Chapter 25

They had eaten at the Cabbage Roll. It was another local favorite, a German deli that had some very good schnitzel. Liv had to admit that she was impressed with the small local establishment. The museum has been interesting and Alex seemed liked she had enjoyed herself.

But, now, they were back in their suite. Liv was at the table on the laptop and true to her word, Alex was sitting on the bed, reading. Every so often, Liv would over the screen of her laptop to gaze at Alex, who would just return a smirk, before Liv went back to her research.

"I want to do short trips and spend the night. It might take us a week or so to get to the coast. Fall is approaching, which means that we will need some warmer gear, soon. We'll need to go shopping," Liv told her, not looking up.

"I thought that Cole was preparing you a shipment. I am sure that he'll have plenty of things for us to look through. All of which, I am sure, will be fine," Alex replied.

"He is shopping for you, you know?"

"Okay, and?"

"He is a man."

"I noticed that while we were on his farm."

"Okay, smart ass, but he is picking out your clothes," Liv stated.

"You act like they are going to be hideous."

"You have no idea."

Liv decided to call Cole to check on the "package." She knew that he would give her grief about calling so much, but she had to be prepared for anything. She was trying to plan their trip and she needed to make sure that everything was ready. She was at a point that she couldn't do much else until she talked to him, and she hated to be inefficient.

She reached around the laptop to grab her bag. Remembering then Alex was lying on the bed, once again, as their eyes met and held for a few seconds. She smiled as she pulled out a burner cell. She went back to her laptop and the cell, ignoring Alex much to her dismay, as she scrolled through the numbers to Cole's.

"Hello, Girlie."

"Sergeant," Liv replied.

"What do you need?"

"I am calling to confirm that the package has arrived safely."

"It has. She is loaded down for you, just the way you like it. I added something for you. Plus, I built in a hide for the M82 into the rear seat. I've broken it down for you and stashed it. She's ready if you need her, but I'd leave her in the truck. She's a little big for urban environments."

"I know that. I wasn't planning on using her if I didn't need to. What about the rest?"

"I've put ammo in the standard locations. I've also added a modified M4 for you. She is tucked in above the wheel well with about six mags, stowed and more ready in the other ammo hides. I don't know what else I could give you. You already carry a small arsenal. These are all, you know, just in case, right? You aren't going to all crazy with this, are you? I know that you aren't. But, Liv, you have to promise me that you aren't going to go out there guns blazing."

"Close quarters?" she asked him, going back to the M4 he added to the mix.

"Of course, with IR sights, laser dot, M203 extension with a box of ammo and add on sight, forward hand grip specialized for close quarters, AN/PVS-l7A night vision, sound suppression kit with flash suppressor, and back up iron sights, if you want to go old school."

"Nice," Liv told him.

"I thought that you would appreciate that. But, seriously, Lewey, why are you calling me? I know that it isn't about the package."

"It is and it isn't."

"Tell me, Girlie. I can't help you if I don't know what you need. What's going on?"

"Napa numbers?" she asked vaguely.

"I ran some."

"And?"

"It doesn't look good for a permanent location."

"What do you suggest?"

"You had another option?" he asked her.

"Washington," Liv answered

"State? Cause I hope you don't mean D.C. Please tell me that you don't mean D.C."

"No, state, I am not that stupid," Liv retorted.

"Good, I'm guess some where nice, maybe populated, but that doesn't matter. She gave you a suggestion of there, didn't she? Then I am guessing she is looking for people and city life and comforts, which would mean Seattle. Am I right?" he questioned.

"Yes."

"Not to talkative, are you today?'

"No."

"Okay, so Seattle, it would work better. More people to hide behind, more of a city to hide within. There isn't much cartel activity there, so you wouldn't have to worry about the Colombians coming for her there. I'll look into some properties for you."

"Thank you."

"Still planning a route to get there?"

"Yes," Liv replied.

"Take her to Tahoe."

"Excuse me?"

"Leave Sioux Falls and head west like you are going to Napa Valley. Still take her there, but stop at Lake Tahoe. You'll be fine. It has enough hustle and bustle for her and plenty of quiet for you. Stay there for a few days. I'll procure you a condo or something in Seattle."

"Thank you."

"Don't thank me yet."

"Why? What happened? What aren't you telling me?"

"I told you to call Gregor. You didn't, so he called me. That was not at pleasant conversation."

"Sorry. I am sure that it wasn't. I know that he can be…well…gruff."

"Don't even start. The man is an ass. I know that. You know that. He knows that. But, he did his homework. He called Sanchez, too. Guess it is a good thing you didn't go to Chicago as planned. He is trying to locate you."

"And, you are telling me because?"

