Free Chimera by David Wellington Page A

think I’m going to like you,” she said. “You’re going to keep me on my
toes. Well, we have just tons of work to do, don’t we? Where do you want to get
started?”
    Chapel shook his head. This was not exactly what
he’d expected when Hollingshead told him he was going to get a partner.
    IN TRANSIT: APRIL
12, T+7:32
    â€œFirst things first. I’ll be in New York
soon. The address I’m headed for is in southern Brooklyn. Is there a helipad
nearby?”
    â€œVery near by. The address you’re thinking of,”
Angel said, “is in Brighton Beach, and there’s a heliport less than a mile away,
just the other side of Marine Park.” Chapel’s BlackBerry turned itself on and
vibrated in his pocket. He took it out and looked at the map shown on the
screen. Angel highlighted both the address he wanted and the location of the
heliport. “You caught a break there—it’s about to turn into rush hour in New
York. If you had to touch down in Manhattan, you could have been looking at an
hour ride on the subway.”
    â€œConsidering my mission I don’t think the subway
would have been appropriate,” Chapel pointed out.
    â€œSweetie, in New York, during a workday? The subway
is the only way to get around. But seeing how close
you’ll be, I’ll have a car waiting for you when you arrive. See how useful I can
be? I’ll get you a visual reference on the address as well, so you know when you
get there and don’t have to go hunting for house numbers.”
    â€œGood,” Chapel said. “How long until I land?” He
glanced out the window and saw urban sprawl beneath him, but that meant
nothing—most of the land between D.C. and New York was built up to one degree or
another.
    â€œNot for another half an hour yet.”
    â€œOkay. You have my list of addresses.” He didn’t
want to call it a kill list, not when the pilot
might be listening. “Can you get phone numbers for each of those names? I want
to call them all now and make sure they know they’re in trouble.”
    â€œThat’s just a piece of cake, sugar. But are you
sure you want to do that?”
    â€œWhy not?” Chapel asked.
    â€œNot to be a pill, but part of your job is making
sure this doesn’t get any public attention. If you tell these people that crazed
lunatics are coming for them, what’s to stop them from going to the media?”
    Chapel frowned. “If I talk to them the right way,
make sure they know that’s not in their best interests, I think we can minimize
that. The last thing these people want to do is advertise their locations. I
just want to make sure they get somewhere safe, like a police station or an army
base. Somewhere we can protect them.”
    â€œDirector Banks isn’t going to like that,” Angel
chided.
    â€œWe don’t work for him. I’ll handle any blowback.
But I won’t have these people made into sitting ducks. I’ll do anything in my
power to keep them alive.”
    Angel clucked her tongue. The sound was annoyingly
loud in Chapel’s headphones. “I should really run this past
Director—Admiral—Hollingshead.”
    â€œDo what you have to do, Angel, but get me those
phone numbers. These are human beings. They’re American citizens. They have a
right to protect themselves. That’s not something the intelligence community
gets to take away when it’s convenient.”
    â€œYeah,” she said. “Yeah. Jim—”
    â€œCall me Chapel. Everybody does.”
    â€œOkay. Chapel. I’ll get those numbers. And I’ll
make the calls for you, that’s part of my job. I’m sorry I questioned you. I
don’t ever get to meet the people whose lives I touch. Sometimes I forget that
sort of thing.”
    â€œIt’s an occupational hazard. We’re in the business
of protecting people, but to do that, sometimes we