American Mutant (31 page)

“Badri had Carolyn suspended in a four foot square cage,” Johnny explained. “She was covered with open sores, and her feet were lacerated. We do not know exactly what he did in there. We know six men went in to the place where they kept the girl, and when the screaming ended, only Thomas and Carolyn came out.”

“So when you and your team heard what was going down, you all decided to join in.”

“I could have ordered my team back, but they literally live and die with Thomas after these past weeks with him,” Johnny said. “I lead the team in so far as support goes, but they know what he wants, and they let nothing get in the way of it. The ambush we almost walked into in Damascus cemented it. They all believe, and rightfully so, they would be dead if not for him. Thomas has brought out every little girl, and never lost or left any of the rest of us behind on the way.”

Nate nodded his understanding, and finished off his shot. He signaled for another, and Johnny refilled both of their shot glasses. “So things went a bit wild there at Mr. Badri’s house, huh?”

“Before I knew it, my men were up and moving. Badri’s lackeys were on their way to see what was happening. They never had a chance. The team took them down before they could get off a shot. Thomas came out from the building. He had covered the girl in robes. We could not tell it was him for a moment. I doubt there was a single spot on him without blood, and his eyes were like the ones you expect to see in an animal, black and without reflection. Carolyn clung to him as he came out looking around wildly, but there was no one left there alive for him to protect the girl from. He just looked around for a moment, and then he smiled. With the girl in his arms, he got in the passenger side of the vehicle. The rest of us just gathered around where he sat in the open jeep. He touched her face, and said something in her ear. She nodded at him and let go of him.”

“He asked one of your men, Tim I think, to take her back to the next check point,” Nate added from what he knew. “He sounded okay, but I was asking him for a report, and getting nothing in return. The screaming inside had freaked Karen, and she does not frighten easily.”

“Yea, well Thomas bathed himself a bit with a bucket of water, which gave him a more human look. He told our team, who were just following him around, to search the entire area, and release anyone they find. He started dragging the bodies from outside into the small building Carolyn had been held in. Some of the guys tried to give him a hand, but he stopped them, and told them to continue their recon.

I tried talking to him after he got all the bodies in the building,” Johnny shrugged, “but he told me he needed to just keep going for a while. I told him the blood running down his back looked fresh. He said not to worry, he took a couple of hits, but he was okay. Connor grabbed some flares after he threw around some fuel, he had found, all over the inside of the building. He torched it with the flares. When the rest of the team returned, Thomas was still standing there watching it. I guess he took into consideration the building was in the middle of this compound, and the fire would not spread, because it really went up fast.”

“You found about forty others there,” Nate added. “Did you get them all on their way? I left the States as soon as you asked me too, so I never heard how you made out with the others.”

Johnny Loo nodded. “We returned them all back to the villages they were taken from. They had not been treated like Carolyn. The problem came when we all returned to our checkpoint. Thomas checked on Carolyn, who was already with our medical team, then he came back out, and shook hands with everyone like always. He told me he would be back just after nightfall. We tried to get him to tell us what was up, but he said he just had to take care of something. Before we could say anymore, he hopped into the vehicle he had gone on the mission with and took off.

I asked Carolyn if she knew why Connor may have taken off like he did. She was pretty groggy from the pain killers, but she said when he took her from the cage, he cried out like she had hurt him.”

Nate shook his head. “He saw something when he came into contact with Carolyn.”

“Yep, and he went to set things right,” Loo added. “Badri had a place where his drug operation ran out of. The guy he had in charge there had been the one who tortured Carolyn. God only knows what that boy went through before he died. Our guys were getting anxious about Thomas, and they were ready to go out and get him, even though I told them we had no idea where he was.

Just when I had thought he had cashed in, he came on line. Luckily, we were still monitoring. Thomas said he was about twenty minutes away, and he had three young girls with him, but he had some warlord guy on his tail. He said he needed an ambush set up, and where the best place would be to do it. We were in position when he came by with what looked like a small army behind him.

