“I know you’re exhausted from your kidnapping. Why don’t you try to rest a while and get some sleep? We’ll be safe here tonight.”
Daniela nodded as tears sprang to her eyes. “Thank you for rescuing me from those bad men. I hoped you’d not believe the note they left and get help. They planned to kill me to send you a message.”
Sydney didn’t know what to say. Her life had spun out of her control. Now, she was putting people she cared about in danger with her work, including her innocent son.
“I’m so sorry, Daniela. I don’t know how, but I plan to make it up to you.”
“Leaving for Barbados tomorrow would be a good idea.”
“Even if I could, we can’t right now, for we’d be followed. Plus, we have more security here.”
Daniela frowned. “At least David is ok. I was worried sick about him, and wondered if someone grabbed him, too.”
“He’s safe. You’re safe. We’ll be fine.”
“I hope so, ’cause being afraid isn’t my style.”
“Nor mine.”
Sydney said goodnight and left her bedroom, and said a few words to the special agent before going upstairs.
“Help yourself to food and drink in the fridge and pantry. Please wake me if there’s a problem.”
“Yes, ma’am,” she said. “And thank you for the refreshments.”
When Sydney changed into her pajamas and got into bed, David was asleep holding his teddy bear under his arm. She kissed his chubby cheek and decided to let him sleep there for the night. She hoped tomorrow would be a better day. She planned to work from home, for she didn’t think Daniela would be up to taking care of David, and law enforcement would most likely be around all day.
Keeping her son distanced from this nightmare was at the top of her to-do list, along with having a carpenter she knew and trusted replace David’s bedroom doorknob. When the townhome was built for her parents, adult-sized accommodations were standard throughout the house. She wished she’d noticed it earlier, for it was dangerous for a child. Although his door was normally propped open, she’d not take that chance again. She turned out her bedside lamp and hoped sleep would come. Tomorrow would be another day from hell.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Primed for Revenge
Walker was vigilant in his tracking of the CIA director of operations. On arising, he went to his laptop to listen to the recording from the previous night. He was talking with the agency head about Sydney. He said, “Apparently she turned down their offer, resulting in the kidnapping of her nanny. Good thing Walker took our advice about never contacting her, for he’d be overseeing her security again and she’d represent the Chinese.”
“You’re forgetting he’s dead, killed in a North Georgia car accident.”
“Was that our man’s hit?”
“No, our lucky break, as the assassin we hired was trying to locate him when it happened.”
“Well, I’m surprised he didn’t take credit for it, since we’d paid him.”
Walker was breathing hard through his nostrils listening to the scumbag leaders he once worked for. His gut instinct was right; they planned to kill him. His tour of duty was done with the CIA on his return from Beijing. He listened as they talked about keeping an eye on Sydney’s involvement with the Chinese. She had too much political clout to be representing their bid for extradition to China, a red-hot political topic now.
They talked about their weekend deep-sea fishing charter, debating if they should go, finally deciding there’d never be a good time to get away, so why not now. They planned to catch wahoo and bluefin off Barbados. Walker jotted down the name of their hotel and fishing charter boat. The seagoing vessel was docked at Bridgetown Wharf, where he bought fresh fish. He smiled. The bastards were coming to him. He’d plan their welcoming party.
He would take them out one at a time. He checked his ammunition and found a 5-round detachable box magazine with an effective firing range of 1,300 yards (1,200 m). Taking his special ops M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR) from its carrying case, he lubricated his weapon, then ran a dry patch through the barrel to remove the oil before returning it to its case. His rifle would be ready to fire after he scoped out his hiding place.
With the advanced Leupold Mark 5 variable power telescopic sight with scalable ranging and targeting reticle and clip-on Sniper Night Sight, he could take them out day or night. He was never more ready. He had a couple of days before their arrival to choose possible firing positions to hit his mark. He was a seasoned strategist with camouflage, stalking, detection, and long-range targeting capabilities. He breathed a sigh of relief knowing this part of his life would soon be over after two precision kill shots.
He identified possible spots for firing under cover and waited for the moment to activate his plan. Knowing he had their cell phones bugged, he could follow their movement once they landed on the island. He had a surveillance spot picked out and with their penchant for cigars, it could be the one.
He’d bet they’d visit the island’s famous La Casa del Habano, tucked away in Barnados’ Limegrove Lifestyle Centre. Inside a storefront on the second floor of the luxury shopping complex was one of the official outposts of Habanos SA, the official promotion and distribution company for Cuban cigars. Being this close to cigars illegal in the US, they’d make a purchase. Then, if they acted according to his plan, they’d go back to their hotel and light up on the balcony. When they did, it was over. The deed would be done. No more looking over his shoulder, and less concern for Sydney’s wellbeing. Now, if they’d follow his script.
Walker slept so he could be ready for 24-hour duty if necessary when they arrived. He intended for them never to leave the island. An ending with just cause for payback for Isabella’s murder and a price on his head.
