BLOOD RETRIBUTION

by Blake Hudson

  “Thank you, Dani, as always you are a true pro. Talk to you soon,” Knox said without showing he didn’t really want the call to end.

  “It’s my pleasure Lucas, stay safe don’t get yourself killed. I really don’t fancy having to find someone else to broker for, it’s a pain in my arse to vet, interview and set up their accounts,” Dani joked before adding her usual nickname for him, one he didn’t mind in the slightest.

  “Bye handsome,” Dani said and with the same thoughts of not wanting to show she was sad to be ending the call, she hung up. However, not before Knox caught the sigh of disappointment, one no doubt warranted, because, for all her hints, Knox still hadn’t asked her out for that dinner.

  Knox sat for a moment deep in thought as he closed the flip phone, and with a mental slap across his face, he stood and walked over to customer services. He placed the tan briefcase down on the desk which made the bank assistant look up and take note.

  “I would like to talk to the manager about making a large deposit,” Knox said with a smile.

  Knox pulled up outside T.I 7’s warehouse. The last time he arrived here he had been cuffed, hooded and sore. Now though, with two short beeps of his bike’s horn, a door opened next to a large roller door and out popped a scruffy man. He looked over to Knox from the doorway before going back inside, closing the door behind him.

  “There’s nothing like friendly service,” Knox muttered to himself and seconds later the roller door lifted and Knox rode inside. You could be forgiven for thinking it was a working garage. With two Land Rover Defenders that looked mean in dark gun metal grey and black hardware, bonnets lifted as guys worked on them. The other side of the Defenders sat three Jaguar F-pace, of course, black with tinted windows. Knox strolled over to one of the black cats, placing his hand on the driver’s door handle.

  “Nice isn’t it…” The deep voice of Harris sounded from behind Knox.

  “Go ahead it’s open. The other two are the 2.0-litre turbo, but this one is the 3.0 litre supercharged…” Harris said with a big grin as he walked past Knox and held his arm out to invite him to open the car’s door.

  “I have to admit I am a fan,” Knox said as he looked over the interior of the luxury SUV.

  “It’s a far cry away from Panthers, Foxhounds or the most uncomfortable way to travel around the desert slowly cooking your arse off, Snatch Land Rovers,” Knox said as he gave Harris a telling look, one which Harris smiled and nodded as he remembered the military vehicles all too well.

  “Come on, let’s get to the briefing, you can meet the team. They have been waiting,” Harris said hitting Knox in the shoulder as he walked off.

  “Briefing… Been waiting… wait how did you know I was coming?” Knox said as he caught up to Harris.

  “Well, clearly we put a tracker on your bike. Anyway, it’s not like you weren’t going to take the job, right?” Harris said with a smirk.

  “Captain, come in…You know Gregory, Thomas and of course, Captain Ellis.” Carter said standing next to a tactical board. Captain Ellis looked at Knox with an emotionless expression, a look that couldn’t have been more different than that of the sexual need only twelve hours ago.

  “Captain…” Knox said as he took up a position next to Ellis. She said nothing.

  “Good, you are all a team. And I expect you to act like it and fast. All history I want dropped. Am I making myself clear?” Carter barked as everyone said Sir, all but Knox who looked at Carter and nodded.

  “Patricia Miller, my team. Team, you will extend Miss Miller every courtesy. She is here at our invitation, she is representing Langley's interests.” Carter said introducing Miller, stern faced, with an almost grey complexion matching her suit. Late thirties, single, married to the agency type. She took a long drink from a take-out coffee cup as she met everyone’s eyes with her own before saying “Officers”. If anything, she looked pissed off at being there.

  “Now we are all acquainted… Operation ‘Hail Burn’ people, that’s why we are here. Langley and River House have been completely railroaded off this. Their top brass believes they have dirty operatives. So, they have come to us for intel and to enforce. Miss Miller if you would,” Carter finished and directed Miller to address the room.

  “Currently, we have a joint operation between the US and the Brits collecting intel on two new fringe outfits. They want to join the big boys of the middle east. They're chasing international arms in an area of the world that is way beyond their comprehension. It's crazy, to say the least. This new player is operating in a highly incendiary region, and we would all hate to see that run out of control.” She paused and looked around the room for expectant looks of agreement before continuing.

  “In my view, it should be placed under a pure intelligence jurisdiction, acting on a political brief, but with what has come to light with both our departments, that simply isn’t going to work. You must nail these people, they have the funds and the backing. Fail on this one and we could be seeing a major power shift in the region,” Miller said with a tone that was straight out of the book on ‘how to address your team’ guide.

  “In this new era of Parliamentary, States’ Congress accountability and transparency, River House and Langley will be keeping a close eye on us. I, for one, am not happy about it but it’s the cards we have been dealt and we have a job to do,” Carter said as he cut Miller a look of disdain, one she equally returned.

  “So, tell us about Hail Burn. I am new to the party,” Knox piped up.

  “Hail Burn is an ongoing anti-illegal arms operation based in Washington and shared intel with River House. A standard tracer operation, it's been running just over a year,” Miller responded.

