Chapter 12

A Dirty Deal

Leon and Downing skidded down the hill in a rapid freefall slide. Ada waited in a wind scoured basin, prop spinning, raven feathered hair blown across glistening strawberry hued lips and sunglass shaded eyes. Sassy sleek. Her slim body pressed against the side of the plane, one leg bent at the knee, boot heel rested on the faded paint. Only Ada made a crop duster look like a Jaguar.

Her presence here was something of a mystery, a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit within the big picture border.

He needed to see her eyes. Her eyes were key. Guard up? Guard down? Was she a Heaven sent angel of mercy or a Hell spawned demon in disguise?

For the first time since they began their three-legged race Downing manned up and led the charge.

Ada stepped out of the shade of the wing. She raised her arm. "Stop right there." The gun's red pinpoint laser sight flashed across Downing's chest and hovered over his heart.

Downing stopped dead in his tracks.

So much for her eyes. Lesson learned. Hands first with her, always. "Ada, what the hell are you doing?" He thought about a quick grab for his weapon, sitting, waiting, tucked in the holster strapped beneath his shoulder blade. Thought about it, and dismissed it. He wasn't going to shoot her anymore than she intended to shoot him.

"Sorry handsome, it only seats two."

It didn't take an MIT genius to figure out which 'two' she meant. Leon hung his head and exhaled a long breath. Enough is enough is enough. Their handcuffed wrists shot into the air. "We'll share a seat. I'm willing to risk it." He took a bold test step forward.

She fired.

Leon ducked, dragging Downing down on top of him. He reached for his gun and grabbed a chunk of Downing's midsection.

Downing squealed. "Are you trying to get us killed, agent Dumbass?" He swatted at Leon's hand, scrambled sideways, pushed himself off Leon's back, and yanked Leon to his knees.

"I'm not," Ada said. "You'll have to find your own transportation. I've bought you time. Don't waste it in idle conversation with me." She motioned to Downing. "Release him."

Leon spit dirt out the side of his mouth and rose to his feet. "Not a chance."

The laser beam settled on his thigh. "It's not a request. With two legs you've got a chance. With one you have none. Please, Leon, set him free. I won't ask again."

"Hadn't we, and by 'we' I mean you, better do as she says?" Downing said.

Leon fingered the key ring on his belt. "I'm not doing anything until I get some answers, and they'd better be damn good ones."

She shrugged. "Three teams. Two objectives."

"I'm sorry," Downing interjected. "I count two teams. Bubba and bigger Bubba, and you. Am I the only one present here with a basic elementary education?"

"Incorrect," Ada replied. "Krauser and Marco represent one team. I am the second. A sweep team isn't far behind. They're ghosts. It's their job to make evidence, your disappearance for example, vanish. I picked up a partial transmission when I landed. They've located your broken down vehicle and are loading it into a truck as we speak. The trail you left behind won't be hard to follow."

"Wait a minute. Time out." Leon shook his head. "Krauser? Jack Krauser?" Well, fuck diddly uck! Today keeps getting better and better! Next he'd whip off her mask and find out she was really old man Withers, and she would have gotten away with Downing too if it weren't for that pesky Leon. Maybe instead of a Scooby snack she'd let him, and Raggy, take a ride in her plane? "That's impossible. Krauser's dead."

An eyebrow arched above her sunglasses. "Are you sure you know what you think you know?"

"I know Krauser's dead."

"Did he look dead to you when he was trying to blow your head off?"

"Explain it. How did he get here? What is he doing here? Dead men don't walk."

"Ask Wesker. He's the architect of Krauser's resurrection, not me."

"Are you daft, agent Kennedy?" Downing said. "You do realize you're fresh off a zombie rampage at WhilPharma? Zombies are, in fact, the living dead. Reanimated corpses. Or did you mistake the word 'zombie' for 'hombre' and think you've been shooting diseased bandits this entire time?"

"I know what zombies are, Downing."

"Then is it really so far fetched that this…this Krauser person, whoever he may be, could still be alive? Reborn with a greater, better, purpose than your average everyday Joe nobody?"

"Point for the Doctor," Ada replied. "What he said."

Fair enough. Lord only knew he'd witnessed far stranger occurrences in the line of duty. "That may account for Krauser." Leon jerked Downing back to his side. "But it doesn't explain him. We tested his samples. He's got nothing. He's not worth your time, or my life."

"I'm sorry, agent Kennedy. I happen to take exception to that remark."

"Tell it to your lawyer."

