Chapter 68

 

 

0725 hrs.

 

Nash blinked twice. The operative had surfaced from thin air. Had he caused the explosion breaking them out of Mason’s cell? He’d deal with him and keep Calla as far from him as possible.

The operative peered through explosive smoke at the end of an abandoned passageway that lined the south wing of the energy base. Water gushed down the corridor escaping a burst pipe and spurted at their feet,

“Let’s go!” Lascar’s voice reminded Nash of a sergeant major he’d once known in the marines. Brash and overconfident, it echoed through the emptying halls.

Calla set a hand on Lascar’s arm as he approached them. “Lascar? How?”

“Questions later. We need to move.”

Nash scrutinized the operative’s covert procedures as Lascar set an explosive on the far wall to their left. “Stand back!”

The explosive blasted a hole through the cement, pitching rubble in their path.

“This way,” commanded Lascar.

Nash knew it was the same operative that had abducted Calla in Almont. He leaned in to her side. “You know him, Cal?”

“I’ll explain later,” she said.

“And I’ll follow gladly,” Jack said.

They slithered past a security gate at the end of a second corridor.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Kane’s sharp voice pierced the commotion, shoulders broad and eyes piercing the crowd.

Lascar raised a smooth firearm. The silver safety grip stretched into a thin chassis and exploded three rounds at him.

Kane slumped to the concrete like an unbalanced domino.

Nash scrutinized the miniature shells that had sizzled from the barrel. He’d never seen anything similar.

The group bolted past the Rajput warrior and Lascar led them to a low opening he’d blasted through a wall to the base’s exterior. He motioned to them in sign language, commanding them to crawl through the rest of the way.

Jack slid through first, followed by Calla. Nash stopped before crouching and glared at Lascar. “Who are you?” he said.

“Someone you’ll never be, even to her.”

A gunshot fired behind them and both men zipped their heads round. Kane, undeterred and adept, set himself off at a dash after them.

Nash ignored Lascar’s nudge at a brawl. The operative with the explosives would have to be dealt with later. He crawled through the grim tunnel after Calla. After slinking on the chilled cement for close to three minutes, they surfaced outside on a sand hill as morning light begun to flood the wasteland.

“Where to, Lascar?” Calla asked once the group had surfaced.

Lascar seized Calla’s hand. “Follow me.”

Nash’s lips pressed tightly as the group trudged through taxing sand, charging away from the energy base and toward a deserted road.

Blazing headlights blinded their path and a heavy truck accelerated through dawn’s fog on the dark road. Lascar’s advances with Calla were seeping deep under Nash’s skin. Where had he been when Calla needed help in Uganda seven months ago? In Rome? Goodness, the last three years?

They charged toward the truck and saw Allegra hurtle out of the driver’s seat. An army camouflage cap shielded part of her face, her long braids pulled back in a neat plait. “Thank goodness you’re alive. This way was easier than negotiating diplomatic terms. We need to get you safely across the border. China has revoked ISTF’s terms and anything connected to us. They’ll be waiting for you if you head toward Beijing.”

They hustled into the van and Allegra sped the truck down toward Pakistan.

 

With no words exchanged, hours later, she nosed the vehicle up to the border barrier between China and Pakistan, at the Khunjerab Pass, positioned on the northern border of Pakistan’s Gilgit–Baltistan, Hunza and Nagar districts, on the southwest border of the Xinjiang region.

The truck came to a shuddered halt at the border police station and an officer stopped and spoke to Allegra. “A British truck in China? I would expect more judicious means, Allegra.”

Allegra eyed the checkpoint soldier and revved her gears for Pakistan before howling out the window. “You know me.”

“Okay, move. I never saw you here.”

Allegra winked at him. “Thanks.”

When they reached Gilgit-Baltisan, they jumped off the truck to rest. Nash helped Calla down from the backside of the truck as Allegra tossed them some water bottles. Calla turned to Lascar. “I don’t know what we would have done without you.”

Lascar inched forward. “Doesn’t look like you were doing much, even with the so-called qualified help you had here.”

Jack moved toward Nash and set a hand on his shoulder. Nash was ready to speak, but on second thought, he turned his back to Lascar.

“I’m talking to you, marine!” Lascar said.

Nash swiveled round slowly. “You’re out of line.”

“Says who? The tough guy who ran out of options?”

Anger welled up through Nash’s veins, his internal response challenging to bolt one straight punch into the operative’s jaw. He clenched his fist and dragged in a sharp breath before turning his back to Lascar a second time.

