Solemn Duty (1997) (32 page)

"Well, if Mr. Gut is involved I'm sure it's okay, then. If you don't mind, I want to go with you tonight when you visit the colonel. I'd like to talk to his wife. She's been through a lot and would probably like some assurances everything is going to be all right"

Eli smiled but didn't look at her. "I was going to ask you to drive anyway, partner."

"Nice to know I'm good for something, Tanner," Ashley snapped. Secretly, she was glad he was playing the game again. Leaning back in her chair, she decided it was time to change the rules a little. "Tanner, in the hotel in Columbus I told you I thought using our first names was unprofessional. . . . I was wrong. You are one of the most professional agents I've ever met If it's all right with you I'd like to-"

Eli held up his hand as he rose up from his chair. "No, Agent Sutton. You weren't wrong. We should keep things just the way they are. We're going to meet Ramona and Charlie at seven in the lobby, so I'll knock on your door at about ten to You'd better use that lotion on yourself. You've got an awful lot of skin to protect in that little suit of yours. See ya."

Eli picked up his bag and headed for the doorway. Ashley Sutton looked better than good in her bathing suit, and he couldn't take another second being around her without saying or doing something stupid. The ice queen was obviously melting, and he wasn't sure if he could handle the thawed-out version.

Woodbridge, Virginia Jean Paul stepped into the living room where his men were seated. He lowered his head a moment as if in thought before looking into their expectant faces. "My friends, Nim informs me we were followed here by one of the house servants from the mansion. I believe it is now obvious our Chinese hosts believe us to be expendable. Each of you is family to me, so I cannot ask any of you to remain with me to finish my duty.

You have done enough for me over the years, and I want each of you to have an opportunity to find happiness. The old one and I planned for this day, knowing it would eventually come.

I am going to step outside for several minutes. Those who wish to leave, please do so with my blessing. Nim will provide you the documents and account numbers in each of your names so that you live the rest of your lives in comfort. To those who choose to remain, I promise only extreme danger and little chance of living long in this world. I leave you now to make your decision."

Jean Paul walked out on the front porch and stood for only a minute when Nim stepped out and joined him. "Jean Paul, none will leave you. The monks taught us life is suffering, and we shall all suffer together. If the Chinese want a war, so be it.

Come and lead us."

Jean Paul wiped a single tear from his cheek and strode back into the house. He looked into each man's face and nodded.

"The Chinese family is strong, but this family is stronger. The men who will come after us will be very good, but we are better. This night I will accomplish my duty with the first squad and half of the third squad. Nim and his second squad will teach the Chinese a lesson in humility, and the rest of the third squad will teach the assassins who come for us we are a family to reckon with. My plan for finishing Anderson remains the same, and the rendezvous point will now become our alternate base. Sary, take your squad and proceed with preparations. Be ready to leave within the hour for our staging location. Nim, I have a folder in my briefcase with a plan for our Chinese hosts.

Get the folder and we will discuss it once the meeting is over.

Penn, you and your squad will load the weapons and equipment in the truck to be taken to our new base, then begin planning for your reception of our visitors tonight. That is all for now, my friends. You must pack quickly and be ready to leave within two hours. Tonight will be an evening our enemies will never forget."

Chapter 17.

10:30 P. M. Vienna, Virginia.

Peter Wong turned off the television with his remote and collected his shoes from beneath the coffee table. His wife, Mey, walked toward the stairs leading up to their bedroom and spoke over her shoulder. "Don't forget to check the doors, Peter."

"Yes, dear." He made a detour into the kitchen to check the sliding glass door that led to the backyard and pool. He turned on the kitchen light and froze. Something hard pressed against his temple.

Hu Nim cocked back the hammer of his silenced pistol and smiled. "Mr. Wong, you underestimated us. Please yell up to your wife and say you forgot important documents at your office and you must go. I suggest you sound very convincing or my men will have to kill her."

Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

Ashley turned off the rental car ignition and glanced at her passenger. "Are you sure he's going to be awake?"