  “Who are you going after?” Knox asked

  “The key player we believe to be one Marco Pérez. Director of Hail Trans corporation and we think he has a hell of a lot more on the side. His areas of international crime are vast. Drugs, people trafficking and weapons being his main trade. But it has come to light that he has gone into a new venture,” Miller said before taking a sip of her coffee.

  “And that would be?” asked Captain Ellis.

  “He has gone into moving money,” said Miller.

  “Moving money, he has gone into Banking?” Gregory queried with a confused look on his face.

  "Of a kind, yes, but this money is the drug lords’ and cartels’. You see, the kind of money they have they can't move through banks from one country to the other. It's traceable, we can intercept it and there is just too much of it to hide. So, they have taken to smuggling the cash in massive amounts. And we believe that Pérez, through his Hail shipping company, is the major player,” Miller said before moving over to a control panel. Displayed on the tactical wall were photographs of Pérez at a meeting in Madrid with two known cartel bosses and a Syrian war lord.

  “The four were discussing a future arms deal, as well as funding. Our op on the inside died getting that information out to us. And that is where our operation is compromised and why we have come to you,” Miller finished and took a seat.

  “Where are the arms coming from, who is Pérez buying off...?" Knox looked to Miller then to Carter.

  ”Marco Pérez is buying arms under the counter from British and American arms companies. People on the inside are aiding and abetting, fake MOD end-user certificates, fast-tracked orders. Clearing certificates and doctored serial and account numbers. And they are getting paid royally to do so,” Carter said with a less than impressed manner.

  “And Marco Pérez has the US and British contract to export all their legit arms deals. Hail Trans Corp, therefore, has export licenses granted, they can ship when and wherever they want,” Carter finished off.

  “So, there we have it, people. Our job is to gain the intel needed. Knox give us an update, you deposited a sum of money today. I take it your meeting went well?” Carter said looking at Knox like he and everyone in the room knew, but did they know he had one point five mi
llion in a bogus account. Of course, they tracked his motorcycle and most likely tailed him on local CCTV, as he was very careful no-one had tailed him. But if they knew the amount he was pretty sure they wouldn’t be so cool about it.

  “Yes, I am now the personal security to Isabella Pérez, all aspects of her safety are under my control as well as the security of the households. So, I am in the door, if she has any information I will get it. I would be surprised if she has any involvement. But I think I can get close enough to Marco and Malcolm. It looks as though I will be on double pay,” Knox smiled.

  “Make the most of it Knox, and drinks will be on you when we nail these bastard’s balls to the wall. That’s all everyone,” Carter said as he dismissed the group.

  “Knox, go with Major Harris, we have some kit for you,” Carter said almost cracking a smile.

  “Yes, Sir…”

  Chapter Seven

  Tech Wizardry & Naked Misery

  “Captain, this is Olivia Rose. Miss Rose this is Captain Lucas Knox.” Major Harris introduced Knox to a small, young woman, who looked more like she was on work experience. With her messy, honey blonde hair in a bun, she was dressed in an oversized suit that looked bought more for comfort than for size or style. Knox could imagine that the part of the job she hated most was having to look professional. In fact, he could just picture her shedding her clothes the second she walked through the door and put on some cute, colourful pyjamas, that Knox would have only found sexy had they been torn off her.

  “Hello, it's pleasure to meet you, Miss Rose,” Knox said, then smiled as she looked up from over her laptop screen. Rose looked lost in thought as if she had been woken from a daydream, with what seemed like foam from her coffee on her top lip.

  “Oh… yes... erm… Hello… Sorry miles away,” Rose smiled awkwardly as she adjusted her glasses and stood up, knocking her coffee cup but catching it just in time before it went over. She shoved her hand out to Knox as if it was some kind of unnatural reaction she had forced herself to learn. Knox promptly shook it noticing her hand was covered in notes, scribbled on with a biro.

  “Not a fan of post it notes?” Knox smirked.

  “Post it notes…?" She looked around herself for clues and then looked at her hands, making the internal light bulb flickered to life.

  “Oh right, yes, of course, my notes. I can’t lose my hand,” Rose said looking at Knox as if it was the most normal thing in the world. He tried to hide the smirk.

  “Miss Rose is our head of special ops support, everything you need in the field, she is your route to getting it," Harris said trying to emphasise the importance of Rose's role, even if she didn't portray it herself.

  “Please call me Olivia or Rose. Miss Rose makes me feel like a school teacher,” Rose said before she erupted into laughter as if she had said the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Knox and Harris looked at each other with raised eyebrows.

  Rose adjusted her glasses again before she noticed the coffee foam on her lip, unembarrassed and with no awareness that Knox and Harris had noticed the foam on her lip, she wiped it away.

  “Right, let’s get you all kitted out, that is why you are here right? That is why you are here… You are not with SIS are you?” Rose looked around as if she was expecting someone to turn up.

