Colombian Betrayal, page 21
part #1 of Bruce & Smith Series
“Yes. The gist is the teams are heading north. Michael and Alberto are supposed to meet in Mexico City tomorrow night.”
“Yes!” She brought the chair down on all four legs with a loud bang.
“Hello. Are you there? I heard a crash.”
“Still here. Just brought my chair back to earth. This is fantastic news! Keep me posted.”
“Okay. How about a game this weekend at Camden Yards?”
“Who’s playing?”
“Orioles against the Tigers. Seats on the third-base side behind the dugout.”
Damn! “Okay, Bob. I’ll go. Send me an email later with the details.”
“Will do.”
MacKenzie hung up and hit a button on the intercom. “Makayla, drop whatever you’re doing and come here.”
Moments later, Makayla pushed the door open to AJ’s office and smirked. “Does the boss know you’ve taken root in here?”
“If you don’t tell her, she’ll never find out.” MacKenzie snickered. “Want to go to a baseball game this weekend?”
“Sure. Who with? Not you—you hate the game.”
“Remember that cute guy, Bob, who has the hots for me—you—whatever?”
“Yeah. So?”
“I just agreed to go to a game. Please go—he won’t be able to tell the difference.”
“What’s in it for me?”
MacKenzie laughed. “I know where you live—and I’ll make your life miserable.”
“We’re roomies—you always make my life a misery. Yeah, I’ll go. Is that all?”
MacKenzie rolled her eyes. “The terrorist called Michael will be in Mexico City tomorrow night. He’s meeting with another thug. They’ve launched teams north. I better inform AJ so she can decide how we proceed.”
“Yes!” They fist-bumped. “Any idea of a target?”
MacKenzie shook her head. “Not yet. Bob will call if they pick up any additional information. Why don’t you grab us a coffee—the good stuff—my treat. I’ll send a note now to AJ.”
To: Hunter
From: Fortress
Target named Michael will be in Mexico City tomorrow night. He’s joining someone referred to as Alberto. Details to follow.
They revealed their teams are proceeding north. No destination identified.
Should we arrange coverage with the station? Please advise.
The plane continued its journey through the clear and calm skies. Javier loosened his seat belt and shook AJ’s shoulder. “Psst. Wake up. Your iPad vibrated.”
AJ shook her head, twisted the cap off a bottle of water, and quenched her thirst. “Why didn’t you check—could be important.”
“Uh ... it slid under you. Didn’t think you wanted me rooting around while you were asleep.”
AJ laughed. “I wasn’t asleep, just thinking. Let’s see what’s up.” She accessed her email and read the message from MacKenzie. “Things are heating up. We need to deal with Olivia when we land, but someone needs to head to Mexico City.”
“What about Harry and Larry?” Samantha stretched and yawned. “They’ll be anxious for more action.”
AJ nodded. “Excellent idea.” She typed a response.
To: Harry, Larry, Fortress
From: Hunter
Many thanks for update. Don’t wake up anyone at the station. We’ll keep this among friends. Harry and Larry, stop twiddling your thumbs and get to Mexico City Airport ASAP. Photos required of bad guys mentioned in email chain. Determine who they meet. Any details regarding the teams they trained are of utmost importance.
Should the opportunity arise, capture and interrogate individuals. Gloves are off. Use whatever means necessary to disrupt their mission. Termination approved if deemed prudent.
AJ glanced at her watch. “Another thirty minutes or so before we begin our descent.”
Javier gestured toward the sleeping Olivia and whispered, “What are we doing taking her to Gitmo? I didn’t realize there are females imprisoned in the facility.”
“There aren’t. We’ll put her in protective custody, but not with the terrorists in the detention center. We’ve done this before. Best I could come up with for now.”
Javier shook his head. “I dunno.”
“Relax.” AJ smiled. “She’ll be fine at Penny Lane.”
“What’s that?”
“A small facility we use on the island. The site is officially closed, but we still use it for occasional off-the-record meetings. All the comforts of home—kitchen facilities, showers, televisions, and real beds.”