Eli opened the car door and got out. He waited until she was out of the car and then patted the cell phone in his blazer pocket. "I called the hospital when you and Ramona were in the powder room. He said come on over. His wife is staying with him in the room, and they're both late night people." He smiled and patted his other bulging pocket. "I brought him a present."

Ashley rolled her eyes and stepped up beside him. "You can't take liquor into a hospital, Tanner."

"Watch me, Agent Sutton. But I would feel better if you'd put these three cans of beer into your purse."

She shook her head and started walking toward the hospital's front entrance. "Forget it, Tanner. Rules are rules, and I don't have room, anyway. My weapon takes up all my beer can room."

He quickly caught up and nudged her shoulder with his.

"Nice night, Agent Sutton. You ever see so many stars?"

She slowed her steps and looked up at the sparkling heavens. "It is nice . . . it was a good dinner, too. I don't think Ramona was too happy with you when you told her we had to go. I think she had plans of her own for you."

Eli shrugged and began walking again. "I like my plan better. I figure when we're finished here we can go over to the waterfront and watch the boats go by on the river at this neat little bar I know."

"It's a country western bar, isn't it, Tanner?"

"Kinds, but the beer is too expensive for it to really be considered what you call a real C and W place. It's just nice, and we can do a little winding down and do some comparing of notes before we have to write those reports tomorrow."

"I didn't bring any notes, Tanner."

Eli shrugged again. "I didn't, either, but it's still a better plan than just letting this night go by unappreciated. I guess I'm saying I would like your company, Agent Sutton. I happen to like your company, and I thought it might be nice for us to do our own celebrating . . . a partner thing."

Ashley slowed her steps again and looked at him with a smile. "I accept your offer, Agent Tanner. . . . I guess I have to drive us there, huh?"

Eli opened the front glass door and patted her back as she stepped through the doorway. "Of course."

Inside, they followed the signs and within seconds were standing in front of elevator doors. Eli shivered as he pressed the Up button. "I don't like these places. I spent more time in an Army hospital than I care to remember. It has its own smell, doesn't it? Smells like an Army hospital."

Ashley looked around and shrugged. "Looks pretty modern to me. I don't smell anything unusual."

The doors opened and they stepped in. Eli pushed the button for the fifth floor and leaned against the wall. "I can smell clean starched sheets and disinfectant"

Ashley was going to make fun of him until she saw the beads of perspiration on his forehead. She took his hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Thanks for asking me to share the stars with you this evening, Tanner. I happen to like your company, too."

Before Eli could respond, the elevator stopped and the doors opened. He let her hand go but patted her shoulder. "Hold that thought and we'll discuss it when we leave." They entered the dimly lit hallway. Across from them at the nurse's station stood a young female captain nurse updating a patient's file. A tall black MP sergeant was beside her. The soldier held up his hand. "Sony, folks, but visiting hours are over," he said politely.

Eli motioned to himself. "I'm Special Agent Tanner, FBI, and this is Special Agent Sutton. We're here to talk to Colonel Anderson. He's expecting us."

The MP sergeant nodded. "I will need to see your IDs, please."

Eli got his out first, and the MP motioned to Ashley to stop looking in her purse. "That's all right, ma'am. The colonel's room is just two doors down and on the left"

Eli glanced in that direction and looked back at the black officer. Are you his only security?'

They sergeant nodded again. "Yes, sir. There was an FBI agent who stayed outside the door, but he left this afternoon saying the threat had been downgraded. We still have orders to watch him, though, until he's discharged. Is there a problem, sir?'

Eli gave the young soldier a smile. "No, I just wasn't aware they had already pulled our people, Sergeant. Thank you."

Seconds later Eli knocked on the door and stepped into the room. He was pleasantly surprised to see Anderson smiling and sitting up in bed with a bag of Cheetos at his side. Sandy Anderson, too, smiled. She got up from a reclining chair and pushed the remote, turning off the television. Anderson extended his hand with a grin. "Agent Tanner, good to see you.

