Two gang members ran out the main entrance of the inn and ducked around the right of the building disappearing from sight, no doubt to flank him. Another two appeared on Gibbs’s right, stalking forward, one holding a shotgun and the other an M4. Both were raised and pointed at Gibbs. Ahead of him, coming out of the mist, walked four 38 Roadsters, guns and pistols raised. Gibbs took a deep breath and stopped in front of the inn. Standing in the middle of the street, he heard the footfalls of the two men who were behind him. One was getting closer to him. Adrenalin started to pump as he felt the barrel end press between his shoulder blades. The man was breathing quickly, wheezing.
‘Keep them hands high, Hooded Man. If you twitch a muscle, I’ll put a bullet through your spine.’
‘Do it, Lenny. Rebus said he wanted him alive. He didn’t say he had to walk,’ a second man said.
‘You’d better check with Rebus first,’ Gibbs said. ‘How the hell is he going to torture me if I can’t feel anything from the neck down?’
‘Shut up, fucker,’ the first man said, pushing the barrel harder into Gibbs’s back. More pressure made Gibbs stumble forward. ‘Get on your knees and start making peace with your God.’
Gibbs looked ahead to the entrance of the inn. Two tall men walked out followed by the African woman. She floated towards him as her bodyguards fell in behind her.
‘I said get on your knees, fucker,’ a man screamed behind him. A forceful blow from a rifle butt smashed into his spine between the shoulder blades. Gibbs’s head whipped back from the force. He lurched forward and knelt on the tarmac. The machine gun barrel pressed against the back of his head.
‘Say a bad word to her, and I’ll splatter your brains on the road.’
‘Calm down, mate,’ Gibbs said. ‘I’m here to talk. That is all.’
‘The Hooded Man. Kneeling at our feet. What a special day this is,’ she said, her voice like honey. ‘You may call me Enyo.’
Gibbs looked up into her dark eyes. ‘Call me Gibbs.’
‘But why? Don’t you like the esteemed title the little people of this world have bestowed on you?’
Gibbs raised an eyebrow. The man behind him smashed the rifle butt into his back again. He groaned as he fell forward onto the road.
‘Enough of that, you bloody fool,’ Enyo said. She reached down and slipped her hand under Gibbs’s armpit. She lifted him partially to his knees. She was a strong woman. He made himself as heavy as he could, and she released him back onto his knees.
‘Rebus told us we have to be careful of this man. Let’s not take any chances in case he tries to run away.’
‘Run away? Are you an idiot?’ Enyo said. ‘He walked into our camp on his own, as agreed with Rebus. Why would he run away?’
‘Maybe he realised what’s in store for him and got scared,’ the second man said.
‘Get him to his feet,’ Enyo said to one bodyguard. The large man stepped forward and dragged Gibbs to his feet.
Enyo stepped forward, her face a foot away from Gibbs’s. She smelt of lavender. Just like Karen did. ‘Are you going to behave, Gibbs?’
‘That depends on who’s asking.’
‘I am, and may I say that it’s a pity we have to meet under these circumstances.’
‘I agree,’ Gibbs said.
‘Now we’re going to have to remove your jacket and make sure that you don’t have any hidden weapons.’
‘Of course you do.’
She reached for the zipper of his leather jacket and started to drag it down.
‘I’d be careful doing that,’ he said. ‘I brought you folks a little gift.’
‘I’m sure you have something nice for me, but there’s no time for that now.’
Gibbs smiled.
Enyo zipped his jacket down to his belt and then stood back. One of his bodyguards raised his SigSauer 226 to Gibbs’s head.
‘Is that for me?’ she said, looking at Gibbs. ‘It’s not what I was expecting.’
‘I thought Rebus would appreciate the gift.’
Enyo stepped forward and opened both sides of the jacket, the whites of her dark eyes showing against the black paint she had across her face. ‘You shouldn’t have.’
‘My mother told me it was good manners to bring gifts for the host you’re visiting.’
‘Nice work indeed,’ she said and lifted the left side of his jacket. She tilted her head for a second and then let the jacket drop. Looking up at his left hand, she smiled. She took a step forward and gently stroked the side of his face. ‘Very clever. I feel embarrassed that I didn’t expect anything like this.’
