20. En Route
Chapter 20
En Route
Maya
I t’s nearly four in the morning when I hear my phone ping with a short message from Bull, telling me he and Wire have landed and they’re fine.
Me: Miss you and love you.
Bull: Ditto, babe. Be home as soon as I can.
It wasn’t a huge dialogue, but I know he’s safe, at least for now. I get a couple more hours of sleep before starting my day. Working is good and keeps my mind busy. Kailyn’s going into the office for the morning, then spending the afternoon with Gertie. We’re all having dinner together tonight. It’s Gertie’s choice, and she wants Italian food. I’ll meet them at Kailyn’s.
Lily immediately notices the change in my mood.
“What’s going on with you?” she asks when she sees me in the break room.
“Nothing. I’m fine.”
“You don’t seem fine. And don’t say that I’m imagining it. This is the first day since you started where you haven’t been smiling from ear to ear.”
“Sorry,” I mumble.
“Don’t be sorry. I just want to know if there’s anything I can do to help,” she says, nudging her shoulder into mine.
“Unfortunately not. Bull is away on business, and I’m just missing him,” I confess. “Stupid, huh?”
“Not at all. I’ve only seen him in passing a couple of times, and if I had a hunk of a man like that, I’d miss him too,” she teases.
“He’s pretty awesome.”
“And hot!” she whispers loudly. We both laugh. “That’s better. I’m sure he misses you too, but think of all that great reunion sex you’re going to have.”
“Something to look forward to,” I reply.
“We have interim reports due soon,” she says, changing the topic. “How are you doing with them? The computer program can be glitchy. If you have any trouble with it, let me know and I’ll help you out.”
“I’ve finished all the grading. I’m pretty pleased with the progress in the class. Despite the first incomplete assignment, Calvin has aced every other test and paper. Josh too,” I tell her.
“You should meet with some of their other teachers. I’m hearing that the boys are doing great in their other classes as well. How did you do it?” she asks.
“I don’t think it was me. I think it was Bull’s influence.”
Lily’s eyes grow wide, and she grins. “How on earth did he do that? What did he say?”
“It was more how he said what he said. He basically told Calvin he has a responsibility to himself.” I wonder if Lily might have any background on Calvin and Josh that isn’t in their files. “Do you know much about their home lives?”
“I know that Josh’s parents are hands-on and very loving. They nearly lost their minds when Josh started skipping classes. Josh loves and respects his parents. They didn’t mind him being friends with Calvin, but drew a line in the sand when it came to skipping school. Now, Josh and Calvin are the best of friends. I don’t really understand it because Calvin doesn’t usually waste his time on anyone who doesn’t go along with his ways, but he’s made an exception with Josh,” she tells me.
“And Calvin?”
“His father gives some huge donations to the school and expects to have Calvin’s attendance, or lack thereof, ignored. Principal Doyle rides a fine line between taking the donation to better the school equipment and doing right by Calvin. I don’t envy him,” Lily says, shaking her head.
“He was absent for quite a while. Was he ill?” I still can’t find the reason for his time away from school.
“Not that I’m aware of. It was never mentioned, and no one talks about it.”
“Has anyone ever met his mother?” I ask.
“She used to come to school events, but I haven’t seen her in quite a while. Calvin seems to be turning himself around, and that’s all that matters, right?”
“Right,” I murmur, but I don’t believe that to be true. The past has a great effect on how we choose to move forward. Lily touches my hand and watches me. She knows I’m not convinced.
“Calvin’s father is a powerful man,” she says cautiously. “Maybe it’s best to leave things be…for now.”
I nod. “For now.” I sigh.
* * *
Bull
Wire and I have been waiting for Oman and Oyeiku to leave the library on the university grounds for the last couple of hours. In part, it works in our favor that the sun is setting, and it’ll be easier to go undetected. I’ve noticed Oyeiku has two bodyguards. They’re keeping their distance, but not far enough that I won’t need to take them out before getting to the man himself.
Oman’s guards won’t be an issue since they know we’re on our way. We’ve established a code word that Wire will relay. When it all goes down, Wire will pull the guards and Oman into the van, then come back to assist me with Oyeiku if need be.
The whole thing needs to happen with as little bloodshed as possible, or the entire city will be on alert, and we don’t need any complications. We connected with Phoenix, and he got down there without a problem and is giving the guys a much-needed break. With Phoenix there, Falcon will be able to review the festival parade route and create a detour escape route for the car President Obi will be riding in.
“We give it another half hour, then I’ll take out Oyeiku’s bodyguards. Then I go after Oyeiku,” I tell Wire. He looks at his watch, then back at me and nods. On his computer screen, he gets a view of the library by tapping into their security cameras.
“Got it,” he responds and locks his eyes back on the screen. “They’re on the second floor, back right corner, third last table,” he says and indicates the spot on the screen.
“They haven’t moved from that spot since they got in there,” I comment.
“It’s exam time. Oman is a hardworking guy. Part of the reason Oyeiku got close is because Oman doesn’t have many friends. He doesn’t party, he studies, and that doesn’t give him a chance to meet up with other students. He was an easy mark,” Wire replies.
