While Sean was certain Dufort and his men were safely on the other side of the city, no doubt inspecting the contents an empty locker, it was disconcerting that the man had resurfaced.
The sandbox in which Sean and Tommy played tended to be a small one, and bumping into familiar faces, even villains, was bound to happen from time to time. Dufort, however, was different.
If he’d been smart, he would have stayed hidden under whatever rock he’d crawled the last time he and Sean squared off. The fact that he was back out in the open merely reinforced the man’s reckless overconfidence.
It wouldn’t be a surprise if Dufort was simply out for revenge. Sean’s actions resulted in the Frenchman losing millions from his human trafficking network in what was one of the largest busts of its kind. Dozens of girls were freed from his clutches, and piece by piece, Dufort’s criminal network had come tumbling down.
Upon entering Hank’s SUV, one of the first things Sean’s friend had asked about was who the guy was that was about to kill them.
Sean spent about three minutes giving Hank the rundown, which was more than enough to cause the older man to drive a little faster out of the desert.
There were few places on Earth where Dufort could go without setting off a sequence of alerts that would result in his arrest. Dubai, it seemed, was one of those locations. That also meant he’d probably established a new network of some kind within the area.
Tommy led the way into the big train station as the sun in the west reflected off its shimmering glass panels. Once the men stepped through the doors, they were greeted by a blast of cool air that reminded them just how hot it was in the desert city.
The three men paused inside the station. Sean and Tommy took a quick inventory of their surroundings, making sure nothing or no one suspicious was lurking about. They must have looked a motley crew, with Sean and Tommy in their sweaty, dirty, and bloodstained clothes. Hank looked the most normal of the three.
The station’s interior was as much a statement as the exterior. Bold, swooping lines of light panels, steel girders, rails, curving stairways—all amid an atmosphere that projected success—made a bold statement about Dubai and its intent to be a beacon of progress in the future.
“Where’s this locker?” Hank asked, anxious to get in and get out before there was more trouble.
“Over here,” Tommy said, pointing at a recessed area under an escalator.
They started walking, but Hank stopped them. “Wait. What about the key? Surely Frenchy didn’t let you keep that one.”
Sean’s eyes narrowed with a mischievous smile. “No, he wouldn’t have, which is why we didn’t bring it with us.”
Chapter 4
Dubai
“Didn’t bring it with you?” Hank blurted out. “How are we supposed to get in the thing if you didn’t bring your key?”
“We didn’t bring it with us to meet you,” Sean clarified. “We left it here.”
“Left it here?”
That explanation didn’t seem to instill Hank with any more confidence than the previous one.
Sean’s eyes twinkled. “Yeah,” he said with an upward nod.
He strolled toward a giant fake palm tree that was placed at the bottom of the main stairway. The tree was situated in a huge pot. The pot was full of rubber mulch and fake moss.
Sean took a careful look around, backing up until he felt his fingers touch the lip of the planter. Then he reached back a few inches farther and shoved his hand into the narrow gap between the pot’s inner wall and the foam keeping the tree upright. For a minute, Tommy and Hank watched from the other side of the walkway as Sean felt around in the planter.
He did his best to keep from looking awkward, but the way his body was bent to the side and the fact that he was clearly sticking his hand in the pot were hard to ignore. Luckily, the relatively few travelers who walked by didn’t pay him much attention.
Finally, he felt his index finger touch something metal with a pointy edge. He stuck his hand in a little farther and wrapped his fingers around the key. Then he stood up straight, casually shoved the hand with the key into his pocket, and strolled back over to the other two.
“Smooth,” Tommy said.
“I thought so,” Sean said.
“Except not at all. Pretty sure everyone noticed the American standing awkwardly by the big flower pot while you sifted around for something.”
Sean cocked his head to the side and pulled the key out of his pocket. “Well, I got it, so you’re welcome. Come on.”
He turned and stalked away toward the locker area.
Tommy and Hank exchanged a short laugh and a knowing glance before they moved ahead to catch up.
Sean turned into one of the rows of metal lockers. He counted down the numbers until he found the one he wanted and then bent down to open it. He slid the key in easily, swung the door out, and reached inside.
Hank stared with wide eyes and an equally gaping mouth at the bag Sean pulled out. It was just a normal daypack.
“You’re keeping a priceless artifact in an ordinary backpack?” Hank asked. “I figured you guys would have some kind of airtight, metal, ultra-secure container for something like that.”
Sean slung the bag over his shoulder and closed the locker. He stood up and put the other arm through the strap, securing the bag tight against his back.
“It’s made out of stone, Hank.”
“Yeah,” Tommy said. “We don’t have to worry about air damaging it or anything like that. I’d rather it not get wet, which is why we have it in a freezer bag inside the backpack.”
“Huh.” Hank sounded crestfallen. “Way lower tech than I anticipated, I suppose.”
Sean shook his head. “Come on. We need to get out of here. Where are we going to meet your contact?”
“Working on that,” Hank said as he pulled out his phone and checked his messages. “Hold on.” A new message caused the device to vibrate in his hand. “He said to meet at the docks in an hour.”
“The docks?” Tommy asked. “Won’t there be workers there?”
