The Temple Covenant

by D C Macey

  Having quickly reached an agreement with Susan about an itinerary, which she clearly thought was too light, he insisted on a couple of days free at the outset, so he could deal with some personal interests. Realising he was not going to budge, she reluctantly agreed that the trip would start on Monday morning. Satisfied, Sam bade her farewell and hurried back to Helen.

  The taxi journey to the High Commission was uneventful, though by the end of the journey Sam had established they had only one tail now. The Koreans and their dusty car had vanished.

  • • •

  Park Jae-In, Ro’s second in command, stood in the empty university corridor; he listened to the sounds emanating from the half-open office door immediately in front of him. A man and woman were conducting a telephone conversation. For some reason, the woman had opted for speakerphone. Park was waiting patiently for the call to end. Glancing over his shoulder, he raised his open hand in a we’re still waiting signal to his companions. He received curt nods in return from the two Korean men who stood in silence behind him.

  ‘… Susan, are you sure he’s been scheduled to see all our most prestigious sites? It will be good for the department if Edinburgh decided to link up with us for future research projects.’ Professor Ngure’s voice projected a metallic tone through the low-quality phone loudspeaker.

  ‘Yes, I’m quite sure, though he was determined to keep his itinerary clear for the first few days. I think he’s planning to slot in a little holiday break before we start touring round the sites.’

  ‘Well, whatever he wants, try to accommodate him. Edinburgh is one of the richest universities in the world. A partnership with his department would be very useful.’

  ‘I know, Joseph. Now stop worrying. I’m just going to finish typing up these details and then mail them to Sam. I’ll copy you in too. Now go!’ She hung up the phone and smiled to herself. Joseph worried too much and about the wrong things. The work the department was doing was first class - its quality spoke for itself.

  Park heard her chair shift a little, heard papers being gathered across a desk and the sound of a keyboard. He looked back to the two men behind him. This time his hand beckoned them forward and they followed closely as he entered the office. Across the threshold, he paused and looked round the room. The middle-aged white woman behind the desk was so engrossed in her work that she had not noticed her visitors. He smiled, she would notice soon enough. Then he coughed politely.

  ‘Can I help you?’ said Susan, looking up, startled at the men’s presence, but not alarmed - after all, this was the top floor of the university. ‘Who are you looking for? I think most people have already gone home.’

  ‘Yes, they have,’ said Park. ‘In fact, there’s nobody else left on this floor. Just us.’ He smiled, but there was no warmth in the gesture.

  Park smiled again. He could see that Susan suddenly felt a little anxious and very alone. Her concern grew into alarm as the rearmost of the three men stepped outside the door, pulling it shut behind him.

  ‘What do you want? Please leave now,’ said Susan, starting to rise. Park’s remaining henchman stepped across the office and pushed her back into her chair. Stepping behind her, he pressed his hands down on her shoulders, pinning her in place as Park picked up the telephone base station from her desk and ripped the linking cord from the wall.

  ‘Get out, now,’ said Susan, the volume of her voice rising in line with her anxiety. ‘There are no valuables here. Just go.’ She shook her shoulders, struggling in vain against the man who held her pinned to her chair.

  Park gave a little laugh and sat himself on the edge of her desk. He leant over and turned the computer screen, so he could read what she had typed.

  Itinerary - Dr Sam Camer—

  ‘You have an arrangement with Cameron. What is it?’

  ‘None of your business. Now get out while you can - security patrols these corridors all the time.’

  ‘Well, we’ll have to hurry then, won’t we?’

  ‘You have no right to be here, just leave …’

  ‘Hold her head,’ said Park and his man moved his left hand from her left shoulder to take a tight handful of Susan’s hair. He jerked her hair back, pulling her head against the chair’s headrest.

  She gasped in discomfort. Her eyes rolled in anger and fear. ‘Let me go now, or I’ll scream the place down.’

  Park swung his arm and hit her full in the face with the telephone base station. He pulled his arm back and smashed her a second time, this time just catching her hands which Susan had brought up to protect herself.

