Matt Drake 07 - Blood Vengeance (12 page)

Drake sat back as Vice President Dolan appeared on videophone, linked to a large monitor.
They had been cooling their heels and recuperating for a while whilst the Americans got their communications running smoothly alongside their current chain of command. Drake and Dahl had confirmed that all living members and families of the SPEAR team were safe, for now, but that Kovalenko’s Blood Vendetta was still up and running on all of them. Hayden was slightly more comfortable in hospital.

Alicia had contacted Drake
some time ago, almost speechless and seething with anger. She had told him she was about to jump on a plane bound for DC, and Drake had known it would be pointless to argue with her. Instead, he had offered all he could at the time. “See you soon.”

Still reeling from the deaths of Ben and his parent
s, from Sam and Jo, still stunned by the murder of Mano’s mother and Gates and Romero, and now most of the biker gang, he was finding it hard to string together a full sentence let alone more words of consolation. What he needed—what they all needed—was to string Kovalenko from the highest building.

Vice President Dolan interrupted his
despondent ruminations. “Gentlemen, give me scenarios and probable outcomes.”

The strategists
spoke up. The men of action followed. The Secretary of the Army, Navy and Air Force all had their say, along with their seconds. The Director of the FBI was present in Conference Room 1B. The Joint Chiefs and cabinet members were available on monitors. As Drake listened and constantly scanned his surroundings, he soon realized that this innocuous little room inside this hotel was actually one of the many secret crisis centers the United States government had set up throughout the country after the events of 9/11; a secure environment where all local or visiting VIPs could be taken to liaise with other VIPs anywhere in the country in times of emergency.

The overriding
consensus was that something had to be done and done soon, through an offensive against the Hotel Dillion. The same blueprints that had previously been handed out were revealed again, signaling the start of a tactical discussion.

“Kovalenko may have the capability to upload anything
to the public, at any time,” one of the cabinet members pointed out. “We can’t let the President go out that way. The eyes of the world,” he said. “Are watching.”

“Can’t we kill the area’s immediate broadcast capabilities?” Someone asked from the assembled agents.

“We
can,
” was the answer. “But it’s risky. We’d have a potential blowback against ourselves and we can’t be sure he hasn’t already gotten something out.”

The Commandant of the Marine Corps agreed
, “And folks, don’t forget the eyes of our enemies are also watching. We simply cannot look inadequate here today.”

“A man who escapes a secret prison, kills the Secretary of Defense and then abducts the President
, in my opinion, has a long-term plan,” the Vice President said. “Which we must bear in mind.”

“The city is a
s secure as it’s ever going to be,” the FBI Director said. “More forces are being drafted in.”

Drake held up his hand and, when noticed, was acknowledged by the VP. “Yes?”

“Matt Drake, of SPEAR, sir,” he said, for the benefit of those who didn’t know. “Dmitry Kovalenko is
obsessed
with what he calls his Blood Vendetta,” he pointed out. “It’s something we can use to catch the man, if we can just get a step ahead.”

“Good. Work on that. Your team is still active?”

Drake had no time to wonder if Dolan’s meaning was twofold. “Yes, sir.”

Dolan switched to another question. Drake sat back down and leaned toward Dahl. “What did that mean?”

Dahl stared ahead. “I don’t think he liked you.”

“With Gates gone,” Drake ignored the glib comment
, “We have no leader. To paraphrase Jonathan, ‘the sharks will already be circling’.”

Dahl nodded. “
I know. Have you noticed that General Stone – Jonathan’s harshest critic – is conspicuously absent? So we’ll make sure we stay useful and join the strike team,” he said. “Truthfully, it’s where we should be. In the front line.”

Drake sipped from his bottle. “I hate to say it, but you
’re right. I’d much rather be helping Hayden and the others right now—”

“They
’re safe. In the military hospital, right?”

“Aye.
That they are, we hope. And Kovalenko’s right here, across the street.”

Dahl cast his eye across the rows. “See if you can figure out who
’s in charge.” His tone, whilst laced with a little prep-school sarcasm, was genuinely uncertain.

Drake stood up.
“In the corner. See that door? Some guys are already mobilizing in there.”

Dahl smiled.
“Time for your just desserts, Kovalenko.”

Mano Kinimaka
remained by Hayden’s side as Smyth stalked out of the room to inspect the security arrangements and request a stock of ‘heavy’ hardware from someone in charge. This was a
military
hospital after all, the touchy ex-Delta solider argued, mostly to himself. Komodo sat with Karin in the corner of the room, hunched over his girlfriend as she sobbed her heart out. Their genius computer geek would be of no help to them for a while, and Kinimaka couldn’t blame her. It was all he could do to hold it together for Hayden after learning about the death of his mother. If their whole situation wasn’t so dire, he would be curled into a dismal ball next to Karin or on a plane bound for Honolulu.

Hayden spoke in a soft whisper
, and Kinimaka had to lean over to hear the words. “Are you okay?”

He smiled, up close, and kissed her lips. Feeling the dryness
, he held a glass of water for her to drag up a few sips. He smoothed the hair away from her forehead. “Here you are, shot to hell. And you ask me if
I’m
okay. God, I love you.”

