When Diplomacy Fails . . . (23 page)

Shaman spoke up. “The problem is, we aren’t investigators and have limited resources. We can’t depose anyone or go digging too deeply. So we’re doing this based on available raw intelligence and our own problem-solving ability. We’re good, but this is not our field. What we need to stick to is how urgent and significant we think a threat is, and go from there.”

That was a clear summation.

Jason said, “It’s clear the threats and tactics are escalating. It’s not a case of if they’ll reach critical, but when. We need to pull her out before then.” He stared at the screened charts, hoping for enlightenment.

Bart said, “I’d do so now. It registers as unholdable. What is the word?”

“Untenable,” Aramis said. “Whether or not we can, I agree we certainly should. I have my own reasons, of course.” His jaw clenched as he spoke.

Shaman asked, “What else can we tell, though? Who? Who have they hired?”

Jason said, “They’re increasingly good. My guess is they’re not amateurs, but are playing it. An obvious pro hit would be bad. An accident or faction split would be beneficial to the campaign.”

Aramis said, “Wait, there could be some interest in a faction, too.”

Alex nodded. “Yes, but I don’t think we have time to figure out all those connections. We should try, of course, but that’s secondary to the power behind it.”

“Still, they escalate until they succeed, and blame whichever group is nearest, most likely, most interested at that moment, had a previous interest, doesn’t really matter.”

Elke said, “They are going to try to take us out, too. They can either then play the ‘We’re all allies’ card or the ‘mercenary bastards had it coming’ card. Which means they’ll be better placed for any followup against her.”

Cady offered, “They might also try for us as a secondary target, getting them closer to her.”

Alex grinned. “That sounds almost vid. Would any of their people trust them?”

“They’d bring in second stringers,” Aramis said. “Other agents borrowed under the exigencies of the situation, from some bureau they don’t like as well.”

Jason remembered something from a year past and said, “Like the Nutrition and Medication people caught in that payoff scandal.”

Alex sounded unimpressed. “That would almost be obvious.”

Aramis shrugged. “Not to the typical vid watcher.”

“Yeah, I think you’re right. But it doesn’t matter who at this point. They’re not our concern, and in that particular case, the bastards have it coming.”

Cady said, “Right. Our concern is keeping us alive, her alive, and disabling their attack. That’s all tied for first. Anything else is second.”

Shaman said, “Assuming we do positively ID the threat, we cannot tell her. Nor discuss it meantime. Between her and her friend, and JessieM, we might as well flash a bulletin to the enemy directly.”

“Concur.”

“So we’re going to string along until almost the last minute, and try to bail before the hit happens, close enough that the attempt is made so we’re proven right.”

Elke said, “What could possibly go wrong?”

Alex said, “She’ll refuse to believe me. I’ll put fifty on it.”

“No bet,” she said, sounding sad.

CHAPTER 20

ALEX WAS QUITE SURE
his logical appeals to Highland would be a waste of time, but he was required to make an attempt. He looked at Cady.

“Highland is probably going to resist the idea. I’ll need backup from you later. For now, I need you to let us go.”

Cady said, “It would be better if you didn’t tell me this and just did it. But I understand. I’ll delay my people as long as possible. I’ll prep for interception later. Are we telling Corporate?”

“Eventually, by coded message. The one I sent today just tells them I’m about to go to Earth. Meyer trusts me.”

Cady said, “He trusts you, while he swallows handfuls of stress relievers.”

“Yeah, well he has that luxury.”

“I’ll be ready. Good luck, Alex.” She smiled and offered a hand.

“Thanks,” he said, and shook.

Cady turned and left. He waited three minutes, then walked to Highland’s section. Aramis went with him, with a nod.

Leitelt and Branson were on duty, checked his name as a formality, and waved him in. He knew them by sight only. Cady had twenty-eight people now, in three teams.

JessieM received him first.

“Chief Marlow, how are you today?”

“Very good, Jessie, thank you. Is Ms. Highland busy?”

Jessie nodded her head toward the inner office. “She’s conducting a recorded interview. It should be done in a few minutes.”

“I have a security issue to discuss. We can wait.”

“I’ll ping her screen,” Jessie said, and swiped across her own interface.

Two minutes later, Elke, Jason and Shaman came in, looking relaxed and casual in sport shirts for local daywear. It was disarming camouflage for what they were about to do.

JessieM looked at them a bit quizzically, but monitored her screen and after a couple of minutes said, “You can go in now.”

“Thank you.”

He took one deep breath, knocked as a courtesy and pushed the door in.

“Good morning, ma’am. Thank you for seeing me again.”

“What can I do for you, Chief Marlow? I’m afraid I only have about ten minutes before my next call.”

“That’s plenty, ma’am,” he said. He stayed standing as he said, “The first item is that we know why the threats are escalating. They make you popular. The original intents seem to have been to embarrass you out of the race. Then they attempted to make you afraid. Then to make you look incompetent. At each level, though, your visibility and popularity increase. You’re the underdog. So now they’re concertedly trying to kill you.”

“That’s what you’re for, isn’t it?” She looked dismissive and almost gratified.

