Dire Distraction (4 page)

“The one with the blue ox, right?” Sydney tilted her head to one side, her braided hair falling over one shoulder.

“Yeah.” Avery grinned. “Exactly. And I figured that’d be a pretty good gig. I mean the dude had it going on. At least from the perspective of an eight-year-old. So needless to say, I drank my milk.”

“And kept growing.”

“To my mother’s dismay. Especially when she realized I didn’t have the talent to be a basketball player or the desire to play linebacker.”

“You look like you could take out a player or two.”

“That I can, but I never really saw the point in ramming guys just for the hell of it.”

“So you joined the CIA.” Her laughter seemed at odds with the relentless fury of the storm, and yet still strangely in sync with it somehow. Sydney Price was definitely in her element.

“Worse,” he said, still smiling. “I joined the Marines. Although to be fair, when they ram into somebody, there’s usually a damn good reason.”

“I’m sure your mother was proud.”

“Actually, she wasn’t. After basketball didn’t pan out, she’d kind of pinned her hopes on more traditional paths. Doctor or lawyer. She wasn’t really all that big on the military.”

“What about your dad?”

“He was never in the picture. I saw him only once, when I was about five. And it isn’t a very good memory.”

“I’m sorry,” Sydney said, crinkling her nose in apology.

“No worries. We did fine on our own. My mother was strict, but she was always there for me.”

“And what about now? How does she feel about your working for Langley?”

Avery sensed there was something more than casual banter to her question. “She never knew. She died before I joined the company. But I suspect she’d have approved even less. My mother was an opinionated woman. And the only thing she was less enamored of than the military was the government. Especially a prejudiced one.”

“I can relate to that.” Sydney nodded. “On all counts. My mother does know what I do. And she most definitely doesn’t approve. She doesn’t consider it a fit occupation for an Asian woman.”

“But you’re an American.”

She shook her head. “Try explaining that to my mother. She’s from here. Laos. Raised in the Xieng Khouang Province.”

“If I’m remembering right, they were hit pretty hard during the Vietnam War.”

“Yeah, mostly by U.S. troops. I think it must have been really bad. My mother was only a little girl, but it definitely made an impression. And not a good one. Which is why my mother share’s your mother’s opinion of the U.S. military and by association the CIA.”

“But she married a U.S. citizen,” Avery prompted, curious now.

“She did. And my dad is as American as they come. Part Cherokee, actually. Born in the panhandle of Texas. They met when he was living in Laos, teaching English. It was love at first sight. In fact, there’s really only ever been room in their lives for the two of them. I was more like an afterthought.”

“Were you born in Laos?”

“Nope. Amarillo. But I spent some of my summers here. With
ma tao
.”

“Your grandmother.”

“You speak Lao.” She looked impressed, so much so that Avery found himself wishing that he actually could speak the language.

“No. Just a smattering. I’ve worked a couple of operations in this part of the world. So I’ve picked up a few words here and there. But I doubt I could hold a conversation.”

“Well, even a little is better than nothing.” She smiled. “People here will respect you for making the effort. Most foreigners don’t.”

“So is that why you got posted here? Your fluency with the language and, I’m assuming, the culture?”

“I imagine it’s why I got the job. But as far as the posting itself, I asked for it. Don’t get me wrong, I love Texas and I love America. But there’s a part of me that’s just more comfortable here.”

“And, as far as Langley is concerned, it’s definitely an asset to have someone here who can pass as a native.”

“Actually, I’ve never tried. I just play the mixed-race card. There are a lot of people here who fit that profile. Not really fitting into one culture or the other.” She shrugged. “I’ve felt that way most of my life. Both when I was living with my parents and when I was living here with my grandmother. After a while it starts to define you.”

“I certainly can understand that. I think that’s where my mother was coming from all those years ago when she was fighting my career with the Marines. She wanted more than anything for me to be respected. And at least from her perspective, that wasn’t going to happen there.”

“Well, if my intel on you and your unit is even half right, then I’d say you’ve more than proved her wrong.”