  She screamed.

  ‘Shut up!’ Park took hold of her left wrist and pulled her hand away from her face. His man released her right shoulder and gripped her right hand with his to drag it away from her face too. All the while, he kept her head trapped against the chair’s headrest by her hair. ‘Shut up!’

  Susan continued to scream.

  Park took the telephone handset and drove it against her mouth. The first blow broke a tooth, the second blow loosed another. He struck again. This time he did not draw back the handset but maintained pressure, forcing it into her mouth, sliding it over her tongue and filling her mouth until the only sound she could form was a little throaty signal of distress.

  Breathing with difficulty through her broken nose, little spatters of blood drops flurried out with each laboured breath. Her eyes were screwed tight shut. Park took a moment to admire his handy work.

  ‘Will you be quiet now?’ he said.

  With her eyes still shut, Susan tried desperately to nod agreement against the tight hairlock her head was held in. He understood her message.

  ‘Good.’ He took hold of the handset, pulled it out of her mouth and placed it on the desk.

  Susan gasped for breath. Desperately, she sucked in air through her mouth, the need for oxygen rendering her momentarily oblivious to the pain of air rushing across broken teeth and raw nerves. She had stopped struggling against the men’s grip on her wrists, just needed air.

  ‘I ask you again, what is your business with Sam Cameron?’

  ‘I don’t know what you mean. He’s just here on a visit, that’s all.’

  ‘Liar! Why was he here? What is this itinerary you are planning?’

  ‘Please let me go. Why are you doing this to me? I’ve done nothing to you.’

  ‘I asked you what your business with Cameron is. Now tell me.’ Park lifted the phone handset again and smiled to himself as he brought it close to his face to get a better look.

  ‘He’s here on a research trip. Inspecting fossil beds and the sources of our human fossils. That’s all. Now please, let me go, I won’t say anything, I promise.’

  ‘Cameron has no interest in such things. My leader will not be pleased with your lies. I give you one more chance to speak the truth.’

  ‘It’s true, it’s true. Please, I beg you, it’s true. I know nothing more. Nothing at all.’

  Park was used to hurting people. Used to reading the truth. He could tell it wasn’t an act. She knew nothing. He frowned in irritation. ‘I believe you,’ he said.

  Susan’s eyes opened. ‘Thank you, thank you. I won’t tell anyone I promise—’

  ‘I know. I believe you,’ said Park. Watching as Susan’s eyes sparked a little in relief.

  Her eyes met his. She could see the coldness in his gaze and the spark of hope faded quickly from her eyes.

  ‘No, no, no,’ she protested, trying to turn her face away as Park again lifted the handset and brought it to her face. He smiled and stroked her cheek with it, wiping away big tears that were rolling down Susan’s face. She tried to avoid the contact but couldn’t move. ‘Please no …’

  Park drew the handset along her jawline, smearing her blood as it went. He bent closer to her face, listening to the little whimpered appeals.

  ‘I know you won’t tell anyone,’ he whispered, as he pressed the handset between her lips and against her broken teeth. This occasion required much less effo
rt on his part; as the handset pressed on her broken teeth her lower jaw opened automatically to avoid the painful contact and the handset slipped in. He pressed, and it kept sliding in; filling her throat.

  Her eyes opened in a final panic, darted from side to side, looking desperately for a rescue that would never come. Legs kicked out under the desk and as the men held her wrists and head tight, urgent little squeals sounded from deep in her throat. Desperate pleas for life - unanswered.

  When her struggling ended, Park straightened up, let Susan’s wrist go, his guard did the same. She slumped forward, banging her head on the side of the desk as she fell to the floor. They left, turning off the office light and closing the door behind them.

  • • •

  John met Helen and Sam at the front doors to the High Commission and was quick to tell them London had reported that test results on the hypodermic were inconclusive. They were doing more tests. However, Bob’s wife had recognised the shoe style and size; this had been backed up with a positive DNA sample from inside the shoe. Their instincts had been proven right - it was Bob’s shoe.