‘We all miss things from time to time,’ Gibbs said. ‘Not sure how I missed you in all this chaos.’
Enyo smiled, her tongue sliding across the tops of her teeth.
One of her bodyguards stepped forward, his eyes wide. ‘Is that a bomb or something?’
She turned to look at him. ‘Of course it is, you idiot. You didn’t think the Hooded Man would give himself up without some plan or other?’
‘We cannot let him near Rebus, or he’ll blow himself up.’
‘I must apologise for these simple men, Gibbs. They’re good for sending into gunfire but are too stupid to grasp the nuances of politics or diplomacy.’
The man stared at Gibbs. ‘I will not allow him near Rebus. ‘
‘So we just let him blow himself up here and take all of us with him. What do you think Rebus will say if you argue with this man and he kills me right here?’
‘But we cannot,’ the man said.
‘You will do as I say or we all die here. Now stand down. The Hooded Man will not be blowing up anyone today. He is here to meet with Rebus. And he shall. The bomb is his contingency,’ Enyo said, looking back at Gibbs, her left eyebrow raised.
Gibbs shrugged his shoulders.
Enyo stepped forward and placed her hand on his chest. Running her hand over the two rows of blocks of explosives, she traced the wires that linked all the detonators. Looking down at his waist, she licked her lips again. The grenades around his belt were all linked with a single wire.
‘What is the plan from here, Gibbs?’
‘Firstly, I wouldn’t go poking around the detonators too much,’ he said, and her hand stopped.
‘I will only remove this once every single prisoner you have from Constance is released. If not, I blow us all up by pressing the button in my left hand. If Rebus does anything funny in the meeting, I blow him up there and then. Boom, and that large ransom which you desperately need disappears with me.’
‘How do I know that you won’t kill him anyway? You have to at least let me tie up your right hand.’
‘Love, if I’d wanted to kill him, I could have got him with a sniper’s rifle from that hill behind you. In fact, if he comes out now and I give a single gesture, he could still die that way.’
Enyo looked around at the hill behind them. She nodded. ‘Of course you have back up. Gentlemen, get more patrols up there and make another sweep.’
‘We did one last night.’
‘Do it again.’ Enyo looked back at Gibbs and stepped closer once again. She was the same height as Gibbs. Leaning forward, she kissed him, her mouth opening slightly. A gentle bite of his lip, she pulled back. ‘Oh, we could have had such a good time.’
‘If you say so, dear,’ Gibbs said, a little grin appearing.
‘You may keep your detonator, but I’ll have to tie your right hand to your belt. Just for Rebus’s safety. He can be a little paranoid.’
‘I will agree to all of this if I can see the prisoners first. I want to make sure that you haven’t killed any of them. If you have, then I would be really upset. Pressing the button hard kind of upset.’
Enyo ran her forefinger across her lips. ‘I will take you there myself. I cannot leave you alone with them, though. I am sure that you understand how this works.’
‘What?’ the man standing behind Gibbs said. ‘You cannot do that. You’re mad to trust this man. He’s killed so
many of the Roadsters. He’ll kill us too.’
‘Shut up and do as I say, you idiot,’ Enyo said. ‘We’d already be dead if the Hooded Man had wanted to kill us. Now run ahead and make sure all the prisoners are awake.’
Chapter 37
Gatlinburg, Tennessee, USA – 2043
The supermarket smelt like human excrement and unwashed bodies. Fear showed on the faces of the people who were all huddled in the back of the large space. All the shelving and fridges had been removed to be recycled, leaving a space filled with litter and dust. A small fire was still flickering against one of the walls, where the guards had set up their army cots and rucksacks.
Hushed whispers spread through the prisoners. Enyo breathed through her mouth as she approached them. ‘Come forward, Big Sal. We have a guest who wants to make sure that you have been treated okay. Don’t disappoint me and tell him any lies.’ The large frame of Big Sal walked forward, her black hair tied back, her signature headscarf now gone. Blue eyes stared back at Gibbs, moisture forming in the corners. She had a swollen eye, and a bulging bottom lip with a small cut in the middle.
