Flight 12: A Jonathan Quinn Thriller: Flight 12 Begins Series Book Read online

  “I do.”

  “That’s something, anyway. At least Jenna didn’t die in vain.”

  Quinn thought the courier would argue the point if she could, but he said nothing.

  “The chip needs to be taken to Eli/Kreck in Newton,” Helen said. “I wouldn’t want to presume, but…”

  “Wait. Are you asking me to be your courier?”

  “If it’s a problem, I can arrange for someone to pick it up from you.”

  Quinn usually would never even entertain an idea like that, but he couldn’t help thinking about the girl and the rest of a life she would never live. “Text me the contact info. We’ll get it there.”

  “Thank you.”

  “There is one other thing,” he said. “What do you want to do with Morgan?”

  She was quiet for a moment. “You said he had a flight booked?”

  Quinn had found the man’s electronic boarding pass on his phone, and had taken a picture of it with his own device. He checked the picture again. “Skyway Airlines Flight 12 to Rome. Leaves out of JFK at midnight.”

  “It would be nice to catch him with Loban,” she said, more to herself than to Quinn. Then, “I’ll arrange for someone to take his place. Let me call you back with the details.”

  “Isn’t it likely Loban already knows him? He’ll spot your guy a million miles away.”

  “Look, if you have a better idea, I’m happy to hear it,” she said, frustrated.

  Quinn paused, and then said, “Actually, I do.”

  __________

  MORGAN HEARD A voice. Something about cardboard, or was it carpets?

  The side of his face thudded with pain. A check with his tongue confirmed at least one of his teeth was loose.

  Assholes.

  Keeping his eyes closed, he mentally scanned the rest of his body. A faint point of pain on his upper arm told him he must have fallen against something sharp, but other than that and his throbbing cheek, he appeared to be uninjured. His hands, though, were tied behind his back by what felt like zip ties.

  He parted his eyelids just enough to see through his lashes. Not the casket room. He slowly turned his head a few inches for a look around.

  He was in the crematorium, and he wasn’t alone.

  The two cleaners stood next to the central table, their backs to him, talking. No question he’d underestimated their abilities, but they had made a mistake by leaving him alive. He’d make them pay, if not today then soon enough.

  One of the guys said something about stairs. Morgan froze as the other one glanced in his direction, but the man quickly turned away and said, “It’ll go faster if we both do it.”

  They walked out the door together, but Morgan didn’t move a muscle until their footsteps faded to nothing. Convinced they were gone, he struggled to his feet and scanned the area. There had to be something in the room he could use to cut himself free.

  Along the wall to the right were several metal cabinets. With his hands behind his back, he had to work blindly to get them open. The first contained a bunch of supplies, none of which was useful. But in the second, he discovered a large toolbox on the bottom shelf.

  He used his feet to work the box out, but as he tried to ease it to the floor, it tilted and banged against the concrete. He raced over to the door and listened, but after nearly a minute passed without the sound of steps, he returned to the toolbox and opened it.

  The majority of the tools were screwdrivers and wrenches, but among them was a pair of wire cutters that would work just fine. He was able to get the tool into his hand with little trouble, but had to hold it at an awkward angle to reach the zip tie. Three times he dropped the cutters to the floor before he finally snapped through his restraints.

  As he rubbed his freed wrists, he spotted two milk carton-sized cardboard boxes with lids sitting beside them on the central table. Temporary storage urns for the ashes, he guessed. For a moment, he couldn’t understand why there were two, but then he remembered the gunshot in the hallway outside the casket room.

  Fischer, the pain-in-the-ass assassin, ending up at the wrong end of a bullet.

  On the floor near the exit was a black duffel bag. Opening it, he realized it was the same bag he’d discovered in the backseat of the sedan. Though the duct tape and rope were still there, the tool cases had been replaced by his and Fischer’s suppressor-enhanced pistols.

  He pulled his weapon out, pleased to be armed again. But when he checked the chamber, he saw it was empty. He popped out the mag and found no bullets in there, either. He checked Fischer’s gun but it had also been cleaned out.