With his military-grade binoculars, the world’s most high-powered, Sunagor 30-160x70s, he stalked them from the time they landed. From a distance he saw them go into the cigar store and hoped they’d not wait for their fishing trip to light up. Although he had secondary plans, he’d prefer a hit on land with a lesser chance of being spotted.
They headed to their hotel and he went to his earlier identified spot, the roof of the sister hotel next door with a clear shot of their balcony, and waited. He’d hacked into the hotel’s booking system and found their rooms, side by side. Pulling up the blueprint of their hotel, he easily identified their rooms from the outside. His high-powered binoculars would provide the finishing touch.
As he waited, he checked the wind to make sure his shot wouldn’t drift in the wind. He had two shots to make without being detected. The first would be unidentifiable; a second would tell the direction, and a third reveal his general area. He needed two sure-fire kill shots and unlike in the force, he’d leave his shooting location immediately. A different type of strategy for the terrain and goal of his personal mission.
He was still, listening to his heartbeats, getting in the rhythm for making his shots between beats when they opened their balcony door and stepped out. He opened his mouth, breathed, and fired, then quickly again. Taking a quick look through his binoculars, he verified they were killing shots. He placed his snipe back into her bag and left the rooftop the backway he’d found when scoping the hotel for exits. The deed was done.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Watch Your Back
Sydney was working from home when Capt. Thomason phoned one morning and asked to come over to update her about the intruders and their pending cases. She was staying close, giving Daniela time to heal and process her kidnapping. If Daniela didn’t love David so much, she would have quit and returned to Barbados. She said as much between her crying jags, professions of love for David, and entreaties to allow him to accompany her back to the Caribbean until the Chinese were out of the picture.
When Sydney had ushered him into her home office, Capt. Thomason informed her about the
changes going on in CIA top-level management. He figured she’d recognize that the departed were the ones involved in Walker’s abrupt resignation in favor of a government position. How much he was able to tell her, he didn’t know. He knew the CIA had framed him as the murderer of Roxanne in order to get him to run a special op for them, but it wasn’t his place to tell her this.
To his knowledge, the new agency head and director of operations were good guys, though it was still to be seen how much the spy game would change them.
He brought her up to date about the Chinese nationals involved in Daniela’s kidnapping. They were being detained and charged with acts of terrorism. The Chinese government officials were lying low and not requesting extradition, unlike Su Geming of the Beijing Jīn Róng Group.
Leaning forward in his chair, Capt. Thomason asked, “Sydney, do you think Daniela will stand up for questioning in court about her kidnapping?”
“I think so. She’s slowly regaining her calm, and I know she’s determined to take care of David so I can return to the office.”
“If all goes according to plan, her kidnappers will be charged and tried for acts of terrorism and will never see the light of day once they’re found guilty.”
“The sooner the better. We’d all like to put this behind us and send a message to the corporate monsters to quit their meddling, or else it’ll not end well for them.”
Capt. Thomason wanted to laugh at her upbeat attitude, yet he appreciated the truth behind her statement. She’d not miss her mark if they came after her or this household again.
He knew the protocol that was followed in similar cases. The CIA had options. They could follow the standard rules of operation or go off-book to get the answers they needed. He suspected that once interrogated, and as long as their information collaborated the terrorist attacks, the kidnappers would be released and shipped back to China. The CIA’s goal was to tie Su Geming and the Chinese government together in a conspiracy to steal corporate American secrets.
The Chinese officials would know Daniela’s kidnappers had ratted the technology company out, so their homecoming would not free them from consequences. From experience, Capt. Thomason guessed the penalty would be death, as they’d know the US wouldn’t return the convicts without first extracting relevant information.
Daniela recovered quickly, determined to show a smiling face to David and continue to fill their relationship with fun and educational pursuits. This freed Sydney to return to practicing law. She went about her daily schedule with a renewed consciousness of her surroundings. As a precaution, she stationed one of her office security team members at her townhouse with the directive to shadow Daniela and David on outings.
She sent out a memorandum about accepting cases from foreign entities, specifically Chinese. The partnership was no longer representing those cases regardless of their referral source. She’d had enough.
Soon, the attorney handling the estate received a call from Ming Chang, the widow of Liu Chang, about her husband’s will. According to Cheng Li, her staff attorney, she was irate about his departure from the Chinese customs regarding division of assets according to the PRC Inheritance Law. Regardless, his will had been properly drafted and notarized according to his wishes. Naming his then mistress, Nancy Lynn, in the will, however, added fuel to the fire.
To learn more, Sydney called Nancy Lynn about meeting for lunch and suggested a downtown café convenient for both. As soon as their order was placed, Sydney told her about Liu Chang’s will and his widow’s call to her office.
Surprise splashed over her face. Nancy Lynn claimed she had no idea he was naming her in his will, though he’d been generous in providing clothes, jewelry, personal services, and a car. She was pleased that Capt. Thomason had returned her personal property after she was cleared from his suspect list.
