Fool Me Once (19 page)

An
indistinct figure slumped against a metal pole on the other side of the central
aisle. “I think we’ve found Olivia,” Dirk whispered, his voice tight with
anger.

Josh
started, and Dirk grasped him by the arm. “Not now, Josh. Not now.” His grip
was like steel and it took all of his strength to hold Josh back. “I want to
free her as much as you do, but we have to take care of whoever is in that room
first.” He nodded toward the room at the end of the warehouse.

The
twenty feet between Josh and Olivia loomed like an impassible chasm. He ached
to gather her in his arms, not only to comfort her, but to assure himself that
she was all right. He stifled a groan. Dirk was right, but the helpless feeling
at the sight of her slumped over was almost more than he could bear. His hands
clenched into fists.

“Steady
on.” Dirk’s voice brought him back to the task at hand. “She’s still
breathing.” He released his grip and spoke in a low, urgent voice. “Why don’t
you and I go have a word with the chaps who are holding her?”

Josh
took one last look at Olivia. Her glorious silky hair swung forward, hiding her
face. He offered a silent prayer for her safety then began moving silently
across the floor toward the sound of the television.

Their
approach required no verbal communication. Dirk peered in the window and then
ducked down, holding up two fingers. With a brief nod, Josh took up a position
on the opposite side of the open door. Stretched out on a cot, Garlic Breath
was snoring noisily while Sideburns struggled to keep his eyes open, his chair
tipped back precariously on two legs. Josh was right behind Dirk as they
entered the room.

“All
right, gentlemen. Let’s have a little chat, shall we?” Dirk pressed his gun
against Sideburns’ temple and the man’s mouth fell open. He struggled to
maintain his balance. Josh hovered over Garlic Breath, waiting for him to make
a move. He continued snoring, and Josh grabbed him by the shirt and flipped him
off the cot. The man cowered on the floor as he saw the menacing figure looming
above him. Josh remained silent, as previously agreed.

“Right
then.” Dirk kept his pistol leveled at Sideburns’ head. His tone was calmly
conversational. “Who owns this warehouse?”

The
man shrugged and Dirk raised a disbelieving eyebrow. “You don’t know?” His
voice was deceptively gentle. “Pity, that. If you tell us who owns it, we’ll
let you go. Otherwise we’ll tie you up and blow the place to pieces.” He
paused, as if a brilliant idea had just occurred to him. “As a matter of fact,
we’ll blow the place whether you tell us or not. The choice is yours, lads.”
His eyes glittered mercilessly, pale blue against the black of the balaclava.

“Blazek!”
blurted Garlic Breath. “Jiri Blazek owns it. We just work for him.”

“What’s
in the shipment?” Dirk motioned with the gun.

“RPGs,
launchers, AK-47s. Some Semtex.” He couldn’t get the words out fast enough.
“It’s being shipped tomorrow.” He glanced at the clock on the wall. “No,
today.”

“We’ll
see about that.” He turned on Sideburns. “Who’s the woman out there?”

“Nobody.”

Dirk
cocked the gun. “Would you like to reconsider that answer?”

“All
right, all right. We took her from a yacht in the harbor that’s being rented by
some American.”

Dirk
gestured with the gun. “Now why in the world would Blazek do something like
that? Whatever happened to the famous Spanish hospitality we’re heard so much
about?”

“He’s
not in business to be hospitable.” Sideburns glared at Dirk. “Mr. Blazek is a
very cautious man. That’s how he
stays
in business.”

Dirk
shrugged. “Not for long. Where is Blazek’s main supply depot?”

Sideburns
looked from the gun to the implacable eyes behind the balaclava. “At his
villa.”

“And
how many men are on guard there?”

“None.
Mr. Blazek has the latest in electronic surveillance equipment.” He pointed to
the man on the floor. “Jan and I do everything.”

