Beauregard nodded in that complacent way of his. Webb never understood if the man was being subservient or arrogant but his prowess spoke for itself. There were none better in the known world.
“But first…” Webb allowed the biggest of smiles to break out across his face. “First I have a new job for you. And what a grand exploit it will be. The best yet.”
Beauregard angled his head to the side. “Sir?”
“The stalking of Hayden Jaye is about to pass its zenith. I will need you for the fallout.”
“When?”
“Tonight. For as long as it takes. Now, sit down. I need to talk to you. We should plan this together.”
Webb underwent a swift makeover in his soul. Gone was the Pythian leader. Gone was the multi-millionaire company boss. Everything that was left was all that he was, all that he wanted to be, and it was the stimulated, aroused youth who had become a menacing stalker, the portentous haunter of the shadows.
Thrilled, practically overwrought, he explained the plan to Beauregard.
CHAPTER TWENTY THREE
Drake ruminated as they crawled northeast across the desert, occasionally passing within a few miles of small towns or asphalted roads but ignoring them and keeping to Jenny’s take-it-or-leave-it style instructions. Drake took it, but with every bouncing, juddering mile he regretted it that little bit more.
Even more so with Smyth’s growling tracery of complaints trickling through the two-way. “Even my ass-crack has sand in it. This air-con’s too friggin’ cold. Whoa, was that a roadrunner?”
Eventually even Lauren had reached her limit. “Shut the hell up. My ass-crack has sand in it but you don’t hear me complaining like a six-year-old on a road trip!”
“It does?” Smyth said into the radio. “Want me to get that for you?”
“Gross!”
“Ha, says you. The New York—”
“The New York what?” Lauren’s voice dipped dangerously.
“Umm, shit, hey these radios are open. Fuck.” Smyth turned back to his irascible ways.
Drake watched as Yorgi drove. Truth be told the sighting of a distant town or twisting back road was the only brief variation to their constant monotony. So far though, there had been no sign of gun-toting mercenaries — a sign Drake took as entirely positive.
Whilst partly feigning a toilet break he wandered off into the desert during a short halt and made a phone call. His contact was an old friend, stretching all the way back to the days of Wells and Crouch, Sam and Jo. The world had seemed quieter, more innocent then. But all that was mostly down to youth and inexperience and the lack of a properly functioning Internet.
“Fort Bragg.”
“Could I speak to Colonel Rudd please?”
“On what business?”
“Tell him it’s Matt Drake and it’s personal.”
“Hold.”
The minutes ticked by. Drake shaded his eyes from the heat.
“Drake?” An American twang focused his meandering thoughts. “Is that really you? Shit, man, I heard all about your exploits. Thought you’d forgot about lil’ old me.”
“Course you did, Colonel. It must truly suck to be you.”
“You have no idea. But I’m sure you understand it’s not all pancakes and maple syrup at the top.”
“Oh, I do.”
“And Matt,” the Colonel’s voice lowered, “I was sorry to hear about Sam and Jo. And even Wells.”
Drake nodded to the desert. “Thank you.”
“But Crouch is still out there. One of the good old boys, that one. A stalwart. Called in a favor only a few weeks ago. I’m pretty sure he owes me now but I would never tell him so.”
Drake was silent, contemplating all that had gone before. It was odd how the quiet and stillness of a desert panorama brought forth his inner thinker. He was still musing when Rudd spoke up.
“Drake? You still there?”
“Aye, I mean yes. I was just lost in all that has already slipped by.”
“Don’t even think about that scary shit. Now, what can I do for you?”
Drake responded to the change in tone as Rudd knew he would, the brusque tenor catching his attention. “Well, I have a strange request.”
And he launched into Karin’s story, telling as much as was relevant and ending with her request and his own promise to help. Rudd listened carefully without interruption and when Drake was done probed him with some hard questions as to her mental and physical health and prowess. Drake heard a shout — Jenny’s raucous summons — and realized time was short.
“Can you help her?”
“Matt, this is a fully functioning, hard-learning military base. If she does come here there can be no special favors.”
“That’s exactly the point.”
“And she has some idea what to expect?”
“Karin has been around soldiers for years now. Acted positively in some of our worst situations. I will vouch for her.”
“Well, what can I say to that? I don’t like it but I’m not gonna refuse you. Try again, but if you can’t change her mind send her here immediately, but once she’s in — she’s in. Get me?”
“Affirmative. I’ll explain it to her.”
“Be clear. This ain’t the fuckin’ World Championships and she ain’t that Ennis chick, Drake.”
“I understand, I think.”
Rudd sighed long and hard. “As if I ain’t got enough shit to contend with. If this fucks up, Drake, if she fucks up in any way, I’ll come looking for you.”
Drake knew it was no idle threat. “I appreciate this, mate, more than you will ever know.”
“All right, no need to bring out the English-isms. That friggin’ language of yours is hard enough to get your head around with referring to me as your ‘mate’. Shit, I’m military. Talk to your friend, Drake, and if she still wants in — send her.”
Drake signed off. The small convoy sat beyond hearing distance, now clearly waiting for him. What he would have liked right now were many moments of contemplation. An hour of examining morals and needs and plain old gut instinct. What he actually had was no time at all — not even a minute. Brushing himself off he rose and jogged back to the cars, climbed in and made ready. The two-way crackled into life and Jenny’s raucous tones lit up the air.
“We all good now?”
“We’re good. Let’s kick this mother into action.”
“Say what?”
“Let’s go.”
The cars rolled out. Drake immediately turned to Karin and relayed the conversation he’d just had with Rudd. The expression of relief that took residence in her face said it all — she needed this more than anything in her whole life. From far too young an age Karin had been losing the people most dear to her. The simple fact was that by taking control and earning confidence and training to win she saw the way to becoming the manager of her own destiny.
“First chance,” he promised. “You’re out of here.”
Yorgi piloted the car, saying nothing. Jenny broke in over the radio at random intervals, explaining their route, crossing an actual road to continue into the wilderness and avoiding human contact at all turns. The satnav told Drake they were heading in an unwieldy direction for the large body of water known as the Salton Sea, what used to be a much larger inland sea at the time of the American Indians. What even might once have been connected to the Gulf of California. The area around there was as connected with lost desert ships as much as anywhere in the world.