“We have some water movement,” a crackled voice reported over the radio.
Schultz noticed Emily’s posture tighten before she replied. “Fu, Brian and a few armed wannabe soldiers. About eight, from what I could see. Some were behind me.” Tears began rolling down her cheeks and her hands were trembling.
“Get her a blanket and get her off that damn chair,” Schultz demanded as he grabbed his handheld radio. “All eyes on the water. A watercraft escaped with approximately eight to ten occupants in it. They are deemed to be armed and dangerous.
“We need cutters inside. Now,” White announced over his radio.
“Do you know anything about their craft?” Schultz asked Emily.
“Sorry.” She shook her head. “They... they only left seconds before you guys entered. Please tell me you can find them. That bastard killed Dad in cold blood. I’m gonna make him pay.”
“No, you won’t. This time you’ll be leaving it up to us,” Schultz ordered.
“You know that isn’t going to happen.”
“Don’t move and this won’t hurt,” a deep voice behind her advised; she assumed it was one of the officers.
She felt the restraints tighten around her left wrist and flinched.
“Sorry,” the officer said.
He released a small grunt and then she heard the sound of metal breaking. The tension around her wrist loosened. Pulling her hand around, she rotated her wrist one way then the other. The next wrist was freed and she did the same, getting the movement going in both of them.
“Right now, we need to get you looked at.” Schultz wrapped a blanket around her.
“No, right now we have a few bombs to detonate safely.” Emily grabbed her evidence bag-wrapped cell phone and leapt from her chair.
She paused by her dads’ body. He’d been unshackled and laid on the ground, a white sheet draped over him.
“Smith, White. You stay here. Sweep the place. We need to find that bomb.”
“Find a bomb. Since when are we the bomb squad?”
“Since they won’t get here in time. It’s up to you guys. You’ve got just over half an hour.”
Smith moved forward to argue but White pulled him back. “Be safe, boss. Lee.”
“Are you all right?” Schultz asked her. “You don’t look too good.”
“I’ll be fine. I’ve been through worse. We’ve got a job to do, and we don’t have much time.”
“Thirty-four minutes, boss,” White yelled as they exited the room.
A crackled voice over the radio caused Emily to freeze. “We have a visual. I repeat. We have a visual.”
Chapter 42
The mayhem above was replaced with silence as their craft plunged through the shallow depths of the bay’s seabed. Everyone held their breaths. Fu sat next to the control seat, his knuckles white, expecting at any moment to come under attack.
They were within a meter from the seabed when Brian flicked on a set of dim headlights, not enough to light up a highway with but enough for them to navigate a short distance in front of them.
Fu checked their location on the GPS. He gestured with his hands to slow the vessel. Brian nodded and the craft began to slow. They were barely moving along.
Fu checked his watch. Five minutes had passed. Everyone should be on the lookout for them. The sky would be busy, and police boats wouldn’t be far from being deployed.
A small wry smile appeared on his face as he thought that no doubt he’d now be making his debut on Melbourne’s Most Wanted list. He wondered what photo they’d use.
Checking a few settings, Fu ensured they were still undetectable. They were very close, but a lot could happen in the next few minutes that could spoil everything.
He sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, although his shoulders were still rigid. He was dozing off when he felt a nudge in his side.
Opening his eyes properly, he noticed Brian was pointing to the GPS. The two red dots nearly matched up.
Fu sat up in his chair, pulled the GPS off its brace and zoomed in on their location. He motioned for Brian to slow down. Brian eased off the throttle.
The markers were nearly aligned. Fu held his thumb and index finger about an inch from each other. Brian slowed their vessel down further. They were barely moving now.
Fu zoomed on their location further. He held up his hand flat. Their vessel stopped.
He placed the GPS back on its brace and looked at Brian, who was now sweating bullets. Fu raised his eyebrows and widened his eyes.
Pitch black was replaced with navy as Brian’s trembling hand raised their vessel towards the surface.
They all turned their heads up, waiting.
“Slowly,” Fu whispered. The first words he’d spoken since they embarked the vessel.
Brian slowed their ascent.
Thump.
They stopped. A few nervous chuckles erupted in the rear. Fu held his hand up and everyone was silent. He listened. Nothing.
Fu lifted his open palm and Brian raised their vessel as Fu flicked a switch to his side. Thump.
Above them mechanics whirred, and they heard five clicks. Silence.
Fu’s cell phone beeped. The notification on the screen read: Secure.
“Kill it,” Fu said to Brian.
Brian turned everything off, including their motor and lights. The small whir of their fan confirmed that was the only thing still running.
A few jerks back and forth, then they were moving forwards.
One of the men behind Brian leant over and held his opened palm up for Brian to high five him.
Fu looked at him and he shrunk back to his seat.
“We’re not out of the woods,” he whispered. “We’ve still got at least two hundred nautical miles ahead of us until we can begin celebrating.”
Everyone stopped and looked at Fu.
Fu continued at a whisper, “Once that hatch is released, we’ll be able to stretch our legs. Until then we need to hang tight.”
A few moans came from the back but Fu ignored them.
