BEYOND THE SPRING

by Mike S Martin

  Alex’s comments had Wyre holding his head in his hands and Andy working things out in his head, trying to draw on his experience. Alex continued.

  “I’m not sure how Andy feels about this but for them to be using this much manpower and new technology I think it’s safe to say this is not just your standard kidnapping in the hope of exchanging information or extracting information from Wyre”

  Andy nodded whilst looking concerned for Wyre as silence descended on the room. Alex pulled the card he had found at Wyre’s house out of his pocket and placed it on the table in front of them all.

  “Where did you get that?” asked Wyre sounding more curious than angry.

  “At your house, the night we found out your wife Susan had also been taken”

  Andy picked it up off the table and studied it. His reaction told Alex he instantly recognised it.

  “I was with you when you received this”

  Wyre took it off Andy and read the front of the card to himself then opened it. He recalled out loud the day he received the invite.

  “I remember it as clear as yesterday. We were in Syria conducting familiarity exercises before we took a team into Libya. We were only there because we received an invitation from the Syrian doctors we had helped train and it was a perfect opportunity to get the group used to walking the streets in an Arab city so they could get to see for themselves their future working environment. You know, smell and taste the culture so it would not be such a shock for some of them when they arrived in Libya. 75% of the team had never worked in the Middle East, let alone a war zone or in this case the ousting of a dictator and the uprising of a rebellion. Whilst Libya was in turmoil and the fighting raged on, like other Arab countries, little pockets of resistance were starting to make their voice heard in Syria. Small gun battles were occasionally heard but we were guaranteed by the Syrian Government and their security team that we would be nowhere near the trouble, in fact they were denying there was any trouble at all. I was also told that is why they asked us. To prove to the west that everything was fine”

  Wyre paused then shrugged his shoulders.

  “I just told them to clear off!”

  “Who?” asked Alex.

  “The two armed guys who wanted to get into the hospital where a handful of injured Government troops were being cared for” replied Andy.

  “I didn’t know who they were I just knew that there were civilians inside including women and children and these guys were waving weapons around demanding entry” said Wyre humbly.

  “Things were under control until they decided to point their weapons at Wyre’s head”

  At this point Andy paused to reflect on what happened next.

  “It was like something from the OK Corral. Six or seven guys stood pointing weapons at each other waiting for one another to make the first move. No one really wanted to back down, including me and all it would have taken was one twitchy finger and it would have been a bloodbath. That’s when the only unarmed man there…..Wyre……stood there hands in pockets and looked the guy straight in the eye and told him to fuck off!”

  Alex raised his eyebrow quietly impressed. Wyre then took up the story.

  “I was almost sure I could see the bullet at the bottom of the barrel. He then asked if I was English obviously recognising the words fuck off. I told him I was and that we were a first aid team consisting of doctors, paramedics and medical staff from Medicines sans Frontiers. It then clicked that we were all on the same team and they were actually members of President Assad’s personal security team. I can’t explain how relieved I was”

  “Of course Assad himself heard of it and Wyre was called to meet him to accept his gratitude for what he called “defending his people of whom he knew nothing about”. High praise straight from the top”

  “And did you?” asked Richards.

  Wyre shook his head.

  “There was no time. Things were turning bad in Libya so we were called there straight away. We were also told that the unrest was spreading to Syria and Assad was getting twitchy. The next thing I heard about it was this invite to meet the Syrian consulate at the Syrian embassy in London or maybe Downing Street and depending how quick things escalated in Syria a possible appearance by Assad himself”

  Alex raised his head and he could see Andy was thinking the same thing, as he grabbed the invite off the table to make sure his assumption was right.

  “This hasn’t happened yet has it…..What I mean is you haven’t missed it have you?”

  “No!” said Wyre shaking his head “the date is not on there for security reasons....”

  Alex interrupted.

  “…you get told the date nearer the time in person”

  Wyre looked surprised then realised he shouldn’t have been.

  “Have you got a date yet?” asked Alex keenly.

  “Yes it’s in a month’s time…….when I should have been arriving back from Libya. July the 23rd”

  “And according to this all the family are invited”

  “Yes they are” nodded Wyre. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m thinking we need to get your family back as soon as possible. I think Bostock……no I know Bostock knows about this and he’s planning something”

  “Like what?”

  Alex shrugged his shoulders.

  “I need to find out and fast!”

  No sooner had he said this, the detective’s phone burst into life. It was obvious who it was as he never spoke back but just listened. The call ended and Alex seemed relieved his plan of action had worked and had got the attention he desired. He turned to Andy and Wyre.

  “Ok we have their attention and now it’s our turn to make a move”

  “What’s he going to do?” asked Wyre as Richards left the room.

  Andy took a deep breath and placed his hands behind his head.

  “He’s going to go in”

  “What do you mean?”

