by Dawn Kunda
Eikem squeezed off another round, flattening the second guard. Without a blink of an eye a return fire ensued, rebounding off the steel staircase. Eikem downed the third guard, and Al-Maqda was out of sight.
* * * *
Alina shook. She stared at the man who’d fallen within five feet of them.
“Do you know how to use a gun?” Eikem’s breath was steady and controlled.
“I’ve never used one.” She did her best to subdue the rush of dread and adrenaline surging through her.
Eikem handed her his gun and took out another. “My gun is easy. Just pull the trigger.” He scanned the area and pulled her up to the wall. “More will be coming. You’re with Grant, right?”
She nodded her head in disbelief.
“I thought so.”
At the same time as he acknowledged her nod, the door to the circular firing grounds flew open. Two armed men ran through, not noticing Eikem and Alina off to the side.
Eikem pointed his weapon, tipped his head twice to her, and pointed his other index finger to the right armed man. She blinked a “yes, I understand,” and pointed her borrowed weapon.
“On the count of three,” he whispered. “One, two, three.”
Both guns shot within in a fraction of a second. Eikem hit his target full body and the armed man banged against the floor. Alina’s target let out an agonizing bellow as he stumbled to the ground. Her target pushed himself back upright.
Eikem’s bullet sailed into Alina’s target and kept him from rising from the floor.
“Come on. We don’t have much time.”
Alina felt herself tugged toward the firing range door. She’d rather have left to find safety than enter a death trap, but she didn’t have a choice at this point. She couldn’t kid herself, either. She wouldn’t leave Vic behind.
No matter that he’d gotten her here under false pretenses. Deep inside she knew it had to be done that way.
“Play along with me. My name’s Eben. Trust me…like you’d trust Vic.”
She still wasn’t sure how this man had found her or what his ultimate motive was. Back home he’d been with the Americans who had hunted down Vic and herself. She was sure this was one of the men. He was on her side now.
She killed a man.
She began to tremble.
“Alina. Alina.”
How’d he know her name? He shook her.
“I’m on your side. It’s time.”
She froze. A hard, metal barrel pushed at her back. Eben straightened up. He must feel the same thing.
“You thought you could outmaneuver me and my men? Never.” Al-Maqda had guns against them both. “I’ll go with you.” He laughed and shoved them into the firing range.
He pushed Eikem and Alina until they stood next to Vic, Bret, and Borland.
“Now I have you all. You’ve made it easy on me. “Al-Maqda lifted his chin to his remaining gunman. “One at a time. Save the middle one,” he indicated Vic, “and my chemist for last.”
Al-Maqda turned to take the guns from Eikem and Alina.
Chapter 35
Vic knew he had one last chance. He always had another chance, or he wouldn’t be alive at this moment to know.
Vic met Bret’s eyes, glanced to the gunman, then back. Bret blinked once.
The gunman looked up to see Al-Maqda reach for Eikem’s gun.
He knew it was a risky idea, but Vic literally jumped to his feet, kept his head down, and rammed his skull deep into the gunman’s gut. Vic swung his elbow at the automatic weapon. The barrel lifted to the air as a stream of shots resounded high against the cement walls.
The gunman tilted the barrel to the ground and sent another volley of lead into the sand around everyone. Bret followed the setup and dove for the back of the gunman’s legs. The gunman flipped onto his back with a thud.
Keeping his eyes trained on the attack, Vic pulled his tied hands under and up from his legs. With his teeth he yanked the amateur tie from his hands.
Vic heard shouts and screams at his back. He turned to see the man next to Alina, had to be the American that nearly shot them in Sweden, ram into Al-Maqda, and twist the leader’s arm into an unnatural position. The cracking of bone and yell from Al-Maqda assured more time bought.
Readjusting his focus, Vic dove onto the gunman, cracking the gunman’s ribs as Vic landed soundly on top of Bret’s former tackle. Vic dragged the gun from the gunman’s hold. Bret rolled to the side. Vic shot the gunman dead.
“Alina!” Vic continued to scan the grounds as he ran to Alina.
