The man leveled his shotgun and stepped down from the porch. “What does semper fidelis mean?”
“Always faithful.”
“Are those sirens because of you?”
“Yes.”
“Tell me the truth, and I’ll help you. What’s your situation?”
Nathan started from his surveillance of the motel and briefly recounted everything that had happened. He omitted the part about killing four men and shooting up the H2.
“That’s one hell of a fish story.”
Nathan backed away from the Taurus. “Have a look the parabolic mike’s in the back.”
The man raised his gun a little and walked with a slight limp. He peered inside. “Your windows are tinted.”
“It’s not locked.”
The guy looked at Lauren and motioned with the shotgun. “You open it.” He stepped back and assumed a tactical position from which he could look inside the sedan’s door when it opened but use it for cover if needed.
This guy was definitely a trained combat soldier. Nathan would’ve taken the same position had their situations been reversed.
Nathan issued Lauren a nod. When the man was distracted looking inside, Nathan pulled the SIG from behind his back, rotated it in his hand, and held it out in surrender. It took less than two seconds.
The guy refocused on Nathan. “Whoa! That’s some trick. I didn’t even see you make a move.”
“Take it. We aren’t here to rob you.”
“All right, Marine, you just convinced me.”
Nathan tossed the SIG into the backseat.
The man lowered the alley sweeper and extended his hand. “Gerry Hanson.”
“Nathan McBride. This is Lauren.”
“Sorry about the greeting, but you can’t be too careful around these parts. We see some unsavory types wander through.”
“No doubt. I would’ve played it the same way. Bad jump?”
He shook his head. “Drunk driver broadsided me. Rode a desk for eight years after that.”
“Sorry to hear it.”
“Shit happens. Is the girl okay? What happened to her?”
“She’s got a fever, probably from infection. She’s had a rough night.” He motioned with his eyes toward Lauren.
“Fucking coyotes.” He looked at Lauren. “Pardon my language, ma’am.”
Holding a small dog, a woman in a sweatshirt appeared at the door. “Who is it, Gerry? Should I call the sheriff?”
“Everything’s okay it’s just some folks who broke down on the road.”
“Evening, ma’am. How about an even trade,” Nathan said to Gerry. “The Explorer for the Taurus.”
“That Taurus looks brand new.”
“She’s got some fresh damage to her front end, but she’s yours. I’ll sign the pink slip.”
“That’s a mighty kind offer, but I can’t accept it. It ain’t a fair trade, even with them broken headlights. My Explorer’s fifteen years old. Just return it when you’re finished.”
“That’s a promise, Gerry.”
“You recons are a tight-knit bunch. I bet you could tell a few campfire stories.”
“Maybe we’ll exchange a few when I come back. Is there any way you can conceal the Taurus?”
“I’ll swap it out with my wife’s car in the garage.”
“I wish we could stay, but Abrille’s in an urgent situation.”
“I’ll get the keys. Do you need anything for the road, coffee or chow?”
“We’re okay, thanks.”
“Be right back.”
Gerry disappeared inside.
“What did he mean by tight-knit bunch?” Lauren asked.
“I’ll tell you later. This turned out well. Good call, Lauren. To be honest, I wouldn’t have tried it without your suggestion.”
He thought about changing the license plates, but that would take time, and the Taurus’s government plates couldn’t be removed easily. He weighed the risk-versus-reward aspect of doing it and decided it was marginally acceptable leaving the plates as is. Besides, if they were pulled over or had to stop at a checkpoint, the government plates wouldn’t do much good and might actually raise additional suspicion. This Explorer wasn’t in great shape. It didn’t look like an official government vehicle.
Gerry reappeared. “She runs good, but you’re gonna need gas soon. I think she’s got just over a quarter tank.”
“I’ll bring her back full. I want to give you something as a thank-you. Might come in handy out here.” Nathan pulled one of the night-vision visors from the duffel and handed it to Gerry.
