Burn Zone

by James O. Born

  Duarte peeked down the aisle and saw Staub with a gun to Lina's head.

  Félix said again, "Let's get Lina."

  Duarte shook his head. It hurt to say it, but he did. "We need the other two."

  "No way they're more important than Lina."

  "They have a nuclear weapon in that truck."

  Félix just stared at him and said, "The back door is this way." They both scurried toward it, then barreled out the door and into the Cobalt.

  As Duarte started the car, Félix said, "We need backup."

  Duarte said, "He took my cell. Where's yours?" He stomped on the gas, just seeing the taillight of the truck as it took a corner a few blocks away. The little car bounced and rattled over a curb and onto the street.

  Félix said, "My phone is lost in this mess in the backseat."

  Duarte could hear him sift through old newspapers and food wrappers as he searched for his Nextel.

  Félix called out over his shoulder as he looked in the back, "Who was the dead, naked woman?"

  "My guess is she could activate the bomb." He bumped over railroad tracks, still having the truck in sight. They tried to close but the little whining engine couldn't do it. They stayed in sight several more minutes as the truck weaved in and out of the light traffic, leading them farther and farther from the warehouse and Lina. Duarte's stomach hurt just thinking of her back there with Staub. But they had to find the truck.

  "Staub killed Gastlin, didn't he?"

  "Yeah."

  Félix was silent as he sat forward without his phone, simmering. Duarte could see his face change color as the DEA man thought about the Panamanian police colonel.

  They automatically fell into a grid search, hoping to catch a glimpse of the truck or at least see a cop he could hail for help.

  Duarte turned his head to his friend and said calmly, "Félix, look for your phone again. We need to get help." He hoped it might distract the DEA man as well as help them as their situation grew more desperate.

  Then Duarte saw Pelly's plan in his head. He slammed on the brakes, throwing the unprepared Félix hard into the dash.

  Félix cursed then said, "What? What is it?"

  Duarte started to back up the small car to turn it around and said, "Staub said he had a replacement for the dead woman. A replacement to arm the weapon. This was a trick. They're going back to the warehouse."

  ***

  Pelly had no idea why the colonel would kill the pretty Ukrainian scientist other than her looks. It was done, so it no longer mattered. He had worked for the colonel so long that he knew what the man thought in certain situations. He knew his job was to draw Duarte and his partner away from the warehouse so that he could bring the bomb back and have the new scientist arm it. He had even had to slow down a couple of times so the little Cobalt driven by Duarte would catch up enough to keep him interested. Then, when he had him near the other side of the city, Pelly lost him for good and returned, using a good, direct route he had memorized on his trek away from the warehouse.

  The entire ride back, Ike seemed like a different man. Quiet and nervous, he only looked up occasionally. He seemed disturbed by Lina and her actions.

  Pelly gained respect for her. Not only was she beautiful, she was willing to take drastic steps as part of her duties. She was great. He wondered if he would ever get to see her again when all this unpleasantness was finished.

  Staub raised the garage door as soon as Pelly drove the truck back into the lot. He spun it around and backed into the bay next to poor Professor Tuznia's Audi. He popped out of the pickup and felt some relief when he saw Lina, unharmed and tied to a chair next to the office door. A boney, balding, nervous man was next to her, smoking a cigarette. Obviously the new professor.

  As Pelly walked behind the Audi, he noticed the trunk lid was open and the naked body of Professor Tuznia lay curled in the clean, empty trunk. The colonel had not even bothered to close her eyes. Pelly took a second and pushed down her eyelids.

  Colonel Staub said, "Quickly, Pelly, take Ike and uncrate the front of the weapon. We have little time to waste."

  The skeletal, balding man paced back and forth in front of the office, then changed his direction and headed toward them near the truck.

  With Ike's massive shoulders and arms, they easily slid the crate back onto the tailgate. Pelly used a crowbar from a nearby shelf to pry open the wooden face of the crate.

  The colonel joined them as the bald man reached in and swept away some packing straw. He had apparently already discussed with the scientist what was needed and shown him the cash.

