Angels Don't Die (Madeleine Toche Series Book 2) (14 page)

“Who?”  Ariel questioned.

“
L’ange de la mort
,” Hartmann said.

From behind and to the right, Madeleine called out walking up slowly, a single pistol held at her side.

“Drop your weapon,” Ariel shouted preparing to raise her own.

“Do that and you’ll die,” Hartmann said placing his hand on top of Ariel’s forearm.  Ariel looked at Hartmann.  His eyes were fixed on the approaching individual.

Pulling her hat from her head and shaking out her wild mane of black hair, Madeleine said, “Has the world forgotten how dangerous it is to shoot at the great Berthold Hartmann?”  Her face held a smile reserved for loved ones and old friends.

“Madeleine Toche,” Hartmann said, walking past Ariel.  Madeleine holstered her pistol and walked towards her old mentor.

“It’s good to see you,” Madeleine said, reaching out to grasp both of Hartmann’s hands in hers.  “What did you do, start another war?”

“It’s certainly going to start soon now,” Hartmann said, glancing around.  “I assume you’re here for the NSA agent. Perhaps we can discuss how I can help you.”

Madeleine turned in the direction of the approaching sirens.  She leaned towards Hartmann and whispered the address where she and the others were staying.

“I will meet up with you later,” Madeleine said.

“Before you go, I’d like to introduce you to Ariel.”

Madeleine turned to face Ariel, smiling.

“Your skills are formidable,” Ariel said reaching out for Madeleine’s hand.

“I watched you fight, you have no fear.  I appreciate you watching out for Director Hartmann, although if you knew him as I do, he hardly needs minding,” Madeleine said, with a quick glance towards her old mentor.

“It’s good to see you and have you fighting at my side again,” Hartmann said with conviction.

The sirens grew louder.  “I have to go now,” Madeleine said gesturing with her head towards the sound.

“Here, I believe these are your brand,” Hartmann said, reaching into his pocket and taking out a package of Gauloises.

Madeleine smiled and shook her head, accepting the cigarettes.

Without another word, Madeleine was on the stairs and moving out of sight.

“How will she get out?  The response teams will have closed off the neighborhood,” Ariel said, watching Madeleine disappear.

“Ariel, she will disappear as if she was never here.  There is a level of training and experience far above your own.  The training I can share with you, the experience, never.  It is not something you would ever covet,” Hartmann said.

“How does she know you?”

“I trained her,” Hartmann said. “Let’s get out of here and find out what’s going on. I wouldn’t be surprised if we’re not at war by now,” he sighed. “I could use a drink. I’m getting too old to be blown up in a car anymore.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

             
“Things are escalating,” Madeleine said, exhaling cigarette smoke as she sat back on the small couch in the living room of the safe house. John and Jack listened to her description of the raid on the Mossad compound impassively, carefully noting her descriptions of the attackers and their Russian-issued weapons. 

             
“We have the location of the Al Lubnani compound. It’s about an hour south of here, along the coast.  The PLO may be keeping Tracy there.  We need to either verify that or eliminate that location,” John said.

             
“Can Hartmann help with that?” Jack asked.

             
“I’m not sure they know any more than we do about the specific facts of Tracy’s capture, but they’ll have details of how the PLO operated in the past with respect to prisoners.  If Tracy isn’t there, then we need to send another strong message up the line to the PLO leaders.  We kill enough of their people and put the fear of death into them, some useful information might be forthcoming,” Madeleine said, lighting another cigarette off the first. Her movements were still very precise as the tension of battle slowly wore off.

             
“How do we get in touch with Hartmann?” Karen asked.

             
“He slipped me his direct number inside of the packet of cigarettes he gave me,” Madeleine said smiling.  “He must have prepared the packet earlier and carried it around with him.”

             
“He must have suspected it was your handiwork the other night,” John said.

             
“He knows my signature better than anyone,” Madeleine said opening a small sheet of paper.  “We should all memorize this phone number.  He’ll expect me to destroy it once that is done.”

             
“The direct phone number to the head of the Mossad isn’t given out lightly,” Jack observed.

             
“I expect Hartmann will be back in his office following the attack.  The Israelis must be confident now that war is imminent,” Madeleine said.

             
“I sure hope that the more cautious faction in the Knesset that has kept a wait and see attitude, would see the attack as a signal for war,” Jack said.

             
“What will we be able to do when war starts?  Won’t that make it harder to find Tracy?” Karen said.

             
“Actually, Karen, I think it will make it easier.  I’ve always found that when full scale combat begins, all eyes tend to shift towards the battle and away from security at the rear.  It might afford us our best opportunity yet,” Madeleine said in a reassuring tone.

             
“She’s right, Karen,” John said, putting his arm around Karen’s shoulders.

             
Madeleine stood up and looked down at her clothes.  “Half the pigeons in Jerusalem must visit that roof regularly.  I need to change.  And then we need to find a phone and call this number.”

             
“We’ll discuss our plan of attack for the compound, while you’re busy, and see what we can come up with,” Jack said.