  The news had scarcely had time to sink in before they were guided through to an office where the high commissioner and his deputy met them. The high commissioner was not happy about the flouting of Kenyan Government instructions. However, following a break in their discussions, when he had used his secure phone line to London, he agreed that John could continue to support Sam and Helen, provided he still did not leave Nairobi or engage in any doubtful activities. Sam had accepted the terms though considered it was unlikely that their target was still in Nairobi.

  ‘Why didn’t they just take it straight out of the country at once?’ said Helen.

  The high commissioner nodded an acknowledgement of her question and stepped across the office to a big map of Africa that dominated one wall. ‘They would if they could but it’s simple logistics,’ he said. ‘Different countries have different capacities and different political friendships. Right now, Africa is a melting pot of influences, everyone wants to have friends here; Africa is so rich in minerals and natural resources.

  ‘It’s only a generation ago that Britain was the dominant influence in Eastern Africa. From the Horn right down to the Cape, Mozambique aside. Those days are gone now, of course. Though Mozambique bucked the trend - when it shook off Portuguese colonial rule, it opted to join the Commonwealth.’

  ‘So, now we know it’s Ro who snatched Bob Prentice and stole your ACE, how will he get out? Who are his friends and supporters?’ said Helen.

  ‘Hmmm, is Ro freelancing or not? We just don’t know yet. But freelance or otherwise, Ro faces the same problem as his, maybe former, North Korean paymasters. Their greatest weakness is that not so many democracies like them. It’s mainly authoritarian regimes that they have good relationships with. Unfortunately, those are the countries most likely to break the rules, which has always played to the Koreans’ greatest strength. Right now, there are only a handful of countries that would facilitate export of whatever the ACE is and most of them are on the west coast. Angola, Equatorial Guinea and so forth. On this side of the continent, I’m guessing Ro’s best bet would be Burundi.’

  The high commissioner sat back at his desk and looked around the room. ‘London thinks that too. If Ro gets to Burundi, we can probably kiss Bob Prentice and the kit goodbye. They will be beyond our influence.’

  ‘I’m guessing the Koreans will have moved south, gone into Tanzania. It has a land border with Burundi,’ said Sam.

  ‘Yes, that’s London’s view too.’

  ‘They’ll be hard to find. They will probably have taken the main road south and then turned off into the bush before the national border, crossed out of Kenya and into Tanzania by bush tracks and then rejoined the main road further south, just in case we’d got our act together and the border guards had been alerted to their approach. That’s what I would do. So, what does London want me to do?’

  ‘Well, I argued that you’d better stay here for now, in case we’ve read the situation incorrectly. London and our allies are organising resources from elsewhere, I’m sure they will all click into place in the next day or two. Tanzania will manage without you.’

  ‘No.’ Sam stood up. His friend was being carried away and the diplomatic service seemed determined to allow it to happen. ‘I can fly into northern Tanzania in an hour from here. It will take at least a day to get others on the ground, more. I have to go south now.’

  ‘I’m sorry, London agrees with me. Your presence in Nairobi has been a godsend and it makes sense to keep you here, just in case.’

  ‘Just in case? Just in case? They’re almost certainly heading for Burundi through Tanzania. The job’s going down the plughole and you give me, “Just in case”?’

  Helen had never seen Sam so agitated. His friend clearly meant a lot to him, far more than she had appreciated.

  ‘Thank you, Dr Cameron, your views are noted, but I’ve told you London’s instructions and you are expected to follow them. You may think of yourself as a civilian now, but may I point out that you were awarded a regular commission in the British Army, which puts certain enduring obligations on your shoulders. Like it or not, you will do your duty.’ The high commissioner stood, looked around the group.

  Sam’s jaw started to move; the high commissioner’s hand rose to silence him. ‘I believe that concludes our business for the evening. I’ll wish you a good night, gentlemen, Reverend Johnson. John, would you be good enough to organise one of the cars to take our visitors back to their hotel, please? Thank you.’ And he was gone.