Sonny jumped out, and rocketed the first truck after Thomas passed by. The rest never knew what hit them. We knew we had to get the hell out of there, so after we made sure his trailers were taken care of, we beat it back to the checkpoint. I had already sent Tim with Carolyn, and the medical team, back for transport out.

We found Connor passed out over the steering wheel of the Jeep, with three girls crying and holding each other in the back. Two were French, and one was Dutch. I speak French, so I calmed them down, while some of the guys eased Connor out of the jeep. He came to while we were on our way out. He said we were in trouble, and to warn you guys to get the spin machine going.”

“The French and Dutch governments helped considerably when the little girls were returned. We hardly needed any help quieting things down after they took a hand,” Nate said. “It got a little dicey at first. They found twenty-three bodies at the drug lab. You guys accounted for eighteen more.”

“We didn’t know too many of the specifics, because we had to get out so fast, and Thomas was in no condition to talk.”

“Where is Thomas?” Nate asked.

“He’s in one of the bedrooms. We got some food in him when we returned, and he cleaned up okay. He wouldn’t let the medical team we have with us look at him.” Johnny paused to sip his shot. “I called you, because he ain’t healing like he did the other times. I think he’s about at the end of whatever rope he was using.”

Nate stood up. “Let’s go see him. I promised Karen, if she stayed in the States, I would contact her the moment I saw Thomas. She heard you, and tried to pull a
Forest Gump
like when he found out his Mom in the movie was sick. I was afraid she would go jump in the nearest ocean, and start swimming here.”

Johnny laughed for the first time in a long while as he also stood up from the table. “She really likes him, huh?”

“She’s pregnant with the Mutant’s baby.”

Johnny stopped dead in his tracks, and spun around to face Nate. “You have got to be kidding. Did she tell you herself?”

“Yea,” Nate replied. “After she started throwing up, and the little caffeine addict could not even smell coffee without getting nauseous. Women always think men are dumber than a pile of rocks. I confronted her, and she admitted it. She made me promise not to tell Thomas.”

“Why the hell not? The guy could use a little good news,” Johnny objected.

“She just doesn’t want to add anymore to the load he insists on carrying around by himself,” Nate answered. “She may be right. Lead on, and let me see how Captain America looks.”

Johnny led him back through the living room area to the first bedroom. Inside the room, Nate saw Connor lying on his back under the covers of the bed. He stopped and looked at Johnny in shock.

“He looks like a fucking corpse,” Nate whispered.

“He lost a lot of blood Nate, and he.”

“Hello,” Connor mumbled without opening his eyes, “I can hear you two meatballs.”

Nate walked over, and put a hand on Connor’s shoulder. “Hey Mutie, how the hell you doin’?”

Connor opened his eyes, then focused on Nate with some difficulty. He smiled crookedly. “Great, until I heard I looked like a fucking corpse. Glad to see you Nate. Did you get things handled, or will the United Nations be launching an attack on us soon?”

Nate lifted the blanket, “Christ Thomas, you ain’t looking too good boy. Why don’t we get you to a hospital.”

Connor slowly pushed himself up to a sitting position. Blood had soaked through his tee-shirt in a couple of spots in the front. There were bandages, but they were red under the shirt. “Johnny patched me up, and I’m healing. I just need to focus a little more. You boys have been drinking. Needed some liquid courage to come in and face the evil mutant, did we?”

“Hell, I needed a shooter before coming in and having to look at that ugly body of yours. They shoot horses that look better than you do.” Nate paused. “Look Mutie, we can probably get this next girl out without you. Why not go.”

Connor held up his hand to stop his friend. “You and I both know better than that. The whole team would be dead by the time you got a glimpse of her, and we would have an incident no amount of blackmail would cover.”

“We have two men on the team who speak Russian fluently Thomas,” Johnny broke in. “They can.”

“They can go in with me, but I am going. Moscow will be the last.”

“You do not appear to be healing at all partner,” Nate commented. “How in hell will you be ready in two days to leave for Moscow?”