  The man worked amazingly fast, fastening wires and then splicing in his own plug. The plug fit into the back of a cell phone. The man taped the phone next to the open space on the bomb where the wires came out.

  The man looked up at Staub. "When you want to detonate, call number of phone."

  Pelly thought the man sounded German, with his sharp sounds and Ws changed to Vs.

  Staub looked at a small sheet of paper. "I have the number."

  The bald man said, "On the fourth ring, it will answer automatically. Press the numbers one, two, three, four, and that will trigger the mechanism. It will then initiate the first reaction that will then start the fissionable material."

  Staub smiled. "How big will the blast be?"

  "This is a warhead that would've been launched by a Soviet SS-18 missile. Modified, of course. Should be very good explosion. The tamper material is U-235. This surrounds the core. It should yield ten full kilotons. Enough."

  The man didn't look remorseful or proud to Pelly. He was just another guy trying to make a buck off his skills.

  "And this phone will detonate it anywhere?"

  "Anywhere Nextel has service, so not too many places, but it should work if it has a signal."

  "Excellent," said Staub as he motioned for Pelly and Ike to help shove the whole crate back into the truck. Then Staub looked at Ike and said, "Start driving."

  The wide man said, "Now?"

  "Of course now."

  "Where?"

  The colonel looked at him like he was an idiot. "Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada."

  "Where in the hell is that?"

  He handed him an envelope. "Here is a map, and a number to call when the bomb is in position."

  "Why there?"

  "It is the perfect target. Symbolic, military and devastating."

  Ike moaned, "It'll take me more than a day just to drive there."

  "We have time. I will not call the number until you say the truck is in position and you are a safe distance away."

  Ike just stared at the colonel and swallowed hard.

  The colonel raised his voice. "No delays. Get started, now."

  Pelly and Colonel Staub watched as Ike shuffled over to the pickup truck, closed the tailgate on the open bomb, crawled into the driver's seat and slowly pulled the truck out as Staub used a remote to open the big door. Pelly could tell Ike was a beaten man.

  Pelly waved to his American comrade.

  Ike gave him a dispirited nod back.

  The colonel said, "Good luck, Ike. You will be a hero in the new America."

  Ike didn't look thrilled with his potential status as hero. He backed into the lot and paused. Then, after about thirty seconds he pulled onto the street and headed toward downtown Houston.

  Staub turned back toward the office. He called over his shoulder, "Thank you, Professor. Here is your cash." He gestured toward the crate now at the door of the office.

  The bald man said, "I will count."

  "As you wish." Staub placed his phone and a few things from his pocket on a shelf outside the office, then turned toward Lina, who had been following the tall colonel with her eyes every time he moved.

  Pelly felt a twinge of anxiety the way the colonel looked at Lina and said, "Now to tie up loose ends."

  ***

  Duarte felt sure they had been gone too long on their wild-goose chase when he found the street to the
warehouse again. As he came down the street, he saw a vehicle, then said, "Unbelievable. It's the truck."

  Félix said, "You gotta leave me off. I'll get Lina."

  Duarte didn't answer.

  "I can call in help from the office phone. C'mon, just slow down. I'll jump."

  Duarte nodded, watching the truck turn the first corner. He slowed the small Chevy Cobalt as Félix opened his door and sprang out onto the street. He wasn't graceful as he lost his balance and tumbled toward the curb, but Duarte relaxed a little when he looked in the rearview mirror and saw his friend struggle to his feet and start loping toward the warehouse.

  After turning the corner, Duarte saw the truck moving at a reasonable speed and punched the gas to close the distance. He had no gun, so he knew he'd have to ram the truck to disable it. He was prepared to do anything and sacrifice anything to keep a nuclear weapon that he had allowed into the country from being detonated.

