by Cenarth Fox
The top cop dithered when the phone rang.
‘Yes Premier?’ he replied with dread in his heart.
Jessica told him about the kidnappers en route to Labcope.
That’s it. Send for the Soggies.
Cry “Havoc!” and let slip the dogs of war.
21
ANIMAL DROVE TO Labcope with Lois beside him. Bernie and Luca sat in the back with Luca in charge of the arsenal.
‘What’s the quickest way to get inside your lab?’ demanded Luca.
Bernie knew the drug dealer wasn’t thick like Animal. No false formula, and no conscience drug in a bottle of beer. This was serious; no tricks, no cons. Bernie told the truth.
‘Park in St Kilda Road then walk in via the main entrance.’
‘Just make your cover story good.’
They walked close together. Luca had a jacket over his arm hiding his gun. Animal, now out on Luca’s parole, had his blade in a pocket. They stopped at the front door.
Harry from Security saw them and waved. To him, Bernie and Lois were regulars, well known and well liked. Both chemists held up their ID, and the front door opened.
‘Good evening Bernie; good evening Miss.’
‘G’day Harry,’ said Bernie. ‘Sorry to trouble you. We’ve brought a couple of colleagues from head office to see our latest trials.’
‘No problem,’ said Harry, ‘if you could sign them in please.’
Luca looked at Bernie.
Skip this. Get upstairs.
Bernie tried some charm.
‘Look Harry, these gents are from Labcope in the States. We’re taking them to dinner in a flash restaurant. We’ll be only five minutes, tops — please?’
Harry shrugged. ‘Well, just for you, Bernie.
The quartet headed for the lift.
‘Take the stairs,’ ordered Luca.
As they climbed the stairs, Harry went to the reception desk and made a call. In his office, the CEO frowned.
Who’s calling me at this hour?
‘Hello.’
‘Good evening, sir. It’s Harry from Security.’
‘Yes?’
‘I thought you’d like to know Bernie and Lois from R & D are here.’
Ralph came alive but played it cool.
‘So?’
‘They have two visitors from America, sir.’
‘From America?’ Ralph tingled.
‘But there’s something odd, sir. Mr Slim said they were all going out to dinner.’
‘That’s not odd.’
‘It’s just, well, Mr Slim is dressed like a homeless person.’
‘Call the police. No, wait. I’ll do that. Alert the other security staff.’
‘I am the other security staff, sir.’
‘Well, alert yourself.’
Ralph hung up and panicked.
Slim and visitors from America. It can’t be. That Italian gangster’s here. They’re going to the lab. They’re after the formula. They know where it is. How can I get it? Will my bomb destroy the formula? What time will my bomb explode?
Shit, shit, shit.
Jessica came alive. She made her driver break the speed limit racing to Genevieve’s St Kilda location.
Jessica knocked and called. ‘Genevieve, it’s me. Open up.’
The Premier met Mother, who gushed at meeting the “Queen”. Jessica wanted a private conversation with her Chief of Staff. The political chums moved to the kitchen.
‘What are you doing here?’ asked Jessica.
Genevieve explained about being drugged by Lois.
‘We’ll have her on a charge.’
‘Have you sent the police to protect my family?’
‘All in hand,’ lied Jessica. ‘Now tell me, what should I do about Labcope?’
‘I’m fine by the way,’ added Genevieve. ‘But thanks for asking.’
She wasn’t fine, although hoped the antidote would really kick in. Sometimes the placebo did work.
‘Sorry. Look I need advice. How about we go to Labcope to congratulate the police when Luca and his mate are arrested? Good photo opp. Premier gets hands dirty but triumphs in war on crime.’
‘Forget it.’
Jessica’s underwear became tighter. A slither of anger appeared.
‘Forget it? Listen sweetie, there’s a formula out there which I need to destroy before it destroys me. And if I can’t get it, then I need to ensure the Chief Commissioner does. So please don’t tell me to forget it.’
