The Relic Runner Origin Story Box Set

by Ernest Dempsey

  The Villa family mansion was a formidable home, built like a small castle, its U-shaped design only left the western end open to sprawl out into the vineyards. Still, the way Diego dressed in a pair of linen slacks and a light blue linen shirt, he gave the impression that he preferred to live life simply.

  Other than his dangerous lifestyle working intel, Dak thought.

  "You're lucky you caught me here when you did. I have some pressing matters and I fear I'll have to return to Ecuador soon."

  "This must be a difficult place to leave so often," Dak sympathized.

  Diego's eyes wandered across the walls, then drifted out onto the rolling vineyards. "Sí," he admitted. "It is. But not because it's lavish. It's a part of me, my family. Villas have lived here for centuries on this very land. The place in Ecuador is fine for me. It has a roof, good food, warmth. And it allows me to work without drawing too much attention to the rest of my large family."

  Dak nodded, understanding. He didn't need to ask why the man continued to work. Diego clearly didn't need the money. The family business appeared to be doing just fine, and any additional money he brought in from doing private intel work would merely add to the pile. It was clear to Dak that Diego did what he did because he believed in it. He believed in freedom and fighting against those who would oppress it.

  "So," Diego said, interrupting Dak's thoughts. "You two are looking to get into Istanbul, huh?"

  "And fast, sir," Dak said.

  "Pressing appointment?"

  "You could say that." Dak hoped he didn't have to say more.

  "I see." Diego's face turned grave. "I assume you had to leave your weapons in Portugal before you took the train to Madrid?"

  "Yes, sir," Will and Dak answered together.

  "Will you be needing more when you get to Istanbul or is it a peaceful appointment?"

  The two guests looked at each other and then back to their host.

  "That looks like a yes," Diego surmised. "I'll have them waiting for you when you land. It's pretty last minute, so I don't know what kind of stock my man in Istanbul has, but it's better than nothing."

  Dak felt a twinge of hope flutter in his chest. "Thank you so much, sir. I truly appreciate it."

  Diego waved off the praise. "It's nothing. I'm happy to help a couple of good soldiers like you two."

  Dak's face must have looked surprised, because Diego noticed.

  "What, you didn't think I did a little research on you before you came to visit my abode? I have enemies, you know."

  "Hey!" Will said, perhaps feeling a touch hurt at the comment. "You think I would bring someone into your home who intends to do you harm?"

  Diego shrugged. "You do have some shady dealings, Will."

  Dak laughed. "He's got you there, pal."

  Will sighed. "Fine. When do we leave?"

  Diego leaned forward and lifted the bottle, tipped it toward an empty glass, and poured until the glass was half-full. He set the bottle back down and raised the drink in a toast. "As soon as you leave here."

  Fifteen

  Istanbul

  Dak peered out at the busy city street from behind the steering wheel, his eyes searching for signs of trouble.

  Istanbul was one of his favorite cities to visit. It had been the crossroads of every major civilization and culture throughout human history, and there was much to appreciate from food, to drinks, to ancient ruins and monuments throughout the city.

  He and Will weren't here for sightseeing, though Dak allowed his imagination to wander through his brain, casting visions of dinners and enchanting conversations with Nicole.

  There was no sign of the colonel's men. They were probably still scouring the Portuguese countryside or perhaps infiltrating the towns near Nazare. Those endeavors would have proven fruitless, even if the two marks were still in that country. There were a million places to hide in the little villages, hills, and cities. While the two men might stick out compared to the locals, Dak and Will could have stayed on the move indefinitely. With open borders throughout most of Europe, and the knowledge of how to exploit them, they could have driven the colonel around in circles until he lost his mind.

  Time, however, wasn't on Dak's side. Bo had Nicole, and he needed to get to her. He prayed it wasn't too late, but a nagging, painful feeling continued to throb in his gut. He picked up the white and red cup of coffee from the cup holder and sipped it conservatively as he stared through the windshield. He hoped the coffee would shock his senses back to his old battle-hardened self. It did little.

  "You see anything?" Will asked in a hushed tone, as if he spoke too loud Bo would hear him.

  "No," Dak said. "I don't expect to. Not until we get into the apartment."

  "How you want to do it?"

  Dak had been considering that since they boarded the plane out of Madrid. Diego's contact picked them up at the airport and provided them with a pair of pistols and a car, along with instructions of what to do with the vehicle when they were done with their visit.

  The guns, the man had said, they could keep. There was, of course, a slim chance that would happen. Once Bo was dead, Dak planned on heading back to the United States, and taking a sketchy firearm with him wasn't an option. He detested ditching good weapons, and the Glocks that Diego's man provided were quality guns.

  Dak longed to be back in his cabin on Monteagle Mountain, far away from this mess. One more, he thought.

  If he could save Nicole, he wondered if the same salvation was possible for their relationship. Oddly, he doubted that more than his ability to take down Bo, despite the advantage the enemy held.

  He was thinking too much. It was time to act.

  "I'll go in through the stairwell," Dak said finally. "You take the elevator."

  "Split up then?"

  "He could be watching the building. I know I would be. He'll know when we get there. If he tries to take me out in the stairs, you can get the drop on him from behind, via the elevator."

