Darren Chesterfield cleared his throat rather loudly to get their attention. “I have a few ideas.” He shot Jay a winning smile. “But first, how about we remove these cuffs and get me a cup of that coffee?”
Langley, VA
ROGER SAT IN the back seat of the new Tahoe that the team now rode in. “I don’t like this. I’m telling ya, it’s going to backfire on us.”
Jay nodded. “Probably.”
“It’s going to backfire on us right in the face.”
Jay nodded again. “Probably.”
“It’s gonna—”
“Enough!” Steve reached across the rear seat and pointed at Roger. “I don’t care if you are a G-man, knock off the gloom and doom.” He glanced to Deric and nodded. “This is gonna work.”
Roger sighed and leaned his head back. “When it doesn’t, remember, I told you so.”
“So noted,” Steve barked.
“How much farther? I gotta pee,” Gregg whined.
Jay shook his head and stared at their driver. “How long?”
The driver shrugged. “Almost there. You should put on your game face.” He glanced in the rear view mirror and shot Roger a smile. “Glad you survived.”
“You too, Bridger.” Roger glanced out the window and cringed. “I hate seeing that building.”
Bobby pulled the Tahoe to the front gates and Darren Chesterfield rolled down his window, flashing his ID. “These men are with me.”
The gate guard checked each man’s ID then waved them in.
Bobby parked the Tahoe in the visitor parking and the eight men disembarked. Each man adjusted his suit coat and straightened his tie before allowing Chesterfield to march them through the front doors and across the lobby.
Each man stepped through the metal detectors and then mustered by the elevators. Darren paused and clenched his fists, trying to keep his hands from shaking. “Okay. He’s on the fourth floor. He’s expecting me, but he has no idea you’re tagging along.” He paused and remembered how many times Colonel Nelson had warned him that nothing occurred in that building without his knowing. “Well, he didn’t, but he probably does now. Just remember, don’t react. If we show up and there’s armed security, do not engage.”
Jay pulled his sunglasses down and eyed Chesterfield. “Believe it or not, sunshine, this ain’t our first rodeo.”
“Right.” Darren poked the elevator call button and waited for the doors to open. The group stepped inside and had to adjust for the number of wide shoulders taking up the small space. Darren groaned. “What the hell was I thinking?”
Langley, VA
COLONEL NELSON DIDN’T stand when the men entered his office. Chesterfield paused when he saw the two gentlemen in suits standing near the window. He recognized them both immediately.
“You all must be goddam cats.” Colonel Nelson slowly came to his feet and glared at the Baba Yaga group. “I watched a hellfire missile destroy every damned one of you.”
Bridger held his arm up in its sling. “Not quite, but thanks for trying.”
Jay stepped forward and tossed a thumb drive on the man’s desk. “This is what we have.” He reached out beside him and Gregg slipped a manila folder into his hand. He opened the folder and removed a stack of papers. He placed them on the Colonel’s desk. “And here’s the bill.”
Colonel Nelson glanced down at the paper and shook his head. “You boys must be out your gawddamned minds.”
“The bill covers damages, expenses, medical costs, fuel, flight time, hours on our jet…” He glanced to Gregg.
Slippy stepped forward and continued, “Ammunition, weapons, uniforms, food, transportation, lost wages—”
“You boys are crazier than a shit house rat if you think I’m going to pay you for fucking up our operation.” Colonel Nelson sat down again, his face stoic. “You’re damned lucky I don’t have you hauled off to some black site military prison.”
Jay nodded slowly. “You could do that. But if you’ll look at the information on that thumb drive…”
“I know exactly what you boys did and what you have. I don’t have to look at it.” He jabbed a finger at Bridger. “You’re still wanted by Interpol. Hell, half the world wants a piece of you, son.”
Bobby nodded slowly. “And you’re going to make it all go away.”
Colonel Nelson finally smiled and leaned back in his chair. “And why would I do that?”
“Because if we don’t make a phone call in the next forty-five minutes, the information on that thumb drive will be sent out to every news outlet with an email address.”
Deric nodded, “Not to mention certain undesirables in the ‘stan. They do more than just stir up shit over there. They can change the direction that the people think. Allies today, enemies tomorrow.”
“You don’t have the stones.” The colonel reached into his drawer and pulled out his cigar.
The taller suit stepped forward and pulled it from his grip. He bit the end off the stogie and lit it, spinning it slowly in his mouth as he puffed. When he finally turned and faced the man, he dry spit a small piece of tobacco from his lips and eyed Jay. “What’s your price, son?”
“The bill comes to twenty-eight million.”
Colonel Nelson barked and came to his feet. “The hell!”
Gregg held a hand up. “I rounded it up to an even thirty.” He smiled at the two men in suits. “You know, pain and suffering and…whatnot.”
Colonel Nelson’s face turned beet red and he looked like he was about to start frothing at the mouth. “You’re all fucking traitors! You’ll not see one red cent of—”
“SIT DOWN, COLONEL,” the cigar smoking suit stated firmly. He puffed the cigar again then blew the smoke toward the other man, standing quietly behind him.
When his eyes met Jay’s the group thought that it was about to get real messy, real fast.
“I’ll pay your price,” he said quietly. Colonel Nelson opened his mouth to argue and the suit held a hand up, stopping him. “Once you’ve all signed an NDA.”
Bridger’s brows knit. “A non disclosure? But…”
It was Jay’s turn to muzzle the dog. He held a hand up and nodded