‘You want to be photographed when the drug baron is arrested — the same criminal you dined with in his restaurant.’ Jessica started to boil. ‘Not all publicity is good publicity, Jessica. My advice. Stay away. Deny everything.’
The Premier looked at her friend. That wasn’t the advice she wanted.
She hissed. ‘I have to destroy that formula.’
‘Why? I’ve taken the antidote. Look at me. I’m fine.’
‘You don’t look fine.’
She didn’t and knew it. Genevieve explained.
‘Look, the old girl in the room next door took the drug, and she’s made a stunning recovery.’ Jessica remained skeptical. ‘For years she behaved like a tyrant; even beat her daughter. Like me, her head hurt like buggery, and then bingo, she’s as happy as Larry, and the kindest mother and sister in the world.’
Jessica relaxed. ‘So the antidote really works?’
‘Her antidote does. It involves confessing one’s guilty secrets.’
Jessica stiffened. ‘What?’
‘She admitted her faults, apologised, and transformed her life.’
‘I hope you’re not thinking of doing the same.’
‘I’m thinking of doing anything which helps remove this splitting headache.’
The Premier tensed. ‘That could be a bad move, Ms Kovács. You wouldn’t want your reckless behaviour to hurt anyone.’
‘Oh, you mean like a certain Premier.’
‘No, I mean like a certain Chief of Staff.’
Slap.
Genevieve copped a metaphorical whack in the face.
The power of those words, and the look in the speaker’s eyes, stunned Genevieve. Shock didn’t even come close. She glared at her “friend”.
‘You bitch,’ she whispered, then stood and returned to Mother.
Jessica stormed out, got in her car, and set off for Labcope.
The Commissioner’s car swung into the Labcope car park. The Special Operations Group boys in black were there sorting their gear.
‘Good evening, sir,’ said Bentley, the SOG commander.
‘What do we know?’ asked the Commissioner.
‘Security reckons two scientists, and two guests who we believe are criminals, are upstairs in the laboratory, with the CEO in his office.’
‘What’s your plan?’
‘We believe the criminals are armed. We intend to secure the CEO, and then negotiate with the criminals.’
The Commissioner looked to see who might be listening. The others were busy elsewhere, but Bentley was led to one side for a lecture.
‘We believe a formula for a new and extremely dangerous drug is in the lab. If I told you the power of this drug, you wouldn’t believe me.’
The SOG commander looked at the Commissioner. The top cop would never work in standup; he was serious. He gave orders.
‘We need to secure this formula.’
‘Is that a target, sir, apart from the release of the hostages?’
‘It is. At the very least the formula must be destroyed. Obviously the safety of your officers and the public is your top priority, but I cannot emphasize enough the importance of securing that formula.’
‘How will I recognize it, sir?’
‘If I knew, I’d tell you. It’s what everyone is looking for. It may have a title, Conscience Drug or similar.’
‘You want the formula, not the drug itself?’
‘Preferably both. And all this is top secret. Tell nobody. Understood?’
‘Sir.’
‘Good luck.’
The “Sons of God” headed off to battle.
Ralph killed the lights in his office, and crept along the corridor. He stopped at the passage leading to the lab. Darkness. He heard voices and ducked back around the corner. He opened a cleaner’s cupboard, and grabbed two mops. Did his tidiness compulsion rule his life?
He crept back towards the lab. A torch light shone. Footsteps. Code punched. Card swiped. Door opened. Door closed. Muffled voices.
Ralph resumed creeping. Squeaky shoes on lino. He crouched below the lab’s main window and crawled, stopping just before the door. Lights spilled from the laboratory to the corridor. The voices inside grew louder. He knew them — Slim and that gangster who invaded Ralph’s home. And they were discussing the formula.
It’s in there!
Ralph crept closer. The narrow glass window in the door enabled him to see inside. He prepared to sneak a look then froze. The people in the lab were standing against the door, against the narrow window facing out. If he looked in, they would see him — couldn’t miss him.