‘Just what are you doing, woman?’ a voice came from behind them. Enyo turned to the main entrance. Skink loped across the floor towards her.
‘You cannot let him talk to them,’ Skink said, stopping a short way from her. She clenched her fists, wishing she had her staff with her. She was so keen to meet Gibbs that she’d forgotten it in the inn.
‘Back off, Skink. He’s simply going to check that they’re okay, then he’ll go and meet Rebus.’
‘He might do something stupid.’
‘What, like blow them up?’ Enyo said, looking back at Gibbs who had her two bodyguards at his shoulders. ‘The same people he came to rescue?’
Skink stared back at him. ‘Take that thing off him before he gets to Rebus.’
‘You are welcome to try,’ she said, folding her arms. ‘Please, I beg of you. I would pay a lot of money to see your head get blown clean through your arse.’
‘Rebus won’t meet with him like that.’
‘Of course he will. He loves this kind of drama. Now run along and make sure that he’s prepped and ready to have the breakfast meeting,’ Enyo said.
Skink folded his arms, glaring at her.
‘Get moving. If Rebus finds out you are not listening to me again, he will kick the living shit out of you,’ Enyo said.
The little man took a step back. ‘You will get what’s coming to you, lady. When this thing goes down the toilet, Rebus will see you for what you are. Your manipulation of him will come to an end. And I will be the one to stick the knife into you.’
‘Run along, little lizard. Let the adults talk here,’ she said, turning towards the prisoners.
‘You shouldn’t be turning your back on that evil little man,’ Big Sal said.
• • •
The bruised and swollen left eye couldn’t mask the happiness on her face. Large white teeth gleamed against her dark complexion. ‘Hello, Hooded Man. I had a feeling we’d be seeing you again.’
‘Hello, Big Sal,’ Gibbs said, looking past her to see Stuart staring at him. His face was bruised and caked in blood. Once white hair was now dirty and flecked with blood. He was about to say something when Gibbs shook his head and looked back at Big Sal.
‘I’d never let my favourite warlord suffer for too long. Sorry I wasn’t here sooner. Had a few things to organise,’ Gibbs said, turning back to see Enyo had taken a few steps forward.
‘Enyo, I will need a little privacy here to convey a message. It’s the message that will prove to me when the prisoners are released and is a trigger for me to remove the vest.’ Enyo moved back. ‘Thank you,’ Gibbs said. He leaned forward, closer to Big Sal’s ear. ‘I have a plan to get you all out of here. It’s risky and will require that you tell the person who is most dear to me, not to let on that he knows me.’
Big Sal nodded.
‘Tell him I love him, and I’ll see him soon.’
Big Sal leaned back and stared into his eyes. He couldn’t look at her for long.
‘If you are freed and marched out of this place, walk east for a few hundred meters, and you’ll see our battle truck that I’ve left there. It will have been searched for little treats by Rebus’s idiots, but I have taped two flare guns under the driver and passengers seats. When you’re free, fire one or both back towards this inn. That will be my signal to continue with the plan. And, don’t tell anyone of this plan. If they ask you what I said, make something up about us getting down to Mexico.’
Big Sal nodded. ‘I’ll make something up.’
Gibbs looked over her shoulder to Karen, who choked back tears and looked down at her feet. Stuart stared at him, chin up and jaw clenched.
‘Sal, when you get clear, tell the young person back there that I will probably go to prison for a while for the things I did. He knows what they are. But I will get out and come to find you all.’
‘I’ll tell him.’
‘And you all need to protect him and the girls. Go back to Smithy. Tell Karen it was a pity we couldn’t get to know one another. Maybe in another life. I’ve programmed the destination in the onboard GPS. Tell Smithy that he’s now responsible for you all. He has two able helpers now so must make sure you all get a chance to start again.’
Big Sal swallowed hard, and Gibbs could see a moistness in her dark eyes.
‘Tell that person back there he must now listen to Smithy and Andrei.’
She frowned. ‘Andrei?’
‘A Russian who I trust with my life. He will find you.’
‘It’s time, Gibbs,’ Enyo said.
He turned and walked past her.’ Yes, it is.’