“Don’t believe everything you hear.” It was his turn to smile.

“No chance of that. Cynicism is programmed into my DNA. On both sides.” She turned the wheel to avoid a swell. “Anyway, the thing our mothers don’t understand is that it’s different now from when they were growing up.”

“In some ways, definitely. But in others…” He trailed off, surprised at the serious turn of their conversation.

“It is what it is, I guess.” She shrugged. “Anyway, add to all of that the fact that I’m a spook, and it isn’t really all that surprising that my mother disapproves of my choices. She’s all about the marriage-and-kids thing. Women in their proper places.”

“And your father?” Avery asked.

“I don’t know that he really cares what I do. I mean, he cares about me. And he wants me to be happy and safe and all that. But he’s really too involved with his own life to give too much thought to mine.”

“Is he still teaching?”

Sydney was silent for a moment, watching the river and the rain as she chewed on her bottom lip. “No. He works for the government. He’s in the diplomatic core.”

“I see.” Avery frowned. “That must have been difficult for your mother.”

“She’s just happy to be with him. One of the benefits of true love, I guess.”

“You say that like you don’t buy it.”

“I don’t think anyone should subjugate themselves to someone else. No matter what emotion is involved.”

“You weren’t kidding about the cynicism.” He studied her profile for a minute, noting the stubborn jut of her chin. “It’s possible that what you see as subjugation is just commitment. Putting another person first isn’t always a bad thing.”

“Have you ever been in love like that?”

“Yes,” he said. “Once.” The word hung between them for a moment. It was the first time he’d felt uncomfortable around her, and he immediately regretted it, but he wasn’t ready to talk about Evangeline. “So where’s your father stationed?” he asked.

“At the moment, Vienna.” Again she paused, and he was afraid she was going to ask him about his wife, but instead she sighed. “He’s the ambassador there.”

Avery frowned. “I thought Marshall Walker was the Austrian ambassador?”

“He is,” Syd acknowledged, with a wry twist of her lips. “And he’s also my father.”

“But your name is Price.”

“It’s actually my paternal grandmother’s name. I started using it just after college, when I was first looking for a job. I didn’t want people to think I was trading on my father’s status. If you’ve heard of him, then you know he’s had a rather successful career.”

An understatement. Marshall Walker was a mover and shaker. The top of the list when it came to D.C. headliners. There had even been talk of his running for president.

“It’s just easier to divorce myself from all of that,” she continued. “Especially since I’ve been working with the CIA. There’s potential for real danger if the wrong people were to make the connection.”

“I’m surprised actually that they let you do fieldwork—even with the name change.”

“Well, I’ve always worked covert operations for one thing. Which means my cover is pretty damn tight. And my background is buried really deep. And it doesn’t hurt that no one out here really gives a damn about the ins and outs of American politics. Besides, I’m good at what I do. Anyway, you’re one to talk—
Professor
Solomon.”

“Dean of students actually—and I’m pretty damn good at doing that. But you’re right, of course. Langley has made an art form out of creating covers. I was just surprised. I actually know your father, professionally at least.”

“Then you must run in some pretty high-level circles.” She turned with a frown, her gaze assessing now. “My father isn’t the shake-hands-with-the-plebeians type.”

“We served on a task force together once. And I’ve run into him from time to time in Washington over the years. Anyway, the point is, I’ve always been impressed.”

“He’s a good man. Just a little myopic when it comes to certain things.” Again Sydney shrugged, but Avery had the feeling that there was more to it than that, but he didn’t know her well enough to push for more. And besides, he had more important things to deal with—like finding Shrum and, potentially, Evangeline.

S
yd slipped a sideways glance at Avery, then turned her attention back to the river. She wasn’t sure why she’d told him the truth about her father. It wasn’t something she usually discussed. But he’d asked her point blank and there was just something about the man that demanded truth. She wondered again just exactly who Avery Solomon really was. Clearly there was more to the man than just his job with A-Tac. Which in and of itself was pretty damn impressive.