  “He’s going to do a walk-in which basically means go in unarmed with his hands in the air so he can meet Bostock and get a better idea of what’s happening”

  “Surely they’ll kill him!” said a gravely concerned Wyre.

  Andy never responded but just sat there in deep thought possibly preparing his self for what might lie ahead. Alex re-entered the room nodding.

  “It’s the only way. As soon as we get the delivery we’ll go through what’s going to happen”

  “Alex surely you can’t expect to walk in there and come out unharmed……more importantly we still don’t know where they are holding Oliver and Susan?”

  “Wyre we have no other choice. At least this way we find out where they are and try and get them back before this thing ends”

  “What do you mean ends?” pleaded Wyre.

  Alex had no answer or if he did he wasn’t prepared to reveal it. He just looked at Wyre sympathetically then disappeared into the kitchen of the safe house. No sooner had Wyre returned from the downstairs toilet, a car could be heard pulling up on the gravel drive. No one got out of the battered, old run down looking car but Alex approached the driver’s window and without any exchange of words the detective took the package and quickly returned to the house. The ivy hanging over the window meant Wyre could not really get a decent look at the driver. He was eager to catch a glimpse of the people Alex was dealing with.

  “Right I think the first thing we need to do is to get something to eat……then I’ll run through what the plan of action will be” explained Richards.

  The smell of bacon cooking under the grill and the sound of Coca- Cola being tipped into glasses and fizzing filled the kitchen. All three of them had not shaved but after all of them had quickly showered they met in the kitchen and took their bacon sandwiches into the lounge.

  “Before we start Alex I have to make it clear that I won’t require a weapon if that’s what you were implying. Andy knows that I refuse to carry one so I certainly don’t plan on firing one….sorry!”

  A
lex sat on the edge of the sofa next to Wyre studying him. Wyre guessed what he might be thinking.

  “Look Alex I know you must think I’m soft or don’t have the balls to kill another person but my life has been dedicated to saving lives not taking them. Although these bastards have my family…….to take somebody’s life…..I just can’t do it”

  “Wyre the fact that you won’t point a weapon at someone who possibly might kill or injure your family is something I have nothing but great respect for. I think the decision you seemed to have made already regarding this is braver than deciding to pull the trigger on someone. Saying this, so my conscience is clear and I don’t have to accompany your wife and son to your funeral I must ask you to at least meet us half way and carry something. We know you are efficient at shooting a weapon and there will almost definitely be an occasion where you will have to use it. You say saving lives is a priority for you and there might just come a time when Andy, Myself or even Oliver and Susan might need you to save their life by taking another”

  When he had finished Alex took out a Browning 9mm and placed it on the table in front of Wyre who sat there just staring at it. Andy smiled to himself at Alex’s speech because he secretly agreed with him but knew how stubborn Wyre had been in the past when it came to persuading him to protect himself. Andy also knew they really needed as many of them as possible carrying weapons because he knew at some point Wyre would have to use it because the two of them against Bostock’s men would be nowhere near enough. A quick glance between Alex and Andy told each of them they were thinking the same thing. Alex pulled out his phone and dialled a number.

  “This is the first step!”

  Both Andy and Wyre waited and watched Alex as he tried to make contact with Bostock.

  “Farrah this is Alex”

  “Alex this is a surprise, I thought……”

  “…..You thought I had been killed?”

  “Now dear boy whatever made you think that?”

  “Listen I’d like to talk to the organ grinder not the monkey so can you tell Bostock I’m coming in”

  “Now listen here you little prick……”

  “No Farrah you listen. I’m fed up of playing your games and I’m sure my message was clear earlier so this is the deal. I want back in but on one condition……. You let the Davis family go!”

  Laughter could be heard on the other end as Wyre listened and watched anxiously.

  “You want back in, what do you think this is a fucking knitting club? You can’t just come and go when you please like somebody’s fucking grandma with a blue rinse haircut. Listen to me Alex you would be better walking away from this because this is something beyond even your comprehension. Let it go!”

  “Tell Bostock Noah’s Ark is now full”

  There was silence both in the room and on the phone.

  “How do you know about Noah’s Ark?” come the stunned response from Farrah.

  “Just tell him!”

  “Are you sure it’s full? Alex are you sure? Bastard!”

  Alex ended the call then placed the phone back in his pocket. Wyre shrugged his shoulders looking thoroughly confused as Andy sat studying Alex wondering if all the stories he had heard about this guy were true. Part of him hoped they were and the other part of him hoped they weren’t but If they were true Andy had to prepare himself to possibly be eliminated when all this was over. It came with the job but in this case he was a lot closer to the person who might carry it out so as per usual he maintained his trust no one policy.

  “What happens now?” asked Wyre.

  Alex smiled confidently, picked up his phone then proceeded to count with his fingers

  “Five….four….three….two….one!”

  Bursting into life his phone began to ring. There was no need for him to speak because he knew it would just be instructions from Bostock.