Eikem grabbed his gun from Al-Maqda and juggled it.
“Stop!” Eikem looked up as Vic commanded. Breathing heavily, Vic said, “Let me have him.”
Eikem held his forearm over Al-Maqda’s neck with the gun pushing down on the leader’s broken arm. “I have him. I can take him right now.”
Vic jogged across the tossing dust. “No, he’s mine.” Vic glanced toward Alina. She gave him a pleading look, but held her place, not getting in his path. He looked back to Al-Maqda. Standing over the leader, he held the automatic gun loosely with the barrel knocking the side of Al-Maqda’s head. “You lost this war.”
With his simple statement, Vic pulled the trigger and filled Al-Maqda’s head with a shower of lead.
Vic dropped the gun, looked to Eikem, Bret, and then Borland. He bent over and retrieved a tossed handgun. He shouted across the thirty feet between himself and Borland. “Borland. What brings you here? Why did you leave the States to hunt me down?”
Borland sat on the ground rocking and holding his ankle. He looked to Eikem, then back to Vic. “We came to get you out of trouble.”
Vic walked up to Borland, kicking sand on the bullet wound. “Try again.”
“Hey, we,” he nodded toward Eikem, “were sent here to bring you back. We need your expertise at home.”
With the barrel of the gun resting against Borland’s torn-up ankle, Vic said, “Right, and I’m a damn camel playing in the dunes.” He spit sand from his mouth and wiped his lips. “What do you think I should do with you?” Vic looked at Alina and saw her inching toward him. “Stay back.” She stopped.
Borland frowned. “I thought that leader,” he lifted his chin to the dead man near Eikem, “was our tie to an agreement. You lied to me.”
“Ha! Me, the liar? Think again. I ought to blow you away right here, but you might be able to convince me to think otherwise.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean that you will go back to the United States and pretend that I’m dead. Forget about me, and if you don’t, you will see the underside of the ground.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Then I’m going to kill you.”
Chapter 36
Alina couldn’t believe her ears. Vic didn’t sound scared, frightened, or in any type of fear for his life even after all the gunfire and bleeding and dead men lying around. She had no idea what he planned. Was he going to kill Borland or recruit his help?
“We need to get out of here before more men come after us.” Eikem’s words cut into her volley of thoughts.
“What do you think?” Vic asked Eikem.
“Sir, he is an American. He’s my boss.”
Alina held her breath.
A spray of blood and bullets answered the question. Borland slumped to the ground.
“He’s not a true American. He would’ve done the same to me, if he’d had the chance.” Eikem’s mouth dropped open. “And don’t think I won’t do the same to you if you plan on following Borland’s approach.” Eikem closed his mouth.
Vic rushed to Alina. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, not trusting words that would give away her true emotional state. Vic wrapped his arm around her shoulder and pulled her tight to his chest. His warmth and strength soaked into her body. Through all the grime and dirt, she could smell the scent of a man, the man she wanted. He rested his chin on top of her head, letting out a long breath.
&
nbsp; She sniffed and wiped her cheek against his rough shirt before pulling away. “I thought you were going to die.” He squeezed her. “I thought I was going to die, and I almost didn’t care.”
“Don’t say that. I’m here, and I’m not going to leave you.” He meant it. His eyes steeled around the clouds of dust still sweeping across the ground. “Hey…”
“Eben Eikem, sir.”
Alina figured Eben Eikem and Vic must have some kind of sign language going on. Eikem stood ready to follow whatever Vic commanded even after Eikem’s boss lay dead.
“Eikem, can you get us out of here?”
“Do you know him?” Alina whispered.
“I know him well enough to know he’s not going to kill us.”
Eikem kept Al-Maqda’s handgun ready, waived the rest of them toward the door.
Alina tugged on Vic’s sleeve. “Vic, we can’t go.”
They had begun to run for the door. “What? We have to.” He grabbed her around the waist and threw her over his shoulder.
“Stop! I think someone else is imprisoned here.”
