Out Of The Night (15 page)

“What can I do for him?”

“Clean him up and watch him closely. If he appears to be convulsing or vomiting, no matter the consequences, get him to a hospital at once.”

The
generous stranger stood to go. “I will have some food and water sent to you.”

“How much do I owe you, Salem?”

“You paid more than enough. For now, let’s hope he lives.”

Left alone
, Abby looked at Tony and couldn’t fight back the tears. His clothes were frayed, his body bloody and battered. She didn’t know what to do next. She’d never been in this situation.

She began by removing all his clothes and washing his body. The hot water stung her hands
, and the scented soap filled her nostrils. She carefully cleaned and rinsed every inch of his body. Tears dripped on him the entire time she went about her business.

Help, she needed help right now. She needed Frank’s advice, a Falcon agent’s help
, and a frickin’ cell phone to let them know an agent had been seriously hurt. How could she get him to safety if the ex-soldier turned on her and sent those trying to kill them to finish the job? How could she protect Tony?

She searched frantically for his cell. The only way he’d survive was if she could call for help.
She found nothing, except the gun she’d removed from the back of his waistband. Would she have the nerve to use it? Could she take a life?

She touched Tony’s face and instantly knew she’d do anything humanly possible to save him, even if it meant her life.

With his body clean and as much medical attention as she could administer, Abby slowly wrapped the blanket around him and crawled in beside him, clutching the gun. No matter what, she had to keep him safe.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

Moscow

Viktor smiled. The news had just reached him that Tony Archuletta was dead. Their bomb idea had worked out very well, and he’d even managed to blame it on that radical el Jibar.

Viktor didn’t want to kill Archuletta until he had all the information he needed, but once the Falcon agent made it to Cairo, Viktor knew his options were limited. Better to kill him and be done with it. Besides, now nothing could be traced back to him. All the better.

Petr lit a cigarette and blew out a stream of white smoke. “Do you want me to have Dr. Wargo killed?”

Viktor shook he head. “We may have use of him later. In the meantime, he can be perfecting his serum.”

“I agree.” Petr looked around Lubyanka Square. “I wish we could have killed Archuletta ourselves. It would have been more fun. I don’t like bombs. They’re not personal enough.”

Viktor patted him on the shoulder. “A dead man is dead just the same.” He thought back to the beginning of their battle. It had been simple. Archuletta had
testified against him while under immunity. That got Viktor kicked out of the KGB and embarrassed him before the SVU. He became the laughingstock of the motherland for being connected with several situations the Russians didn’t want known. Since then, he’d been slowly eliminating those responsible for his fall from grace. Archuletta had always been at the top of that list.

What Viktor had wanted
was the name of the traitor who’d supplied Archuletta with the undisputable evidence he’d turned over to the Russian authorities.

In his heart
Viktor didn’t feel it was over yet. Maybe Falcon would send more men for him, maybe not. He would be prepared for anything that came his way.

“We need to take care of that guard, Boris.” Viktor spit on the ground. “I know he
’s not innocent.”

“I agree. Someone paid him. Let’s find out who did such a thing.”

Viktor smiled. “I see his car is here. He must be working the late shift.”

Petr and Viktor entered through the guard gate. None of those young watchmen would be foolish enough to stop them. He came and went as he pleased
, and no one challenged his authority.

Once inside, they made their way down the dreary hall to the lunchroom. Viktor guessed Boris would be eating about now.

Shoving open the door, Viktor and Petr saw Boris and two other guards sitting at a small table drinking. Viktor saw the fear melting off of Boris even from where he stood. The traitor.

“Boris, come
. We will speak with you.”

“What do you want?”

Petr walked over and grabbed Boris by the collar and lifted him from his seat. The others lowered their eyes and tried to appear smaller.

“What have I done? Let me go.”

“You will come with us, Boris. We want to set a few things straight.”

“I told you I don’t know anything about that agent being taken. I was only doing my job.”

Petr shoved Boris down the hall until they came to an empty room. Once inside and the door secured, Petr jammed his meaty fist into the guard’s mid-section so hard it slammed him across the room and into a wall. “Get up.”

Lying on the floor, Boris begged, “But I’ve done nothing.”

Petr kicked him in the face and blood splattered across the room. Viktor grabbed him by the hair and looked into his eyes. “You fat queer boy, you’ll talk, or I’ll personally cut your dick off myself and stuff it in your mouth.”

“No
. No.” Boris held out his hands. “I can only tell you the truth. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Petr grabbed him up by the collar, flung him across a metal table and pulled down his pants, while Boris screamed in horror. “You like things shoved up your ass.” He put the barrel of his gun against the shaking man’s rectum. “How about I fuck you with my gun? When you come, I’ll blow your guts out.”

“No, don’t. I’ll tell you what I know.”

Petr
yanked him up and Boris’s pants dropped to the floor. “Go ahead and let’s see if I believe you.” He held up his gun. “If I don’t, I’ll shoot you in the asshole.”

Boris wiped his face with the back of his hand. “A man was waiting for me after work one night. He said he would give me money if I helped get a prisoner out of jail.”

“Who was this man?”

“I don’t know?”

“Was he American?” Viktor shoved Boris.

“No, he was Russian.”

“You are sure it wasn’t an American speaking Russian?”

“No, no this man was a Russian.”

“Young, old?”

“Older.
At first I told him no and threatened to tell the authorities.”

Viktor smiled. “But you didn’t.”

“No, and on his third visit he had a bag filled with money and told me a woman would be coming for the prisoner Archuletta. I was to act like it was all legitimate and do nothing.”

