The 22nd Secret Page 11

  Patty’s trail ends in Anchorage. I’ll have a diplomatic passport and papers and will fly directly to Seoul, South Korea and then Beijing.”

  Ben wondered how this would really end. The Chinese did not trust Henry at all and were actually not telling Tino the entire plan. When espionage reached these levels, people sometimes got killed. Ben looked forward to boarding that plane to Seoul and leaving the rest to someone else. There was a lot at stake. Chinese experts had studied Pam’s theories for several months now. They told Ben not to return without Pamela Koller. Henry and Tino were expendable. If it looked as though they were not going to be able to deliver her, Ben was to help them take her under force, a plan Ben now wanted to avoid at all costs.

  “Okay, here’s my plan,” Henry said. “Ben, you don’t have to admit this but I know your people have told you not to return without Patty. Ben, do you realize if I wasn’t in on this, and I found out about you and Patty, I’d walk right into her apartment tonight. Neither of you would survive. There’d be no trace, no evidence. It would just be another unsolved disappearance. Wouldn’t be my first, won’t be my last. Ben, are you paying attention?”

  Henry pulled his nine-millimeter from under the table pointed it at Ben’s head. He released the safety and pulled the trigger.

  “Jesus Christ, Henry” Tino jumped to his feet. The shot just missed the left side of Ben’s head. Ben was still urinating when Henry fired again streaking the bullet past the right side of his head.

  “Damn, Henry,” Tino said. “I like your style.”

  The next instant Henry was up on his feet. He reached over the table and grabbed Ben by the collar and pulled the center of Ben’s forehead up hard against the muzzle of the pistol. Henry glared at Ben, who was terrified.

  “The plan’s fucking simple, moron. You and your little honey got two choices. Go to China or disappear. Do you understand? Don’t move your head I might slip. Just blink.”

  Ben blinked. Henry spoke softly adding to Ben’s terror. “Good, go home. Tell her about yourself. Tell her who you really are. Don’t try anything like running away. I’ve sent the shadow on vacation. I’ll be personally watching you two until she gets on that boat and you get on that plane. We’ve come a long way. Don’t fuck it up now. You okay with this so far?”

  Ben’s eyes were almost bursting out of their sockets, but he managed another blink.

  “Tell Patty about me and Tino. Tell her I’m watching you two. Tell her I like her Mom’s lemonade and I’ll toast both of you and your parents if she doesn’t go with you and teach the Chinese about Level 21. Tell her just like that. Use the word toast. She’ll know that’s from me, and she knows what it means. Watch her reaction if you think I’m bluffing.”

  Henry paused for a second.

  “You think I’m bluffing?” Ben blinked before realizing it was the wrong reaction.

  “You meant to not blink didn’t you?” Henry asked. Ben thought for a second then blinked once. Henry looked at Tino and they both laughed.

  `(*0ñ„LÊ‚, Henry said the words in Chinese, startling Ben. You’re in one hell of a mess.

  Ben felt the blood rushing to his face. He began to shiver.

  ”One more thing,” Henry said. “You or your Chinese buddies double-cross me and Tino and I’ll track you down. I swear I’ll get Patty, and make you watch while I torture her to death then I’ll toast you. You think I’m bluffing?” Ben kept his eyes as wide open as he could.

  Henry shoved Ben back to his chair and slipped the pistol under his coat. “Ben, you’re a talented young man. You got us this far. Now all you need to do is convince Patty the only way out is to go with you to China. Tell her about tonight. Tell her I scared the piss out of you. Believe me, she knows me better than you. She’ll be plenty scared. Timing is everything. Today’s the 5th. The Chinese want her on the 15th. Don’t hit her with this until, say the 12th. That gives you a week to figure out just how you’re going to do this and her only two days to think about it. I’ll see you at Patty’s apartment the night of the 13th with your plane tickets. You’ll fly to Alaska the next day, then she’ll fly to the Chinese Ship on the 15th.”

  Henry got up left the room, slamming the door behind him. Ben looked at Tino.

