The Law of Three

Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Game Change

 -- Manhattan --

“Heads up!”

Roland and Irina had just strolled past the entrance to Sarkey’s apartment building when two FBI agents from her protection detail stepped through the front door. They joined two more agents stationed at the bottom of the steps. The four agents split up into two teams one heading up the street toward Manhattan and the other south. The protection detail had abandoned their posts leaving Sarkey defenseless.

“Raul. You there?”

“Do you want us to cover her apartment?” Raul asked.

Two cars with two FBI agents apiece pulled into traffic one headed north the other south. The cars abruptly stopped on either side of the street effectively blocking traffic and penning in two cars containing Union thugs. The two teams of agents on foot rousted two other vehicles full of CU thugs.

“Wait one,” Irina replied.

Sarkey and Jamie emerged from the apartment building and crossed the street. They wore backpacks and carried duffel bags.

“Orders, Irina?” Raul asked, urgency in his voice.

Irina looked to Roland and squeezed his arm. They were walking in the opposite direction, every step taking them farther away from Sarkey and her partner.

“What are they up to?”

“I don’t know Roland but we have to act fast before we lose them.”

Roland and Irina walked past four CU soldiers leaning over their car as FBI agents frisked them.

“Irina?” Peter, demanding orders.

Roland grasped Irina’s elbow and steered her in front of a parked car and into the street. Traffic was completely snarled, drivers standing with doors open shouting at the FBI agents and each other, cops running toward the four areas of disturbance up and down the street, horns adding to the din.

“We’ve got Sarkey and her partner,” Roland told Irina.

Instantly Irina took charge of the rest.

“Peter you’re on us. Raul take everyone else and follow the Union. Track them wherever they go.”

Roland and Irina stepped onto the opposite sidewalk and turned in Sarkey’s direction.

“They just disappeared into the subway at 45th. I sent Maria to follow them.”

Roland could see Maria jump out of Peter’s van. The traffic jam had Peter boxed in. He wouldn’t be of any help. Coms would be useless in the underground. They’d be on their own.

“If Maria loses them...”

Roland pushed Irina ahead of him before she could complete her thought. They reached the subway entrance and took the steps two at a time. They made it through the turnstiles and onto the platform. Irina looked left, Roland right.

“I don’t see them.”

Irina stood on her tiptoes trying not to appear too obvious. A train pulled up to the platform. People pushed to get on as others made their way off.

“Roland?”

Roland felt his pulse race as he sought Sarkey or her partner in the teeming crowd. He couldn’t make them.

“On or off, Roland?”

A bell sounded warning commuters that the doors would close within seconds. Roland shoved her on the train deciding to remain behind in case Sarkey had become aware of a tail.

“I have them,” Maria said, calm in the face of the chase. “Second car.”

The doors began to close and Roland jammed his body in at the last second. An alarm sounded. Irina grabbed Roland’s arm and yanked him into the car. The doors finished closing and the train began to move.

“Sarkey’s crazy,” Irina muttered under her breath.

“Crazy or brilliant. She just did what we’d do.”

Irina queried him with a look.

“Change the game, Irina. She just changed the game.”