THE THOUSAND DOLLAR TARGET: A Colt Ryder Thriller by J.T. Brannan

Author:J.T. Brannan [Brannan, J.T.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grey Arrow Publishing
Published: 2021-10-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eleven

We were at a gas station near Carlsbad on Route 62 when I started to finally relax.

We’d headed south for El Paso International Airport, where we’d ditched the Toyota and stolen another vehicle. We’d managed to get there unmolested; as I suspected, everyone must have thought we’d died in the explosion. But I knew that they’d trace the Toyota eventually; someone would have seen something, or it would turn up on CCTV somewhere. So we had to change vehicles, and the airport gave us a great place to do it. When the cops, or the CIA, or whoever else was after us, finally found the Toyota, they’d probably assume we’d caught a flight and waste precious time checking manifestos and security logs for days on end. By the time they’d figured out I’d stolen another car, we’d be long gone.

I took over the driving after swapping cars, allowing the brothers to have an emotional reunion in the back. It was clear that Nabi had not held out a tremendous amount of hope, had almost believed the mission to be a lost cause, despite his confident front. For his part, Ahmad had apparently also thought it was unlikely he would ever see his brother again. I was glad to have helped bring them together again, happy to have helped save my old comrade.

But save him from what? I still didn’t know, and was looking forward to getting Ahmad alone, to find out what this whole thing was really about. It was clear that he didn’t want to speak about it in front of his brother.

“Wait here guys,” I said after I’d filled the tank, “I’ll go and pay.”

“Maybe it would be better for my brother to pay,” Ahmad suggested. “They might have photos or images of us from the camp, best if we don’t appear on the store CCTV.”

It was clear that he wanted to speak to me in private, without his brother hearing, and I nodded in agreement. “That’s a good idea,” I said, handing Nabi some cash. “No point taking any chances, huh?”

“Sure, no problem,” he said, and off he went with the money, leaving me and Ahmad alone for the first time since Nabi had picked us up in the Toyota.

“Talk to me,” I said, when Nabi was out of earshot.

“My brother needs to leave,” Ahmad said. “The first chance we have, he needs to go.”

“We’re headed in the same direction, for now at least,” I said. “He’s going home, and we’re headed to Detroit to sort you out with a new life.”

“No,” he said. “We are not headed to Detroit. We are headed for New York also, but we are not traveling with my brother. There will be much danger, and I do not want him involved any further.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“Get Nabi to the nearest airport,” he said, “send him on his way home, and I shall tell you everything. Agreed?”

“Ahmad, what’s –”

My old friend held up a hand, cutting me off. “You have saved my life.

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