“You may and you will. When I’m finished with Mr. Brodie.”
“Yes, sir.”
Dombroski continued, “The average police officer in Venezuela mightbe no better than a street thug, but Worley informs me that they have a very sophisticated and smart intelligence service, SEBIN, trained by the Cubans. And they will be investigating this incident because it involved a man—you—who I’m sure someone in the brothel will identify as an American.” He asked, “Did you ID yourself as an American?”
“Yes, sir. I was Clark Bowman—looking for a lady.”
“They knew who you were looking for. Mission blown. Cover blown. You need to get out of Venezuela before the police or SEBIN find you and Ms. Taylor.” He added, “If you’re lucky, you’re two steps ahead of them. Get to the airport. Now.”
“Actually, we’ve booked a private charter—”
“Good. Don’t let me keep you.”
“Colonel, if I may, I think you have been influenced by Brendan Worley’s abundance of caution. Meaning he’s a weenie and he doesn’t know shit. Also, he wanted to meet us tonight—”
“I don’t take orders from Brendan Worley, Mr. Brodie, and neither do you, but if he advised caution, it was with good reason. You and Ms. Taylor are in danger. Kyle Mercer is in Mongolia by now. There is not a single reason for you to stay there.” He added, “I will not have two CID agents arrested in a hostile country. We have enough problems in Venezuela. And I have enough problems.”
Obviously, Worley had spooked Colonel Dombroski. Brodie didn’t mind being called home from a foreign mission. It had happened before—but always under circumstances that were not his fault. Dombroski, however, was calling him and Taylor home for possible official reprimand. And Dombroski didn’t even know the bad news that his special agent, Warrant Officer Brodie, and his agent’s local recruit, Luis, had killed two Venezuelan government officials, two members of a colectivo, two whorehouse employees, and probably a few other people during his and Luis’ escape. All in self-defense, of course. But Worley would find out about the body count and tell Dombroski, who would have to tell General Hackett. The only way Brodie could save his and Taylor’s asses and careers would be to find Kyle Mercer.
“Mr. Brodie? I hope you are now hailing a cab for the airport.”
“Still here, Colonel.” He turned the map over, took the Sharpie, and wrote,You’re on. Save the mission.
Taylor looked at his note, then said into the phone, “Colonel, may I speak?”
“Only if it’s something I need to know immediately. Otherwise, you can both speak to me in Quantico, before we see General Hackett.”
“Yes, sir. This is immediate Intel that needs immediate action.”
“Speak.”
“All right…” She looked again at Brodie, then said to Dombroski, “Scott has developed a good lead on the whereabouts of our fugitive.”
There was no response from Dombroski, so Taylor continued, “He interviewed a witness… in the brothel… a woman who had recently accompanied Captain Mercer on a trip to what sounds like his hideout—a jungle camp in the south of the country.”
Again there was a silence, and Brodie wrote on the map, Don’t give any details.
She nodded and continued, “Scott’s witness gave us enough information to make this trip and to verify what she said. We have booked a charter flight—”
“Don’t tell me this was a hooker.”
Brodie broke in, “A waitress. Spoke perfect English. I told her I was Captain Kyle Mercer’s amigo. He broke her heart, and I told her I’d take her to him and play cupid. She’s hot to trot.” He added, “She trusts me.”
Taylor looked at Brodie, obviously in awe of his bullshit.
Colonel Dombroski stayed silent again, then said, “All right… give me the details of her trip, and I’ll fly two agents down there to follow up.” He added, “You need to come home.”
Brodie replied, “We’re going to lose this guy, Colonel. This is a hot lead. You know what happens when we don’t follow up immediately.” He added, “I’ve gotten this lady to trust me. Won’t work with someone else.”
“The police may be looking for you.”
“Ms. Taylor and I are willing to take the risk.”
Taylor said, “What you should also know is that according to the witness, Captain Mercer is apparently training insurgents of some sort in this jungle camp.”
“Are you serious?”
Brodie replied, “That’s what my witness said.”
