They found a quiet place to park and sent Yorgi into the bar.
Alicia gave him a parting pep talk.
“Yeah, Yogi, we’re sending you ’cause you’re a thief, you look like a thief and act like a thief. That’s the bright side. So you’re gonna blend in. Just try not to get chopped up.” She waved. “Oh, and if you do get made, try that weird building climbing thing you do. See ya.”
The Russian climbed out of the car. Drake spoke in Alicia’s ear. “Encouragement, inspiration and great advice all in the same speech. Nicely done, love.”
“He looked encouraged didn’t he?”
“Oh, yeah. For sure.”
Yorgi passed out of sight and checked his comms. This particular system allowed the microphone to stay open, so they heard everything in real time as it happened. Drake thought it useful since they were sending in a man alone.
Ten minutes passed in darkness, the only sounds the noise of the bar filtering through the comms. Only fifteen minutes to go before kick-out time. Drake heard Yorgi sigh. He heard men and women laughing drunkenly, the sound of a jukebox. Pricked his ears up at the sound of a scream, then relaxed when it turned into a fit of hysterics. A female spoke to Yorgi, no doubt propositioning him, forcing the thief to speak. Enquiries had revealed that this was a high-traffic bar, visited by out-of-towners, so Yorgi would be safe.
Soon, the warning came.
“Joshua is on his way.”
Drake cracked the door, heard the others following. Hayden drifted ahead, stopping at a dark corner. Brick buildings lined the streets in all directions, their windows draped, barely any lights blazing. Darkness pooled along the center of the road. The only man walking it was Joshua.
“Brave,” Kinimaka remarked.
“He does it every day,” Smyth shrugged. “Familiarity… and all that.”
“He won’t be doing it tomorrow,” Hayden said with grim determination. “Of that I am certain.”
“First things first though,” Drake whispered. “How to take him down quietly.”
But Alicia was way ahead of him, sauntering out of the shadows and approaching the man with a smile. “Hey. Fancy a shag?”
Joshua’s face was a picture, a goggling, staring, blinking portrait until Yorgi came up behind him and hit him over the head with a bottle. Alicia was on him before he could react, and the job was done.
Hayden nodded with satisfaction. “Let’s see how tough this asshole really is.”
CHAPTER NINE
Drake knew there were precious few times in a person’s life when the crossroads presented itself. A juncture when all outcomes and all futures were uncertain. A person made a choice.
And the rest of their lives changed.
If only we could see these crossroads coming. If only…
Not that night they didn’t.
Hayden dragged Joshua through the barely open doors and into the rear store of a shop the CIA used as a front. The store was sizeable, its corners obscured by towers of cardboard boxes. At one end sat a wooden desk, filing cabinets and a bookshelf replete with sheets of paper. At the other end, just a sink and kettle.
Hayden nodded at Smyth. “Grab that chair.”
She waited for Smyth to comply, then threw Joshua into it. The man’s head was bleeding where Yorgi had struck him with the bottle, and his eyes now swept every part of the room and every face before him.
“Who are you? Cops?”
“You speak English? Good. That’ll make this much easier.” Hayden again motioned to Smyth, this time to attach Joshua’s arms to the chair by way of plastic ties. Drake noticed that not once did she look Kinimaka’s way, and he fancied it wasn’t because of their recent break up. The Hawaiian wouldn’t be best pleased with what was about to happen.
Hayden’s track record was not good when it came to holding back.
Hayden stalked over to the sink and filled the kettle. Alicia and Mai checked the outside, walked the perimeter, and reported all was well. Drake and Yorgi considered the inside, noted CCTV cameras and listening devices. Drake pointed them out to Hayden.
“Cover the cameras. Find the tape. Kill the ears.”
He paused. “They already know we’re here.”
“I used to work for ’em, Drake. Believe me when I say — leave nothing incriminating behind. These things can hit you back years down the line.”
It reminded him of Tyler Webb’s menacing statement. He shrugged over at Yorgi and started on the main camera.
Hayden picked up a towel and stepped over to Joshua. His shortness forced him to crane his neck in order to look her in the eyes.
“You shouldn’t fuck with me. You don’t know who I am.” Hard words.
“Y’know, I’m not even gonna play the game,” Hayden said uncaringly. “I don’t give a shit. In sixty seconds, I’m gonna ask you a question. Your answer will determine how much pain I then put you through.”
Joshua hesitated, unsure. “In sixty seconds?”
Hayden wrapped the towel around his head, shutting him up and began to pour from the kettle. Water splashed all over the man’s face and then to the floor. The struggle began, arms wrenching against ties and drawing blood, feet kicking at the chair legs and into empty space. Hayden didn’t bother to hold him down and soon the chair had toppled over. She looked over to Smyth.
“Pick him up.”
The soldier complied. Kinimaka came over to help Drake and Yorgi as they finished removing all the spyware they could see. Drake pocketed a tape and then listened as Hayden spoke once more.
“We’re looking for someone from the mountains. Wealthy, prone to bribery, prefers to be left alone. Educated. A man of few words. Probably ruthless. Does it ring any bells with you, Joshua?”
A widening of the eyes, ever so slight, gave him away. The vigorous shake of the head, though, did him no favors at all.
Hayden had bound his face with the towel again before the denials shot from his mouth. This time, Smyth took the kettle and poured for a while. Gasps filled the room along with the hushed but violent struggles of the drowning man.
Another respite. Another rebuttal. Drake shuffled his feet and looked over when Alicia and Mai came back in. The two drifted separately, and it seemed to Drake that no words had passed between them. Their feud appeared to have lost some of its fire, but no doubt only because Alicia had been gallivanting with the other team for a while. Now that she was back… He shuddered inwardly.
Smyth kicked the chair over this time. Joshua tried to scream but only a jet of water burst from his mouth. Then came the coughing, retching and chest heaving.
“Can’t hear you.” Hayden leaned in close.
“It-it’s… a—”
“Fuck’s sake.” Hayden didn’t wait, but nodded at Smyth and the water boarding began anew. Drake frowned a little.
“Wasn’t he trying to say something?”
“Dunno, Drake. Was he?”
The crossroads beckoned, a vast junction of possibilities, a multitude of outcomes. Drake saw what could be, but he didn’t see all of it.
Smyth poured. Kinimaka stepped into sight. “Give him a break.”
Hayden was already pushing Smyth’s arm away. Maybe it was luck, or maybe she sensed his movement. As it was, she ignored him and stripped the towel away once more.
Eventually, Joshua found a breath. “It’s not just me,” he gasped. “We are the Cusco Militia. We are twelve. I am leader, but we are strong. You will all die horribly.”
He spat at Smyth and then at Hayden, having no shortage of water in his mouth, and then spat at their feet. Rather than showing frustration or anger, Hayden only grinned.
“I’m happy that you wish to continue.”
Kinimaka grunted and headed for the door. Drake felt for the big Hawaiian, but saw the far-reaching picture, and all the horrendous things that could transpire. They should continue. The Cusco Militia were probably well organized and well trained.