Read Online Targets of Revenge by Jeffrey Stephens - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Jeffrey Stephens
Ads: Link
of Barranquitas, which was their rendezvous point. Raabe was going to pilot the seaplane into the gulf, set it down, and await a signal from Sandor for pickup.
Now, however, Sandor was going to arrive at the shore a lot sooner than anticipated, a lot farther south than intended, and with a lot more fanfare. He could only hope his friends got an early start on their flight.
Carlos said there was a pickup of the narcotics set for this morning. He described a clearing near the shore where the drugs would be offloaded onto a Fountain twin-engine manned by the crew that would take the cargo north. Their speedboat was likely to be Sandor’s best chance out of there if he could figure a way past the armed drug runners who would have already received word an unwelcome visitor was en route.
As he careened forward it was clear that this dirt road had no turnoffs, no alternate path through the jungle. He could ditch the jeep and make the last part of the trip on foot, but with Adina’s men coming after him from behind and a welcoming party ahead the idea did not seem all that attractive.
He decided to improvise.
————
Adina stood on the rear porch of the house, surrounded by his men. He was in his early sixties, tall, and trimly built with fine features, straight gray hair, and a dark, unfriendly mien. Even at this hour he was elegantly attired. He wore an expensive silk robe with brocade trim, his hair combed straight back and neatly in place, no evidence of sleep or panic in his reptilian eyes. When Alejandro began to give details of what had occurred and who was to blame, Adina held up his hand, commanding silence.
“I understand enough to know this is not the time for explanations or recriminations. This is the time for action.” Pointing to Francisco and one of the others, he said, “Go and get this man. Now.”
The two ran off to find a means to chase the intruder.
Adina directed his attention to Alejandro. “Come inside with me. Call ahead to our friends and tell them there is going to be a delay of a couple of hours in making our delivery this morning. Explain that we have had an intruder and ask for their help in apprehending this man. Alive if possible, yes?”
Alejandro nodded.
Pointing to two of his other men, Adina said, “You come in as well. And bring him,” he ordered, gesturing toward Carlos, whom he had purposely ignored up till then. The lab technician was standing off to the side, his eyes cast down, the look of gloom evident to all. “The rest of you, you know what to do. There may be others in the area, but it does not seem likely. Help Francisco repair the vehicles. Patrol the grounds. Find out what happened here.”
————
Sandor was keeping a close watch in the rearview mirror as he barreled ahead. He knew they would find some way to come after him, but he never expected them to come on motorcycles. He had not seen any bikes in the compound. Carlos had not mentioned them. He didn’t even hear them as they approached, with the noise of his jeep and the bouncy ride. When he spotted the first one it was coming up fast. Then he saw the second. The agile, high-powered motorcycles were a faster means of transport on this hardscrabble road than his jeep, especially since the riders knew the terrain and Sandor did not. They were keeping to the outer edges of the road, where there were fewer bumps and holes, one man on each side.
Outrunning them was not possible. He had to stop them.
They were gaining on him from both sides, almost in range for them to begin firing. Knowing that control of his vehicle was more important than ever, Sandor could neither slow down nor could he risk accelerating beyond a speed where he could safely negotiate this teeth-jarring route. He reached for the MAC 10 that was sitting onthe passenger seat beside him and laid it across his lap. Then, in one deft motion, he downshifted, jammed on the brake, and yanked the steering wheel hard to the left.
The jeep
Now, however, Sandor was going to arrive at the shore a lot sooner than anticipated, a lot farther south than intended, and with a lot more fanfare. He could only hope his friends got an early start on their flight.
Carlos said there was a pickup of the narcotics set for this morning. He described a clearing near the shore where the drugs would be offloaded onto a Fountain twin-engine manned by the crew that would take the cargo north. Their speedboat was likely to be Sandor’s best chance out of there if he could figure a way past the armed drug runners who would have already received word an unwelcome visitor was en route.
As he careened forward it was clear that this dirt road had no turnoffs, no alternate path through the jungle. He could ditch the jeep and make the last part of the trip on foot, but with Adina’s men coming after him from behind and a welcoming party ahead the idea did not seem all that attractive.
He decided to improvise.
————
Adina stood on the rear porch of the house, surrounded by his men. He was in his early sixties, tall, and trimly built with fine features, straight gray hair, and a dark, unfriendly mien. Even at this hour he was elegantly attired. He wore an expensive silk robe with brocade trim, his hair combed straight back and neatly in place, no evidence of sleep or panic in his reptilian eyes. When Alejandro began to give details of what had occurred and who was to blame, Adina held up his hand, commanding silence.
“I understand enough to know this is not the time for explanations or recriminations. This is the time for action.” Pointing to Francisco and one of the others, he said, “Go and get this man. Now.”
The two ran off to find a means to chase the intruder.
Adina directed his attention to Alejandro. “Come inside with me. Call ahead to our friends and tell them there is going to be a delay of a couple of hours in making our delivery this morning. Explain that we have had an intruder and ask for their help in apprehending this man. Alive if possible, yes?”
Alejandro nodded.
Pointing to two of his other men, Adina said, “You come in as well. And bring him,” he ordered, gesturing toward Carlos, whom he had purposely ignored up till then. The lab technician was standing off to the side, his eyes cast down, the look of gloom evident to all. “The rest of you, you know what to do. There may be others in the area, but it does not seem likely. Help Francisco repair the vehicles. Patrol the grounds. Find out what happened here.”
————
Sandor was keeping a close watch in the rearview mirror as he barreled ahead. He knew they would find some way to come after him, but he never expected them to come on motorcycles. He had not seen any bikes in the compound. Carlos had not mentioned them. He didn’t even hear them as they approached, with the noise of his jeep and the bouncy ride. When he spotted the first one it was coming up fast. Then he saw the second. The agile, high-powered motorcycles were a faster means of transport on this hardscrabble road than his jeep, especially since the riders knew the terrain and Sandor did not. They were keeping to the outer edges of the road, where there were fewer bumps and holes, one man on each side.
Outrunning them was not possible. He had to stop them.
They were gaining on him from both sides, almost in range for them to begin firing. Knowing that control of his vehicle was more important than ever, Sandor could neither slow down nor could he risk accelerating beyond a speed where he could safely negotiate this teeth-jarring route. He reached for the MAC 10 that was sitting onthe passenger seat beside him and laid it across his lap. Then, in one deft motion, he downshifted, jammed on the brake, and yanked the steering wheel hard to the left.
The jeep
Similar Books