“We can’t save the world right now.” He kept trudging to the exit as she pounded on his back.
“What if it’s Christa?”
He put her down at the door. She hadn’t told him about her day in Al-Maqda’s office and the head in the canvas bag, but what if it hadn’t been Christa? Maybe she’d been fooled. She had to know.
He took a deep breath and looked around. “Eikem, hold up. We got a problem.”
Eikem turned with Bret running into him. Bret had untied his hands in the same manner Vic had. Bret waived his hand back, urging Vic and Alina to keep following him and Eikem.
“Please, it’s why I’m here. I have to check the room I was next to. I heard someone in it. I’m probably wrong…” She thought about the blood-crusted canvas bag and the greasy hair protruding from the opening. “But I won’t ever forgive myself if I don’t find out.”
After what seemed an interminable space of time, Vic nodded. “Where is this room?”
A smile cracked across her face and disappeared as quickly. Energy flooded her body as she grabbed Vic’s hand. “Two stories up. I’ll lead the way.”
Alina led him to the stairs.
“Stay here. We’ll be back,” Vic ordered.
At the second floor, Alina turned down the hall she’d been held on. “That one.” She pointed to the door next to hers. The dead guard had been dragged down the hall and leaned against the wall.
Vic approached the door and listened. “I don’t hear anything.”
Alina pushed him aside and knocked on the door. “Hello, is anyone in here? We want to help.” No one answered. “If you’re trapped in there, we can help you.” She turned to Vic. “Can you shoot the door open?”
He tightened his lips. “Stand back.” He aimed his gun and shot the handle off. The door swung open.
“Oh my God!” Alina’s hands flew up and covered her mouth.
* * * *
As Vic shot the door open, he knew he’d do anything for Alina. They had to be careful and fast, but he’d do it regardless of the consequences. “Is that her?”
Huddled in a corner, a slight woman breathed shallowly. Alina ran over to her. She hugged the woman’s limp body. “I think she passed out, but she’s alive.” Caressing her long hair, Alina turned the woman’s face to her. “It’s not Christa.” Vic watched a few tears slip down her face. “We have to help her, though.”
Like he just told himself, whatever she wants. “Let me get her.” He lifted the woman, resting his gunned hand beneath her. He took Alina’s wrist in his free hand. “Do you know who she is?”
“No, but if she gets some rest and food, maybe she’ll tell us.”
They took the stairs as fast as they could. Bret watched at the bottom. “Eikem went to get a ride. Who’s that?”
Vic raised his brow. “Another passenger. We don’t know her name.”
Before a barrage of questions began, a dark vehicle with a crushed side squealed to a stop at the doors. Vic pulled Alina to the side as Bret ducked. Eikem jumped from the driver’s seat, waiving them on.
“Time to get lucky.” Vic moved quickly. The three of them, with the woman still in Vic’s arms, ran to the car’s doors. The woman stirred as Vic set her in the back with himself and Alina. Bret jumped into the front passenger seat.
The woman let out a scream as she leaned into the seat.
“It’s okay. We’re here to help.” Alina looked at Vic as she finished speaking.
“Can you tell us who you are?” Vic breathed heavily as he talked.
The woman’s eyes ricocheted back and forth between Vic and Alina. She said nothing.
Alina attempted to take the woman’s hand, but she pulled back. Alina assured her, “We want to help you and we’re taking you to safety.” She repeated herself over and over in a soft voice.
Well away from the chemical plant, the woman, staring at her lap, said, “I am Melay Shehata.”
Vic pulled forward from his seat. “Who?”
The woman looked at him. She must be done speaking. Alina addressed Vic. “Melay Shehata. Is she who I think she might be?”
Vic widened his eyes and then turned back to the woman. “Are you Abasi Shehata’s daughter?”
Melay whimpered and nodded her head. “Is…is my father looking for me? I had given up.”
Alina caught Eben’s glance at the rearview mirror. Bret had turned around in his seat. She looked at Vic. “Vic, we have to take her back home.”
Vic didn’t answer immediately. “Eikem, you’re going to Cairo.”
