6 The Secret Crown by Chris Kuzneski

Author:Chris Kuzneski [Kuzneski, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction:Suspense
ISBN: 9780141399775
Publisher: Penguin Books, Limited
Published: 2010-10-13T23:00:00+00:00

39

Jones stopped the ATV about 150 yards from the intersection, just past a thicket of trees that would temporarily shield the trailer. Glancing back, he saw the surgeon clinging to the cords that secured the crates in place, his fingers pale from clenching so tight.

‘Are you okay?’ Jones asked as he hustled towards him.

The surgeon nodded and sat upright. ‘What was that?’

‘That was an ambush. Obviously someone was trying to kill you.’

‘Me? Why would anyone want to kill me?’

‘I don’t know. What did you do?’

The surgeon blinked a few times and tried to come up with an answer, which Jones found comical despite the situation. Normally, Jones would have messed with him even further, but he realized time was too valuable to waste.

‘It’s not important,’ Jones assured him. ‘What is important is your patient. The reason I saved your life was so you could save his. Don’t worry. You can thank me later. For now, you need to focus on him and nothing else. Okay?’

The surgeon nodded, then turned his attention to Kaiser.

With a gun in his hand and an eye on the path, Jones pulled out his radio as the sound of automatic fire continued to roar in the distance. Although he felt guilty about abandoning Payne at the intersection, he knew he had made the right decision. He had rescued Kaiser and had protected the cargo by driving the ATV out of harm’s way. In the heat of battle, he had kept his composure and had done what he needed to do. It was a skill he had learned with Payne. During their time in the MANIACs, they had been taught to improvise behind enemy lines since their missions rarely went as planned. Sometimes that meant using salami to slide down a rope, other times it meant taking over the duties of a fallen colleague. Ultimately, as long as they completed their missions, the Pentagon rarely questioned their methods or asked who did what. They only cared about success.

Of course, now that Kaiser and the cargo were temporarily safe, Jones’s focus shifted back to everyone he had left behind. Success was important, but so was his best friend’s survival. ‘Black Knight to White King. Can you hear me? Over.’

There was fifteen seconds of silence before Jones heard a reply.

‘I’m kind of busy,’ Payne said from his hiding spot in the bushes. ‘What’s your status?’

‘Hanging out. Chillin’. Working on my tan.’

‘How’s our patient?’

‘Safe. How’s Collins?’

‘Dead.’

Jones had figured as much. ‘Do you need an extra gun?’

‘Funny you should mention that. I’m working on that right now.’

‘Meaning?’

‘I’ll tell you later. For now, you’re in charge of our patient. Get him to the chopper asap. I’ll take care of everything else.’

‘Hold up,’ Jones said, tensely. He spotted a man in camouflage running up the path towards the ATV. Once he realized it was Huber, he slowly relaxed. ‘A pawn is heading my way. Do you want me to send him back?’

‘That’s a negative. I’m stuck with one already. I can’t supervise two.’

‘Are you sure? Because—’

‘Go!’ Payne ordered.

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