Hayden smiled weakly. “
I was only shot once. I’m a Jaye. It’ll take more than that to put me down.”

Kinimaka silently sent a big thank you out into the ether,
then felt guilty because his mom had not been so lucky. Life wasn’t hinged on fate or design. Nobody out there had a complete plan. It was a giant dirty smorgasbord of chance and probability, shot through with prejudice, fanaticism and greed. Life was happenstance, nothing more, and you made of it what you could. Those who got really lucky were among the chosen few who could say they had won.

Kinimaka glanced up fast when the door opened, heart suddenly racing, and felt a rush of relief when S
myth walked in. The scowl on the soldier’s face had not diminished.

“C
’mon, you guys. I could’ve been the fuckin’ enemy and taken you all out. Right there and then. Bad news is—the security in this hole sucks. Good news—they’re issuing us a few weapons. Probably relics from the Jurassic age, but all they have to do is kill bad guys, right?”

When no one answered
, Smyth made his way over to the bare window. “I can’t believe Romero’s gone,” he said to his reflection. “Thought that maniac would have little Romeros of his own one day that I could train up to kick his ass.”

Kinimaka was about to slide off the bed and wander over when a
n unmistakable sound delivered harsh shock treatment to every set of frayed nerves in the room.

“Gunshot
,” Smyth said and ran to the door.

It was muffled, probably emanating from the
first floor two stories below, but was quickly followed by several more. Smyth listened as the two guards stationed outside the door received a report through their earpieces.

Kinimaka came to his shoulder. “What
’s going on?”

Smyth waved towards the guards. “We
’re waiting.”

The closest guard turned. “Shots fired in the parking area and now in the lobby.
A large force of men—”

Kinimaka
turned away, his eyes and thoughts switching immediately to Hayden. “We have to assume,” he said. “That they’re gonna get up here. We have to go. Now.”

“We can
’t move her.” Komodo turned.

“We have to.” Kinimaka walked over to the bed. “We
’ll all die if we stay here.” He leaned over and spoke quietly. “You ready to check outta this place, Hay?”

“I am if you are
, Man.”

As gently as if he was lifting a newborn, Kinimaka picked Hayden up and cradled her in his big arms
, making sure her head was nestled into his shoulder. Komodo urged Karin to her feet at Kinimaka’s insistence, supporting her with his arms. “Where do you plan to go?”

Smyth
answered that one without missing a beat, “The only way is up.”

****

Outside the room, the guards were listening to their comms. Smyth tapped one of them on the shoulder. “You should come with us. Radio your colleagues and tell them to get the hell out. Those guys will kill you all.”

“But this is a hospital
,” the guard answered. “There are patients here.”

Smyth shook his head. “They ain
’t bothered about your patients, bud. They want
us.
And the only danger to you or your patients is if you try and stop ‘em.”

Point made, Smyth made a beeline for the nearest set of stairs.
Kinimaka followed close, Hayden’s weight not causing him any bother as he padded along. Smyth cracked the doors and listened. No sounds of flying feet echoed up the stairwell.

“Three floors up,” he said. “Then to the roof.”

“Are we trapping ourselves up there?” Kinimaka asked.

“We
’re Delta, bud,” Smyth rasped, indicating Komodo and himself. “We don’t get trapped.”

From b
ack down the corridor came the sudden burst of automatic weapons.

“Didn
’t take long,” Smyth murmured.

“Hospital is unprepared
,” Kinimaka said. “They have no support. And I’m guessing this is a first. Attackers are prepared and unmatched. Only one outcome.”

Smyth stared. “CIA
teach you that?”

“What?”

“That kind of ‘lie down and die’ bullshit. There’s always a chance, man. You just gotta grind it out for yourself.”

Smyth
started up the stairs. Kinimaka followed at pace, Komodo urging Karin along behind. Explosions rattled out at their backs, sliced apart by the screams of the guards. Smyth bounded up two sets of stairs and came to the next floor. Without pause, he ignored the stairs and barged through the doors and into the corridor beyond.

“Where the hell
’s he going?” Komodo asked. “I thought we were headed for the roof?”

Kinimaka leaned against a wall. “Just give him a minute. I have an idea
what he’s up to.”

Three
nail-biting minutes later, Smyth came back. In his arms he held three rifles and two handguns. Quickly, he distributed the load. “Knew they kept the armor on the third floor,” he breathed. “And shit, these friggin’ SPEAR IDs are like laminated gold bullion. One scan and you’re in. Think I’ll start using mine at Walmart.”

Karin held her head up long enough to accept her handgun
, then Smyth held the last piece out to Hayden. “Wasn’t sure if you could use it, but hey,” he shrugged, “Can’t hurt to try.”

Kinimaka took the gun and fixed her hand around it.
A smile lit her eyes, and Kinimaka winked. “Always happier with a gun in her hands.”

Smyth took off again, now pounding up the steps. He didn
’t stop until he reached the top floor, then held the door open for the rest. “Roof access is at the end of the corridor,” he said. “We’ll have to break down the door.”