  “Told you he was the real thing. What I didn’t tell you is they say he’s tortured twelve people to death. Pulled that gun out like you saw him do tonight and killed fifteen others on the spot. No warning, no remorse, and a lot of them your fellow countrymen. Your own people told you you’d be lucky to survive coming in contact with him. I guess you’re lucky. At least so far. You okay, Ben?”

  Ben blinked.

  “Want me to drive you home?”

  “No,” Ben said meekly. Tino left the room and the last meeting was over.

  Patty did not think it was unusual to not have heard from Ben Wednesday night. He told her he was eating with friends in Chinatown. He did this every so often on Wednesday nights. But when he didn’t show up for class she decided to drive by his apartment. He came to the door looking like death warmed over.

  “Ben, what’s wrong? You sick?” Ben turned and walked away, leaving her standing alone at his open door. She followed him into his living room and closed the door behind her. He fell onto the couch face down. There was an empty bottle of Jack Daniels on the coffee table. Patty had never seen Ben drink more than a beer or two at parties or with dinner.

  “What’s this all about?” Patty asked holding up the empty bottle.

  “Got it in Chinatown last night. I guess I got a little crazy with my friends. I’m lucky I made it home. Sure as hell regretting it today.”

  Patty sat on the chair opposite him.

  “Look, Patty. I’m really sick. Maybe you should go.” Ben did not want to try and deal with Patty and his hangover at the same time. He needed time to sort things out. The whiskey had allowed him to block out the image of Henry’s gun firing at his head, but only while he was passed out.

  “Have you eaten anything today?”

  “No really, Patty. That’s okay. I’d just puke it up.”

  “Well, we’ll see. You got any chicken noodle soup?” She headed off to the kitchen. “What in the world possessed you to do that to yourself?” she asked. “You should be ashamed, and you missed class.”

  Big fucking deal as if that’s going to matter in, how many days I got? The image of Henry pointing that gun, smiling, and pulling the trigger was all he could see. When he closed his eyes, he could almost see the bullet come out and straight at his head. Then the mother fucker did it again, son of a bitch bastard.

  “Sit up,” Patty said, returning with a tray. “I have some soup and a Sprite for you. If you eat something you’ll feel better.” Patty set the food on the coffee table in front of Ben, sat down next to him, and took a sip of her Coke. Ben was a ripe mix of whiskey, urine and vomit.

  “You want to come over to my place for dinner tomorrow?” she asked. “I’ll wear your favorite nothing.”

  “Sounds great,” Ben said. “But let’s take a drive first. I’ll come by your place about 3, okay?” Ben did not want to try and talk with Patty about this when she was naked.

  She rubbed his back and he lay on the couch. She was so understanding, but he knew she would never understand this. He had no idea how something so perfect could go this bad this fast. He thought for awhile longer and thought of Lo. That was how.

  “Listen, Patty. I really just want to lie down. Sorry.”

  “That’s okay. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

  Ben drove them to the Golden Gate Bridge the next afternoon. It was chilly in San Francisco in November, and Patty wore a sweater and jeans. Ben had decided to not follow Henry’s advice by waiting to tell her. She had the right to know about this as soon as possible. They parked at the Golden Gate Park and watched the rough blustery fall bay waters for a few minutes. Ben spoke sternly and Patty listened in the passenger seat.

  “Patty, I have something I need to tell you. It’s not good. Y
ou won’t like it but, well, we got till next week to do something.”

  “What do you mean? What happens next week?”

  “Oh God, Patty. You’re going to hate me.” He tried to hold back the tears.

  Patty put her arms around Ben’s neck and pulled herself close to him. “Just tell me, Ben. What’s wrong? Nothing you could say would make me hate you. I love you.”

  “Patty, I’m not who you think I am.” Patty continued to hold on tight to Ben’s neck. “I’m not from New York. I’m not even a U.S. citizen. I’m a Communist Chinese.”