  54

  PELLY WATCHED AS THE BALD PROFESSOR QUICKLY COUNTED the stacks of cash in the box. He may have been a physicist, but he wouldn't finish hand-counting the crate full of cash until early morning. He'd have to count a sample then get moving. Pelly wouldn't mind sending the bald man on his way as broke as when he arrived. That was cash that could be used to expand the business. Business that would probably suffer after the colonel made the call to the trigger phone.

  The bald man looked up at Pelly, apparently noticing his face for the first time. He flinched and said, "I need help getting this to my car."

  It was an order, not a request. Pelly said, "It'll cost you a million bucks."

  The professor stared at him.

  "That's only about ten of the stacks of hundreds. You can afford it."

  "I could hire a real monkey for a lot less." The man had no humor in his voice, but it didn't matter. The comment was all Pelly needed.

  He turned toward the man, who had foolishly gone back to counting his cash. He shifted his Beretta for a fast draw, although right now he didn't plan to use it.

  As he took a step toward the man, he said, "You think that's funny, Adolf?"

  ***

  Duarte even took his foot off the gas as he came closer to the truck. Whoever was driving didn't seem to be paying any attention at all and didn't know there was a car coming up behind him. Duarte backed off as he saw a main road coming up in the distance. Traffic would give him better cover and maybe a chance to get some help.

  The little Cobalt dropped back and its engine lost the constant whine that Duarte was becoming accustomed to.

  The truck came to a stop at the intersection and lingered. Duarte eased up behind the truck and caught a glimpse of William "Ike" Floyd in the driver's seat. His hangdog expression and blank stare explained why he had not moved, even though there was no oncoming traffic.

  Duarte made some quick calculations as to his chances of jumping out of his car and grabbing Floyd before he drove off. But he waited, wondering why Floyd was hesitating.

  He had to work on the assumption that the bomb was functional and that it was still in the back of the pickup truck with the small camper top.

  He considered his options as the truck slowly pulled onto the larger road.

  ***

  Pelly stepped closer to the professor hunched over the box of cash. Before he threw the first punch, he knew what would hurt the man the most.

  Pelly said, "Hey, look at me."

  The man turned his head to look up at the standing Pelly.

  Pelly drew the pistol, placed it on the man's forehead, pulled back the hammer and said, "Get out. Right now."

  "But my money."

  "Will do you no good in hell." Pelly tensed his finger, and the man sprang to his feet and darted toward the outside door. A smile crept across his face as he stepped out of the office and back into the warehouse.

  Then Pelly heard the colonel's voice rise. He turned to see his boss leaning in toward the bound Lina and cursing at the FBI agent. He bent in close to her and placed a hand on her forearm, squeezing and speaking into her ear.

  Pelly said, "Hey, boss, we need to go."

  The colonel didn't turn to look at him, but said, "Not yet, Pelly. I have to teach this whore a lesson."

  Pelly had heard Colonel Staub make similar comments over the years, always to disastrous effects on the women he was speaking to. Pelly felt his stomach tighten as he tried to determine what, exactly, he was feeling. Was this remorse? His hand slipped onto the handle of the Beretta and said again, "We have to go, boss."

  Staub ignored him, still focusing on Lina. He whipped out the small automatic pistol he had in his belt and swung it in a wide arc, striking Lina in the temple. Her head lolled to the other side as the colonel lined up for his follow-through.

  Pelly shouted, "Wait."

  It was just loud enough for the colonel to look up.

  He looked as shocked as Pelly felt. Somehow, without conscious thought, Pelly had drawn his gun and had it pointed at his boss.

  ***

  The light traffic on the four-lane street made keeping the big F-150 pickup truck in sight easy.

  Duarte kept one car in between them as he became more anxious about stopping William Floyd before he managed to get to an interstate. He had pulled alongside the truck twice. The driver's window was open and Floyd looked like he was extremely preoccupied, running his hand over his face and then hanging his head out the window slightly, trying to get air.

  Duarte considered this and decided to use it to his advantage and act.

  The stoplight ahead of them changed to yellow. There was a Buick in front of Floyd's truck and no one on the side. This was his chance.

