helicopter. It really was a proper Mexican stand off thought Sean. Before he had a chance to crack a joke, the Team Leader was handing him his headset.
“It’s for you!” he said.
Sean took the headset and popped in the earpiece.
“Where are you?” asked Smith.
“In a bit of a situation at the moment!”
“We’re at Laredo, you need to get your ass here. I’ve to get you to Washington yesterday!”
As Sean kept an eye on both the chopper and the pursuers, he noticed the trucks and cars filled with gunmen began to close the distance. As they neared, so did the chopper. They were moving in for the kill.
“Any idea why everyone wants us dead?” asked Sean. At least he could die knowing why.
“About 25 million!”
“Sorry?” replied Sean. They didn’t know him well enough, even people who knew him for a lifetime couldn’t think of that many.
“Dollars. The new boss of Los Zetas it seems is very upset with you!”
“Shit!” shouted Sean as the rocket pods lit up on the chopper and began to spew their deadly fire. However, instead of tearing them apart, the pursuers began to explode in his mirrors.
“Jesus!” shouted Smith through the headset. “What the fuck is that?”
Before Sean could answer. “Is that the gunship the Mexican army sent to help you?” asked Smith.
“Floor it,” screamed Sean to the driver and thirty seconds later, they entered US soil, under the protection of the Mexican army gunship.
Chapter 64
James raced across the tarmac and jumped into Katie’s arms, the tears streaming down her face as she almost squeezed the life out of the son she feared she’d never see again. She mouthed a thank you to Sean who bowed his head as he accepted her gratitude. As Sean made his way to one of the sitting jets, James disengaged from Katie and raced to join him. “Where are we going, Daddy?” he asked as though the previous few hours and months had never happened.
Sean looked forlornly at Katie who stood next to a team of agents who were sworn to protect Katie and James until the US Marshalls who were relocating her to Austin arrived.
Sean lifted James in his arms and took him back to Katie.
“Daddy needs to go to work baby, he’ll be back soon!” promised Katie, a tear ran down her cheek which Sean wiped away carefully.
He leant forward and kissed her on the cheek and James on the forehead, before turning and rushing back to the waiting airplane.
“Be safe!” shouted Katie.
“Come home soon Daddy!” shouted James.
Why the fuck didn’t I just go the fucking beach, thought Sean as he boarded the plane, trying desperately not to look back. But couldn’t not. He had to see them one last time.
“Lovely family!” offered Smith as the aircraft door closed.
“Yes,” replied Sean returning James’ excited wave. The poor boy had lost his dad once and he had just lost him again. Having lost his own dad he knew how hard that was going to be.
“We should arrive in Washington at around midnight local time. I’ve to get you straight to Langley from there. Is that OK?”
Sean nodded, as the jet rushed down the runway and Katie and James disappeared into the distance. He was surprised just how much of an impact that was having on him.
“Drink?” repeated Smith, having been ignored on the first asking.
“Sorry, yes please.” Sean shook himself back to the real world.
Smith gave him the drink and after two sips Sean was sound asleep. He woke with a start four hours later with Smith staring at him. “Are you ok?” he asked.
“Fine,” replied Sean defensively, his body was covered in sweat.
“You were moaning and squirming in your chair,” offered Smith as an excuse for his concern.
“You ever heard the name Dr Joseph Mengele?” asked Sean, realizing Smith was on his side.
“Sure, Angel of Death, wasn’t he?” replied Smith, referring to Mengele’s nickname from Auschwitz death camp.
“Well I just dreamt I was on his operating table!” replied Sean, even mentioning it caused a cold shiver to pass through him.
“Welcome to Washington,” announced the captain through the tannoy system, thankfully interrupting the conversation.
As the plane stopped, the steps were lowered, a car pulled up and the door opened to reveal an elderly gentleman.
Before Sean had a chance to exit the plane, another two cars approached at speed and cut in front of the original car. The doors burst open and four men jumped out, their badges in their hands and held aloft.
“Sean Fox, FBI, you are under arrest!” informed the agent, who, Sean assumed, had the greatest seniority.
The elderly man stepped forward. “What in the hell is the meaning of this?”
“This is FBI business, Sir, please stay back,” instructed one of the agents as two of his colleagues placed Sean in handcuffs.
“That man is helping us on a matter of National Security,” he protested.
“You are?”
“Mike Ritter, CIA!” replied Mike forcefully.
“He’s on the list,” shouted one of the agents leading Sean to one of the FBI cars.
Mike was promptly arrested and both were transported in separate cars back to the FBI’s field office.
The first sign that things were seriously worrying was the line of cars outside the FBI office. It would have looked more appropriate at a movie premier. Despite their limitless resources, Sean was certain that chauffeur driven limousines had not become the new fleet car at the FBI. There was some serious muscle inside the building and it was almost midnight. Not good.
Sean was shown straight through and placed in an interview room. The sound of raised and exceptionally angry voices echoed down the corridor and as the door closed, they instantly stopped. The room was very well sound-proofed, another bad sign. He looked up at the camera that watched him. The table and four chairs. The red light was extinguished. The recording had been stopped. He tried to check the time but his hands were still cuffed behind his back. He closed his eyes. He may as well take advantage of the downtime he thought.
Obviously that wasn’t what his captors had in store. No sooner had he closed his eyes than the door burst open and two exceptionally pissed off suits stormed into the room.
“Do you have any idea what you have done, Son?!” demanded the grey haired suit slamming his hand on the table.
“Become the most wanted man on the Los Zetas Cartels hit board?” asked Sean.
To say that took the wind from their sails was an understatement. Neither had considered the position he had ended up in himself, just the impact his plan had had on their investigations. Both knew just how vicious and ruthless Los Zetas were and neither would want to spend their lives in Sean’s shoes with the bounty on his head.
“Hi, I’m Sean,” Sean pushed his shoulder out in place of his hand that remained cuffed behind his back.
Both interrogators looked at each other and shrugged. “Jack Anderson, DEA,” and pointing to his colleague, “Howard Franks FBI,” replied Jack, taking a seat.
“You realize you have broken God alone knows how many federal laws?” asked Howard taking the seat next to Jack.
“I also saved a little boy and his mom from some very dangerous men. And not forgetting ridding you of the
