Lose Your Breath (Detectives Kane and Alton)

With his sidearm hidden by his flowing robes and head covered, Dave headed into the town. Its size was substantial, which was good and made it easier to hide. He had his orders and a rough idea of where to go. They’d head for an area hit by a series of car bombs and dump the truck. The place would be deserted and Terabyte had organized a meet with a friendly. Not that he trusted anyone, but with Annie along he had no choice. She needed sleep and a decent meal. They had a long way to go before they’d be safe. He pulled the truck into the curb. They’d walk from here. He could see the bombed-out shells of the storefronts Terabyte had described about fifty yards away.

He glanced at her. He liked Annie and that was a problem because he’d made up his mind long ago not to form any permanent relationships. He’d had girlfriends from all over the world, but the moment he’d explained his career came first, they never returned his calls. He shrugged. Maybe Annie would be different?

“Is there a problem?” Annie was staring at him through the slit in her burka. “You’ve gone all serious and now you’re shaking your head.”

Dave glanced at her. “Please don’t ask me what I’m thinking. I hate it when people ask that.”

Annie’s eyes flashed in annoyance. “Sorry, I thought you’d seen something; you know, like a band of militia with their rifles trained on us.”

“I’d tell you if I did.” Dave slid on his sunglasses and adjusted his headgear. “This looks like the right place. Wait here, I’ll grab the bags and come round and lift you down.”

“I’ll be fine.” Annie’s hand went to the door.

Dave rolled his eyes. “No, you won’t, and if you fall over, you might damage my rifle. That could mean life or death to us right now. Wait here.”

He heard her exasperated sigh as he climbed out, grabbed the bags, and headed around the hood. After dropping the bags on the ground, he opened the door, lifted her down, and set her on her feet. She swayed slightly under the weight of his backpack but straightened, holding her back. He smiled, she sure looked pregnant. He gathered the bags and they moved not so swiftly to the gutted store on one corner. “We’ll wait here. They’ll be along soon, I hope.”

He scanned the area, keeping his body between her and the street. He heard the vehicle before it came into view. An old battered sedan covered in dust pulled up beside them. A man leaned out the window and spoke to him in Arabic.

“Hurry, get in before anyone sees you.” He gestured with his arms. “We have a safe place but it’s ten minutes from here.”

Dave helped Annie into the car, dropped in his bags beside her and climbed into the front passenger seat. He nodded at the man. “What do I call you?”

Terabyte had given him a name. If the man didn’t respond with the correct reply, he’d end up collateral damage just like the others. He waited, his hand slipping beneath his robes to his sidearm.

“They call me Farid.” The man smiled at him. “Don’t worry, there are many here who do not agree with the militants.” He waved a hand to encompass the ruins. “This was a thriving town and now we live in fear. How long will it last? I’m not sure anyone will survive.”

Dave nodded and relaxed a little. “Did you find the supplies I asked for, particularly clothes for my wife?”

“We have most of what you need and will find more before you leave. We didn’t have much time. I’m sure you understand things aren’t easy to come by at the moment.”

“I understand.” Dave cleared his throat. “We need a safe place to rest. My wife is exhausted.”

“It’s not far now.” Farid smiled at him. “I think this place will please you.”

Farid drove at a fast pace along damaged roads, until they came to side streets with people milling around. It was as if civilization had just been switched back on. As they drove, slower now, Dave scanned the streets, familiarizing himself with the area. If they wanted to leave in a hurry, he’d need to have some idea of which way to go. Surprised to see so many people out on a Sunday, he turned to Farid. “Is it usual to have so many people out and about on a Sunday?”

“They get out when they can and stores open when the militia has left the town. The militants have no thought for anyone’s property. All believe they are entitled to take what they want without payment.” Farid shook his head. “We have rocks and they have guns, so we survive any way we can.”

Dave frowned. “Perhaps, I can help. Do you have a resistance?”

“We do indeed.” Farid’s expression became animated. He pulled to the curb and turned to him. “There will be a small patrol lef

t to guard the militia’s supplies, usually ten men. Some stay in the storeroom and others drive around killing people who get in their way.”

Watching all around, Dave thought for a beat. It would be to his advantage to gain these people’s trust. He sighed. “If I cleared the area, how would you get rid of the bodies and the trucks?”

“Leave that to us.” Farid smiled broadly, his eyes dancing with excitement. “We’re expert at hiding things. It would take no time at all to dig a pit. We have an excavator at the landfill. Removing garbage has been a problem here and digging a pit would be a normal thing to do. We’ll bury the men and the trucks if necessary and then cover them with garbage. There is no shortage of that here.”

“You should take their weapons as well and protect yourselves.” Dave moved his attention back to Farid. “And ammo?” He gave the details of a variety of bullets he’d require in the hope they could source some for his rifle.

“I will find what you need. They are on the list of requirements we received.” Farid clasped his hands together. “I already have people searching for items on your list.” He looked all around. “It’s safe to drive on, no one is around.” He pulled back onto the dusty road.

The deal would be off without ammo. Dave had no intention of disposing targets with his bare hands, although he could without a problem, but the chances of being discovered would be greater, and he had Annie to think about now. “Okay, we’ll help each other but I must leave here as soon as the militia have cleared out. My wife has little time left and we must get home.”

“We have a deal, my friend.” Farid stopped outside a store that displayed rolls of material and dressmaker’s dummies draped in various garments. “This is the place. It is over the store and very safe. Bars on the doors and windows. No one can get inside.”

Dave frowned. “How do we get out?”