Or would they?
Spencer was so deeply conflicted that when his phone rang, it startled him. The display read UNKNOWN CALLER. Tentatively, he pressed the CALL button on his steering wheel, answered.
“Hello?”
“Mr. Coltraine, this is Colonel Quentin Hallier.”
“Colonel,” Spencer answered. “Have you found Maddy? Is she all right?”
“Before I answer that,” Hallier said, “I need you to answer two very important questions for me.”
“Of course. Name them.”
“First, why did you try to ditch my agents? And second, what do you think you’re doing?”
Spencer swallowed hard. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Yes, you do,” the colonel insisted. “You know exactly what I’m talking about. So now you’re going to do something for me now, Mr. Coltraine. And it’s not up for negotiation.”
“What’s that?” Spencer replied.
“You’re going to turn your car around and go home.”
“What?”
“You heard me. I want you to drive back to your condominium and wait until you hear from me or a member of my team regarding your wife.”
“And why would I do that?”
“Because I suspect you’re up to something. And whatever that something is, it’s not going to end well for you.”
“I’m afraid that’s not going to happen, Colonel.”
“Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
Hallier was angry. “Do you realize who you’re talking to?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Then before I have you detained for interfering in a military investigation, I suggest you do as you’ve been told.”
Spencer paused. “With all due respect, Colonel, I’d like you to answer a question for me.”
“If I can.”
“It’s a simple one.”
“Go ahead.”
“Just who the fuck do you think you’re talking to?”
Hallier’s voice boiled. “What did you just say to me?”
Spencer rallied back. “Maddy works for you, Colonel. She’s your asset. I’m not. Don’t think for a second that you can tell me what to do. I’ll go about my business as I see fit. From where I stand, you’re responsible for Maddy’s kidnapping. You gave her this all-important appointment, put her in charge of Project Overlord, but you failed to protect her. Now it’s up to me to find my wife and get her back. So do us both a favor and stay the hell out of my way.” With that, Spencer ended the call.
Hallier stared at his phone. “That sonofabitch is going to get them both killed,” he said aloud. He punched in a number, waited for the call to connect.
“Tamblyn.”
“Where are you now?”
“En route to Carson, sir.”
“Do you have a fix on Coltraine?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Find him and take him down.”
“Sir?”
“You heard me. He’s become a liability. I want him taken into custody before somebody ends up dead.”
“Copy that, Colonel.”
Hallier ended the call as Chris walked up the gravel roadway toward the main gate. The precariousness of the situation disturbed him. Without Madelaine Coltraine at the helm, Project Overlord would come to a screaming halt. Tens of millions of dollars in research and development would be lost. He had no choice. Spencer had to be found and stopped before the situation got any worse.
Chris met him at the gate. “Give me a second to check out the guardhouse, then I’ll let you in.”
Hallier nodded.
Jordan called out from the back of the yard. “Chris!”
Chris turned on the steps of the guardhouse, answered. “What is it, J?”
“I found the guard.”
“And?”
“He’s dead.”
22
THE CHINESE AGENTS searched the service road next to the Blue Water Marina for Madelaine but failed to find her.
Qin had watched her jump from the boat lift platform to the rooftop of the neighboring building. She was sure that at least one bullet she had fired had found its mark. She’d heard her cry out as she landed on the roof. With any luck, she had caught her in the leg, which would slow her down, make her easier to track. If that was the case, and she was wounded, she would not be able to travel far within the area. Depending on the severity of the gunshot, not only would her mobility be impaired, but so too would her strength and stamina. Qin knew what it felt like to take a bullet. Her shoulder still ached from the experience. She had taken out the man who had shot her, but not before receiving a close-range round from his semi-automatic pistol. He had been an American, a spy, like her, and she had caught up to him in the parking garage of Shanghai Pudong International Airport. He had recognized her as she walked past him, then spun around, drew his weapon, and fired. Her plan had been to exchange a friendly smile, then turn, fire, and kill him on the spot. Unfortunately for her, he had been faster. The bullet tore through her shoulder and sent her reeling backward into a parked car. It was the action of slamming back first into the vehicle that ultimately gave her the advantage. She had already drawn her gun and raised it to fire when the impact of the American’s round knocked her off balance. When her back met the car, she squeezed the trigger involuntarily, and the weapon discharged. The rounds trajectory couldn’t have been more precise. The bullet entered the American’s forehead and exited out the back of his skull. In death, he stood in front of her for a second, his brain unable to inform his body that it was no longer operational, then collapsed. It was after midnight, and they were alone in the uppermost level of the parking garage. She had dragged his body behind the car, placed a call, provided the appropriate instructions, and exited the lot unseen. The call was a request to dispatch a clean-up crew to her location. The body would be recovered and never seen again.
Qin massaged her bad shoulder as she walked beside the Mercedes, scanning the commercial businesses with her flashlight when her phone vibrated. She checked the display: CHANG.
