First Target

by Robin Mahle

  “I don’t doubt that for one second, but I’ll be okay. I can handle myself too.” Shaw ushered her inside, taking note of the several embassy officers that had gathered around for extra security. “We need to see the ambassador.”

  A man in a grey suit approached. “You caused quite a scene out there. Paperwork alone will be a nightmare.” He looked at Lacy. “I know who you are. Figured that out as soon as it began. They must’ve wanted to get their hands on you pretty badly, Lacy Merrick. You got lucky you made it this far.” He turned to Shaw. “What I don’t know is who you are.”

  “A friend.” Shaw held out his passport with a different name. “I accompanied Mrs. Merrick here to ensure she made it safely.”

  “That appears to have been a wise call.” Once again, he turned to Lacy. “They seem to think you broke the law, Mrs. Merrick. You went into one of their banks and behaved in a disorderly manner. That’ll get you in trouble here, you know.”

  “That’s not why they want me and I think you know that.”

  “I think we should talk some place a little more private.” He turned on his heel.

  “Can we see the ambassador or not?” Shaw asked.

  “He’s not here, unfortunately. So you’re stuck with me.” He finally offered a greeting. “Chris Macafee, Vice-Consul. Nice to meet you, Lacy Merrick, and you too—friend.” He looked at Shaw, appearing to understand the nature of Shaw’s background, and acknowledging he would not question it further. “So if you’ll both follow me back, we need to talk.”

  Lacy was relieved to be safely inside the embassy but didn’t like this guy and didn’t know what his agenda was. She’d begun to feel as though she would become a pawn in this strategic positioning between the two countries. Not exactly as she’d planned when insisting on travelling here with Axell and the others. Which, by the way, she still had no idea if they were actually safe. The plan was for Aaron to get on a later bus. But had he arrived? Had he already known what happened out front? His safety was all but assured in her mind, but that could change depending on what was about to happen with Mr. Macafee.

  A guard who’d accompanied them to the second floor conference room closed the door on his way out.

  “Can I get either one of you a drink? I feel as though I could use one right about now.” Macafee walked to a cabinet that appeared to house several varieties of liquor.

  “I’m fine, thank you,” Lacy said.

  “Same here. Look, Mr. Macafee, we just need to get Merrick on a plane back to Virginia. Back to her family.”

  “Before we go down that road, I’d like to understand why it is that you’re here in the first place, Mrs. Merrick? It seems unlikely you, of all people, would want to visit here on vacation. And with your friend as an escort.” A brief glance to Shaw. “You will not be officially recognized by the embassy, in case you were concerned. As far as I’m concerned, you’re just a friend. Isn’t that right?”

  He nodded. “Yes, sir.”

  “I’ll get to the point. The ministry wants to know why you’re here. They know who you are. We all do. So what could possibly bring you here after everything that’s happened back home?”

  “You sound as though you’re not very fond of me, Mr. Macafee,” Lacy said. “I suppose you’d have been happy not to know what really happened. Probably would’ve maintained the status quo here, am I right?”

  “I think we’re getting off on the wrong foot here. Why don’t we start over?” He sat down at the table. “Please, join me.”

  Shaw appeared reluctant to oblige but followed Lacy’s lead.

  “Good. Now. I need you to be honest with me, Mrs. Merrick. Have you travelled alone?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you sure about that? And before you answer again, just know that the ministry has provided me with the surveillance footage of you walking around the streets of Beijing. And it certainly did not appear as though you were alone.”

  She wondered why he hadn’t mentioned Shaw and how he came to be at the hotel in what turned out to be a rescue effort. Someone here, in Shaw’s inner circle, must have been responsible for keeping that out of the equation. Good thing. Meaning Shaw just might make it out of this with his cover intact. “Why does it matter? Am I not free to travel where I want? Did that change the day I decided to expose the truth?”