  Patty gasped and tightened her hold on Ben’s neck. “It gets worse. I’m involved in the Chinese missile program. I know who you are. Your real name is Pam and you’re from Idaho. I know what you are to the United States Government.”

  Patty threw herself back against the passenger door, covered her mouth with both hands, and looked at Ben with horror.

  “Would you like me to drive us home?” Patty nodded twice then turned away from Ben and looked out the side window.

  Patty did not speak or move until the car came to a stop in front of her apartment. She leapt from the car and ran to the door. Ben would not have been able to keep up with her if she hadn’t had to use the key to open the door.

  “Patty, wait.” Ben tried to stop her but she ran into the apartment and into the kitchen. He followed, pleading. “Patty, we have to talk. There’s more.”

  Ben stopped at the door to the kitchen when he saw Patty standing in the corner wielding a large kitchen knife. “Get away, Ben. So help me, get away from me.”

  “Oh, Patty, don’t do this to us. You don’t understand.”

  “Don’t do this to us? Don’t do this to us? What the fuck you think you’ve been doing to us. If you think I’m going to tell you anything, you’re wrong. I’ll kill you and myself before that happens. Just get out.” Tears began to stream down Patty’s cheeks.

  “Patty, they threatened my life and my family. I didn’t know you, or who you were, until the night before I met you. They told me I had to try and meet you that first day of class or they’d kill my parents and me. They recruited me. I didn’t seek them out.”

  “Who? You mean your bosses in China?” The tears flowed, but Patty was still mad and scared enough to kill.

  “No, Patty. We knew nothing of you or Level 21 until they told me that first night, the night before I met you.”

  “Who’s they then? Who did this to me?”

  “A man named Anthony Cassioppi. He’s with the mafia, and Henry Lo. He said you’d know him.”

  “Henry Lo. He told you about me and Level 21? He’s involved with you and the mafia? I don’t believe you.”

  She lowered the knife to her side.

  “Oh Christ, Patty, this is such a fucking mess.” Ben began to shiver and cry. “He threatened to kill me Wednesday night. He shot at me twice. That’s why I got drunk. He’s going to kill both of us if you don’t go to China with me and teach us about Level 21.”

  “Henry wouldn’t do these things. I know him. I know him real well. You’re lying. He wouldn’t do that.”

  “This doesn’t make much sense to me, but he said you’d know it was him if I told you he would toast us if we didn’t do what he wanted.”

  Patty dropped the knife and covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh my God.”

  “He said he likes your mom’s lemonade, something like that.” Patty ran over to Ben and threw her arms around him. She buried her head in his shoulder and they cried. “I’m sorry,” Ben said. “I had no choice. Henry told me I had to meet you and get you to fall in love with me or he’d kill me. Wednesday night he told me you had to go to China with me help us learn Level 21 or he’d kill you too and our families. He scares me. He’ll do it.”

  “I know Henry.” Patty said between sobs. “He’ll do it. He’s a killer. That’s what he does for the government. Kills people. And worse. Toast is his word for torture. He uses electricity somehow. If he’s turned traitor he’ll be desperate and dangerous.” Patty looked up at Ben. “I’m sorry about the knife.”

  Ben held her neck in his hands. He stared at her with soggy eyes.

  “What are we going to do? Patty, if Henry doesn’t get us my people will. Just believe one thing. I love you. I don’t care about anybody’s missiles anymore. I just care about you. I want to be with you. I don’t care where.”

  Patty managed a smile. “I love you. You’re all I want too.” They kissed deeply. The circumstances were unique and the individuals far from average, but they made up the way lovers do, falling into bed.

  Afterward, Ben lay with his arm around Patty as she cuddled into him. They brainstormed every possible scenario that could get them out of this mess. Giving themselves up to the American authorities would put Ben’s family at the mercy of an angry Chinese government, and leave him without a country. Not to mention the contract Tino would put on them. Going into hiding would be even worse for their families and Lo, or Tino would eventually track them down. If they had a chance to live through this without risking their families and with some kind of future, it had to be with the Chinese. Patty was the first to speak.