I hear you're a fellow vet."

Eli stepped up and took his hand. "How did ya find out about that, sir?"

"The agent that was watching over me told me. He was quite a fan of yours. I didn't realize you were a pro when I met you the other day. I'm sorry. Hello, Agent Sutton, it's good to see you again, too. I'm afraid you caught Sandy and me watching `Saturday Night Live' like a bunch of kids. I love these damn Cheetos, and Sandy snuck them in for me."

Eli took a can of beer from his jacket pocket and held it out.

"I thought maybe you'd like one, sir. It goes great with Cheetos."

Anderson grinned again as he took the can. "You are a true vet, indeed! Thanks. I've been dreaming about a beer for weeks."

Eli took another one out from his inside jacket pocket and offered it to Sandy, who smiled and shook her head. "No thank you, I'll let him splurge tonight-he can have mine. Thank you, though. I think Agent Sutton and I will visit the coffee machine and let you two have a chance to talk a few minutes."

She took Ashley's ann and looked over her shoulder at her husband. "Hon, wipe your lips, they're orange."

As soon as the women stepped out and closed the door, Anderson's smile dissolved and he pinned Eli with a stare.

"You got him, didn't you?"

Eli nodded. "Yes, sir, we did. Actually, he killed himself when we were moving in on him, but he's no longer a threat to you."

Lowering his head, the retired colonel popped the top of his beer and stared at the can. "He was a good soldier, Agent Tanner . . . a damn good soldier. But so were my men . . . I guess he did what he thought he had to do."

Eli took the third can from his pocket and pulled back the tab. "Yes, sir, and he came awful close to making Sandy a widow. Remember that."

Only thirty yards from the two men, in the fire stairwell, Jean Paul Devoe raised his arm and looked at his wristwatch.

"Two minutes," he said.

Standing beside him, Kheck Ly chambered a round in his 9mm pistol and looked through the small door window. "Roun and Tralay will take out the guard for you when they step out of the elevator, then it will be safe for you to enter the hallway.

Anderson's room is number 514 on your right. I will follow fifteen paces to your rear to protect your back."

Wearing hospital pajamas and a robe, Jean Paul chambered a round into his Italian .22 and put it in the waistband of his pants. He reached up, patted the gold chain in the breast pocket of his robe and smiled. "You have done well, my friend. As always. Your reconnaissance of the hospital and of the target is commendable." He raised his wrist again and looked at his watch. "One minute."

Just ten steps from the fire exit doorway, in a vending machine canteen, Ashley set her coffee cup down on a table and made a face. "This stuff is terrible."

Sandy Anderson smiled. "You get used to it." She took a sip of her coffee and lowered her cup. "So you really think it's all over, Ashley? I miss my home and miss our lives."

Ashley nodded and patted the woman's shoulder. "It's all over, Sandy. Once your husband is released, he can finish that cradle and you can start thinking about how wonderful it will be to be called Grandmother."

"Oh God, don't remind me. That's one thing I'm not ready for. . . . That's not true, I really am. Bob is the one who is having a hard time accepting the fact he's going to be a grandfather . . . maybe not now, though."

Ashley began to respond but heard the elevator doors open down the hall. She didn't think anything of it but then heard a faint coughing sound followed by another, only slightly louder.

She stepped toward the doorway and froze. To her right a very good-looking, small man stepped out of a fire exit doorway.

She immediately stepped back and reached for the pistol in her purse, then turned to Sandy, putting her finger to her lips. It was the heavy gold chain around the handsome man's neck that worried her, and she told herself she wasn't going to take any chances. Motioning Sandy to get against the wall, she did the same and waited for him to pass the open doorway. A second passed, then another, and finally she saw him. She tried to move but couldn't. She took in a breath and suddenly stepped out and barked. "Freeze! FBI!" She glanced quickly down the long hallway and saw two men on both sides of the colonel's room door pressed against the wall, and just behind them she saw the form of the young black sergeant on the floor.