“That girl is going to pay.” He turned to Brian, whose cheeks began to flush. “You’re going to be busy, Brian. No one thinks they’ve won against me and believe they can get away with it.”
Chapter 43
“Xander, get a bomb squad to the Bank of Victoria HQ, Collins St. We’re on our way there now,” Schultz spoke into his ear piece.
“Bomb squad? Okay. All bomb squad personnel not already on duty are being called in. Two bombs in one day. Busy day out there?”
“Understatement of the century. While you’re there, see if you can locate the blueprints to the building.”
“Okay. Am I looking for anything in particular?”
“Anywhere a bomb can be planted,” Emily interrupted.
“Ah, Lee. It’s good to hear your voice.”
“Yours as well, Xander.”
“And if you can get us clear traffic all the way through, it’d be appreciated,” Schultz added. “We’ve got about half an hour before the whole block becomes a rubble heap.”
“Consider it done. Green lights all the way through.”
Schultz disconnected the phone call and side-glanced at Lee. She was strapped into the passenger seat, still wrapped in the blanket, staring out towards the city skyline, the sun soaking into her cheeks.
“Ever defused a bomb before?” Schultz asked.
“Huh?” Lee stirred in her seat.
“Bomb squad may not be there when we get to the bank. We’ve had to call extras in. It’ll take time for them to assemble.”
“Shit. You’ve got to be kiddin’ me. I’ve seen it done in movies, but that’s the closest I’ve come to a bomb.”
“Excellent. Hopefully, we’ll live to see the moon rise tonight.”
“Your optimism is comforting. Thanks.” Lee managed a small curl of the corner of her lips.
“And if we do... I’ll get the drinks tonight. We’re going to need them.”
“Thanks, but a nice hot bath is calling my name.” Emily closed her eyes and smiled as she thought about the warm water enveloping her.
“Mmm, is that an invitation?”
Her eyes snapped open. “No.” She sat upright and pushed the blanket off her. “Any news on Unc- I mean Fu?”
“One drink?”
“Fu?”
“There’s been a citing but it wasn’t them.”
“So he’s still out there, somewhere?”
“I’m afraid so. I think now would be a good time for you to reconsider protective custody.”
Lee chuckled. “You’re not going to quit asking, are you?”
“Nope. Not until you agree.”
“But we won’t be able to work together again. My career... I’m starting to go places with it.”
“And what price is your career costing you? You’ve been kidnapped today, and in Sydney, a few months back. Who knows where else you got yourself in trouble that I’m not aware of?”
“I’m a big girl. I know how to look after myself.”
“He’s a dangerous man, and now, with Tao out of the way...”
“It’s a good thing my assignments take me around the globe.”
Schultz stared out at the road in front of them. The suburb streets were quiet thanks to Xander giving them right of passage.
The road curved around, and it wasn’t long until the skyscrapers enveloped them.
Unable to let the earlier discussion die, Schultz asked, “Is your career worth it if you’re either dead or on the run?”
He flexed his knuckles as he anticipated the onslaught of city traffic.
“I’ve worked so hard to get where I am.”
“We’ll be able to get you into a position where you can still be doing the same job.”
“It won’t be the same. My career... I’ve shaped that myself. Sacrificed a lot. I’m not about to let all that go by the sideline and have a new career and identity handed to me. A career I’ll probably hate with a passion.”
“Please.” Schultz placed a hand on her knee and moved his hand up and down her leg, trying to comfort her. “At least think about it.”
A phone rang. Schultz pulled his hand back quickly and checked his cell.
“Umm... not mine. It’s got to be yours.”
Lee looked at her phone through the evidence bag. It kept ringing.
“Put it on speaker,” Schultz said.
“How am I going to do that while it’s inside this bag?” she waved it in front of Schultz. “You do know we have touch screen phones now, yeah?”
Before Schultz could say anything, she was already ripping the evidence bag apart and pulling her phone out.
The ringing stopped.
“Now you’ve tampered with the evidence.” Schultz rolled his eyes.
The phone rang again.
“Yeah,” Lee answered as she put the call through to her phone’s speakers.
“Well... You’re still alive.”
Lee turned to Schultz, who gestured for her to keep talking.
Lee cleared her throat. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Tick tock. Hope your boyfriend likes dark places. You’d better buckle up. The ride’s about to get rough.”
The call ended.
Lee’s cheeks turned a little red.
“Dark places?” Schultz asked. “Do you think-”
“I’m exhausted. I don’t know what to think anymore. He’s probably trying to get me to react.”
“We’re nearly there. Do you think he’s referring to where the bomb is?”
“Schultz. I honestly don’t know what to think. I don’t even know who or what kind of animal Fu is anymore.”
Schultz caught a glimpse out of the corner of his eye.
“Hold on,” he yelled as he raised his arm in front of his face.
Lee looked out her window. “What on earth is that-”
“Brace yourself,” Schultz yelled.
A loud metal scraping sound pierced their ears as they were rammed from behind and their car spun around. They felt contact from the rear again — someone was pushing them into the intersection and the path of oncoming traffic. The rear windows shattered. Schultz tried straightening the car but the force from the collision drove them off course, heading straight for a traffic light post.