“It is. That is exactly what we are for. Which is the point of the second item.” He watched. She didn’t notice Aramis sidling back along the wall.

“What’s that?”

“We need to vacate this area now.” His voice was calm, but had that professional urgency to it.

“We seem to be perfectly safe and comfortable here,” she said, holding up her open arms. She seemed reasonable, but he expected that would change as soon as he took the next step.

“We may seem to be, but given the progression of attacks, I must consider more explosives to be a credible and expected threat.”

“Then deal with it. That’s what you’re paid for.”

“Yes, ma’am, we are, and my recommendation is to leave.”

She shook her head and turned to her screens, dismissing him with a flutter of fingers.

He tried again while motioning discreetly for the others. “Ma’am, whoever is trying to assassinate you are professionals.”

“That’s ridiculous, it’s some group of backward peasants.”

“No, they want it to look that way. Right now, we need to move, and we have to accept collateral damage.”

She looked up again. “I can’t have that with my poll numbers! It will end my campaign!”

“Ma’am, either you walk or Aramis stuns and carries you.”

She turned to see Aramis holding the baton centimeters from her.

“This is felony kidnapping!”

“Yes it is. Aramis.”

Aramis zapped her, she twitched, her eyes rolled back and fluttered, and she slumped into his grasp.

“That’s a nice perk,” he said, as he heaved her into a fire carry. Shaman reached over and sedated her. They both looked at JessieM, standing in the doorway, who shrugged.

“I will come along without being stunned,” she said, sounding very nervous and fragile.

Jason said, “Jessie, you’re probably safe if you stay here. You’re not Ms. Highland. On the other hand, they might decide to make you a sacrifice.”

“I’d like to come along,” she said. “I expect it to be scary, but my place is with Ms. Highland.” She trembled as she spoke, but her voice was firm.

Alex still didn’t know why anyone was loyal to this bitch, but he respected her for it anyway.

He nodded, then said, “Jason, Elke, get us to the ARPAC. I much prefer any real allies be left alive.”

Jason kicked the door, Elke went through grabbing for something off her harness, and they all followed.

Jason ran as Elke did something. It was loud and pyrotechnic, but probably not actually lethal. Jason wasn’t sure if she enjoyed the hell out of that or hated it for not being potent enough. Still, they were unmolested to the vehicle. There had been some sentries and personnel around, but whatever Elke did had them all behind cover. He jumped into the driver’s hatch and hesitated.

It was good transport, and obvious transport, and that made him scared.

Elke apparently had read his mind.

“I did a multifrequency burn for detonators or links, no hits. I’m checking latches and seals now. Stand by.”

Oh, good.

“Safe to start,” she said, as Alex said, “We’re in, Elke on ramp, ramp up, roll.” There were thumping noises of gear. A glance back showed rucks and a crate, which probably had the jump harness.

Alex hit the igniter and nothing happened. That is, nothing bad happened. It fired as it should.

He heard and felt movement, and Elke’s hand thrust something past him.

“They won’t be needing this.” It was small and flat and looked like some kind of wire harness fastener.

“Explosive?”

“No, tracker. When we get a moment, I’ll stick it on some other vehicle.”

“Understood.” said Jason, “how’s the fighting?”

“I have only intermittent access, since we don’t want to be tracked,” said Alex. “What I saw on the way out was clear in this area, but we should avoid the northeast and south.”

“West it is, then. There’s a lot of clutter that way, though, if I recall the map.” Jason looked up at the tracking screen.

“There is,” Elke said as she disconnected the unit. That was another hindrance. While it provided fantastic data, and was theoretically proof against enemy cracking, their putative friends could easily get into it—that’s what it was meant for. They’d travel buy the seat of the pants.

Well, it wasn’t the first time. It felt good to be all together, well-armed and with decent protection for once.

“Status,” Jason asked.

Alex said, “Aramis on top gun, I’ve got the rear, Shaman has witch, Bart monitoring engines, Elke on support.”

“Direction?”

“North for now.”

“Excellent. Rolling.”

It was good to be running a proper military vehicle. The best armored limos were not close to this. That it had largely been for Highland’s image didn’t matter. It was serendipitous functionality.

He also wasn’t concerned about cosmetic wear and tear on the vehicle, nor collateral damage. That let him drive much more aggressively.

Damn, it felt good.

He exploded through the gate-warning barricades, plowed through the movable blocks, which were just sand-filled drums, and slalomed around the sunken bollards.

“Aramis, I may need obstacle removal,” he shouted back.

Aramis replied clearly, “Can you connect? If not, say the word.”

“Elke, do we have internal commo?”

“We will in a moment. I’ll plug you in.”

He rolled over the curb and didn’t notice until afterward, then cleared the bump the stupid limo had hung up on. This was how to travel.

Then Elke shoved ear muffs at him, bulky, but hard wired directly into the vehicle’s system. He yanked them over his head. “Test.”

Aramis replied, “I hear you.”

Alex said, “I’ll direct if needed.” He was at the commander’s console, with screens slaved to Jason’s.

“Understood. We’re in traffic. I’ll try not to kill anyone.”

Alex said, “That would be best. We’ll be hard to hide as is.”

