Deadly Contact

“Erika? Over here,” he shouted.

In the beam of the lights he saw her mud-caked shape emerge from the mire, then haul herself toward him.

“Don’t,” she warned. “One crack and I’ll lose it.” She flicked mud from her face. “Can you believe women pay to have this stuff plastered over them to improve their looks?”

“In your case it looks like it’s working already,” Bolan said.

“Until I work that out I’ll consider it a compliment,” she said as she tramped by him. She yanked open the passenger door and dumped the duffel bag inside, then climbed into the SUV.

Bolan turned the vehicle in the direction of the distant highway, his mind working constantly. He needed to get them clear of this area, somewhere they could hole up temporarily and assess the events that had started when Erika Dukas had received a phone call from a friend sometime earlier that day.

2

Earlier that day—Falls Church, Virginia

Chill winds had been blowing from the north with a hint of snow in the fine rain misting the windshield of Erika Dukas’s 1965 Chevrolet Impala-SS. She drove steadily, aware of the gathering weariness that had started to impinge upon her being as she wound down. She had just finished a complicated translation for Carmen Delahunt at Stony Man Farm. The work had been intense, urgent. After handing over the completed transcript, she had logged out and had left the Farm, raising a hand to the blacksuit manning the exit gate. She had maneuvered the Impala along the quiet roads until she was able to pick up the main highway that would take her home.

Home was an apartment in Falls Church, Fairfax County. It wasn’t a long drive, but tiring on this gray winter afternoon. The constant rain didn’t help, the insistent sweep of the wipers across the windshield doing little to help her relax. She put on the radio and picked up some soft jazz. The car’s heater blew warm air around her feet. A couple of times Dukas had to blink her eyes. She was tired. She hadn’t been home for two days. The anticipation of a relaxing shower and bed filled her thoughts.

Once inside her apartment she switched on the lights, dropped her briefcase by the door and shrugged out of her coat. Making her way to the kitchenette, she filled the kettle with fresh water and clicked it on to boil. She spooned coffee into a mug, kicked off her shoes as she wandered across to her telephone and then checked her messages.

There were four.

One from her mother asking when she was going to visit.

A call from someone wanting to sell her insurance.

And two from a longtime girlfriend Dukas hadn’t spoken to for a while. The first was from the day before, the second from a few hours earlier.

The girl was Tira Malivik. And the first thing Dukas noticed was the fear in her voice. She couldn’t explain it any other way. Her friend was frightened of something, and she was reaching out for help.

Dukas snatched up the phone and hit the speed-dial button for Malivik’s cell number. She waited as it rang. Finally the call was answered.

“Tira? It’s me—Erika. I just got your message. What’s wrong?”

She could hear ragged breathing on the line and muted sounds in the background.

“Tira speak to me. I’m here. It’s going to be all right. Please, talk to me.”

“I think I’ve lost them for now. Jesus, Erika, they won’t give up. I don’t know what to do.”

“Who? Who’s after you?” Dukas asked.

“—want something. But I don’t have it. I sent it on—”

Her voice faded and Dukas thought her friend was going to put the phone down.

“Listen to me, Tira. I’m going to come and get you. Just tell me where—”

“No! I can’t do that. I’m sure they can hear. They’ll know. I can’t tell you where I am.”

“The police—”

“Uh-uh. I can’t trust anyone except you. Because you’re my friend. Erika, are you still my friend?”

“After what we’ve been through? Hey, I ate your cooking, remember? Just tell me where you want to meet,” Dukas said, hoping to calm her friend’s fear.

“One hour. At JR’s.”

“I’ll be there.”

The line went dead.

ERIKA LOCKED THE CAR AND hurried to the closest elevator in the garage. She waited impatiently until the doors opened and she was able to step inside, punching the button for the Lower Level Food Court. She was reminded how many times she had made this very trip to meet her friend. Whenever they were able to arrange a get-together it was at Union Station, where they would indulge themselves at Johnny Rockets Diner. Ignoring all the diet rules, they indulged in burgers, fries and shakes, enjoying a brief respite from the cares of their daily routines, sharing news, gossip and girl talk.

But this visit had no fun time on its agenda. As the elevator slowed, Dukas was full of doubt and concern. She stepped out and headed for the diner, scanning the food court for her friend, and wondered just what it was her friend had gotten herself into. She patted the inside pocket of her jacket, just to confirm her cell phone was still there.

She spotted Tira Malivik through the main window of the diner, sitting in their usual booth. They made eye contact and waved in recognition. Avoiding the press of people milling around the area, Dukas reached the door and pushed her way through. Immediately the familiar odors of food and coffee assailed her senses. There was a hum of voices and background music.

A vivacious, dark-haired young woman with striking good looks, Tira Malivik had undergone a dramatic change. As Dukas slid into the booth across from her she noticed the dark shadows beneath Malivik’s eyes, the haggard expression on her face. Her usually shining hair was limp and tangled, and it looked as if she had been sleeping in her clothes. When she reached across to grasp Erika’s hands, Malivik was shaking.

“What’s wrong? And don’t even suggest it’s nothing,” Dukas said.

“I wish I could lie about it.”

Before they could continue a smiling waitress came over. They ordered two large black coffees. As soon as the waitress left, Dukas turned back to her friend.

“Tell me, and don’t leave anything out.”

Dukas listened without interruption, except for when the coffee arrived, and by the time Malivik had finished, the Stony Man translator knew what she had to do.

“Your uncle Lec? Where is he now? And what about this package he sent you?”

“He asked me to get it somewhere safe. Out of the reach of the people looking for him.”

“And did you?”

Malivik nodded, a ghost of a smile briefly edging her pale lips.

“Did he tell you what was in this package?”

“Not directly. He just said it contained information these people do not want exposed. If it is, a number of important individuals are going to go to jail, or worse.”

“Where are these people?” Dukas asked.

“Some in Bosnia. Others here in the States.”

“So you have no idea what the information actually is?”