MAC WALKER'S BENGHAZI: The Complete Collection (9 page)

Tilley’s reply came back slow – he was being very careful of the words he used.

“Mac, I know I have to be looking pretty suspicious to you right now. I get it, and at this point, all I can do is apologize and do my best for you to keep the assignment proceeding so you stay safe and eventually we all get paid. I have no idea on the FBI information…if you saw who you say you saw, then the first thing I’m going to do after talking to you is confirm that information here on my end. My contact is with the State Department – at least officially. That is who was supposed to send you some help out there. And I trust him one hundred percent Mac. I really do. I know at this point you don’t trust me, and that’s ok, but hopefully after Ella gets you set up, I’ll start to earn that trust back.”

Mac sensed Tilley was being sincere, though he also had to consider the man was likely at this point in his career, an exceptionally proficient liar.

“Who is this Ella? How do you know her?”

Tilley’s tone was slightly more relaxed.

“Ella Lerner is top tier Mac. That’s all I want to say over the phone. You’re in very good hands. She owed me one, and her helping you and your team out is payment for that debt. She’s nobody you want to fuck with though, so don’t even think about it.”

Mac grunted, remembering Ella’s recent display with the MG-42 machine gun.

“Yeah – saw a bit of that already. She’s not so bad on the eyes too.”

Tilley chuckled. He was becoming more relaxed – more like his usual self.

“I need you to stay focused Mac. Plus, word is, you already had a bit of down time with a certain attractive and very wealthy someone right before you flew out of D.C. I figure you should have that kind of thing out of your system for at least a few days, right? Just let Ella get you to the safe house and then we can confirm your assignment details once you’re settled in.”

Mac saw Udi motioning for him to follow him down from the roof and back into the building’s interior.

“Ok Tilley – I’ll let you know when we are at the safe house.”

Mac hung up the cell phone and nodded back to Udi while also noting the street below remained clear of trouble. The angry mob may return soon, but it hadn’t done so just yet.

Standing back inside the lobby of the Libyan Freedom Network building, Mac was glad to see the three other members of his crew were already inside and waiting for further instructions. Benny and Minnick appeared calm, though focused, while Jack looked somewhat more on edge.

Ella stood looking back at Mac, her arms crossed over the front of her black blouse.

“I am certain I made clear you were to make your way back down here as soon as possible Mr. Walker. You have kept me waiting.”

Mac was about to respond with one of his more typical smart-ass comments, but looking back at Ella’s humorless, dark eyes, thought better of it. She was in no mood.

“I apologize – I was speaking with Tilley.”

Ella Lerner’s mouth curled into a smirk, her high cheekbones made more prominent by having left her blonde hair still pulled back in a pony tail.

“I would imagine your confidence in your Mr. Tilley is a bit…lessened, yes?”

Mac shrugged, looking back at his men to let them know they were in no immediate danger.

“Things went to shit. It happens.”

Ella shook her head.

“Not when I’m in charge they don’t. I have been told the location of your safe house Mr. Walker. Udi here will see that you are safely transported to there in my vehicle. After that, I must reiterate, our business together is to be concluded. You are not to contact me again. Do you understand?”

Mac simply nodded, though as he looked Ella over again, quietly hoped they would have an opportunity to get to know each other better, and soon.

Unknown to Mac, Ella was hoping the same.

XI.

Mac, Benny, Minnick, and Jack sat inside the tan Mercedes 300 that was parked in the front of Ella’s building. Though older, the car’s tan leather interior remained in almost new condition, and when Udi turned the ignition, the engine started instantly and idled smoothly.

Mac sat in the front passenger seat while the other three men in his crew sat shoulder to shoulder in the backseat. Udi backed the vehicle slowly onto the street and pulled away smoothly, steadily increasing the Mercedes’ speed as he exited off a gravel covered secondary road to turn onto one of Benghazi’s primary highways that led to one of the many large suburban areas on the outer portions of Benghazi. Udi expertly moved the Mercedes into and out of traffic as he kept the vehicle’s speed above seventy miles an hour.

“Your safe house is located in a residential area just outside the city proper. Very nice neighborhood actually, home to some of the area’s wealthier residents. I was told the property is fully gated, and should provide ample security for you.”

Mac glanced over at Udi, admiring the Israeli man’s driving skills. Udi exited the main road and was once again on a secondary road. Though still somewhat paved, it was covered under a fine layer of desert sand. The Mercedes vaulted forward, now speeding along at nearly ninety miles an hour, causing a large plume of dust to billow up behind them.

Just as Udi described, the properties to the right and left of them were expansive, with large, soft colored stucco buildings and meticulously cared for gardens. While Benghazi had many slums within the city, the homes ringing its borders indicated residents of considerable wealth.

Udi slowed the vehicle and turned sharply left onto a narrow drive that led to a substantial dark ironed gate with two guard towers one each side. The gate was open, allowing Udi to speed through it and travel another hundred yards to the property’s main house – an expansive two story structure painted tan and white with massive floor to ceiling windows on the first floor, and several large balconies that jutted out from the second floor. Mac estimated the home to be at least six thousand square feet.

“Here we are gentleman, your safe house, courtesy of your friend Mr. Tilley. My job is done – this is where we part ways. Please follow Ella’s instructions – do not contact us again.”

Mac, Benny, Minnick and Jack exited the Mercedes and watched as Udi sped off down the long drive and back onto the road, soon to be lost amidst another plume of sand dust that marked his swift departure.

Minnick peered up at the large home and then glanced at Mac.

“Home sweet home, huh?”

Mac ignored the comment, already attempting to call Tilley. The phone rang three times and then went to Tilley’s voice mail.