“Do you want to debark for alternate transportation?”

Alex said, “Not yet. Right now, the armor and speed are useful. I’m hearing chatter about pursuit. They’re trying to figure out whose vehicle it is. They’ve just now figured out it’s ours. My phone is ringing. I may as well decoy before I disable it.”

“Agreed.”

Intercom went dead as Alex played stupid and innocent. Seconds of delay there could provide minutes of leeway here. He was back in less than ten seconds, though.

“They didn’t buy it. I don’t think they can scramble aircraft fast enough, but they can get one up for recon soon enough, or even satellite will help once they locate us. They will pursue on ground at once.”

“And shit,” Jason said, looking forward. “Homebound convoy about to pass us.”

“I see them. They’re wondering where we’re going in a hurry.”

Aramis said, “I’m smiling and waving. We’re all friends and there’s no threat.”

“They seem to be buying it. We’re rolling.”

They passed out of view, and Alex said, “Thank god for bureaucracy. They still haven’t figured out who’s where, and of course, they dare not shoot at us with Ms. Highland aboard.”

“Do they know that?”

“Yes, I made sure to tell them it was an urgent need on her part.”

Jason smashed into a vehicle that strayed across the road.

“Very urgent. I just crushed a Mercedes.”

“Casualties?”

“I don’t think so, just the nose and part of the side. Occupants should be fine.”

“Cady has a location picked out. She’s stashing a car for us. We’ll debark nearby, hoof it, load up, relocate.”

“Understood. Though I’d much rather fight from this platform.”

Aramis said, “We’ll steal another.”

“Or more.”

Elke had managed to plug herself in, and said, “I can offer distractions if need be.”

“I’m sure you’ll get a chance soon.”

“That will be good for our relationship,” she said brightly.

He took another turn and found the way blocked. There was heavy construction here.

“I can’t turn, going through,” he said, as he swerved around a small crane. It looked as if they were doing sub-road drainage repair.

He hit the trench at speed and bounced over, causing slumps and collapses along that width. The excavated fill slowed them slightly, and he felt the vehicle rise, then flatten the pipe section awaiting installation.

Beyond that was a man with a multiwindow camera setup, leaning against his car and shooting video of the scene. The ARPAC was unmarked, so it wouldn’t immediately tag to Ms. Highland, which was a good thing, because he slammed into the man, smashed him into a broken bag of cold cuts against the car, which he crushed under the wheels in a popping, rolling, bumping, grinding crunch. Well, if you stood in traffic, you were liable to get hurt. Jason told himself he didn’t care, but didn’t believe it. Stupid or not, the man had been a human being, and not actively hostile.

His introspection stopped when Bart quipped, “I believe it’s crush hour.”

He stifled a response, and instead asked, “Where to?”

Aramis shouted, “Take any left, three squares lateral, then north again.”

“Left three, resume north, roger.”

It was easy to tell who was who in traffic. Extreme Muslims didn’t dodge. Insh Allah—as God wills. Sufis swerved, then cursed and threatened. There weren’t many Baha’i or Christians in this neighborhood, but they cleared the way and pulled back afterward, shrugging it off without public commentary. Local police dodged faster than anyone, and might even go onto the sidewalk. Mercenaries went over any obstacle or threat, and if it came down to it, might back up for a second try.

Highland was not only well-tranked, she was weeping. He assumed it was for her career, not from any real compassion. Still, alive she might pull it off. Dead she’d be only a footnote.

Alex said, “You have alarmed the locals. There are gathering groups and I predict armed response.”

“Yeah, that was not my intent.” He thought for a moment and added, “But I guess it was inevitable. Do we FIDO, unass or split up to do more damage?”

Alex said, “Right now, FIDO. Follow Aramis’s directions.”

“Fuck It, Drive On,” he muttered loudly. They might get that fight Aramis suggested, right now.

He reported, “The road is getting clogged. They’re less willing and able to clear a hole.”

Highland was functional enough to bawl, “How many poor people do you plan to kill?”

At least one more
, he thought. JessieM’s transmissions were completely squelched, he hoped. Otherwise there’d be military force en route to them as well.

“Aramis, advise me.”

“Keep going north. How far out do we want to abandon ship?”

“How hot is it?”

Elke said, “Very. Milnet full of talk. Local police being brought in.”

Alex said, “They probably won’t shoot us with Ms. Highland in the vehicle, but mistakes happen. We need to unass soon.”

Aramis said, “Miss Jessie, are you agreeable to churping some misdirection? Which can also leak out the intel we need known?”

“I can. You’ll . . . have to tell me what to say.” She flushed and blushed at that.

Alex said, “Damn, what do we say?”

Aramis said, “I have an idea. Jessie, churp that we’re heading west to seek shelter with the Right Baptists.”

“Okay. Just like that?”

“Yes.”

“Jason, where’s your safehouse? We’ll divert there.”

“It’s a safe room. Northwest.”

“‘Safe room’?” Highland asked. “As in an emergency retreat?”

“Not very secure, but no one should know it exists and we can keep jamming against scans. We can gear up there. I have some extra funds stashed.”