“First time I’ve heard his name, but he’s arriving in Belize from Panama by way of Germany. He must be part of the operations team.”
“Did Condor mention anyone else?”
“No, but I got the sense that Mashburn didn’t know this Stephan guy. He asked Condor to spell his name and give him a description. They had a bad connection. The way they talked, I think Stephan could be the guy in charge of the Belize operation. I think there’s something else going on between Stephan and Condor, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“I monitored another call between Stephan and Condor. They talked about Phase 2 and disposal of a body near the creek at a rest area off Hummingbird. It seemed like Hummingbird was a code name for something. I didn’t understand it.”
“No, Hummingbird is a highway that runs north and south from Belmopan. I wonder if they could have been talking about what will become of Mashburn’s body.”
“I’m not following you, boss.”
“Look, Mashburn is a liability to Condor. Stephan may be here to disrupt the war games and then take out Mashburn. That location is where a body would be easily found. Perhaps they plan to give authorities a lead following whatever destruction they’re planning. After all, he is, or was, CID — Army intelligence. If he’s found dead with some incriminating evidence on him, it solves Condor’s problem about what to do with Mashburn. He knows too much. That’s why Mashburn is out of the loop on everything. He may be part of this set up — only he doesn’t know he’s the one taking the fall.”
“Wow. That’s heavy stuff.”
“It’s still speculative on my part. I just know I’ve got to make my move on Mashburn before Stephan arrives. My guess is the other operatives will be working under Stephan. Timing is everything right now.”
“What about the other operation? Won’t your moving in on Mashburn alert them?”
“Maybe not. It depends on how I handle Mashburn. I’m still thinking that through. Pretty soon things are going to get a lot hotter down here.”
“I know you can handle it, partner. I’ll keep monitoring, and we’ll talk soon.”
The next day Mashburn went out for his usual late afternoon walk and dinner outing. Wade didn’t want to take the chance that Mashburn might remember his face even though their only encounter at Benning had been brief. Just in case Mashburn got a glimpse of him, Wade wanted the added protection of a disguise. Wade gained access to the house with his key and had thoroughly searched it long before Mashburn returned from his evening dinner.
He found among other things a Walther 9mm semi-automatic pistol in a holster taped to the back of the bedside table, easily reachable from Mashburn’s bed. The contents of several large suitcases were spread across the living room floor, revealing several weapons broken down into component parts. The stash included a silenced sniper’s rifle with a high-powered scope and lots of ammunition. There were also night goggles, fake IDs, passports, and maps of Belmopan, Belize City, and Ambergris Caye, which Wade quickly reviewed.
A search of Mashburn’s bedroom revealed more papers taped under one of the dresser drawers. Written in Spanish, they looked like details of the Spain assignment. Removing the tape, Wade folded and pocketed the documents for later translation and review.
The biggest surprise came when Wade found three interesting medicine vials cooling in the refrigerator. An assortment of needles and syringes were lying among utensils in a kitchen drawer not far away. He examined the vials; each contained a solution of a different color. These didn’t look like street drugs or prescription medicine. The silver metal ring clamp holding the soft gray rubber top for needle access had clearly been professionally manufactured. He hid the vials, syringes, and needles close to where he was going to interrogate Mashburn.
Wade thought, Perhaps these are the same or similar drugs used on Lockhart or ones left over from the Spain assignment. What are they? And how are they used?
Wade removed a pillowcase from one of the bedroom pillows. He found more papers under the mattress, which he also folded and pocketed. There were no weapons in the other bedrooms.
A notepad, pen, and small tape recorder were placed on the seat of a chair next to where Wade would interrogate Mashburn. Based upon his previous pattern, Mashburn was expected to arrive at any time. Wade checked his disguise one last time in Mashburn’s bathroom mirror.
Slightly pulling back on the side of the curtain Wade checked both windows out to the driveway. He double checked the molding around the side door for wires and looked for camera and listening devices.
It wasn’t long before Wade heard Mashburn’s car come to a stop in the driveway. The engine shut off and there was dark silence in the house. Wade could hear his heart beating faster. He felt the tension as the key slipped into the door lock and turned.
As Mashburn’s hand reached in for the light switch on the wall he felt a cold, round cylinder pressed firmly against the back of his skull.
The voice from behind him said, “Don’t turn on that light if you want to live.”
Mashburn quietly raised both hands over his head without being asked. Pushing Mashburn from behind, Wade walked slowly to a chair already pulled out from the dining room table. Wade firmly shoved Mashburn into the seat.
Believing he was being robbed, Mashburn spoke in a quivering voice. “I don’t have much money here, but you can have everything I have.”
There was no reply to Mashburn’s plea. Wade gave a strong command in a voice deeper than his natural tone. “Sit still in the chair without turning your head.”
Wade kept the gun pressed into Mashburn’s back. Strips of silver duct tape were already hanging from the table’s edge.
“Wrap the tape tightly around your right hand and the arm of the chair and don’t speak.”
When Mashburn finished strapping his right arm to the chair, Wade slipped the dark pillowcase over his head before turning on the overhead light. The pillowcase had already been checked to make sure the weave was open enough to breathe, but wouldn’t allow facial recognition of an image on the other side of the fabric.
Wade tightly wrapped Mashburn’s left wrist to the chair arm. Then he also wrapped both of Mashburn’s arms to the chair just below the elbows.
The strapping was done in silence as he secured Mashburn’s legs to the chair, wrapping them just above the ankles and again just below the knees. The heavy, carved Spanish chair with Mashburn taped to it became a single solid structure that wasn’t going anywhere.
After Mashburn settled for a few minutes, he mustered enough courage to ask a few questions in Spanish, trying to determine if the intruder naturally spoke Spanish. Obviously Mashburn still thought it was a robbery. Wade understood Mashburn’s questions but didn’t reply.
Wade imagined the man’s mind running through a progression of questions, trying to assess his position and options: Did the intruder already search the house for money? Did he see the weapons still on the living room floor? Could he buy off the intruder? The fact that he had not already been shot suggested there might be hope for negotiation.
Chapter 19
Wade’s next words caused Mashburn to rethink his robbery theory. His captive’s voice was strong, speaking American English with only a slight hint of a southern accent.
“Listen, Mr. Mashburn or Ramos, or whatever your name really is, we have to talk.”
Mashburn was clearly confused and unsettled. His work on the dark side had never before included capture.
“If you want money, I can….”
Wade interrupted. “Quiet. I will tell you exactly what I want from you, and you will listen very carefully without speaking, or your life will end here and now. Do you understand me?”