Saving Agent Tanner (Covert Justice Book 2) Page 4

  “Yes, ma’am, what is your purpose here today?”

  I read the soldier’s nametag. “Hello, Officer Blair. I’m Laura Ingalls. I have a meeting with the ambassador here as a courtesy for Ambassador Judah.”

  He checked his list. “Yes, ma’am. We’ve been expecting you. Right this way.”

  I was quickly escorted through the remaining security points by two armed guards. Within seconds, a young woman who appeared to be fresh out of college came and got me from the lobby where I’d been asked to wait.

  “Ambassador Khalidid has been expecting you. Ambassador Judah informed us you would be arriving sometime this morning.”

  “Thank you,” I said as I politely followed her down the ancient hallway.

  She knocked on a door with the ambassador’s name emblazed in gold script and waited until he invited us in.

  Once we stepped into the room, the ambassador got to his feet. It appeared as if he’d been going over his schedule with his assistant.

  He rounded his desk and took my hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Ms. Ingalls. David speaks highly of you.” He nodded to my escort and she discreetly left us alone. “Please, sit, sit.”

  I took the chair he indicated. The young man he’d been talking with waited until I was seated then introduced himself as Carl Nolan.

  The ambassador returned to his seat. “My friend David tells me you are here to do some research on our great city for a book you are working on.”

  I’d wondered what cover story David would concoct. I fought to keep from smiling at this one. David told me once he retired he planned to write a book about his travels.

  “That’s correct.”

  “And you will be staying within the city? Not venturing outside the protection offered here?”

  “Yes, that’s correct.”

  “This is good. While Kabul has made great strides in protecting tourists, the desert outside is a different story. Dangerous elements still rule those regions.”

  I smiled at the ambassador. “I understand. Not to worry, I’ll remain in Kabul. Thank you for your time.” I got to my feet and headed for the door.

  “Carl will show you out.”

  I left the ambassador with my thanks. The minute we were out of earshot, Carl took me not to my vehicle but to another part of the building.

  “You are being watched,” he warned.

  His words shocked me. What did he know? “I don’t know what you are talking about,”

  Carl smiled at my answer. “Like you, I once worked for the Agency. Did you think you could cross the border without being spotted? If I know you are here, it won’t be long before others do as well.”

  Although Carl seemed to have my best interest in mind, I didn’t dare let my guard down. “Who besides the Agency is watching me?”

  “Everyone. Your government. The Afghanistan government. Both sides have reasons for not wanting you to find Agent Tanner.”

  “What do you mean? What do you know?” He hesitated. “Please, tell me what you know.”

  His gaze met mine. I could tell he wasn’t going to enlighten me. “With the war still being fought in other regions of the country, you have to wonder why a seasoned agent like Tanner was here in this remote area.”

  Fear and adrenaline cranked to life in the pit of my stomach. “I don’t know. Why do you think that is?”

  He turned and opened another door that led out to the parking area. “You’ll have to ask Agent Tanner that question. If you find him alive.”

  I left Carl without learning any of the answers I desperately needed. I found the key to the Jeep where Anwar told me it would be. I was literally trembling as I got behind the wheel and cranked the engine to life. I had no idea what I was getting myself into, but there was little time to consider the consequences. I grabbed the map from the glove box and mapped out my route.

  Kabul was relatively tame compared to what I’d expected. There were Western influences everywhere. Hotels and restaurants, clothing stores bearing familiar names whizzed by as I headed out of town. I could almost picture Booth’s cynical reaction to this. “We liberated these people and now we’ve turned them into us.”

  Booth was a firm believer in leaving a country unspoiled. He’d have hated what was happening to this one.

  Once I reached the outskirts of the city, I took stock in the supplies. Two full gas cans were strapped to the back of the Jeep. Water, energy bars, cookies, and some dried fruit stashed beneath a blanket. Everything was as Anwar had said. I slipped the Glock from its hiding place in my bag and tucked it under the seat of the Jeep, then headed toward the mountains that loomed in the distance.