"Are you sure you tested what you thought you-"

"That's it!" Leon charged half the distance between them, towing Downing like a child on a kiddie leash. He whipped his gun from his holster faster than a Wild West gunslinger and pressed the barrel to Downing's temple. She wanted to play, well he could play too.

Downing's jaw dropped open, and for once, praise God, there was blessed silence.

Leon jutted his chin at Ada. "You. Spill it. All of it. In English. And you…" He pressed harder. "Your next word will be your last."

"Downing isn't selling virus. He's brokering control. Taking the 'un' out of unstable. The new scientifically engineered genetic mutations suffer from cell degeneration and degradation. Wesker is a prime example. He's become erratic. Volatile as nitro in a boxcar riding rickety wooden rails."

"My gun ate a slew of zombies for dinner forty-eight hours ago. They seemed just as brain chomp happy to me."

"I'm not referring to your garden variety zombie or your run of the mill licker. I'm talking about the evolution of virally enhanced human bio weapons. The ones, like Krauser, genetically altered to retain not only their base human form, but also their higher cognitive thinking and brain functions. The future of BOW manufacture and warfare. Downing's research is the fundamental cornerstone in the quest for viral perfection. It's the key Wesker, and a handful of researchers like him, need to create an unstoppable breed of super soldier. A destructive force unlike anything this world has ever seen."

"All the more reason to put a bullet in his head right now."

"And run the risk of Wesker's tyranny? Crown an apex predator as your Lord and Master?" She lowered her gun and removed her sunglasses. "You have a choice, Leon. Right here. Right now. Hand Downing over to me, and I will see to it he falls into the hands of an organization that will ensure a tight grip on Wesker's reins."

"And my second option?"

"Toddle off with Downing and pray Krauser, or the ghost recons, don't get their grubby paws on you."

"That's the best idea I've heard since the sun came up. Sold."

"Consider carefully. This is Wesker's first attempt. If failure is unacceptable, how many more will follow? All it takes is once for it to be a success. He won't stop, and the next time you might not be around to make a difference. Now, why don't you be a good little knight and crusade the Doctor over here, so we can be on our way."

"Says a sneaky corporate spy who has a history of bending the truth. How do I know this isn't some big, fat load of bullshit? That you're not going to deliver him straight to Wesker."

"You don't, but you have my word that I'm not."

"Your word is about as useful to me right now as a wet fart in a colander."

"I won't deny Wesker thinks this pickup is for him."

"You're going to double cross Wesker?"

"Wesker made me an offer. The organization that hired me made me a better one. Nothing wrong with fat cash stacks in my Swiss bank account."

A loud cry pierced the air. The pained howl of a wounded beast caught in a trap.

Leon chanced a glance over his shoulder. His gaze swept the top of the rocky ridge for movement.

"You're out of time. Decide," Ada prompted.

Fuuuuuuuuuccckkkkk! He holstered his weapon and snatched the key ring from his belt.

Downing, without the threat of his brains painting dirt, took a deep breath and was back to business as usual. "No hard feelings, agent Kennedy."

Leon inserted the key in the lock. "Maybe not on your end."

The handcuffs slid away. Downing rubbed his wrist.

"You," Ada said to Downing. "Round the other side. There is a field kit on the passenger seat. Pass it to me, and then strap in."

"With pleasure." Downing gave Leon a pat on the back. "Good luck, agent Kennedy. I have a feeling you're going to need it."

He darted to the plane. Free hand held high waving a middle finger salute for a goodbye.

"Better get those twinkle toes moving, Leon. There is an underground cave system in the canyon cliffs to your Southeast."

"I've got a better idea. I get in that plane with Downing. You drop us at the next city you fly over."

"No can do, handsome. Downing is my biggest payday in ten years."

"Is it always about the money, Ada?"

"Today it is."

She tossed him a water bottle and a compass.

Leon caught the bottle in mid-air. The compass landed at his feet. Now all I need is MacGyver and a toothpick and I'll be good to go.

"Follow the path to its exit, and head North."

"Don't suppose you'd be willing to part with a phone? Mine's missing. I think I lost it during our ten mile freedom run."

"Why don't you stand on top of the hill with a huge neon sign hanging over you with the words: HERE I AM pointed at you? You're better off without it."

She slipped her glasses on and turned to climb into the plane.

"Ada, wait."

"No more time for talk, handsome."

"Tell me one thing. If Wesker sent you for Downing, then why in the hell did he send Krauser?"

"That's the million dollar question isn't it? I honestly don't know."

"Downing I can understand. Me? I'm no viral bartender. I've got nothing Wesker wants, or needs."

"Are you sure about that? Maybe Wesker wants to drink from the bar you do tend?"