Lascar zipped him round with a violent grip on his shoulder. Nash lost balance for a few seconds before thrusting his frame in front of Lascar. Eye to eye and inches from each other, the men sized each other, each scrutinizing the other.

Fury rose to Lascar’s lips. He swore and launched himself at Nash, grabbing him by the collar with both hands. Lascar twisted his knuckles inward against Nash’s neck aiming for a choke.

Nash slid under Lascar’s arm and forced a hand to the crook of Lascar’s elbow and knocked it, downing his wrists until Lascar lost balance and plummeted to the dirt.

Lascar wiped his mouth, shot up and drew his pistol.

“Enough,” Calla said, fury rising to her lips as she broke up the two men. “We’re wasting time. Can we leave the mannish parade in the desert and get out of here?”

A spurt of rage spiraled in Lascar’s eyes and he edged away. “How can you trust someone who keeps things from you?”

Allegra minced toward the men and raised her hand. “That’s enough, Lascar!”

Lascar’s stare remained livid, not once leaving Nash’s infuriated face.

“What’re you talking about, Lascar?” Calla turned her attention to Nash. “What’s going on here?”

Lascar stepped forward. “Looks like your marine here made a deal with the devil. We’re all hunting Mason and Nash has had the answers all along, not to mention the most crucial thing we need to bring Mason down. I wouldn’t be surprised if he lets us walk right back into Mason’s mind games.”

“That’s loaded, Lascar,” Calla said. She turned to Nash. “What’s really going on here?”

“Don’t listen to him,” Nash said sensing the back of his neck prickle. “Desert sand must have clogged his vision and stimulated his ego.”

“Not so fast, marine!” Lascar shot Calla a glance. “Nash’s been in touch with your mother for more than fifteen months. Why do you think he knows so much about the operatives and Mason Laskfell? How did he know enough about Mason to silence him in prison? He probably helped him escape.”

Nash threw a violent punch into Lascar’s jaw. However, much his knuckles hurt, it felt damn good to set the operative straight.

Launching another brawl, Lascar threw a fist that hit Nash in the shoulder joint and set him back.

Nash made a visible effort to pull himself together. He rose from where he’d fallen and moved to the side of the road, shaking with impotent rage.

Calla moved quietly behind him. “Nash, what’s he saying? Is it true?”

He raised his eyes slowly toward her. “Yes. It is.”

 

 

 

“I swear, Calla, I don’t know where she is,” Nash said.

She pulled away haughtily from his grasp. “Why didn’t you tell me, Nash? Does my father know?”

“No. She sends me messages in this discreet way. She found me. I don’t know how and her one request was not to tell you because it would endanger you . . . and Stan.”

“But, Nash—”

He could not bear to see the tear surfacing in her right eye. Was she right? But, he’d had to keep Nicole’s wishes, otherwise he would have lost contact with her.

 

He remembered the meeting well in a mall, in Boston, fifteen months ago. The night before, he’d been working late into the night at his hotel, cleaning up some old files, when without warning his computer went into encryption mode. It was a virus and a strong one. The NSA could beat any type of encryption. Perhaps he could grab text and work round the encryption. After several attempts, it was clear the hacker had a message for him.

It unraveled itself on his screen.

Nash Shields

NSA Employment number 27130-1084

 

He wrote a response.

Who’s this?

The answer came:

Nicole Cress ... Calla’s mother.

 

After several exchanges with the woman calling herself Nicole Cress, Nash was still doubtful, until she shared her former MI6 number and details about Calla’s adoption.

Still, he had to be sure. He wanted a face-to-face meeting.

The place they were to meet was Fanueil Hall, in downtown Boston, steps away from the Atlantic, a shopping meeting point of locally loved and nationally known shops, congested, most of the time with shoppers indulging in worldwide cuisine as cobblestone promenades were graced with musicians.

A public, loud and vibrant place.

They were to meet on opposite balconies on one of the main shopping walkaways, where Nicole had left an earpiece under a plant.

When Nash arrived, a lone woman in all black with dark glasses and headgear, making her downright unrecognizable, stood on the balcony opposite him. So began a conversation. It had lasted three minutes and twenty seconds. Nash failed to trace her after she’d spoken, then disappeared through the crowds. There’d been one agreement. She would contact him and only via an encrypted website whose web address she sent to his tablet.