“What if something goes wrong or she escapes?”
AJ chuckled. “Where can she go? If she managed to get out of the building, the guards would find her. She’ll be fitted with an ankle alarm bracelet. She won’t be confined twenty-four seven but will only be allowed out under escort with two female guards.” She gazed into Javier’s eyes. “Should she escape, the guards know what to do.”
31
Abandoned Hacienda
Somewhere in Colombia
Maria reeled under the backhanded slap from their captor, sending her crashing to the floor. Blood spurted from her lip as Silvina rushed to her sister’s side.
The assailant pulled a serrated knife from his belt and stretched toward them. Light gleamed along the seven-inch blade.
“No!” Valentina grabbed a lamp from the dresser and smashed him on the back of his head.
Thump!
She hit him a second time before tossing the lamp onto the bed.
He crumpled onto the carpet as Maria and Silvina scooted away, crouching against the wall, as they tried to make themselves as small as possible. They held each other as they sobbed, tears streaming down their cheeks.
Silvina forked her fingers through Maria’s hair, trying to calm her.
Valentina kicked the man in the ribs—he didn’t move. I hope I killed him after what he tried to do to me. He’d have raped me if I hadn’t threatened to cut his penis off when he’s asleep. If it weren’t for the girls, he’d be dead.
She stomped on his knife hand and yanked the blade away.
“Is he dead?” Silvina rose, helping Maria to her feet.
“I don’t think so.” Valentina knelt beside the unmoving body and checked for a pulse. “He’s still alive, but has a very weak pulse.” She pointed to the dresser. “Check inside the drawers and find something we can use to tie him up.”
Silvina and Maria rushed to the unit and yanked open the top two drawers.
Maria held up two black, red, and yellow striped ties. “Ugh! Ugly. Will these do?”
“Bring them here, and we’ll find out. Silvina, help me roll him over.”
Together Valentina and Silvina turned the man onto his side, allowing his head to bounce on the floor.
Valentina used the ties to secure his wrists, looping the ends through his belt. She tightened them until she knotted the pieces together. “Grab something to shove in his mouth. We don’t want him yelling for help.”
Silvina snatched a pair of white socks from a drawer and pulled them apart. “How about one of these?”
“Perfect.” Valentina forced the sock into the man’s mouth.
“But our captor is Uncle Edgar.” An anguished expression crossed Maria’s face as she clasped her hands. “What if he can’t breathe?”
I don’t care if he suffocates. He got what he deserved. “I pretended to be his daughter, hoping you might tell me more details about your family. It didn’t work. I’m sorry, but he forced me to help him.” Valentina shook her head. “I don’t remember my father—he left when I was younger than you.” She searched through the man’s pockets and extracted a key. “We’ll lock him in here.”
After shutting and securing the door, Valentina and the two girls rushed along the corridor and down the stairs. “We’re safe for now. He sent the guards away earlier.” She hugged each girl.
“Gracias, Valentina,” both girls said. They squeezed her arms.
“Let’s find something to drink to calm you.” She led them into the kitchen. Maria and Silvina sat at the table while Valentina opened the fridge. Need to keep their minds off what’s happened. “You have a choice—I can make some warm milk, or there’s juice. My mama always gave me warm milk when I was upset. Sometimes, she added some cocoa.”
Silvina’s hand shot in the air. “Juice!”
Maria frowned. “Silvina, Mamá says we must drink plenty of milk each day, so we make strong bones, and they don’t become bitter.”
Valentina laughed. “I think your Mamá meant so the bones don’t become brittle.”
“Oh. I thought they were the same.” Maria pouted.
“In that case, I’ll have juice, por favor.” Silvina smirked. “Mamá says brittle bones is an old person’s disease—plenty of time to drink milk when we grow up. We’re still young.”
“I dunno, Silvina.” Maria crossed her arms. “I’ll tell Mamá.” She turned to Valentina. “Cold milk, por favor. With cocoa.”
“Oh, Maria! Quit being so … so practical.” Silvina rolled her eyes.
