Stinger: An International Thriller by Gregory D. Lee

Author:Gregory D. Lee [Lee, Gregory D.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
Published: 2024-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 23

Robaire checked the contents of his suitcase. He expected the taxicab he summoned would arrive at his apartment at any moment. After he secured the latches, a car horn sounded twice. After wheeling the large suitcase into the living room, he opened the door and waved to the driver. He bent over and set an on-off timer on a lamp to go on at six p.m. and off at two a.m. Robaire grabbed the manila envelope from the kitchen which had the film, sketching, and letter for his sister in Virginia. He held it firmly under his arm as he struggled with the large Hartman, taking one last glance inside before shutting and locking the door for what he thought might be the last time.

When he reached the cab, the driver, fresh from Nigeria, wrestled with the heavy suitcase, finally getting it in the trunk. Robaire slid into the back seat and said, “Los Angeles International Airport by way of a post office.” The driver smiled broadly and drove off. Robaire powered off his cell phone and pager.

Robaire checked his new name was on the U.S. passport June gave him. Anwar Nasir was the name chosen. He committed it to memory before arriving at the post office where he mailed the envelope fourth-class, reasoning it would take about a week to get to Virginia that way. By then, he’d know his fate.

Upon arriving at the Tom Bradley International terminal, the check-in at the Lufthansa first-class ticket counter was uneventful. No third degree by the ticket agent, like he had experienced so many times at other international airports around the world. He merely had to show a photo ID, using the passport for that purpose. Robaire made his way to the gate and observed an army of TSA security. After shuffling through the metal detector, he furtively glanced around, looking for anyone who looked like a federal agent. He had seen enough of them during his career as a confidential informant to know when he saw one. Nothing unusual so far. After lacing his belt back on his pants and slipping into his loafers, he strolled to his departure gate. On the way, he spied a cocktail lounge he found impossible to resist.

After first purchasing a Time magazine at a shop nearby, he found a corner table in the cocktail lounge to cover his back. He initially faked reading while glancing around, but after seeing nothing suspicious, became engrossed in an article about terrorism in the United States and the imminent war in Iraq over disarmament. The article highlighted the FBI’s efforts to find terrorists. Good luck with that, he thought. It was not until he had finished his second double Stoli the paranoia subsided, and he finally began to relax.

Robaire’s Omega informed him it was 5:43 p.m. He spent the next ninety minutes preparing mentally for his journey, if that was possible, with two doubles running through his veins.

After a while, his thoughts drifted to his mother and sister and what they must be experiencing.

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