“This is me,” he said, ambling to a stop.
Julie didn’t stop, slow down, or even turn around. “What do you want? A parade?” she called back. She raised her hand, waving it casually. “See you tomorrow, big guy.”
She carried on toward the building farthest away from his. Jericho watched her, and was sure she put an extra sway in her hips to wind him up. He shook his head and smiled. “Sonofabitch…”
GRENADA, NICARAGUA
April 20th, 2017
Chris Black was sitting alone in the meeting room, leaning back in his chair with his feet resting up on the table in front of him. The rest of the squad were sleeping, but he couldn’t settle his mind enough to do the same. Having spent the evening with LaSharde, he wanted to avoid waking her with his restlessness, so had left her in bed, resting peacefully.
Over twenty-four hours had passed since his conversation with Jones, and he attributed his growing uneasiness to that.
Suddenly, his phone rang, disturbing him from his anxious musing. It was on the table next to him, and the vibrating was amplified in the silence. He looked at the display, recognizing the number immediately.
About damn time…
He put his feet down and leaned forward, resting on his elbows and stroking his chin as he answered.
“Black,” he said.
“There’s been some developments,” replied Julius Jones, dispensing with any pleasantries. “This is the first chance I’ve had to call.”
Black sat up straight, disciplined and alert. “What is it?”
He heard a sigh down the line before Jones spoke. “First of all… your mission. Daniel Vincent is in Prague. We’ve picked him up in a hotel near Wenceslas Square. You need to leave ASAP. We’ve got the jump on this, but our advantage won’t last long.”
“Copy that. I’ll round up the team immediately. We’ll be airborne in thirty minutes.”
“Be aware that your target is employed by GlobaTech Industries. That means, in all likelihood, they will be actively searching for him as well. Be on your guard, and avoid any unnecessary conflict. Am I clear?”
“Crystal.”
“This mission must remain covert at all costs. Now, before you go, there are a couple of other things you need to know.”
Black detected the change in Jones’ tone, and knew that whatever was coming next wasn’t good. “Go on…”
“I’ve spoken with Director Matthews regarding your concerns over Mr. Santiago,” Jones began. “Your suspicions were accurate — he hacked into our secure mainframe and listened to an encrypted audio file… a recording of the director giving you the order to execute Jericho Stone.”
“I fucking knew he was up to something…” hissed Black. “That’s why he’s been asking so many questions…”
“The director has asked me to convey his request that he no longer wishes Mr. Santiago to be a part of your unit. Do you understand what I’m saying to you, Chris?”
Black took a deep breath, clenching his jaw and glaring into space. “I do,” he replied.
“You’ll allow him to arrange your transport, and then you will terminate his contract before you leave. Am I understood?”
“Copy that.”
“Good. And finally, Chris, you personally have a very large problem. It’s Jericho… he’s still alive.”
The words hung in the silence as Black tried his best to comprehend them. “That’s not possible,” he said, finally. “Sir, I shot him in the face.”
Jones scoffed. “Whatever you did, it didn’t work. I’ve spoken to the man personally. He’s very much alive, and isn’t very happy with the CIA.”
“Where is he?” asked Black, getting to his feet. “I’ll—”
“You’ll do what you’re told,” said Jones, cutting him off. “Jericho’s with GlobaTech, so you can’t get to him. But I suspect he’ll come to you very soon, so be ready.”
Black was angry in a way he didn’t know he was capable of. He knew that anger was directed more at his own failure to take out Jericho than anything else, and his mind was already racing to think of a way to redeem himself.
“If he’s working for GlobaTech now, he’ll definitely be in Prague,” he said.
“That’s my thinking, too,” agreed Jones. “Which is all the more reason to watch your back while you’re over there, and keep the fucking thing quiet.”
Black hung up without another word, pocketed the phone, and began pacing back and forth in the room, like a caged lion. As he neared the table again, he let out a guttural scream and slammed his right fist down on the surface.
“Fuck!”
Damian Baker, Charlotte LaSharde, and Rick Santiago sat facing him; summoned on a moment’s notice to prepare for action. Black had composed himself before waking them, wrapping his head around what he must do, and what was to come.
“I’ve received information from Langley,” he announced. “Daniel Vincent works for GlobaTech Industries, and is currently hiding out in Prague.”
“GlobaTech?” queried Baker. “Those guys are fucking golden at the moment…”
“I know,” agreed Black. “Which is why this mission needs to happen quietly. We suspect they’ll be sending a team to retrieve him. So we get there first, we bring him back, and we absolutely do not engage any hostiles unless we have to.”
The team exchanged glances before nodding their understanding.
“There’s something else,” continued Black. He paused for a moment, taking a breath, preparing himself for what he was about to say. He quickly thought of all the different ways he could say it, but in the end decided to just come out with it, like ripping off a band aid. “Jericho Stone is still alive, and he’s working for GlobaTech.”
The sound of a collective intake of breath filled the room.
“How?” asked LaSharde, her eyes wide with shock and disbelief.
Black shook his head. “I don’t know. But he’s already made contact with Langley, and threatened to go after Jones. My guess is he’ll want revenge, and he won’t understand that everyone was just following orders. We all need to watch our backs until he’s taken care of.”
“What makes you think he’ll want revenge?” asked Santiago quietly, speaking for the first time.
Black looked at him like he was an idiot. “Wouldn’t you?” he asked. “I know I would…”
“No offense, Boss, but you’re not Jericho. The man I knew was a soldier and a patriot. Revenge wasn’t really his thing.”
Black was furious, and stepped forward, glaring at Santiago, who was sitting with an annoyingly impassive look on his face. “I’d watch your mouth if I were you, and remember who you’re talking to.”
Santiago smiled. “Yeah, well — you’re not me, either. And I wasn’t following orders, you were. I think you’re afraid. And if I were you, I’d be afraid, too.”
The two men held each other’s gaze for a few tense, silent moments. Eventually, Baker cleared his throat and intervened.
“Alright, let’s take a breath, fellas,” he said. “Chris, what’s the plan for getting Vincent?”
Black looked over at him, pointing at Santiago. “Assuming it’s no trouble for him to arrange, we need to be airborne in thirty minutes.”
Santiago shrugged. “Piece of cake, homie.”
Black took a breath and stepped away, turning his back on the unit for a moment. Then he spun around again, re-focused on the task at hand. “Baker, LaSharde — head to the armory and gear up. “Santiago, console room. Get us in the air ASAP.”