He drew the mops closer.
Genevieve shook. Well after Jessica left, the Chief of Staff struggled to comprehend the words uttered by her friend.
‘You wouldn’t want your reckless behaviour to hurt anyone … like a certain Chief of Staff.’
This appalling threat from her colleague, her friend, her best friend, made a terrible situation, horrendous. It was unbelievable. No wonder Genevieve trembled.
Mother wanted to discuss Lois and her likely fate.
Genevieve thought only of her family.
I cannot leave my kids without their mother.
It was time to fight fire with fire.
She grabbed her phone, and dialed the one journalist she respected.
The SOG officers moved up the stairs. They studied a floorplan of the building, with the CEO’s office their first destination. Rescue the boss. Then shut down the bad guys.
With dark uniforms, gas masks, night vision goggles, and automatic weapons, they looked terrifying. They were terrifying.
Using procedures rehearsed many times, they moved quickly and quietly. Hand signals gave the all clear, and sent officers through the next door. They approached the CEO’s office.
Luca was desperate. Once he moved into organized crime, he never got his hands dirty. He left the execution of crime to his underlings. But this situation was unique. The formula of this conscience drug screamed opportunity and wealth.
With it, he could extort high flyers. “Pay up or we’ll spike your drink.”
With it, he could manufacture and sell the drug, and have the market to himself. Anyone with an enemy to destroy would pay megabucks to ruin their rivals.
But best of all, his ’Ndrangheta mates in Calabria would be impressed with his stunning and unique line of business.
We want in, Luca. Make us part of your brillante operazione.
‘So this calendar has all the ingredients?’ asked Luca.
‘Everything,’ replied Bernie.
‘Nothing added, nothing missing?’
‘Nothing.’
Luca examined the calendar. He saw the list of ingredients, which were hieroglyphics to him. The scribbled instructions too were gibberish.
‘To be doubly sure, is there anything on or not on this calendar which would prevent the conscience drug being made?’
‘No, it’s all there.’
Luca turned to Lois. ‘You agree, lady?’
Animal pushed Lois forward. Even with her scientific background, she couldn’t be sure. Bernie showed her the smallest of smiles.
She looked at the calendar. ‘Yes,’ she said, quietly terrified. Animal pulled her back, flashing his knife.
Luca pressed his gun against Bernie’s ribcage.
‘You pull a swifty, Bernie boy, and I’ll kill you, your girlfriend, her family and your family. Oh and not forgetting your good self — slowly.’
Bernie looked into the eyes of a killer.
This man does not make idle threats.
Bernie nodded.
‘Right,’ said Luca, ‘let’s go make the pasta sauce.’
Jessica’s car drove into the Labcope car park. It was stopped by police. They looked in the back and saw the Premier.
‘I’m sorry, Premier, you can’t park here.’
‘I think I can,’ replied the politician.
The Chief Commissioner recognised the vehicle and intervened.
‘I’ll handle this.’
The police officer retreated. The Commissioner tried diplomacy.
‘You might be better to turn around, Premier. It’s not safe, and I can keep you informed of any developments.’
‘Just show my driver where to park,’ she replied.
She defied the top police officer in the state, who then became a traffic cop, pointing to where she could park.
The SOG officers closed in on Ralph’s office. A few lights shone in the corridor but none in Ralph’s suite. More sign language from the officers standing either side of Ralph’s door. They were poised to attack.
Crash!
Yelling and banging broke out. What’s that? Where’s that?
Ralph had slipped two mop handles behind the vertical bar used as the door handle at the lab. The door, which opened in, couldn’t open.
Luca heard a sound, and pulled the door. It was stuck. He exploded, and pointed his gun.
‘No!’ screamed both Bernie and Lois.
‘We’re locked in,’ roared Luca.
‘That’s reinforced glass. Shoot and you’ll have ricochets flying at us.’
Luca pressed his face against the glass.
‘Listen, whoever you are, either you open this door right now or we start killing your staff.’ Pause. Silence. ‘Do you hear me?’