  Will eyed his friend with concern. "But then you'd be dead."

  "That doesn't matter," Dak said. "All that matters is Nicole is safe."

  "Look, man. I appreciate the sacrifice and selflessness and all that, but you know I'm your friend too. I realize we haven't known each other that long. Still, I can't let you just run into an ambush on some suicidal down-in-a-blaze-of-glory charge."

  "I don't want to die," Dak laughed. "But you know how it is. When you sign up, you're taking on that risk. When we joined the military, we assumed that death was part of the deal. We didn't want it to be part of the deal, but if we save someone else, someone who can't defend themselves, then it's our burden to bear."

  Will knew Dak was right. They'd both taken the same risk when they signed up. But they weren't in the service anymore, and things were much different out here in the real world. None of that mattered. But Will knew his friend's mind was set.

  Perhaps he'd overestimated the value of their friendship. In truth, the two rarely spoke, except when Dak needed Will to find the next target for him. Still, he'd grown to like Dak. Trust him, even. And trust, in Will's world, was a difficult thing to come by.

  He shook off the sentiment and inclined his head. "Okay, I'll take the elevator. Just watch your six. Okay?"

  "I always do."

  The two men exited the vehicle and made their way up the sidewalk, keeping their weapons out of sight—tucked into their pants and covered by lightweight, long-sleeved button-up shirts, Dak's black and Will's white.

  The city's nightlife was in full throat. Motorcycles growled by, car horns honked, and people reveled in the sights and smells of drinks, street food, and the promise of more around every corner.

  No one seemed to notice the two men as they approached the building. Will and Dak, however, noticed everything. They caught each and every irregular movement and sound, though they never overreacted.

  When the two reached the steps leading into Nicole's apartment, a slew of emotions smacked Dak in the chest.
He paused for a second, staring at the door. Will waited patiently, his head on a swivel as he checked the street for trouble in both directions.

  Dak sighed and raised a finger, then pressed on the number of Nicole's apartment on the call box.

  Immediately, the door buzzed, and the lock clicked. A deep frown tightened on his face.

  He couldn't recall that happening before.

  Will pulled on the door's handle and held it open. He slipped in ahead of Dak and subtly drew his weapon, keeping it low and out of sight of pedestrians on the sidewalk. The empty lobby's silence grew as Dak stepped in and let the door close behind him.

  "Okay," Will said. "I'll see you upstairs."

  "You remember which apartment number, yeah?"

  "Yes, I got it. Thank you for the reminder." Will made no effort to hide his sarcasm.

  "Good. I'll see you up there."

  Sixteen

  Istanbul

  Dak peered through the narrow window of the stairwell door and waited. He kept the pistol in his hand low and by his hip in case someone else came into the building. The last thing he needed was to send a child into hysterics at the sight of a gun in the apartment complex.

  The elevator doors closed, and the lift began its ascent, carrying Will to Nicole's floor.

  Dak saw nothing through the window except the steps ascending to the left and an empty corner to the right. He turned the latch and jerked the door open, hoping that the sudden, jarring movement would lure out any danger lurking in the shadows.

  The only sound that escaped the stairwell was the sound of the door opening as it echoed up through the shaft. Dak entered the room, leading with his pistol. He swept to the right first, checking the minuscule blindspot in the near corner, then shifting to the left and up, making certain the next landing and stairs were clear. The back corner of the ground floor was last.

  With no sign of trouble, he cautiously made his way to the steps and began to climb. He moved deliberately, but quickly. He made no sound as he scaled the stairs. When he reached the first landing, he rounded and swept the next section; still no sign of Bo or any mercenaries he might have employed.

  Dak felt overcome by the silence and the lack of a threat. He didn't stop, though, despite his concerns. Pressing forward, he continued up the stairs, repeating the process each time he reached another landing. When he finally arrived at the door leading into Nicole's floor, he paused and waited.

  Will would already be there.

  Diego's man had given them a pair of radios to use for situations just like this, but Dak insisted on staying silent during their invasion of the apartment.

  Dak wrapped his fingers around the door latch and waited. Seconds ticked by so dramatically he could almost feel them. He inspected the bolt and receiver, the edge where the door met the frame. There was no sign of an explosive device. He'd considered Bo might booby trap one of the entry points, but that would be foolish—a random stranger living in the building could have been blown to bits. There was no way to control who came and went, and in which direction they chose to go.

  He shook off the consideration, realizing he'd already been over that before.

  Dak pulled the latch down and pulled the door back. He checked left first, using the door as a shield against any threat that might be to the right.

  Will stood in an alcove next to the elevator, weapon in hand and held high near his face. Will gave a nod, indicating the corridor was clear.

  On the signal, Dak rushed out of the stairwell and down the hall, stopping in the opposite corner of the alcove where Will was concealed. He only waited a moment before advancing again, this time creeping hurriedly toward Nicole's door.

  At the entrance, he stopped. He'd planned everything up to this point, but wasn't sure now what he should do. Should he knock? Then Bo would know he was there. He already knows, Dak thought. You rang the buzzer downstairs, idiot.

