Relentless (Benson Security 2)

On their right was a large hangar with a worrying dip in the middle of the roof. There was a sign on the turning loop that pointed to the dust-covered area beside the hangar and gave permission to park there, which was entertaining because vehicles seemed to have been abandoned and left to rot in random spots all over the airfield. There was another shed on their left, with two more four-seater planes sitting beside it—between the shed and the runway. A runway, he was pleased to note, that wasn’t filled with potholes. At least something around the place was maintained.

“This place gives me the creeps,” Elle said as Joe parked the car beside the hangar.

The rental company had promised to send someone out to get the vehicles later that day. Joe hoped the cars would still be there when the company man turned up.

“We’ll only be here a matter of minutes.” He saw Ryan’s vehicle coming a distance down the road, kicking up dust behind it.

He’d received a disgusted call from Callum twenty minutes earlier, saying they would be delayed because the two women needed to go to the toilet. A pit stop for the female bladder was another one of those things that Callum insisted never happened during his military career.

“I should have slept instead of trying to find out more about the mysterious David,” Elle said as she climbed out of the car. “I feel terrible and my head is thumping. I’m going to sleep all the way back to England, and if anybody wakes me, they’ll have all their accounts mysteriously frozen.”

They started walking towards the steps that led up into the startlingly white plane as Callum’s vehicle pulled up beside theirs. Joe scanned the area, but apart from feeling slightly uneasy, he saw nothing out of place. Two men in overalls were working on a small plane inside the hangar. Joe’s glance in their direction confirmed they weren’t a threat. Although Julia stared at them a moment longer, with a look of confusion on her face.

“Problem?” Joe said as the pilot appeared in the doorway of the plane.

“I think I’m imagining things,” she muttered.

Joe stopped and placed his hand on her arm. Julia didn’t imagine things. She noticed and remembered things.

“What?” He studied the men as he held her in place, then scanned the rest of his team.

A door slammed and Ryan climbed out of the other car. The women were busy getting their belongings together in the back seat, and Callum was still in the passenger seat, waiting for Ryan to get his wheelchair.

“I could swear that one of those engineers is the double of one of the men in Elle’s photos of Esteban’s army. See the blond streak at his temple? There can’t be two men with hair like that, can there?” Julia’s eyes were wide with worry as she looked up at him.

“Back to the car,” Joe snapped.

He’d damn well check everything before they set foot on that plane.

“I’m probably wrong.” Julia seemed embarrassed.

“Better safe than sorry. I’ve learned the hard way to trust my instincts. We’ll check the guys out be

fore we board.”

She nodded, but still bit her lip, second-guessing herself.

“What’s happening?” Elle whined. “Why am I not on that plane sound asleep already?”

“We’re going to do a check first.” Joe motioned to Ryan, who saw his signal and stopped retrieving the wheelchair from the boot. Instead, he lifted out their weapons bag and headed back to the driver’s seat.

“Mr. Barone,” the pilot called. “We’re ready to leave.”

His voice wasn’t right. A little too tight. A hint of strain.

“Didn’t Rachel say that one of the crew always waited at the bottom of the steps to help the passengers?” Elle wasn’t concerned about her headache any longer.

“Yeah.” Joe guided them back across the dirt to the car. “She did.”

“Mr. Barone, I must insist that you board. We have a schedule.” No, they didn’t.

“Don’t run, but hurry. Get in the car.” Joe pushed the women forward.

And then he heard it. A gunshot. He glanced back in time to see the pilot crumple and topple down the stairs.

“Run!” Joe shouted as he grabbed his gun.

Esteban appeared in the doorway of the plane, weapon in hand. “¡Persiguelos!”