  Kandahar was located some ways from Kabul, although the flat, open terrain surrounding me now made it hard to judge distances. Everything looked closer than it was.

  I’d traveled only a few miles when a small village appeared in the desert heat. Best to skirt the place and not take any undue risks. I grabbed the binoculars from the glove box and focused on the village. No one seemed to be anywhere around, in spite of the fact that it was still relatively early.

  Many of the villages nearby had suffered damage in the U.S. air strikes involved in searching for Bin Laden and the Taliban after. Some had been rebuilt. This one had not.

  Still, there was no need to take chances. I headed out to the right of the village at a safe distance. If anyone were still around, it would probably not be the type of person I’d want to encounter.

  The heat in the desert had to be close to a hundred. I took off my shirt, grateful that I’d remembered to wear a thin T-shirt beneath.

  This was no-man’s-land. The Afghanistan government had no control here. Tribal law ruled. After a while, I passed a couple of nomads traveling with camels in tow. They seemed uninterested in me. Apparently, they were used to strangers in their land. Or maybe keeping a low profile was all that kept them alive.

  I searched beneath the blanket until I came up with a package of cookies. Not exactly the best meal, but it would do for the time being.

  By my best calculations, I’d reach Kandahar before nightfall, where I’d skirt the city and head north to the area where Booth was last heard from. The thought of sleeping in the desert with only the Jeep for protection did little for my peace of mind. Enemies of the U.S. were everywhere out here. Take your pick. Taliban, al-Qaeda, ISIS, unfriendly tribesmen, not to mention a few desert creatures that could be as lethal as any carefully placed bomb.

  A little past twilight, the lights of Kandahar came into view. The city was closed off, sprawling, and like most cities here, built low to the ground. Parts of it had been destroyed in past air strikes and recently rebuilt. Still today, the Taliban had Kandahar in a stranglehold. In spite of all our efforts to eradicate their threat, large pockets of Taliban lived openly in the city, along with what was rumored to be some of the FBI’s top most wanted terrorists.

  * * * *

  “You want to tell me why someone matching Rachel Weiss’ description crossed the border into Afghanistan?”

  Director Hughes’ angry denouncement hit Michael out of left field. It was the last thing he expected to hear.

  “What? That’s impossible. I have people sitting on her. I spoke to them minutes earlier. She’s at the embassy.”

  “She’s not. You screwed up. She lost your tail. Someone using a fake ID by the name of Laura Ingalls crossed into Kabul three hours ago.”

  Michael smiled in spite of the gravity of the situation. Laura Ingalls Wilder was Rachel’s favorite childhood author.

  “You’re off this thing,” Hughes informed him and he knew exactly what that meant. Someone would be sent to bring Rachel back. It didn’t particularly matter how. He couldn’t let it happen.

  Michael was in for a battle. Hughes knew too much about his past connection to her. “Director Hughes, I’ve got this thing. Let me handle it.”

  “You don’t have it. It’s out of control and we can’t afford this now.”

  “I can c
ontain her. Let me handle it.”

  For a moment, he thought Hughes might refuse flat out. “You’ve got twenty-four hours,” the director spat out. “Then I’m taking over.”

  “I’ll need more time. She’s got a head start.”

  “Twenty-four hours and then I’ll handle it my way.”

  Hughes slammed the phone in Michael’s ear to get his point across.

  Things were getting way out of control. This was supposed to have been an easy mission and yet Booth was missing and Rachel had gotten herself into something that might cost her life.

  His first call was to Sam. “Call the team in Jerusalem off.”

  “What? Why? They still have the Weiss woman under surveillance.”

  “They don’t. She slipped their tail. I told you she was good. She’s in Afghanistan. Get a team together there, get her picture out to them, and tell them she’s using the name Laura Ingalls. Hurry. She’ll be halfway to Kandahar by now.”

  “Will do.”

  “Oh, and Sam, meet me at the airport. Have the jet ready to fly in half an hour.”

  “Where are you going?”

