The Karl Lehman Affair

by Jonathan R Hayes

  ‘Colgo!’

  ‘COLGO?’ repeated Lazare nervously. ‘Peter, I have no idea what he was doing…..’

  ‘I know Henri,’ interrupted Larchet. ‘Gaston said he was muscling in on their share of the spoils, up to twenty percent we believe. In the end he and his two accomplices broke into Bonnet’s estate, shot Jerome, then Bonnet before making-off with the whole stash, the ten million bucks you paid to Bonnet.’

  ‘Greedy Bastard,’ shouted Lazare genuinely dismayed by this news while extremely alarmed Colgo had been exposed. ‘Did Gaston say why he was muscling in on Bonnet’s cash? Why did Bonnet not report this to me?’

  ‘Gaston didn’t know anything about Colgo. He also wouldn’t comment on Bonnet’s situation either!’

  ‘Well Peter! This leaves one piece of unfinished business we need to take care of. Let’s meet tomorrow at our usual spot off Mulberry Street.’

  85

  Alpha-1 unzipped the canopy, looked out and saw the gunship Mil Mi-24 helicopter getting airborne and turning its nose in the direction of the life raft. Just as the gun ship rose above the ship’s deck, a dull explosion was heard; four steel plates blew out from under the ship’s water line and the vessel started to sink almost immediately. Mad frantic scampering aboard the ship ensued as panic-stricken sailors and lab technicians came running up on deck trying to get life boats launched. The helicopter was not impacted by the explosion and ascended from the ship’s deck, leveled off and accelerated directly towards the life raft. Alpha-1 leaned out through the canopy and started lining-up the gunship through telescopic sights on the rocket launcher. At the last minute, the gunship veered left and started circling the ship.

  ‘Where are they Captain? I can’t see them,’ shouted the gunship pilot.

  ‘Keep circling,’ shouted the Sea Captain

  At this stage many of the ship’s crew had launched inflatable life rafts and were frantically trying to paddle away from the sinking ship. It was impossible for the pilot to distinguish the ship’s life rafts from the fleeing SAS inflatable.

  ‘They must not escape,’ shouted the Sea Captain. Point the nose down,’ he roared.

  The pilot pointed the nose downwards and the Sea Captain grabbed the machine gun trigger. He started firing indiscriminately at everything that moved on the surface below. With the first burst of fire, he hit four or five of the Asclepius life rafts, sinking them and killing all on board.

  ‘My God! They’re killing their own crew men,’ cried Alpha-2, peering out through an opening in the canopy.’

  ‘Evil Bastards!’ roared Parker.

  The gunship continued its merciless slaughter, traversing both sides of the ship, all the while hosing the survivors in life rafts with bullets.

  Inevitably, the Mil Mi-24 turned and flew straight for Parker and Co.

  ‘Ah! This must be them,’ shouted the Sea Captain holding his finger on the trigger.

  ‘Ms. Lehman, move to the front, ‘snapped Alpha-2.

  Alpha-1 steadied his aim, getting the gunship in the middle of his cross hairs, his finger on the trigger. The double bubble cockpit on the gunship was made from impregnable bullet proof glass, well capable of withstanding anti-aircraft shells. Instead, he aimed his rocket launcher at the rotor shaft of the aircraft and pulled the trigger. A rocket with a small but extra powerful warhead hurtled through the air and struck the helicopter right on target. The rocket exploded and blew two rotor blades clean off causing the gunship to nose dive towards the stormy sea. The Sea Captain unstrapped his harness, pushed open the door and rolled out tumbling into the sea seconds before the aircraft hit the water. It exploded into flames on impact, lighting up the whole area while the pilot, trapped inside the flaming inferno, perished in seconds.

  Alpha-1 anxiously looked back at the ship to see if any of the ship’s life rafts were left. He could only make out one or two bobbing up and down in the water. By this time half of the ship was submerged from the stern to the bridge deck. He could see sailors in the water with life jackets. He had little pity for them.

  A wet and bloodied Sea Captain scrambled up into one of the few remaining life rafts still afloat and lay low inside, fearing detection and likely retaliation from any surviving seamen.