  “Look, you and I both know, Mr. Macafee,” Shaw interrupted, “that Merrick isn’t safe here. Whatever you think of her, she did what any American would have done, regardless of the fact that it has made your life a little more difficult. I’m sure the families of the hundreds of US citizens who died in the mall attack wish their lives hadn’t been made more difficult either. But there you go. I hope you’re not considering delaying Merrick’s return to the US? She should be allowed to leave on the next flight. She’s done nothing wrong.”

  “She, in fact, did behave in a disruptive manner in a public place. That may not mean much in the US, but here, it’s a different story altogether. You, of all people, should realize that. Not to mention she’s travelling under a false passport. That’s no small offense. I’m afraid the secretary of state has been informed of the situation, given the high-profile of Mrs. Merrick.”

  Lacy closed her eyes for a brief moment. What were the odds the president was going to be informed too, and was he going to let her off? He had to know or at least suspect something was going on. Yang was in-country, Shaw was involved. They were exposed now. And if the president knew, he might make sure she stayed put until the plan was executed. She could say nothing and do nothing if forced to remain in Beijing under a trumped up charge of inappropriate public conduct. A pile of horseshit in any event. If Axell and Caison didn’t succeed, then in all likelihood, Lacy would be forced to stay until Yang did what he came here to do.

  Shaw seemed to pick up on the same vibe as he regarded Lacy with growing concern. The writing was on the wall. They were not going to get the help they thought they would. Not now. Not after what happened outside. It was over. And all their eggs were in Maddox’s basket.

  The sky was pitch black. No street lights and only a few homes where bulbs burned on dilapidated front porches. One of which was where Yang resided at this very moment, discussing a plot to kill innocent Chinese and whoever else got in their way on the US government’s dime.

  The agents approached the edge of Mehmut’s home. It was a detached building with obvious wear from years of neglect and erosion.

  “How many inside?” Caison asked.

  “Looks like five. Including Fatima.”

  “Any chance we got ears on her?” Caison added.

  Maddox turned to him and revealed a half-cocked grin. “This isn’t my first rodeo, Caison. Fatima was more than willing to help us out. So long as she’s rewarded, which won’t be a problem.”

  “No live feed, though?” Axell pressed on.

  “No. I didn’t have the time to set it up. And I sure as shit didn’t bring the equipment. I thought this was gonna be a smash and grab, you know?”

  “Yeah. Best laid plans and all that bullshit.”

  “Precisely. We’ll just have to wait. Although these guys might take care of themselves if Yang believes he’s being betrayed by his own people. No one inside looks particularly happy at the moment.”

  “Wish he’d do us the favor,” Caison said. “It’d be better to have smaller numbers.”

  “Now where’s the fun in that?” Maddox returned his attention to the front door. “If one of them comes out, we gotta take ‘em down. No ifs or butts or coconuts.”

  “I don’t think that’s the right context.” Axell tossed a glance at the shadows crossing in front of a side window. “You might get the chance anyway. Get ready, boys.”

  A flash of light and the crack of rapid gunfire filled the quiet street.

  “Shit, shit! What’s happening?” Axell said. “We need to move now!”

  “Wait!” Maddox stopped him. “Wait till they come out. We go in there and we’ll lose our le
verage. They don’t know we’re here and won’t see shit if they come out.”

  More gunfire erupted and the door flew open. Fatima fell to the ground and lay still on her back.

  “Son of a bitch!” Maddox’s eyes widened with anger. “They fucking got her.”

  “Goddam it, Maddox. They’ll hear you!” Caison’s tone was a cross between a whisper and a reprimand.

  Four others, including Yang and Mehmut, emerged from the building, weapons aimed at the night and skulking like predators on the hunt.

  “Damn it. They know we’re here. And they know she was wired,” Caison said. “We have to take them out.”

  “We fire now and we give away our position,” Axell said. “Caison, go around the backside. Maddox and I will take cover at the car. That’s when all hell’s going to break loose. Be ready and be careful. Go! Now!”

