“That good, huh?”
He could hear the smile in Dec’s voice. “How much did McNeil tell you?” he demanded.
“Just that you’ve been looking for her for a while.”
He wondered again about Declan and McNeil. How well did they know each other that they would talk about him and his knowing Surya? It wasn’t the kind of conversation in which he could picture the Ice Man.
“Just checking to make sure things are running smoothly, that’s all,” Dec continued.
“So far, she’s been very helpful,” Kirk said, keeping to the operations side of things. “Translation, a guide, local sight-seeing. If you’re sending Hawk’s team in, how are they going to show up in the middle of the jungle without permission?”
“Your cousin is also a SEAL, Kirk. Surely you know by now they’ll show up any way they want to,” Dec replied, dryly.
By sea, air, and land. In his family, he’d grown up listening to stories about the Navy SEALs and their prowess. He’d seen some of the things his cousin and his team had done.
“They’ll still need a more specific location to show up in,” Kirk pointed out. “The jungles around here are miles deep.”
Surya was walking a bit farther away with that kid than he would like. He’d better get out there to see what she was up to.
“Hopefully, you can obtain that soon. Make the negotiations, see if there are any non-Asians among them. If you could identify the person in charge of the hostages, we’ll have someone follow him. Do your usual thing—get confirmation they’re alive—a call, live feed—anything from which we could trace a signal. The SEALs are already waiting for our signal.”
Kirk sat up in his seat. “They’re here?”
“Close by.”
Ah. They were underwater. Waiting. Good to know.
“What about the missile?”
“Jed’s people know about the delivery. I’m assuming they’re tracking it on satellite and are on top of things at that end. I’ll be sending in one of my teams, maybe even join in the hunt. Shane’s coordinating that operation. Not being able to do anything with chasing down the traitors is driving him nuts, so this is helping him deal. Since the rocket crisis has nothing to do with the Russian assholes, those fuckers don’t know any of my men, so I can get to them without jeopardizing your mission.”
“Sounds good. It looks like I’m the one who has to start all the action,” Kirk said with a slight smile as he turned off the air and got out of the car. “I like being the nerdy negotiator guy playing such an important role among you action maniacs.”
There were sounds of shouting from where Surya had headed. He broke into a slow run.
“Sounds like you’re getting some action at your end.”
“Nothing I can’t handle.”
“Call me back ASAP. We active maniacs are antsy.”
“Soon,” Kirk said, trying not to sound too urgent. “But I need to catch up with Surya. Now.”
He swore he heard Dec give a chuckle but couldn’t tell since he was running. Surya and some big guy were talking loudly at each other.
“From what Jed told me about your run-in with her, good luck.”
Kirk slipped the cell into his pocket as he slowed down a bit. Surya. Kids, a few of them looked more like older teens. Two big-ass dudes. He took a deep breath, not wanting to look too much in a hurry. Shouting now by one of the guys. The kids milling around and talking all at once. Surya looking upset and afraid. Surya. Looking afraid. His suspicion meter went up several notches.
“Just give me back my wallet!” the big guy ordered loudly. He turned left and right, addressing the kids. “One of you has it. You better give it back or else!”
“Lady, quit hiding that kid behind you. She’s the one who picked my pocket,” the other man ordered.
“How dare you accuse my friend of doing such a thing?” Surya put her hands on her hips. She was speaking with a local accent. “Just stop shouting. You’re frightening the children.”
“These kids are pro pickpocket gangs. Their surrounding and bumping us weren’t an accident. That one put her hand in my pocket and took something important. And another one has my friend’s wallet. I said give them back or you’ll regret it, friend or not.”
Kirk was fifteen feet away and about to insert himself into the situation when another voice interrupted from behind him.
