Savage Son (James Reece #3) - Jack Carr Page 0,106
the system?”
“They will come up at next inventory in…” Holloway looked at the date on his G-Shock. “Twenty days. But even then, they will come up as 1149’d to you. Until we need them back, which we won’t, those are officially the property of the Central Intelligence Agency.”
* * *
[Redacted X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X]
The airfield was jointly operated, half Coast Guard and half civilian, with [Redacted X X X X X X X X X X] aircraft sitting opposite a collection of civil aviation aircraft, mostly single-engine propeller-driven planes. Though [XXX] didn’t ordinarily see much Gulfstream traffic, its [Redacted] runway offered plenty of room for the business jet to land. It touched down gently, tufts of blue smoke swirling off the tires.
The pilot steered the jet toward the black Chevy 2500 Suburban parked outside of one of the civilian hangars near the FBO on the south side of the airfield. James Reece was leaning against the hood. The engines were still whining when the door folded downward and Liz Riley descended the steps.
“You’re flying this thing now?” Reece asked.
“I’m just the copilot. I’m working on my pilot rating. It won’t be long with you and Raife jetting all over the world! Thanks for helping me with my hours.”
“Liz, I have some gear to load. It’s not much but I’m guessing it should go in cargo. Do you have a laptop on board? I need to do some planning on the way back to Montana. Does this thing have Wi-Fi?”
Liz nodded. “Of course it has Wi-Fi. It’s a G550. What do you think we are, Spirit Airlines?”
The two friends wasted little time opening the rear of the SUV and loading the Pelican cases and kit bags into the Gulfstream. Liz assessed the approximate weight of the gear and made some notes on an iPad.
Twenty minutes after the G550 had touched down, the fuel had been topped off, the cockpit crew had filed their flight plan, and they were airborne again, on their way to Kalispell.
CHAPTER 61
Petersburg Petroleum Company, Saint Petersburg, Russia
SVETLANA REALLY DID FEEL sorry for him. He’d morphed over the last month, gained confidence as he put his plan in place, only to have retreated into his shell as that plan had deteriorated into abject failure. She couldn’t help but wonder if the thumb drive she’d provided to the SVR had anything to do with it. Maybe she’d even take him home one night and help him find pleasure in a true sexual experience instead of the manufactured embarrassments she’d employed to gain access to his computer. Who knows? She might even enjoy it herself.
“I’ve made you some tea.”
“Thank you, Svetlana,” he said, continuing to stare into his computer. “Are you taking the metro home tonight?”
“Oh, Oliver, you work too hard. The metro only runs until midnight. It’s already half-past.”
“I am so sorry. I lost track of time. Let me get you a cab,” Oliver offered, reaching for his desk phone.
“You are too kind, but don’t trouble yourself. The city is full of them, even at this hour. I can manage. Don’t stay up too late.”
She lingered for a moment, resting her hand on his shoulder and giving it a sensuous squeeze. She did not see movement in his pants.
“I won’t,” Oliver lied. “Until tomorrow.”
“Until tomorrow,” she repeated.
“Good night, Svetlana.”
As soon as she was gone Oliver picked up his cell phone and sent a text. He then reached for his pipe and stood, moving to the large glass window that dominated the wall of his office.
Four men took their positions on the deserted street below. One walked past the building and took up station at the far end of the street. Another loitered at the opposite end of the block while two others stepped into an alley.
Oliver would have known they were bratva thugs even if he hadn’t just texted them to let them know their target was about to leave the building. In their dark jackets, jeans, and watch caps they looked the part.
Svetlana looked up and down the street for a cab and then began walking north to a corner where hailing one would be easier.
She’d never make it.
The two enforcers stepped out of the shadows into her path. Oliver’s heart beat faster as he saw her stop and take a step back, then hold out her purse to them.
She stole a glace up at his office window and when she did, Oliver lit his