Lady Death, Brian Drake [howl and other poems .TXT] 📗

me, Mr. Raven? Why send four men to kill me if I wasn’t telling the truth?”

“Do you know how many jihadists have tried to penetrate the CIA by pretending to defect?”

“Since I have no CIA agents to talk to, no, I’m not aware.”

“Enough. If I hand you over to my friends, I need to make sure you’re telling me the truth.”

“And if not?”

“I’ll kill you myself, Tanya. I’ll shove a knife into your belly and get a snack after.” Raven glanced ahead. “Make a right, then the next left.”

She complied.

5

Two Marines stepped out of the guard building at the embassy driveway. Both carried sidearms and appeared ready to use them.

Raven powered down his window. While one Marine stayed on Tanya’s side, the other approached Raven with a flashlight. The beam landed on Raven’s face.

“I’m a US citizen,” Raven said. “This is an emergency. Russell Dillon is expecting us.”

“Who?”

“Russell Dillon. Call it in. He’s waiting for us.”

The Marine glanced at his partner. The second Marine remained quiet.

Raven said, “Dillon works in the basement, get it?”

The Marine returned to the building. His partner remained on Tanya’s side. She kept her hands on the wheel because the Marine kept his right hand near his gun.

Raven sat still. The Marine in the guard building spoke on a telephone. It was a short conversation. He returned to Raven’s side.

“All right. Go through the gate and wait in the parking lot. Dillon isn’t here yet, but Eva Yoshino will be out to get you.”

“Thank you, Sergeant.”

Both Marines returned to the guard building. The gate in front of them lifted. Tanya drove through, made a right into the parking lot, and stopped the car. She didn’t turn off the engine. Raven told her to wait.

After a few minutes, a woman in a skirt and blazer combo exited the building and stopped at the car. She leaned in Tanya’s window.

“Are you Sam Raven?”

He passed her his identification. Tanya snapped on the overhead light.

“Okay.” She passed back the ID. “I’m Eva Yoshino. I work with Russ. He is on his way. Park over there and let’s go inside.”

Tanya stopped the car where indicated. She and Raven exited. They looked at each other. Relief washed over Tanya’s face. The tension of the last hour had faded. He smiled at her. “Right to the front door,” he said.

They followed the Japanese woman into the embassy. In her heels she matched Raven’s height. She had long black hair straight down her back and sharp features. Her dark eyes remained suspicious. Raven couldn’t do anything about her attitude for the time being. He was still suspicious too.

In the lower level of the building, Eva Yoshino put them in a conference room and departed. They sat at one end of the long table and waited.

Russell Dillon arrived ten minutes later. He wore a sweater over a white shirt and jeans. Bald head, stubbled jaw. His wedding band looked scuffed. Taking a seat, he said to Raven, “I don’t know who you are, but you must have some influence to have Langley get me out of bed.”

“I’m sure it’s been a long day,” Raven said. “But this is important.”

“I heard.” He addressed Tanya. “Start talking.”

Tanya repeated her story verbatim. Dillon didn’t take any notes. Raven added the part about the killers at the casino. Dillon promised to investigate the incident. “We’ll see about getting the police to stand down. Agency personnel can collect the bodies.”

Raven nodded.

“Miss Jafari,” Dillon said, “your story caught the attention of the top brass back at Langley. They want you on a plane to the US tomorrow. They will debrief you at our Blue Ridge black site.” To Raven: “Know of it?”

“I’m familiar.” It was a secret facility in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. There, the CIA housed high-value enemy combatants they didn’t want held overseas. Disguised as a park ranger station, an elevator led to the underground lair. There was no other word for it in Raven’s estimation.

“You’ll stay here tonight,” Dillon said, “and a chopper will pick you up on the roof in the morning. It will take you to a private airfield where you’ll board a jet for home.”

“She’ll need clothes and things,” Raven said.

“And you?”

“Nothing. I’m not going.”

“Yes, you are,” Dillon said. “They want to talk to you, too.”

Raven scoffed. “I’m only the delivery man.”

“Hey. A day or two in the US won’t hurt.”

Raven opened his mouth to protest but Dillon cut him off.

“Non-negotiable, Raven.”

Raven let out a sigh.

“The CIA thanks you for your cooperation.”

Raven grunted.

Dillon rose from his chair. “I’ll show you to your rooms. Eva will take care of your clothes in the morning, Miss Jafari.”

“And shoes.”

Dillon glanced at her bare feet. “Of course.”

“Wait,” Raven said.

“What is it?”

“Considering the attempt on Tanya’s life, she should give you her information now. You know in case we don’t make it.”

Tanya blanched.

Dillon looked at her. “Well?”

She hesitated, but said, “I agree. I have pictures on my cell phone I can share.” She opened her purse and took out her phone.

“Let’s go to our ops center, then,” Dillon said. “We can plug your phone into a computer there.”

Raven walked behind the pair as they went down a hallway. He should have guessed the Agency would want his input. He didn’t see why they couldn’t ask him questions over the telephone while he lounged on his deck, though.

Say goodbye to R&R.

But with any luck, he’d be back in a day or two.

The embassy accommodations weren’t terrible.

Raven’s room might as well have been a small hotel room elsewhere in the city. Bed, bath, window overlooking the embassy courtyard. He closed the drapes. The view was worthless in the dark.

He splashed water on his face and decided his teeth could go one night without Colgate. Wouldn’t be the first time.

He took off his shirt. A locket dangled from around his neck, nestled in the center of his chest. The scuffed sterling silver piece was always with him. He leaned his palms against the dresser and looked at his