  The light turned red, and traffic on the cross street started to move forward. There was nowhere for the pickup to go. Duarte stopped the little Cobalt slightly behind the big truck, then, without any hesitation, hopped out of the small car, darted to the side of the truck and moved up toward the driver's door silently. It was a tactic he and other cops had used before but always with a gun drawn. This was too big to risk Floyd getting away. Even if he did shoot Duarte, it would attract police attention. Anything to get the word out.

  He grabbed the outside door handle with his left hand and yanked, feeling the door swing wide immediately.

  No other drivers even noticed the quick action.

  He heard Floyd say, "What the hell?"

  But that was all he got out before Duarte swung a right elbow hard into the big racist's face. Blood spouted from his crushed nose and split lip as Duarte stepped up on a running board and kicked him hard to the other side of the wide truck cab. Duarte threw an extra kick into the big man's head to daze him, but it bounced hard off the opposite door, and he slid off the bench seat onto the floorboard. Maybe it was a gratuitous strike.

  ***

  Félix Baez was shaky from jumping out of Duarte's car. He knew the ATF man was serious about catching the truck but had thought he'd slow down a little more. He had stood up immediately and started moving toward the giant storage complex. He slipped in through the door he had pried open earlier. As soon as he was inside, he knew exactly where to head and what to do.

  He had his pistol in his hand and ducked a little as he scurried toward the bright overhead lights in front of the glass office he had shot up earlier.

  His right knee throbbed from his fall and tumble. His arm still hurt from his mishap.

  As he came up the aisle, he saw the slender, fit-looking, hairy first mate. There was something else familiar about him that was obscured in the hair that seemed to coat his entire upper body. As he stopped to survey the area, it hit him. That was the Panamanian security officer who'd checked his identification the first time he met Colonel Staub.

  Félix was exposed and couldn't see as well as he wanted from this position. He backed away and started climbing the shelves so he would have the high ground to fight from. He negotiated several large boxes on his way up, then crawled through some toasters on pallets to end up at
the front of the shelf and overlooking the whole office area.

  He saw the hairy guy looking toward Staub, who was standing next to Lina. The FBI agent's head hung to one side.

  That son of a bitch had to pay. Even though the hairy guy had a pistol in his hand, Félix lined up his shot on Staub. He had to make sure Lina was safe before he could turn his attention to the hairy guy.

  Félix drew a deep breath and checked the scene once more. The hairy guy seemed to be covering Lina, too, but was too far away from her and had Staub between him and Lina. Félix sighted in on Staub and slowly let out his breath.

  55

  COLONEL LÁZARO STAUB WAS AT A LOSS. HE SAW HIS LONGTIME assistant, Pelly, pointing a Beretta at him, but he couldn't believe it. Had he gone mad?

  Next to him, Lina shook her head to clear it, then she, too, was transfixed by Pelly and the barrel of the small pistol.

  Staub said, "Pelly, have you lost your mind?" He let his eyes move off of Pelly and saw the crate of cash near the office but saw no sign of the new Ukrainian physicist.

  "Where is the scientist?"

  "I sent him on his way."

  "Is this a money issue, Pelly?"

  "A business issue. This whole plan makes no sense from a business perspective." He looked at the FBI agent and said, "I want Lina released, too."

  The bound FBI agent said, "Thanks, Pelly."

  Staub felt his heart skip a beat. "I get the feeling you knew each other before today."

  Pelly just smiled, the fur wrinkling around his mouth.

  Staub cut his eyes to his phone on the shelf next to the office window. Was it time to make the call? He didn't think William Floyd had driven far enough away. He had planned to blow the bomb shortly, in hopes of taking out Duarte and anyone else who could identify them. He had given up Nellis Air Force Base as a target. All Staub needed to do was get into Mexico, and from there he could assume the identity of Wilfredo López of Argentina, living quietly off his fortune, content in the knowledge that he had had the final laugh about the U.S. invasion of Panama. He preferred his primary plan of continuing his career with the national police in Panama, but he could live with his backup plan.