TOML chp. 17

Terry walked the street of San Antonio, thinking. He'd been unable to decipher McGee's password. But who was he kidding? He was just a simple soldier. A smart one, to be sure, because DELTA didn't recruit idiots, but he could still make tactical and strategic errors. And he'd made a big one. Sure, he could kill the traitor, easy. But revenge and justice weren't his alone to take. He remembered, all those months ago now, when he'd stood in the garden of stone that was Arlington National Cemetery and told his mother that being a cop wasn't who he was. And he remembered Ziva's words to him, only a few days before, about him being the right person for this. So, with his head swimming, he found a small café, order fajitas and a beer and called his mother. Her phone rang once, twice, then a third time. Then she answered.

000

Delta Airlines flight 7622 from Mexico City to San Antonio had just landed; Jenny pulled out her cell phone and turned it on. Three minutes later, it vibrated in her pocket. She answered without checking the number. "Director Sheppard." Silence on the phone.

"Hello?"

Terry swallowed. "The prodigal son calleth."

Jenny hesitated, for fear she would cause a scene that even her high rank couldn't get her out of. But instead, she answered with as much control as she could muster. "The Alamo, one hour."

But the only response was a click and a dial tone.

000

The director took a moment to collect her thoughts before joining her husband's team and medical examiner at the car rental counter. "Could you get another car please, Jethro?"

The former Gunnery sergeant turned to his wife. "What's up?" He'd seen her on the phone and whatever was said had agitated her.

Jen hesitated, feeling everyone's eyes on her. "Terry's here. I told him to meet me at the Alamo in one hour."

000

Terry sat on a park bench, near the Alamo, rethinking his decision to call the director. It was tactical suicide to give the team his location. He made a decision, looked around him and walked away.

He haled a cab and gave the driver a hotel address. The cab took off and made it through a yellow light and a hair pin turn. Suddenly, the driver slammed on the breaks and Terry was thrown forward. He saw two men exit a black van and move toward the cab. Both were wearing ski masks and were armed with semiautomatic pistols. Terry reached for the door handle, opened the door and scrambled out, simultaneously drawing his weapon. He turned toward the van, but one of the men stood over him and Terry saw that he wasn't armed with a pistol but a Taser. But that was all Terry saw before pain shot through his body.

000

Terry woke with a start as a stench filled his nose. Smelling salts assaulted his sinuses and he blinked fiercely and coughed, attempting to clear his head. When he was at least seeing double and not triple, his eyes widened as he looked around the room and swore in Russian.

000

So, who has Terry? The team…. Or someone else?! Uh-oh.