Monster (45 page)

“Indeed she is, Pete. She knows it now. I believe Diane suspected the same thing I did when she suggested I have a go at interrogating Tamara.”

“What if Tom had not agreed to this?” Rasheed asked curiously.

McDaniels shrugged. “Thankfully, he did.”

McDaniels engaged the transmitter. “Did you and Dillon ever meet up with anybody else other than the Russian mob guy?”

Moments of silence passed. McDaniels looked at Rasheed and Donaldson with justification. “I guess we’ve hit a sore spot. Let’s have lunch.”

“Dillon…and I… we… ah…” Tamara began again desperately.

McDaniels switched off the receiver. “She won’t be stuttering in a few hours except from the cold. Turn the oxygen up just a tad, Pete. We don’t want her gasping away all the air down there.”

Chapter 32

Mero

When the three men returned two hours later, McDaniels turned up the speaker volume slightly. Tamara’s voice sobbed intermittently. Donaldson shut off the oxygen bottle. The men sat down again at the table. They finished the coffee they had brought back with them in silence. McDaniels reached for the button on the transmitter.

“Hi, Nanc, how you doin’?”

There was a loud intake of air. They could hear Tamara mumbling to herself.

“Bash…Bashar Mero,” Tamara blurted out finally. “He…he is… part of the Syrian delegation. Hon…honest to God, he…he’s the only other one I’ve ever been contacted by. Deb…Debbie said he recruited her.”

“Has he ever taken a meeting with you in person?”

“I…I met with him once… but I’ve spoken to him many times on the phone.”

“How did you manage to get double what Dillon got?”

“I convinced him I could deliver more… from Aginson’s office.”

“How long have you been bugging the Director’s office?”

When Tamara remained silent for more than a moment, McDaniels leaned forward and pushed the transmitter button angrily.

“The next pause Nancy, me and the boys are going away for a day.”

“Sor…sorry,” Tamara cried out. “I had to think… for a moment… it’s been three months.”

“Great…” Donaldson mumbled, shaking his head. “It’ll take us three months to trace every iota of data that’s been processed through Aginson’s office.”

“Okay, Nanc,” McDaniels said finally. “Close your eyes and start talking. Take us through every day having to do with this nasty business. Stay specific. If you start boring me I’ll let you know.”

“Th…then you’ll dig me up?”

“Of course. We’re not traitorous duplicitous bitches from hell, like you. Pete will be taking you directly under his wing. You will not be out of his sight. We’re going to put you back to work for the right side in this war. I swear to God the first time Pete even daydreams you’re messing with us I’ll put you back down for good.”

“For…for God’s sake… I won’t…” Tamara pleaded. “I’ll do anything…anything.”

McDaniels switched on the recorder. “Okay, start talking.”

Nearly an hour and a half later the three men dug up the shallow grave.

“What did you mean I wouldn’t be letting her out of my sight, Colonel?” Donaldson asked.

“Just that Pete - you don’t have a girlfriend do you?”

“I… ah…”

“Hey, relax, I meant I know how this particular line of work cuts into our social agendas.”

“Especially with the Special Ops team,” Donaldson admitted. “I’ve lost a few due to having my date end with a call up.”

“Good, now you have a steady girlfriend. She goes where you go. If you have a problem with that say so now because I want her chained to your bedpost at night until we trap this son of a bitch behind our two interoffice traitors. They may or may not have her under surveillance. You’ll have to play the boyfriend convincingly. We’ll feed misinformation from Aginson’s office.”

“I am most happy you have not decided to make me watch over the woman, Mr. Reskova.” Rasheed winked at Donaldson. “The young newbie here will charm her into complete submission, right Pete?”

“That’s right, Kay. I think the Colonel would have been hard pressed to use you. Hell, you’re not even allowed to take a shot of Jack, let alone house a strange woman.”

“Why you…” Rasheed mumbled, heading toward Donaldson with an amused McDaniels blocking Rasheed’s path. “You will soon learn the meaning of payback, young Pete.”

