Free James Acton 01 - The Protocol by J Robert Kennedy Page B

York
     
    “Maybe he ditched it somewhere?”
    “Maybe,” replied Dawson. “The team will be there in about an hour so they can retrace his steps and find out.” What would I do? He wracked his brain until something finally clicked. “Can you check the shipping companies to see if they have any packages going from Phoenix using Acton’s name?”
    “That’ll take some time,” replied Red. “Would he risk it, though? What if it got lost?”
    “It’s what I would do if I were him,” said Dawson. “He’s got to know that we’re after the package and not him. By separating himself from the package he is betting that we won’t terminate him until he reacquires it.” And he’s right.
    “I’ll start with the major carriers and work my way down.” Red hacked each individual system then scanned the manifests for Acton’s name. The first time through he found nothing, but at Dawson’s suggestion he checked again, just in case there had been a delay in processing the package from a drop-off location.
     
    Phoenix, Arizona
     
    Marco pointed to Jimmy as their chartered jet came to a stop at the airline’s private terminal. “Get us some wheels. I’ll check in with Big Dog and see what the mission is.” Jimmy nodded and exited the aircraft as Marco contacted command. His comm beeped in his ear.
    “This is Bravo Command. We’re sending you the data now. Find this cab driver. We need to know where he picked up the target, if he made any stops, and whether or not he ever had a package with him, over.”
    Marco watched Niner tapping away on his laptop. He looked up and nodded. “Bravo Team Phoenix to Bravo Command, we have the data. Will contact you when target is acquired. Phoenix out.”
    Niner hacked the cab company’s GPS tracking system and soon found the cab Acton had taken earlier. “He just left the airport, about ten minutes out.”
    “Let’s go,” said Marco.
    Niner closed up the laptop and they disembarked as Jimmy pulled up in an Escalade. Niner shook his head as they climbed in.
    “What are we, fuckin’ pimps?” he asked Jimmy.
    In his best rapper’s voice, Jimmy replied, “Yo mo fo, don’t you be dissin’ my ride or I’m gonna have to take you outside and serve up a can o’ whoop ass!”
    Niner looked at him. “You’re so white .” The others started to piss themselves with laughter in the back seat. Marco activated his comm.
    “Bravo Team Phoenix to Bravo Command, we’re in pursuit of the cab driver, ETA twenty minutes.”
    Jimmy floored it, launching the men into the back of their seats.
    Make that fifteen.
     
    New York City, New York
     
    “B.D., I’ve got it!” It had taken two hours, but Red finally had a hit.
    Dawson finished up on his comm with Bravo Team Phoenix. He joined Red at the laptop. “A package just left a collection point for the Phoenix airport. It was sent by James Acton to Pedro Gonzalez, Professor of Archaeology in Madrid.”
    Did he really think he’d get away with that?
    “Relay the coordinates to Bravo Team Phoenix and have them intercept the package,” ordered Dawson. “Send Bravo’s Seven and Eight to intercept Acton when he arrives in New York. I want him eliminated.”
     
    Acton awoke as the flight began its descent into New York. He tried to stretch his arms and legs in the cramped seating without much success. Putting his shoes back on, having removed them shortly after takeoff, he gave his lap belt a tug. If they hadn’t found the package he sent then he should be okay getting off the flight. His heart hammered against his ribs, adrenaline rushing through his veins as he realized if his ploy hadn’t worked, he was most likely about to die.
     
    “Control to Bravo One.” Dawson was watching feed from the airport security cameras when the call came in.
    “Bravo One here, go ahead, Control.”
    “We have a possible security breach on this end that needs to be taken care of,” said the voice. “Send one of your men to Washington