“Oh, man, this is a fourteen. I can’t accept it. I know how much these little babies cost.”
“Please, take it. It’s the least I can do. Honestly, it’s yours.”
“You’re a stand-up guy, Nathan. I wasn’t going to ask, but what happened to you?”
Nathan knew he was referring to the scars on his face. “Botched mission.”
Gerry slowly nodded. “Let’s exchange those stories when you come back.”
“That’s a promise.”
Gerry helped them transfer everything into the Explorer. Abrille hesitated but got out. Lauren put an arm around her and helped her into the backseat.
“She don’t look so good,” Gerry said.
“She’ll be in good hands soon.”
“You were never here.”
“Copy that. One thing you need to know. There’s a first-class turd behind all this action tonight. You been following the border murders case?”
“Yeah, I have. A real wacko.”
“I think this girl would’ve been the next victim.”
“No shit?”
Nathan nodded. “I’m 99.9 percent certain no one saw us drive down your driveway, but I can’t say it with absolute certainty.”
Gerry’s eyes narrowed again.
“You’ll need to be extra alert for the next twenty-four hours or so. It will be a ‘shoot first and ask questions later’ situation, and you’ll know it when it happens. Spanish nationals. They could be wearing body armor. Aim low or make head shots. We’re talking about multiple threats with MP5s.”
“If any Spanish nationals mosey down my driveway, I’ll say hello for you.”
“Does your wife have someplace she can go? Right now, like, tonight?”
“That’s affirmative.”
Nathan asked for the shortest way back to Highway 94, and Gerry gave him the directions.
“Safe travels, Marine. Thanks for the NV.”
They shook hands once more, then Nathan climbed into the Explorer and hit the road.
Chapter 22
Nathan pulled away and couldn’t help but wonder how differently it would’ve turned out if anyone other than Gerry had appeared at the door. He didn’t like the idea of taking someone’s vehicle by force, but he would’ve had it been necessary. Nathan said a silent thank-you to the Big Man upstairs and turned left out of the driveway. If they were going to hit any roadblocks, they’d probably be set up within the first few miles along Highway 94. He figured fewer than five minutes had passed since he’d arrived at Gerry’s house, and he doubted law enforcement could get anything set up that quickly.
If Voda’s coyotes had seen them enter Gerry’s property, they should’ve attacked by now. But, as Nathan had told Gerry, he couldn’t assume anything, and revealing the potential threat was the right thing to do. He had little doubt Gerry could kick some ass if it came to it. Rangers were a tough bunch. Interservice rivalries aside, recons and rangers were close cousins.
“How’s Abrille doing?”
“She’s crying again.”
Nathan asked the girl how her stomach felt, and she said it stung, which surprised him a little. He’d expected her to say it ached, like a cramp. He reassured her they were taking her to a doctor who’d take good care of her. He also told her nothing would happen to her without her permission, figuring the statement would restore some feeling of security. He didn’t know a lot about rape victims,
but he’d learned from his own experience being tortured that part of the recovery process involved reestablishing a sense of being in control.
“Lauren, I need you to make another 411 call. For the city, say Rancho Bernardo, California, then ask for Dr. Douglas Reavie’s office. That’s Reavie, R-e-a-v-i-e. You got that?”
“Uh-huh.”
“When you get the doctor’s answering service, say it’s a medical emergency and you’re calling for Nathan McBride, and that you need to be connected to the doctor immediately. When the answering service puts you on hold, hand me the phone.”
“Okay.”
Nathan checked his mirrors and saw no other cars on the road. He was about to pass his phone back to Lauren, but it vibrated. He showed Lauren the number. “Is that your cell number?”
“Yes.”
He asked Abrille to be very quiet and took the call. “I’m a little busy right now, Mr. Voda. May I call you back?”
“Do you have the piece of paper from the warehouse?”
“What paper are you talking about?”
“Don’t play games. The lamp on the desk wasn’t precisely where it was supposed to be.”