Donaldson put down his shovel. He slipped his arm around Rasheed’s shoulders in a placating manner. “Sorry Kay, I couldn’t resist. I’ll never do it again.”

“Another lie.” Rasheed picked up his shovel again.

“If you two are done dancing, I’d like to get out of here sometime today - as would ol’ Nancy. Remember, we need to haul her around like she’s coming up from the deep, and then take her out by the van.”

With the makeshift coffin lying next to the van, Tamara methodically pounded on the lid with the palms of her hands. McDaniels used a battery operated screwdriver from the van’s toolkit to remove the fasteners he had sealed the lid with. McDaniels and Rasheed gripped the vibrating lid and lifted it off. Tamara scrambled from inside the crate gasping and brushing at herself frantically. Donaldson threw a blanket around her, holding it in place.

“We’re going to need a new crate.” Rasheed turned away and walked around to the driver’s side of the van.

“Calm down, Nancy,” McDaniels soothed as Donaldson gripped her tightly. He waited until her shaking subsided. “We’re going to take you back to Pete’s apartment. He’ll get you cleaned up. After you’re settled, he’ll outline some of your duties - understand?”

Tamara nodded her head vigorously, huddling closer to Donaldson. “An…anything… just don’t ever put me down there again.”

“You stay straight with us and you’ll never see the crate again. Screw us or compromise our operation and I’ll hunt you down to the ends of the earth. Believe me when I tell you I’ll do just that if it takes me a lifetime. Can you stand being in the back of the van with her, Pete? Otherwise we’ll have to cuff her.”

“I’ll manage, Colonel.”

“Don’t bring her in until tomorrow morning. Brief her on all the parameters we talked about. We’ll handle the details tomorrow. I don’t have to caution you about how important not letting her out of your sight is, do I?”

“No, Colonel, I know she’s our best chance of getting this cell.”

“Good, let’s go. We’ll stop at Nancy’s place on the way to your apartment and pick up some clothes for her.”

Donaldson leaned toward Tamara as McDaniels and Rasheed entered the van.

“Nancy, strip off those clothes while I hold the blanket around you.”

Tamara nodded meekly. She immediately stripped off her soiled clothes. Donaldson helped her into the back of the van. He then picked up one of the shovels. While McDaniels kept an eye on the still shivering Tamara, Donaldson buried the clothing in one of the freshly excavated mine crevices. After loading up their equipment, Pete dragged the crate off to the side of the warehouse. Donaldson climbed in next to Tamara. She immediately huddled closer to him with her head on his chest. He looked up to see McDaniels and Rasheed both smiling at him.

* * *

Nearly an hour later, Rasheed parked in front of Donaldson’s apartment building. Donaldson helped Tamara out of the van along with a bag of clothing he had packed at her apartment. Tamara clutched the blanket tightly around her. Donaldson waved at McDaniels and Rasheed drove away. Donaldson peered up into the darkening sky as a light snow began to fall.

“Let’s get you inside.” Donaldson guided Tamara toward the front entrance to his building. “We’ll get showered before I make you something to eat.”

“I…I can cook…if you want.”

Donaldson patted her shoulder, glad the woman had finally spoken. “That’ll be fine. Look, I know it’ll be tough tonight for you. After I deliver you tomorrow morning in good health we’ll figure out a more trusting living arrangement.”

“I’ll do anything you say.”

“I know you will. You can believe the Colonel. If you don’t, he’ll make you a believer in the worst possible way.” Donaldson led her through the entrance to the elevator where they rode in silence to the third floor.

They were able to get from the street to his apartment without running into any of the other tenets. Donaldson opened the door to his apartment, allowing Tamara to go in first. He followed with her bag before dead bolting the door closed.

“You can see pretty much everything in the apartment from here. The kitchen’s right here by the door and the bedroom is straight ahead.”