When she’d pressed her contacts for information, she’d been surprised with the range and accomplishments of the team Avery had assembled. They’d single-handedly managed to thwart a number of potentially deadly terrorist attacks, including an assassination attempt on one of the Middle East’s rising diplomatic stars.

A-Tac was definitely one of Langley’s most elite units. And Avery had headed the team since its inception. Which made it all that much more puzzling that he’d come here on his own without their backing. She’d have understood if the op was off the books, but her orders had come from the top—the very top. And yet, here he was, hunting Shrum on his own.

Not that she was complaining. The opportunity to work with someone of Avery’s caliber was a definite turn-on. And there was always the chance, if she handled it right, that she could segue this gig into a permanent placement with A-Tac. She’d hadn’t lied when she’d told Avery that she preferred going solo. But that didn’t mean she didn’t want to advance her career, and one way to do that was to make sure you were surrounded by the best of the best.

It was one of the lessons her father had drilled into her at an early age. Always play tennis with people better than you. Much, much better.

And if her intel was right, Avery Solomon was as good as they got.

“Any chance this is going to let up?” Avery asked, breaking into her cascading thoughts.

She looked up at the swollen sky and shook her head. “Probably not. It looks like it’s socked in for the rest of the day. Or what’s left of it.” She glanced down at her watch, surprised to see how late it had gotten.

“So have you got somewhere we can put in for the night?” Avery asked, his gaze moving to the river banks and the palm trees whipping wildly in the wind.

“I was hoping we’d make it as far as the cut off to Shrum’s. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen. Better to just find a place to hunker down and ride out the storm. Then we can try again in the morning. There’s a place a couple miles up the river from here, belongs to a friend of mine.”
Belonged
. She contained a shudder. She hadn’t been to Tim’s place since he died. Too many memories. Still, this wasn’t the time to let emotion stand in the way. “It’s nothing fancy but it should be dry.”

“Beats sleeping in the rain,” Avery said, with a shrug.

“Sorry this hasn’t exactly been a luxury cruise.” She forced a smile, pushing her thoughts firmly to the present.

“I knew what I was signing on for,” he assured her. “You’re the one who’s being asked to take an unnecessary risk. This isn’t exactly a sanctioned op.”

She turned to him in surprise. “But my orders came straight from Langley. I was told to give you carte blanche. No way is this mission off-book.”

“I didn’t say it was,” he said, his liquid brown gaze meeting hers. “I said it was unsanctioned.”

“It means the same thing.” She studied his face, trying to figure out what it was she was missing.

“Actually, it doesn’t. If you go off-book, and believe me, I’ve been there and done that, you’re completely on your own. If you’re unsanctioned, you’re acting within the protection of the company.”

“Until it all goes south,” she said. “At that point, the results are exactly the same. Langley hangs you out to dry.”

“Well, there are differences. But I’ll grant you the outcome is pretty much identical.”

“And finding Shrum is important enough for you to hang your career on it?”

“Yeah, for me it is. But that’s not necessarily the case for you. I’d just assumed they’d read you in enough to know what the risks were. But since they haven’t, and since your career is only just starting, I’ll totally understand if you want to opt out.”

“And what? Leave you on the river bank with a map?” She shook her head with a laugh. “I’ve no doubt that you’re good at what you do. And I’m sure you’re more than adept at handling dangerous situations. But sanctioned or not, your safety has been charged to me. And I’m not one to step down from a challenge. Besides, so far the only real danger we’ve faced has been the river.”

“Famous last words,” Avery said, the thought clearly meant as a joke, but when he stilled suddenly, his brows drawing together as he turned to face the river behind them, she felt a shiver of worry trace its way up her spine.

“You seeing something?” She asked, shifting so that she could better follow his line of sight.

“I don’t know. Between the dusk and the rain, it’s hard to be sure of anything really. Add the sharp bends and twisting trees and I’m probably jumping at shadows.”

“But—” she prompted.