  “The Cathedral 9am tomorrow!”

  Alex nodded but said nothing. The call ended in seconds then he turned to face Andy and Wyre.

  “Ok we’re in so I think we should have a strong drink then go through the plans for tomorrow then get some sleep. Who knows when we’ll get the chance to sleep again?”

  At that Richards opened the packet that had been delivered earlier to make sure everything he had asked for was there.

  Chapter 13

  “Richards will be alright Wyre. He knows what he’s doing” said Andy as Wyre checked his watch.

  “It’s 8.59.am, Anytime now” said Wyre sounding tense and nervous that this was without doubt the last chance that he had to get his family back unharmed. He had thought this numerous times but this time he really did think it was the last chance saloon and if this didn’t work then as far as Alex was concerned they were running out of options. Andy was sat in the driver’s seat and turned to face Wyre in the passenger seat.

  “Listen Wyre whatever happens regarding Richards, the outcome probably won’t be what you’re expecting”

  “What do you mean?”

  Andy took a deep breath.

  “People like Richards very rarely change. I’m just warning you that he might have an ulterior motive for getting to Bostock and getting your family back. Remember there might be a hidden agenda. Your focus must be on seeing them again and whatever happens after that is not your concern. People like Richards never look for friends because they don’t want them and they very rarely want to help people. Don’t let the guise of him being a detective draw you in. I’ve heard people say he doesn’t belong amongst us, you must never trust him do you understand?”

  Wyre digested what had been said, nodded then checked his watch.

  “I know what you’re saying Andy but at the moment I, or should I say we have no choice. He is the only hope I have”

  *

  Richards watched as the car he had been waiting for came into view around the traffic island in front of him. Pulling up with a screech of the tyres, the back door with dark windows flew open and he was instructed with a flick of a weapon to get in. Richards smiled because Bostock was obviously taking no chances. One guy got out and let him slide into the middle of the back seat meaning he was now surrounded by four guys all holding pistols across their laps, even the driver. With no specific order he was politely asked to place a hood over his head so he would not know where they were taking him. He was not expecting to be searched now as this would happen en route or when they arrived at the destination. It was apparent to Richards during the few seconds he had to glance at the guys in the car that they were slightly nervous about the person they had just picked up. It was almost like they could not believe they were in the same car as the legendry Alex Richards and they had obviously been warned that anything could happen. It seemed his reputation preceded him.

  *

  Andy watched the flashing icon that was now moving on the map on his iphone. It was a tracking device that Alex had swallowed during breakfast that morning. It was so Andy and Wyre could follow him and then know where he and hopefully Susan and Oliver were being held. The detective was using himself as a fly to be caught in the spider’s web. There was only one problem with the tracking device but it was worth the risk. Even though it was untraceable to any detector used on him by Bostock it had an expiry time. Alex had to gamble on the fact that they would arrive at the destination within two hours otherwise if they didn’t it would dissolve like an aspirin into his blood system. In effect the blood became the tracking device until the blood cells attacked it and got rid of it. It was state of the art but still in development and had not yet been perfected. Alex knew that during the journey they would stop and do a search to see if he was carrying a tracking device. If found they would either destroy it or send it in another direction. It was a good forty five minutes before they stopped and dragged him out. To Richards it sounded and felt like they were in a multi-storey car park as they moved the electronic device up and down his body but Richards sensed they were rushing and were also on a timescale. The scanner remained silent but
it was here they decided to handcuff Richards with plastic cable ties which meant the more he might struggle, the tighter they would become. He had no intention of struggling so let them do their thing. Guiding him back into the car they left the car park and carried on their journey. It was as he closed his eyes to listen for any clue as to where they were going did another vision appear. In the vision Richards was a passenger in the rear of the vehicle and as the mists of his mind cleared he could see it was just him, the driver and a hostage with a hood placed over their head also. Richards’ focus was on the drivers mouth in the rear view mirror as it seemed to be shouting, although the vision would not allow him to hear what was being said. His weapon was drawn which meant the hostage must have been dangerous or at least a threat. Not being able to understand the driver in the mirror, Richards turned to the hostage and studied them sat on the back seat next to him. The hood was tied tight around the neck and the wrists cable tied tightly so as to restrict movement. Richards seemed startled and took a sharp intake of breath under the hood in Bostock’s car as the vision revealed that the captive was dressed as a schoolboy in a uniform maybe no older than eight or nine. Richards relaxed at the realisation that he was back in Bostock’s car surrounded by his men rather than sat next to the schoolboy. If they could have seen his face at that point they would have seen Alex looking disgusted with himself and his expression was one of guilt and regret.

  *

  “They’re stopping” said Wyre as he watched the screen on the phone.

  “They will search him here. I just hope they put their foot down though because we’re running out of time” said Andy checking his watch.

  “Do you really think he stands a chance in there being unarmed?” said Wyre getting more and more nervous as the clock ticked.