Donaldson led Tamara through the small living room. A couch and loveseat combination fronted an entertainment center butted up against the main wall of the apartment. Setting aside the bag, Donaldson took off his holstered Glock 9mm. He locked it up in a small gun safe next to the entertainment center. Pete quickly stripped out of his own clothing and boots. He gestured to Tamara as he stepped toward the bathroom.

“I know this is awkward but let’s get it done.”

Donaldson led the way into the bathroom. He turned on the ceiling fan and shower, letting it warm up. Tamara shed her blanket, tennis shoes and socks outside the bathroom before walking in. Donaldson let Tamara enter the shower first before joining her and closing the sliding door. Tamara stood with her head below the shower nozzle, her arms folded under her chest. She began to sob, her shoulders heaving as she tried to hold back tears. Donaldson began soaping her down, using a washrag. After washing the filth from her back and legs, he reached around with the washrag, gently urging her to take it. Tamara accepted it and the proffered soap from him hesitantly without turning. Donaldson washed himself while Tamara finished scrubbing. She turned around suddenly, wrapping her arms around Donaldson and pressing her face against his chest.

“I…I thought I’d die in…in that crate,” Tamara whispered, trying again to control her tears.

“You would have, Nancy,” Donaldson replied, unable to control his obvious attraction to her. “I won’t pretend to understand why you did what you did. You only have one course of action now. If you try telling anyone on either side what’s going on you’ll either be dead or in prison. I…”

Tamara moved against Donaldson. “It doesn’t feel like you think I’m a monster, Pete.”

“I never claimed to be a eunuch.” Donaldson pushed her away to arms length. “You sold out your country for money. Lady, that just does not compute.”

Tamara turned away, putting her head under the shower stream. She covered her face with both hands. Donaldson reached for her, making Tamara face him again. He gripped her chin roughly, tilting her head upward. Tamara closed her eyes, avoiding Pete’s stare.

“I want to know one thing. Did you know they were ambushing us at the warehouse?”

“God no! I…I may be a cold blooded bitch but I knew your guys. I swear I would have done anything to avoid what happened if I’d known.”

“If you’re lying, I’ll find out.” Donaldson released Tamara’s chin. “I almost asked you out to dinner last week. The Director came out of his office before I had a chance.”

“Really?” Tamara moved close to Donaldson again. “I wish you had.”

Donaldson kissed her. Tamara threw her arms around his neck, moaning softly against his pressing lips.

* * *

“Well?” McDaniels walked with Donaldson into Barrington’s office, leaving Tamara sitting quietly in a chair with Rutledge and Rasheed. “How’d you do?”

“Surprisingly well.” Donaldson shut the door behind him. “It went just as you said it would.”

“What went well, Pete?” Barrington asked.

“I recruited Pete to keep Tamara with him at all times,” McDaniels answered for him. “He told me about almost asking her out. I thought I saw something between them in Aginson’s office before we busted her. I had a hunch with what she went through in our interrogation Pete would have a good chance of getting close to her.”

“What, some kind of Stockholm syndrome?”

“Sort of, but mostly I figured on a good cop/bad cop variation.” McDaniels sat down in front of Barrington’s desk with Pete next to him. “We need her to really sell this Mero the next time he contacts her. If she tries playing him with any kind of reluctance he’ll see through it and all our work will be flushed.”

“Okay… so we’re putting her back in Aginson’s office?”

“We’ll work it out with the Director to give up some misinformation until we move on Mero’s operation. After what went down at the warehouse with Vlad getting closed down, Mero will be looking for info. Pete will make sure things keep going smoothly on Tamara’s end. If…”

“Colonel,” Pete cut in hesitantly. “I’m… ah… that is… Jesus, Sir, I’m really attracted to her.”

McDaniels chuckled. “That’s what will make this work, Romeo. Remember though, you’re undercover for us, not her. After this ends, we’ll live up to our part of the bargain and cut her a deal.”

“How did you know, Colonel? I mean hell, I hadn’t even dated her yet.”

“Human nature, Pete. Take a young virile special ops guy, set him up in a lifebuoy type roll with a young attractive Mata Hari and Houston, we have lift off.”