  Within minutes, the four in the life raft were out of sight of the ship. The DPV's were still running but would not last more than an hour or two. The cover was still pulled over the raft and was now fully zipped closed creating a completely water tight space inside. The weather had not improved and had gotten slightly worse. Their small craft pitching and rolling in the rough seas while it motored along. Parker saw Nicole shivering and leaned across and pulled open a flap on the side of the raft. He took out a waterproof package and handed it to her. She found dry clothing inside; a pair of thermal track suit bottoms, a heavy woolen sweater and a towel. He dimmed the torch light while the lady slipped off her wet clothes, dried herself and pulled on the dry clothing.

  ‘Complements of MI6,’ smiled Parker.

  ‘Voila! I feel so much better already. You couldn't follow that up with something to eat Harry? I haven't eaten for nearly three days.’

  Parker, to her amazement, handed her a bottle of water and pulled open another flap and produced a container with survival rations inside. He handed Nicole the emergency rations pack which looked something like breakfast bars. She gladly took hold of them and devoured three of them one after the other. ‘Tell me this is for real, that it’s not a dream.’ She now started to feel totally safe in that little inflatable life raft, bobbing up and down in the ocean, miles from anywhere in the exclusive company of agent Parker and two very brave SAS paratroopers. The buffeting and pitching of the inflatable in the stormy Celtic Sea did not phase her one bit. Parker moved gently across, careful not to unbalance the craft and put his arm around her. Nicole cuddled into him, falling into a deep sleep in seconds.

  86

  The next morning Parker woke up in complete darkness. He felt around the floor with his hands and found the torch. He checked the time and saw it was 7:30a.m.

  ‘Amazing! We slept in’ thought Parker smiling to himself. Nicole was still asleep. The SAS folks were also in the land of nod. The life raft was as steady as a rock. The storm had subsided, and the water was like a duck pond.

  The two Diver Propulsion vehicles had long since packed in, so the raft was drifting along on the tide. Parker quickly remembered they were in a busy shipping lane, unzipped the Kevlar lined canopy and looked out, half expecting to be suddenly run-over by a large freighter. It was a beautiful early May morning and he could just barely make out land on the distant horizon. He could not see any ships or aircraft in the vicinity.

  ‘Hey everybody, wake up. It's morning and there's a beautiful blue sky above us. I can see land in the distance.’

  Nicole and the SAS men woke up at the same time to the sound of Parker's cheerful message. She stretched herself before rolling across to look outside.

  Harry completely removed the canopy cover to reveal a bright yellow interior.

  ‘Now we should be more visible from the air’

  ‘Is someone coming to rescue us?’ asked Nicole.

  Hadley had briefed the trio the night before that the SIS would be monitoring their position throughout the night. A transponder was hidden somewhere in the life raft. If they moved outside the range of a Sea King helicopter, SIS would anonymously contact the French coastguards and give them the exact position of the craft.

  ‘We expect to be picked up by a French Lifeboat, Nicole. The story is we are survivors of a capsized yacht. So, when the Lifeboat arrives, there should be nothing suspicious in the raft.’

  Alpha-1 picked up the Kevlar lined canopy and dumped it over board along with all other suspicious equipment and firearms.

  ‘Now! Breakfast time.’

  Parker opened the flap on the inside of the raft and took out more ‘breakfast bars’ and four bottles of water.

  ‘This will keep us going.’
<
br />   It was shortly after nine o'clock when they saw a French Coastguard Response boat approaching them from a distance.

  The boat soon pulled up alongside them.

  ‘Bonjour mes amis,’ hailed the skipper. ‘Pouvon-nous vous aider?’

  ‘Mais oui’ replied Nicole. ‘Nous avon eu un accident. Notre yacht a chavire. Puis il a coulé.’

  ‘Mon Dieu! S'il vous plait, Venez a bord.’

  Soon the four were back on dry land in Portsall, a small fishing village in Brittany.

  Parker called Simon Hadley on his direct line and told him in coded language how well things had gone with the rescue and the successful scuttling of the ship. He also commented on the extreme professionalism of the two SAS Paratroopers.