“Are you talking about the lamp that used to contain the Bolivian passports? That lamp?”
Silence on the other end. He sensed Voda’s rage and frustration. “Give me the paper, and I’ll double your fee.”
Given what Voda had just confirmed, Nathan thought he sounded remarkably poised and confident. Perhaps overly so. Nathan decided to razz him a little. “I think you should make a list of the items you want. I fear the list may grow as the evening progresses, and I wouldn’t want you to forget anything.”
“That’s cute.”
“I noticed an old typewriter in Marchand’s office. This wouldn’t be the only copy of your list, would it?”
“You said it yourself: you’re a businessman. I see no reason we can’t come to some sort of agreement.”
“I’m certain we can, but I’m a little pressed for time at the moment. Thank you for calling, Mr. Voda. I’ll get back to you soon.” Nathan ended the call.
“Was that him?” Lauren asked. “Why were you so nice?”
“It’s part of the game. He wants the paper from your stepdad’s office.”
“But my mom’s note said Voda thinks she has it.”
Lauren was right, and he didn’t like the potential ramifications. What would Voda have assumed upon finding the paper missing? Since he and Lauren had been in the warehouse when Voda and his goons had arrived, Voda might conclude Nathan took it. But, as Lauren pointed out, her mom was under the impression that Voda thought Jin had it. Yet Voda hadn’t implied that. Instead, he’d sounded certain Nathan possessed the paper. The question became: Why? How could Voda know with absolute certainty that Jin didn’t have the paper? The answer chilled him. He needed to keep Lauren from pursuing this train of thought.
“You’re right. Voda thinks your mom has the paper, which tells us something very interesting. Voda doesn’t know about our little raid out here. If he did, he wouldn’t have asked if I have it he’d already know. And that in turn tells us something else. No one from the motel contacted him with the news. And if no one from the motel contacted him, it’s a good bet that his contact person is dead, which gives us the advantage. As long as Voda thinks Abrille is still available, we can use it against him.”
“How?”
“I’m not sure yet.”
“What if he hears about the motel on the news?”
“I think it’s fair to assume that since he doesn’t know the location of the girl, it will be just another news story to him. Gang shootings happen all the time. On the other hand, if that location has been used before, it would definitely raise some suspicion. But think about it: If Voda were using the same location over and over, he wouldn’t need GPS coordinates. He or one of his men would just go to room 127 at the Tecate Palms Motel. There’d be no need for coordinates. Thugs like Voda are paranoid and untrusting, especially of their own people. He’s constantly worried one of his men will betray him. He probably uses a different location each time to avoid establishing a pattern.”
“Do you think he was going to kill Abrille like the others?”
Nathan took a deep breath. He didn’t want to blow smoke with Lauren. She deserved the truth. “Yes. Almost certainly.”
“Then we just saved her life.”
“Yeah, we did, but she’s going to have deep psychological scars for the rest of her life. She’ll have to find a way to deal with it. She’ll need counseling. Look in her eyes, Lauren. See the pain she’s feeling. She isn’t just some toy for amusement she’s a human being with feelings, just like you and me. She doesn’t speak English, but that doesn’t make her any less important.”
“People are so cruel.”
“I know it’s hard after all we’ve been through, but try not to dwell on the negatives. As a perfect example, look at what Gerry just did for us. He gave us this vehicle on nothing more than my word I’d bring it back. Keep your faith in humanity.”
“But you were both soldiers. Maybe he wouldn’t have done it you weren’t a soldier.”
“That’s true, but I was also willing to trade the Taurus for it. I suppose somebody else might’ve suspected the Taurus was stolen, and the outcome could’ve been completely different.”
“It’s that causal pyramid, right?”
“Causality. But yes. Again, a very specific chain of events is unfolding. Now that we have Abrille, the base of the pyramid just got a whole lot bigger.”
“Maybe your faith in humanity is a little better too.”
“How’s that?”
“You were going to just steal a car.”
