“Yes!” they both replied with resounding confidence.
The man nodded, then looked at Goran. “We’ll meet back here and figure out why this man wasn’t fully vetted prior to his employment.”
Goran put a hand on the guard’s shoulder. “Thank you!” he said with sincerity. His theory was that any guard willing to go off and investigate behind the other head guard’s back wasn’t part of the conspiracy. However, he needed all of his guards occupied so that he could slip away to get whatever information Astir had for him. So he’d made up stories to get his guards away from him.
He could be completely off his mark on the assumption that some of his guards were part of the conspiracy. Once he had more information, he’d figure out who was part of the conspiracy and who was innocent. At the moment, everyone was guilty in his mind.
“Okay, let’s go. There’s more to investigate,” he said to the two remaining guards. Both of them flanked him, both tall and proud and he was inclined to believe that they were both innocent. However, he wanted Calista by his side more than anything. And right now, he couldn’t trust anyone. He walked all the way to his parking garage where about a hundred different vehicles were stored. There were limousines and SUVs, all of them armored. But in addition to those, which he used for official events, there were also his personal sports cars, luxury sedans, and various other types of vehicles that were used by himself and the security guards for a range of reasons.
“We’re not going out,” he said to the guards. “I just want to look at some of the vehicles. I think…” he sighed, rubbing the back of his head. “We’ll just see what’s there.”
Both guards were wary, but vigilant. A good sign, he thought. He pressed the button that would take the three of them down to the parking garage.
As soon as he stepped out of the elevator, two more guards were standing at attention, ready and willing to protect.
He gestured each of them over to him. “I need everyone quiet. This can’t get up to the guard room above.” He waited until they were all listening intently, the two new guards resting their hands on their weapons as if ready for anything. Another good sign, he thought.
“I want each of you to look for tampering with the vehicles. Especially the vehicles that I would normally travel in. You’re looking for cut wires, GPS tracking devices that shouldn’t be there, tears in the material that may or may not have been sewn up.” He looked at each of them carefully. “This has to be done quietly and quickly. Got it?”
They all straightened and nodded, everyone ready to do their best. He gestured to the locked key case that was stationed on the wall. The keys to every vehicle were stored in that case, which was why it was so closely guarded. “Take several keys each and let’s get to it.” Since Goran owned about a hundred vehicles, it would take the guards several hours to inspect each of the vehicles. Goran waited until each of the guards had taken keys to the main vehicles, then he stepped into the room and grabbed several additional keys, pretending to be helping with the inspection. Counting on them not noticing, he also grabbed the keys to one of the motorcycles that he used up in the mountains. It was a bit dirty and worn, but it would serve his purposes. While the others were busy searching through the vehicles, getting down underneath the cars, opening doors and looking under seats and in the bumpers, wheel wells, and any other place someone might place an illegal device, Goran walked over to his dirt bike, silently pushing it towards the exit. Thankfully, the exit was far enough away from the main parking garage that, when he entered the code to open the garage door, the others couldn’t hear him. Moments later, he was speeding down the driveway of the palace and out through the gates. Because he was heading out of the palace, no one stopped him. Especially with his helmet covering his head.
He drove through the busy streets of the capital city, feeling a fresh surge of freedom. He hadn’t ever been out through the city without his guards. It was a liberating experience but if this weren’t a dire situation, he’d never risk it. But right now, his government was under threat and he had to take extreme measures.
Fifteen minutes later, Goran stuffed the envelope of satellite pictures under his shirt, then tucked his shirt back into his slacks. “Thank you!” he said to the ambassador. “I’ll let Astir know that I received the information.”
“Godspeed,” the ambassador said, then lifted his hand to the guard, silently ordering him to open the embassy gates once again. The entire transaction had taken less than five minutes and it was only a five or ten minute drive back to the palace, depending on traffic. But Goran took an alternative route back, thinking that the guards were now alerted to his absence and would be looking for him. He wanted to be back at the palace gates before they discovered him.
He wound through the cars that were parked on the road. His driving methods weren’t exactly legal, and he knew that he was presenting a very bad role model to other motorcycle drivers, but in this instance, it was more important to get back to the palace. Back to the walls, he thought. Walls that had been used to keep him inside and ignorant. But no more! And never again!