Page 38 of A Touch of Frost
“Why are you here?” I asked.
“Where are my manners?” Blink asked, peeling off his jacket to expose his gun. He draped the coat over the back of a chair and opened a small fridge beside the desk with his laptop. He pulled out a couple beers and extended one to me.
I ignored.
“Suit yourself.” He muttered, setting the drink back in the fridge before prying the lid off the other and taking a sip.
“What do you know about Paul Ackert?”
“My team was supposed to take him to Romania.” Blink fell into a tattered chair before drinking from the bottle. “We split up when we landed, Striker, Dawg and Rico was supposed to take the doc to the location and myself and Loco were left behind to secure our ride. Somewhere along the way this mission went sideways and when the smoke cleared the doc was gone.”
I folded my arms across my chest.
“Loco and I didn’t want to leave without finding him.” Blink took another drink. “But orders are orders, and we were overruled. The next thing I know Striker flies to Montenegro and Dawg goes missing with Rico.”
“Where’s Loco?”
“His wife just had a baby.” Striker set the bottle down and stretched his legs out in front of him. “I don’t know what happened to the doc. But right now, the team has this dark cloud over them, people thinking we’re dirty.”
“Why are you here?”
“You know why I’m here. You’ve spoken to Ray.”
“He was mostly useless.” I told him.”
Blink scoffed. “Listen, I don’t want any trouble. I’m trying to clear this up, so my entire military career doesn’t turn into a fucking dumpster fire. If you’re here to get in my way…”
“I give zero fucks what you do.” I snapped. “The truth is, I don’t trust you. But if you do anything to get that man killed, I will shoot you myself.”
“Let me guess, they sent Mozart to find you.” Blink smirked. “They know you’d do anything for him. That’s the only way you’re involved in anything to do with the SEALs. What did he promise you, huh, Frost? Did he have a come to Jesus moment and decided to give you that dick?”
I hadn’t realized I’d moved until Blink was lying on his back on the floor, with me holding him by the throat with my Glock pressed to the front of his forehead.
“Mozart is a soldier you can’t even imagine being.” I growled, my face close to him. “If you’re going to say his name, youwilldo so with respect. Am I clear?”
Blink said nothing.
I pressed the gun harder making him grunt.
“Speak!” I demanded.
“Clear.”
“Good.” I eased away and shoved the gun back into my holster. “Now, either you’re working with me or stay the fuck out of my way.”
“I’m trying to clear my name.” Blink told me, pushing to his feet while dusting off his jeans. “I don’t give a damn what you’re doing or about your doctor.”
“That’s your mistake.” I headed for the backdoor, the same way I’d gotten in.
Before he could speak, I dipped into the darkness and made my way around to the front of the yard but eased myself into the hedge and waited. True to form, Blink eased the curtain aside to look out. I waited until he let the curtain fall back into place before I approached his car and slipped to my back on the far side of it.
Activating one of Tex’s trackers, I stuck it under the vehicle, then made my way back to the hotel. As I rode up the elevator, my phone rang and I glanced down to see it was Tex.
“You activated a tracker.” Tex pointed out. “You okay?”
“I’m good. You’re keeping an eye on Blink.” I told him.
“Oh Jesus, how many broken bones does he have?” Tex asked.