“Not a problem.” Komodo led the way now, still with Karin at his side. As the team moved into the corridor
, they heard the sound of feet battering the stairs below. The attack team was minutes behind.

A shot fired up the stairwell, impacting with the wall. Smyth let the door close behind and searched for a way to block it.

“Forget it,” Komodo called. “Won’t last more’n a few seconds anyway. We need to get to the roof.”

The broad soldier looked nothing like the mild-mannered, clean-speaking, easy-going chef that K
inimaka had grown used to back at the HQ these last few days. Instead, the new image had been sloughed like an old skin, leaving the raw, hard-hitting ex-Delta soldier to take the reins. Komodo hit the stair-access door hard with his shoulder and watched it splinter, then kicked it off its hinges.

“Up.”

He urged Karin inside, then the others. Smyth passed him last as the stairwell door flew open. “We don’t have much time.”

“Shit.” Komodo ducked back in.
The team climbed one more stair switchback, then pushed open a final door that led out into the night. Kinimaka pushed it wide with his shoulder, already studying the roof area. The first thing he saw were the bare tops of scaffolding poles sticking up above the rear of the building.

Komodo slammed the door shut behind them. “We have two minutes at most.”

“No cover,” Smyth took it all in. “Damn. What’s that?” He sprinted past Kinimaka and reached the edge of the roof first. “Scaffolding goes all the way to the ground,” he said, peering over. “But I don’t see a ladder. Can you jump with that load, big man?”

Kinimaka pursed his lips.
“Can’t guarantee the landing. It’s risky. The whole scaffold could collapse under my weight.”

“
Staying here is riskier.”

“About a minute
,” Komodo warned as he took aim on the access door. “Make a decision.”

“Crap
.” Kinimaka wrapped his arms tighter around Hayden’s body and walked to the edge. “I’ll protect you as best I can.” He glanced into her eyes.

The smile told him she
already knew and drove another spike through his heart.

“Ready?”

“Wait!” Karin’s piercing cry froze them all. She was standing at the roof’s edge, toward the side, overlooking the adjacent building. “This would work better.”

Kinimaka was glad to hear her voice again. He
’d been scared one of their most essential team members would collapse into shattered little pieces and never let herself be put back together again. But she was made of sterner stuff, this Englishwoman, and had dwelled deep in grief before.

The harsh
est lesson to learn was also the simplest one—sink or swim.

Karin told them her plan. Within seconds
, Smyth had rushed off and jumped down onto the scaffold to grab hold of one of the scaffolding planks. With Komodo’s help he managed to heave and haul it onto the roof. Together, they laid it across the gap between both buildings, forming a makeshift, unsteady bridge.

Then bodies hit the inside of the access door
, each blow accompanied by shouts.

“Crap.” Smyth raced across
the bridge, arms out, swaying as he ran and adjusting to the warped wobble of the long, rough plank. As soon as he was over he took cover, lining up the access door with his rifle and calling the next person across.

Kinimaka stepped up.
The black night above him was no more than a reflection of the yawning abyss below, and a sharp crosswind gusted past his bulk. He fixed his concentration on the two-foot-wide plank of wood that rested unevenly before him, but countless overriding factors tore at his concentration. Questions made a pincushion of his mind.

A
stiff gust buffeted his body, sending him off balance. His heart juddered. The access door crashed open and Komodo opened fire. Kinimaka almost turned and unslung his weapon, but then the quietest of sounds broke through his turmoil, a sweet whisper on the wind.

“Mano, it
’s okay. Whatever happens, I love you.”

Kinimaka looked down at her. “I will always protect you.”

“I know.” Hayden’s eyes closed, sending daggers through his heart. The Hawaiian stepped up and walked resolutely across the shifting plank. When its unsymmetrical base rolled to the left he saw it coming; and, concentrating hard, when it shifted suddenly to the right he shifted with it. When the wind slammed him halfway across, as he knew it would, he leaned in and kept moving. Before long, he stepped off the other end and laid Hayden carefully down onto the hard ground.

“We made it.”

No answer.

A bullet whizzed
past his head. Kinimaka barely noticed, but quickly took Smyth’s testy advice and ducked.

“Hay?”

Her lips moved. “I’m okay. Just . . . resting.”

Kinimaka breathed a heavy sigh and took the opportunity to ease out the muscles of his arms.
He might not get another chance for a while.

“They need your help
,” Smyth hissed through the corner of his mouth. Kinimaka turned. Komodo was kneeling, firing steadily at the steel door, its surface already peppered with holes. Two attackers lay half-in half-out the door, weapons discarded, unmoving. Blood had splashed the rusty frames. Karin had taken cover behind the big man’s back, two feet behind, and was aiming her revolver around the side of his head.

Kinimaka sucked in a breath.
Shit,
he thought.
They’re confident.

“Gotcha covered!”
he yelled, and Komodo waved a hand, ordering Karin away. The young woman shouted back at him, clearly agitated, and Komodo immediately began to edge away with her. Kinimaka spotted a man’s head sneaking around the far doorframe and fired a couple of rounds to keep him at bay. They were lucky the access was small and impossible to protect, but he had no doubt that pretty soon the freak of an albino would come up with some kind of gnarly plan.