Schultz looked out of his rear-view mirror and saw a white van locked onto them. He turned his steering wheel so they pointed in the direction they were traveling. Their car began to turn towards an empty lane. He put his foot down on the accelerator and, just before they hit the post, they broke free from the van and sped down the empty lane ahead of them. A loud smash echoed behind them as the van collided with the traffic light post.
“One of Fu’s mates?” Schultz asked, checking his mirrors.
“No idea.” Lee leant forward and checked her side mirror. She sat back in her seat. “Yeah, it looks like it. They jumped me earlier but I sorted them out.”
“Clearly, they wanted a rematch.”
“Yep.” She turned in her seat to check the damage to their vehicle. “Hope White didn’t want his car back in one piece.”
“Well, technically, it still is in one piece.”
“Smart ass. I don’t think they’re going anywhere anytime soon.”
A loud bang, and their windshield shattered. They ducked and the car swerved. Oncoming drivers blared their horns. Schultz quickly straightened the car.
“They’ve both got guns. Here comes another one,” Lee said, looking out her side mirror. The two men were standing outside their van, guns aimed at their car.
Shultz pushed the car faster. Another bang, which hit their rear.
“You’ve really pissed them off today,” Schultz said, checking his mirrors.
“Forget them. Get us to the bank. Our time is running out.”
Chapter 44
They were navigating suburbia Port Melbourne, staying off the major roads, when Emily’s phone rang again.
“Unknown number.”
“Answer it,” Schultz said.
“This had better be good,” she said as she took the call.
“You’re still alive.”
“Fu. Nice try back there.”
“They weren’t my best men. I mean, they got their asses handed to them by you twice in one day now.”
“What do you want?”
“Am I on speaker?”
“Why? What does that matter?”
“Put me on speaker. I want to talk to your boyfriend.”
“What makes you think he’s here with me?”
“My men have been following you two since the boat shed.”
Emily looked out their rear window.
“What’s up?” Schultz mouthed to her.
Placing the call on hold, she said quickly, “It’s Fu. You noticed anyone following us since the boatshed?”
He checked his mirrors. “Yeah. You see that car two spaces back? It keeps weaving from one lane to the other?”
Emily checked her side mirror.
“He’s doing it again.”
“Black SUV?”
“That’s them.”
She took Fu off hold.
“You need to change your on-hold music.”
“Not my problem. What do you want?”
“You’re going to calmly hop in the black SUV that’s a few cars behind you.”
“And if I don’t?”
“I’m not asking. You will be joining me as we take the family company global.”
“Bite me. Not long ago you cast me from the family and shot my father. You were going to be a one-man show. Why the sudden change in tune?”
“I’ve had, I mean Brian and myself, have had some time to reflect on my treatment towards you. All I’ve wanted was for you to join the leadership team of the company. You’ve been fighting me every step of the way.”
“There’s a good reason for that. I’m my own woman. I do my own thing and on my own grounds.
You pull that SUV back, and we’ll go about our own lives and leave each other alone.”
“That won’t be possible. With your father gone and no direct descendants, you’re next in line to inherit his share of the business.”
“I don’t want it. You can have your stinkin’ share.”
“I still need to see you. You’ll need to sign your share over.”
“Unbelievable. My father isn’t even cold yet and you’re after his share.”
“Business is business. It doesn’t stop for anyone.”
“You missed your chance, Uncle. You had me there and you forgot the paperwork. Rookie mistake. You should sack the admin guy. Where are you anyway?”
Emily turned to Schultz, who was on a call.
“Keep him talking,” he whispered to her.
“Don’t you worry about that. Tell lover boy there to get off the phone before Brian disconnects his call.”
She turned to Schultz, her eyes wide open. “Hang up,” she told him.
He raised his eyebrows and shook his head.
“Xander, you there?” He tapped his cell phone screen. His home page lit up. “Damn cell reception.”
“No, it was Fu and Brian.”
“Where are they? Tell him he’s made it onto Melbourne’s Most Wanted list.”
Emily returned to her call.
“Send the required papers to my apartment. I’ll get them back to you.”
“You don’t get it, do you?”
“Get what?” She checked her side mirror. The black SUV was now directly behind them, about two car spaces between the SUV and their car.
Emily pulled at Schultz’s arm and pointed her thumb towards the rear of their car. He looked and nodded then gently applied the accelerator.
“I don’t owe you anything,” Emily said into her phone. “I’ve only got me to worry about now. So whatever game you’re playing, you can quit while you’re ahead.”
“I’m ahead, am I? Glad you finally realize it. I’m way ahead of you. Just remember one thing.”
“What’s that?” Emily rolled her eyes.
“I may not be there, but my eyes are. Don’t think I’ll be making your trip to Andrew’s office a smooth one.”
The call disconnected.
“What on earth was that all about? And who are those guys behind us?” Schultz asked, his voice now showing hints of anger.
The Analyst (Emily Lee Series Book 1) Page 15