Page 86 of Out of Control

“Russia? Ouch. Not a country known for its great treatment of our community.”

Drago stopped and turned to face Spencer. “That’s the first time I’ve ever heard you identify yourself as part of ‘our’ community.”

Spencer frowned. “I’ve identified as gay since I was about twelve years old.” Eager to change the subject, he commented, “Now that we’re back in business with gear, what’s next?”

“We call the first name on Mama’s list. Set up a meet.”

“We should offer one of Khoury’s laptops as an incentive for the guy to meet us. We can hand over the one that didn’t have anything decent on it.”

Drago nodded. “Good idea. We’ll need a cover story.”

“Tell him we recovered it from the fire. That we asked around and his name came up as someone who might have known Khoury.”

“Flimsy.”

Spencer shrugged. “SEALs are taught that flimsy excuses often work better than overthought ones that come across as too perfect.”

Drago muttered, “They teach us the same thing. But it’s experience that counts.”

“So what does your experience tell you about whether the next name will buy the ‘we found the laptop’ angle?”

“My experience tells me it won’t matter whether or not he buys the story. He’s going to want the laptop back no matter how bad an excuse we use.”

“Gee. Thanks.”

Drago swerved a little, bumping his shoulder against Spencer’s. “I wasn’t calling you bad at doing this stuff. You actually are half-decent at the spy game.”

Spencer laughed. “Let’s get into a shootout and I’ll let you know how good you are at the soldier game.”

Chapter Sixteen

DRAGO LAYflat beside Spencer on the roof of a brick factory that produced something involving grease and diesel odors. Below them stretched an open area between buildings that was completely free of obstacles.

“Good choice for a meeting,” Spencer murmured. “No hiding places. Nowhere to ambush a person from. Our guy should feel fairly safe meeting us here.”

“Egress plan?” he asked.

“Good question. We’re gonna need wheels if we want to leave the area fast. Otherwise we’ll have to map out a foot route.”

Drago nodded. “I’ll work on getting us a car this afternoon. But we should still scout out a few ways out of here if we’re on foot and on the run.”

“Maybe bust a few locks so we can duck into buildings?” Spencer suggested.

“I think that’s the only option.”

“How long till the meet?”

“Three hours and change.”

Spencer nodded. “Our guy may come in early to do exactly what we’re doing now. How soon do you want to be out of here?”

“Let’s say we’ve got one more clear hour to scout the area. I think he probably won’t come in more than two hours early.”

Spencer made a sound of agreement.

They climbed the welded-steel ladder off the roof and spent the next hour walking around in the moonlight, scoping out escape routes and quietly picking and disabling padlocks on four different buildings.

The meeting with their target, a man named Aziz Farrah, was set for midnight. Drago had been intrigued when the man chose such a late hour and this place to meet. Clearly the guy was suspicious.

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