Part 31 (1/2)
”Who?”
”Cameron Sumner.”
”The Colombian disaster.”
Banner sighed. ”I wish everyone would stop saying that. The Colombian thing is over. We did nothing wrong.”
Rickell nodded. ”I know. I'll help wrap that up when I get back.”
They drove for a while, Banner navigating the narrow streets to hit the main road to the airport. He heard Rickell chuckle.
”I was losing that game, but I was ahead overall. For the first time ever, I was ahead. If you hadn't stopped me, I would have put it all back on the table. But thanks to you I'm ahead. It's a good way to go out.”
A half hour later, Banner pulled the car up to a spot on a road near the runway at the Frankfurt airport. He killed the engine and sat in the silence.
”I can't tell you how relieved I am to know that the gambling returned because of a poisoning,” Rickell said. ”Have you ever had an impulse that you couldn't control?”
Banner thought about the moment he'd wanted to continue fighting, and when he stared at Frau Kartiner. He'd controlled himself, but just barely.
”No, but I've been close,” he said.
”Well, it's a frightening thing when your body craves what your mind rejects.”
Banner didn't reply.
Rickell reached for the door. ”Thank you for getting me.”
”You're welcome.”
”Don't die out there.”
Rickell slammed the door and walked away.
50.
BANNER'S PHONE RANG TEN MINUTES AFTER HE LANDED IN BERBERA, Somalia. He glanced at the readout. The number listed was unfamiliar. He punched the green b.u.t.ton.
”Banner here.”
”It is Giovanni Roducci.”
Banner snapped to attention. Roducci wouldn't call him if he'd had an opportunity to speak to Stromeyer. Something was up. ”Yes?”
”I have just learned that both you and Major Stromeyer may be targeted for death.”
Banner did his best not to let his mouth drop open. ”Who's targeting us?”
”A man called the Vulture. He is a corporate raider from Europe. Lots of money that he spreads around. No one really knows his true ident.i.ty, because he operates out of a tangled ma.s.s of offsh.o.r.e sh.e.l.l corporations, but it is believed his influence reaches into the highest levels of society. Unfortunately, he uses the influence to harm those who get in his way.”
”How have I gotten in his way?”
”You haven't. You got in the way of a Somali warlord. This warlord cut a deal that included wiping Darkview off the planet.”
”What does the Vulture get in return for killing me?”
”He gets the warlord to capture a cruise s.h.i.+p that carries several dealers waiting to bid for the formula for a new drug. Once the warlord captures the s.h.i.+p, he takes the dealers hostage and gives the Vulture the cargo. The Vulture wipes out his compet.i.tion in one clean sweep, and no one will suspect he's behind the attack. After all, pirate attacks have become quite common in the past few years, so it will be considered just another act of piracy.”
”Is Major Stromeyer aware of this?”
”She is. I contacted her first, of course.”
”Of course,” Banner said. He was surprised Roducci even bothered to let him know. Sometimes he thought Roducci would like nothing better than to see Banner out of his way.
”What did Stromeyer say?”
”She told me that you had already placed bodyguards around her in response to some recent threats. Then she asked me to warn you. She would have done it herself, but she was concerned about a wiretap.”
A man in military clothing stepped up to Banner. ”Your helicopter to the Redoubtable is ready,” he whispered at Banner. Banner acknowledged him with a nod.
”Thank you, Mr. Roducci.”
”Anytime, Signor Banner.”
TARRANT SAT OUTSIDE STROMEYER'S HOUSE. He'd had no opportunity to hit her with the pen all day. The two bodyguards never left her side. He checked his watch. He'd been sitting in the car for over three hours. He needed to do something soon. Take some action. He reached into the glove compartment, extracted two more pills, his last, and downed them with a whiskey chaser. His nerves were uncommonly jittery. A knock on the driver's-side window startled him. He saw only dark knuckles and antelope cuff links. It was the African. Tarrant lowered the window.
”I thought you would never get here. I'm out,” Tarrant said.
”Yes, you are,” the African said. He pointed a gun with a silencer at Tarrant's head and shot him. He walked calmly away, flipping open a phone as he did. ”It's finished,” he said.
”And the woman?”
”Alive.”
”Good.”
The African was confused. He thought the woman was supposed to be targeted for elimination.
”Why don't you want her dead?”
”She received a confidential communication from an arms trader, mentioning my involvement. She started digging, looking for my ident.i.ty. She is quite adept at obtaining information. She notified the DOD that if she or Banner is injured or killed, they are to activate an investigation.”
The African felt a stab of fear. ”Does she know us?”