Nine Lives Read online

  “Of course,” Diego replied. “You are one such problem, Hernando. And I need you to go away.”

  The blow to the back of Hernando’s legs, delivered by the bodyguard, came as if on cue. He fell to his knees, cried out in pain.

  Diego stood over the orphanage director, looked down. Hernando tried not to show the immense pain he was feeling, couldn’t. His kneecaps felt as though they had shattered on impact with the hard floor. He he was going to be sick to his stomach. He leaned forward, fought back the urge. The gold crucifix he wore around his neck dangled in front of his open jacket. Mendoza grabbed the chain, pulled hard, snapped it off, held it in his hand. “Take him to the freezers,” he demanded.

  “No!” Hernando cried. He tried impossibly to stand as the bodyguard lifted him to his feet, then collapsed into his arms, his injured legs unable to support the weight of his body.

  “My employees have seen it all before,” Diego called out as the bodyguard dragged Hernando out of his office towards the flight of stairs. “I own their silence.”

  Petrified with fear, Hernando screamed, cried out for help.

  “Plead all you want, Mr. Diaz,” Mendoza yelled. “No one will come to your aid.” He returned to his office window and watched as the enforcer manhandled the fragile old man across the processing floor. Around him, Mendoza’s employees went about their jobs cutting, trimming and chopping. No one looked up. Hernando’s cries fell on deaf ears.

  Diego walked to his desk, pressed the intercom button on his telephone. His secretary answered. “Yes, sir?”

  “Get me Matias.”

  “Right away, sir.”

  Less than a minute later the man knocked on the office door. “You wanted to see me, sir?”

  Diego held up the crucifix. “Take this,” he said. “Deliver it to the orphanage but do it quietly.”

  “You want me to send a message?”

  “Precisely.”

  Matias took the necklace from Diego. “Consider it done.” He turned to leave.

  “One more thing.”

  “Yes, sir?”

  “Assemble a team. We move on the orphanage tonight.”

  Matias nodded. “As you wish.”

  ∞ ∞ ∞

  The black Hummer rolled to a stop in front of the main gate of Casa de los Niños. Matias stepped out of the vehicle, hung the broken necklace on the gate latch, then returned to the car and drove away.

  The crucifix turned in the gentle breeze, gleamed in the sunlight.

  Message delivered.

  CHAPTER 12

  JORDAN AND CHRIS presented their credentials to the guard at the main entrance to Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos and were immediately directed to DARPA’s private jet which awaited them on the tarmac. The agents boarded the aircraft and took their seats.

  Chris turned to Jordan. “You sure you’re up for this, J?” he asked.

  Jordan looked out the window of the aircraft and nodded. “I think so.”

  “That hardly sounds reassuring,” Chris said. “We’ve seen what Egan can do. There’s a good chance this might not end well for either of us. Personally, I’d prefer to hear a little more conviction in your voice than that.”

  “I can’t hide that I’m concerned,” Jordan said. “But I’ll be damned if I’m not going to try to stop him. Too many people have died because of his actions and those of Dr. Merrick. If I can help to put an end to this, I will.”

  “Fair enough,” Chris said. “No one ever said this job would be easy.”

  “I know what I signed up for when I joined the bureau and the responsibility that comes with the job,” Jordan said. “I’m just glad you’ve got my back.”

  “Always,” Chris replied.

  The co-pilot stepped out of the flight deck and secured the aircraft for takeoff. The Gulfstream’s engines whined. He checked on his passengers. “All set agents?” he asked.

  “What’s the in-flight movie?” Chris asked.

  The co-pilot smiled. “Sorry,” he said. “This is an entertainment-free flight. U.S military business only.”

  “Fine,” Chris said. “I’ll settle for a bag of peanuts.”

  The co-pilot laughed. “Sorry, no food either. Consider this your tax dollars at work.”

  Chris turned to Jordan. “Got any food in your purse, J?”

  “You’re kidding me, right?” Jordan said.

  “What? I’m hungry.”

  “How old are you?” Jordan asked. “Five?”

  “Very funny,” Chris said. “Flying always gives me the munchies.”

  Jordan removed a package of breath mints from her purse. She handed him the roll. “Here you go,” she said.

  Chris looked at the package. “What am I supposed to do with these?” he asked.

  “Most people eat them.”

  “These are candies.”

  “Use your imagination,” Jordan said. “Think of it as a steak dinner without the calories.”

  “You’re cruel,” Chris said. He unwrapped the mint, popped it in his mouth.

  Jordan smiled. “I’ll buy lunch when we land,” she said.

  “I could be dead by then,” Chris replied. “Starvation is a terrible way to go.”

  “I’m sure you’ll survive.”

  Chris stared at the roll of candies. “Steak dinner, huh?”

  “With potatoes and veggies.”

  “Now you’re just being mean.”

  Jordan smiled. She opened her purse and removed the Chinese puzzle box.

  “You brought the needle sheath?” Chris asked.

  Jordan nodded. “I need it to connect with the commander, find out where he is.”

  Jordan removed the needle from the box, held it in her hand and prepared herself for whatever was to come. Seconds later the psychic connection was complete. She found herself back in the tropical region.

