“DJ.” He waited a moment for her to connect the dots. “I know it’s been a while.”
“DJ who?”
He paused a moment then answered. “White. From…the rock of the same name.”
“Jesus Christ, DJ.” Her voice sounded relieved and worried at the same time. “You scared the shit out of me.”
“Yeah, I’ve had some pretty strange happenings of my own.” He sighed and continued to scan the area as they spoke. “Tell me you’re okay.”
She nodded as she spoke. “I am for now, but Rob’s been killed. It wasn’t an accident like they say it was.”
“I saw his name on the…list.” He cleared his throat. “That’s how I got your number. I called the clearinghouse.”
Lisa chuckled on the other end. “I wondered. This is a new burner.”
DJ turned and pressed his forehead to the cement block wall. “Have you contacted the others?”
“Only Mauk. Then he dropped off the grid.” She sighed heavily into the phone. “You?”
“You’re the first person I called. Looks like Bobby and Gregg are still working together.”
“I was just about to call them.” Her voice trailed off, unsure what to say next.
DJ pushed off the wall and turned back to face his truck. “We should meet up. Safety in numbers and all that.”
She thought a moment then nodded. “You’re right. Where are you?”
“Panhandle of Florida.”
“Can you drive to Texas?”
“Just send me the coordinates.”
Lisa smiled. “I’ll text it to you.”
DJ nodded as he reached for the door handle of his truck. “I’ll see you soon enough.”
Central Texas
Lisa texted him the address as soon as they hung up then dialed for Bridger and Soares. She didn’t recognize the man who answered and she had no idea who or what Baba Yaga was, but she felt relief when he said he’d connect her.
She waited and almost hung up when she heard the clicks and pops on the line just before Bridger answered. She recognized his voice immediately.
“Vasquez?”
“Bridger! Thank god you’re still alive.”
Bobby sat down heavily. “Mauk called me.”
“Is he still safe?”
“He needs sleep in the worst way.” Bobby glared at the tall man who simply ignored him. “But yeah, he’s still safe.”
“Where are you?”
Bobby cringed then glanced to Gregg. “We’re holed up in an old cabin, in the mountains of Oklahoma.”
“Jeezus, when you go off the grid, you go off the grid.”
“Not my cabin.” Bobby pursed his lips. “It’s a rental.”
“DJ contacted me. He’s on his way—we should meet up.”
“Why?” Bobby’s paranoia began to rise until she replied.
“Safety in numbers. Whoever is behind this, they’d bite off a hell of lot more than they could chew if they had to face us all at once.”
Bobby looked first to Gregg then to Mauk. “You’re right.” He stood and stretched his neck. “I’ll send you the coordinates once we hang up.
Lisa nodded as she spoke. “It will take DJ a while to get here, but as soon as he shows, we’ll hit the road.”
“Dare I ask where you are?”
Lisa smiled then cringed at her reflection. “Between where I was and where you are.”
“Good enough for me. Text me when you’re close.”
“I will.”
Near Chapala Mexico
“We got them!” A tall, thin man yelled as he ran toward the opulent office. He slid to a stop on the polished marble floor tile and waved a sheet of paper in front of him. “Jefe, your agents at the NSA finally tracked them all down.”
A tall, dark complected man slowly came to his feet. “Are you certain?”
“Si!” He handed the paper over. “They will soon know the far reaching touch of el Fantasma!”
The man reached for the paper and glanced at it. “They are all coming together?” He scratched at his neck, his mind racing. “This is acceptable.” He smiled as he handed the paper back. “Contact the matar escuadrones. Tell them to converge on their location.”
“Jefe, we do not know where they are yet. According to your contacts, they will soon meet up.” The smaller man almost appeared scared as he informed his boss of the obvious.
“Very well. We know their general location.” He smoothed his tie as he slowly took his seat again. “Have them stand by in the general area. Perhaps fortune will smile upon us and we can locate them before they are gathered.”
“Follow the woman, Jefe?”
“If they can find her.” He gave the smaller man a sinister scowl. “She has already slipped their grasp once. Remind them that she is not one to be trifled with.”
“Of course, Jefe. At once.”
El Fantasma sat back in the high-backed leather chair and swiveled slowly back and forth. Hs eyes fell to a silver framed photograph on the desk. “Very soon, you will be avenged, my love.”
6
Southeastern Oklahoma
Bobby sat behind the wheel of the Tahoe and tapped at the steering wheel. “Relax, Bridger. They’ll be here.”
He didn’t look at Gregg. “They’re late.”
“There could have been traffic.”
Bobby turned and gave him a narrowed stare. “Traffic? Here?”
Gregg shrugged. “Maybe a cow got in the road. Or they’re stuck behind a logging truck.”
Bobby glanced at his watch then turned his attention back to the road. A beat up old pickup made the curve, grey-white smoke belching from the exhaust as it slowed and pulled into the gas station.
Bobby reached for the door handle and stepped into the chill air just as DJ set the parking brake and stepped out. “I was beginning to wonder if you were going to make it.”
Lisa slammed her door and strode quickly to the Tahoe. “So was I.”
“Fuck it’s cold.” DJ pulled a heavy Carhartt jacket on as he approached the Tahoe.
“That’s what you get for living in Florida.” Bobby slid back into the driver’s seat as the other two climbed in the rear. “I’m surprised you made it in that thing.”
“How far to this camp of yours?” Lisa asked, checking the signal on her burner phone.
“Not far,” Gregg chimed in. “If you can call it a camp. It’s more like an outbuilding with a toilet.”
Bobby glanced to the rear view before
