Payback

52

Dean picked up the binoculars and scanned the road back toward La Oroya. A large four-door pickup was heading down the road in their direction; the rear bed was empty and it was likely that the truck was heading toward one of the mining operations farther south.

“The army?” asked Karr, settling down behind him.

“Nah. Just a truck.”

“They go to all that trouble in the city, and here anybody could walk in and take the cards, take the machines, take everything,” said Karr.

“Maybe the people are too honest to steal the election,” said Dean.

Dean rubbed his hands together. The thin air was crisp; it was at least ten degrees cooler than it had been in the city.

“Lia’s done. Switch is made,” said Rockman over the communications system. “No trouble. She’s coming out.”

“Man, she has all the fun,” said Karr.

“I told her you guys could handle it,” said Rockman.

“Tommy’s only kidding,” said Dean.

He rose, turning his glasses in the direction of the building. He could see Lia walking out with Fernandez. The UN escort put his hand on her shoulder and Dean felt a pang of jealousy.

“Hey, that pickup’s going up the road,” said Karr. “Going over to the UN people.”

Dean raised his glasses, watching. The lone policeman at the site spotted the truck and walked over to meet it.

Dean pulled up the A2 assault gun he’d slung over his shoulder. Specially designed for Desk Three, the A2 fired caseless bullets with almost no kick and with extreme accuracy, a sniper’s dream. But the gun was meant for relatively short ranges; six hundred yards was nothing for a Remington, but it was at the tail end of the A2’s reach.

Dean zeroed in on the policeman who was walking over. They’d looked him over thoroughly earlier; he was armed with an ancient revolver and had been drinking most of the morning.

One shot, he’d be dead. Lia would be on her own.

He’d put a string of bullets across the windshield of the truck. That would give Lia enough time to find cover.

“There’s a truck,” he heard Karr telling Rockman in the background. “We’re not sure what’s going on. Tell Lia to watch it. Charlie’s got ’em.”

Did he?

Absolutely.

The door to the cab opened. Dean felt his heart leap. But the man who got out didn’t have a weapon; he walked to the back of the truck and relieved himself while the other man spoke to the cop.

Karr started hee-hawing.

Dean kept his weapon aimed at the truck. The Land Rover with Lia made a U-turn and drove away. Dean waited until they were back on the highway to put his weapon down.

“Lia’s done. They’re going back to the village to get some dinner,” said Rockman.

“About time,” said Karr. “I want a beer.”

“No time for that. See if you can get over to the airfield.”

“I thought we weren’t leaving until tomorrow morning,” said Karr.

“There’s been a change in plans. We’ll give you a full brief when you get to the airfield.”

“What about backing up Lia?” said Dean.

“She can take care of herself.”

“Wait a second—”

“She’s fine, Charlie,” said Telach, breaking in. “Please just make your way to the airfield as soon as possible.”