[Quinn 04] - The Silenced

Petra and Mikhail headed off to the right, past the van. Orlando gave Quinn’s hand a squeeze, then ran along the edge of the driveway opposite the pond.

Three minutes later, Quinn saw headlights in the distance down Meyers Lane. They were proceeding slowly. He moved out from the cover of the carport to a spot in the middle of the driveway a dozen feet away from the van, then turned so he faced the road, and waited as the rain soaked his head and jacket.

A large tree at the northeast corner of the property momentarily obscured the car, then it reappeared along the road just on the other side of the pond. Even with the stormy conditions, Quinn could see it was a Mercedes sedan. It slowed to a near stop fifteen feet shy of the driveway’s entrance, then began crawling forward, finally turning onto the driveway. When it stopped again, it was two car lengths away from Quinn.

Quinn’s phone vibrated in his pocket. He pulled it out knowing what would be on the display: BLOCKED.

He accepted the call and held the phone up to his ear, but said nothing.

“You weren’t alone. Where are the others?”

“What others?” Quinn asked.

“You think I didn’t have you watched? Where are they?”

Quinn raised his arm. A second later Petra and Mikhail stepped out from around the van.

“Show me your weapons,” Palavin said.

“That’s not necessary,” Quinn told him.

“Show them or your sister is dead.”

“How do I know you didn’t kill her already?”

There was the sound of a slap, then Quinn could hear Liz yelp. “Your weapons,” Palavin repeated.

Quinn pulled a pistol out of his jacket, and held it out so those in the car could see it.

“Drop it on the ground.”

Quinn did so.

“Now your friends.”

Quinn paused, then turned and nodded at Petra and Mikhail. They repeated Quinn’s actions, their pistols joining his in the mud.

“Happy?” Quinn asked.

“Where is the package?” Palavin said.

“In the van.”

“Get it.”

Quinn walked over to the van. As he reached for the door Palavin said, “Tell me now if there is anyone inside.”

“Other than Trevor Robb?” Quinn asked. When Palavin didn’t respond, Quinn said, “No one.”

“Open it.”

Quinn opened the door. The two bags he and Orlando had carried out of the Grant Building were visible just inside.

“That’s him?” the Ghost asked.

“What’s left,” Quinn said.

“Bring the bags over and set them beside the car on the driver’s side.”

“Let my sister out first,” Quinn said.

“I don’t think so.”

“Look. The bags are right here. If you really had someone watching me, then you know these are the same bags I brought out of the building.”

“I know nothing of the kind,” Palavin said. “You’ve had plenty of time to replace what was inside with anything. Bring the bags over.”

“The deal was an exchange. That means we both get something at the same time.”

Quinn heard movement on the other end, then Palavin’s voice, muffled and unintelligible.

The two front doors opened, and the driver and the front passenger got out. The driver was about Quinn’s height, and at least fifty years old. Quinn had never seen him before.

The passenger was different, though. Quinn knew exactly who he was.

“Hello, Mercer,” Quinn said.

Mercer sneered at Quinn.

The driver opened the rear passenger door and leaned inside. When he stood back up, he had Liz with him. She looked scared.

“Now the bags,” the Ghost said over the phone.

Quinn slipped the phone into his pocket, then pulled the bags out of the van and walked them over to the car.

On the road in front of the property, two cars appeared—a Mercedes and an Audi. A moment later they turned down the driveway.

“What is this?” Quinn yelled.

The rear passenger door on the other side of the S600 opened, and an elderly man climbed out. There was no mistaking his face. He was the older version of the wavy-haired twin in the Young Leninist photo, and the middle-aged man from the headshot in Annabel Taplin’s folder.

The murderer.

The faux Trevor Robb.

The Ghost.

He was smiling an ugly smile.

“I’m afraid this was a career-ending job from the beginning. For a last assignment, I’m sure it wasn’t as satisfying as you would have hoped, and for that I apologize.”

The Mercedes and the Audi pulled to a stop behind the Ghost’s car.

“What are you talking about?” Quinn asked, wiping the water from his face.

“You know about the people I’ve had removed. You obviously know about the late Mr. Robb. I’m afraid you are too dangerous to me alive. I can’t have that.”

“So you’re just going to kill me?” Quinn said.

“You and your new friends,” Palavin said, glancing back toward Petra and Mikhail. He smiled. “Yes. I know who you are. Dombrovski’s puppets. Mercer was kind enough to take photos of each of you in Maine before he killed your friend.” He looked back at Quinn. “So kind of you to team up with them. Makes things so much more neat and easy.” He then said something in Russian.

Mikhail spat several words back.

Palavin laughed, then said in English, “A fool’s quest to think you could best me.”

“So you and your two men there are planning to take on all of us?” Quinn asked.