It sucks that Oman is working so hard at making something of himself, and he became a target. While Wire was keeping watch on the library earlier, I decided to check out Oyeiku’s apartment. I found that this guy has been taught well by his father how to hide his shit, but not good enough. Taped under the mattress is an envelope with information on Oman and his family. On a bookshelf is a thumb drive that I bring back with me as well as his iPad that was stored in a closet under a false floorboard. The laptop he carries around is just for show, I’m sure of it.
We don’t even have time to crack the passwords on any of the electronic files. Our top priority is doing the snatch and disappear. As soon as we have Oman and Oyeiku on the plane over to Carinol, we’ll send a notification that there’s been a family emergency and Oman had to fly home.
The minutes tick away.
I put in my earpiece. Wire and I test it before I leave the van. I stay behind the bushes and quickly find the two men who are watching Oyeiku. One is outside the library; the other is wandering the aisles with his eyes glued to his charge. I’m grateful for the darkness as I wait for the passersby to turn the corner before making my move.
“Going in. Target one,” I whisper for Wire to hear. This is where he sends a notification to Oman’s guard to be waiting for me. I come up behind my man, slap a cloth over his mouth, and drag him back behind the building. I knock him out with one swift blow and grab his phone and communication device. “Target one immobilized.”
“Target two is on the move,” Wire says. “Heading toward Oyeiku.”
I race up the back stairwell and look at the second guard. He’s looking around, probably for his partner, wondering why he didn’t check in. With no time to lose, I launch myself forward, wrapping my arm around his neck, cutting off his air supply, making it impossible for him to scream as I pull him back into the closet. Thank God, Wire’s very thorough with his research and found the diagrams of the building so we could study them on the plane. The guard reaches for his ankle holster and pulls a knife, grazing my thigh. I land a blow that takes him out, and I dump him in the corner.
“Target two out,” I state.
I can hear Wire giving instructions to Oman’s guard. Oman sees his bodyguards and gets to his feet, gathering his books. The four men walk out together, but as soon as Oyeiku realizes that his guards aren’t anywhere to be seen, he grows suspicious.
Oyeiku makes a run for it and races down the path adjacent to the library. Oman is being directed to the van where Wire is waiting for them while I chase after Oyeiku. We’ve reconnoitered the area, and the shortcut across campus is over the hedge and through the park, so I know that’s where he’s heading.
He’s fast, but I’m faster and catching up quick. I hear Wire in my ear. “Got Oman and his guys. Driving around the building and to the other side of the park.” I don’t bother responding. My focus is on Oyeiku. Without him, we’re right back where we started.
Oyeiku looks over his shoulder while running and stumbles, while I gain ground. I’m finally close enough to tackle him to the ground, and we both roll on the grass several times. He lands a blow, but when he moves to try again, I block and bend his arm, twisting it until he cries out in agony. It would be better to have him walk out of the park with me. I don’t think he’s going to be cooperative. I grab the needle I had prepared and stick him with it.
A few seconds later, he’s out cold. Oyeiku’s not a small man, but I heft him up over my shoulder and alert Wire to let him know where I am.
“Wait for me,” Wire insists. “There’s a road not far from where you are.” Wire’s there in no time at all and flashes the lights twice to let me know it’s him. I come out of the shadows and haul ass to the van, dumping Oyeiku into the back and slapping on a pair of handcuffs to keep him immobilized.
Mission accomplished! Next, getting on the plane and leaving London before his people start looking for us.
* * *
An hour later…
We drive directly to the small airport where we originally landed, with four more passengers boarding with us. Wire called and let the pilot know we were on our way, and he’s already on the plane and waiting for us.
I notice a black SUV barreling toward the gates.
“We have company,” I tell Wire. He looks in the rearview mirror and sees what I see. The driver gets out of the car and demands to have the gates opened so they can come through. We’ve already paid off the guards and, as a secondary precaution, locked the gates automatically through their security system. This buys us the time we need to take off.
Oman and his bodyguards are safely seated. Wire helps me lift Oyeiku and get him up the steps and through the doors of the plane. One of Oyeiku’s men begins to scale the wall, but it’s too late. I latch the plane door firmly shut.
“Go! Go!” I shout. The plane engine revs before we begin to taxi down the runway. I take a seat next to Oyeiku, who is finally waking up.
“What the fuck is going on? Is this a kidnapping? Do you know who my father is?” he says. Jesus! He’s throwing his father into the mix when it’s because of him that he’s in this position.
“You can take that shit up with your father,” I tell him. I adjust his handcuffs to make him more comfortable, then walk away from the bullshit threats he’s spewing about what his father’s going to do to me. When he sees I’m not paying attention to him, he starts in on Wire, who has less tolerance than I do and punches him in the mouth. “What the hell was that?” I ask Wire. It’s not like him to react like that.
He grimaces. “Our brothers are in danger, and he just worked my last nerve.”
I snicker. “Sure, but remember, he’s leverage,” I tease. “We’re en route, and we’ll be joining the others soon.”