Siren in the Wind Book One of the MIT Series

Chapter Thirty Two

Max watched the foul-up from a distance. John was doing damage control in a public arena and the itch between Max's shoulder blades wasn't helping. This meeting needed to be terminated. He scanned the parking area and neighboring restaurants for potential threats as people went about their daily business. Perhaps he was overreacting, but he'd never been this invested. The personal stake embedded in his heart was the lovely brunette sitting across the room, messing with his focus. Max shamelessly eavesdropped on scraps of Mandla's conversation. Mandla enquired on an interrogation of a suspect.

Levi Bakal walked into the café. Grand fucking Central Station today. The turd beetle made a beeline for Abby and Max gave his team the heads-up.

***

Somebody upstairs must have a grand sense of humor, Abby thought as the tiny man started in on her. "The bakery across the road makes the best bagels. Have you tried them? I'm waiting for a fresh batch to come out the oven."

"Hello, Levi, no, I have not."

"I was killing time when I saw you walk in. I'm so glad I spotted you. Thank you for sending all the artwork. The logos are wonderful, but still not what I need. The excuse that you're leaving town for an extended vacation is unacceptable."

Lizzy gasped. "You're leaving? You never told me that!"

Abby had only just sent Levi the email. John's disapproving look told her that she'd made an error in judgment by mentioning her plans, even if it was just to a grouchy little man. She felt bad for Levi. She'd felt bad for all her clients, pushing to wrap up as many projects as possible before she left. Once settled in America, Abby would send the non-urgent artwork over a secure line.

Abby started to talk when Levi cut in. "The least you can do is change the colors on my logo. Red and black won't work, I want gold and dark brown."

Abby kept the exasperation out of her voice. "Gold and dark brown isn't a wise choice. It'll look too similar to the UPS logo."

"Nonsense, I bought new wallpaper and it'll match perfectly. I have a sample roll in my car."

"Levi, I can't finish the logo for you."

"Please, Abigail. I can't afford to hire someone else and I'm pumping a lot of money into this bakery. Just adjust the color scheme."

And there it was. The guilt soiling her skin. The crusty gnome gave her such a hopeful look and dang it. "Where's your car?"

His eyes lit up. "Just outside, the red one parked to the left."

The old station wagon wasn't that far from Max. Abby could check on Levi's new color palette and still be visually within reach.

"Abby," John said with a warning.

"I'll be back in a minute."

Lizzy shoved her drink away. "Golly gee! What's a minute in the big scheme of things when you're leaving for an extended vacation? It sounds awfully permanent to me." Sarcasm laced her words.

"I've got this," John said. "Don't wander off. Stay close."

Lizzy looked like a stubborn fairy. "Actually, I've changed my mind. I don't want to hear a thing from either of you."

Abby escaped the loaded silence, following Levi out to his car. Max gave her a WTF stare as she walked past. One of the men must've communicated. Max relaxed a smidgen, but not by much. He glanced at the red car. Abby could relate, what a fudge up.

"Did I interrupt something?" Levi asked.

Abby ignored the question. No need to mention the impending friendship implosion. Lately, it seemed to be her thing.

Levi opened his trunk, temporarily blocking Abby's view of Max. Glancing down and expecting to see a roll of wallpaper, all she saw was a spare tire.

The trunk was empty.

Horror replaced confusion when Levi rammed a gun into her back. "If you move or scream, your pretty blonde friend will be the first to die. My colleagues will then target your boyfriend and his CIA friends. Shift slightly so your friends can see you and not get suspicious. Laugh at something I say. Keep your eyes on the trunk."

Abby did as he asked. "What are you going to do with me?"

"Nothing except hand you over, then my job is done. A florist's van will pull up next to us and you'll climb in. If you don't, our men will open fire. Now smile."

Abby played along, thinking of a way to warn Max.

"I played the part well, a whiny little baker desperate for your services. I may look Jewish, but I'm from Khalid's village."

"You work for him?"

"Khalid is an honorable man that you should never have crossed; you'll die for your sins. A bitch that hides a son from his father deserves a gruesome death."

***

Clear as day, Abby walked out of the café with Levi Bakal.

Max's earpiece came alive with Donnie's voice. "They're walking to Bakal's car to see his new wallpaper. The red car, forward and to the left."

Max spotted it one aisle over. Abby's design company was closed for business so what the hell was she doing? "Donnie, I want you out there. Do a loop to our vehicle, pretend to get something and then pull her back in."

"Copy."

Donnie walked out. Mandla hung up on his call and immediately started talking to Max, who listened with half an ear, uncomfortable with Abby out in the open. Levi spoke. Abby smiled as she glanced into his trunk.

"...we caught the poacher trying to jump the border," Mandla said.

"I'm sorry, I didn't catch that," Max said.

Mandla delicately picked up a biscotti and dipped it into his tea. "Customs captured one of the poachers responsible for the ambush on Muller's unit. He tried to cross the border into Zimbabwe yesterday evening, rhino horns hidden in food crates. One of my associates just completed the interview and the bastard cracked like a soft egg."

Donnie closed the door to their truck, two lanes over and circled towards Abby's position.

"The poacher gave up the syndicate?"

"He gave us a name. A familiar name."

Max's blood chilled. "Who does he work for?"

"Kris Muller. It was a setup. Muller got his own unit killed. Either for the horns or perhaps they started asking questions. Apparently, Muller's operation extends all the way up into Kenya, and get this, the poacher identified Roman Petrovich as a silent partner in the syndicate."

Max launched himself over the trellis, even before he saw the flash of white accompanied by the screech of brakes. A van pulled alongside Abby. "Muller's dirty!" Max yelled into his comms unit as he pulled his weapon.