  Sam glared at the closed door, remembering all the reasons he had quit the forces in favour of academic life. Nothing had changed.

  9.

  Friday, 25th October - AM

  Sam and Helen were woken early in the morning by a ringing phone. Sam answered it to hear a concerned hotel receptionist’s voice.

  ‘What time is it?’ said Sam, trying to get his bearings.

  ‘Half past four, sir. I’m sorry to bother you, but he’s being most insistent.’

  ‘Who is, what are you talking about?’

  ‘A man from the British High Commission, sir. John Guthrie, he insists on being allowed to come up and visit you.’

  Sam was silent for a moment, digesting the information.

  ‘Hello, are you there, sir? Hello, should I send him up? I could have security ask him to leave if you prefer.’

  Sam gave a sigh. ‘No, send him up. Tell him five minutes, I’ll see him then. Oh, and have room service send up some coffee please. Lots of it.’ He hung up, and roused Helen. They hurriedly dressed and were ready just as a knock sounded on the door. Sam opened it and a very worried John Guthrie hurried in.

  ‘Thank God, I’ve caught you. Major crisis, you have to move.’

  Closing the door, Sam followed him into the room. ‘What’s the situation now?’ he said. Sitting next to Helen he put his arm round her shoulder and waved John towards one of the other seats.

  John ignored the invitation. ‘Come on, it’s all change, we really have to go. There’s been a suspicious death and you’re in the frame.’

  Sam again pointed John to the chair. ‘Sit down, John. Take a breath and tell me exactly what’s happened.’

  As he finished speaking there was a knock at the door. John almost jumped with shock. ‘They’re here, it’s too late. I can’t be found here with you, it’s a disaster.’

  Sam stood up and walked past him, heading for the door. ‘John, sit. It’s my coffee order.’ He opened the door and a waiter entered carrying a tray with a large cafetière and three cups. ‘Put it down over there,’ said Sam, turning to point into the room. He noticed that John was now sitting, albeit on the edge of his seat. The waiter placed his tray and turned for the door. As he left, Sam pressed some money into his hand.

  ‘Right, let’s get some coffee and hear what you’ve got to say,’ said Sam, striding back across the room. He poured coffees, hande
d them round and sat. ‘So, tell us, what’s happened?’

  ‘On your way to the High Commission last night you called into the university to see Ms Curtis, Susan Curtis. How was she when you left her?’

  ‘Fine, why?’ said Sam. His tone was even but he already sensed what was coming.

  ‘Well, she’s not fine now. She’s dead and according to the police, in a very nasty way. The university security staff insist you were her final visitor last night. The police traced you from there to the High Commission via the taxi you took.’

  ‘How did you manage to get here ahead of the police?’

  ‘They don’t know where you are. At this time of night, it’s always a junior on duty in the High Commission. Having been on night shift all week, she knew nothing of your visits. I happened to be in the office, trying to pull together some plans in the event our caper goes tits up. Luckily, I was able to feed her enough information to sound credible without tipping them off. I think they went away none the wiser, but they will be checking the hotels and this one must be near the top of the list. We really need to go.’

  Sam finished his coffee. ‘You’re right.’ He turned to Helen. ‘We’d better move now.’

  ‘Thank God, let’s hurry,’ said John, standing quickly.

  Helen stood too, and then drained her coffee before heading to a wardrobe.

  ‘There’s not time to pack. We need to run.’

  Helen ignored him and pulled out her case. Sam was doing the same.

  ‘John, you can help. Phone down to reception. Ask them to get our bill ready, we’re checking out now. Oh, and have them put out half a dozen bottles of chilled water, on the bill. We’ll collect them as we leave,’ said Sam as he lifted hangers of clothes off the rail and folded them directly into his case.

  John snatched up the phone and called reception as Helen gathered their toiletries from the bathroom and stuffed them in the cases.

  It took under five minutes to pack and leave the room.

  They exited the lift together and Sam called a halt before they turned into the reception area. He offered his hand to John, who looked a little startled, then shook it.