The woman knew her technology, and he’d left knowing undoubtedly it had been Nicole Cress, though he’d failed to see her face. She’d been a step ahead of him each time–a genuine MI6 agent.

That’s why he hadn’t trusted the incoming calls on his cell phone. It had never been part of the agreement.

 

He reached for Calla again and drew her away from the others, sensing an awkward response, deep in her. She was slipping away. His lips trembled as he spoke. “It’s the truth. I have never lied to you.”

Two lone tears appeared beneath her lashes. “How could you not tell me?”

“I couldn’t, beautiful. She would have broken all contact. She told me specifically not to say anything to you. She said it would have endangered yours and her life. I had to protect you Calla. I can’t help it. I’ve always felt the need to keep you safe.”

“But Nash, we’re supposed to have trust and a connection that neither my past, nor yours could ever contaminate. Our parents lived in lies. We’re different, Nash.”

“We do . . . and we still are. Please, Cal,” he said in a strangled gasp. “I didn’t lie to you—”

His face was naked with anguish; he brought a shaky hand to his face to mop away his own tearing anguish. “Believe me. I’m sorry, maybe I should have told you. I don’t know. I just love you so much and I was trying to protect you—”

A guarded look surfaced in her eyes.

Jack approached them and set a gentle hand on Calla’s shoulder. “Cal, Nash would never do anything to harm you.”

She moved away from his embrace.

Nash drew her in his arms. “Cal, please.”

For a few seconds, her red-rimmed eyes welled with emotion. She suddenly raised her head. “Don’t, Nash.” She drew back with a shudder, slithering away from him. “All my life, people supposed to protect me, love and be there for me have lied to me. My mother, my father, Mila . . . and now . . . you.”

Nash’s eyes clouded with hazy sadness. He couldn’t believe her words. He never thought she would see it that way. Betrayal.

He thought he’d been protecting her, by keeping the madness of her past, her illogical family and the operatives from her.

She was right. How different had he been to those close to her? Those who’d let her down. Whatever he said now wouldn’t matter any longer. He’d lost her.

Lascar began to walk briskly, threading his way purposefully toward them. “I tried to warn you, Calla.” He glanced at Allegra. “We all did.”

Allegra cleared her throat as guilt settled in her voice. “Calla, please, some of this is my fault. Listen to Nash—”

Calla took a step from Nash. “I’ve heard enough.”

Lascar gripped her upper arm. “We need to get moving.”

“Nash . . . I need to be away from you now. . .” Calla said.

Had he heard the words right? He reached over and touched her wet cheek.

She drew away. “Don’t. Please don’t touch me . . . I don’t need you to help me anymore.”

Jack intervened. “Cal, you don’t mean that . . .”

Nash ran his hands through his wet hair. He’d barely noticed the rain that had started a slow descent over the descending hills. It was over for her. He knew it, just the way she’d said ‘touch’. All he saw was his mother walking out on his father. He’d failed her–like his father had let down his mother. With lies.

It was the Shields family nightmare . . . again. Though he mustered courage to speak up, his words fluttered out in a shaky tone . “Calla, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I failed you.”

This time, Lascar gripped Calla’s hand and slowly led her to the truck.

Jack’s face drew tight with fatigue and concern. Two deep lines of worry appeared between his eyes, as he nudged a deadened Nash. “Come on, man. Snap out of it! We always come out of the worst binds. This is just one of them. Don’t let her go like this . . .”

Calla stepped into the truck with Allegra and Lascar. She glanced once at them before settling in the army truck as Allegra leaned forward, hunched slightly over the steering wheel ready to start the vehicle. She engaged the gear. “Guys, are you coming?”

Nash could not bring himself to look at her. She does not want me to.

Jack shot a glance at Nash. “Nash, come on . . . we’ll work it out, mate,” he said with a distinct note of apprehension.

 

 

Nash failed to budge. With numb stillness, rain beat on his face, jacket and arms. Jack stood by his side dumbfounded that he’d been brought to the instant of choosing between his two best friends. Right now, one needed him more than the other. As they stood on a deserted road, Jack raised his chin toward Allegra, a glazed look of despair beginning to spread over her face. “No. We’ll find our way from here.”

Allegra leaned forward and started the ignition. “Please, come with us. We need to leave now.”

Nash shook his head slowly unable to glance at her.

The truck began a slow descent down the slope farther into Pakistan.

Several minutes later as he stared after it, Jack ran a hand through his dreds. “How on earth are we going to get out of here?”