by J J Cooper
His head rocked to the side and he almost lost balance as a gloved hand clipped him behind the ear.
‘No games. You’ve been here less than ten minutes and you want fucking water. Piss in your hands and drink it if you’re thirsty. Now, not another fucking word.’
The boots took a couple of paces towards the door and stopped.
‘If he wants a drink of water, give it to him. The doc wants him in good shape for the morning,’ the Major said.
‘Umm ... yes, sir.’
‘Good. And if you lay another hand on a prisoner like that again, I’ll have you charged. Understand, soldier?’
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Go fetch the girl and then go get the water.’
‘Sir.’
One set of boots left while another slowly made their way towards Jay. A hand grabbed a bunch of his hair and jerked his head up. A knee in the back stopped him from falling backwards. Jay clenched his jaw and could feel breath on his neck.
‘How does it feel to have the shoe on the other foot?’
Jay knew the Major wasn’t going to hurt him – yet. ‘Don’t suppose you’re running this place in accordance with the Geneva Conventions?’
The Major gave a slight chuckle. ‘Not really.’
‘Good. I’m a civilian. Go fetch me a lawyer.’
The grip tightened around Jay’s hair. It released and his head fell forward. ‘Lawyers, like the vultures they are, can pick over your bones when they find you.’
Jay could hear the Major walk towards the door and stop. More boots entered.
‘Put her in the corner,’ the Major said. ‘Make sure they stay separated and no talking. Enjoy the company, Toni?’
Jay’s mind raced to keep up. Toni had staged the execution of the three agents. Why? If so, she should have been rewarded by reuniting with her cousin. Unless there was nobody to be reunited with. If that were the case, the Major would have eliminated her along with the agents. No. Toni had a weapon and proved she would use it. So he’d waited until she was in his environment. A controlled environment like an interrogation centre. He’d probably convinced her to get rid of her weapon in order to see her cousin.
Jay shook his head. Why would Toni not have waited until he had the information on Simpson’s whereabouts from the Major? Tend and befriend. The Major was at flight in the interrogation room. Jay had shown fight on the bridge. It made no sense that she would rely on the Major and not Jay.
He bit into his lip. Think. Think. No blood on the concrete where Simpson went missing. How did Toni get involved? She claimed to fabricate the newspaper story. How did she know he went missing? Why would the Major contact her? He already had her cousin. The Major needed Jay. They sent the soldiers to capture him in Byron Bay. They had nothing to do with the bus. Then who was responsible for that?
Jay shook his head again. The bus accident didn’t fit with the Major and could wait for now. Concentrate.
Toni contacted the Major to say she could lure Jay and used the story of being Simpson’s cousin. Possible. Why? To find out what they wanted with Jay. Maybe. To get to the place where they would take Jay. Probable. She needed to be here. She couldn’t rely on Jay to get the information from the Major in the interrogation room. She called the contacts she had and brought in the re-enforcements at the farm. How did she know where they were? Easily overcome by forcing one of the agents upstairs to tell her after she had overpowered them. Overpowering two agents meant she was a professional. Or she had a little help from something in her backpack.
She had something like a paintball pistol for the fake executions. Maybe a GPS. That would explain how the others got there so quick. But why allow herself to be captured and put in the container with him? Was she waiting for something? What?
Jay thought about the slip of paper Toni had given him at his father’s house. Simpson had gone for a medical appointment. He had written the acronym CBT after the doctor’s name: an acronym they had used when discussing prisoners in front of local interpreters in Afghanistan. CBT – Can’t Be Trusted. Simpson had also highlighted an article on anthrax. The doctor who couldn’t be trusted must be the same doctor who wanted Jay in one piece. The Major had said the doctor would see Jay when he arrived tomorrow.
The doctor wanted Jay alive. Simpson had an appointment with the doctor. All of the interrogators had been inoculated and given extra jabs for ... anthrax. They were all given a series of anthrax jabs. Anthrax. It fitted. Blood. They needed the interrogators’ blood.
An anthrax attack on the Gold Coast. An attempt to kidnap Jay in Byron Bay. The set-up by Toni. The Major and the doctor were the bad guys wanting Jay’s blood. Something to do with the anthrax jabs and the attack on the Gold Coast.