Nathan didn’t respond right away. She was right. Asking to borrow someone’s car hadn’t even occurred to him until she’d suggested it. He supposed his desire to save the girl played a role in his train of thought, but he wasn’t sure anymore. Again, Lauren’s sense of intuition amazed him. Maybe it was a family trait. There’d been times during his childhood when he could’ve sworn his father knew exactly what he was thinking. He supposed all parents got to know their kids like that, but his dad’s ability seemed uncanny at times. Speaking of, he’d need to call his father soon. Washington was three hours ahead, making it just after 0530 there.
“You’re absolutely right,” he said. “It’s easy to forget there are genuinely good people in the world. I’d like to believe that most people aren’t purposely cruel to one another. I think a lot of people tend to be mistrusting in general, but very few are downright cruel.”
“Did I kill the man at the motel?”
“No, but he’s going to need orthopedic surgery. Go ahead and make the 411 call. You know what to say?”
“Yes.”
He listened to Lauren talk to the operator as he turned west on a road that would take them back toward the highway they’d used to enter Tecate. From there, they’d make a right turn onto Highway 94.
“Okay, the lady said to wait on the line.” She passed the phone to him.
Nathan waited through a brief period of silence. “This is Dr. Reavie.”
“It’s Nathan McBride, Doctor. Thank you for taking my call.”
“Do you need me to head over to my surgical suite again?”
“Yes.”
“Can you tell me what’s going on?”
“I’ve got a Hispanic female around age twelve. She’s got a small incision on the lower-right portion of her abdomen. It’s stapled closed. The incision is inflamed and leaking, and she might have a fever. She said she had a surgical procedure three days ago.”
“It would be useful to know what was done to her.”
“Hang on, Doctor. I’ll ask.” Abrille told him she didn’t know.
“She says she doesn’t know.”
“What’s her condition? Is her heart rate elevated, and is she breathing in short, shallow breaths?”
“Just a sec. I’m putting you on
speaker. We aren’t being recorded, are we?”
“No.”
“Lauren, put your fingers over her wrist near her thumb. Let me know if her pulse seems high.”
“She won’t let me touch her hand.”
“Abrille, we need to know how fast your heart is beating. Please let Lauren touch your wrist, okay? She’s not going to hurt you.”
Nathan wanted to pull over, but he couldn’t risk any delay right now. They needed to clear this area before any roadblocks went up.
“Is she letting you do it?”
“Yeah. It feels kinda fast.”
“Is she breathing quickly? And shallow?”
“Yes.”
“Did you catch that, Doctor?”
“Yes. Can you see any mottling on her skin?”
“Yes, I saw that earlier, on her abdomen, around the incision.”
“Does she seem restless or agitated?”
“Yes, but it could be a result of her trauma. She’s also fatigued. Her agitation comes and goes.”
“Bring her in as soon as you can. When was the last time she had anything to eat or drink? Anything in her stomach increases her anesthesia risk.”
“She drank about sixteen ounces of water a few minutes ago. Other than that, I don’t know.”
“If she needs surgery, we’ll do a rapid-sequence technique of inducing anesthesia to reduce the risk, but it’s better if she doesn’t have anything more than water in her stomach. She’s got four symptoms of sepsis. If she’s in full septic shock, her life’s at risk and she’ll need intensive care. It’s more than I can provide here. Since you haven’t taken her to an urgent-care facility, may I assume you’d like to keep all of this confidential?”
“Yes.”
“I can do that, but at my discretion, I’ll transfer her to Pomerado. Agreed?”
“Agreed. She doesn’t speak English, though.”
“That won’t be an issue. I speak Spanish.”
Nathan lowered his voice. “She’s been assaulted, multiple assailants.”
There was silence on the other end for a few seconds. “Before or after her surgery?”
“After for sure, but I don’t know about before.”
“Again, I’ll treat her, but I’m not set up for this sort of thing. I don’t have a rape kit, and she’ll need immediate counseling.”