Hank shook his head. “Not where he wants us to meet. This pier is all but abandoned. They haven’t used it in three years, not enough boat traffic coming in to warrant it.”
Tommy and Sean cast each other a wary glance.
“Okay, Hank,” Sean said. “You’re on point with this one. We’re going to have to trust your lead.”
“It’ll be fine. No cops in that area, and if someone were to try to sneak up on us, we’d see them coming from a mile away. It’s a good spot.”
Tommy pressed his lips together and nodded. “Sounds like you’ve got a handle on it, Hank. Let’s do it.”
Back in the SUV, Sean tucked the bag down by his feet as Hank sped out of the parking lot and made his way back onto the road.
“You guys need to eat something,” he said. “I know a good little place not far from here. You probably need to drink something, too.”
Hank had provided each of them with a bottle of water, but that had been guzzled down within a minute of getting into the SUV. Sean hadn’t thought about eating, but now that Hank mentioned it he realized how hungry he was.
Sensing their apprehension, Hank spoke up again. “We have plenty of time. I’m telling you, the docks where my guy wants to meet are minutes away from here. Let’s get some food, and then we’ll get there early, scope the place out, and make sure you’re comfortable. Last thing I want is for you guys to end up tied to some stakes in the middle of the desert again.”
“Avoiding that would be a good thing,” Tommy said.
Hank steered his SUV through the quiet industrial streets until they reached an area where three- and four-story buildings lined the streets. Signs for restaurants, retail stores, and other businesses hung from the walls over the sidewalks.
“A few blocks up is the Dubai bazaar. That’s not where we’re going, but if you’d like to pick up some souvenirs for your visit that’s the place.”
<
br /> Sean and Tommy chuckled at Hank’s comment. The older man flashed a toothy grin in the rearview mirror.
Hank was probably in his mid-fifties, though Sean never brought up his age. That sort of thing didn’t matter. What mattered was effectiveness. So far, Hank had more than proved himself as a useful ally.
He swung the SUV into an empty parking space next to the sidewalk and backed it into place.
“I’m impressed,” Sean said. “Tommy usually takes three or four tries to parallel park.”
“What?”
Before Tommy could protest, Sean climbed out of the vehicle and slung the bag with the tablet in it over his shoulder.
Tommy wasn’t going to let the parking comment go. He hurriedly opened his door and hopped out with a scowl on his face.
“When have you ever seen me parallel parking, to say that?” Tommy asked.
Sean rolled his shoulders. “I don’t know, every time I’ve ever ridden with you anywhere.”
Tommy started to argue again, but Sean cut him off. “Hank, where’s this place with the food you were talking about?”
“Omar’s,” Hank said, closing the door to his SUV. He hit the lock button on the fob, and all the doors clicked. “It’s right down here.” He pointed down the sidewalk at a blue-and-white sign hanging out over the concrete.
Hank led the way through the mobs of busy pedestrians. The people were dressed in all kinds of outfits. Some wore traditional clothing from the region, while others would have looked at home in a jeans commercial.
The three Americans turned into Omar’s and found themselves overwhelmed with the scents of onions, curry, beef, lamb, and garlic. There was a hint of smoky paprika in the air as well.
It was a simple enough restaurant. Tables with white tablecloths draped over them lined the walls on both sides, with two rows in the middle. Sean immediately counted nine customers—three in line ahead of them and six already eating.
Hank got behind the last customer and turned around to face his companions. “What do you guys like? Chicken? Beef? Lamb?”
“All of the above,” Tommy said.
“What he said,” Sean agreed. “Although that falafel looks pretty good.”
“It’s outstanding,” Hank said. “I’ll get a little bit of each. You guys go ahead and grab a seat.”
The other two nodded and found a table in the back corner close to a hallway leading to the bathrooms.
Sean sat down with his back to the narrow corridor so he could face the window. It was an old habit but one he’d probably never change. Being able to see danger coming was the first step in surviving, especially in close quarters like this.
“Seriously,” Tommy said as he leaned back in his seat, “when have you ever seen me parallel parking? And beyond that, when was I bad at it?”
Sean shook his head. “You’re still on that? I’m already working on my next joke about you.”
“Sometimes I don’t know why I hang out with you.”
That comment sent a thin smile across Sean’s lips. “Because you love me. And because I saved your life.”
“Last I checked, that debt was repaid.”
“I’m not talking about the literal life-saving times. I’m talking about making you happy.”
“Making me happy?” Tommy’s voice rose to match his irritation. “How in the world do you figure you make me happy?”
Sean shrugged. “By coming back to work with you. Imagine if I hadn’t. You’d still be out in the desert somewhere, staked to the ground instead of in this nice, air-conditioned building.”
Tommy’s head swiveled back and forth rapidly. “First of all, it’s your fault…and Hank’s,” he hissed the other name so Hank wouldn’t hear, “that we ended up out there. His little rendezvous nearly got us killed. Frankly, I can’t believe I’m letting you two set up another one with this mysterious connection of his. For all we know, Hank’s connection could be hooked up with Dufort.”
