Дэвид Балдаччи - The Escape

“And the next block coming up is pretty isolated. And at this hour we’re the only ones out and about.”

“Let’s hang a left down the alleyway up there and see what happens.”

They made the turn and Puller watched as Knox opened her clutch and took out the pistol. She covered it by sliding her hand inside her wrap.

“I hear footsteps coming across the street,” she said.

“See the Dumpster up there?”

“Yes,” she said.

“When we get there let’s fake a little romantic thing.”

“You mean like making out?” she said.

“Yeah,” he said crisply.

“Okay, but what’s the endgame?”

“I want to be able to see the whites of their eyes. And since we’re outnumbered two to one I hope it’ll make them let down their defenses for the second we’ll need.”

They kept walking at a leisurely pace until they reached the Dumpster. Then Puller turned to Knox, brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes, circled her waist with his arm, and bent low to kiss her. As his lips rested against Knox’s, Puller had not a romantic thought in his head. He was counting off the footsteps in his head. His left hand was coiled around Knox’s waist but his right hand gripped his M11.

He moved his lips to Knox’s neck and pretended to nuzzle her skin. “Three-two-one,” he whispered in her ear.

They whirled, guns pointed at the four men, who were now only ten feet away. From their stunned expressions they had been caught completely off guard.

“Guns on the ground, now,” barked Puller.

One man did not heed this warning and raised his gun instead and fired. He missed his target and the round clanged off the Dumpster behind Puller. Knox fired and the man dropped to the asphalt. As he fell the other three shot back and retreated. Puller returned the fire.

“Go! Go!” shouted Knox. “I’ve got your six.”

Puller hustled after them. Knox checked the fallen man, looked behind her, threw off her heels, and sprinted after Puller.

The three men reached the end of the alley and Puller heard the vehicle coming fast on the next street. He increased his speed, but he needed to duck behind some garbage cans when one of the men turned and fired at him. By the time he got to the street the SUV was just turning the next corner.

Knox came running up to him.

“Anything?” she asked breathlessly.

He shook his head. “They’re gone. Didn’t get the plate.”

“Let’s check the guy I shot back there. Maybe he has some ID.”

But there was no dead guy. There was blood, but no corpse.

They looked everywhere the wounded man could have gone, but found no sign of him.

Knox looked at Puller, dumbstruck. “I hit him right in the chest.”

“Were they wearing body armor?”

“I couldn’t tell. It was too dark. But there’s blood. I hit him.” She smacked her palm against her forehead. “Serves me right. I should’ve aimed for the head.”

Puller phoned the police and explained the situation. Then he called his superior at CID. The cops showed up minutes later. After that came the local detectives, and after that two CID agents arrived from Fort Bragg over in Fayetteville. They didn’t look pleased at having to make the drive at this time of night. They asked their questions and checked over the crime scene, what there was of one.

One of the agents asked Puller if he had any idea why they’d been targeted. Puller didn’t elaborate but told the agents he and Knox were working a case that was classified.

“Well, good luck with that,” said the agent as he and his partner walked off.

After answering innumerable questions from the local cops and looking through mug books at the precinct and giving their official statements, Puller and Knox didn’t get back to their hotel until three in the morning.

“Did you get a chance to report in to your superiors?” he asked Knox as they rode up in the elevator.

She nodded. “You?”

“They weren’t happy. But it wasn’t like I asked somebody to try to kill us.”

She slipped off her heels before walking out of the elevator, leaning against the wall and rubbing one of her feet.

“Not exactly the night I had planned,” she said, sounding depressed.

“Wouldn’t think so.”

“Who do you think those guys were?”

“Same ones who jumped me at Leavenworth, maybe?”

“Did you recognize any of them?”

“The guys in Kansas wore ski masks.”

“So maybe they followed us across the country?”

“Maybe,” he said.

She looked up at him. “You tired?”

“Not particularly. Must be the adrenaline spike from almost getting killed.”

“The Ritz has round-the-clock room service. How about some wine and a snack? I’m suddenly starving.”

They headed to her room and she placed the order. It came twenty minutes later, and after the attendant left, Knox poured out the wine and handed Puller a plate with some crackers, breads, cheeses, fruit, and a small bowl of nuts. They sat across from each other at the little table the attendant had wheeled in.

“Someone really doesn’t want us to find out the truth, Puller,” she said between sips of wine and bites of cheese.

“That’s usual in my experience. A lot of people lie.”

“Do they try to kill you often, in your experience? ”

“More than I would like,” he admitted.

They were quiet for a few moments.

“You’re a strange man,” she said in an odd tone.

He swallowed a hunk of cheese. “How so? I always thought I was pretty straightforward.”

“You’re a stand-up guy, all right. Solid, predictable, always looking to do the right thing. You don’t seek glory or medals. You’re all about getting the job done. That is what defines John Puller. I’ve come to accept that as the gospel.”

“So where does the strange part come in?”

“I’m still trying to figure that out. Just call it my gut for now.” She rose. “And now I think we both need some sleep.”

Puller stood and headed for the door. He turned back. “Back in the alley?”

“Yes?” she said.

“You’re a good shot. And fast.”

“I always have been, Puller. Always. That’s how I like to live my life. Fast.” She snatched a quick glance at the bed, and when she looked back she wouldn’t meet his gaze.

“We both need some sleep,” she said. “Big day tomorrow.” She glanced up and their gazes met for a brief instant. “Good night, Puller.”

He interpreted her look as hungry. And not for food. And he thought he might be giving her the same look in return.

She rose and went into the bathroom, closing the door.

Puller stood there for a few seconds trying to dissect what had just happened. Part of it seemed straightforward. Part of it was mud.

He returned to his room, took off his clothes, and dropped into bed. It was nearly four in the morning. His internal clock was seriously screwed up. His heart was racing from what had just happened with Knox. The woman was complicated. Utterly professional one moment, then sending weird signals the next. It might be that as a spy she tended to use all of her assets, including her sexual side. She was very, well, alluring, as old-fashioned as that sounded. He took a deep breath and wondered if a cold shower would help.

His phone buzzed. He swore under his breath, but automatically picked up the phone anyway. He always picked up the phone even if he didn’t always answer it. And maybe it was Knox wanting him to–

A text had dropped into his electronic basket. He read it.

And then he sat straight up. It wasn’t from Knox. But it concerned her.

The text had come from a number he didn’t recognize.

He called it back. Twice. No one answered.