Sydney explained that an attorney from her office would phone her to make an appointment to read the will. Liu Chang had named this attorney, Cheng Li, as an administrator to finalize his affairs. She warned Nancy Lynn that his widow was soon arriving in Atlanta, although Cheng Li had expressed his preference to travel to Beijing to meet. The property going to the widow, son, and parents had already been separated from the Chang estate. The attorney would learn later that day what the widow’s plans were in their face-to-face. They both hoped it could be handled discreetly.
“You might want to watch your back if Ming Chang decides to meet in Atlanta,” Sydney recommended.
“This is not something I’m looking forward to. I hope she stays home and lets the attorney handle Liu’s affairs. Most everything can be done remotely. She should know that, being married to a technology expert.”
“Her coming will be more about you than finalizing his will. You know that, don’t you?”
“That’s what I’m afraid of, since she’s already planned an attack on me. If not for your fast action and safe house, I’d be dead now.”
“I’ll call Capt. Thomason and let him know she’s coming when Cheng Li verifies the date. He’ll likely send an undercover agent to guard your home while she’s here. If not, I’ll send someone from my security team to watch your back.”
Nancy Lynn sighed. “Thank you.”
Sydney returned to the office and checked her messages. Cheng Li had called while she was at lunch. Immediately, she returned his call and asked for an update on Liu Chang’s will. He said the widow was flying in, although he’d requested to meet her in Beijing. Sydney quickly added the date to her calendar and thanked him for his promptness in settling the estate. Capt. Thomason was her next call, and his admin put her straight through. She quickly updated him about Ming Chang and asked whether he had personnel to devote to Nancy Lynn.
Capt. Thomason had no problem providing security for Nancy Lynn during the widow’s stay in Atlanta. He’d flagged Ming for US travel notifications since her husband’s murder. She was still a suspect, in his mind.
Sydney felt better about Nancy Lynn’s safety with Capt. Thomason’s added security precautions. Yet, she still had an unsettling feeling something would happen.
Walker was in his Barbados haven. The location had served him well for snooping from a distance and maintaining his anonymous cybersecurity firm. Sydney was never far from his mind, seeing who he believed was his son on the beach and learning of his nanny, Daniela’s kidnapping. As much as he wanted to announce himself as a relative to David and request visitation rights and next of kin status in case of her untimely death, he knew the CIA would investigate, and he didn’t want their scrutiny to blow his new identity.
He’d highlighted travel from Beijing for associates of the Chinese technology company and relatives of Liu Chang on his surveillance program. He knew Sydney had tangled with the Chinese in the past, and hoped she’d withdrawn from representing Chinese Nationals. Surely, the kidnapping of her nanny, the guardian of her child, would send shock waves about the danger she was bringing on herself and child, his child?
He didn’t think about hacking for a minute. Some of the most successful businessmen began their careers as cyberhackers for hire to the highest bidder. When a travel alert for the widow of Liu Chang hit his computer screen, his stomach tied in knots. Women could be as deadly as men, usually relating to an emotional trigger. He’d learned that from Sydney. Ming Chang was headed to Atlanta, and he hoped Sydney wasn’t her target. Yet, in the back of his mind, it rang true. Sydney was involved in her payback scheme. He felt it in every fiber of his being. What had she done now?
His instinct was to pack his bag, although never really unpacked, and head to Atlanta. An even head won out. He had to believe Sydney was at her best and had the bases covered. He thanked God every day for Thomason. He’d be watching out of concern whom she’d kill next in self-defense, making his job complicated; or genuine concern someone might best her attempts, he wasn’t sure. He’d be watching as close as her computer monitor, cell phone, a
nd home security system. Hacking made it easier for him to sleep at night, plus it allowed him to see David was safe, an added feature to his monitoring after Daniela’s kidnapping.
Ming Chang arrived for the meeting and Sydney was alerted. She allowed Cheng Li to preside over the reading of the will and was thankful he’d scheduled the widow and Nancy Lynn separately, a good business practice in such cases.
He called after the meeting to deliver the news the widow was contesting Liu Chang’s will. Whom she’d hire, he didn’t know. The probate was going to get messy, and it was a good thing her husband had paid a substantial fee, for it could get costly. He meant for his last wishes to be carried out. Nancy Lynn would inherit his Buckhead condo, furnishings, and a substantial amount of money.
He was surprised Ming Chang was concerned about his US holdings. His personal and business interests in Beijing were separated and she, her son, and his parents, were now richer than before his death.
Sydney wasn’t pleased with her arrival and her plans to fight the will for the US holdings. In the affairs of the heart, Nancy Lynn won, and the widow was out for blood. She called Capt. Thomason to alert him of Ming Chang’s latest move.
Walker waited for the next update on his computer monitor and prayed Sydney was armed and ready for the next villain. He’d hacked Ming Chang’s cell phone and was following her communications. She’d hired a Georgia estate attorney with a good track record. He hoped Sydney was prepared.
He listened to the calls Ming made to another attorney tracking a US adoption of an infant girl, named Ai, meaning love, from Beijing in November 2012. He recognized this was one year before China announced the relaxation of the one-child policy if one parent, rather than both parents, was an only child.
Chance Page 11