rent. It turned out that the fat slob lived downstairs and even offered her a drink in his flat. If she hadn’t been moving all day, she might have taken him up on the offer, if only to keep up appearances. But her body and mind were exhausted, and she’d promised the landlord that she’d buy him a bottle of wine the next day. Maya had no intention of being in the apartment for that long, but he didn’t have to know that.
She’d secured the apartment door as well as she could and crumpled onto the bed. Even though she was bone tired, sleep would not come. She’d been lying in the same position staring up at the mottled ceiling as her brain spun, her senses still on high alert.
Finally, she made up her mind. She’d dumped her cell phone shortly after the robotic message but there were still pay phones scattered throughout the city. What she really wanted to do was run. With the resources she had scattered in various safety deposit boxes around town, Maya was sure she could live for at least two years.
But where would that leave her? On a beach selling trinkets until she was old and wrinkled? No, she could never do that. She wasn’t even in her thirties yet. There was still too much she wanted to do. Her job with Osman was supposed to be her meal ticket, and until twenty-four hours before, it had been. Their operation wasn’t just the most interesting thing she’d ever worked on, it was also highly fulfilling to her deep patriotism.
Maya believed in her country and wanted to do everything in her power to protect its future. But how could she do that if she was on the run? More importantly, who was the leak in their operation and who had killed Osman?
Like so many operators around the world, Maya Eilenberg’s mind kept wandering back to the same scenario, one she did not really want to contemplate, let alone believe. But there it was plain and simple and an obvious choice, really. Could her government be behind it all? Could her own people have killed Osman and sent her running?
No, she would not believe it until she talked to her aunt. Aunt Hannah would know. She would help.
Her mind made up, Maya got out of bed and pocketed her meager belongings. Maybe she could find a pay phone nearby. If so, she could be under her aunt’s protection within the hour.
With renewed energy, Maya hurried out of the flat and down the steps. The cool morning air washed over her as she scurried down the sidewalk, the faint smell of salt tickling her senses. She was so refreshed with elation and hope that her trade-craft failed her.
So, as she rushed past the corner and its line of plastic trashcans waiting for dutiful public servants, Maya never noticed the shadow in her midst until one gloved hand clamped over her mouth and another hand wrapped around her neck.
Chapter 11
Haifa, Israel
August 28th, 5:03am IDT
Maya’s body tensed and her barred teeth clamped down on the gloved hand. She heard the man curse and just as she went to break the hold, the man said, “Dammit, Maya, let go.”
For some reason she listened to the order and bent to a crouch. As if on cue she heard a crack and shards of brick fell from where her head had just been.
“Run,” the man urged, as if Maya needed the encouragement. He forcefully nudged her in the correct direction.
She didn’t know the identity of the man who’d grabbed her but she wasn’t exactly in a place to argue. Maya bolted, her legs churning as she heard more shots from behind. Silenced weapon. Small caliber. Probably a twenty-two .
Her mind reverted back to her training, endless hours spent familiarizing herself with a variety of weapons, and countless more hours spent firing them at various distances. While she’d never been shot at in real life, her instructors had fired plenty of rounds over their heads to get them used to the feel and the sounds as they attempted to find cover.
That’s what she had to do now - find cover. You would think it an
She’d secured the apartment door as well as she could and crumpled onto the bed. Even though she was bone tired, sleep would not come. She’d been lying in the same position staring up at the mottled ceiling as her brain spun, her senses still on high alert.
Finally, she made up her mind. She’d dumped her cell phone shortly after the robotic message but there were still pay phones scattered throughout the city. What she really wanted to do was run. With the resources she had scattered in various safety deposit boxes around town, Maya was sure she could live for at least two years.
But where would that leave her? On a beach selling trinkets until she was old and wrinkled? No, she could never do that. She wasn’t even in her thirties yet. There was still too much she wanted to do. Her job with Osman was supposed to be her meal ticket, and until twenty-four hours before, it had been. Their operation wasn’t just the most interesting thing she’d ever worked on, it was also highly fulfilling to her deep patriotism.
Maya believed in her country and wanted to do everything in her power to protect its future. But how could she do that if she was on the run? More importantly, who was the leak in their operation and who had killed Osman?
Like so many operators around the world, Maya Eilenberg’s mind kept wandering back to the same scenario, one she did not really want to contemplate, let alone believe. But there it was plain and simple and an obvious choice, really. Could her government be behind it all? Could her own people have killed Osman and sent her running?
No, she would not believe it until she talked to her aunt. Aunt Hannah would know. She would help.
Her mind made up, Maya got out of bed and pocketed her meager belongings. Maybe she could find a pay phone nearby. If so, she could be under her aunt’s protection within the hour.
With renewed energy, Maya hurried out of the flat and down the steps. The cool morning air washed over her as she scurried down the sidewalk, the faint smell of salt tickling her senses. She was so refreshed with elation and hope that her trade-craft failed her.
So, as she rushed past the corner and its line of plastic trashcans waiting for dutiful public servants, Maya never noticed the shadow in her midst until one gloved hand clamped over her mouth and another hand wrapped around her neck.
Chapter 11
Haifa, Israel
August 28th, 5:03am IDT
Maya’s body tensed and her barred teeth clamped down on the gloved hand. She heard the man curse and just as she went to break the hold, the man said, “Dammit, Maya, let go.”
For some reason she listened to the order and bent to a crouch. As if on cue she heard a crack and shards of brick fell from where her head had just been.
“Run,” the man urged, as if Maya needed the encouragement. He forcefully nudged her in the correct direction.
She didn’t know the identity of the man who’d grabbed her but she wasn’t exactly in a place to argue. Maya bolted, her legs churning as she heard more shots from behind. Silenced weapon. Small caliber. Probably a twenty-two .
Her mind reverted back to her training, endless hours spent familiarizing herself with a variety of weapons, and countless more hours spent firing them at various distances. While she’d never been shot at in real life, her instructors had fired plenty of rounds over their heads to get them used to the feel and the sounds as they attempted to find cover.
That’s what she had to do now - find cover. You would think it an
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