Mitch felt his anger rising close to the surface.
“What are you doing, Nick?”
Nick licked his lower lip.
“What I need to do.”
The two men stared at each other. Eventually Mitch spoke.
“Not one of your brightest ideas,” Mitch stared at him. “Shoot me, and security will be up here before you can get down the stairs.”
“I’m not going to shoot you here. We’re going for a drive. Move.” Nick pushed his gun into Mitch’s ribs. “And Major, don’t do anything stupid.”
Mitch moved slowly, but his mind raced ahead. He pushed open the exit door and felt a shove in his back as Nick directed him to a Land Rover.
“You’re driving,” Nick pushed Mitch towards the front door of the vehicle.
Mitch stiffened.
Push me one more time, Nick …
“Get in,” Nick ordered, coming around to the passenger door, he handed Mitch the keys. “Take Glover Road.”
Mitch started the car.
Got to make a move, but I need an element of surprise.
He glanced over at Nick. I can wait.
Pulling out of the campus, he followed Nick’s directions, feeling the barrel of the gun pushed into his side.
“Keep going,” Nick barked.
Mitch glanced at the time; he had been driving for fifteen minutes. His phone rang.
“Answer it,” Nick ordered.
Mitch looked over at him.
“You’re on surveillance aren’t you? If you don’t check in what happens?”
Mitch shrugged.
“As I thought. Answer the phone and remember, I’ve got a gun pointed at you. Keep it short and sweet.”
Mitch grabbed his phone answering it before it diverted to message bank. He recognized John’s number.
“Mitch, I’ve been waiting for your call. What happened at the meeting?”
Mitch felt Nick push the gun into his ribs.
“Mitchell?”
“I’m on my way home, John. Nothing happened.”
“What do you mean nothing happened? Didn’t Daniel show?”
“I’ll be in at seven in the morning for our meeting.”
Come on John, catch on!
“What meeting?” There was a momentary silence. “OK … can you put your tracker on? Are you OK?”
Mitch hung up, he slumped with relief.
“See, didn’t hurt a bit,” Nick said.
Mitch put the phone back in his pocket, hitting a button on the side of his watch that relayed his whereabouts to head office.
Traceable!
He kept driving waiting for instructions, feeling Nick’s eyes boring into him.
What has happened to you, Nick, to make you do something this desperate? We’ve known each other since high school. We’ve flown together, crammed for exams together, graduated in the Air Force together.
“So, what are you going to do now hot shot? What plan’s running through your head?” Nick asked.
“Something to cause you a degree of pain hopefully,” Mitch snapped.
Nick laughed. “I can hear your mind working overtime. How do I get out of this? When can I jump him? I know you, Mitch; I know your moves too. I’m looking forward to seeing your next one. Any clues?”
Mitch looked over at him and frowned.
“Nick … what’s going on?”
Nick broke eye contact.
“Shut up and drive, Mitch.”
You don’t want to remember the good times because you’re onto something big and we’re close to closing it down.
John was in the office within fifteen minutes. He stood behind the computer operator who was tracking Mitch’s signal.
“Where is he now?”
“He’s heading out on Glover Road, sir. Looks like he’s heading to Rock Creek Park.”
“Plan, sir?” the team leader moved beside John.
“Assemble a squad now and get to him ASAP. I’ll be on my phone following; call me if he changes directions.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And tell the squad there’ll be no firing. I need everyone in that vehicle alive and functioning.” John walked out of the room.
Mitch took a deep breath.
I need to get you talking, Nick. It’s worth a shot.
“So where are we off to, Nick?” Mitch kept his voice calm.
“I thought you might like a walk. I hear the park’s nice this time of year – cold, but refreshing. Take the next left.”
Mitch steered the Land Rover onto a dirt track and took the steep incline.
Thank God for the tracker. It’s a long walk back, he thought.
He continued to drive, heading further away from the main road, dense scrub and tall trees closing them in.
Where the hell are you John? His eyes flicked to the mirror. No one. He drove further into the woods.
It’s pitch black and freezing, he thought. I could be out here for weeks without anyone stumbling on me. Great.
Mitch tensed.
“Got you worried now, huh?” Nick turned side on to watch him.