  “What do you see, Jordan?” Chris asked.

  Jordan reported on her surroundings. “Palm trees… a building.”

  “Do you see the thin man?”

  “No.”

  “What about the children?”

  In the dreamlike state, Jordan walked around the compound. “I hear voices,” she said. “Children laughing… playing.”

  “Do you see Commander Egan? Is he there?”

  Jordan shook her head. “No.”

  “What else?” Chris asked.

  Jordan looked toward the front gate, walked to it. Above, a sign swung in the gentle breeze. “Casa de los Niños,” she said.

  “What did you say?” Chris asked.

  “The name of the place. It’s where I am. Casa de los Niños.”

  “That’s good,” Chris said. “Do you see any other markings? Anything that can tell you where you are geographically?”

  “Wait,” Jordan said. She heard the rumble of an approaching truck, then watched the vehicle roll past. The company’s logo was on the side. She read the name aloud. “Sun Tropic Fresh Fruit Distributors, San Carlos, Costa Rica.”

  “That’s it,” Chris said.

  Jordan suddenly brought her hands to her head, gripped the needle sheath tighter.

  “Are you all right, Jordan?” Chris asked. “What’s going on?”

  The pain in her head was almost unbearable. “I can feel him,” Jordan said.

  “You mean Egan?” Chris asked.

  Jordan nodded. “He’s here.”

  One hour later the aircraft touched down in Arlington, Virginia. Quentin Hallier and his team were waiting on the tarmac. The jet taxied to a stop. The door opened. Jordan and Chris descended the stairs and greeted the colonel.

  Hallier shook hands with the agents. He pointed to the Hercules cargo plane waiting nearby. Its engines whined as it idled. A team of DARPA soldiers, dressed in civilian clothes, were busy loading weapons and gear into the rear hold of the aircraft.

  “This plane is our cover,” Hallier said, “a long-haul humanitarian aid flight scheduled to airdrop emergency rations in the Central Af
rican Republic. We’re catching a ride.”

  “I have a location where we can find Commander Egan, Colonel,” Jordan said. “He’s in Costa Rica. A place called ‘Casa de los Niños.’”

  “You connected with him?” Hallier asked.

  “With his energy signature, sir.”

  “So you didn’t see him?”

  “Not physically, no,” Jordan said. “But it’s him. I know it is.”

  Hallier nodded. “That’s good enough for me. We’ll get an exact location on Casa de los Niños when we’re in the air.” He pointed to the aircraft. “Stow your gear and grab a seat. We’re wheels up in ten minutes.”

  “Copy that, Colonel,” Jordan replied.

  Chris accompanied his partner to the plane. “So much for lunch,” he said.

  Jordan smiled. “Have another mint.”

  Chris shook his head. “I don’t think I can handle two steak dinners in a row.”

  “I have gum, too,” Jordan teased.

  “You’re a regular gourmet, aren’t you?” Chris replied.

  CHAPTER 13

  ELTON MANNAFORT TOSSED the leather satchel onto the passenger seat of the black GMC Acadia Denali, drove the vehicle out of the rental car parking lot and headed for the Quest estate.

  He was certain he was being followed, not by one surveillance vehicle, but by ten. In fact, every vehicle that surrounded him drew his suspicion. He diverted from his intended route and took the interstate ten miles out of his way to shake his pursuers. In a last-ditch attempt to be free of them, he sped along the highway, weaving dangerously in and out of traffic. At the last second, he cut across two lanes and made the exit ramp, nearly rolling the car as he careened around the tight turn. He slammed on the brakes as he reached the stoplight, took a hard right at the corner, then hit the gas. Half a mile down the road he pulled the car into a busy grocery store parking lot, found a spot, killed the engine, and waited.

  “You did it.”

  “You think so?” Elton answered.

  “We made it, didn’t we?”

  Elton was frustrated. “I should have seen them earlier,” he replied.

  “You’re right. Pay closer attention next time.”

  “I’m trying.”

  “Not good enough. Try harder.”

  “There were too many of them.”

  “You got away, didn’t you?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what are you worried about?”

  Elton calmed down. “We should wait here. At least for a few minutes.”

  “What for?”

  “I’d feel better if we did.”

  “You’re not scared, are you?”

  “No.”

  “Sounds like it.”

  “I’m not,” Elton said.

  “Prove it. Get back on the road.”

  “You sure it’s safe?”

  “You brought the gun?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then what are you worried about? Take it out.”

  Elton removed the Colt semi-automatic from the satchel.

  “Is it ready?”

  Elton chambered a round, removed the safety. “Yes.”

  “Good. Put it in the glove box.”

  Elton secured the handgun.

  “Now leave. You’re wasting time.”

  Elton dropped the Denali into gear, eased out of the parking space and cruised through the lot. He stopped for a young woman, waited for her as she pushed her shopping cart to her car, opened the tailgate and waved thank you. He smiled, waved back. “I like her,” he said.

  “Forget it. We don’t have time.”

  “Pity,” Elton replied.

  “Stay focused.”

  “It wouldn’t take long.”