"I am sure that he tagged the truck. Check it before you leave. Go through your gear too. He will have put a tracker on something. I threw in some extra burners for you, too. Just in case."

"Again, thank you. Seriously, thank you for everything. I don't know what I would be doing without your help. I know that there has to be a leak in the agency. There has to be," Liv stated.

"I am sure that there is. I managed to get the reports. Someone is leaking information to the cartels, but they weren't expecting you in the mix. They don't know how to cope without the constant intel coming in on Alex. My guess is that they are pressuring Gregor. He is doing his best, but he knows enough about the unit to look for me and Sanchez. Just be careful."

"There isn't anyone else that he could call. You und Sanchez are the only ones left from the team that is either still alive or not on at mission. If he marked the truck, then it is someone higher than him. That gives me more than enough reasons to leave now and not look back. I'll take her to Canada if I have to. I am not going to let her die, Cole," Liv told him.

"I know that, Olivia. That is why I warned you. Just remember to look over your shoulder. They don't know where you are. Hell, I don't even know if you are still in Saint Joseph right now. I don't care. I just don't want anything to happen to either of you," he explained.

"You do, too, care."

"So, I do. What does that matter? It doesn't."

"I know that, Cole, but thanks."

"Quit thanking me, Liv. Take care of her. I'll use backups from here on out. I can't be sure that they haven't tapped my phone. I'm going to check the lines, but I know they can't trace you."

"Gotcha, I'll use proxy 43 from here on out. Don't forget to get the plans drawn up for the final product. I'll want to start moving on it in six months or sooner, depending on…dates. I'll give you the location as soon as I find one. Is there anything else?" Liv asked him.

"Just remember to keep your head down, Girlie. I'll see you in a few months. I'll have the plans ready for you by then. Let me know when the court day is and I'll meet you in New York."

"Will do, Cole. See you then. I'll keep in touch," Liv said ringing off.

Liv immediately started planning a route to the West Coast. Cole had given her more information that she was prepared for, but it was enough to let her know what was going on with the case. They were looking for her and someone was pushing Gregor to figure out where she was, so much so that he leaned on Cole. It wasn't an ideal situation, but knowing now that they were trying to track her would make her more vigilant in their movements.

The fact that Cole talked her out of quiet and peaceful Napa Valley meant that he had given Gregor that information. He was trying to keep Liv a step ahead. They would still go, but they would wait it out at Lake Tahoe. It was only at three hour drive from the Lake to the Valley.

They could make a day trip of it and still be far enough away from anyone finding them.

"What's wrong?" Alex asked noticing the look on Liv's face.

"Nothing that I can't handle."

"What is it? Did they find us? Tell me, Liv. This concerns me, remember?" Alex probed.

"I do, Alex. Trust me. I do. It is why I am trying to figure all this out," Liv stated as she closed the laptop and looked over at Alex a little harder.

"What is it then?"

"Gregor is pressuring Cole to give us up."

"Your handler is pushing Cole to tell him where we are?" Alex asked.

"He did. Cole warned me. There are new protocols that I am going to have to enforce, now."

"Such as?" Alex asked sitting up on the bed and hanging her legs over the side.

"You can't go anywhere without me. You are going to be my shadow. If I tell you do something, do it. Don't question me, just do it. I'll have to go through everything that Cole sent us with the SUV. There may be tags in it that I will have to neutralize. I can't have them tracking us. If they know where I am, they will find you."

"I understand."

"Do you? Do you really? Things just got really serious. This is no longer just a road trip."

"When do we need to leave?" Alex asked calmly.

"We can wait until the morning. I don't want anyone to think that we are using preventive measures, yet. I want to wait and see what Gregor tries to pull. I want to be prepared for anything."

"Is Cole still going to help us?"

"Yes, he is. He is already looking into the future for us. We have gone back into code. If someone has tapped his phones they won't understand what we are saying. Plus, we are masters of misdirection, so if they think they know where we are going. They really won't. I've already put things in place for that. Another reason I am glad that I am getting compensation for some of my expenses for this little operation," Liv told her.

"Expenses?"

"Gas, vehicles, lodging, clothes, and anything else I deem necessary to keep you alive."

"That must be nice," Alex mused.

"Don't be like that. I don't claim half of it. What's the point because I am going to keep it. It would be like I was going to buy it anyway. Plus, I send in everything weeks after I've been somewhere. Another way to keep them from knowing where I am, but only where I've been."

"Do you really think that someone is after me?"

"Yes, I do."

"Why?"

"Because you took a stand and are willing to fight."

"And, that has put more people in harm's way. Great. I have an army as a martyr. Just great."

"No one is asking you to be a martyr. Besides, you don't have an army. You have me, but I guess that could be just as bad as an army," Liv told her laughing.