Animal pushed Lois forward. Luca grabbed her, and shoved his gun against her head. Lois screamed.
‘No!’ cried Bernie.
Animal threatened Bernie with the knife.
‘See,’ roared Luca. ‘I’ll kill her unless you open this door right now.’
Another pause, but still no response. Then Luca nearly died. A face bobbed up. It appeared against the narrow window hard up against Luca’s face. They were almost kissing. Luca stepped back in shock.
‘Hello Arsehole,’ mocked Ralph. ‘Fancy a coffee?’
Luca aimed his gun straight at Ralph.
‘Go on, Dumbo, shoot. I dare you,’ yelled the CEO. ‘Suck on your own bullets.’
‘Fire and you’ll kill anyone of us, including yourself,’ shouted Bernie.
Luca raged. Ralph gloated.
‘Now, Shit-for-Brains, here’s the deal. You slide the formula under the door, and on my way home, I’ll phone Security. If they’re kind, you may be out in time for Christmas.’
‘You’re dead meat, mate,’ spat Luca.
‘I’m not your mate, mate. But I’ll give you a tip. Either you hand over that formula, or you’re toast.’
‘Fuck off!’
Animal challenged his boss. ‘Boss, we need to get outa here.’
‘Shut up.’
‘And here’s the tip,’ smirked Ralph. ‘There’s a device in your little lab which is due to go bang in about, ah, 13 minutes; unlucky for some.’
‘Boss,’ begged a worried Animal. His headache hit new pain levels.
‘Ask the wonder inventor to check his beaker drawer,’ called Ralph.
Luca looked at Bernie. ‘Check your beaker drawer.’
Bernie moved to his cupboards.
‘Slowly,’ called Ralph.
‘Slowly,’ screamed Luca.
Bernie opened the drawer and discovered the device. A light blinked with a timer counting backwards. Luca looked.
‘What is it?’
‘No idea,’ said Bernie. ‘But knowing that bastard, it’ll certainly work.’
Luca became desperate. ‘Can we throw it out the window?’
‘And we can’t tell if the device is stable,’ said Bernie.
Ralph started singing. ‘Why are we waiting, why are we waiting …’
Animal lost it. ‘Please boss, if we stay here, we’re dead.’
Luca refused to hand over the formula.
‘The clock’s ticking, gentlemen,’ urged Bernie.
Luca wanted to argue.
‘We give the prick the formula, and then he leaves us here to die.’
‘Or we don’t give him the formula, and we sure as hell will die,’ countered Bernie.
‘Please boss,’ pleaded Animal.
Bernie spoke quietly. ‘Give it to him, and then we’ll call Security and the cops.’
‘Not the cops,’ snapped Luca.
‘I heard that,’ called Ralph. ‘Thanks for reminding me.’
Ralph pushed the handle on the two-way drop box. It was used to deliver and collect drugs without the need to enter or exit the laboratory.
‘Please pop your mobiles in the chute. And remember, the longer you take, the quicker we get to Guy Fawkes night — ka-boom!’
Lois and Bernie quickly dropped their phones in the chute. Animal threw his.
Get me out of here.
Only Luca refused.
‘Oh for Chrissake, man,’ yelled Bernie. ‘Give him your phone. Who are you? King Pyrrhus?’
Luca glared at Bernie. Furious, he slammed his phone in with the others, and Ralph pulled the chute through to his side. The phones were tossed on the floor in the corridor.
‘Thank you,’ crowed Mr Mock Sincerity.
Now the four lab rats were genuinely trapped.
Luca reached the lowest point in his life. He had to hand over, not sell, but give away the one thing he believed could make him a fortune, not to mention turn him in to a hero in the Italian Mafia.
Quadruple shit.
‘The clock is ticking, Wog Boy,’ gloated Ralph.
Enraged, Luca took the page of the calendar, knelt and starting pushing it under the door. His blood pressure sprinted higher.