  Caison ran around to the back of the building and watched as Yang and three other men continued to peer into the darkness. His steps drew their attention, briefly, but they turned back at a disturbance ahead. It was Axell and Maddox making their way to the car. He knew what Axell wanted to do. They were in position. He’d been here before. Axell would draw their fire so he could get a clean shot. It would be hard as hell in the dark, but they had no other choice. Yang couldn’t be allowed to leave. They had to take him down and now was the time.

  Caison made his way to the opposite end of the building and began to move toward the front. No sign of gunfire from his side or theirs. Maybe he could take the shot before they spotted the rest of his team.

  In that moment, a voice broke through. “Are you happy now? She’s dead. You forced her to betray me and she paid with her life.”

  It was Yang. Caison had heard the man enough times to know the voice.

  “We know why you’re here, Yang.”

  “Shit,” Caison whispered. He knew it was Axell and that he wanted Yang to fire. Catch him off guard so Will could do what he needed to do.

  “Do you know that it was your government that sent me? They wanted to help me free the people of Uyghur.” Yang continued to aim his weapon at no particular target. “And in return, I give them information on the MSS. It was a perfect solution.”

  Axell and Maddox remained behind the car several yards away, but it wouldn’t take them long to realize that was just about the only hiding place there was in the area. Residents began to emerge but quickly retreated at the sight of what was happening.

  “You’re being used, Yang. The only thing our government wants is retribution and you’re the catalyst. We won’t let you do it. You have to know that, Yang. Doesn’t matter what my government does. I won’t let you do it. I know it was your people who killed Agent Colburn. Probably the Meekses too.”

  Caison’s mouth was slightly ajar. In that moment, he realized Axell’s agenda. He wanted to be the one to take out Yang. Maybe that wasn’t how this started, but as sure as he was standing here now, gun ready to fire, that was how it was going to end.

  “Was it you, then, Agent Axell? You who killed Wendell Turner for revenge?”

  A prolonged silence was soon broken by the sound of a bullet striking the hood of the car that rang out into the streets with a ping. Trails of light sparked and faded on impact.

  Yang had pegged Axell’s location and fired the first shot. “You know my friends will not let you leave, even if you do manage to kill me. This will not end tonight. It will not end until the Party pays for their treatment of my people.”

  How long would it be before this old-fashioned stand-off drew the attention of the police? The village was rural, but the Party kept a tight rein on the region. If they showed up, Caison and his team stood little chance of leaving alive. And if that happened, CIA operatives would be exposed, relations wouldn’t just be strained any more. They’d be nonexistent.

  This had to end now. And Caison was going to have to be the one to do it.

  He aimed his weapon at the shadow of a target. It appeared as though the man on the right was Yang, but he just couldn’t be sure. He’d have to be prepared to kill them both. But the other men were no longer in his sights. “Damn it, Axell. I hope you have them.”

  As Yang again fired on the vehicle, Caison took tighter aim, his eye closed and his hands placed firmly on the weapon. He released the safety. The crack of his gun echoed in the street and Yang fell. The other man turned and began firing at Caison.

  Both agents emerged from behind the car at the erupting gunfire from Yang’s associates. Axell marched forward and began firing. The sky lit up with flashes of light from every direction. The other men were hunkered down near a home several feet away. They fired back.

  Axell ducked again for cover near the car. “Maddox! Behind you!” He turned back. Two shots, in the dark, a man fell next to Yang. It was Mehmut.

  The other men had revealed their position and the agents fired on them. Caison emerged and offered cover as Axell and Maddox made their way toward them, firing along the way.

  Rounds pinged nearby cars, hurled into the dirt streets and screams sounded in nearby houses. It would only be minutes before police arrived. They were out of time.

  Then the shots ended. Maddox had taken out one and Axell the other. But the problem wasn’t nearly over yet. They needed a way out and Axell was pissed.

  “What the hell?” Axell rushed to Caison. “He was mine!”

  “I had to take the shot. It was the best chance we had. Axell, if we don’t get the hell out of here before the police show, we won’t get out at all.”

  “He’s right. We need to jam. Van’s waiting a mile away. Run now!”