  He decided to be more direct. Reaching down, Dak grasped the doorknob and twisted.

  The knob turned without resistance. Unlocked.

  Dak glanced back at Will and motioned for him to make his move. Will did as instructed and hurried over to the apartment doorway. He waited there, lowering his weapon in case another tenant appeared unexpectedly. Will's job was to cover the exit. If something bad happened, he was the backup.

  Dak eased the door open, praying silently the hinges were well-oiled. For some reason, that mattered. He didn't know why. Again, he reminded himself that Bo knew he was there, knew he was coming in.

  Upon entering the little foyer, Dak's eyes shot toward the far end of the room where a door led onto the balcony. It was closed, but he could see through the open curtains that no one was out there. He expected to see Nicole in the living room, tied to a chair or something with a gag in her mouth and Bo standing behind her, holding a gun to her head. As he moved into the space where the kitchen and dining area merged, he searched the apartment, but found no sign of either his enemy or Nicole.

  "You okay?" Will whispered into the radio. Dak didn't respond.

  Something was off.

  He continued deeper into the apartment, checking the office, bedroom, and bathroom, before returning to the living room. It was empty.

  "No one's here," Dak said into the radio. He kept his weapon ready, but relaxed slightly.

  "What do you mean, no one's here?"

  "Get in here and see for yourself."

  Dak noticed something on the coffee table. A piece of paper sat in the center with a hand-written message splayed across it.

  He moved closer and picked up the note as Will burst into the room, his weapon drawn and sweeping the apartment.

  Upon realizing Dak was right, he lowered his pistol and eased the door shut. "Where are they? I thought they said to come here."

  "They did," Dak answered. Then he held up the note.

  "Looks like Bo wants to do this the old-fashioned way."

  Seventeen

  Ulupelit, Turkey

  "Are you sure about this?" Will asked.

  Dak shook his head. "No, but what choice do I have? He said come alone. He'll know if I don't."

  Will looked out across the rolling hills of Ulupelit, pondering what he should do.

  Dak also stared at the landscape. It reminded him of the foothills back home in Tennessee, where his cabin awaited him. He wished more than anything he could take Nicole back there with him, but he'd resigned himself to that being nothing but fantasy. Even if he were able to rescue her, she would never return to Tennessee with him. Her life was here, in Turkey, in the sprawling city of Istanbul.

  He didn't blame her. The appeal was undeniable with so much to do, so many cultures mingling in one place. He wondered if he could stay there with her, but that would be denying who he really was. None of that mattered at the moment. He still had the issue of taking out Bo to worry about. "Don't put the cart before the horse," his grandpa always said, using the same cliché the old man must have used a hundred times in his life, and that he likely heard twice as often.

  Dak still had the note in his back pocket. It had instructed them to come to this obscure, tiny village, to an old farmhouse at what seemed like a random address. According to the GPS, the address was just up the road—the next driveway on the right.

  Will had done as much recon work as he could before they arrived. He looked up satellite images of the farmhouse and barn on his phone to get an idea of what they were heading into.

  The house looked abandoned, and the barn actually appeared to be in better condition. Will wondered why, out loud, why Dak's ex-teammate wanted to rendezvous there, when there were plenty of other locations in this part of the country.

  The village spread out through the hills. Red terracotta roofs interrupted the forests, along with a few church steeples poking up above the canopy.

  It wasn't just the location that concerned Will, nor the fact that Dak had been instructed to come alone. The other part worried him more than anything.
/>   "I don't like the idea of you going in unarmed," Will growled. "You're going to walk in and he will shoot you. Game over, man. You can't trust him."

  "I know that," Dak said. "I also know that I don't have a choice. The note was clear. If I show up with someone else or with a weapon, Nicky dies."

  "You think playing by his rules is going to change that?" Will considered adding "if she's still alive," but that wouldn't help and it would only anger Dak. For the time being, all he had to go on was hope, and Will knew he couldn't strip that from his friend, even if it meant Dak was walking head first into a firing squad.

  "The note said he wants to face me," Dak explained. "Bo may be a lot of things, but he's a warrior. I think he wants to settle this like men."

  Will shook his head. "So, what? You're going to duke it out, beat the crap out of each other until one is dead?"

  "I don't know what his plan is," Dak admitted. "But I know he has one."

  He looked off to the right at a clear, still lake. The water snaked its way through the densely forested hills until it disappeared around a mountain in the distance.

  "My parents think I'm a traitor. They think I betrayed my brothers in Iraq. I never got the chance to tell them the truth." He left the words hanging.

  "I'll find them and tell them. I mean, if you don't make it out of this alive." Will tried to sound optimistic, but his tone betrayed what he really felt.

  "It's okay," Dak said. "Even if Bo is telling the truth, and wants to face me man-to-man, I still only have like a one in three chance of beating him."

  "You trying to make me feel better?"

  Dak shrugged. "You got to go sometime, right? Everyone dies sooner or later. Better to go down swinging."

  Will nodded and sighed. "Yeah. That's what we tell ourselves."

  "Come on," Dak said. "Drive another five hundred feet and I'll get out. Remember, don't interfere. I can't risk anything happening to Nicole."