  Parker finished the call and they all headed straight to a restaurant in the little French village where Nicole ate the biggest breakfast of her life.

  While the lady looked presentable in the clothes she received on the life raft, the other three were getting odd looks from people in the café, dressed in wet-suit bottoms and rubber sandals.

  After breakfast, the three men went to a local men’s outfitters to resolve their 'sartorial' predicament, buying casual clothing for their return journey to London. They took a taxi to Brest and got the first available flight from there, home. Parker sat beside Nicole on the flight back and told her about another letter from Philips awaiting collection in London at the same law firm.

  ‘An interrogator on the ship quizzed me about a vial that Dr. Philips had in his possession.’

  ‘Oh?’ said Parker curiously. ‘You mentioned this vial in your recorded message from the kidnappers.’

  ‘Karl never mentioned anything about a vial. The Captain on the ship also asked me about a vial when I was brought to his office, but I couldn’t tell him anything. I don’t know what I revealed when they drugged me. Whatever it was, it couldn’t have been very helpful.’

  ‘Maybe Philips’ letter might reveal the significance of this vial,’ suggested Parker. ‘I’m guessing it must contain a sample of iDrug.’

  ‘Possibly,’ remarked Nicole doubtfully. ‘I don’t believe any samples survived the fire.’

  When they arrived in London, Parker used his diplomatic immunity, entering a side exit and by-passing customs officers. All four were brought to LEGOLAND for a full debriefing. Nicole remained outside in the corridor for most of the ‘top secret’ meeting. She was eventually brought in to meet Simon Hadley .

  The Wing Commander gave her a most approving once up and down. ‘How charming it is to meet you at last Madame Lehman,’

  ‘The pleasure is all mine,’ responded Nicole politely.

  ‘Madame Lehman you must remain totally tight lipped about the circumstances of your rescue. Understood?’

  ‘Yes, of course. It’s the very least I can do. MI6 saved my life.’

  ‘Just about,’ muttered Parker under his breath

  ‘What did you say Parker?’

  ‘We mustn’t hang about, Sir. I’ll escort the lady home!’

  The couple left Vauxhall Cross after three hours of debriefings and only then could Parker inform Durand by phone about Nicole’s successful rescue while the two made their way across London in a taxi.

  ‘You had better stay at my apartment until things settle down.’

  ‘I don’t think I can stay there that long,’ replied Nicole sarcastically.

  ‘Ok,’ replied Parker smiling broadly. ‘Stay for a day or two until we see what’s in Philips’ letter.’

  ‘Don’t tell me I have to wear that blond wig and those dark glasses again Harry?’

  ‘Yes! Unfortunately, as a precaution. We’re by no means out of danger yet and don’t forget, Meyer is still on our tail.’

  When they arrived at the penthouse, Durand had already arrived and let himself in and made himself busy preparing a drinks reception for the triumphant couple. He ran to open the front door when he heard them coming up in the lift and immediately embraced his lifelong friend, giving her a huge bear hug. Tears formed in his eyes.

  Parker looked on, smiling nonchalantly.

  ‘Happy days! To Nicole,’ hailed Parker lifting a glass of champagne and toasted her safe return.

  Durand stood in total disbelief staring into his fluted glass.

  ‘You are a bloody amazing man, Harry Parker. How the hell did you pull this one off?’

  Celebrations continued late into the evening.

  87

  Nicole left Parker’s penthouse the next morning wearing a blond wig and dark glasses, looking none the worse for wear after her traumatic ordeal. Feeling much more confident she took a taxi across London and called again at the front door of the solicitor’s offices in Gray’s Inn Street. Again, a voice asked her for her ID and the nature of her business.

  ‘Please press the button and go to the third floor.’

  When she alighted from the elevator Keith Fairchild was waiting for her.

  ‘Ms. Lehman! It’s nice to see you again. Please follow me. We’re getting used to your blond wig.’

  He led her into his office and asked her to take a seat.

