Black Smoke (30 page)

They were dropped off at their car, the keys were handed to Walt and the little man drove away. Kong was eager to get on with it, so he opened up the front passenger door and climbed in. All the papers were lying on the console of the car and Kong wasted no time going through them.

“What do they say?” Walt asked as he started the car.

“Her car was found two miles away from an old rundown house. The police think she’s inside there, but they can’t move in. I guess the government sees her as being expendable,” he snarled.

“No surprise there. If they’ve been watching this cell for the last eighteen years, they won’t let a single woman stand in their way,” Walt remarked.

“Are we going to let them know we intend to get her out?” Boomer asked from the backseat.

Walt and Kong looked at each other. “No, because we’re expendable too,” Walt said, then pulled away from the airport.

“So you’re sayin‘ we’re gonna go in there, snatch her and get the hell out right? Isn’t that gonna piss a lotta people off?” Ricochet asked.

“I really don’t give a damn,” Walt replied.

“Okay. Just checkin’.”

“I want to talk with this officer who found her car. He may know something that isn’t in his report,” Kong said.

“That was my first plan of action. Cops always know more than they put in their reports. He may even be able to help us find a way into those woods without being seen.”

They drove for a while in silence, Kong’s mind already working out a plan of attack. It didn’t matter that he knew nothing about the layout or how many men might be in the house his only thought was getting to her and bringing her home. Samantha Wells had become the most important person in his life and he needed her.

Kong looked over at Walt. “You were an ops man in the military weren’t you? You were like us.”

“I was you Lowe. I traveled around the world doing any job my army wanted me to do. In between I found myself a pretty little thing that would keep me warm and satisfied at night.”

That comment wasn’t lost on Kong. He knew it was a dig at him, but he chose to ignore it. He’d just add it to the pile of things to be dealt with after Sam was home.

“When my brother was murdered, I took a desk job and raised Sam. Once I learned all I could about the murders, I retired and started W&S Incorporated. I lost my taste for the military after I found out Marcy’s and Ben’s murders were being swept under the rug.”

Understanding bloomed inside Kong. He was rapidly losing his taste for the military as well.

“Her last name is different,” Kong said more to himself then to Walt. It had only taken him a month to realize that.

“Yeah, well, as far as the world’s concerned, Samantha Cannon died when she was eight years old. I changed her name to Wells before she left the hospital. It was my mother’s maiden name.”

Walt remembered how confused Sam had been when he told her that her last name was now Wells. Not only did she lose her family, she had lost her identity as well.

“I couldn’t chance it. If they knew she was alive, they would come back and finish her. She was the only one who saw their faces and lived. There’s a small headstone in the cemetery with her name on it, right next to her mom and dad’s.”

Kong didn’t want to think about a headstone with her name on it. He pushed that unthinkable notion from his head. “So all these years, Sam thought what? That her family was murdered by some burglars? She’s smarter than that Cannon. The fact that she had that autopsy photo proves that.”

“I don’t know how she came across that photo. But I do know that the information about the terrorist cell was buried so deep she would never find it.” It had taken him years to find out who killed his brother and his wife, Sam couldn’t have found out in a matter of days. “I don’t even know how she knew these guys were involved.”

“It was the tattoo,” Kong said. “Back in the desert, she would dream about it. She would always see the tattoo. You said she recognized it on one of the men’s hands. She didn’t dig up any information, she fell into this mess. Damn it, that’s what they were telling me.” It was all making sense now. He wasn’t supposed to leave, he was supposed to stay and help her. “Protect her, her journey isn’t over.”

The car stopped in the parking lot of the local police station. Walt turned off the ignition and stared at the front of the building. “Who told you that? Who told you that her journey wasn’t over yet?”

Kong smacked the dashboard with his open hand. He’d been an absolute fool through this whole thing. “They did!” he yelled, his eyes trying desperately to relay his meaning without saying the words.

Walt’s brow furrowed. He understood. He understood completely. So that’s why they urged her to tell him about herself. They had a connection, one that was meant to keep her safe. “I think I’ll go in and try to find this Officer Burns,” Walt whispered.

The three men sat in the car and watched Walt walk into the building. Kong’s hand was gripped around the door handle. He wanted to go inside and talk with Burns, he wanted to find out what the man knew, but he was too emotional. If the man didn’t give him the answers he wanted, no telling what he would do. So, he gripped the handle harder and waited. “I don’t like this, man,” Ricochet huffed. “I don’t like this one bit. If she’s in that house with a bunch of terrorists, how long until they…”

Boomer responded before Ricochet could finish. “She’s tough. She wouldn’t let them take her without a fight. My bet’s on Black Smoke.”

Kong thought back to the first day they met. How fast she took him down and hard she fought. But she’d taken them one by one. Two or three she could handle, but there was no telling how many men she had encountered. A cold chill ran down his spine as horrible images rushed through his mind. Would they kill her right away? No. They’d want to know who she was and who she worked for and she wouldn’t give up that information easily.

That meant they would drag it out of her. And that meant torture tactics. Kong’s blood turned to ice. “Sam, where are you?” he whispered to himself. Unable to sit any longer, he threw open the door and slid from the car.

Walt was coming back out the door as Kong walked toward it. The look on Walt’s face told the whole story, no info. Well then, they’d just have to go in blind. At this point, Kong didn’t care. He just wanted her back.

“Hey!” a man shouted from the side of the building. Walt looked over at him, then at Kong. Both men walked to where he stood. “I heard you talking to the captain. He goes strictly by the book so he ain’t gonna tell ya nothing.”

“But you will?” Kong asked looking the man over.