“Good,
because we just might drop in.” He thought for a moment. “Now here’s what we’re
going to do.” He patted down Sideburns and motioned for Josh to do the same to
Garlic Breath. “You two gentlemen are going to get in your vehicle. What you do
after that is your own business, but here’s a hint. I recommend you get far
away from Mr. Blazek. It will be a long time before he does business in this
area again.” He gestured with the gun. “Come on, lads, I’ll walk you out.” He
slipped a knife out of a sheath on his leg and handed it to Josh.

The
men needed no further coaxing. They ducked out the side door with Dirk on their
heels.

* * *

Olivia
was having the swimming dream again. She had it from time to time after long
flights, and it was always the same. She was underwater, struggling to get to
the surface. She always woke up gasping for air, her heart pounding.

This
time, the dream was different. Someone was rescuing her. A hand pushed the hair
back from her face, the touch exquisitely tender. She smiled in her sleep.

“Olivia.”
It was Josh’s voice. How had he found his way into her dream? She dragged
herself up from the depths. “I’m going to cut through this tape. You’ll feel
some discomfort for a while but don’t worry. I’m here.” His husky voice was
unmistakable.

She
awoke with a start, and her muscles shrieked with agony. She was still in the
warehouse, but something was different. “Josh?” she whispered again, vaguely
aware that tears were streaming down her face. “You came.”

“I’m
right here, sweetheart.” He held her gently while the blood started to flow
into her arms and legs. The pain was excruciating, but she didn’t care. He had
come for her, as she knew he would.

Large
fingers sifted through her hair, and his eyes searched her face. “I’ve been so
worried.” His voice was shaky. “Are you all right?”

She
nodded. How could she be anything else when he looked at her like that? “I’m
thirsty and I’m tired, but yes, I’m fine.” Her eyes started to droop and then
snapped wide open. “Josh,” she said, her tone urgent. “I think Eliska’s father
is one of the larger arms dealers you’re after.”

“I
think you’re right.” He glanced around at the deadly shipment. “We’ve decided
to destroy this warehouse as well as the one at the villa. No sense going after
the small fry when we can take him out.” His eyes hardened. “Especially after
what he did to you.”

She
started to shake violently and he pulled her back into the circle of his arms,
broad hands gently massaging her back. “It’s a delayed reaction.” He kissed the
top of her head.

“I
knew you’d come for me,” she murmured, not caring that she was repeating
herself. She was too exhausted to speak coherently. “For a moment there, I
thought I was dreaming.”

They
broke apart as the distinctive sound of a helicopter grew louder. “What’s
that?” she asked, clinging to him for support.

Josh
grinned. “That’s A.J. with our ride.” He picked her up in his arms. “We’re
getting out of here. I’ll get you settled.” He carried her to the helicopter,
handing her inside just as Dirk drove up. “Stay put,” he said and Olivia nodded
sleepily. “Dirk and I have something to take care of.” He strode across the
parking lot.

Dirk
jumped out of their vehicle brandishing a crowbar. “I borrowed this from our
friends. They’re on their way to check out new employment opportunities.” He
glanced toward the helicopter. “Is she all right?”

Josh
grinned. “She’s wonderful.”

“Yes,
I know that, but is she physically all right?”

Josh
sobered. “As far as I can tell.” He reached into the Land Rover and removed a
black bag. “Shall we?” The two men went back into the warehouse.

They
quickly pried open a few crates, determining the most effective position for
the explosive charges.

Josh
crouched over the timer. “Five minutes should be plenty, don’t you think?”

“Huh?”
Dirk held a grenade launcher, his expression thoughtful. “Yeah, sure. I don’t
like long good-byes.” Balancing the launcher on one hand, he looked at Josh
with a wicked grin. “I’ve just had a thought. Wouldn’t it be ironic if Blazek’s
store of arms at the villa was destroyed with one of his own weapons?”

Josh
nodded. “My friend, I like the way you think.” They liberated several grenades.

Dirk
looked around before they left. “This place is going to go straight up. While
you were rescuing Olivia I put up roadblocks half a mile in each direction and
checked out those shacks down the road. There’s not a soul around. Not even our
little guardian angel.”