“La shi!” she said. “Shit!”
Zhang heard the vibration. “Who is it?” he asked.
“Who do you think?”
A second buzz.
“If it’s Chang, you’d better pick up.”
“And tell him what?” Qin replied nervously.
Bzzzz....
“Now, Qin!”
Qin answered the phone. “Ni hao.”
“You’re late,” Chang said.
Qin struggled to find the right words. “We’ll need a little more time.”
Chang was quiet for a moment, then spoke. “Where is she?”
Their handler was not a man to be lied to. Qin hesitated. “She…”
Chang drew out the words, his tone cold. “Where… is… she?”
“We’re searching for her now.”
“What do you mean, you’re searching for her?”
“There was a problem.”
“Be specific.”
“She got away.”
“She what?”
“It wasn’t my fault. It was—”
“I don’t care whose fault it was,” Chang interrupted. “I gave you both this assignment. You’re equally responsible for delivering her to me tonight. This ship has a schedule to keep. Thanks to you, we’re already late.”
“I’m sorry.”
An uncomfortable silence preceded Chang’s reply. “Do you realize what it will mean for all of us if Dr. Coltraine is not on this ship when we leave port?”
“I...”
“Do you think Beijing will care whose fault it was that we did not deliver her as instructed?”
Qin knew better than to speak.
“Where are you now?”
“In the area.”
“Stay where you are. I’m sending a team to help you.”
“Sir, I don’t believe we need any assis—”
“Quiet! Your
incompetence is proof that you do. Now give me your location.”
Qin knew what it meant that Chang was sending a second team. She shuddered at the thought. “Northwest San Pedro. Half a mile from the Blue Water Marina in the commercial district. Black Mercedes, diplomatic plates.”
“Stay there,” Chang demanded. “Don’t move. Do you understand me?”
“Yes, sir.”
Chang ended the call.
Qin dropped the phone to her side. “Cao!” she cursed.
“Well?” Zhang asked.
Qin snapped at her partner. “Well, what?”
“What did Chang say?”
“He’s sending a team.”
“Where?”
“Here. To us.”
Zhang paused. “We need to find her before they find us.”
Qin said nothing. She turned off the flashlight, started down the road.
“Qin?”
“What?”
“Did you hear what I said?”
Qin turned, stared into the car, then trained her gun on Zhang.
Zhang raised his hands to protect himself. “No!” he cried.
“You did this,” Qin said.
“Please, Qin!”
“You let her get the better of you.”
“I’m sorry!”
“We were minutes away from delivering her to Chang… minutes… and you fucked it up.”
“It’s not too late,” Zhang pleaded. “She couldn’t have gone far. There’s still time. We can find her. I can find her!”
“I won’t let them kill me because of your recklessness.”
“I’ll let them take me,” Zhang said. “You won’t be hurt. I swear.”
“That’s not the way it works, and you know it.”
“Please…”
“Trust me, Zhang. If I shoot you now, I’ll be doing you a favor. The MSS won’t show you anywhere near this much merc—”
In the distance, a dog barked.
Qin listened intently to the ferocity of its cry. A guard dog, most likely. Something or someone had disturbed the animal. “Did you hear that?” she asked.
Zhang nodded.
Qin lowered her weapon, opened the door, and slipped into the sedan. “Find it,” she ordered.
“But Chang told us to—”
“I don’t care what Chang said,” Qin replied curtly. “Drive. I want to know where that dog is and what set it off.”
23
THE DOG STOOD as tall as a wolf and loomed ahead of Maddy in the darkness. Its fire-red eyes locked on her as it crept out from behind a stack of dented steel barrels piled haphazardly at the opposite end of the yard from where Maddy stood. The beast growled as it moved forward, taking one tentative step at a time, assessing the stranger that had invaded its space, protecting its territory. The sound that emanated from it was the most chilling Maddy had ever heard an animal utter. Unsure what to do, she froze, then slowly moved her hand to the small of her back, felt for the grip of the gun, and closed her hand around the weapon. As the dog took another step, she pulled the gun from her waistband and held it at her side. She loved animals and would never think of harming one, but if it came down to being attacked by one hundred pounds of muscle and gnashing teeth, the animal would leave her with no choice but to shoot to kill. She was in no position to defend herself against it. The gunshot wound in her leg had flared to life after struggling to gain access to the compound by crawling under the chainlink fence. Blood flowed freely down her thigh. She would need to find something to apply pressure to the wound and stem the blood flow, but right now dealing with the creature staring her down, teeth bared and jowl quivering, was a tad higher on the priority list.
“Nice doggy,” Maddy said. She smiled, extended her hand in a welcoming manner. “I won’t hurt you. I promise. That is, unless you try to eat me.”
The dog responded by stepping further into the compound and licking its chops. In the scant light, Maddy watched the drool fall from its jowls. Its body language telegraphed its intentions; head low, shackles up. It was preparing to attack.