  “Who’s more important, her or the Quest woman?”

  “You’re right,” Elton said.

  “You’re too easily distracted.”

  “I’m sorry.”

  “How far away are we?”

  “Thirty minutes.”

  “We should eat first.”

  “All right,” Elton said. “Denny’s?”

  “We had pancakes yesterday.”

  “Red Robin then?”

  “A burger sounds good.”

  Elton reached the street entrance to the grocery store, waited at the intersection for the signal light to turn green and checked out the passing vehicles. He was confident he had evaded the pursuit. “We’re good,” he said.

  With the changing of the light he pulled into traffic and cruised down the road.

  “You know what happened wasn’t your fault, don’t you?”

  “I don’t want to talk about it,” Elton replied nervously.

  “You should. They said if you did it would help.”

  “It doesn’t.”

  “Your parents were to blame, not you.”

  “I tried to make them understand,” Elton said.

  “That’s all you can do.”

  “It wasn’t enough,” Elton answered.

  “It never is.”

  Elton gripped the steering wheel, squeezed it as hard as he could. “She shouldn’t have been left alone with me.”

  “The bitch had it coming.”

  “That’s beside the point.” Elton replied. He checked his mirrors. He was not being followed. He opened the satchel, took out the map, unfolded it on the passenger seat, checked his notes. “She’ll be picking them up from school soon.”

  “Are we taking them tonight?”

  “Maybe.”

  “You’re not getting cold feet, are you?”

  “Of course not,” Elton replied.

  “Then what’s the problem?”

  Elton was angry. “Who has more experience with this, you or me?”

  “You do.”

  “That’s right. So shut up and let me make the decisions.”

  “I’m just doing my job.”

  “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “Someone has to keep you on track.”

  “And I suppose that someone is you?”

  “That’s right.”

  Elton scoffed. “If I need your help, I’ll ask for it.”

  “By then it’ll probably be too late.”

  “I’ll take my chances.”

  The traffic slowed. Flashing amber arrows warned of the narrowing lane ahead. Construction crews were setting out orange pylons, waving cars around the broken water main. From the merging lane, a police car fell in behind Elton. He checked his mirror, looked at the cop.

  “He knows.”

  Elton shook his head. “He’d light me up if he did.”

  “You need to get us out of here.”

  “And go where? We’re in a single lane of traffic.”

  “That’s up to you. Figure it out.”

  Elton looked at the cop, watched as he turned to his partner and laughed.

  “Take out the gun.”

  “That won’t be necessary,” Elton replied.

  “You really want to take that chance?”

  “You’re overreacting,” Elton said.

  “No, I’m not.”

  “I’m not killing a cop.”

  “You’ve developed a conscience all of a sudden?”

  “He’s not a threat.”

  “Yet.”

  “We’re safe,” Elton said. “We’ll be fine just as long as you don’t act like an idiot.”

  “I’m just being careful.”

  “I know.”

  “It’s my job to watch out for you.”

  “I know.”

  Elton cleared the construction zone, continued down the road. Behind him the police car turned, headed west. “See?” he said. “No threat.”

  “You got lucky this time.”

  “It’s not luck.”

  “Oh, I forgot… experience.”

  “That’s right,” Elton said.

  “So, what’s the plan?”

  “You mean for the family?”

  “Yes.”<
br />
  “To make them disappear,” Elton replied.

  “How do you plan to do that? They’re too well-protected.”

  “Not well enough.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “There’s a hole in their security.”

  “That couldn’t have been easy to find.”

  “It wasn’t.”

  “And after?”

  “After what?”

  “After you’ve taken care of the family.”

  Alone in the car, Elton spoke to the empty seat beside him. “Then I kill the woman.”

  CHAPTER 14

  THE PSYCHIC CONNECTION struck Ben Egan with such force he turned away from his work mending the fence to see who was standing behind him. He was certain he was not alone, yet he was. He had felt this level of intrusion before, this uncanny mind-meld to his superior, artificially enhanced brain.

  The FBI agent.

  Her energy was much stronger this time. During their last encounter, when she had tracked him and found him on the jungle trail after the completion of his mission, he had warned her not to follow him. She had seen the unparalleled power of Channeler, just days ago at the University when he had caused the Pyramid to fall. She knew what he was capable of.

  There was no way she would attempt to challenge him on her own. Which meant only one thing.

  They were coming for him.

  He tried to reach out, connect with the woman, couldn’t. She was gone.

  There was only one option now. He would soon have to be on the move again. Eventually the DARPA commandos would find him. When that time came, he couldn’t afford to have Hernando, Marcella, or the children caught in the line of fire. The assault would go down hard and fast, the soldiers following capture-kill orders. He well knew his immense military value and that he was a top-secret asset in need of termination.

  Not going to happen.

  As far as he was concerned, he had already served his purpose for the military. He had accepted the challenge of Project Genesis and proven it to be an unparalleled success. DARPA had responded by trying to kill him and succeeded in taking the life of his handler, Dr. Jason Merrick.

  This was a no-win situation if ever there was one. If he was to survive, he would have to gain the upper hand and fight back harder than ever before.