Chapter 16
The wind gusted just as Mia opened the door to walk into the building containing General Davis’s office. She briefly wondered if it was fate warning her not to go inside.
Behind her, Bailey waited patiently to follow her. She yanked at the door and stepped over the threshold. Bailey was silent as they made their way to Davis.
As they entered the small room where the aides worked, she noticed Schenck was gone. It was too bad. He always had a friendly smile.
She forced down her rising fear and panic. Davis couldn’t do anything in the middle of the day in his office. There would be too many questions. Besides, Cullen knew where she was.
Cullen would come looking for her. She was sure of it.
She drew in a steadying breath and opened Davis’s door, stepping into his office. He looked up from his desk, the phone to his ear, and motioned her inside.
After she was sure the door was closed behind her, she made her way to the set of chairs before the desk. She took one and waited for Davis to finish with his call.
She tried to pretend she wasn’t listening, which wasn’t too difficult since Davis had yet to say anything.
Finally, he said, “Let me know what comes of it.” Then he hung up the phone. Davis stared at his desk for a moment before he lifted his gaze to her. “I’ve had the charges against you in Florida dropped since you were working undercover for me.”
She blinked, unsure if she’d heard him correctly. Because she hadn’t been working undercover. Why was Davis trying to help her?
“That means your license is no longer suspended.”
“Thank you,” she said into the silence.
Davis drew in a breath and slowly released it, as if mentally preparing for something. “I know your suspicions about me.”
Deciding it was in her best interest to remain silent for the time being, she held her tongue.
“It would be easier if I could tell you everything.” The general sat back in his big chair with a long sigh. “But I can’t. I brought you in ahead of our meeting because it’s imperative that you leave this base. Immediately.”
That certainly got her attention. She gripped the arms of the chair, her mind racing with the implications of what Davis had said—and what he hadn’t.
“Your life is in danger, Mia. For piloting Orrin, for losing the cargo in Florida, and because you’re a threat to them.”
For the first time, she noticed the lines of strain around the general’s mouth, and the stress that was making his face gaunt.
Her heart hammered wildly in her chest. “General, what aren’t you telling me?”
“I’ve made up a mission to get you away,” he replied, ignoring her question. “When we’re done, get in the Valkyrie and leave. Don’t trust anyone.”
She scooted to the edge of the chair and put a hand on his desk. “General Davis, tell me what’s going on.”
“Things are out of my control. I did all I could, but they’re closing in on me.”
“Who?”
“The Saints.”
Oh, God. “I can’t leave. I’m helping Cullen.”
“You won’t survive this if you remain. You’re our only chance,” he said, eyes bulging as he leaned forward. He slammed his hand on his desk. “Do you understand?”
Now she was completely freaked. She could only gape at Davis, wondering if he was having a panic attack. It was the fear she saw reflected in his brown eyes that told her it was the truth he spoke.
“How much time do I have?”
“Not nearly enough,” Davis said in a hushed whisper. He pushed back his chair and rose before coming around the desk.
She got to her feet. “Come with me.”
“That’s not possible. You’re one of the best pilots I’ve ever seen. All the skills you learned are going to come in handy. Trust your instincts. They’ll get you through this.”
“You make it sound like I’m surrounded by enemies.”
“Because you are. I know Cullen found Mendoza. Tell him that he’s right. Mendoza was killed.”
She swallowed hard. The thudding of her heart reminded her of the terror and foreboding that had assaulted her after finding the team dead.
Davis turned her toward the door and slowly walked with her. He leaned close, his voice a thready whisper. “I know it’s my signature on the paperwork to allow the Russians onto the base, but I never signed such an order.”
Her mouth opened in shock, but he continued, “Follow the trail left by the Saints. That’s how you’ll uncover the truth.”
There was no time to reply because he opened the door and gave her a nod. Mia’s legs felt wobbly as she turned and found both Schenck and Bailey at their desks.
“Good luck,” Davis said and promptly closed the door behind her.
She jumped at the sound. It sounded so final. Her life was in danger. That flashed in her mind like a lighted marquee. Instead of getting in gear and moving faster, she was stuck.
“Carter?” Bailey asked.
Schenck hurried to her. “Is everything all right?”
She forced a smile. “Yes. Sorry. Lack of sleep is taking its toll,” she said with a forced laugh.
“Where is the general sending you?” Bailey asked.
Don’t trust anyone. “I’ll see you boys soon,” she said, ignoring the question and waving at them as she strode from the office.
On the way back to the hangar, everyone she saw made her feel as if they were watching and following her. It put her on edge, making her feel as if she were under a microscope.
As soon as she was inside the hangar, she slammed the door behind her, wishing there was a lock.
“Mia.”
She spun around, her hand instinctively drawing her gun. Then she found herself looking at Cullen down the barrel of her pistol. If she didn’t get control of herself soon, she was going to do something stupid.
Blowing out a breath, she lowered the gun. “You scared me.”
“It’s more than that.” His gaze narrowed as he closed the distance between them. “What happened?”
She walked past him to her office where she grabbed the bag she always kept for just such emergencies and hurried to the plane.
Opening the door to the Valkyrie, she tossed the bag inside and began her preflight inspection. “Davis is scared. He confirmed Mendoza was killed.”
