1.5 MILES OUTSIDE OF KRUPKA, CZECH REPUBLIC
Helen looked up but couldn’t see the chopper. She could hear it, though. It was close. She could tell by the loud knocking of its blades. Manton had told her it would land on the dirt road west of the barn. While Donovan took mug shots of the dead, Helen took care of their gear, placing it all on the backseat of the Kodiaq. They were leaving it behind, except for their pistols, which they would dispose of at the very last moment.
“We’re set,” Donovan said, jogging to her. “I collected four cell phones but not much else of interest. I took a pic of almost everyone but couldn’t find the first guy I intercepted. I can’t remember where he is in the cornfield. Sorry.”
“As long as you’re sure he’s dead and won’t start shooting at the chopper.”
“A round to the chest and an eight-inch cut deep into one’s throat is a one-way ticket to the big guy,” Donovan replied.
Helen said something, but it was drowned out by the incoming chopper’s rotors beating the air. She showed two incendiary grenades to Donovan. He gave her a thumbs-up. She tossed the two grenades onto the backseat and closed the door. The incendiary devices would completely destroy the Kodiaq, erasing their DNA and obliterating the gear they had left inside the SUV.
They were about one hundred yards away from the Kodiaq when Helen got her first look at the chopper—a sleek black shadow that would have continued to blend seamlessly into the night if it hadn’t been for the light emanating from the burning SUV.
A spotlight was suddenly powered on, and the long shaft of its beam sliced up and down the dirt road. It stopped when it reached Helen and Donovan, but they had thankfully already closed their eyes. The pilot powered off the spotlight and made a quick sweep over the barn and the cornfield to the north, once again disappearing from view. It reappeared one hundred and fifty yards farther down the road, dropping out of the night so fast Helen thought it was going to crash, but it flared at the last moment, throwing up a curtain of loose sand, small rocks, dust, and cornstalks.
The helicopter settled onto the road and Helen recognized it as a Bell 407. The pilot, wearing a dark flight suit, a helmet, and a pair of goggles, climbed out of the chopper and signaled for Helen and Donovan to hurry. As they got closer, he opened the rear door for them.
“C’mon! Let’s go!” he shouted at them. “Police vehicles are only a mile away.”
Helen climbed into the chopper, quickly followed by Donovan. The pilot closed their door and jumped back into his seat. Fifteen seconds later, the chopper took off and bent into a fast, climbing turn. Helen put on her four-point harness and donned one of the pairs of earphones hanging inside the cabin. Donovan did the same.
She looked outside at the emergency vehicles racing to the barn. She pulled the mic closer to her mouth and said, “Thanks for showing up. You have no idea how happy we are to see you.”
“Are you, now?” the pilot replied.
Helen gave Donovan a look, but her partner just shrugged and rolled his eyes.
“Let’s just say I didn’t feel like explaining to the locals what happened,” Helen said. “Anyhow, we’re glad you picked us up.”
“Well, you might not have to explain to the police what you were doing there, but you’ll certainly have to clarify a few things for me, Helen,” the pilot said.
Helen’s heart skipped a beat. How did the pilot know her name? She couldn’t believe that Oliver Manton had been so careless. And why should she feel the need to clarify anything with the pilot? Who in hell did that twat think he was?
Again, Donovan didn’t look too bothered, but he did ask an important question.
“Where are we going?”
“Dresden Airport,” the pilot replied. “I’m told you guys have a plane to catch.”
“What? Look at us,” Helen challenged him. “There’s no way they’ll let us board looking like this. We don’t even have our passports anymore.”
“Oh, you guys weren’t told?” the pilot said, letting out a light chuckle. “Your boss changed your flights. You’ll be flying with me to North Macedonia.”
“Awesome news,” Donovan said, nudging Helen with his elbow.
Although she was way past the point of exhaustion, going to North Macedonia to continue the investigation was indeed good news. She just didn’t get why Donovan’s grin was as wide as it was. She opened her mouth to ask him, but Donovan lifted a finger, asking her to wait for it.
“Personally, I’m thrilled about this,” the pilot said as he removed his goggles and glanced over at Helen. “It will give me time to catch up with my daughter.”
Helen’s breath caught in her throat, and she felt her jaw drop. She looked at her partner. Donovan had closed his eyes, pretending sleep, but she could still see the tiny smile tugging at the corner of his lips.