Enigma (FBI Thriller 21)

Elena stared disbelieving when a man appeared out of a third-floor window in the warehouse and started waving wildly back at them. A moment later, a lanky man in a dirty white T-shirt and dusty jeans tucked inside military boots dashed from the warehouse toward them, a leather carryall under his arm.

Elena was shaking her head back and forth. “I can’t believe this. You actually left your stash with a homeless man? Look at him, he’s crazy.”

“Major Hummer’s not homeless; he told me he lives in a cozy apartment on the third floor. Crazy? Nah, the major and I had a nice chat about Ireland, and Derry, and we talked about what it’s like to be shot. What I am is an excellent judge of character.” He grinned at her, shaking his head. “Especially useful when there’s no other choice.” Liam said to Henley, “Don’t lift off until I tell you to. We’re going to have ourselves a little reunion first.” He was still grinning as he grabbed Major Hummer’s arm and pulled him into the helicopter. “Hello, mate. Long time no see. You’re looking fit.”

Major Hummer tossed the carryall to Liam, and without thought, buckled himself in. It had been years since he was in a helicopter, but he remembered, and it felt good. He leaned over and hugged Liam. “You look even better, all clean and sharp, Manta Ray. I really didn’t think you’d make it, but here you are. The FBI came back after they carried you out, like you told me they would, tore up the warehouse floors, banged on the walls, pulled off plasterboard. They rousted all of us who didn’t

manage to get away before they showed up. When they came up to my place, you know what I did? When they stood there staring at all my newspapers, I told them they were all in order by date, so whatever date they wanted to see, I could show it to them. You want to know what I did then? I started singing that old song Dougie sings—“Country Roads”—right in their faces. They looked around some, but that was it. I watched them leave from my window, shaking their heads. They weren’t happy. Wasn’t hard to make them think I was crazy.”

“Crazy like a fox,” Liam said. “Well done, Major, you’re a genius.” Liam embraced him. “I knew I could trust you, a countryman and a soldier, knew you’d take care of my stuff for me. You didn’t pawn the bracelet I gave you yet, did you? No, I know you didn’t, that was the deal we made. When you do pawn it, remember not to take less than fifty thousand, okay?”

Humbug shook his head. “I still have it all safe and sound at my house. I like to look at it at night when I light my candle, watch those diamonds shimmer and shine in the candlelight. It took me a while to get your blood out of the crevices, though.” He turned to look at Elena sitting on Manta Ray’s other side. He gave her a beatific smile. “You’re very pretty. What’s your name?”

“I’m Elena. Who are you?”

Humbug’s shoulders straightened. “I’m Major Patrick Hummer, United States Army, self-retired, at your service, ma’am.” He saluted her. “Some of my neighbors here call me Humbug, a bad joke, really, a play on my name—Hummer.” He took in the duct tape at her wrists and ankles.

“Why’d Manta Ray tie you up? I mean, look at him, ma’am, a strapping Irishman. Seems to me he’d have to run from women so they don’t tackle him. I’ve never used duct tape to tie anyone up like that. What’d you do?”

“I kept him alive, the idiot,” Elena said.

Humbug looked back and forth between them, then frowned. “Well, I guess that’s all none of my business. As long as you’re not going to hurt her, is that right, Manta Ray?”

“She’ll be safe with me, Major, so long as she behaves.”

“See now, Elena, you can trust Manta Ray to do what he says. He came back here like he said he would, even after they took him away in an ambulance. He was lying there, all bloody and moaning, and I tried to help him. You know what? No matter how bad he felt, he still talked to me. And he gave me a bracelet that’s worth more than anything I’ve ever owned. He’s a man you can trust, a man who keeps his word.” Humbug beamed at Liam. “You’re the sort of man who comes back.”

“You knew I would,” Liam said. He opened the carryall, saw everything was untouched, and marveled at Hummer’s lack of curiosity. He picked up the metal box, about the size of a flattened bread box, still locked. It was true, he was usually a good judge of character, he’d had to be to survive, and he hadn’t been wrong about Major Hummer. Odd, but he’d simply had no doubts. Then the sirens had wailed, coming closer and closer and he’d made sure Major Hummer was well away from him before the FBI burst in.

“So you haven’t been out in the world since the FBI took me away? You haven’t spoken to anyone about me?”

“Nope. I didn’t feel like going anywhere, too many eyes and ears out there, all of them looking at me, maybe calling the military police on me. They’d take me away for what I did.”

“Understood, but nobody’s looking anymore, Major. It’s ancient history.” Liam knew he had nothing to fear from this man, no reason not to let him go. He surprised himself, honestly felt sorry Hummer was broken, even more surprised he wished he could help him. At least he had the bracelet. “Thank you, Major, for everything you’ve done for me. You can go ahead and climb out now, and you take care of yourself.” He hugged him, whispered in his ear, “Wait a second, I have something else for you.”

He said to Henley, “Give me your wallet.” Henley hoisted an eyebrow but gave Liam his wallet without comment. Liam pulled out a fifty-dollar bill and shoved it in the major’s pocket. “Try a bottle of Krug, it’s my favorite. And, Major, thank you.”

Major Hummer gave him a wave and jumped out of the helicopter. They watched him run, bent down, his hand over his mouth and nose as the helicopter lifted off and stirred up dust.

Elena looked at Major Hummer until the helicopter swung to the south. She said, “You took a huge risk.”

“Did you look at him, really look?”

Slowly, she nodded. “You’re right. I wonder what happened to him.” She glanced at the metal box on Liam’s lap but said nothing.

“I’m taking a much bigger risk now, dealing with your boss. After that, I’ll have my freedom and enough money to do whatever I please for the rest of my life.”

“Where are you going to go?”

He gave her his beautiful smile. “Wouldn’t be very bright to tell you, now would it? Somewhere nobody’s looking for me, and that’s most of this big beautiful earth. But you know, just between you and me, I’ve been thinking about miles and miles of sand dunes. Hey, how about Morocco?”

She said, “I’ve been there, most of it’s a hellhole, nothing but heat and desert and camel stink. And those clothes the women have to wear—” She broke off.

Liam said, “Where would you go, girl?”

“Fiji.”

Liam gave her the once-over. “You would look great in a bikini. I have to say I agree with Major Hummer.”