“Sir?”
“You’ll have protection and make a new friend with a leader of Egypt. Bret, I’ll have a different direction for you.”
Chapter 37
The Baghdad International airport came into sight within the next ten minutes. They parked the car in long-term parking and tossed the parking voucher on their way in to the terminals.
“Eikem, take care of Melay. I’ll contact Abasi Shehata while you wait for the plane.” Vic watched for a reaction from Eben Eikem. Eikem listened intently. “You’ll get on a plane to Shehata. He’ll be waiting for you and his daughter and will get you back to the US safely. Do we have a deal?”
“Your explanation of Kreis, Borland, and Duchaine on the way here is enough for me to watch Kreis’s moves. You’ve got a friend on the inside now.”
“Just remember, if Kreis has any idea that you’re reporting to me, you’ll be his next target.”
Eikem snorted. “Kreis is lucky I don’t take him out myself after what you told me. Right under my nose he wants to get rid of you and all your undercover agents. I’ll help you any way I can.”
Vic grasped Eikem’s hand in a firm grip for a couple seconds. “Stay safe, my friend. I’ll be on the plane behind you.” Vic nodded to Melay. She blinked, her freedom not completely realized at this time but slowly sinking in.
Eben Eikem escorted Melay to the EGYPTAIR terminal.
Vic turned his attention to Bret Ferrier. Alina listened, but stayed out of the conversation. “Bret, my man, you made it out alive.” Bret smiled and nodded. “As you well know, I have other agents across the countries in similar situations. They don’t know their lives are nothing and nonexistent according to the US records at this time. You can help us out or try to return home under an alias because if Kreis finds out you’ve successfully come home he’ll still find a way to take you down.”
“My duty is to help the other agents. We’ll take care of Kreis later,” Bret said with a grim look. Without waiting for directions from Vic, Bret continued, “The UK comes to mind and in need of my help.”
“You must’ve given this some thought since I informed you of the target on your back.”
“It’s crossed my mind.”
“Where in the UK were you thinking? That’s a handful of countries.”
“Not quite sure. I’ll let you know when I land.”
“Fair enough. You’re already learning to keep your mouth shut.” Both men grinned and did the manly hand-grab again. They parted with their backs facing each other and didn’t turn around.
Vic looked to Alina. Her face was so beautiful, streaked with leftover sand and tears and wisps of hair trapped across her cheeks. “Alina, it’s time for us to decide where you’re going.”
* * * *
A pang of apprehension shot through her. She stared at the man before her. His dust-covered outerwear made him all the more handsome. The light from the oversize windows of the airport reflected off his eyes. The color resembled the bluebells which covered the side of the mountains back home.
He wanted her to go somewhere without him. Surely he didn’t intend for her to be on the next plane to Cairo instead of heading back to Sweden. Her chest tightened. Already in the airport, she didn’t have much time to convince him of another alternative.
Her voice became hoarse as she said, “I’m going to Cairo with you?”
He turned to her with a grim expression. Taking her arm, he pulled her to the side of the terminal, away from the throngs of people pulling luggage and kids in both hands. “Alina, I still have some things to tie up.”
“So…what does that mean?” She didn’t want to ask the ultimate question. She feared his answer. Was she going with him, or was this the end of their partnership? She watched his eyes, hoping for clarification that she was wrong.
He tipped his head down and took her hands in his. This couldn’t be good. His stance resembled a prelude to bad news. “You okay?”
She blinked back the premature tears. “Of course.”
He squinted his eyes. “I’m not sure I believe you.” With his thumb, he gently rubbed the escaped tear from under her eye. “You’ve been through a lot. Going home and getting back into your life will help you put this experience behind you.”
What did he mean? Put behind the running and hiding, the exploding gunfire, her dead cousin, or the fact that her heart bled with love for a man she couldn’t have? Physically, she’d come out of the mission whole. Mentally, she’d get over it. After the shock of what happened to Christa, she realized that deep down she’d harbored the idea that Christa might not be alive. She never accepted it until she found the proof.
