Couples
Chapter 100
Rick guffaws as he closes his eyes. "Ryan and Esposito as romantic partners. That's priceless! I can't wait to write the scene I'm picturing for Roach."
Kate lays her palm against his chest. "Just don't make them look like idiots, OK? I pretty much promised that you'd be nice."
"I will roundly praise their investigative skills," Rick declares. "I could even have Rook's mother give them some pointers on how to make their act convincing. That should make the situation clear enough."
Breath whistles through Kate's lips. "Good. Who knows what their revenge would be if you embarrassed them?"
Rick grins. "It had to be pretty funny, though, didn't it?"
A giggle erupts from Kate's throat. "Espo walked like John Wayne the rest of the day. But there's something else. I know you've got a lot going on right now, but we could really use your help."
"You're always at the top of my list. And I am still an official N.Y.P.D. consultant. What do you need?"
Kate points to the paperwork-stuffed tote bag she left sitting on a chair by the door when she arrived in the loft. "Your eyes and the connections your crazy brain makes."
"I would prefer the description, 'uniquely talented brain.' However," Rick promises, "both the eyes and the brain are at your disposal. But I also have something I want you to do for me. I have three entrées, two adult and one toddler, provided by Imagination Patch for tasting purposes. They'll also make a decent dinner if we throw in a salad and perhaps dessert. I need you to tell me if you can taste any difference between the grownup versions and, if so, which one you like better. They're just labeled one and two, but one was cooked by Auchincloss and one by Christine Azaria. It will be a blind test for both of us. I have a sealed envelope with the chefs' identities. We can peek after we make our calls."
Kate shrugs. "Why not? Has Lily tasted the toddler version yet?"
"No, I thought I'd make it a family affair. Meryl took Belle home just a few minutes before you arrived. From what the girls were doing, I think one of them must have seen some video of a demolition derby or something. They were practically playing bumper pedicabs. Right now, Lily should happily consume anything we put in front of her. Perhaps that's not an optimal condition for testing, but I believe that in this case, we are the primary subjects."
"Nice to know we can serve a useful function," Kate comments. "So taste test first, then I have free access to your other skills?"
Rick wiggles his eyebrows. "That sounds exciting."
Not long past midnight, Ukraine-time, Jack makes his approach to the compound where he thinks he saw Azra. He's switched out his scope for night vision goggles, keeping both of his hands free. A collection of devices is stowed in various spots on his body, in his clothes, and his pack. He has an M24 in addition to two pistols and as much ammo as he can carry. His knives are in their usual sheathes.
Jack could kill at least half the guards at the perimeter before anyone would realize anything happened, but that would eventually raise an all-out alarm. With a simple dart, he can render the one farthest from the center of the installation unconscious and easily remove the evidence. When the Russian wakes up, his face will be red with more than his country's iconic color. He'll believe he fell asleep. Jack very much doubts he'd confess. Such a revelation could be very hazardous to his health.
Once Jack leaves his victim snoozing, he uses a small laser to silently cut through the wire fence. He displaces it as little as possible while gaining entrance, to avoid detection of his intrusion. Most of the structures have guards, but their function is to block unauthorized entry through normal means. The fabric of tents and the few small windows on more substantial constructions are unwatched.
Jack checks the buildings first, peeping through whatever glass or clear plastic there is and employing a fiber optic camera where he can. He sees no sign of Azra or facilities recently used to question a prisoner. Working back toward the spot he entered the encampment, Jack scopes out each tent, cutting tiny holes to thread in his camera the fraction of an inch required to get a view. He's reached the next to the last one when he spots the target of his search. Azra is in a chair secured to a sturdy post in the middle of the temporary shelter. Her hands and feet are tied, and her eyes appear to be closed. From his angle, he can't entirely be sure. But her body is slumped as if in sleep or unconsciousness. Jack hopes it's the former.
The guards at the tent entrance appear to be wide awake. Freeing Azra could make enough noise to attract their attention, especially if she suddenly awakens. Jack will have to take them out first. If he distracts them enough, he can render them both unconscious with carotid pressure. And he can use his knife as a backup if need be.
After pulling what looks like a small flare gun from his backpack, Jack aims for the sky right above the two guards. A charge explodes with a muffled pop in a shower of red, white, and blue sparks. As the guards gaze upward in a mix of confusion and admiration, Jack applies pressure to both sides of the neck of one of them. Jack catches his victim as he collapses while his buddy stares at a continuing fireworks display. He takes the second guard out with the same maneuver to cut off the blood to whatever the man calls a brain.
The agent gives silent thanks that he didn't have to use his knife. And with any luck, the flat of his hands won't leave marks. Like the one at the gate, these guards will have no idea what happened to them and are unlikely to raise an alarm before Jack gets Azra out. He quickly frees her from her bonds, making the happy discovery that she's been feigning slumber. Still, after her restraint, he can move faster than she can. He throws her over his shoulder and heads for the opening he made in the fence.
The wire barrier is as he left it. After passing through the gap he made on entering, he carefully disguises it once more. The less the Russians know about how he came in and out, the less likely they'll be to take the right direction following him.
He's carried Azra some distance when she pokes his shoulder. "I have enough feeling in my legs to run."
With no wish or time to argue with her decision, Jack puts her on her feet. He leads the way to a cave-like opening that he discovered and camouflaged earlier. After he retrieves the rest of his supplies, they'll get as far as they can from the occupied area. Once in friendly territory, Jack can arrange their extraction.
"How did jury selection go?" Lana askes as Eli tugs his tie free from his collar.
"About the way I expected. Andrews was sharp. He made peremptory challenges on two of the jurors I would have liked most to keep. But I think we did all right. The empaneled jurors are all employed in white-collar jobs, except for a couple that retired from construction. Most of them have suffered some kind of loss, and I believe all of them are capable of understanding the kind of man Flatt is and what he's done. That's all I need. No matter what Andrews says, the evidence will speak for itself."
Lana cups his cheek. "Are you ready for the election?"
"No," Eli admits. "But it will happen anyway."