Kim Baldwin - The Gemini Deception

“Is it because you’re that naïve or because you’re from the great state of denial that you think these people give a damn?” Shield tried to control the anger that for some reason outweighed her worry. “If I didn’t know what was going on before, I know now. And aside from that, Moore is aware I suspected something was up and that I’d realize something was wrong the minute the real president returned. I would have landed here anyway. They’re not going to let me, or you, for that matter, go anywhere.”

“But they—”

“Does this look like a ride to freedom?”

“But they promised me—”

“Do you think they’re going to leave any evidence or witnesses to what they’ve managed to pull?”

“I…”

“We’re talking about the U.S. president, not some boyfriend you lied to about his ability to give you amazing orgasms. You’ve deceived the nation. The whole damn world. They’re not going to let us walk and risk you or me talking.”

“That was the deal, and excuse me for not choosing a lethal injection.”

“That was never the deal.”

“You’re not listening. They—”

“They’re taking us to a nice remote place to kill us.”

Wagner shifted loudly. “Listen to me—”

“Stop,” Shield said. “Just…stop talking. I can’t listen to you anymore.”

Chapter Thirty

Jack could hear occasional yelling from the back of the van, and she was pretty sure it was Kennedy. The two women either didn’t know their captors could hear them or they didn’t care. What was clear was that Kennedy was pretty damn pissed, and for good reason. Although Wagner had sealed her own fate and probably deserved what was coming to her, Jack had to find a way to get the op out alive. It wouldn’t be easy; the sedan with TQ’s two backup goons was still on their bumper.

She turned to the driver. “Did TQ tell you one of the women is a contractor for a private organization?”

“So?”

“I’ve dealt with companies like that. They won’t rest until they find out what happened to her.”

Bill shrugged. “So? What if they do? No one can touch that crazy bitch.”

“And by that, you mean TQ.”

“Who else?”

“You don’t like her?”

He shrugged again. “I like her enough to want her alive and kicking so she can continue to pay me what she does. The woman pays well.”

“But you know she’s deranged.”

“I have a cousin who thinks he’s Napoleon. He used to run through Central Park wrapped in nothing but the French flag.” He paused, eyebrows furrowed as if trying to remember something. “Oh, yeah. He ate bugs, too. Anyway, he’s in the psych ward now. Straitjacket, padded walls, the works, and shit.” He chuckled and turned to look at her.

“Okay,” Jack replied.

Bill stopped laughing. “TQ puts him to shame,” he said seriously.

“Look, I don’t want trouble with the authorities. My record’s a mile long, and they’ll use anything to lock me up for life. I can’t afford to have some money-hungry contractor looking for me. Why not let this one walk?”

“Because I enjoy breathing. I’ve done three years in Attica and I can tell you, it’s nothing compared to how the bitch handles treason. She’d never buy some broad got away from the four of us.”

The van pulled into an industrial complex on the edge of Alexandria, Virginia. The streets were vacant, the buildings closed and shuttered. This wasn’t looking at all good, and Jack was running out of ideas.

“You know, scar aside, you’re one fine-looking woman,” Bill said.

“Say what?”

“I’m just saying, maybe we could get together later and fuck.” He glanced at her. “What do you say?”

“I say, I’d rather fuck my hand for all eternity.”

Bill smiled, as though oblivious to Jack’s answer. “Well, think about it.” He nodded toward a warehouse just ahead. “We’re here.”

Jack peered out the window at the dark, abandoned building as they parked. Both got out, and once Bill had retrieved an assault rifle from behind his seat, he opened the back. The sedan that had been following parked as well, several yards behind, its headlights illuminating the scene.

“Let’s go, ladies,” he said.

Wagner got out first and looked around, her expression one of terror.

Once she got her first good look at Wagner, Jack understood a great deal more about the exchange she’d witnessed earlier. The woman was a dead ringer for the president. What had she been assigned to do for TQ? The possibilities were mind-boggling.

“Where are you taking us?” Wagner asked.

“No questions,” Bill replied.

“I was promised money and freedom,” Wagner insisted. “I did what you people asked me to. I kept my word. Now you had better keep yours.”

“Or what?” He pointed his AK-47 at her.

Kennedy jumped out of the van and stood in front of Wagner. She placed her hand on the weapon’s muzzle. “Relax. She’s afraid, that’s all.”

Bill pulled the automatic away and pointed it at Kennedy. “Don’t touch my shit.”

Kennedy raised her hands. “No offense.”

He poked the muzzle in Kennedy’s stomach. “You don’t seem too worried. I can change that.”

Jack could tell he was getting irritated. Their orders were to off the two inside, but if Kennedy pushed, Jack didn’t put it beyond the idiot to shoot. It wasn’t like anyone would hear them out here. Just then, the two goons from the sedan came to stand next to them.

Kennedy stared Bill straight in the eye. “You look pretty stupid pointing your shit at two defenseless women.”

The two guys from the sedan laughed, which irritated Bill even more.

“Who the fuck are you calling stupid, Kennedy?” He shifted the muzzle from Kennedy’s stomach to her head. “If anyone looks stupid, it’s a fucking private contractor with a gun pointed at her head.”

Maybe the words rang too true to Kennedy, because her stance said she was about to pounce, which would be a disaster.

“Whoa, big guy.” Jack went to stand next to him, grateful he was too distracted to notice her hand slip in and out of his pocket. She looked intently at Kennedy. “Same goes for you.”

Bill lowered his weapon. “Fucking contractor.”

“Understand?” Jack asked, her serious gaze still on the op.

Kennedy continued to look at Jack as if trying to follow her.

“My people use whatever means necessary .” Jack used the EOO motto.

“So do mine.” Kennedy looked confused.

“I’m scared,” Bill said, oblivious to what was taking place. “This way.” He gestured with his assault rifle toward the dark building.

Kennedy looked at Jack one last time and moved forward with Wagner, one hand on her elbow.

“I want to talk to my lawyer,” Wagner shouted. “We had a deal.”

“Hold on, I’ll get him on the phone for you.” Bill laughed.

Wagner pleaded. “Kennedy had nothing to do with this.”

“Don’t know what her deal is, but I’d take her out for the fun of it,” he replied.

Wagner stopped walking and turned around. “Let her go, she hasn’t done—”

He slapped her so hard across the face that Wagner fell down. “You don’t tell me what to do, bitch. Now shut the fuck up.”

Kennedy helped her back on her feet. “You have very bad timing when it comes to telling the truth.”

Wagner was bleeding from her lip and nose. “I kept my mouth shut to protect both of us.”

“Keep walking,” Bill said. They moved forward again as a small group, with the two guys from the sedan following all of them from behind.

Once in the building, Bill turned on a flashlight and led everyone down a short, dark stairwell to the basement. While he covered the two women, one of TQ’s men from the sedan flipped a switch and a single dangling light bulb came to life, casting shadows in the cavernous room.