A voice called out from behind the fallen barrels. “Come any closer and you’re fucking dead!”
Maddy was so focused on the dog and the threat it posed to her life that she hadn’t even considered the possibility that someone might be accompanying the animal. “I’m sorry,” she called out. “I didn’t mean to break in. There are people after me. I need help.”
The voice remained in the shadows. “Who’s after you?”
The dog growled, took another step.
“I don’t know.”
“You always break into peoples’ businesses at night?” the voice asked. “That some kind of thing with you?”
“No,” Maddy replied. “Absolutely not. This is my first break-in ever, I swear.” Crap, she thought. That sounded so stupid.
The red eyes blinked.
“The gun,” the voice said. “Put it on the ground… slowly.”
Maddy did as she was told.
“Kick it ahead. Far enough that you can’t reach it.”
Maddy kicked the gun. The weapon skittered across the asphalt towards the dog.
“Now turn around and grab the fence.”
Maddy turned, laced her fingers through the chainlink, waited.
Footsteps behind her now. Closing the distance. The scraping of steel against asphalt as the weapon was picked up.
“I’m really sorry,” she said.
“Turn around.”
Maddy turned. The teenager standing in front of her couldn’t have been any older than sixteen. He held the dog firmly by its collar. The animal was even larger than she thought it was. Its back nearly reached the young man’s waist.
“Who are you,” he asked, “and what are you doing in our yard?”
“My name is Madelaine,” Maddy answered. “I told you. People are after me. I think they want to kill me.”
“What did you do to piss ‘em off?”
Maddy shook her head. “Nothing.”
“Then why do they want to kill you?” The dog growled. The teen shook the collar, commanded the dog. “Quiet.” The animal chuffed, still not content that its master had the situation under control.
The words felt strange as Maddy said them aloud. “They think I’m important.”
“Are you?”
Maddy shrugged, then nodded. “Yeah, I suppose I am.”
“How come?”
“What do you mean?”
“What makes you so important that someone would want to kill you?”
Maddy stared at the dog, then looked at the teen. “Do you suppose I could sit down? My leg is in pretty bad shape.”
“You cut it?”
“I’ve been shot.”
“Shot?” the teen said. “You shittin’ me?”
Maddy shook her head. “I wish I was.”
It was now obvious to the teen that the stranger who had infiltrated the yard posed no immediate threat to him or his dog. “Yeah, sure. You need help?”
Maddy nodded. “Couldn’t hurt.” The teen released the dog, crossed the yard, and slipped his shoulder under Maddy’s arm. She tensed. “You sure your dog won’t attack me?”
The teen smiled. “Eddy? Nah. His bark is worse than his bite. But I’m pretty sure if he thought someone was going to attack me, he’d take care of business, big time.”
“His name is Eddy?”
“Yeah. What about it?”
Maddy looked down at the massive animal as they walked across the yard to the pile of discarded steel shipping drums. Behind them stood a rusty container, the type used to ship goods around the world on freighters. Its door was ajar. The teen retrieved a lawn chair from inside, unfolded it, then helped Maddy into the seat. Maddy sighed, then answered his question. “It’s just that he doesn’t look much like an Eddy.” She looked at the dog. “No offense.”
Eddy cocked his head, stared at her, licked his chops.
“Oh, yeah?” the teen asked. �
��What does he look like then?”
“Truthfully?”
“Sure.”
“I’d have gone with Fang, Killer, or Kong… maybe even Satan.”
The teen smiled. “I get it. ‘Cause he’s big and ugly and scary looking.”
“I wouldn’t necessarily call him ugly,” Maddy said.
“You don’t think so?”
“More like cosmetically challenged.”
The teen snickered. He looked down at the dog. “You hear that, Eddy? You’re ‘cosmetically challenged.’”
Eddy looked up at his master, panted, then lay on the ground and let out a deep sigh.
“You didn’t tell me your name,” Maddy said.
“That’s ‘cause you didn’t ask.”
Maddy smiled. “Fair enough.” She extended her hand. “I’m Dr. Madelaine Coltraine. My friends call me Maddy.”
The teen shook her hand. “Name’s Bullet. No doctor title. My friends call me Bullet.”
Maddy laughed, then winced. “Pleased to meet you, Bullet.”
Bullet noticed her painful expression. “Your leg?”
Maddy nodded. “It hurts like hell.”
Bullet smirked. “Lady, until you’ve spent a day in my life, you don’t know the first thing about hurt.”
24
CHRIS ENTERED THE guardhouse, pressed the button to release the rolling entrance gate, and waited for Hallier to enter. The two men made their way through the boat storage yard. They found Jordan kneeling beside the guard’s corpse.
“Dr. Coltraine sure as hell didn’t do that,” Hallier said.
“Look at the wounds,” Chris said. “One bullet to each leg.”
Nemesis: A Jordan Quest FBI Thriller Page 8