Viktor grabbed him by the throat. “Did you not know you could be endangering your country’s security?”

“I figured if the man was important, he wouldn’t be in the common cells. What harm could he do?”

Petr stepped closer. “Where is the money?”

“I am saving it for a business me and my partner plan to start.”

“Where is it?”

“It’s hidden in my apartment.”

“Where?”

“I won’t say. I earned that money, and it’s my only hope of ever getting out of this place.”

“No, Boris, you have no hope.”

Cairo

Abby woke to a gentle tap on the door. She sat up. The room spun like a carnival ride. Looking for the gun, she found it and held it out as she walked across the room. The lock securely held the door.

“Who is it?”

“I’m just bringing you a meal,” Salem said.

“Leave it out there. I’ll get it later.”

Soft footsteps retreated down the hall, and Abby gently unlocked the door, opened it and looked down at the plate of food. Checking both directions, she snatched it up and immediately latched the door again.

She put the food down on a tiny table then wearily shuffled to where Tony lay. He hadn’t moved and he looked so pale
, his lips white. Perhaps she should get him to the hospital before he died. Then what would she do?

What if she got him medical treatment only to
have the killers find out they were there? She couldn’t take that chance. If only she knew how to reach a Falcon agent. Anyone who could help them.

She took the cloth and wet it again and washed Tony’s body. By now bruises and cuts covered his body. Nothing appeared broken or too severely hurt
, except his head. The worst part. His brain had already suffered a massive injury only to have it split open.

After cleaning Tony, she forced some water down his throat and tried to wake him but had no luck. Ignoring the food, Abby walked to the window and looked outside. Several people were still taking care of the injured, and a white car sat parked across the street.

Abby closed the curtains quickly and pressed her back against the wall. Had the bomb been thrown from that car? No, she shook her head. All this had made her paranoid. Nothing that strange could happen. Besides, many white cars were in the area? Hundreds, if not more.

Still, why would two men sit in a car across from where a bomb exploded and just study the crowd? Why would another man stand nearby, his eyes scanning the tragedy? Why wouldn’t they render aid? She would. And vehicles were badly needed right now to drive the injured to a care center.

Lifting the edge of the curtain aside, Abby studied the men. They didn’t look Arabic with their light hair and broad shoulders. She guessed they were Russian. The same people who tried to kill them earlier. If those men somehow learned where she and Tony were hiding, they’d be murdered in cold blood. Darkness grew closer and Abby’s fears escalated.

She had to find a way to save Tony.

Just as she turned away, a man came into view. He held the older woman who’d aided them earlier by the upper arm, and he wasn’t being gentle. Soon the woman would give them up.

Abby
ran into the bathroom, filled the small pitcher with water then went to the bed and threw it in Tony’s face.

He didn’t move. Abby bent down. “Tony, Tony, you have to wake up.” She shook him gently. “They are coming after us. We must move.”

With her hand on his chest, he groaned, grumbled then his eyes flickered.

“It’s me Abby. Tony
, do you recognize me?” She fought back tears. “Can you get us out of here?”

His eyes stared at her. “W-Where are we?”

“A bomb exploded near us and you took a terrible blow to the head.”

His brow wrinkled. “What?” He tried to shake his head
, but stopped. “I can’t hear you.”

The blast must have affected his hearing. Oh great, no memory and no hearing. She leaned next to his ear. “We were in an explosion.”

She lifted her head and saw acknowledgment in his eyes.

“Are you hurt?”

“No, not too bad. I was behind you. You took most of the impact.”

“Help me up.”

She slid her arm beneath his back and lifted him slowly, knowing his head had to be hurting, and she wasn’t sure he didn’t see double.

His breath grew harsh and raspy
, and she didn’t think he could sit on his own, much less move. “We’re in a hotel.”

“How did you get me here?”

“I had help from a local man who had some medical experience. But now, down the street where the bomb exploded are three men who look Russian. They have the mother of the guy who helped us.”

He put his hand against his side and carefully dragged his legs off the bed where his feet planted on the rug. “Damn.”

“She knows we’re in here, and it won’t take them long to find us.”

He seemed oblivious to the fact he didn’t have a stitch of clothes on. “Help me up.”

She grabbed his arm and pulled. As he unfolded, she put his arm around her neck, bent her knees and stood. Tony swore. His legs trembled, sweat peppered his body, and his breathing grew irregular.

It amazed her that he remained on his feet. A lesser man would be back on the bed and unconscious. Tony shuffled to the edge of the window and looked out. “You’re right. They’re Russians.” He moved away from the window. “The woman just pointed toward our hotel.”

She held up the weapon. “I have your gun.”

***

Tony didn’t want to tell her that he couldn’t see well enough to hit a target. His vision was blurry, and he saw double.

Firepower wasn’t going to save the day this time. “Did you find my phone?”

“No. If I had, a Falcon agent would be here right now.”

“Is there
a phone in the lobby?”

“I don’t know, but as you can see, there isn’t one in the room.”

Tony glanced out the window in time to see the three Russians heading toward their hotel. He turned to Abby. “Take your clothes off and throw them at the bottom of the bed. Then take the clothes I had on and put them in a pile.”

The size of her eyes told him she wasn’t sold on his idea and wasn’t going to do anything she didn’t want to do. “Do what?”

“Get undressed. Fast.”

She jammed her fists on her hips. “Are you nuts?”

Heavy footsteps sounded in the hall. “Move, now.”