Calm down. It is Nicholas Everett after all. What is he capable of doing?
He struggled to keep the Land Rover steady in his hands up the rough dirt track.
I’ve got to get you talking, Nick.
“This drives like your dad’s four-wheel drive,” Mitch tried, working at keeping his voice casual. “Remember when we just got our licenses and your dad let us take it camping? We thrashed it that weekend.”
“I hated that car; it was like a tank to drive,” Nick answered. Mitch felt the gun in his side again.
“Shut the hell up. I know what you’re doing. You must think I’m an idiot.”
“I don’t know who you are.”
“I’m the one with the gun!”
Mitch continued to drive. He checked the rear-view mirror again.
Nothing. No sign of life. How long does it take?
He took a sharp corner, gripping the steering wheel with both hands.
“Pull over and get out,” Nick ordered.
Mitch pulled the car over and cut the ignition. The lights remained on. He could hear his heart hammering in his chest.
“Nick … don’t do this,” Mitch felt sweat trickling off him.
“Get out of the car,” Nick ordered. He opened his passenger side door. Mitch felt a rush of cold air.
Where are you John? I can’t wait. I’m going to get knocked out here. Damn you, Nick! It’s not going to end this way.
Mitch got out of the car. As Nick came around from the passenger side, he cut the lights. It was pitch black. Mitch jumped from the driver’s seat, losing his balance in the blackness. He grappled his way around the door, rolling in front of the Land Rover.
“I’ll shoot Mitch! Don’t think I won’t,” he heard Nick yell.
Mitch controlled his breathing, listening for Nick, and waiting for his night vision to kick in. He saw him. Mitch charged at him feeling the impact in his chest as they toppled to the ground. Mitch was on top. He saw the gun fly out of Nick’s hand and land out of reach. He reeled backwards as Nick struck him in the face with a tight fist, spilling him on the ground. He felt his own blood spray from his mouth. Pain shot through him. Nick landed another jab and pinned him down.
Mitch gasped at the blinding pain in his eye and felt blood running down his face. His vision cleared and with a burst of anger, he pushed Nick off, punching him hard and fast to the face and ribs.
Nick landed a strong blow to Mitch’s throat.
Gasping and trying to get a lungful of air, Mitch retaliated, his fist impacting with Nick’s jaw. Nick pounded him again. Mitch hit back with equal force, as they took their frustrations out on each other.
Mitch saw the gun. He leapt for it, pulling away from Nick and crawling towards it on his hands and knees through the dirt. Struggling for air, he swallowed the pain in his throat and ribs and surged forward trying to reach the gun. Mitch felt the metal in his hand. Face-to-face on the ground, he raised the gun to Nick’s chest.
Nick froze. They stared at each other, chests heaving and blood pouring down their faces.
“That was my next move. What’d you think of it?” Mitch gasped.
“You’re not going to shoot me,” Nick said.
“You’re right,” Mitch pulled Nick into sitting position and shoved him against the car. “What the hell is wrong with you?” Mitch wiped blood from his nose. “When did you start playing on the other side?”
Nick spat saliva and blood next to Mitch’s feet.
“As if you’d understand, golden boy.”
Mitch shook his head. He traced his teeth with his tongue, spitting out a fresh round of blood.
“Oh, get over it,” Nick said, “I wasn’t going to kill you; just make sure you were out of action for a while, until the job was done.”
“How comforting,” Mitch pulled out his phone to call John.
Before he finished dialing, he heard two squad cars racing up the dirt track and saw the lights blazing. A voice over a loud-hailer ordered him to drop the gun. He threw it as far as possible from Nick and raised his hands. The two squad vehicles pulled over and John was the first to alight. Two officers ran to detain Nick, cuffing his hands behind his back and dragging him to his feet. They patted him down to check if he was armed.
“Clear,” one of them called.
Mitch turned to John.
“Two squads; impressive, John, thanks.” Mitch smiled. He swayed with the pain.
John grabbed his arm. “Are you alright?”
Mitch nodded and pulled away.
“Can you tell them to take it easy? He’s a friend of mine.”
John passed him a handkerchief.
“Thanks,” he released a long breath as he watched John walk over to the squad.