“You’re safe now.”
To Cambridge she said, “All clear.”
The train thundered on, minutes from Dallas Union Station. Hayden ordered everyone on the entire train to lie down and hoped to everything she held dear that Cambridge managed to get the message through.
Dahl pulled the emergency brake and the train began to squeal, wheels shrieking as it came to a fast stop. Hayden slid forward. Dahl hung on and smashed through the nearest window.
“We’re not waiting,” he said as the train finally came to a halt. “The bureaucracy would end this entire mission.”
He was right. Hayden pulled her body upright and related all she knew about the woman with the captive husband to Cambridge.
“Try to help them.”
“Will do.”
Not knowing where the shooters were, but knowing they had no choice, they put their trust in Cambridge’s contacts and exited the train.
Already dashing headlong toward the next mission.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
They never stopped running.
It was in their blood, in their heart and soul. The mission, the world, and those they fought against demanded it, and they always rose to the challenge.
In the darkness of a luxury minivan, in the rear of an empty, unlit parking area, they came to a stop after many hours of traveling. Finally, they were able to rest, but the updates kept on coming, never ceasing, keeping the mission running at top speed.
Cambridge described the aftermath of Dallas. “Incredible outcome,” he told them. “Only the rambunctious twats that missed out on theoretical glory are even questioning it. And those we can handle. You still have the dagger?”
“Are your people close?”
“Yep. I have men on the way so we can feed it back through the network. Back to England and the Key of Hades. This will be the third of the weapons in our possession, including the Sword of Mars.”
“Didn’t the others get the Chain of Aphrodite?”
“Ah, they’re still working on it to be honest.”
Smyth grunted at that. “Not cool.”
“Yeah, they hit several snags over in Greece. But nobody got hurt, so we’re good.”
“Earlier you mentioned receiving some important information from Crowe and Lauren,” Hayden reminded him.
“Of course. Whoever they’re using to delve through General Gleeson’s laptop has uncovered something significant. It seems the list of weapons that Secretary Crowe acquired was by no means the definitive one. There’s another…”
Hayden sensed the bad news wasn’t quite finished. “And?”
“It’s quite a bit longer. We’re counting at least seventeen weapons so far, with the potential for more. But this does explain why we’re encountering Tempest at every weapon site, and why some of their team are mercs and some terrorists. It also explains why they initiated the terrorist training camps.”
“They’re stretched very thin,” Smyth said. “We get it.”
“Like Marmite on toast,” Cambridge said. “This also helps explain why they’re not unduly disturbed about losing all the weapons that we obtain.”
“Working from a bigger list,” Dahl said. “No doubt they’re still getting the majority.”
“Exactly. I’m seeing items ranging as far back through the gods’ roster as the very oldest — the Spines of Erebus and the Rivers of Styx. The biggest — the Gates of Ishtar — is referenced as being ‘practically unobtainable’ and ‘infinitely desirable.’ But there are many more.”
“Some of those,” Dahl said. “Don’t sound as though they came from any tomb.”
“Well, that’s the last thing we know, for now,” Cambridge said. “Not only weapons were found at the tombs. Maps were found too.”
Hayden sat back in her seat, taking stock. “You’re saying we’re beat? Even before we start?”
“Of course not,” Cambridge snorted. “We’re taking them apart, and we’re close to exposing Tempest. We’ll work on that end, you work on the weapons.”
“Nemesis,” Dahl said then. “What’s the significance of her dagger?”
“She was the god of retribution, consort of Zeus himself. She gave birth to Helen of Troy, apparently. Her father was Erebus. A winged goddess bearing a dagger, she is ruthless divine justice, a true avenger of crime. Using her scales or tally stick she decided the fate of mortals and gods alike, and rides in a chariot drawn by griffins. It is she that is credited with bringing Narcissus the greatest sorrow of his life, by bringing him to a pool where he saw his own reflection in the water and fell in love with it. In the end, it was what killed him since he couldn’t bear to turn away from the beauty of his reflection.”
“Y’know,” Dahl said, “I have the same problem. Anything else?”
“That’s about it,” Cambridge said. “For now.”
“Good, then what’s—”
“Oh, apart from one thing.”
Hayden sensed it might not be good. “Cambridge?”
“Sorry, the info just came in. Several US powers know you’re in the country now. I kept your identities hidden on the train, of course. But they will yield to pressure from the powerful members of Tempest and launch a manhunt for you.”
“Do we need to leave the country immediately?”
“I’m afraid that you do.”
Hayden started the car. “We’re heading out now,” she said. “Whilst darkness lasts. Just point us in the direction of a friendly landing strip.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
Drake wouldn’t listen to the old man until they’d reached a quiet destination, parked the car, and were seated on concrete benches at the edge of a small park. Swings moved to and fro in the distance and the happy sounds of children playing drifted like delicate blessings on warm streams of air. Mai, cooler now, and Luther, having volunteered to watch the perimeter, split up, and wandered off. Drake watched them both go with a substantial question in his heart.
How do I feel?
The place he was at now, with Alicia, had not been of his making. Mostly, it had been of Mai’s. And perhaps here was a chance for her to make a fresh start. Luther too.
Alicia interrupted his thoughts, deciding to play team sweet-talker. “Let’s hear the pitiful confession, Doukas, every scrap. Remember, me believing you is how you get to survive.”
The old man placed a hand on each temple and studied the ground between his feet. “I acquired the chain like you said, from the old tomb. I escaped without detection, by the skin of my teeth. Felt lucky. Took the chain to my home and then began to wonder what the hell to do with it.”
“You didn’t steal for gain?” Drake asked.
“Didn’t even enter my mind.”
“Weird,” Kenzie whispered. “It’s in mine all the time.”
“I kept it and kept it and, like all first-time thieves I guess, grew so paranoid that I had to do something about it. I thought — what would be the best place to hide it? That question overlapped a memory of an old enemy of mine, bringing the perfect place to mind.”
“An old enemy?” Kenzie asked.
“Yes, yes. Lars German. He is the police commissioner around here.”
Drake did a double-take. “Come again?”
“You heard correctly, sir. He is the police commissioner and a childhood antagonist of mine. The man was a bully.”
Drake didn’t like the sound of where this was going. “Doukas — how the hell does your enemy, the police commissioner, tie in to the whereabouts of the Chain of Aphrodite?”
“That is where it gets tricky,” Doukas admitted. “I figured out long ago that the chain didn’t set metal detectors off. Just like half the scientists working inside those tombs. I swathed them in bubble-wrap and tape, then came up with a plan to get inside the station. I walked them right in. I pretended to meet with German to bury the hatchet and, after a cup of coffee, excused myself to go to the toilet. I left it hidden right there, with my enemy, because what better place can you think of to hide it?”