“I’m better than I look. I’ll get cleaned up, and then we can get something to eat.” Connor looked at Johnny. “How are the men doing?”

“A hell of a lot better than you whip boy. Come on and let Nate and I see you get out of that bed by yourself.”

“I don’t need an audience, I will see you guys out in the living room.”

“Look Thomas,” Nate began.

“What part of get out, don’t you understand?”

Johnny laughed. “Come on Nate. He must be feeling better, because he hasn’t ordered anyone around in two days.”

Chapter 31 Moscow
 

Nate sat talking with the rest of the team, about plans for the Moscow mission, when Connor walked stiffly into the room. He had on blue jeans, and a khaki colored short sleeve shirt. Nate could see he had replaced the bandages on his front, and changed his undershirt. The men jumped up at once, and the respect Nate saw in the way they looked at Connor was nothing short of idolatry. Connor smiled, and motioned for them to sit down.

“How you boys doing? I guess Nate here is filling you in on the last mission. I want to thank all of you for putting up with me the last couple of days. I know I have not been communicating well.”

The man who had been introduced to Nate as Nick stood up again. “Don’t ever explain yourself again Mr. Connor. I speak for all the guys. It has been a pleasure serving under you. We never dreamed so much could be accomplished.”

There were a chorus in agreement to Nick’s words, and Connor nodded. “Sorry, I should have known better than to say something as lame as that. How about we go get something to eat out on the town. It will be Nate’s treat, right Nate?”

Nate stood up. “It would be an honor to buy you boys dinner. Johnny and I will take the invalid with us. I expect you guys already have a restaurant you like around here.”

“They like the restaurant at the Le Grand,” Johnny informed him. “Thomas has them all spoiled like a bunch of tourists. Nick, you come with us too. I need a driver.”

“Yes Sir,” Nick agreed, “You smell like it Sir.”

“Why you disrespectful, little.” Johnny jumped up and grabbed the six foot four inch Nick around his neck while the others laughed.

Nate sat next to Connor in the back, while Johnny Loo sat up front with Nick. “Are you losing your healing factor there Wolverine?”

Connor shook his head negatively. “I’ve been pushing it Nate. The healing has slowed some. We just needed to move before we lost our edge.” “Are you sure you ain’t just dying?” Nate asked. “Gee, what a nice compliment,” Connor quipped. “I have two days to work on getting healed up.”

“Got any ideas about how you want to do the approach?”

“I think I will fly in as Pierre again, and see how far I can get,” Connor replied. “I just won’t call ahead this time.”

“Why not just find an official, and go in disguised as him?” Nate asked.

“Because they might just open up on me,” Connor explained. “They at least know Pierre, and do business with him. He acts as one of their suppliers. We’ll slip the team in and hook up with our local resources. Once we get a chance to recon this guy’s setup, we move. I’ll call and see if I can get right in to see Mr. Nicoloff. From there the escape route will be important.”

“This won’t be any third world cesspool job Thomas,” Nate said. “We have very limited resources with this, and if the body count gets high, we will have a full-scale international incident. No one will get out of there alive.”

“You didn’t let this out to the White House did you Nate?”

“Hell no,” Nate replied. “I told them the missions were over. Derek will tell them we found the last girl we thought had died, and we had to move quickly. If you’re successful with a get in and get out operation, we can present it as a done deal. If things go to hell, I guess we just go into hiding.”

“I will be careful Nate. If I find something which needs redress, I will go back by myself,” Connor agreed.

“You got it, only I will go with you,” Nate said, “and we will kill everyone in Moscow. I never did like those assholes.”

Connor laughed. “You’re on Nate. Seriously, I will bring her out without any loss of life, except for Mr. Nicoloff.”

“How do you want to handle support?”

“Two vehicles, one to pick me up with the girl, and the second to run interference for the first vehicle. I think it might be a good idea if we have a couple of men in place to take out anyone following me out of the building. Can we find a couple of silenced sniper rifles in Russia to use for this mission? They might make all the difference in the world.”