The little bell over the door dinged as two men entered the restaurant. They were wearing sunglasses and apparently had no intention of taking them off despite being out of the blinding hot sun.
It only took one slip of body language to tell Sean why.
The second guy, probably in his early twenties, took a quick look back outside as if to make sure no one else was coming in. None of the other restaurant patrons noticed, or if they did they didn’t let on. Hank was busy ordering food when the two men walked in and made their way toward the register.
Tommy was still mumbling about the gall Sean had to think he’d somehow made his friend happy.
“I mean, sure, I’m glad to have you along, and you’re my best friend in the world. Just seems like a jerk thing to say,” Tommy said, looking down at the table.
Sean barely heard his last comment. He was locked in on the two guys approaching the counter. He saw the weapons just inside their unzipped windbreakers as the air flapped the fabric up a few inches, just enough to reveal the black gunmetal.
Sean knew what was about to happen, but his weapons were back in the hotel. Come to think of it, Dufort and his men probably took them. He’d have to fix that as soon as possible. For now, he’d have to make do with whatever he could.
He took in the room in the blink of an eye: metal napkin holder next to his left elbow on the table, broom leaning up against the wall behind the register, gum ball machine five…maybe six feet away next to the corner of the counter, and then of course the tables and chairs. Not a lot to work with. Luckily, he already had a plan by the time the first man pulled out his gun and pointed it at the guy working the register.
“Hands up!” the first gunman yelled in plain English. “Everyone down on the ground!”
Hank was startled and nearly jumped out of his shoes at the sudden command. He instinctively spun around and came face to face with a gun. Hank’s hands opened, and he raised them slowly, showing the gunmen he was trying to do as told.
The first guy grabbed Hank by the shoulder and shoved him to the ground. The second gunman drew his weapon a moment later and started waving it around the room.
It was a simple enough plan. One guy would handle the register and any workers behind the counter. The second would take care of crowd control. Sean watched the scene unfold. If it weren’t so dangerous, he might have been amused. Instead, he was annoyed.
Tommy didn’t budge, either. While the other patrons quickly dove to the floor, Tommy observed what was happening. He glanced at Sean, the question in his mind flowed from his eyes to his friend’s. He didn’t need to say anything.
“Second guy, napkin holder to the head,” Sean whispered. “I’ll take out number one.”
Tommy gave a single nod.
“Hey!” the guy working crowd control shouted at the two men sitting at their table. “He said down on the floor!”
The gunman waved the weapon from Sean to Tommy and back again. As the weapon moved back toward Sean, Tommy snatched the napkin holder and in one fluid movement flung it.
There was no way the would-be robber could do anything to stop it. The metal object flew across the short span between the men and struck the guy in the forehead.
Stunned for a second, the second gunman instinctively reached up to grab the fresh wound and lowered his weapon.
Tommy exploded out of his seat and charged. He let out an angry yell and raised his arm parallel to the floor.
The first gunman saw the movement to his right and spun to address the situation. His reaction was too late.
Sean sprang from his chair, took one huge step over to the gum ball machine, and hefted it off the floor. Gunman number one was already aiming his gun at the charging Tommy when Sean swung the heavy machine and crushed the man’s forearm with the base.
The first gunman shrieked as the bone in his arm cracked. His weapon dropped to the floor, and as he grasped at the broken appendage with the other hand Sean jumped into the air, planted one foot on the counter, pushed off to get even more elevat
ion, and then swung his right shin around with an incredible amount of force.
His shin struck the man in the side of the head and sent him sprawling to the floor. Sean landed next to him and rolled the guy over onto his back.
Meanwhile, Tommy lined up his guy with the inside of his elbow and clotheslined him, driving the bone deep into the gunman’s throat. The man flipped onto his back, his head smacking into the floor. His eyes instantly went hazy, desperately searching for something stable in what was now a spinning room.
“Call the cops,” Sean said as he straddled gunman number one.
The manager shouted something to one of the employees, who hurriedly picked up the phone and started dialing.
The gunman under Sean tried to wiggle free, so Sean raised a fist and punched him across the jaw. The guy’s body went limp, and Sean sighed through his nose.
He looked over at Hank, who was clambering to get up off the floor. “I guess we should probably get our order to go,” Sean said.
Chapter 5
Dubai
Dufort stood with his arms crossed as his men secured the perimeter around the locker area at Union Station. The building was full of people busily rushing about their afternoon to get to or from work. Some locals were rushing to meet up with friends, no doubt taking advantage of the public transit system. Travelers were easy to spot. They almost always carried too much luggage, or often had cameras dangling from their necks.
All the people were just a backdrop to Dufort. He saw the hustle and bustle going on but paid no attention to it. His ears drowned out the sounds of the busy station while his men made sure no one else could see what he was about to retrieve.
He stepped toward the locker and lowered his arms. The key he’d stolen from the Americans hung loosely in his fingers.
Dufort loomed over the locker for a moment. It was at knee level and didn’t look like anything special, just like all the other lockers in the area. Inside this one, however, was something he’d been trying to find for a long time. Getting it would not only lead him to one of the most powerful treasures known to man, it would also be the final undoing of Sean Wyatt and his friend.
The Sahara Legacy Page 4
