Thrifty Car Rental in a strip mall. We were about to the door when Kathy stopped, “You need to be twenty one to rent a car.”
My stomach did a flip. I thrust my hand in my pocket and pulled out the license.
“I age fast, in fact, I’m older than you. Tim Brock was twenty one, three months ago.”
Kathy grinned as I held the door for her.
A few minutes later in a silver gray Ford Fusion we headed for highway 185 and Bethesda, Maryland. No other reason than no one would expect us to be there.
“Keep your eye out for a Target or a Wal-Mart. I’m tired of wearing this stuff,” Kathy snickered.
“You and me both. Hey, up ahead there’s a shopping center.”
We each got a couple changes of clothes and a pair of sneakers. I also picked up two disposable phones and two overnight bags. The credit card worked fine.
As we got in the outskirts of Bethesda, I noticed a bill board for a Hampton Inn two miles ahead. “That sounds good to me. Okay?”
Kathy waited in the car. The desk clerk gave the somewhat wrinkled jump suit a quizzical look but politely rented me two adjoining rooms overlooking the pool with a reminder there was a complimentary breakfast starting at six AM.
When I got back I handed Kathy her key.
“Spoil sport,” she gave me an impish grin.
We entered our separate rooms. A couple of minutes later I heard the shower running in Kathy’s. I walked into my bathroom and started mine. I was amazed how much better I felt after a hot shower. I’d finished putting on khaki Bermuda’s and a knit shirt when I heard a knock on the adjoining room door.
“You clean up pretty good, Cowboy. Are you going to invite me in?”
“Sure,” I felt my cheeks get warm, “ah, you too. Agent Holland asked us to call at eight. We have time to eat and I’m starving. Let’s get some dinner.”
We walked to a Mexican restaurant about a block away. It was fairly crowded but we found a table next to a wall. To celebrate I ordered two margarita grandes with salt.
“Todd, tell me again how you think Hank found us.”
I explained about the GPS in the ring I put under the bunk and said, “But I don’t understand why he had a fake credit card and license to give me.”
Kathy shook her head, “Maybe we’ll find out when we call.”
After a combo platter of beef and chicken fajitas we went back to the room. At five minutes to eight I placed the call on my disposable cell and put it on speaker.
On the second ring Hank answered, “Holland.”
“We’re settled in Hank. What’s going on?”
“Glad to hear it. I didn’t want to talk to you at the marina because I’m now convinced there’s a mole and he may be in the DC police department. The terrorists knew too much, too quickly.”
“I knew it. Any leads?”
“I’ve narrowed it down to two possibilities. Thing is I can’t cover both and I want to do this outside the bureau in case they have a plant there so…”
Kathy’s blue eyes were a few inches from mine. I saw her pupils open slightly then contract as she nodded.
“Okay Hank what do you want us to do.?”
“I’m going to put out different stories. It will set up two locations. I’ll cover one and since you’ve seen the terrorists I want you to cover the other. Here’s what I want you to do…”
Hank finished and hung up. Kathy sat down on the small sofa and I slid down beside her. “What did I get us into?” I said.
“I agreed too, Todd, we’re in this together.”
I picked up the remote and flicked on the TV, slipped off my shoes and put my feet on the coffee table. We were both nervous and I didn’t want to think about tomorrow. We chatted about nothing really important and watched a rerun of Castle.
The eleven o’clock local news came on and Kathy got up. “It’ll be a tough day tomorrow. Night.” She walked into her room but left the adjoining door ajar.
I clicked the off button on the remote and turned down the sheets.
I hadn’t closed the drape completely and the next morning sunlight woke me. It was a short night. Tossing and turning, dosing and playing the same thoughts over and over.
I heard Kathy stir in the other room as I got up and dressed. We went downstairs to the complimentary breakfast. If Hank’s plan worked we would need to be in place by noon.
“Kathy, I want to get something before we go to the location.”
She asked what but I didn’t answer. I knew she would try to talk me out of it if she knew.
We drove toward DC. I pulled up in front of the parking garage across from the Department of Commerce Building and slid out of the driver’s seat. “I’ll be a couple of minutes. Drive around the block. Okay?”
I walked toward the parking garage and Kathy slowly merged into traffic. There were two people walking toward the elevator and a car was pulling out of a space. The rest of the garage was quiet for a work day. I headed for my stash. The gun wrapped in newspaper was still there. I was at the curb waiting for Kathy when I saw her make the turn.
“What’s that?”
“Just a little insurance. Let’s go to the location,” I turned on the radio and found a country and western station.
“Couldn’t you at least find some real music?”
I smiled at Kathy and turned up the volume. She looked straight ahead and ignored the radio and me
.
We headed west on I-66 to 267 and then the Dulles Access Toll Road to Reston, Virginia. To get our bearings we drove down Market Street and passed the fountain at Reston Town Center surrounded by two high rise office buildings on one side and a row of shops and restaurants on the other. We parked and I unwrapped the newspaper.
“Todd?”
“It’s just for protection. Dad showed me how to use a nine mil like this at the shooting range. We used to go there on Saturday afternoons. I got pretty good.”
“Guns make me nervous.”
I put my hand on her knee. She put hers on top of mine and held it there.
“Don’t worry, I’ll be careful.” I checked the safety and tucked the Glock in my belt under my shirt.
We went inside and took the elevator to the third floor of the West Tower Building.
To the right of the elevator was a palm in a large brass planter and taped to the back of the pot was the key Hank had promised. It unlocked Suite 310 and, according to plan, on the desk, in the office facing the fountain was a pair of binoculars.
I rolled the office chair to the window and tried them out. We had a great view of the fountain and more importantly the stone bench which Hank would tell one of the possible moles, was the meeting place. All Kathy and I needed to do was sit behind the mirrored glass and watch for someone to show.
The thrill of being on a stakeout soon wore off as Kathy and I took turns scanning the fountain square.
“Those restaurants are making me hungry,” I said focusing the binoculars.
“And look at that girl eating ice cream, why does there have to be a Ben and Jerry’s so close? Hey, Panera Bead is just over there. Do you think--”
“Are you crazy, Todd? There are killers out there looking for us and you want to get a sandwich?”
“Just joking Kathy, lighten up.”
“Lighten up? Don’t you realize that --?”
“Wait,” I interrupted.
“There at the edge of the square… Isn’t that…?”
