False Horizon - Alex Archer [55]
“Any idea what kind?”
“None. First we knew about it we were flying over a snowfield near Dhaulagiri. Mike threw the plane into all sorts of maneuvers and it missed us. We swept back to land at Jomsom to try to figure out who might be shooting at us and then got nailed by the second missile.”
“You shouldn’t have turned back.”
“We were on a direct course to cross the Tibetan border. The alternative didn’t look so good, y’know?”
“You think it was shoulder-fired?”
Annja frowned. “Again, I don’t know. We didn’t see a thing down there except a snow-white blanket. It could have been an emplacement. It might have been fired from someone’s shoulder if they were well camouflaged. I just can’t say.”
“Very well.” Garin paused. “Take care of yourself, Annja. Just because you’re in a supposed utopian world, don’t forget that there’s a very real world back out here. And sometimes those two worlds can get crossed. When they do, bad things can happen.”
“I’ll see you if Tuk manages to figure out a way to get you here,” she said.
“Keep things to yourself, Annja. Don’t be so trusting—even when you’re there.”
“I understand.”
The phone went dead in her hand. Tuk bounded over.
“Annja, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to mislead you. But I didn’t think I was doing anything bad. Garin, as you call him, seemed most concerned about your safety and welfare. I didn’t think it was wrong what I was doing.”
Annja looked at him. “I know. How did he manage to find you anyway?”
Tuk frowned. “In my old life I worked for intelligence services operating in Katmandu. I was a tracker. I freelanced for them all and did my job very well. But then things changed and the world of espionage was not what it used to be with all its modern technology. I was forced to seek employment with criminals and thugs, the likes of which I have hated from the start. When Garin found me, it made my heart leap at the chance to once again do some good work.”
“And he paid well, didn’t he?”
“Extremely so. All I wanted was enough to retire on. I wanted to buy a home in the countryside and leave my former existence behind.”
Annja smiled. “I can’t blame you for that, Tuk. I just wish you’d been honest with me from the get-go.”
“I had my orders, Annja. I hope you can understand. Part of what made me such a great tracker was my obedience to mission parameters.”
“Yeah, I understand. I don’t like it, but I understand.”
Tuk chewed his lip for a moment. “Did you listen to what Garin had to say?”
“I did.”
“And what do you think about it?”
“I’m not sure yet. Garin sometimes says things that aren’t wholly factual.”
“He lies?”
Annja smiled. “Hate to burst your bubble about your employer, pal, but yeah, he’s been known to lie before. He’s lied a lot to me personally.”
Tuk frowned. “That is unfortunate.”
“But who knows,” Annja said. “He could be completely honest right now about this thing. You just never really know with Garin until all the cards are on the table and you can see what he’s got.” She smirked. “Even then I wouldn’t buy into everything. Garin’s been known to have a few extra aces up his sleeve.”
“He sounds like a most interesting man.”
“Something like that.” Annja glanced back at the party. “What do you think of this notion that the Chinese are involved here somehow?”
“I don’t know what to think. But I saw that woman Garin mentioned. And she terrified me.”
“So you think she’s capable of being what Garin said she was?”
Tuk nodded fiercely. “I was in Tsing’s penthouse the night you and Mike were there, as well.”
“You were? How did you manage that feat?”
Tuk shrugged but Annja could see the little man was proud of what he’d accomplished. “I managed to infiltrate the apartment successfully in order to keep an eye on you.”
“Oh, yeah? And what would you have done if Mike and I were in danger?”
Tuk frowned. “Honestly, I have no idea.”
Annja laughed a little. “So you saw this woman?”
“She had stepped out of the apartment and that enabled my entrance. I was caught unaware when she returned. But whereas most people