Page 103 of Trapped

He was pretty sure Luntz didn’t trust him. But he was the key to a great deal of money and treasure that the colonel thought he deserved. And also, Cash had information that could hang Luntz, which meant the colonel had to deal.

Cash said he was afraid to travel far. And he made it sound like he was deteriorating. If the colonel didn’t get to him soon, he would be too whacked out to do anyone any good.

They finally settled on a meeting place in the Prince William National Forest.

Only the Decorah Security team had already scoped out the area, then dug themselves in where they couldn’t be detected. And by the time Luntz sent his men to reconnoiter, it looked safe.

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Or that’s what Cash was hoping as he waited on a gravel road by a sign that said, “For law enforcement purposes, the right side of the road is West Virginia and the left side is Virginia.”

Cash turned in a full circle, his eyes probing the forest, wondering if one of Luntz’s men was already watching him.

He looked like he’d been sleeping rough. His beard was growing out. He had on grubby clothes, and he’d hiked into the woods that morning. Now it was two in the afternoon—the appointed meeting time.

He had a Glock in his hand—for all the good that was going to do him. But he knew that the nut he was portraying would never come unarmed.

There was no time for self-doubt now. They had planned every detail of this operation.

Of course, Luntz was probably thinking the same thing. But Cash Baker was the one who had the advantage, he told himself, hoping that it was true.

He heard tires crunching on gravel—from a long way off. It seemed like his hearing was extra sharp. And as he heard Luntz coming, he felt his hand begin to shake.

Good, he told himself. That would add to the verisimilitude.

Two Land Rovers pulled up—on the Virginia side of the road. The windows were all darkly tinted, so that he couldn’t see inside. He stood with his heart pounding as the back door of the lead one opened, and Luntz got out. How many other men were in the vehicles? Seven? Eight? Guards from the bunker, he assumed.

“Major Baker.”

“Colonel Luntz.”

“Good to see you again.”

Cash shifted his weight from one foot to the other.

“You asked for my help.”

“Yes.”

“Put the gun away.”

“I feel more comfortable holding it.”

“You understand why I don’t.”

Cash shrugged.

“Let’s go to a safe place—where we can get you the help you need.”

Cash looked around at the forest. “This is a safe place,”

The colonel followed his gaze. “Not for me. But if you insist, we can secure the area.” He waved his hand, and more car doors opened. Six men in blue uniforms got out. Men he remembered seeing in the bunker. They stood with their backs to the cars, automatic weapons pointed in all directions.

“Ambush,” Cash shouted, taking a step toward the side of the road, cowering back, making it look like he was terrified out of his mind.

“Take it easy,” Luntz ordered.

“Afghanistan was an ambush.”

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