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She sucked in a quick breath but she took the pen from him and curled her fingers around it. “What about you?”
He gave a slight nod to his right. “I’m going to lure him into that public restroom by the bus stop. I have my weapon.”
“He’ll have a weapon, too.”
“He will.” He nudged her hip. “Head down the street like you’re shopping. Go into one of those shops. He may follow you, but he’s not going to shoot you down in broad daylight in the middle of a store.”
“What if he has a knife or a poison pen of his own?”
“Like I said, Ava, if he gets close, stick him first.”
Cupping her cheek with one hand, he kissed her mouth. “Goodbye, Ava.”
He looked both ways before crossing the street, taking in the man with the baseball cap. He never would’ve known the guy was from Tempest.
When he reached the other side of the street, he glanced over to make sure Ava was on her way.
He window-shopped along the way to the bathroom, releasing a long sigh when the Tempest agent crossed the street to follow him. At least Ava was safe—for now. If he didn’t come out of this encounter alive, she’d have the good sense to contact the CIA, or maybe she’d have the good sense to leave the country. Would Caliban want to leave any loose ends? He didn’t think so.
The man was shortening the distance between them, but he wouldn’t shoot him on the street, even with a silencer. The streets weren’t crowded, but there were enough people to deter him.
He tensed his muscles and headed into the bathroom. The door had been taken off its hinges, but a divider wall separated the entrance from the urinals and stalls.
He slid his gun from his shoulder holster beneath his jacket and approached a urinal, turning to face the entrance.
The thought had crossed his mind that this agent might be someone like him and Simon. Even if he had the opportunity, could he just start shooting as soon as the guy walked in?
He didn’t have to worry about that.
The agent emerged from behind the divider, his gun drawn.
Max immediately raised his own weapon. He recognized him now—the agent that was positioned in Central America on Arnoff’s locator. So, he couldn’t have been the same person who broke into Cody’s apartment. He couldn’t have made it here that quickly.
Snyder stretched his lips in what passed as a smile for a Tempest agent. “I should’ve known you’d be ready for me, Duvall. I’d considered tossing an explosive device in here, but that would’ve caused a scene. You know how much Caliban detests scenes.”
“Yeah, he’s a real low-key guy.” He trained his aim right between Snyder’s eyes. “Looks like we have a standoff here.”
“Not really. I don’t care if I die for Tempest. You do. That gives me the upper hand. I start shooting, you start shooting, we both end up dead. And without you to protect her, Dr. Whitman will be next.”
A quick, hot rage thumped through his system. He’d never allow that to happen. “Dr. Whitman already knows too much, and she’ll know what to do once I’m gone.”
“I don’t think so.”
“You’re a drone, Snyder. Don’t you care? You’re a dispensable pawn to Tempest and your hero Caliban. You’re drugged. You’re a machine. I can help you.”
“I don’t want help. I’ve committed great acts of heroism for Tempest. We will rule the world one day.”
“Is that what Caliban is after? He wants to rule the world?” Max tightened his finger on the trigger. Snyder had an automatic and would cut him down as he was getting his own shot off. But he would get the shot off.
“Caliban is a madman, like many before him. He’ll never rule the world. He’ll just succeed in murdering a lot of people and causing strife among countries.”
“And that, Duvall, is the first step.”
Snyder had lied. If he didn’t care about dying, he would’ve pulled the trigger already.
“Come back to the fold, Duvall. You’re too valuable an agent for Tempest to lose. Get back on the program. I know you have to be hurting right now. We can shoot you up with the juice and make it all better.”