  He searched through the duffel, hoping the ammo was inside, but no such luck. The bastards had apparently added the bullets to their own stash.

  His hunt through the bag did turn up something very interesting, though—a small plastic container with the letters E/K embossed on top. He opened it and couldn’t believe what he was looking at.

  The chip.

  He dumped it into his hand. It had no markings but the E/K on the box was more than enough to ID it.

  So much trouble for such a little thing.

  He heard a distant thud from beyond the door.

  Quickly, he put the chip back into the box. It was slightly smaller than the cutout space in the foam but he had probably just put it in wrong. No time to worry about it now. He closed the top and shoved it into his pocket next to his phone that contained the boarding pass for his flight—a flight that would now have a much happier ending than he’d feared.

  He smiled as he realized that with Fischer out of the picture, the fee would all be his.

  He inched open the door and peeked into the corridor. Wherever the thud had come from, it hadn’t been from the hall so he exited the crematorium.

  Unlike before, the outside doors to the ramp were closed. He paused at them only long enough to listen for anyone on the other side, and then quietly opened one and sneaked outside.

  Fifty-five seconds later he was behind the wheel of the Mercedes. As soon as the engine roared to life, he shifted into DRIVE and sped off into the night.

  __________

  FROM THE DARKENED window of Barry’s second-floor office, Quinn watched the man run across the mortuary parking lot.

  “He’s away,” he said into the phone.

  “And he took the bait?” Helen asked.

  “He did.”

  Fifteen minutes earlier, Quinn had injected Morgan with a mild stimulant. After that, it had simply been a matter of waiting for the first sign the man was coming to. Quinn and Nate then staged their exit and headed upstairs. There, they had watched everything Morgan did on a portable monitor, the feed coming from a micro camera Nate had set up downstairs. The chip the man had taken had actually come out of the electronic lock deactivator from Quinn’s clean kit, and Orlando would not be happy about losing it. It was not quite the same size as the Eli/Kreck chip, but close enough to fool Morgan.

  “I’m worried he might take it somewhere else and skip Rome altogether, ” Helen said.

  “If he does, we’ll know. Either way, we’ll be in touch later.”

  He hung up and called Orlando.

  “So?” she asked.

  “It worked.”

  “Damn,” she said. She had bet him twenty bucks Morgan wouldn’t find the chip.

  “I’ll collect when I get home.”

  “Whatever.”

  “Is Daeng on the line?” Quinn asked.

  “I’m here,” Daeng answered.

  When Quinn and Nate had sneaked out of the crematorium and grabbed the duffel bag from the backseat of the sedan, the item Quinn had given his partner was a tracking device. Nate had then gone out to the street and located the Mercedes that had been following them. The tracker was now affixed on the underside of the rear fender.

  “You’re on,” Quinn told Daeng. “Should be easy to tail him. No water this time.”

  “You’re hilarious,” Daeng said.

  “I’ll keep tabs on the t
racker and guide you,” Orlando said. “But once he’s out of the car, it will be all you.”

  “If he does go to the airport, I’ll need a ticket to get past security.”

  “Already arranged,” she said.

  “Do you want me to get on the flight, too?” Daeng asked. “See who he meets?”

  “You just want a free ride to Italy,” Orlando said.

  “I’m shocked you’d say that. I’m only thinking of the job.”

  “Sure you are.”

  “No plane ride,” Quinn said. “Once he’s on board, you can leave. Helen’s people will handle things in Rome. Our job ends at the gate.”

  __________

  QUINN HAD THOUGHT Barry would wake before they finished with the second body, but the mortician was still snoring away when it was time for them to go.

  “You know what we should do,” Nate said. “We should hide the camera someplace where we can catch his reaction when he sees the missing carpet. That would be priceless.”

  As amusing as that would have been, before they took off, Quinn left a note explaining that everything would be taken care of, and that Barry should check his special bank account for his usual fee plus a nice bonus.

