10
Oklahoma City, OK
ROGER PUSHED HIS truck through traffic, weaving and accelerating as much as he dared until he felt he had put enough distance between himself and the wetwork team which had surely been dispatched to “retire” him. He slowed the truck as he merged onto the interstate and set his cruise control. He tried to slow his breathing and force himself to calm down, his adrenaline spiked when the slightest thought of what-could-have-been came to the forefront of his mind.
He tried to focus on what his next step should be rather than simply running. He tried to imagine what would be waiting for him once he checked in with his future duty station. Would he even make it to Omaha? Could they have a team inbound on a chopper, looking for his truck, waiting to shoot him when he stopped for fuel?
He had to stop thinking like that or he’d drive himself crazy. He punched at the steering wheel and ground his teeth as he tried to force his thinking back to the here and now.
Check in with Omaha, request a few days leave while he supposedly looked for a place to lay low, bounce from cheap hotel to cheap hotel, try to keep a low profile, try to stay alive. Finally he pulled his truck into a rest stop and retrieved his cell phone from his pocket and hit speed dial.
“I’m on the run. I have assets to fall back on. I’m sure they’re tracking everything on me.”
“Calm down,” Bobby tried to reassure the man. “You’re starting to sound like me.”
“Yeah? Well, maybe you aren’t as crazy as I thought.”
Bobby breathed long and hard into the phone. “Without going into detail, do you remember the last place you and I met?”
Roger nodded. “Yeah. We had coffee.”
“Right. You know where I went after that, right?”
Roger strained his mind. Where would he have gone? “I’m not following you.”
“Where I did the job for you? Nobody knows where that is. Nobody but you. Go there.”
“You don’t think that somebody has already—”
“If they did, they didn’t find me. That’s what they were looking for. Trust me, they think I’m not coming back. Ditch the truck–walk there if you have to. Either way, it’s safe.”
“What about my job?” Roger regretted asking even before the words left his mouth.
“Right now, we’re worried about keeping you alive. Call the office, leave a message. Tell them as much or as little as you want, but toss the phone as soon as you’re done.”
“How will I contact you?”
“Trust me, I’ll contact you when the time comes. It won’t be by phone.” Bobby thought for a moment then added, “There’s plenty of food, weapons and ammo there. Don’t be afraid of the white whale. Everything you need to know is there.”
Roger listened carefully and nodded to himself. “I think I follow.”
“You’d better. It can save your life if it comes down to it.”
“I’m turning around now. Stay safe, Bridger.”
“You, too. I’ll be in touch soon.”
Roger closed the phone and wrapped his hands around the steering wheel. He considered ignoring his friend’s offer and continuing toward Omaha. He sighed as he pulled his phone back out and called the office. He would leave a message and pray that he’d still have a job when all of this was over.
Karachi, Pakistan
RYAN TAPPED THE steering wheel while the pair waited. “If we had the drone we could switch to microwave and see what he was doing.”
“Will you please shut the hell up about the goddam drone?” Marcus pushed back in his seat and tried to glare out the tinted window toward the opulent house that al-Abadi had entered. He clenched his jaw and waited for the next piece of opinionated drivel that Ryan could think of to complain about.
“I was just saying.” Ryan leaned back in his seat and continued to watch the car that had delivered their subject. He suddenly sat up and pointed with his chin. “They’re getting ready to go.”
Marcus glanced at the Rover and noted the taillights glow. The reverse lights flashed as the driver engaged the transmission and held the car with the brake. The passenger door opened and a large man in a dark grey suit stepped out and opened the rear door of the vehicle. Muhammed al-Abadi appeared and stepped into the car. The large man quickly shut his door, glanced about the area then slid back into his own seat. The Rover pulled forward and Ryan waited to see if they would turn around and head back the way they had come. His patience paid off. He put on the turn signal and pulled slowly into traffic, allowing al-Abadi’s driver to pass him.
“Wanna bet they’re headed back to town?”
Ryan shook his head. “Nope. I’m a sucker for a good bet, but I want a chance at winning.” He bumped Marcus with his elbow. “Let Jay know the target is returning.”
Marcus tapped the recall button and waited. He informed Jay that the target was on the move again. He nodded at the man’s reply then snapped his phone shut. “If we get the opportunity, we pick him up.” Marcus waved a finger under Ryan’s nose. “No extra chances. He says we can snag him off the street at the demonstration if we have to.”
“Yes mom.” Ryan slumped in his seat and watched as the Rover continually changed lanes, inching farther ahead of them with each mile. “I could maybe ‘kiss’ his bumper. When they stop, we just—”
“Negative.” Marcus continued to stare at the ass end of the black Range Rover. “He’s got at least two armed guards with him. Something tells me they’re the type to come out shooting.”
Ryan gave him a look that Marcus missed. “You still got a trigger finger, dontcha?”
Marcus sighed and shook his head. “We’re not going to snag him off the highway. Watch the road.”
The pair followed the black SUV back into town and
