38 |
38 |Beja Airport Beja, Portugal
Reading stepped off the airplane with Spencer, his phone rapidly vibrating with multiple messages. He checked to see there were several from his partner, Michelle Humphrey, back in London, plus two that he recognized as encrypted. He logged into the secure messaging service Kane had given him access to, and found a message from the Special Agent, and one from Langley’s Leroux. He read Kane’s first, and cursed.
“What?”
He glanced at his son. “They’ve been taken off the case. We’re on our own.”
“Who?”
He gave him a look. “Don’t be daft.”
Spencer suddenly caught on. “Oh, right.”
Reading quickly read the attached file, and grunted with satisfaction at the address and GPS coordinates provided. He brought up the CIA message which was mostly a repeat, without the offer of less than legal help at the end.
His phone rang and he smiled at his partner’s caller ID. He swiped his thumb. “Reading.”
“Oh, good. I just saw you landed, so I took a chance. Have you heard anything new?”
“Yes, I’ve got an address.”
“How’d you manage that?”
“You don’t want to know.”
“You and your mysterious sources. Anyway, I’ve got good news. Lisbon is cooperating. Local police should be meeting you at the airport.”
“Umm, Pops?”
Reading looked at where his son was pointing, several uniformed officers rushing toward them. “Yeah, I think I see them now. You’re sure they’re not about to arrest us?”
Michelle laughed. “If they do, call your friends to post bail.”
“Haha. If you don’t hear from me in the next ten minutes, send out a search party.” He ended the call and put on his most pleasant of faces. The man in charge, short with an impressive beer belly and a sweat covered brow, snapped out a quick salute.
“Are you Agent Reading of Interpol?”
Reading nodded. “I am.”
The man gestured at Spencer. “And this is?”
“My assistant.”
“Very good. I am Chief Ventura of the Polícia de Segurança Pública.”
“Pleased to meet you. I have a location on our kidnap victims.”
The man’s eyes widened, an excited smile shared with his compatriots. “Excellent news! We will leave at once.”
They followed the small entourage through the airport, their escort making a show of shouting for the thin crowds to get out of the way, Ventura clearly one who reveled upon the small amount of power he possessed.
It made him nervous.
Three squad cars were waiting outside, filled with men, none of whom appeared properly equipped for an assault.
“Are your men trained for this?”
Ventura laughed. “Absolutely. Just tell your friends to keep their heads down when we get there.” Laughter erupted from the cars, a little too much eagerness visible in the eyes. Reading sighed as he climbed into the back seat of Ventura’s car.
It might have been better to get Kane’s people.