Now Rand decided to wait until precisely noon, then exit the walled city and cross the bridge. He and Kira milled with the other tourists until it was time, then he took her hand and they set out.
He had the gun she’d taken from fake Andre tucked in slacks with a built-in holster at the small of his back. He wore a loose Aloha shirt over the slacks, and the tailoring on the pants was good enough to hide that he was carrying for all but the most astute observer.
Anyone who worked for an FSB agent should have a good eye for that sort of thing, but he didn’t mind them knowing he was armed.
When they were halfway across the bridge, he spotted the man who had to be their contact. He looked like a lackey sent to pick them up. He stood in the minimal shade of a food vendor’s shack to the right and was scanning the road and park across the circle that fronted the entrance.
Little more than a kid. Early twenties. The age Rand had been when he joined the Navy and felt like he was a badass. It wasn’t until he finished BUD/S that he learned what being an operator really meant.
Rand brought Kira’s hand to his lips to cover his mouth as the boy turned and spotted Kira. “Ready?” he whispered.
“I hope so,” she murmured.
“You got this.”
He lowered their hands, but kept their fingers entwined. She carried the shopping bag to keep his hand free to go for the gun if necessary. The kid scowled as he took in Rand, his eyes skimming down to their joined hands.
Kid should be wearing sunglasses to hide his gaze. Rookies.
“Kira Hanson?” he said as they paused five feet away from him.
“She’s Dr. Hanson, yes.” Rand stressed her title. The boy could show some respect.
“You are supposed to be alone.”
“And you’re supposed to be in your seventies,” Rand said.
“Come with me,” the kid ordered. “I’ll take you to my boss. Alone.” He had a slight Russian accent.
So even though the Kuliks—assuming Luka Kulik was behind this—had maintained a home in Malta for decades, they imported their lackeys from Mother Russia. Was that by choice or by orders from the top?
“No,” Kira said. “Give us the address. We’ll drive there.”
“I can’t do that.”
“Fine. Have a nice day. We’ve got more sightseeing to do.” Rand kissed Kira’s temple. “Wanna explore more here or take the boat to Gozo like we talked about?”
“Oh, let’s do Gozo!” Her voice was excited and warm, completely unperturbed by the scowling kid.
“No! You must come with me. I have a car.”
“You really think we’re dumb enough to get in some car? Your boss is a few bricks shy of a load if he didn’t expect pushback.”
The kid stepped away and pulled out his phone. He moved to stand out of earshot as he paced and spoke into the phone. From the few words Rand could hear, he was speaking Russian.
As he paced, the open button-down shirt he wore over a T-shirt billowed to reveal a gun in a holster over his ribs.
Not even a little bit subtle.
“Shall we screw with him and head to the car while his back is to us?”
Kira snickered. “If I didn’t want the address so badly, I’d say yes.”
“Let’s start walking. Make him sweat.” Of course, given that it was ninety-one degrees Fahrenheit and they were deep inland, the kid was already sweating, as was Rand.
At the road, they waited for several cars and a bus to pass, then crossed and entered a treed garden with thick hedges that blocked all view of the road and fort.
The kid cursed and ran after them, entering the shaded oasis.
“Relax,” Rand said. “We just wanted to wait in the shade while you argue with your boss.”
They leaned against the back of a bench under a large tree that provided dappled shade. Kira rested her head on his chest. “On my next trip to Malta, it will be late fall or whenever the weather cools down. This heat is intense.”
“Want to go swimming in the Med tonight?” He knew it was unlikely they’d have time, but he liked the fantasy. Kira in a bathing suit had to be spectacular.
“Sure.”
The kid paced ten feet away, his movements and words agitated. Rand saw on his face the moment he was given the order. He knew exactly what was coming.
The kid tucked away his phone and stepped close. He was almost in front of them, trying to act casual as he reached for the gun. Rand was ready. He reached out and swiped the gun before the kid had a chance to turn it on him. He shoved him to the ground and pressed the barrel into the kid’s ribs, both their hands clutching the weapon, but the Russian’s finger was on the trigger and Rand’s hand held his in place. The slightest pressure and the kid would shoot himself in the lung.
“Why’d you have to go and do that? Now I get to keep your gun, but the sound of a shot is going to draw too much attention. Your boss won’t be pleased when I explain how you fucked up and made the police come. Plus an ambulance. How far is it to the nearest hospital? Think your lung will collapse before then?”
Chapter Thirty-Three
It took only a moment for the young Russian to give up the weapon and the address he was supposed to deliver Kira to. She kept an eye on the path as Rand got the information and took the man’s phone and wallet while he was at it.
