The Gates of Hell

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The private CIA jet cruised along at thirty-nine thousand feet. Matt Drake rattled the ice in his empty glass and cracked the seal to another miniature whisky. He had positioned himself alone at the back of the plane in the hope they might respect his solitude. But the constant sideways glances and furious whispers told him the ‘welcome back’ wagon would stop alongside him soon.

And the whisky hadn’t even started to take the edge off yet.

Hayden sat across the aisle from him, Kinimaka at her side. Despite the nature of his mission, the Hawaiian seemed quite cheerful about the return to his homeland. His family was being carefully guarded, but the ever-optimistic giant seemed quite certain he would still get chance to see them.

Hayden was talking to Jonathan Gates by sat-phone. “Three more? That makes twenty-one captives, sir. Well, yes, I’m sure there are more than that. And no location yet. Thank you.”

Hayden broke the connection and hung her head. “I can’t talk to him anymore. How do you talk to a man whose wife was just murdered? What do you say?”

Drake watched her. It took a moment but then she turned a haunted look toward him. “I’m sorry, Matt. I didn’t think. So much going on.”

Drake nodded and drained the glass. “Shouldn’t Gates be taking a leave of absence?”

“The situation’s too volatile.” Hayden clicked the phone against her knee. “In a war no one gets to take a back seat.”

Drake smiled at the irony. “I didn’t think Hawaii was that big.”

“You mean why haven’t they found at least one of his ranches yet? Well, it isn’t big. But there’s an awful lot of tough forest, hillsides and valleys out there. The ranches are probably camouflaged too. And the Blood King’s prepared for us. Washington seems to think the locals will help us more than outright manpower.”

Drake raised an eyebrow. “Surprisingly, they’re probably right. Which is where our friendly giant comes in.”

Mano gave him a big unselfconscious grin. “I do know a large portion of the population of Honolulu.”

There was a blur and Ben Blake was suddenly at his side. Drake stared at the young man. It was the first time they’d seen each other properly since Kennedy had died. A wealth of emotion rose inside him, which he quickly squashed and covered up by taking another drink.

“It all happened so quick, mate. There was nothing I could do. She saved me but… but I couldn’t save her.”

“I don’t blame you. It wasn’t your fault.”

“But you left.”

Drake was looking at Karin, Ben’s sister, who was staring at her brother with angry eyes. They’d obviously discussed Ben’s rash move and he’d gone against the grain. Drake cracked another whisky and sat back, his gaze fixed. “About a thousand years ago I joined the SAS. The world’s best fighting force. There’s a reason they’re the best, Ben. Among other things, it’s because they’re hard men. Ruthless. Killers. They are not like the Matt Drake you know. Or even like the Matt Drake who looked for the bones of Odin. That Matt Drake wasn’t SAS. He was a civilian.”

“And now?”

“Whilst the Blood King is alive and the Vendetta still exists, I can’t be the civilian. No matter how much I want to be.”

Ben looked away. “I get that.”

Drake was surprised. He half-turned as Ben stood up and walked back to his seat. Maybe the young lad was starting to grow up.

If the last three months hadn’t accelerated that process, nothing ever would.

Hayden was watching him. “He was with her, you know. When she died. It’s been hard on him too.”

Drake swallowed and said nothing. His throat closed and it was all he could do not to start blubbering. Some SAS man. The whisky burned a hot trail down to the pit of his stomach. After a moment he said, “How’s the leg?”

“Sore. I can walk and even run. Wouldn’t want to fight Boudreau for a few more weeks though.”

“So long as he’s in jail you won’t have to.”

A commotion caught his attention. Mai and Alicia were seated a few rows in front and across the aisle from each other. Relations between the two women had never been more than frosty, but something was getting the two of them riled up.

“You compromised us!” Alicia started to shout. “To save your own damn sister. How else could they have found the hotel?”

Drake slipped out of his seat and started down the aisle. The last thing needed on the flight was a fight between the two deadliest women he had ever known.

“Hudson died in that hotel,” Alicia snarled. “They shot him whilst… whilst—” She shook her head. “Was that your intel, Kitano? I dare you to tell the truth.”

Alicia stepped into the aisle. Mai rose to face her. The two women were almost nose-to-nose. Mai backed up to give herself room. An unskilled observer might think that was a sign of weakness on the Japanese girl’s part.

Drake knew it to be a deadly indicator.

He raced forward. “Stop!”

“My sister is worth ten Hudson’s.”

Alicia snarled. “Now I get me some Mai-time!”

Drake had known Mai would not back down. It would be easier to tell Alicia what she already knew — that Hudson had given himself away — but Mai Kitano’s pride would not allow her to yield. Alicia jabbed. Mai parried. Alicia shuffled sideways to give herself more space. Mai came at her.

Drake darted toward them.

Alicia fake-kicked, stepped in and drove an elbow toward Mai’s face. The Japanese warrior didn’t move, but turned her head ever so slightly, allowing the blow to whistle a millimeter past her.

Mai struck hard at Alicia’s ribs. There was a high whistle of escaping breath and Alicia staggered back against the bulkhead. Mai advanced.

Hayden was on her feet, shouting. Ben and Karin were up too, both curious about who would win the fight. Drake stormed in hard, shoving Mai against a nearby seat and slamming an arm across Alicia’s throat.

“Stop.” His voice was quiet as the grave but loaded with menace. “Your dead fucking boyfriend is not the issue here. And neither is your sister.” He threw a glare toward Mai. “Kovalenko is the enemy. Once that bastard is FUBAR, you can fight all you want, but until then, save it.”

Alicia twisted her arm away. “The bitch should die for what she did.”

Mai didn’t bat an eyelash. “You have done much worse, Alicia.”

Drake saw the fire rekindled in Alicia’s eyes. He blurted out the only thing he could think of. “Instead of arguing, maybe you could explain to me which one of you really killed Wells. And why.”

The fight went out of them.

Hayden was right behind him “Hudson was tracked through a hi-tech tracer, Myles. You know that. No one here is happy about the way Mai gave away the device.” Her voice was steel. “Let alone the way she obtained it. But even I understand why she did it. Some top government officials are currently going through the same thing. Kovalenko is already playing his end game and we’re barely at second base. And if the leaks aren’t plugged—”

Alicia snarled and returned to her seat. Drake found another stash of miniatures and headed back up the aisle toward his own. He kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, unwilling to make any kind of conversation with his best friend yet.

But on the way, Ben leaned toward him. “FUBAR?”

“Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition.”