  ‘I have further correspondence from Dr. Philips for you.’ A few minutes later he reappeared and handed her a small white envelope with a wax seal and promptly left the room.

  She opened the envelope and started to read. ‘My dear Nicole I’m writing this second letter to you so that if anything untoward were to happen to me, you would take action to ensure my rightful royalties amounting to 8 per cent of all profits will go to my estranged son Walter. The profits relate to the commercial development and exploitation of iDrug to combat Antibiotic resistance to Superbugs and the future potential of iDrug to treat viruses for which I was instrumental in developing.

  The law firm who gave you this letter has full particulars of my son’s whereabouts and has been copied on this letter. Sign the Royalty Declaration form in favor of my son Walter. Return this form to the office you received it from and you will be issued with another white envelope with my seal on it. This envelope reveals the location of the only surviving vial containing iDrug. All other samples and records were destroyed in the fire at the clinic in Zurich. To recreate iDrug and document its formula you will need two things; firstly, the CDs, which contain details of the smart electronics that Electro-physicists can follow. Secondly you will need to recover the last remaining iDrug sample. The sample is the only mechanism now left that reveals details of the complex structure of the organic interface between the smart electronics and the bacterium, which microbiologists will be able to recreate. The vial is inside a small ornate wooden box. Yours faithfully, Dr. Martin Philips.

  Nicole continued to sit and contemplate what all this suddenly meant. She knew the enormity of what was in her grasp; the imminent public disclosure of her husband’s work leading to the launch of a new drug for worldwide distribution and putting a stop to this crazy merry-go-round she was on.

  Again, Nicole smiled at the 8 per cent claim that was far more than what Philips was entitled to. However, she had no hesitation in signing the royalty declaration and handed it back to Keith Fairchild.

  He disappeared out of the room and returned with another white envelope. Nicole put the envelope carefully into her inside pocket and bade farewell to Mr. Fairchild.

  She left the building and jumped into a waiting taxi and headed back towards Earl’s court. Her heart was thumping while she opened the envelope. Inside was a white sheet of paper with just seven words:

  ‘ MCNEILL Chantry. Behind the kneeling child’s hALO.’

  88

  ‘Come and look at this! The McNeill Chantry is in St Gregory’s Cathedral. It's a very ornate, famous side altar, a memorial to the nineteenth century McNeill family,’ revealed Parker sitting at his laptop in Earls Court shouting in to Nicole in the bathroom. ‘And look, there's the kneeling child in the marble plate carving. The vial must be hidden behind this figure somewhere. We're off to St Gregory’s Cathedral
in the morning.’

  Nicole came into the room wearing a blue silk bath robe and a white cotton towel wrapped around her head.

  He continued to explain about the McNeill Chantry and its long history and how it had survived a Nazi bombing during the Second World War when most of the cathedral was destroyed.

  She was standing across the room from Parker, hearing everything he was saying, but not concentrating on the words. She was studying the man, observing every movement of his face, the slight frown when something didn’t come up on the screen, the blinking of an eye. This was the man who put his life squarely on the line to rescue her, protected her over the last month and became totally focused on getting Karl’s research published. She was becoming deeply aroused by this confident strong, brave person who stood head and shoulders above everybody in her world. She was entering that sensual twilight zone. Parker was completely oblivious to Nicole’s gaze.

  Eventually he looked up from the computer and their eyes met. His train of thought was quickly halted. His concern about the vial in the cathedral quickly evaporated. He stopped talking and found himself standing up. He looked at her, sensing for the first time eroticism and raw desire radiating from those beautiful dark eyes.

  Nicole walked slowly, seductively across the room, her eyes never straying from his. She gently pulled the wrap-tie on her robe and the garment fell to the ground. She stood there naked before him.

  He put his arms around her shoulders and gently pulled her towards him.

  They passionately embraced, her beautiful shapely body pressing against his. Parker removed the white cotton towel from around her head, allowing her silky dark hair to fall gracefully around her perfectly formed breasts. He took her gently by the hand and led her into the bedroom.

  89

  Durand stayed at a hotel close to Earls Court. He arose early the next morning and rang Parker.