Deep Sleep (Devin Gray #1)(60)

“Rich. This is Graves. Are we sure that was the only Russian team working the town house? A shitload of push-to-talk satellite traffic just lit up my screen. We’re trying to pinpoint, but all I can give you is a general direction at the moment.”

“Where?” asked Farrington.

“Somewhere east of our current location on Linwood Avenue. A few blocks away, I’d guess, based on signal strength.”

“Where’s Gray and Young?”

“Turning onto Eastern Avenue off Robinson Street,” said Graves. “A few blocks east of here.”

Hoffman hit the accelerator and blew through his second stop sign of the night. Definitely not his last.





CHAPTER 31


Devin Gray turned his mother’s car onto Eastern Avenue, which ran parallel to the southern edge of Patterson Park for several city blocks. His plan was to take Eastern to Interstate 95 and drive north for a good twenty to thirty minutes, exiting in one of the city’s suburbs, where he’d run a few countersurveillance drills through some of the quiet neighborhoods. Anyone following them would stick out immediately once he got off the interstate.

“How am I supposed to get my Jeep?” asked Marnie.

It was the first thing she’d said since they’d been dropped off at his car. To say that Marnie looked angry would be an understatement. Seething might be a more accurate description.

“I honestly don’t know,” said Devin. “I wasn’t aware that the town house was a setup. I swear.”

“I heard gunshots, Devin,” said Marnie. “Gunshots. My name is on the Airbnb agreement.”

“Tell them you ran out the back door when you heard the gunshots,” said Devin, instantly realizing the many flaws in that plan.

“But I didn’t call nine-one-one or hide in the alley until the police arrived,” said Marnie. “I suppose if we turned around right now and you dropped me off a few blocks over, I could approach the nearest police station and ask a few questions. Maybe try to figure out if anyone reported you and Karl showing up minutes before the gunshots, so I don’t totally get caught in a lie when I say that I ran away in fear. You know, get my alibi straightened out and all that.”

“Marnie. You didn’t do anything wrong,” he said, now utterly convinced he’d be better off just shutting up.

“True. I could probably just lawyer up and tell the police that it’s none of their business why I rented an Airbnb for twelve people in Baltimore for five hundred dollars a night and that same town house got attacked a few hours later. And that the two guys who showed up a few minutes before it got attacked was just a random coincidence. Spend some time trying to explain you and Karl. All while the Russians, or whoever is really after you, decides to up the ante and stop by my parents’ place. Speaking of which, I need to call them.”

Devin hadn’t thought of her parents, or even his dad, for that matter—because he’d had no idea any of this would happen. He’d come to terms with the possibility that he might have to hide his dad and sister at some point but figured that was weeks away. Plus, Berg had said he could help with that, especially if Devin could convince his dad to fly out to Los Angeles. Apparently, Berg knew a crew out there that specialized in hiding people. But tonight’s events had come as a complete surprise. He should do the same as Marnie and call his dad. Get him on a red-eye flight to Los Angeles. Same with Marnie’s parents.

“You might not want to hear this, but Karl knows some people in LA that can disappear our parents for a while,” said Devin. “I’m going to make my dad take that option. Karl said it would be an entirely comfortable experience. Not some desert bunker somewhere.”

Devin’s attention shifted from Marnie to a dark SUV speeding into the intersection. Shit. His satellite phone rang a moment later, the name KARL appearing on the screen.

“Sounds wonderful,” said Marnie. “I’ll let you explain to them. I’m sure they’ll—”

Devin slammed on the brakes, the car skidding to a halt well short of the black SUV.

“What the hell, Devin!” said Marnie, bracing her arms against the dashboard.

He detected movement in his peripheral vision, his eyes shifting to the driver’s-side mirror. A sedan parked itself diagonally across the two-lane street behind him, blocking most of it. He briefly considered turning left and driving into the park, but the doors flew open on both vehicles as a second SUV screeched into the intersection in front of him. If he turned the vehicle, he’d expose the sides of his car to gunfire.

“Russians. Get down!” said Devin, ducking below the dashboard and opening his car door. “Take out the guys behind us first. We’ll use the car as cover until help arrives.”

“How do we even know—” she started, the windshield instantly spider-cracking from several bullet holes.

“That’s how!” said Devin, sliding out of the car and staying low. “Get behind the car!”

He drew the M&P9 from the concealed holster on his right hip and sighted in on the masked attacker who had just jumped down from the rear driver’s-side seat. He fired as he moved toward the back of his car, pressing the trigger five times in rapid succession and knocking his target against the back of the sedan. He shifted the pistol’s sights to the driver, who had dropped to both knees—arms by his side, pistol clattering to the street. The man’s head snapped back before Devin pressed the trigger, Marnie finishing him off.