“But I thought I saw another boat out there. Smaller. And definitely faster. If I’m right, it’s still pretty far behind us.”

“Yeah, but if it’s a speedboat, it’ll catch up really quick.”

“You think it’s Wai Yan?”

“Hard to say, these guys don’t exactly display their colors. But it’s a strong possibility.”

“You said you had a truce. You think we should be worried?” he asked.

“I think out here, we’d be foolish not to at least pay attention.” To underscore the fact, she opened a small footlocker sitting at the base of the wheelhouse, pulling out a pair of field glasses. “See if you can spot anything. And in the meantime, I’ll see what I can do to fortify our position.” She bent again and pulled out a rifle and then a handgun, sliding the gun into the space at the small of her back, then checking the chamber of the rifle.

“You see anything?”

“Roger that,” Avery acknowledged, handing her the glasses. “Seven o’clock, port side.”

Syd took the glasses and gave Avery the rifle, which he slung over his shoulder, then she turned so that she could see the water behind them. At first, there was nothing but the heavy mist from the rain, but then a shadow detached itself from the far bank, the outline of the boat becoming more defined. Definitely a speedboat.

“Looks like it’s closing fast.” She lowered the glasses, turning her attention back to the river in front of her, yanking the wheel to avoid a boulder jutting up out of the water. “Damned if we do, damned if we don’t,” she said, more to herself than anything, but Avery heard her.

He rechecked the rifle and then tested its weight against his shoulder. “Glad to know my guide is prepared.”

“There’s more ammo in the locker.” She nodded, still concentrating on the rush of water ahead. “And a couple of smaller guns as well. I keep them out of sight most of the time. But as I said, no sense in taking chances. It’s nasty weather, and it’s almost dark. I’d say anyone on the river is suspect.”

“Including us,” Avery said, pulling a Walther PPK from a side pocket in his duffel. Like Syd, he slid it into the waistband of his pants.

“Yeah, well, there aren’t really any truly good guys, are there?” She’d meant the words to be teasing, but somehow they’d come out a little stronger than she’d intended.

“I don’t know about that,” Avery said. “I just think one has to choose one’s heroes carefully.”

“So you really believe in heroes?”

“I work with them every day.”

The words were spoken with understated conviction, and she found them oddly comforting. Although she wasn’t really sure she believed them. People always had their own reasons for doing things. It was just the way humans were built. Self-preservation was hard-wired.

“We can discuss the finer points of that argument later.” She shrugged. “But right now, I suggest we concentrate on our friends out there. Could be Wai Yan, could be from another cartel, but either way I’d say the odds are pretty strong that they’re not on our side. The only question remaining—are their intentions malignant or benign?”

“Judging from the gun mounted on the front of the boat,” Avery said, looking through the field glasses again, “I’d say the former. Any chance we can outrun them?”

“Not unless you know something about this crate that I don’t. She’s damn near indestructible, but she was never meant to move quickly. I can try to outmaneuver them, but there’s no way I can beat them in a full-out sprint.”

“All right then, we gear up for the possibility of a battle.”

She glanced back at the boat behind them, steadily closing the distance. “With a twelve-inch on the bow, I’d say we’re a little outgunned.”

“I’ve been in worse situations.” Avery’s smile was contagious. “What else have you got on board in the way of munitions?”

“Nothing that’s going to compete with that.” She nodded toward the speedboat. “Just the guns I mentioned and a stick or two of leftover dynamite. I transported some of the stuff downriver last month, near the Thai border, for an outfit building a casino on the Myanmar side. It’s over there.” She nodded to the port side of the wheelhouse.

“Could have potential,” he said, frowning as he clearly turned over the possibilities. “So, the way I see it, we’ve got two options. We can try to take them out. If I had the chance, I could try to shoot at their fuel tank.”

“You’d have to be a hell of shot,” she said. “Even in perfect weather. But in this?” She nodded at the torrential downpour.

“It’s not an impossible notion,” Avery mused. “Although it would mean we’d have to pull well within range.”

