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Emergency lighting was his only guide as he wove through the half-dozen small aircraft to park out of the way. After they were in the air, the car would be stripped and disposedof.
Mrs. Marshall had gripped the handle to the door, but he stopped her, talking softly as he took his Glock from her, putting it back into his shoulder holster where it belonged and handing her the half empty weapon he'd taken from ArtelVolkov.
"Take this. The safety isn't on so it's dangerous." When she looked confused he added. "We should be safe here, but let me check it out first. Don't exit the car until I come for you. Gotit?"
Only now as he finally looked at her did he realize she was visibly shaking. Her bravery from before was beginning to deserther.
Ryder reassured her. "It's just a precaution. We'll be safely out of Russian airspace in less than two hours. Now, stay here and protect your family while I make the final arrangements. Can you dothat?"
She nodded, tears in hereyes.
As he exited the car, he removed his Glock again, unwilling to approach the company jet without his weapon drawn until he confirmed all was as he expected. As he neared the only airplane with interior lights on in the cabin, Ryder's sixth sense alerted him. He didn't know what was wrong, but he trusted his gut explicitly and was suddenly glad he'd left the Marshalls in thecar.
He was almost to the aircraft when someone finally stepped out of the shadows, blocking his way to the portable stairs leading to the luxurycabin.
"We've been waiting foryou."
"Who the fuck are you? Where'sHansen?"
"He's on another assignment. I'm Burke. What's the nature of youremergency?"
He was deep undercover. He didn't talk to his handler daily. Hell, even weekly. It was possible that Hansen had been reassigned, but unlikely. He'd worked with Joe Hansen for three years and he'd never once sent anyone else to a meet in his place. When you're undercover, you learn to treat changes to the plan as athreat.
He trod lightly. "I burned my cover tonight. I need an extract. The Volkovs won't stop looking for me this time. There is no going backin."
Burke drew a drag from his lit cigarette, acting too cool for his own good. "Why the hell would you burnyourself?"
He lied. "I fucked up. Made a mistake. They mademe."
There was no way Burke was an agent. He let his emotions project on his face like a movie. Ryder saw disappointment in the man's eyes. His gut told him he'd been hoping for the arrival of the Marshallwomen.
Movement in the shadows caught Ryder's eye before he swung his Glock up, ready to down any threat. Just in the nick of time, he stopped from shooting the man stumbling forward, his weapon drawn. Joe Hansen emptied his magazine clip into the chest of Burke before the trusted agent fell to hisknees.
Ryder checked the pulse of the traitor first, making sure he was dead before running to Hansen. The older man had fallen forward. When Ryder rolled him gently to his back, a pool of blood was left where his bullet-riddled shoulder had laid. His handler grimaced inpain.
"Sorry about that. The asshole ambushed me like I was arookie."
Ryder quickly shucked his leather coat before taking off his shirt and pressing it hard against the fallen man's wound in an attempt to stem the bleeding. "It's okay. I madehim."
"I don't know what's going on, but the police scanners are going crazy looking for you. We need to get you off the groundfast."
"I figured the Volkovs would call in all of their favors on thisone."
"What'd you do? Did Vlad catch you fucking around withIrena?"
Despite the weight of the night's events, Ryder chuckled. "Naw. It was a bit more complicated than that. Let's get you onboard and I'll fill you in once we're in theair."
"But... I needto..."
"You need a doctor, and if they sent someone to take you out, you're burned too. We're both leaving Moscowtonight."
Ryder helped his friend get to the top of the stairs before adding, "I'll be back. I need to get something from the car. Tell the pilot we'll be ready in twominutes."
Ryder doubled back to the Ferrari and had a heart attack when he found an empty car. He had redrawn his pistol when Mrs. Marshall and her girls stepped out from behind the huge tires of a nearby plane. She approachedwarily.
"We heard gunshots so wehid."
"Smart. The good guys won. Time togo."