  It was midafternoon by the time Quinn and Nate arrived in Newton, Massachusetts. The handoff of the chip went off without a hitch, finally closing the book on Jenna Tate’s last mission.

  By the time Skyway Flight 12 to Rome was boarding later that night, Quinn was back in San Francisco, stretched out on the bed next to Orlando.

  “There’s the call for first class,” Daeng said over the speakerphone. “He’s showing the attendant his boarding pass…she’s scanning it…annnnd there he goes into the tunnel.”

  “Well done,” Quinn said.

  “Can I go now?”

  “Wait until the plane pulls away from the gate, then you can do whatever you want.”

  “I guess I could do that,” Daeng said. “See you when I see you,”

  Orlando disconnected the call and put the phone on the nightstand. “You know what I’d love right now?”

  He looked over at her. “Paying up on the bet?”

  She frowned at him. “Like I’ll ever do that.” She settled back against her pillow. “No. A foot rub.”

  “A foot rub? Really?”

  She thought for a moment. “That or bacon.”

  “Dear God. How long is this going to last?”

  Narrowing her eyes, she said, “Why? Is this a problem?”

  “No,” he said quickly. “Not at all.” In a burst of faux excitement, he pushed off the bed. “Why don’t I fry up some bacon? You can eat it while I massage your toes.”

  “Now there’s a smart man. You’re forgiven.” She raised an eyebrow. “For now.”

  Look for the new Quinn novel in March 2015

  Learn more about the Quinn books you may have missed here.

  Never miss out! More Flight 12 adventures are coming soon!

  For new release notification, free offers, gifts, and general information for subscribers only, please sign up for The Twelve List!

  CLICK HERE to Sign Up For The Twelve List!

  And CLICK HERE to join The Twelve in the ongoing FLIGHT 12 project. Don’t just read about your favorite characters—participate in the story, win prizes, and see storytelling in a totally new way.

  FLIGHT 12 COLLECTION

  Flight 12: A Kristin Cunningham Thriller by Allan Leverone

  Flight 12: A Laura Cardinal Thriller by J. Carson Black

  Flight 12: A Jess Kimball Thriller by Diane Capri

  Flight 12: A Sloane Monroe Thriller by Cheryl Bradshaw

  Flight 12: A Kirk Weston Thriller by Aaron Patterson

  Flight 12: A Dick Moonlight Thriller by Vincent Zandri

  Flight 12: An Evie Preston Thriller by Michele Scott

  Flight 12: A Kylie Cain Thriller by A.K. Alexander & J.R. Rain

  Flight 12: A Xandra Carrick Thriller by Joshua Graham

  Flight 12: A Jonathan Quinn Thriller by Brett Battles

  Flight 12: A Jessie Night Thriller by Carol Davis Luce

  Flight 12: A Nick Jennings Thriller by Robert Gregory Browne

  Flight 12 Epilogue: A Nick Bracco Thriller by Gary Ponzo and The Twelve

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Brett Battles is a Barry Award-winning author of over twenty novels, including the Jonathan Quinn series, the Logan Harper series, and the time-hopping novel Rewinder. He’s also the coauthor, with Robert Gregory Browne, of the Alexandra Poe series. You can learn more at his website: brettbattles.com

  ALSO BY BRETT BATTLES

  THE JONATHAN QUINN THRILLERS

  Novels

  BECOMING QUINN

  THE CLEANER

  THE DECEIVED

  SHADOW OF BETRAYAL (U.S.)/THE UNWANTED (U.K.)

