Gambit by David Hagberg (manga ereader .txt) 📗

finished, Li nodded. “It’s a way to get past their surveillance devices, if they have them.”

“They’re waiting for us, so I’m sure they’re prepared.”

“But they’ll have to be gullible, especially the woman.”

“They’re Americans, and you pointed out that he’s a romantic.”

“We’ll see,” Li said.

McGarvey stood in the darkness next to the bedroom window looking across the road and down the sand dunes to the beach and the Gulf. It was after four in the morning. There was no moon or clouds, and the sea was so flat he could see the reflection of stars.

He’d been up and down most of the night, checking the front first, and then the back, even though it was unnecessary. Otto’s surveillance system would alert them the moment anyone came within range. But it wasn’t what you prepared for; that was almost never the problem. It was the unexpected circumstances that mattered. The attack from an unexpected direction, or an attack from where you thought it would come, but in a completely different form.

It wouldn’t have surprised him to see an armed truck barreling up the road, guns blazing. But the last vehicle of any kind, a Mercedes convertible heading south, had passed by a couple of hours ago.

Since then, nothing had moved on the road, out in the Gulf, or along the ICW.

Pete came up behind him. “Just me,” she said softly so as not to startle him.

“I thought you were sleeping,” he said as she came into his arms.

“I was, and now it’s your turn.” She was wearing the same T-shirt and shorts she’d had on last night. She’d just lain on top of the blankets without even taking off her shoes.

Her subcompact Glock was stuffed in the waistband of her shorts, and one of the Beretta pistols was lying on the small table within arm’s reach of where they stood.

“Nothing might happen for a day or two, maybe even longer,” Pete said. “Both of us need to sleep and eat; otherwise, in a couple of days we’ll be sitting ducks. Now, go lie down; Lou will warn us if someone shows up.”

McGarvey looked toward the beach. “Someone’s coming.”

“You’ve known that for a couple of weeks now.”

“But it’ll be sooner than later. We won’t have to hole up here for long.”

Pete reached up and turned his face toward hers. “I heard an and in there,” she said.

“It won’t be over even then, unless they succeed this time.”

“Which you think they eventually will if they keep sending their hit men.”

McGarvey nodded, his worry for her safety spiking again. He felt like an old softy, but he’d been down this path too many times to feel any comfort or optimism.

“The list of the good ones is pretty small. Lou ought to be able to narrow it down.”

“The best ones are on no one’s list. What Lou will probably find is a list of assassinations over the past few years that have never been solved.”

“She can look for methodologies.”

“And find them, but if I were in the business, I wouldn’t do the same thing the same way every time.”

Pete smiled, the expression a little sad, her lips downturned at the corners. “But in a way, you are in the business, my darling. Both of us are.”

FORTY-TWO

The Marriott was comfortable and inexpensive. After a few hours of sleep and breakfast downstairs, they drove over to the airport, where Li left the Camry in long-term parking while Taio went inside to the Avis counter and rented a Ford Edge SUV under the Schilling ID, which they would use until they left Sarasota.

When he’d picked it up, he drove back to the arrivals gate, where Li was waiting for him. She got in, and he handed her his iPhone.

“Find the Gun Barn in Bradenton,” he said as he pulled away.

She retrieved it from the phone’s memory where Taio had stored it on the flight over, and the map came up. “Turn right out of here onto University Parkway and then right again on Tamiami Trail,” she said.

He followed her directions, and when they were heading north, past the west side of the airport, he glanced at her. She seemed tenser than usual for this stage of an op. “Are you okay?”

“A thousand things could go wrong. I’d rather be armed.”

“We discussed it last night,” Taio said. “If the woman gets even a hint that you’re carrying a weapon, she’ll take you down.”

“I can handle myself.”

“Yes, but McGarvey is the target.”

“Yes, and while you’ll be carrying an AR-15 with a bump stock, if you can still buy one, and coming up from the rear, I’ll be the bait.”

“This is America; just about any gun is for sale to just about anyone,” Taio said. “And right now, you’re the best chance we have for luring the woman out of their castle and McGarvey to come to the rescue of both of you.”

“What if neither of them comes out? Maybe they’ll call 911.”

“Then you will be rescued. But in the meantime, their attention will be diverted to the front of the house. Which is the point.”

“Let’s not make this a gambit move,” Li said, her voice suddenly soft.

“What do you mean?”

“Sacrifice me to capture the king.”

Taio reached over and brushed a finger over her cheek. “This is not a game of chess. It’s only one operation in a line of ops in which we’ve been partners.” He smiled. “Unless you’ve forgotten, I’m in love with you.”

She returned his smile. “You told me once, but I guess I forgot.”

“Then let me tell you again.”

McGarvey slept fitfully for only a few hours even though Pete had promised to alert him if she had the least doubt about anything. Since this business had begun last week in Georgetown, he’d been slowly wearing down. He was only fifty, but this morning, light streaming through the windows, he was beginning to feel his age.

He sat up and cocked an ear to listen. Pete wasn’t here, and for the moment, the house seemed unnaturally