  “Not me...us. We’re going to Kandahar. We’re going to handle this thing personally. I can’t afford any more screw ups.”

  Chapter Four

  As a known enemy holdout, Kandahar would be locked up tight with guards posted everywhere around the city. Skirting an area that size without being noticed wouldn’t be easy. The Jeep’s fuel gauge was almost in the red. Luckily, refueling wasn’t going to be a problem.

  I found an outgrowth of rock and filled the tank, keeping a careful eye toward the city. Maneuvering around Kandahar would cost me an additional hour’s time. Once I was out of the area, the mountains would be some twenty kilometers beyond. I’d been watching them grow like shadows in the distance for hours.

  With the setting sun, the temperature of the desert plunged quickly. I retrieved the down jacket from the backseat and put it on.

  I’d brought my personal cell phone along and on impulse decided to check it. I found another text communication from my mystery number. Its message consisted of one word. Bel-Ahzar.

  I had no idea what Bel-Ahzar was meant to convey.

  On impulse, I got out the map and studied it carefully. Bel-Ahzar was a small village at the base of Mount Morieh. Was someone trying to tell me where I could find Booth, or was I walking into a trap?

  Whatever the answer, I knew I had to go there.

  I typed a quick reply.

  Who are you and what do you know about Booth Tanner?

  My answer might be hours in the making, if at all.

  The sky above filled with stars. I killed the Jeep’s lights. There was a perfect full moon hanging low along the desert’s horizon. I made my way slowly around Kandahar’s perimeter by moonlight.

  When I reached the first of the foothills, I put the Jeep into four-wheel drive. As I climbed slowly along the rocky terrain, my phone signaled an incoming message.

  I’ve seen him. He’s still alive. If you want to know more, you’ll come to Bel-Ahzar. My name is Rahab.

  Abruptly, I braked the Jeep. Obviously, the name was a fake. There was a passage in the Bible where a woman named Rahab had hidden the Jewish men sent to spy out the stronghold, Jericho. Was this person trying to indicate they were friendly to my cause or was this another ruse?

  Fearing a trap, I dug out the name of the tribesman Anwar had given me.

  His name was Khalid Assaid. Anwar had told me that Khalid was a nomad whose dwelling could be found north of Kandahar at the base of the mountains. I decided I couldn’t risk traveling any further in the dark. With the city behind me, the mountainous terrain continued to grow treacherous. I had no idea what danger waited me out here in the open or who might be coming after me. By now, I was pretty certain Michael would know where I was.

  At any given time, there would be a team of CIA agents in the area. All it would take was one call.

  I pulled the Jeep behind a protruding rock at the foot of a hill. Because I so needed the courage to go on, I pulled out my pocket Bible and read my favorite passage in Deuteronomy 31:6

  Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee

  When I finished reading the verses, I tried to sleep. But rest was next to impossible with all the questions scurrying around in my head. I allowed myself a few minutes to close my eyes and rest. Though I’d been out of the game for a long time, my instincts were still sharp. I automatically woke every fifteen minutes.

  As always, my thoughts were on my daughter. At two, she was still too young to wonder about her father. Of course, the day would come when I would have to try to explain the truth. Would she resent me for not allowing her father to be part of her life?

  Father, please no.

  I could take just about anything but losing my daughter’s love. Since leaving Booth, she’d been the only thing to keep me going.

  “Who are you?” A heavily accented voice intruded into my dream.

  My eyes shot open at the sound of it and I clutched the weapon I’d hidden beneath my right leg.

  It was still dark out and the Jeep was surrounded by some ten men, dressed like nomads. A tall, thin Arab with aged eyes stood in front, holding a gun to my head. I froze.

  The gun dug into my left temple. “Again, who are you and why are you here?” The men, although armed, appeared to be herdsmen. I took a chance they wouldn’t be Taliban soldiers in disguise.

  “I’m looking for Khalid Assaid.” The man holding the weapon didn’t react to my answer.

