Page 112 of Spy With Me
No. He was going to trust his team’s instincts. He was goingto trust Kenzie. Well, Kala didn’t think Parker was lying. He could trust that.
“I only told my brother. He helped me get away.” Not a lie.When they realized Huisman would likely have someone watching him, he made hisway from Liverpool to Kathmandu on his own with some forged passports andtrying to duck Interpol as well. If Huisman looked, he would have seen someonematching his build and rough features checked into a rathole in a bad part ofthe city. “Big Tag isn’t exactly happy with me right now. I think you’ll findhe’s back in England trying to figure out where his niece is.”
“So he will be hunting you, too.” Huisman clapped his handstogether and pulled his radio. “Make a general announcement. I need the rest ofsecurity down here at the landing bays. We’re going to be launching in lessthan an hour.”
An hour. Cooper was waiting until the right time. The windpatterns changed, but there was some research done on the best time to fly.Cooper would make the call. From there he had to hope the Canadians were inplace. They came up without ahelo. They’d beencamping down the mountain for days, waiting for the right moment, studying thesecurity protocols. They were coming in through a cave system, and then wouldget into the air ducts that would absolutely seem way too small. Tim would dofine, but Parker was a big bastard.
The announcement came over the loudspeakers that seemed tobe everywhere. In seconds there were at least twenty men dressed in fatiguesspreading out across the space.
Huisman gestured around. “My army. We’re small right now.Most of the men I employ are based around the world. I didn’t want attention,and we don’t need more. That’s the key. Don’t overestimate. That’s how you tripup. I’ve found small teams are better.” He looked back.“Louis,oùestRay White?”
A young man stepped up, a tablet in his hand. His fingersmoved over the face of it.“Ilesttoujoursdans lelaboratoire.Ou dumoinssaradio.”
His father was still in the labs. At least his radio was.That was what the younger man said in French.
Devi was in the labs. His mom was in the labs. “Is he alonein there with them?”
Huisman ignored him.“Va lechercheretamène-leiciavec lafille.”
Bring them. The man nodded to one of his fellow minions andthey started walking toward the double doors. They swiped a key card and thedoors opened.
He would need to get one of those. Of course it would behelpful to have hands.
Huisman stepped onto a raised dais and looked around at hisassembled army and began to speak. “Today we take the first step in creatingour new world. A world where you are no longer ground under the feet of peoplewho don’t deserve to lead you, who ignore your needs and raise up people whoshould lick your boots.”
Women. He was pretty sure Huisman was talking about women.When Eve McKay had done a profile on him in the early days, she talked abouthow his whole life seemed to be defined by the trauma of watching his father bekilled, but Zach wanted to take a long look at that man’s relationship with hismother. Huisman hated Big Tag, but he hated women more.
Which was why he had to find a way to save Devi. His fatherhated women, too. He wouldn’t put it past the asshole to hurt her in every wayjust so he could tell Zach he’d done it.
What had she already been through? Would he find her huddledin a corner trying to survive?
Then he heard the gunfire and realized she wasn’t in acorner at all.
Huisman was interrupted in the middle of his evil villainmonologue. He frowned toward the double doors. Another volley of gunfire andthen one of the men who’d left to bring Devi back staggered in, holding hischest and reaching for help before falling to the ground.
That was when he heard the thud of the chopper rapidlyapproaching.
There was genuine shock on Huisman’s face.“Occupe-toideça.Tuez-lestous.”
Take care of that. Kill them all.
Zach started to move because the hands had come off him, thesoldiers doing their king’s will. From the open bays, Zach could see the helpapproaching. TJ, Lou, and Kenzie would have been dropped at the site where Timwas set up. Tasha was back at base since there were only so many seats on thehelo, and they were bringing two more back if they got thejob done.
He could see Kala Taggart standing on the landing skid, anAR-15 in her hands. She began to give her husband cover by peppering the baywith bullets.
Huisman grabbed Zach’s arm. “If you think this will saveyou, you’re wrong. I have plans in place for such a scenario. I will blow thiswhole base sky high and send those spores into the upper atmosphere and seewhat happens.”
Chaos erupted around them. “Guess Parker isn’t on your sideafter all.”
Huisman’s eyes narrowed as they moved to the double doors.“Not all is as it seems, Captain. As everyone here will learn.”
Huisman stopped, his shoulder jerking. Hit. He’d been hit.He dropped Zach’s hand and pulled out a small device. “If I’m going down, so iseveryone. You might be protected with your Army vaccines, but I don’t thinkyour girl has had one. And perhaps I’ve managed to change it enough that itwill still kill you.”
He pressed the button.
Kala was on the ground, having jumped down as Cooper beganto land. Big Tag came out behind her, and father and daughter started sprayingthe place with bullets.
Fuck. He had to get to the bombs.