  “Yes, the Captain is here to get his kit. For his undercover operation that you were informed about… in my memo to you.” Harris kindly reminded Rose. Rose looked at Harris for a moment as if she was racking her brain to remember. She looked at her hand to see ‘Knox’ written in the blue mess of notes, then the lights switched on again.

  “Yes, yes of course… Come, come it is over here. I have everything ready for you,” Rose said as she led the men over to a large matt black metal cabinet that was on wheels like most things around there. It reminded Knox of a professional mechanic’s tool box, brushed aluminium edged handles running the width of the draws. There were a few of them in the area, but this one was pulled out from the rest.

  Rose lifted the top surface up, it was a lid the full width and length of the cabinet. On the inside of the lid and tray below were dark grey moulded foam inlays, which held an array of weapons, hand guns of different calibres and sizes, close quarter shotgun, submachine gun and an assault rifle. Rose then pulled the top draw out to reveal just as big an array of knives, tactical military, folding, throwing and survival.

  “And that’s about all your, cold killing, brutish man toys to choose from, but here is my favourite,” Rose said after first turning her nose up at the tools of his trade, then her face lit up as she pulled the next drawer out. In it lay gadgets like smartphones, GPS trackers and locators, listening devices and cameras. And a whole host of other things Knox had no idea what they did, but he was sure he was soon to find out.

  “An exploding pen?” Knox mocked with a smile as he picked up a pen from the tray, clicking it repeatedly to the annoyance of Rose who slowly took it from him as if he was a child.

  “This is not a toy and it is not an exploding pen, really this isn’t Q-branch in a fictional novel, Knox,” Rose said looking at him over her glasses before pushing them back up her cute button nose.

  “It is an electronic bug detector. It can detect anything that is electronic and transmitting, recording sound or vision. Simply turn the lid to the right until it clicks like so, then hold over an object or area you wish to check for bugs. If there is the tip will flash red, it is accurate up to one metre.” Rose said, obviously in her element as she moved on to picking up a black smartphone.

  “Now this looks and has all the functionality of any modern smartphone. The difference is this smartphone has a few added features that you can’t get from the local Apple store,” Rose said as she showed Knox the phone.

  “I have to warn you, I tend to break these modern phones,” Knox said looking unhappy with the large screen. Rose simply took the phone from him and hit it on the corner of the metal cabinet hard, over and over before holding it out to Knox. He took it from her hand with a shocked look on his face.

  “My phones are not just smart they are tough, so unless you plan on getting blown up, I can assure you the phone would survive better than you would.”

  “Well, thanks for the vote of confidence, Darlin’," Knox said with a laugh.

  “I doubt a man like yourself needs any more confidence, a bullet proof vest perhaps, but that is up to you… Now, where was I…? Oh yes features…” Rose said which made Knox smirk and wink at her making her cough and clear her throat. It was a pleasant surprise seeing geek girl with a bit of spunk, as in this place and dealing with us military dogs, she would need it to survive the job.

  “With this phone, you can clone any other sim card network phone. Listen in on their calls and read their text messages and emails…etc. You can also make calls from their number and such but you get the idea, I’m sure,” Rose said with infectious enthusiasm.

  “This tracking device is magnetic and only the size of a small coin so you shouldn’t have too much trouble hiding it. It links up to an app on the phone so you can then follow it on the ever so handy, Google Maps,” Rose said clapping her hands at the integration with Google Maps.

  “The listening and filming devices can also be monitored from an app on the phone. And to make it easy all the information is sent wirelessly to the NEST,” Rose said as she looked very pleased with herself.

  “How do I turn the devices on and off?” Knox said as he picked up one of the listening devices.

  “Simple answer, you can’t. They are always on, battery life in all of them is around sixty days. So, the only way to switch them off is to render them inoperable,” Rose said looking at Knox as if to say why would you ever need or want to turn them off.

  “I have a document with instructions on how everything works. Would you like me to email it to you? PDF work for you?” Rose pulled out her phone and started tapping then waited for Knox to reply.

  “Email�
�? Maybe best you print me out a copy, I will need you to set me up an email as I haven’t one.” Knox smiled as Rose looked at him as if he was from the dark ages. He wanted to laugh out loud as her mouth actually dropped open.

  “Uh…but you…you must have…” She started to stutter, pushing up her glasses again and nearly tripping over herself as she took a step closer to him. He wouldn’t have been surprised if she started poking him in the chest to check whether he was real or not.

  “It is okay, Olivia, I am sure we will soon drag the Captain into the twenty-first century. Now if you will both excuse me I will take my leave," Harris said before nodding to both Knox and Rose then turning and walking away. Knox thought for a moment, then followed Harris and caught up with him at the door.

  “Major, may I have a word?” Knox said as he reached Harris.

  “Yes Captain, go right ahead.” A puzzled Harris looked back at Knox.

  “This Olivia lass, how old is she…she is a section head?” Knox whispered to the side of Harris' head.

  “That’s irrelevant Captain, trust me, you wouldn’t want to be in her firing line. Now get back to it.,” Harris said in a tone that wasn’t to be messed with. Knox accepted what he was saying with just a look, and headed back over to Rose.