“Which doesn’t seem like the best idea considering they’ve got the big gun. And I’m assuming we’ve got the same problem with the dynamite.”

“Yeah, I’m afraid we’d be sitting ducks. Which might be worth it, if it was a sure thing. But as you pointed out, there are other mitigating factors that stand in the way of certain success.”

“So you said there were two options. What’s the second choice?”

“We make ourselves a nonissue.”

“So what? You think we should surrender?” She narrowed her eyes and straightened into every inch of her five-foot-three frame. “The last thing we need to do is give them more of an upper hand than they already have.”

“I wasn’t suggesting that at all.” He held up a hand in apology. “It would be too dangerous. Even with our covers, there’s always the chance they’ll figure out who we really are. Or worse, they could already know. It’s possible Shrum found out I’m coming and isn’t all that keen on a reunion.”

“Or maybe it’s someone who has an ax to grind with me,” Syd said, thinking of the man she’d hit in the jungle. “This isn’t exactly a world where people play nice. And I’ve made my share of enemies.”

“So we’re agreed—either way we can’t take the risk.”

“Okay, so then if we’re not going to try and fight, and we’re not going to surrender, what do you propose?”

“You’re not going to like it.”

“If it means we get out of this alive, then believe me, I’m all for it,” she said, pushing the throttle to maximum power, the engine coughing and sputtering in response, the speedboat only seconds behind them now. “And I’d say sooner’s better than later.”

“All right. So if we can’t blow up their boat, I think we should blow up ours.”

“Are you out of your mind?” The words came out of their own accord, and for a minute, she forgot who it was she was talking to.

For a moment, his jaw tightened, and she had a glimpse of the steel that he kept hidden behind his quiet façade. This was not a man to be trifled with. Still, it was her damned boat and her damned life, and she wasn’t going to give in to some half-baked idea just because the idea came from Avery-fucking-Solomon.

She squared off, anger making her reckless. But before she could say anything, his expression softened, his mouth breaking into a disarming smile. A fire sparked inside, somewhere just south of her belly, and she was surprised at the intensity. Damn the man. “If you think—” she started, but he cut her off with a finger to her lips, and she struggled to breathe, her senses threatening full-out revolt. What the hell?

“Hang on. Give me a chance to explain,” he said, shooting a look at the boat, which was now clearly visible behind them, even in the dark gloom of the rain. “I think it’s our best chance.” He waited, his dark-eyed gaze moving back to hers, his finger still pressed against her lips.

She nodded, and he stepped back.

“I know you love this boat,” he began, “but destroying it is our best chance out of this mess. If they think they’ve hit us, and that we were taken out with the boat, then our problems are solved. So all I’ve got to do is rig the dynamite to blow the engine and we should be set.”

“And how do you propose we avoid being actually blown to bits?”

“Easy. I’ll rig it on delay, and we’ll slip into the water before it blows. With any luck at all, they’ll think we’re dead, and their problem is solved.”

“And we do what? Swim to shore and steal another boat?”

“Seems like a fair plan. You said your friend has a place up the river a bit. Does he have a boat?”

She nodded, turning the idea over in her head. She hated the idea of losing her boat. In a weird way, it had become her home. But at the end of the day, it was just a vessel. And Avery was right, it might be their only option. As if to echo the thought, the speedboat behind them opened fire, a hail of bullets strafing the aft floor and railing.

“If we’re going to make this work, we’ve got to move fast.” He could have pulled rank. Ordered her to obey. But instead, he was asking, even as gunfire echoed around them.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked.

“Rig the throttle so that it’ll keep moving forward. And then put everything that might be of value in my bag. It’s waterproof. So it’ll protect even the weapons. Then, as soon as you’ve got that done, head over to the starboard gate and slip into the water. I’ll be right behind you.”

The boat fired again, the bullets closer this time, one whizzing just past her ear. “Go,” she said, already turning to grab a cable with a d-ring to tie open the throttle.