“All
right then.” Josh activated the timers on the explosive charges and ran out behind
Dirk. “Good luck,” he said, clapping the SAS agent on the shoulder. “I’ll see
you soon.”

Dirk
waved at Olivia and then ran beneath the slowly rotating blades of the
helicopter to the waiting Land Rover. With a quick touch of the horn he pulled
out, heading east.

Josh
stepped up into the helicopter, sliding into the seat next to Olivia and
slipping on a pair of headphones and checking his watch. “Three minutes, A.J.
Let’s head out, but stand by half a mile offshore.”

The
pilot nodded, and the ground fell away below them. Through the open side of the
helicopter, the eastern horizon glowed brightly.

“How’s
this sir?”

“This
is fine. Best seats in the house.”

Three
sets of eyes watched in amazement as the roof of the warehouse peeled back and
a ball of brilliant orange flame shot into the pale morning sky. The sound
reached them a moment later and Josh reached for Olivia’s hand. In that brief
heartbeat of time, the triumphant smile on his face erased the memory of the
fear and discomfort she’d suffered over the past few hours. He gave her hand a
quick squeeze and spoke into the mouthpiece attached to his headset. “All right
A.J. Next set of co-ordinates, please.”

As
they sped toward the villa Josh’s training took over. With quick, efficient
movements he loaded the grenade launcher and moved into position in the open
door of the helicopter. She watched him wordlessly, wondering if she’d ever
really known this man.

Sensing
her scrutiny, he leaned toward her, putting his mouth to her ear. “This is what
it’s all about Darlin’. After today, Blazek won’t be in the arms business. He
may never recover.” His gaze held hers for a moment then he turned away, once
more a man with a mission.

The
helicopter nosed up over the hill, revealing the compound sprawled below them. To
the left, the residence appeared eerily deserted. Below them, the huge rock
rose out of the hillside, a physical barrier between the storehouse and the
home. Leaves danced on the trees and dust and debris scattered in the downdraft
from the rotors. With a practiced eye, Josh scanned the entire compound for
signs of life, but it was deserted. Suddenly, Blazek’s yellow Hummer sped away
from the storehouse, heading for the gates.

Josh
almost couldn’t believe his eyes. The double doors of the storehouse stood
open. The Czech must have learned about the explosion on the docks and was in a
big hurry to leave.

His
voice was calm as he spoke to A.J. “Position yourself so I get a clear shot at
those open doors and be prepared to break away sharply on my signal.”

Huddled
in the blanket, Olivia’s gaze went from Josh to the building below and then
back to Josh. She was gripped by a sense of unreality and for a moment it was
as though she were in the middle of a movie. But her aching arms and legs
reminded her that the scene playing out before her eyes was real. Very real.

Josh
hefted the launcher, resting it on his shoulder. “Now!” he said into his
headphones and the grenade fired, exhaust streaming from the back of the
launcher and out the open side of the helicopter. Veering left, the powerful
machine gained altitude. For a moment there was no sound, and then a series of
massive explosions echoed across the hillside, followed by smaller but equally
spectacular bursts. As planned, the huge rock acted as a backstop for the
blast. In a semi-circle around the storehouse, vegetation was stripped from the
trees. Small spot fires glowed momentarily and then died out. There was nothing
left to burn.

The
concussion buffeted the helicopter but A.J. held it steadily at a safe distance.

Josh
looked down at the devastation, but saw only his brother’s face. “That’s for
you, Zach.” Emotion turned his voice raspy, and he swallowed hard. Eyes
glittering in triumph, he turned to Olivia, sharing in the success of the
mission. She smiled back at him through eyes dark with exhaustion.

In
the distance, fire sirens could be heard. He turned to the pilot. “Let’s go,
A.J.” The helicopter rotated ninety degrees and then pulled away, disappearing
over the Sierra Blanca mountain range.

* * *

Ten
miles away on the road to Barcelona, Dirk heard the explosions. His hands
relaxed on the steering wheel and he started to whistle.

* * *