  All I could see was his dark eyes. “And why are you looking for this Khalid? Who sent you?”

  I hadn’t moved a muscle. My fingers still circled the weapon. “My friend, Anwar. He told me I could trust Khalid.”

  After another minute of watching me carefully, sizing me up, the man motioned for one of his men to get me out of the Jeep.

  The younger man grabbed my arm and I jerked free and leveled the weapon at him. “That’s far enough.”

  I’d clearly shocked them, which worked to my advantage. The man reaching for me looked to the leader.

  After a moment, the leader smiled in satisfaction.

  “Ah, you are the one.”

  I glanced from the man closest to me to the leader, never lowering the Glock. “What are you talking about?”

  “Anwar told me you could take care of yourself. I didn’t believe him. I told him no Western woman could handle herself under these conditions. Apparently, I was wrong.” He lowered his weapon and held out his hand. “I am Khalid Assaid, at your service. Now, if you would do me the honor of returning the favor and lowering your weapon before you kill my nephew, I would be much relieved.”

  Adrenaline pumped through my body like an alcohol rush. My hands shook as I lowered the weapon and got out of the Jeep.

  I took Khalid’s hand and shook it, then almost gave it all away by giving him my real name. “Laura Ingalls,” I stammered instead.

  Khalid bowed slightly. “You are in a dangerous area. You are lucky I was the one who found you first. The Taliban control most of this region. They have my people by their throats. If you will come with me, our camp is over that hill. Follow me, please.”

  I got back into the Jeep and waited while the men mounted their horses. Then we made our way at a fast click to their camp.

  By the time we reached the camp, the sun had begun to lighten the sky. There were woman and children milling around the camp as I climbed out of the Jeep. They watched me with open suspicion. I wondered what type of life they led in the midst of this unending war.

  Khalid escorted me to a tent. A moment later, a woman arrived carrying strong coffee. Once she’d left, he poured some and handed it to me. “Now, tell me how I can help you, Laura Ingalls.”

  I glanced up and found he was grinning. I realized he’d seen right through my fake n
ame. I lifted my chin and said, “You can tell me what you know about the village of Bel-Ahzar.”

  The amusement drained from Khalid’s dark eyes. “A dangerous place to be for the strongest of men. For a woman, it would be suicide.”

  “I don’t have a choice.” I pulled out the picture of Booth I’d tucked away in my pocket and handed him the photo. “I’m looking for this man. I have reason to believe he may be in Bel-Ahzar.”

  Khalid studied the photo of Booth then glanced at me. “CIA?”

  I debated how much to expose to him. Giving away an agent’s history to an unknown was like violating the first commandment. Booth had drilled that rule into me from the beginning. Unfortunately, I needed Khalid’s help too much to keep Booth’s secrets. “That’s right,” I admitted.

  “And you? Who are you besides a friend of Anwar? CIA?”

  I shook my head. “No. I’m a friend of this man. I have reason to believe he may be in danger.”

  “If he’s in Bel-Ahzar, I’d be willing to bet on it. The Taliban use it as a prison camp. They have many Americans there.”

  The image of the torture Booth would be subject to was hard to take. “There are others there? How many?”

  Khalid shook his head. “I said they use it as a prison. The ones taken to Bel-Ahzar rarely come out alive.”

  My knees deserted me and I sank to the ground. “Can you help me?”

  He watched me for several seconds without any sign of emotion, then spread his hands in front of him. “Not like this. I would be signing both of our death sentences if I went there with someone who cannot control their emotions.”

  I struggled to wipe the fear from my face. “You’re wrong. I can control my emotions. Please, I need your help.”

  He wasn’t convinced. After a moment, he asked, “Why do you think he is in Bel-Ahzar?”

  I told him about the text messages I’d received from the alias Rahab.

  “I see. How do you know this isn’t a trap? I can imagine someone associated with the CIA would have many enemies. As would someone who is a friend of the CIA,” he added quietly.

  “I don’t know that it isn’t a trap. I only have a name. Rahab. It’s not much, I know.”