After pouring their beverages and a glass of milk for herself, Valentina grabbed one of the mismatched chairs and joined them at the scarred wooden table. They’re scared—who wouldn’t be? Hopefully, the drinks will keep their mind off what happened. “We must decide what to do—where to go.”
Tears began streaming down Maria’s face again. “Why did Uncle Edgar take us away from Mamá? Won’t Papá be angry with him?”
“When Mamá and Papá find us, we’ll tell them Uncle Edgar took us from school but didn’t take us home.” Silvina reached out and patted Maria’s arm. “They’ll call the policía, and he’ll be taken away.”
“Can’t we call the policía now?” Maria glanced at Valentina. “Isn’t there a phone?”
Valentina shook her head. “No house phone and your Uncle Edgar took my cell phone.” She smiled as she stood. “Come—we’ll look in his room. Perhaps, we’ll find my phone or his—I know he made several calls since we’ve been here, although I couldn’t hear the conversations.”
The girls followed her out of the kitchen and to a room at the back of the house. Valentina tried the handle—locked. “We’ll have to go near the room where he kept you. I think he left a bunch of keys on the table in the hallway.”
Maria shuddered. “I won’t go back there. What if he gets loose and hurts us?”
“Wait here with your sister. I’ll check.”
In the calm evening, the rumble of an approaching vehicle could be heard. Tires crunched on the gravel outside the house. The engine cut out, a door slammed, and footsteps neared the front of the building.
Silvina dashed to the window and pulled a curtain aside. “Wait for Valentina to return. Don’t open the door.”
Maria grabbed the drape from Silvina and glanced outside. “But it’s Papá! He’s found us!”
Before Silvina could grab her older sister, Maria unlocked the door and yanked it open. “Papá! Papá! I knew you’d come for us.” She rubbed her tear-stained eyes.
Pedro put his arms around his daughter. “Of course! No one could keep me from you. As soon as I was aware you were missing, I began looking all over Colombia for you and Silvina. You’re safe now—I’ll protect you.”
Silvina stepped forward into Pedro’s embrace. “Where’s Mamá?”
Pedro shook his head. “Waiting at home for you.” He glanced around. “Aren’t you going to invite me inside? I could use a drink of water.”
Maria took Pedro by the hand. “This way, Papá.” She led him into the kitchen and pointed at the table. “Sit down, Papá, and I’ll get you a drink.”
“Are you girls alone? Who brought you to this abandoned hacienda?”
“Uncle Edgar.” Silvina slid into a chair next to her father. “He’s kept us locked up most of the time—he’s a bad man.”
“Where is he now?”
Silvina smiled. “He’s tied up in the room where he kept us. Valentina knocked him out with a lamp.”
Thump. Thump.
Crash.
Pedro looked up at the ceiling. “We better go see what’s happening—sounds like a fight.”
They rushed up the stairs. Silvina pushed past Pedro.
“Alto, little one. I know you’re brave, but let me go first.”
Silvina shook her head as she shoved open the bedroom door.
Inside, Valentina stood over a dazed Edgar, the remains of another lamp in her hands. Her breathing ragged, a crazed expression etched her features. “He got loose! The ties must have stretched.”
“Valentina! Enough! Put down the lamp.” Pedro grabbed her arm with one hand and yanked a pistol from a coat pocket with the other.
She tossed the lamp on the floor and turned her glazed eyes toward his voice. “Who are you?”
“I’m Pedro, your father. Don’t you remember me? What are you doing here?”
She stared at his face before pointing at Edgar. “You look like him.” Tears dotted Valentina’s cheeks as she clenched her fists. “Why do you care why I’m here? You left me—and Mamá—when we needed you.”
“I haven’t seen you in years, but a friend managed to take photos of you from time to time. I hated to leave you behind, but your mother gave me no choice. It was to leave both of you behind, or she would turn me in to the authorities.”
“I don’t believe you.” Valentina’s eyes grew wide as she took a step back. “What did you do?” Tears began trickling down her cheeks.