“I’ll get on it right away,” Nate promised. “This will have to be at night if you expect to get everyone in position and back out. Will you be taking everyone?”

“I was thinking of a total of six men, including me,” Connor replied. “I will take Johnny in with me, and introduce him as a Chinese connection I want Nicoloff to meet. The two drivers will be whoever speaks Russian. The two snipers will have to be our best.”

Johnny, who had been listening, turned quickly. “You mean I get to go with you all the way this time? I can do my Charlie Chan imitation for them. This will be so smooth.”

Nate sighed deeply, as Connor and Nick laughed. “You think he’s joking, don’t you? Don’t take this psycho with you Thomas. He will just shoot his mouth off at the wrong time. I will go with you. I speak Russian.”

“I need you keeping the way out of the country open, if you can stay on this one,” Connor replied.

“I can do that,” Nate agreed, “but what about what I said about the oriental demon in the front seat?”

“I’ll give you an oriental demon,” Johnny reached for Nate, but both of his wrists were grabbed in Nate’s big right hand.

“Sorry Charlie,” Nate chuckled, “but in this tight space, I will tear the venerable Loo out a new one. Promise to behave, or I will have to keep these.” He shook Johnny’s wrists slightly.

“Okay, okay,” Johnny relented, “but I will of course have to have my revenge to save face.”

Nate released him with a smile. “No one could save that thing, but bring it to me anytime.”

“You guys are too old for this grab-assing around,” Connor informed them. “Knock it off. You are setting bad examples for young Nick here.”

“Yea right,” Johnny said, as he gave Nick’s head a push. “So, what will I be doing when I’m with you?”

“Not much I hope. I want to use you as an excuse for my visit. We can wing it as far as small talk when we get there. Once we have him alone, and find out where he has Gina, I will take him out and assume his identity. If everything goes right, we will not need to do anything else besides walk out.”

“I’ve heard that before,” Johnny commented.

They sat together in first class. Johnny reached over, grabbed a piece of Connor’s steak off of his plate, and popped it in his mouth. Connor watched this with much amusement. He again wondered at how the lanky agent could stay in such good shape, and eat as much as he did.

“Would you like the rest of my dinner Mr. Chan?” Connor asked.

Johnny shook his head as he stuffed the last spoonful of potatoes off of his plate into his mouth, and then washed it all down with the beer he had ordered. “No, you mutants need your strength, especially when disguised as French toads. How are you feeling by the way? I noticed you squirming around in your seat.”

“I feel a lot better. I’m still a little stiff though. I can never get comfortable on a plane.” Connor sat back as the steward took the trays from in front of the two men. Connor thanked him in Russian, which brought a smile to the steward’s face.

“Too bad we don’t have that good looking stewardess from back in coach. She really gave you the eyeball when we walked on, and every time she walks up here she smiles at you. Maybe you better think about becoming Pierre on a permanent basis. Think what it will do for your love life,” Johnny pointed out.

“My love life does not need any recommendations from you Charlie,” Connor stated.

“Maybe if you start over as Pierre, you won’t be such a whip boy,” Johnny laughed.

“You know Chan,” Connor grinned at his companion, “you are making me wish I would have flown in alone.”

“Man,” Johnny said in mock surprise, “you mutants are a touchy bunch. Am I supposed to be able to speak Russian?”

“No, once the introductions are over, we will speak in English probably. In any case, we will not be talking long.”

“How long has he had Ms. Lundren?” Johnny asked. “I didn’t see it in the file.”

“Six months,” Connor replied, “and she’s the oldest, at seventeen. Her parents still think she ran away from home. They’ve had people looking for her all over the country.”

“Well, it’s almost Christmas. I can think of worse presents than the one we have in mind for them,” Johnny added.

The plane began its descent as the fasten seat belt sign came on over their heads. The landing went well in spite of the icy conditions. No one was to approach them throughout the process of arrival. Connor and Loo were on their own until after they made contact with Nicoloff. The rest of the team were already on the ground, with the two Russian speaking members checking out the logistics of the mission. They had a man in customs, but he was only to smooth things if they had any trouble on the way out.