“Tilley – Mac. We’ve arrived. Awaiting instructions.”

Benny began walking toward the home’s large, wooden, double-door entrance.

“Might as well check it out while we’re waiting to hear back from Tilley.”

Mac noted Jack surveying the surroundings. Two other properties were easily in view from where they stood. One to the east of the safe house sat some four hundred yards away, while the other across the street, was likely no more than a few hundred yards. Like the safe house, the other properties appeared to be upper class residences as well.

“Feel like we’re too much in the open out here Mac. Don’t like it.”

Mac’s eyes squinted into the increasingly warm and bright Benghazi sun. He understood Jack’s concern – he didn’t like the location either. While it allowed them to see who was coming, it also made them a much easier target, and given the relative distance from the main city, help would be a long time coming. This particular safe house did seem an odd choice, if for nothing more than it would require them to drive considerable distance to get anywhere.

That said, it was one hell of a nice property.

Benny called out behind him as his hand reached out to push against the entrance door.

“C’mon, let’s go inside.”

Mac’s phone rang, causing Benny and the others to pause and look back at Mac.

“Yeah Tilley, go ahead.”

“Are you at the assigned location?”

Mac looked back at the large home’s entrance.

“Yeah – that’s what I said in my message. We’re here. Nice place Tilley, so how about telling us what the hell we’re supposed to be doing?”

“Go inside Mac. Check out the home’s interior, including the upstairs. Then call me back.”

Tilley was keeping the call brief in case there were attempts to intercept their communications. He had already hung up.

Mac saw Jack staring back at him, his face indicating he wanted to know what Tilley had said.

“He didn’t say much – just that we should go inside and check it out and then I’m to call him back.”

Minnick pointed up into the searing blue Benghazi sky.

“Hey – check it out. That one of ours?”

Mac’s eyes followed to where Minnick was pointing, spotting the single military drone that was slowly approaching the vicinity of their safe house, its gray metallic exterior flashing against the sun’s rays. The drone’s presence gave Mac a slight chill, leaving him with the distinct feeling he was somehow glimpsing a darker future, a time to come when the drone technology of today would be the nightmare of tomorrow.

Minnick’s voice cut through Mac’s thoughts.

“You ok Mac?”

Mac shook himself from his prognostications, though his eyes still glanced back at the approaching drone.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Something about those drones though…they just don’t seem right to me. The way they creep across the sky like that.”

Benny was watching the drone intently as well before shrugging and waiving a dismissive hand at it.

“Those drones have saved a lot of lives Mac. They go in so our boys don’t have to, and that’s all right by me.”

Jack shook his head at Benny’s words.

“I’d call that short term gain for what could be a whole lot of long-term pain Benny. I’m with Mac – those goddamn drones give me the creeps.”

Mac pushed open the large, solid wood entrance door to the safe house.

“C’mon, let’s get inside before that thing is on top of us.”

The home’s interior, though large and expansive, was devoid of almost any furnishings. The lower floor was dominated by a massive great room that included the tiled entrance. The living area was a step down space that housed a massive red stone fireplace. The back half of the first floor had a large kitchen and eating area. Though the home was mostly unfurnished, the kitchen was thankfully well stocked with food and drink, and offered an impressive array of commercial grade stainless appliances. Large, double French doors opened from the back portion of the kitchen into an adjoining courtyard outside of the rear portion of the property. Mac was happy to note how the large back garden was fully fenced by an eight foot high and one foot thick stucco wall, giving the space a reasonable amount of security.

Jack and Minnick were already making their way upstairs via the massive stone and dark stained wood staircase as Mac and Benny followed close behind. The top of the staircase brought them to a large hallway that ran along both sides of the upper floor, ending in simple, three by three square windows at either end of the hall.

Minnick was the first to enter one of the four spacious, top floor bedrooms. Inside he found the only furnishings to be a single bed, small side table and a single lamp. The room had the entrance door and three other doors. One door led to an adjoining bathroom, another door led to a sizeable walk in closet, and the last door led to the outside balcony.

“Hey Mac, check this out.”

Just outside the room’s balcony, hanging from the wall, was a pair of military grade, night vision capable binoculars. Mac picked the binoculars up and looked them over carefully. They were newer technology to be sure, though contained no markings. He placed them up to his eyes and looked out at the property across the road from them that was now easily in sight from the upper floor of the safe house.

“Son-of-a-bitch!”

Mac was amazed at the distance and clarity capabilities of the binoculars, finding he could make out nearly every detail of that other home’s exterior, though the home was hundreds of yards away.

“These are some amazing binoculars. Guessing Tilley had them left here for us.”

A quick inspection of the other three upstairs rooms found them identical to the first – with the same pair of binoculars hanging outside of each room’s balcony. It was then Mac noted each of the four bedrooms had at least a partial view of the property across the road from the safe house.

“So it looks like we’re supposed to sit up here and keep an eye one whoever that is living in the house across the street, huh?”

Minnick’s words were exactly what Mac was thinking.

“Yeah – looks that way. I’m gonna call Tilley again.”

Minnick stepped onto the balcony and pointed out toward the property they believed they were to be watching.

“Hey Mac – there’s company over there.”

Without the binoculars, Mac could just make out the shape of a black SUV making its way past what appeared to be a possible guardhouse that was located on the right side of the gated entrance. Placing the binoculars to his eyes, Mac was able to clearly see a Department of State emblem on the SUV’s door panel, as well as at least one armed Libyan guard nod to the vehicle as it drove past. As he raised the binoculars up to follow the vehicle’s path while it drove into the property compound, Mac was also able to identify the barbed wire that rang the upper portion of the property’s wall.