“Damn.”
“He also said that though his signature is on the orders letting the Russians in, that he didn’t sign it.”
Cullen nodded slowly. “What else?”
“He said I couldn’t trust anyone. He’s using a false mission as a ruse so I can get off the base, because apparently, my life is in danger.”
A hand on her arm stopped her from walking away. She turned her head to Cullen. She saw the determination in his hazel eyes. He wasn’t going to let her move until she told him everything.
She faced him then, pulling her arm from his grasp. “He said they were after me because I flew Orrin, lost the cargo in Florida, and because I’m a threat.”
“The Saints,” Cullen said tightly.
“Yes,” she replied briefly, squeezing her eyes closed. “Davis said things were out of his control now, that he’d done all he could.”
“Did he say anything else?”
She slowly nodded her head. “He said the Saints were closing in on him.”
Cullen’s entire body tensed. “Son of a bitch,” he ground out.
Mia was scared. Truly scared. And she was beginning to realize that there wasn’t anywhere she could go where she would be safe.
“There’s nothing else we can do here,” Cullen said, running a hand down his face. “Do as Davis ordered. Get away.”
“And go where?”
“Is there somewhere you can stash the plane? Somewhere no one would think to look for you?”
She gave a nod of her head, thinking of the small cabin in the Allegheny Mountains. “In Maryland. Backbone Mountain.”
“I know it,” he said with a nod. “The fastest route would be for me to take US-48, but that would make it easy for anyone to track me.”
She was glad that he was going to meet her. As much as it pained her to admit it, they were better as a team. Especially when he was the only one she could trust.
“There are back roads,” she suggested.
“It’ll take me longer, but it’ll be better.”
She pulled out her keys to the Jeep from her pocket and tossed them to him. “Leave now. It’ll take me another thirty minutes to get the plane checked before I can get it on the runway.”
“I’m not leaving until you’re in the air.”
His tone told her his decision was made. She licked her lips. “Davis told me to follow the trail left by the Saints. That I would find the truth.”
“Then that’s what we’ll do. As long as I’m breathing, they won’t touch you. I’ve always been the hunter, and that’s what we’ll do now.”
Hunting. Yes. She liked the sound of that. Cullen gave her a wink.
She turned away and began her inspection of the Valkyrie. Each minute that passed and she wasn’t in the air left her feeling exposed. It wasn’t an emotion she liked. In fact, she was beginning to hate it.
Finally, the inspection was done. While she climbed into the plane, Cullen opened the hangar doors. She started the engines and put on her headset.
She gave him a wave as she drove the Valkyrie forward from the hangar. Only then did she contact the tower. “Tower this is N3874X, ready for departure.”
“N3874X, we have your clearance,” came the male voice through her headset.
Just as she’d expected. She turned the plane onto the runway. She gave the tower a false heading when asked. Every second she waited for them to clear her felt like a lifetime.
There was a crackle through the headset before the tower said, “N3874X, you’re clear for takeoff.”
She gunned the engines. The plane moved forward, accelerating rapidly. She glanced at the base as she zoomed past. When she reached the desired speed, she pulled up on the throttle. The Valkyrie’s nose lifted, and within seconds, she was airborne.
It was out of his hands now. Relief speared through Davis as he stood at his window, his hands clasped behind his back while he watched Mia Carter fly out of sight.
By sending her away, he’d signed his own death warrant. No longer did he fear the inevitable. For more than thirty years, he’d served his country to the best of his ability.
In all his training, no one had taught him how to handle a secret organization that threatened the very way of life he’d risked everything for—that every man and woman who served risked.
The listening device he’d accidentally found in his office three days ago had prevented him from telling Mia everything. His paranoia extended to everyone and everything now. He felt sure that there were others who watched him Still others who made sure to overhear things.
He doubted there was even time to notify Yuri of the new development. Then again, word would reach Yuri of his death soon enough. That was really all the Russian needed to know to figure things out.
It was too bad he wouldn’t get to talk to Cullen. Orrin’s youngest son had a tough road ahead of him. Then again, so did Orrin.
At least he wouldn’t be around to see what would come of it all. Would the Saints win? Would they find Ragnarok and unleash it on those the organization deemed unworthy to produce children?
How many civilizations and countries would be wiped away by the evil bioweapon? How quickly would the great powers of the world crumble when they realized what the Saints were capable of?
There wouldn’t be a war. How could you fight something like the Saints? Their reach was far and wide. They were untouchable, their influence and authority staggering.
Davis heard the door to his office open. He turned around to face his would-be killer. Ever since Orrin had left for Russia, Davis had suspected that one of his aides was with the Saints.
And now he had confirmation.
“You’ll never get her now,” Davis stated.
The young face he’d once trusted smiled. “Of course, we will, General. All you’ve done is make it a little interesting. As well as seal your death.”
Davis opened his mouth to speak, but the aide lifted his hand and blew a powder into the general’s face. His throat immediately closed up, blocking any air.
He reached out his hand to grab at his aide as he slowly suffocated. Davis crashed into his desk, scattering papers and knocking over the phone.
His aide smiled in enjoyment. “Call the medic! The general has fallen!”
Davis clawed at his throat, desperately trying to take in air. Pain wracked his body.
And then there was nothing.