“I killed someone—one of your mother’s lovers.” Pedro pointed his weapon back at Edgar. “What’s one more?” He pulled the trigger. “No one steals my girls!”
Maria, Silvina, and Valentina screamed as the round entered Edgar’s forehead. His head jerked, and his body slumped, twitching once before remaining still.
Pedro swung toward the girls, the weapon aimed in their direction. “Tell me where Olivia is hiding. She’s not at the hacienda.” He grinned, the glow from a ceiling light catching a gold-capped tooth. “Who’s next?”
Valentina pushed Maria and Silvina behind her. “You’ll have to kill me first. Leave them alone—they’re innocent.” She lunged at Pedro, her eyes burning with hatred.
“Stay back!” Pedro aimed his pistol at Valentina’s chest. “I’m warning you—for the last time. Stop now, or I’ll shoot!”
32
Temporary Command Center
Outside Colon, Panama
A short whistle pierced the air and drew the attention of the Snakes. When they crowded around, Adder gestured towards his iPad. “The vehicles we’re tracking are leaving the compound. Someone better go back to the listening post to find out what’s happening.”
Mamba jumped to his feet. “On my way.” He rushed out of the building, followed by Rattler.
Adder glanced at Viper. “Time for a serious talk with Blanca. She knows what’s going on.”
“What if she won’t tell us anything? Or worse, gives us false information to lead us on a goose chase?”
“If we don’t have any success, we’ll turn her over to the local CIA boys. AJ gave me a contact number.” Adder grimaced. “So much for this being a cushy assignment—looks like we’re behind the eight ball.” An email, which had been forwarded by Javier earlier in the day, caught his eye. “Damn! I hate failure. According to intel, our targets abandoned their compound, and are heading north. No known destination, but their trainer is proceeding to Mexico City.”
“As soon as Mamba and Rattler provide a SITREP, we’ll decide on our next move. In the meantime, let’s keep our date.”
Blanca lay sprawled across the bed when Viper and Adder entered the room. She sat up and glared at them. “So, snakes, where have you been? A person could die of boredom waiting for you to come back.” At least they’re cute, although I won’t be able to sweet-talk my way out of here.
Adder loosened the bindings securing her hands and thrust a bottle of water at her.
She twisted the cap off and tipped the bottle back, taking huge gulps. When the last drop was gone, she glanced around for somewhere to put the empty bottle, and finally decided to let it drop to the floor. “So, what’s up?”
Viper crossed his arms. “It’s time for you to—”
He yanked a vibrating phone out of his pocket and hit a couple of buttons as he stepped into the hallway. “Talk to me.”
“Rattler and I checked out the compound. Everyone’s gone. Gimme a minute.”
Viper heard Mamba and Rattler speaking in the background, but couldn’t understand any of their conversation.
Mamba’s voice came through the phone. “Sorry about that. We’re on our way back and came across an old man on a burro. Rattler spoke with him. He said while leading his animal along the highway about an hour ago, two buses almost ran them down.”
“Did he know where the buses went?” Viper pursed his lips.
“All he knew was they were heading inland away from Colon.”
“Understood. Return ASAP, and we’ll sort out what to do next.” Viper cut the connection and dropped the phone in his pocket. He returned to the room and glared at Blanca. “Where are the buses going?”
“What time is it?”
“Why? What does it matter?” Viper glanced at the large face on his watch and turned his wrist so she could see it.
Blanca gave him a lackluster smile and raised her bound hands. “They should be at Panama City Tocumen Airport now. The men are taking a chartered flight.”
“Where?”
Blanca shrugged. “Why should I tell you?” I can always lie. Before they find out, I’ll be gone.
Adder pulled out his blade and stepped closer. “If you don’t tell us everything you know, and right now, I’ll skin you.”
“You wouldn’t dare. Your government won’t let you, and I know my rights.”
“Yeah. The right to die if you continue withholding information.”
“Big man. You’re pretty brave—at the moment. Let me loose, and I’ll teach you a lesson.”
Click.
