Beyond Circumstances by Gloria Joynt-Lang

Author:Gloria Joynt-Lang [Joynt-Lang, Gloria]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: PTSD; romance; small town; multicultural; diversity; past secrets; detective/police; damaged hero; duty; secret identity; managing triggers; police; r
Publisher: The Wild Rose Press
Published: 2022-11-22T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty

Scorp sped through the dark alley. Water splashed against the side of the SUV.

“You ready?” Zak asked, sitting in the passenger seat.

Scorp braked to a stop. “Let’s get them bastards.”

Zak took a breath of courage, preparing to face Nadir Girgis and a group of vile criminals. The driver of the vehicle behind them turned off the ignition. Inside were three additional undercover officers.

Zak stepped onto the wet pavement and switched on his flashlight. He scanned the area, taking stock of potential shelter should gunfire erupt. He continued toward an abandoned train station. His men marched behind. Crystallized ice crunched under their boots, announcing their presence. Zak entered the building first. Scorp and the undercover officers trailed, their faces expressionless.

“Where do you want it?” one of the men asked, his breath lingering in the frosty air.

Zak motioned to an old counter.

Within seconds, three battery floodlights illuminated the place. Zak walked around, checking out the escape routes. The blueprints and Safia’s description of the site were bang on.

Good. He hated surprises.

A light shone in the corridor, casting shadows. Nadir Girgis and five men came into view. Zak was outnumbered. He remained calm. Although both parties agreed to four men, he expected Girgis to pull such a stunt.

No big deal. A fifth man meant an extra scumbag taken off the streets—unless, of course, the situation turned ugly.

This was real life, not an action movie. There’d be no duking it out, no sword fights, and no karate moves. Here, in this hellhole, guns resolved conflicts. Though confident in his sharpshooters, Zak worried about ricocheting bullets. The place was all steel and concrete.

Girgis’s men were all Caucasian and likely unable to speak Arabic. Men and women who collaborated with terrorists were opportunists. Nationalities and allegiances weren’t as important as one would think. Homegrown terrorist organizations attracted unhinged degenerates as well as callous thugs. Soulless individuals were as motivated by money as they were by ideology.

His enemy’s face drew near. Nadir Girgis looked older than the surveillance photo from Homeland Security. Hiding and not knowing who to trust will age a man.

“It’s a fascinating world, isn’t it?” Girgis spoke in English.

“In what way?” Zak responded.

“Until six months ago, I presumed you were dead.”

“Presumptions are like rumors. They seldom are true.”

A hollow laugh roared from Girgis. “I like you. We should do business more often.”

“What I’m selling is the real deal. Once you transfer the money, I won’t need you, and you won’t need me. All you’ll need is a competent team to put the device together, and you’ll be set to create tremendous havoc on American soil.”

“It’s a lot of coin, my friend.”

“It takes a lot of resources to weaponize sound and make it inaudible. I’m sure your rich friends can afford it.”

If all went well, Girgis would hand over the blueprint for the lethal sonic weapon to a group of engineers. The authorities were confident Girgis would lead them to these experts. Although Girgis was by no means a little fish, the engineers were the real catch.

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