             
“We’re going to attack a heavily defended compound.  We’re going to need a diversion or two,” Madeleine answered.

             
“I’ve always found being fired on by a fifty caliber machinegun tends to attract attention,” John said.

             
“That and a satchel charge,” Jack agreed.

             
“Then you men know what we need.  I think one vehicle for the assault and the other stashed where we can get to it.  We’ll need extra weapons and food as well,” Madeleine said.

             
Karen stood a short distance from the phone booth watching as Madeleine’s conversation continued.  The phone was a short walk towards the market from their quarters.   She could see that information was being obtained as she observed Madeleine nod and smile tersely.

             
Madeleine hung up the phone and turned towards Karen and gave her a quick smile.

             
“Hartmann gave me detailed information about the location of the compound.  His organization has some rudimentary knowledge about the layout of the place. It’s been under observation by members of the Israeli military, but there’s no proof that anything illegal or contrary to Israel’s security is going on there.  He gave no indication that the PLO would keep Tracy there indefinitely, especially now that war is imminent. He also believes the PLO, under the influence of the Russians, might plan to use Tracy in some specific way.  Perhaps in a prisoner exchange or they might make an example out of him,” Madeleine said, holding Karen’s eyes with hers.

             
“I know the stakes and the odds, Madeleine.  That’s why I will do whatever it takes.”

             
“Good, we can put that to good use.  Let’s get back and see what those two are up to,” Madeleine said.

             
“When will we go?” Karen asked.

             
“We don’t need to wait any longer, we should go tonight, but I’m pretty tired out.  I think I’ll try to get some sleep this afternoon.  Even a few hours would help,” Madeleine said.

             
“Good idea.  I’m finding out that waiting is the hardest part,” Karen said.

             
“You know, we may not find him tonight, Karen.”

             
“I know, but it’ll get us one step closer and give us a chance to send another strong message,” Karen answered firmly.

“If anything goes wrong, and things often do, we’ll rely on you to get us out.  I can’t stress the importance of your role tonight,” Madeleine added.
             

             
“Will I be armed?” Karen asked.

             
“A couple of shotguns and a pistol would be best,” Madeleine said off handedly.

             
“I’ve shot both many times,” Karen said.

             
“Start with the shotgun.  It will be an automatic loaded with heavy buckshot.  You lay down a hail of that, people tend to get out of the way,” Madeleine said.

             
“That sounds like my style,” Karen said.

             
“Then let’s get back and get you prepared.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

             
Madeleine watched through the apartment window as Karen stood inches from John, shaking her finger in his face.  John must have suggested that Karen stay behind once he had heard Madeleine’s plan to include Karen in the assault.  Madeleine averted her gaze as the one-sided discussion ended, with Karen the obvious winner.  I doubt John will say anything about it to me, Madeleine thought as she prepared her own gear.  A compact satchel charge lay on the couch in front of her.  She liked to prepare and handle her own ordnance and weapons.  She only trusted herself when it came to these kinds of preparations.

             
“We’re losing daylight and have a drive to make,” Jack called out from the other room.

             
“We should get going and at least get close to the target before it’s completely dark,” John said, walking through the front door.  Madeleine caught his eye; he gave a genuine smile of defeat and shrugged his shoulders.

             
“I had to try,” he said quietly before Karen reached the top of the stairs, having stayed outside to let her anger subside.

             
“Doesn’t do any good, mate,” Jack said, picking up the canvas bags that held the machinegun and tripod.

             
“Men and their need to protect women,” Madeleine said with a hint of sarcasm, smiling at Karen as she walked into the room.

             
“It’s part of our power over them,” Karen said, looking directly at John, daring him to say anything.

             
“I gave up,” John said, raising his hands in mock surrender.

             
“Time to gear up,” Madeleine said handing a radio to Karen and Jack.  “Once we’re within a couple of miles from the target, we’ll meet up and finalize our positions.  Right now, we’re tourists out for a little excursion.  We’ll be driving away from the likely battle zones, so we shouldn’t encounter any patrols.”

             
“Like you said, Madeleine, their eyes will be looking the other way,” Karen said.

             
The four of them
moved towards the back door where John had parked two Land Rovers under tarps.

             
Karen and Jack settled into the driver’s seats.  Karen’s Range Rover had once been red; now it was sand-scoured and faded to a tired pale orange beneath layers of dust.  Jack’s wasn’t in any better shape and had either been tan once or was so embedded with sand and dirt that it looked that way.  Madeleine and John slid into the passenger seats and checked the radios one last time.  John had modified the rear seats in both vehicles to store their weapons and ordnance.  The seats could be raised to allow access to large compartments.  The radios were small enough to conceal in a couple of canvas bags partially filled with bottled water and clothing.  Each of them had a pistol under their seats. A nod from Madeleine and Karen backed out first, closely followed by Jack.  A few moments later, the four American tourists headed south with a truckload of munitions beneath their gaily colored picnic blanket.

             
An hour and a half later, between hills empty of life, Madeleine called a stop.  The sun was gone, but the dusty rocks still held the heat of the day.