'I think we know a little about that,' I said, nodding to the microfilm bag.
'Affirmative,' Kilgore said. 'But hold on for a moment and let me tell you Dan's story, then you can fill me in on yours. Together, we might get a better picture of the elephant.'
We polished off our lunches as Kilgore related his meeting with Gabriel, their subsequent conversations, Gabriel's last phone conversation regarding Frank Harper, and the significance of the last GPS location of Gabriel's phone before it was turned off.
Kilgore polished off his second bottle of juice and nodded at me. 'Your turn.'
With help from Tyrone and Jasmine and not a word at all from Rex, I told Kilgore about my mother's funeral and finished with the raid on the VA hospital and the close call with the high-voltage electrical wires.
'Incredible.' Kilgore shook his head. He looked at Tyrone. 'I hate to tell you this, but you didn't kill David Brown.'
'But how-'
Kilgore smiled. 'The arrogant, chain-smoking bastard had a coronary. The Marlboro Man killed him.' He paused. 'I only hope that stinking hemorrhoid was conscious until he hit the ground.' He looked around for agreement and found it unanimous.
'Good,' Kilgore said. 'This is the situation. First we stop the deployment of this Xantaeus, then we rescue Dan Gabriel.' He paused. 'Not necessarily in that order, because I think Dan knows how to deal with the General and the patch.
'A couple of our former guys work Braxton's security detail.' Kilgore continued. 'That's not unusual, given the quality of our personnel. Anyway, one of the guys called me from a pay phone in Napa last night and told me he heard Gabriel and Harper are being held at Castello Da Vinci, the General's Napa Valley estate. Rumor says an accident's being arranged for Dan and the doctor. That's what bothered him and why he called.'
The small jet hit an air pocket, first lifting us up, then dropping us into a hole. Kilgore casually fended his tall frame off the ceiling with one hand.
'So,' he said when the aircraft had regained its equilibrium, 'I think we get Dan first because he's got the stuff in his head which will let us take down Braxton and this Xantaeus thing.'
Kilgore raised his eyebrows as he looked from person to person. 'What do you mean we, white man,' Rex finally spoke up.
'Damn good question… Tonto.' Kilgore cleared his throat, and when he spoke, his tone rang dissonant and discomforted.
'This is a rogue operation. If we don't succeed, it's a lifetime in a crappy military prison for me and my second-in-command, Bill Lewis, who'll be meeting us in Napa. Bill and I know it, we accept it, but we cannot-will not — put the personnel under our command at risk.
'And we can't send a request through military channels or even civilian police because it would take too long. Gabriel would be dead by the time we got a response. And Braxton has loyalists up and down both chains of command.'
'Are you asking us to go in and rescue your friend?' I asked.
Kilgore shook his head. 'Bill and I are committed, but I won't ask you to follow us. That's not why you're here. We came after you because Bill and I are convinced you were framed, and your lives are in danger.'
'So we owe you?' Rex asked.
'Wrong, Tonto.'
'It's Rex, if you don't mind.'
'Whatever,' Kilgore said. 'Getting the CD from Shanker, rescuing Talmadge, and locating the microfilm outweighs any pathetic effort I've made so far. You don't owe me a thing… Rex.'
'Well, its pretty clear without Braxton put away for good, we're marked for the rest of what will probably be very short lives,' I said. Jasmine's eyes encouraged me to continue. 'For my part, I'd say the only way out of this mess we're in leads right through Castello Da Vinci.'
'We could go to the press,' Tyrone offered, 'but even with everything we have, who'll believe us? Braxton's hugely popular.'
'Even if they believed us, would they believe in time?' Jasmine added. 'I'm with Brad.' She gave me a look that connected to my soul.
'Jasmine's right,' Kilgore agreed. He remained silent long enough for reality to sink in.
'Right,' Rex said reluctantly, and looked at me. 'I'm in, but only because I promised ya'mama I'd take good care of you.'
Given my background, his comments drew laughter from everybody but him. Anita looked at him with a combination of fear and pride. She nodded at him.
'I appreciate your sentiment,' Kilgore said 'But I want you to think about it for the rest of the flight. This has to be a clear and unequivocal decision. We have very limited resources and severe consequences for failure. I'll describe the situation; if you change your mind, I'll understand. Genuine decisions always keep consequences clearly and constantly in mind.'
CHAPTER 88
Our jet began a gradual descent.
'Fuel,' Kilgore said. The jet got us in and out of Jackson nonstop, but won't get us back. We'll land near Longview, Texas, for a minute. But before we get there, let's go over a few things. Time's awfully short and we'll need to hit the ground running when we land.'
Without waiting for us to reply, he retrieved a large brushed-aluminum briefcase from the seat across the aisle, walked back to the rear of the aircraft, unlatched a table, and folded it down.
'C'mon down.' He waved at us as he covered the table with topo maps, aerial photos, and street maps.
I stood next to Jasmine and reveled in the warmth of our casual touch.
'First of all, rules of engagement. We will avoid hurting or killing anyone except as a last, desperate resort. Other than the one or two folks out to dispose of Dan and the doctor, I'd say we're dealing with good folks just doing their jobs. Let's use that bear repellent and other nonlethal items whenever possible.'
'Finally, we're not going to use U.S. government assets or equipment other than information. I do not want to get my quartermaster in trouble, and I do not want to make my legal case worse through multiple charges of misappropriation of government property.'
I looked around the jet and back at Kilgore.
He caught my question. 'American Express. My personal card. I'll worry about how to pay it off next month-if it matters by then. Same at the other end. Bill Lewis used his card to rent a van and an RV to use as a sort of mobile base. He's done some shopping for us as well.'
Talmadge snorted in his sleep then. Anita looked over at him.
'Now, for personnel assignments,' Kilgore continued. 'Let me finish. Then if you disagree, we can discuss it.'
Heads nodded.
Anita, we'll keep him sedated in the RV with you to look after him.' She nodded.
'Bill Lewis'll be with his unit, which still believes we're monitoring Castello Da Vinci to assess security readiness. He'll relay the information to me as it happens. Nothing suspicious about that; I'm usually involved in penetration operations against high-profile targets.'
'Rex: you, Brad, and I will attempt the main penetration and rescue. Jasmine and Tyrone will mount a diversion from a safe distance since neither's got combat experience.'
Tyrone frowned. Kilgore shook his head. 'For you I have something that would be fun if results weren't so important.'
'Such as?'
'I've read your rap sheet,' Kilgore said.
'That's juvenile stuff,' Tyrone said 'Sealed by the court.'
'Uh-huh.'