  “Ben, I’ve thought it through. We have only one choice. That bastard Lo’s got us trapped. No matter what we do someone gets hurt. I’m not risking our families or our own lives for any damn missile secrets. The whole damn world’s crazy. It doesn’t matter if your people find out about Level 21. No one’s ever going to use any of these nuclear weapons anyway. I don’t know who’s the craziest, us for building the damn things or you for stealing them. Think about it, why would anyone want to steal the ability to destroy the human race?”

  Patty sat up on the bed next to Ben with the sheet pulled up over her chest.

  “What are you saying? You want to go to China?”

  “Hell no, I don’t want to go to China, but if that’s the only way then let’s make the best of it. What happens after I give them what they want?”

  Ben could see everything falling in place. He would accomplish every objective set out for him by the Chinese government after they learned of the existence of Level 21. His government would reward him beyond his wildest dreams and he would be allowed to keep Patty. Tino would get his at the hands of the men from the research vessel and the Chinese would be more than happy to assist the Americans in hunting down Lo. Ben could finally celebrate on the day Lo got what’s coming to him. If Lo thought he was clever enough to outsmart the Chinese, he was dead wrong. Ben shot up out of bed and began talking enthusiastically.

  “Patty, it’s not at all like you Americans think. You will be welcomed and we will have a wonderful future working together. We can marry.” Ben’s enthusiasm suddenly vanished. “What about your parents, Patty? They’ll still be here.”

  Patty became sad and a few tears formed in her eyes. “I don’t know, Ben. I’ll miss them. Maybe someday, somehow I’ll be able to see them again, but at least Lo will leave them alone.”

  Chapter Five

  The Stakeout

  Eight am the morning after the crash - Anchorage

  Henry hung up the phone and thought for a few minutes about Walker’s plan. He picked up the phone and dialed Ben’s room number. The phone rang six times before a groggy Ben answered.

  “Ben, wake up and listen carefully. I think Patty’s alive. You awake yet?”

  “Yeah, what’d you say about Patty?”

  “She may be alive and waiting for me to get to her. I need you to contact your people and tell them we’re going ahead with the plan. I should be able to get her to the rendezvous point tomorrow afternoon, day after at the latest. Tell them I’ll be using a snow cat.”

  “Patty alive, are you sure, how’d you find this out? God, I hope you’re right. Can I talk to her, she’s okay, right? I mean not hurt or anything?”

  “How I know this is not important and no, I don’t know for sure, but my source is the best and I think he’s right. She’s alive and waiting for us to get her t
o that research vessel. I need you to tell your people.”

  “Yeah sure, I told them what you told me when we first found out about the crash. I told them to just hold tight till we could figure things out. Oh, man, I hope she’s okay.”

  “I know you’re pretty torn up about Patty. Maybe things will work out after all. Listen, I got to get busy if we’re going to get to her before the authorities. This storm is going to start clearing and you can bet they’re going to be all over that plane. The CIA knows about you and Patty. We got until tomorrow night to get you and her out of there. After that I’m not sure we can keep this from blowing up in our faces. I’m leaving town by noon. I’ll call you before then.”

  “If you hear anything more about Patty please let me know. I’ll contact my people and make arrangements to get out of here and then wait to hear from you.” Ben hung up.

  The full implications of what the rendezvous with the Chinese meant began to sink in as Henry hung up the phone. He knew exactly what had been planned for Tino. Now it would be him. The worst part was Ben knew too, the little shit. Henry wanted to go to his room and put a bullet right between his eyes. He took a deep breath stood up and headed for the shower.

  Henry walked into the Anchorage FBI office at 9:30. He introduced himself to the receptionist as Tom Walker and asked to speak to the agent in charge, Mike Turner. The receptionist tried to not react to the association of the name Walker with Henry’s Asian features. She buzzed Turner and announced that a Mr. Walker was here to see him. Turner came through the door and looked at Henry and the receptionist. “This is Mr. Walker,” she said.