Chapter 38
West of Nashville, Tennessee, USA – 2043
The fresh morning air was as invigorating as it was chilling. A crow squawked a morning welcome before taking off towards the distant blue mountains. Andrei was seated on a concrete bench in front of what had once been a Nashville Visitor Centre stop on the motorway. He turned to see Captain Alonso pacing around with the phone to his ear. Elijah, who was seated twenty-metres in front of the Russian, slid off the bonnet of the van and walked towards the captain. His gazed locked with Andrei’s. A look of mischief was followed with a nod towards the NAG man. Andrei pushed himself up and took a long slow breath to suppress a cough.
Elijah stood in front of Captain Alonso, indicating to him to end the call with a thumb drag across his throat.
‘Sorry, sir, can you hold on a minute?’ he said, lowering the phone. ‘What?’
‘You’re wasting time here. End that call now so we can go.’
‘Chancellor Byrdich gives the orders here, and he wants us to go after Rebus and his men after this bounty is complete.’
‘Not going to happen,’ Elijah said.
‘You can’t tell the chancellor no.’
‘You can’t, but I can. Tell him I say no to him and his idea.’
Captain Alonso lifted the phone to his ear. ‘I told you, sir. He won’t listen to me.’
‘Time to go, captain,’ Andrei said, walking over to them.
Captain Alonso shot Andrei a dirty look and handed the phone to Elijah. ‘Now, show some respect to the man paying your salary.’
‘Yes, chancellor. He does think that I take orders from him,’ Elijah said. ‘As agreed, my contract with you is for Gibbs. I don’t exterminate gang lords.’
‘Of course. We could negotiate a new deal at a later stage.’
Andrei watched Elijah clenching his teeth as he listened for a while. ‘If you want to bring the gangs into line, may I suggest recruiting Gibbs rather than wasting your time chasing him. He’s clearly good at it.’
‘I don’t care about your reasons,’ Elijah said, looking over at Andrei.
‘Wrap it up, Bounty Hunter,’ Andrei said, sensing the captain wanting to take control again.
‘Michael, I don’t care about the deal you and Rolin have with Cap
tain Alonso. I am here to bring Gibbs in. That is our negotiated operation. We can renegotiate when it is complete.’ Elijah hung up and threw the phone to the captain.
A thick vein throbbed on the side of the captain’s forehead. His mouth opened and closed as his face turned a deep red. ‘You bloody idiot. You can’t talk to him like that. You’ll ruin this all for me, for us.’
‘I don’t give a fuck about you or your ambitions,’ Elijah said.
Andrei stepped forward, keen to get them all on the road to the address where they would soon be needed. ‘Captain, your loyalty is commendable but misplaced.’
‘Shut up, old man.’
‘You’re following the wrong men. They will toss you aside like those cheap cigarettes you smoke.’
‘I said shut your bloody mouth. This is not Russia. Your opinion means nothing.’
‘I know that, but I’m here because you Americans have become soft. For more than ten years you’ve failed to get close to Gibbs. I will get you closer than ever.’
Captain Alonso walked over to him, pulling the Glock from the holster. Andrei felt a twinge of excitement. Adrenaline started to rush through him as the young man placed the barrel against his forehead. It brought sweet release from the pain in his tightening chest. ‘Have you thought this through, captain?’
‘Keep your mouth shut, or I’ll leave your corpse to rot in the sun.’
‘Your fight isn’t with me, young man. I’m a dead man walking, so would welcome the release from this body.’
‘Hand over that precious leather pouch you have on you all the time. I want everything in it.’
‘It’s in my bag.’ The captain pressed the Glock harder against Andrei’s head. ‘No, you’re right, captain. You’ve already searched my bags. Every day since I’ve been here. Just how stupid are you to think I wouldn’t notice?’
‘I know it’s in your jacket.’ The captain tried to reach into Andrei’s jacket, but he swivelled to his left. ‘Give me everything you intend to smuggle to Gibbs, you traitorous scum.’
‘I will not. You don’t have a clue about the information they’ve asked you to retrieve, do you? You’re just a little boy who takes orders from two big bullies without knowing why.’
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