  THE SILENCED

  THE DESTROYED

  THE COLLECTED

  THE ENRAGED

  THE DISCARDED

  Short Stories

  “Just Another Job”—A Jonathan Quinn Story

  “Off the Clock”—A Jonathan Quinn Story

  “The Assignment”—An Orlando Story

  “Lesson Plan”—A Jonathan Quinn Story

  “Quick Study”—An Orlando Story

  THE LOGAN HARPER THRILLERS

  LITTLE GIRL GONE

  EVERY PRECIOUS THING

  THE PROJECT EDEN THRILLERS

  SICK

  EXIT NINE

  PALE HORSE

  ASHES

  EDEN RISING

  DREAM SKY

  DOWN

  THE ALEXANDRA POE THRILLERS

  COWRITTEN WITH ROBERT GREGORY BROWNE

  POE

  TAKEDOWN

  STANDALONES

  Novels

  THE PULL OF GRAVITY

  NO RETURN

  REWINDER

  Short Stories

  “Perfect Gentleman”

  For Younger Readers

  THE TROUBLE FAMILY CHRONICLES

  HERE COMES MR. TROUBLE

  ABOUT THE TWELVE:

  The Twelve are award-winning and bestselling authors writing across the boundaries of thriller, mystery, horror, romance, and crime. We are connected by our desire to bring readers our love of intriguing characters, fast-paced stories, and edge-of-your-seat tension.

  The Twelve’s first New York Times and USA Today bestseller was Deadly Dozen, the runaway reader favorite of 2014.

  Connect with The Twelve online:

  http://thetwelvexii.com

  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thetwelvexii

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheTwelveXII

  Allan Leverone is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of eight novels, including the dark thriller, Mr. Midnight, named one of Suspense Magazine’s Best Books of 2013, as well as a 2012 Derringer Award winner for excellence in short mystery fiction. Learn more and connect at www.allanleverone.com

  J. Carson Black is hailed by bestselling author T. Jefferson Parker as “a strong new voice in American crime fiction,” J. Carson Black has written sixteen novels. Her thriller, The Shop, reached #1 on the Kindle bestseller list, and her crime thriller series featuring homicide detective Laura Cardinal became a New York Times and USA Today bestseller. Although Black earned a master’s degree in operatic voice, she was inspired to write a horror novel after reading The Shining. She lives in Tucson, Arizona. Find her at: www.jcarsonblack.com

  Diane Capri is a New York Times, USA Today, and worldwide bestselling author of twelve mystery/thriller/suspense books, including the reader favorites featuring Jess Kimball in The Hunt for Justice series and The Hunt for Jack Reacher series. Connect with her through her website: http://dianecapri.com

  Cheryl Bradshaw is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and Shamus-Award finalist for her Sloane Monroe series. cherylbradshaw.com

  Aaron Patterson is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over a dozen novels. He writes hard-boiled
thrillers and young adult fantasy. Connect with Aaron at his blog: http://theworstbookever.blogspot.com

  Vincent Zandri is the New York Times, USA Today, and No. 1 international bestselling Amazon author of The Shroud Key, The Remains, and Moonlight Weeps, the latest in the Dick Moonlight PI series. A photojournalist and foreign correspondent, he can be reached via his website: vincentzandri.com

  Michele Scott is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author who lives in California with her family. With her days spent in the barn or at the keyboard, she has forged a flourishing career as a mystery writer who is also deeply involved in the world of horses and equestrian riding. She can be found at: www.michelescott.com

  A.K. Alexander had dreamed of being a writer since the age of nine and earned a degree in journalism from the University of Southern California before tackling fiction. Today she is the bestselling author of over two dozen books—women’s fiction, paranormal novels, mysteries, and thrillers. A lifelong equestrian, she helps run her family business manufacturing sports-medicine products for horses. She is a native of San Diego, California, and still lives there today with her family, which includes three kids, nine horses, four dogs, and a cat. A.K. Alexander is the pen name of mystery and young adult author Michele Scott. She can be found at: www.michelescott.com

  J.R. Rain is an ex-private investigator who now writes full-time in the Pacific Northwest. He lives in a small house on a small island with his small dog, Sadie. Please visit him at www.jrrain.com

  Joshua Graham, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, is the winner of the International Book Award, Forward National Literature Award, USA Book News Best Books Award, and host of Thriller Radio. To receive exclusive, top-secret updates, sign up for his newsletter: www.joshua-graham.com/gia