Alex grabbed a handful of Solak’s gown and yanked him to his feet. “Hurry it up.”
As they shoved him toward the elevator again, Solak spoke for the first time. In English, no less. “You realize this will all come to nothing. You risk your life for what?”
“A chance to put you on a plane to nowhere,” Alex said.
“You’re American, yes? Private contractors?”
Neither Alex nor Deuce responded. Reaching the elevator, Alex pressed the down button, hoping this one was faster than the beast she rode in earlier.
“Why else would you be here?” Solak went on. “It is obvious you haven’t yet received word.”
Deuce frowned. “About what?”
“I have negotiated terms with your government just this morning. I am no longer a wanted man. Not by the United States, at least.”
Deuce snorted. “Nice try, dipshit. At least you get points for creativity.”
“You doubt me,” he said. “And that is understandable. But be warned that if you harm me, there will be reprisals.”
“Too bad you didn’t warn that busload of kids you killed in London,” Alex told him and looked at Deuce. “Are you buying this bullshit?”
“I’ve never been a big fan of fairytales,” Deuce said as the elevator doors slid open.
Alex shoved Solak a little harder than she needed to and he stumbled forward, hitting the elevator wall. “Oops. My bad.”
They stepped inside and the doors closed behind them. Once the elevator lurched into motion, Deuce said, “Cooper, we’ve got the package ready for delivery. Are you in position?”
There was a long pause.
“Shane?”
Still no answer.
Alex and Deuce exchanged a look, and as the elevator came to the ground floor, they braced themselves, weapons ready.
The doors slid open to reveal a loading dock, and the ambulance Cooper had been driving parked haphazardly in one of the bays. Cooper stood outside the vehicle, looking glum, surrounded by a phalanx of men in suits and dark glasses — none of them Turks — several of them pointing weapons directly at Alex and Deuce.
Americans. No doubt about it.
“Step out of the elevator and release your prisoner,” one of them said. “And put your weapons on the ground.”
Alex frowned. “What the hell is this?”
“Just do as they say,” Cooper told her. “The op’s been burned. They’re letting Solak go.”
Alex couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “What?”
“Step out of the elevator,” the American repeated, “and put your weapons on the ground.”
Then Solak smiled and said, “Not a fairytale after all.”
Alex barely spoke a word on the plane ride home. She felt used and abused and didn’t like being taken advantage of.
A phone call from McElroy, the op coordinator at Stonewell International, had confirmed that Solak had indeed cut a deal with the US government and was no longer on their hit list. The reasons were classified, but McElroy guessed Solak was more valuable to the intelligence community as an ally than an enemy.
McElroy had apologized for the confusion, and explained that the DHS had somehow forgotten to inform Stonewell of the change until the operation was well under way.
“Screw them,” Alex said. “And screw you, too. Deuce and I almost got our heads shot off because of their incompetence.”
“It happens,” McElroy told her. “We’ll try to do better next time.”
“Next time? Don’t count on it. I’m done.”
“But you’ve only just started, Alex, and you’ve already proven to be a valuable asset to the organization.”
“Lucky me,” she said, and hung up on him.
Now, as the Stonewell jet carried them home, she thought about the slippery nature of politics and shifting allegiances and how she didn’t much like it. One minute you’re hunting a man down and the next you’re in bed with him. But what could possibly justify cozying up to a guy who had been responsible for the deaths of so many innocent people? Alex didn’t care what kind of cards he was holding, Solak should not be a free man. The fact that he was free royally pissed her off.
“You okay?”
She turned with a start, unaware Cooper had taken the seat next to her. They had served together in Baghdad but hadn’t kept in contact after her discharge, in large part because she had blamed him for a mission that had gone south and gotten people killed. But the blame was misplaced, and she had finally come to terms with what had happened.
Shane had been instrumental in helping Stonewell recruit her. In fact, he was part of the reason she had agreed to sign on.
“Alex?”
She tried a smile, but lacked the conviction. “I’m fine. Just trying to figure out what the hell I’m doing here.”
“Same as the rest of us. Making the world a better place.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“It’s on the company brochure, isn’t it?”
She laughed in spite of herself, some of her anger easing. “I wish I could be as nonchalant as you.”
He shrugged. “I’m good at hiding my rage. The right amount of alcohol and regular vacations and you’ll get good at it, too.”
“I don’t really drink and vacations aren’t my thing.”
“Not true,” he said. “What about the trip you’re taking to the Keys?”
She shook her head. “Strictly business. I’ve got some real estate I want to get rid of. I can use the extra money to help take care of Danny.”
Danny was her older brother. He had Down Syndrome and lived at a special-needs home outside of Baltimore. Alex had always felt bad about placing him there, but with their parents gone and the nature of her work, she had done what she’d needed to do.
“When do you leave?” Cooper asked.
“Couple days. I want to visit with Danny a little. Why?”
He shrugged again and seemed to hesitate. “I don’t know. I thought you might want company.”
Alex was surprised. In all the months they’d been working together, this was the first time Cooper had made such a suggestion, and she didn’t know what to think of it.
She shook her head again. “It’s just a quick trip. A day or two. I’m gonna meet with the buyer’s agent, pack the place up, and head home.”
“You don’t need any help?”
“No. But I appreciate the offer.”
He gave her a wan smile, nodded, then patted her hand and got to his feet. “Trust me, you’ll get used to dealing with the political bullshit. I’d tell you we’re all just pieces on a chess board, but that’s a cliché.” He paused. “It’s probably closer to checkers anyway.”
“I didn’t mean to chase you off,” she said.
“No worries. You look as if you could use some sleep, and I wouldn’t mind catching a few Zs myself. If you need me, I’ll be in coach.”
Then he turned and worked his way down the aisle.
CHAPTER 3
The meeting with Mr. Gray took place where it always did.
Gray had chosen it the first time he and McElroy did business, over five years ago, and neither had found a suitable reason to make a change. Besides, McElroy had always liked the Museum of Natural History and often came here when he was in town. He was particularly enamored of the Ancient Egyptian exhibit, with its alabaster vases and ornate coffins and mummified corpses representing a belief that the road to eternal life was just beyond death’s doorway.
McElroy himself didn’t believe in eternal life. He had decided long ago this was as good as it got and he might as well make the best of all he’d been blessed with.
As always, Mr. Gray was waiting for him in the Hall of Paleobiology. McElroy wasn’t sure why Gray had chosen this particular exhibit, because the man never seemed to show much interest in the fossilized dinosaur skeletons or the collection of amphibians and reptiles. It was, McElroy assumed, simply a place to meet that was out of earshot of anyone who might take an interest in what they had to say.