“I don’t like the fact that we have this scum living here. We would’ve taken them down a long time ago, but for some reason, we aren’t even allowed to drive by the place.” Sweat was beading on the man’s forehead as he spoke. “I’ve personally dealt with dead bodies that turn up and are tracked back to that house. Every time, I’m pulled off the damn case,” he told them.

“You have any information that can help us get near the house?” Walt asked in a flat tone.

“I can tell ya, there’s about six or eight of ‘em living there. And I can tell ya that a couple of days ago I saw a white van head down that road. A few minutes later a red Mustang followed.”

Burns watched the faces of the two men standing before him. He had their attention now.

“You’re the man the captain doesn’t want us talking to?” Walt asked suspiciously.

“We got a call about an abandoned car sitting on the road, so I went down and checked it out. The captain,” he said nodding his head toward the building. “He said if it had anything to do with that house, to just leave it be.”

“But you didn’t?” Kong asked.

“I checked out the car. Found the registration, a small bag packed with women’s clothes and a notebook.” Burns watched intently as Kong and Walt glanced at each other.

“I don’t suppose you still have the notebook?” Kong asked.

Burns shook his head.

“Didn’t think so. But you read it didn’t you?”

“I looked through it. There was a lot of stuff about crates of missiles, surface-to-air, explosives. Sounds like a war is comin’,” Burns said wringing his hands.

“Anything else?” Kong asked impatiently.

“Well, let me think.” Burns rubbed his chin and lowered his head.

Patience wasn’t a strong trait in Kong. “Look, you either remember something or you don’t. We’re burning daylight.”

“Nothing important. Just a bunch of female stuff, ya know, like she was bummed about some guy. ‘I’ll never trust another guy.’ Or ‘happiness is an illusion.’ Some kinda crap like that. Sounds to me like her head wasn’t totally where it needed t’ be.”

Pressure began to build in Kong’s chest. If she was distracted, she wouldn’t be as aware as she normally would. And it was his fault.

“I appreciate you help,” Walt said, turning toward the car.

Burns spoke quickly before he left. “If they have her, well, I can tell you from experience. She won’t last long. Those are some sick sons of bitches.”

Walt’s step faltered. His vision blurred. He couldn’t be too late.

Kong felt like he took a crushing blow to the chest by a sledgehammer. His breath caught and it took every ounce of control he had not to fall to his knees. God, what an asshole he’d been. How could he walk away from her like he had done? Now he might never get the chance to make it right.

Both men walked to the car their faces pasty. Boomer and Ricochet watched the conversation from the car, neither needed to hear it. When Walt nearly fell over his own feet and Kong looked like he’d been punched in the stomach both knew it wasn’t good news.

“Damn, I don’t like this Boomer. I got a real bad feelin’.”

“Me too buddy. Me too,” Boomer said faintly. He closed his eyes and said a prayer that she was still alive.

When Walt got back into the car, he let out a long breath. “Two miles away from the house. She was too damn close,” he muttered.

“Boomer, you got your explosives with you?” No time for guilt, Kong told himself. Later, when it’s all over and you know if she’s alive, but not now.

“Do I ever travel without them?” Boomer replied.

“We get her out. I don’t care if she’s…we get her out, then you blow that place to hell,” Kong said. It took enormous effort to get the words out. The pressure in his chest was making it difficult for him to breathe—squeezing him like a boa constrictor.

“Roger that.”

“Ricochet, you find yourself a place to disappear. Anyone outside is dead. You understand?”

“Completely.”

Walt looked at Kong. He seemed to be taking this personally. Harder than he thought he would, like he cared. “Government may have a man inside,” he said without feeling.

“How would you know anyway?”

“Gut feeling.”

“Then that man better do what he can to protect her, or he’s just as dead as the rest.” The temperature in the car dropped with his words.

Maybe he does care, Walt thought to himself. Too bad the man wasn’t smart enough to figure that out a month ago. Sam wouldn’t be in this mess. With that thought, Walt started the car and drove toward the house that held his niece.

* * * * *

They drove down the road and past the driveway that led to the old farm house. A quick survey was needed before they started moving in. The house sat about a half mile up the road, shielded by the treeline. Thick woods surrounded the house. There didn’t seem to be any other houses in the area, so this had to be the one.

Walt drove back up the road, slowing slightly so they all could get a good look at the front of the rundown building. No one was outside, but there were seven cars sitting out front, all of them the same make and the same color.

“That’s not good. Why would they all want to drive the same car?” Boomer asked absently. Ricochet’s eyes darted around the house, looking for somewhere he could hide without being noticed. A large oak tree with huge, heavy limbs grew near the house. The thick foliage would provide perfect cover.

“When ya get past the house, slow down Cannon. I found my sweet spot,” Ricochet said as he pulled his radio from his pack and slipped it on his head.

“Watch your back,” Walt told him, then slowed down and watched as Ricochet dived from the moving car.

Boomer placed his radio on his head and waited for Ricochet to contact them. When they reached a safe enough distance away from the house, Walt stopped. The three men prepared themselves for the fight ahead. Knives were placed in sheaths, guns were checked and rechecked. Then radio contact was established with Ricochet.

Before they headed into the thick forest Walt turned to Kong. “That’s my baby in there Lowe. I decide when we move and no one moves until I say so. Is that understood?”

The look in Walt’s eyes was nothing short of hatred mixed with fear. Kong swallowed hard and decided it was time to tell the man how he felt. “You may not believe me, but I care about her Cannon. More than you know.”

Walt slipped his revolver into the waist of his pants. “You lost the right to care a month ago.”

“That’s her decision to make, not yours.” Kong said as anger burned in his own eyes.