Black Ops Chronicles: Dead Run Read Online Free PDF Page B

whomever he looked for, and extract information from any source. Willing or not.
    Rumor had it he was a former sergeant in the British SAS, an expert in covert operations, and an eighth-degree black belt, who had CIA connections plus numerous contacts in the clandestine “black ops” world of spies and secret agents. If Jonas sent him to find Tess, Nick would be toast.
    In frustration, he smacked the palm of his hand against the steering wheel. “All the men I’ve got on my payroll, and they can’t ice one stinking redhead.”
    “Don’t twist your pantyhose in a knot, slick. We’ll get her.”
    “But if Levi—”
    “And don’t be so damned impressed with Komakov. I’ve told you before I’m more than a match for him. Christ, the wimp won’t even kill anyone, except in self-defense.” Tony’s face hardened . “As far as Tess is concerned, I’ll admit she’s been lucky. She’s managed to slip away every time we get close. But that won’t last. This new bounty hunter I hired tracked her to Baja, and—”
    “ Baja ? Shit, that’s where we’re supposed to meet Almasi.”
    “Obviously, the bitch doesn’t realize that or she wouldn’t have gone there. And the beauty of it is we’ve got four guys down there already. Plus—”
    “Are you sure she hasn’t come back into the States?”
    “If you’ll stop interrupting me, you’ll find out what I know.” Mouth crimped in annoyance, Tony cracked his knuckles. In the confines of the little car, the pops echoed like rifle shots. “If she’d come back into the States, Tanner would’ve told us. The FBI is looking for her, too, don’t forget.”
    He pulled a map from his pocket, unfolded it, and circled a spot with his finger. “She was last seen here, just north of Ensenada. My guess is she’s headed south. Now, until the rendezvous, our guys are here, lying low in El Nopal , this little village just north of La Paz.” Taking a pen from Nick’s shirt pocket, Tony drew an X on the map. “And Highway 1 is the only major road between the two points. Now that she’s become a priority, I’ll have our guys head north. If she is headed south, they should run smack into each other.”
    “Why haven’t you told me this before,” Nick demanded, trying hard not to sulk.
    “You didn’t need to know. And you couldn’t have done anything about it if you had known. Just because she was seen near Ensenada doesn’t mean she’s there now.”
    “Fine, but until we find her, I want to put the operation on hold.”
    Tony rolled his eyes. “It isn’t the kind of thing you can back off from, slick. We’ll handle both. Have to.” His lips curved into a sly smile. “Almasi’s also got men near La Paz. I called him, after I heard from the bounty hunter, and convinced him she’s a threat to the operation. So his guys are after her, too.”
    “Oh, perfect.” Nick struggled to keep the desperation out of his voice, but failed. “If my grandfather doesn’t kill me, Almasi will.”
    “Relax. With a little luck, I can keep both Jonas and Almasi under control. You might still get out of this with your skin intact.” Tony shrugged—as if Nick’s skin was the least of his concerns—and consulted his map again. “Baja’s nothing but desert. Lots of small villages, but few big towns. Not many paved roads, either. So, I figure there aren’t that many places she can hide.”
    He refolded the map and put it back in his pocket. “And Tanner’s convinced the CIA she’s part of the terrorist group, so their people are out trying to find her, too.”
    “That worries me. I’m not saying Tanner didn’t have a good idea there, but the CIA could find her before we do. Then what?”
    Tony reached over and turned the car’s heater down. “If they do, Tanner’ll handle it. After all, if he convinced his FBI cohorts she killed their two agents, he can convince the CIA she’s guilty of terrorism, regardless of what she tells them about us.” He jerked a shoulder.