No one paid them any attention. Both men were dressed as high tech businessmen, which was to be their cover. They were in Moscow to sell high-end computer systems. They had decided on a hotel near Red Square. Although forty five minutes from the airport, the Hotel Metropol was only five minutes away from Nicoloff s residence in the city. Each man only carried a small suitcase. Connor laughed as Johnny’s face scrunched up in the cold wind on the way to the taxi. The drive to the hotel took fifteen minutes longer because of the weather, and the Russian cab was not a luxurious ride.

Connor asked the driver in Russian if the restaurant at the Metropol was any good, and received a glowing report on the food there. When the driver realized Connor spoke Russian fluently, he talked about everything under the sun for the entire trip to the Metropol. By the time they reached the hotel, they were like old friends. Connor knew the rate to the hotel to be around forty-five dollars, so he gave the driver a hundred dollars. The driver gave him a card with his name and cab number hand printed on it. Connor promised to call him if they needed a ride back to the airport.

When they were finally checked in, Connor took off his suit coat. He lay down on the bed, and closed his eyes. Connor woke up, hours later, with Johnny gently shaking him. “Man, I wish I could sleep like that. I thought for a moment, when you first got on the bed, you had passed out.”

“How long have I been out?” Connor asked.

“Three hours. I unpacked us, and our contact here passed me this little beauty down in the lobby.”

Johnny showed him the small electronic device. “We are clear then,” Connor asked.

“Yes, and I have our wires for wearing in to see old Nicoloff. You feeling well enough to go get some sustenance? It looks like you could use some good food.”

“I think that would be an excellent idea.”

Johnny touched the front of his shirt. “You leaking anywhere buddy?”

“No, I’m just sore. Did you get any rest?”

“I dozed off for a few minutes. I’m just hungry. Are you going to call our friend?”

“Right after we eat,” Connor promised. “I’ll give him a call, and see if he wants to meet up tomorrow night.”

“If he does, I’ll use our drop to get word to the team.”

“Well, no time like the present.” Connor walked over to the room phone, and explained in Russian to the hotel operator he wanted her to reach Dimetri Nicoloff, and gave her the number he had for him in Moscow. He gave her Pierre’s name, and asked her to ring him back when she had Nicoloff on the line.

Fifteen minutes later, as Connor finished some intricate stretching exercises, with Johnny Loo jeering him all the way through, the phone rang. Connor answered it, and the operator told him to wait. A few seconds later, a voice came on that Connor immediately filed away for future use.

“Pierre?”

“Dimetri, I am in Moscow over at the Metropol hotel. I have a companion I would like you to meet from China.”

“This must be important for you to contact me like this. I have told you before they watch me carefully,” Nicoloff said.

Connor could detect a note of irritation. “This man can bring a very early retirement for us both.”

There was a pause at the other end of the line. “Very well my friend, I will meet with you and your companion.”

“May I bring him over to your place tomorrow night?” Connor asked.

“I will give you a very short time tomorrow night to impress me. Do not disappoint me. Come at nine o’clock sharp.”

“Good Demetri, thank.” the line went dead in his ear. Connor put down the phone.

“That sounded like it could have went better,” Johnny commented.

“Speak from now on only in Chinese Johnny,” Connor said in that language.

“Okay,” Johnny agreed, switching to Chinese. “Do you think we should just try and wing it tonight?”

“No, but you had better go down now and put the team onto watching Nicoloff s every move. They must keep his residence under twenty-four hour surveillance until tomorrow night’s meeting. I don’t want him or any of his people moving around without us knowing where.”

“I got it.” Johnny sat down, scribbled some notes down on hotel stationary, and then headed for the door. “Be ready to go eat when I get back Mutie. I am starving.”

“As you wish Mr. Chan,” Connor bowed.

Johnny ducked back in the door. “Hey you disrespectful prick, we don’t bow. You have me confused with Mr. Moto.”