  Chapter 26

  Protected beneath a heavy hooded coat and veiled in darkness, Aaron approached the embassy. The familiar red and blue lights of patrol cars flashed as he drew near, except these spun atop cars plastered with Chinese characters on the hoods and doors. He stopped in his tracks, unclear as to his next move. Something appeared to have gone terribly wrong. Was Lacy inside or had she been taken away, detained in a police station somewhere in the city. What about Agent Shaw?

  He continued to assess the situation, knowing a decision must be made now before his presence captured the attention of nearby authorities. Aaron turned around and headed in the direction from which he came. The only solution was to try to make contact with Shaw. And if that didn’t work, wait until Axell was within range and try him again. Though he hadn’t spoken with him since leaving for the bus station, he had to assume they made it to Kashgar, praying the job was done.

  Equipped with a CIA-issue cell phone, a welcome gift from Shaw, Aaron walked to a nearby bench and sat down to make the call. The line rang as he peered onto the streets and watched the cars and people pass by. “Come on. Answer, damn it.”

  “Hello?”

  “Shaw, it’s Hunter. Where are you? Where’s Lacy?”

  “Aaron Hunter?”

  His stomach dropped as he pulled the phone away from his ear, double checking the number he dialed. The voice on the other end sounded nothing like Shaw. “Who is this?”

  “Mr. Hunter, it would be wise for you to come to the embassy. Your safety has become a concern.”

  “Where’s Shaw?”

  “I’m not sure who Shaw is. I do believe you’re familiar with Lacy Merrick. She was accompanied by a friend. He’s here, speaking with the vice-consul now. And so is she. We’re here to protect you, Mr. Hunter. Please, you need to come in. They will be looking for you too.”

  “Who’s looking for me? I’ve done nothing wrong and neither have my friends.”

  “You’re travelling under false documents, Mr. Hunter. You won’t be allowed to leave the country until that is resolved. The Chinese government is aware. So again, I advise you to enter the embassy where we can ensure your safety—and that of your travelling companions.”

  “Why do I get the feeling I’m being threatened?”

  “No one is threatening you. But you have broken the law and this is not a country in which
law enforcement is lax. I’m sure you understand my meaning.”

  He ended the call without another word. “Shit.” They had Lacy. They had Shaw and now they wanted him too. But was this man telling the truth? That the embassy was protecting them and wanted to do the same for him. His gut railed against what his head was shouting. Do as they asked and go to the embassy, trust his government, and confirm Lacy was safe. Or flee to a place off the beaten path and wait to make contact with Axell.

  “No.” He stood up. “No.” He tried Axell’s phone, squeezing shut his eyes. “Come on, man. Answer. I need you, man. I need your help.” Still, the line rang.

  “Hunter, what’s going on?”

  “Oh, thank God. Axell, where are you guys?”

  “Landing on the outskirts of Beijing. The problem’s been handled.”

  Aaron knew that meant Yang was dead and that they’d all made it out alive. But the relief he felt was short lived. “Lacy and Shaw are at the embassy.”

  “Good.”

  “No, man. It’s not good. There are a shit ton of cops out front. I tried calling Shaw and got someone else inside the embassy. Says we’re all in trouble because of false travel docs or some shit. I don’t know, man. He said I should go there so they could protect me.”

  “What? They aren’t sending her home?”

  “Not yet. I don’t know if they’re going to. Axell, we got a real problem here and I’m standing on some street corner in the middle of the city and I don’t know what the fuck to do. Man, you gotta help me. We gotta make sure Lacy and Shaw are okay.”

  “Calm down, Hunter. Take a breath. As long as they’re inside the embassy, no one can harm them.”

  “Then what do I do?”

  “Stay out of sight. Go to some small coffee shop or something, off the main roads. Stay there until we can get to you. Do not go to the embassy alone. Wait for us and we’ll figure out what to do.”

  “How long?”

  “An hour. I’m sure we can be there inside an hour. I’ll call you when we’re near and you can give me your location.”