Absolute Peril by Jack Mars

Author:Jack Mars [Mars, Jack]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-06-23T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Jess looked somberly at Jake as he checked his gear one final time. He smiled at her and said, “What the hell’s with that look? You’ve seen me go into way worse situations than this.”

She managed a smile that looked about as real as Bard’s loyalty to the Secret Service. “I know. It’s just something about being in an airplane over open water.” She shivered. “It’s claustrophobia on top of fear of drowning on top of isolation on top of why does it always have to be you? Shouldn’t it be me? I know technology way better than you do.”

"That's exactly why I need you here. I need you to monitor electrical pulses. The bomb is in a padlocked compartment, which means I can't see if what I'm doing is going to trigger the bomb. You can. So you need to guide me from afar."

“Why don’t I ever get to do the sexy jobs that earn medals?”

“I’ll give you a medal for this.”

She rolled her eyes. “Ha ha. I already deserve a medal for putting up with you.”

"I'll give you two medals." Jess tried again with a smile and enjoyed a similar amount of success. "Come on," he said, "at least I'm not being ravaged by a super virus this time."

“That’s not funny.”

“I’m not joking. I can’t tell you how happy I am to be physically fit this time around.”

She chuckled and slapped his chest. “Be careful.”

“When am I not careful?”

She gave him a dry look and didn’t respond.

Jake tapped his earpiece. “Merrill, you’re in charge while I’m in the hold. Stay with the prisoners for now, but if anything requires immediate attention, you’re my guy, all right?”

“Yes, sir. Be careful, sir.”

“Jesus, what’s with all the sentiment? I’ll be fine, guys.”

“Of course, sir. I just overheard Gutierrez say he’s going to share your internet browser history with Sheila if you die. I just don’t want that to happen to you.”

Jake and Jess both laughed out loud at that. “You’re a true friend, Merrill. Tell Gutierrez I’ll have Jess email his history to his mother.”

“Hey, that’s messed up,” Gutierrez said. “My mother never did anything to you.”

“That you know of.”

“That’s really messed up.”

Jake chuckled. "All right, kids. I'm going in. You all behave and listen to Mr. Merrill while I'm gone."

“I’m heading straight for the cookie jar,” Gutierrez said.

“Good luck with that,” Patel chimed in. “Chef and I already ate ‘em all.”

“Oh, now that’s the most messed up of all. No cookies for your brother? That’s cold, Arjun.”

The ladder to the hold was just in front of the galley. Jake opened the hatch and started down. The hold was pressurized but not heated, and Jake was glad for the jacket he wore. Automatic lights came on as he descended, and he could see the entire hold from bow to stern.

He was grateful that the plane was only lightly populated right now. Other than the President’s luggage, food supplies and a few extra cases of ammunition and supplies for Jake and his agents, the hold was empty.

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