Maybe they already had blood samples from the others. If that was the case, it was likely that all the others were now dead. He swallowed hard and thought about the men, his fellow interrogators, who had deployed with him to Afghanistan. Shit! He was the last one.
Still, there were a number of things that didn’t fit. Like Toni. Maybe she didn’t want Jay, the Major or to be reunited with anyone. Perhaps she wanted the doctor.
And it all came back to one thing – anthrax.
TWENTY-ONE
Sweat pooled under Jay’s blacked-out goggles. He used the back of his cuffed hands to wipe his cheeks and lift the goggles a touch. Through a small gap, and in the dim light, he could see down to his hands. He resisted the urge to look around and give away his small victory in the sensory deprivation battle.
His legs had numbed from sitting cross-legged and his lower back started to feel the strain. He guessed he’d been there for a couple of hours. Instinctively, he looked at his wrist where his watch should have been. His captors had been thorough in their search and had taken the watch. They missed the credit card in his boot though – they always did.
Thoughts of being a prisoner again detracted from his analysis of the events. He tried to free up those thoughts by wondering about the health of the little girl, Brooke, from the bus crash. The last couple of days had been a nightmare for him, but he could only imagine the pain she would be suffering.
Echoes of heavy footsteps dragged him from his thoughts. Two sets of hands dragged him up from under the arms. His legs were too numb to stand and he was held until he could. He was wheeled around and staggered forward.
‘Step up,’ one of the guards said.
Jay could see the lip of the container through the crack in the goggles. He exaggerated a bigger step than necessary. And continued as if climbing steps outside.
‘Walk.’
Dawn was nearing. They were in the first light. He trod cautiously up a slight embankment and tripped on purpose as the ground changed from grass to concrete. The firm grip of the two guards kept him from falling. One of the guards let go as they passed through a doorway.
‘Stop.’
Jay stopped a couple of inches from what appeared to be a hospital bed. A stainless steel frame had been lowered on the side of the bed he could see. Lime green sheets covered a thin mattress.
‘Turn around.’
He turned and stood in front of the person who’d made the command.
‘Back up. Sit with your legs out straight on the bed.’
Jay did as ordered.
Big hands gripped each forearm. One handcuff was removed and it clanked as it was placed around the steel frame. His left hand was free, and for a split second he contemplated making a move. But with at least two people working his arms, he let it be for now. Another set of cuffs was placed around his left wrist and the frame of the bed.
‘How you feeling, Jay?’ the Major asked. A hint of sarcasm.
‘Refreshed. Have to ask. Why the need for goggles if you’re planning on killing me?’
‘Usual precautionary measures. But I suppose you’re right.’
The goggles were ripped over his head and the thick elastic band took samples of hair with it. Jay shut his eyes against the blinding light
. He slowly adjusted to the glare and caught a glimpse of the room. A first-aid room the size of the average bathroom. Bits and pieces of medical equipment and supplies with shelves. The Major stood grinning at the end of the bed, a guard on either side of Jay’s shoulders.
The Major motioned for the guards to leave and waited until they were outside the door before speaking. ‘Figured it out yet?’
‘Well ... you haven’t given me enough water for a piss sample, so I guess it’s not a drugs test. Considering I’ve been shot a couple of times and had my hand nailed to a table by a psychopath, I’m thinking you would realise it takes a bit to stress me out, so perhaps a blood-pressure test isn’t the key to your charades. Why don’t you fill me in?’
The Major checked his watch and started to say something when the door opened.
The doctor had aged considerably since Jay had last seen him. Still wore his pants too high and a starched white shirt. The Coke-bottle glasses had thickened and the short hair, greyed.
‘We meet again, Mr. Ryan.’
‘Fan of James Bond?’ Jay used his wit to hide his nerves; a blood-pressure check was needed.
The doctor gave a wry smile as he pulled on a pair of surgical gloves. ‘I guess you see yourself as James Bond then?’
‘More like an innocent death-row inmate waiting for a lethal injection.’
‘No injection today. I’m here to take a sample of your blood.’
His theory was holding up. ‘What’s this all about?’
The doctor looked at the Major who shrugged his shoulders and said, ‘As soon as those lab results are back, he’s history. He’s not leaving here. Up to you if you want to tell him.’
The doctor nodded and picked up a small strap. He walked over and rolled up Jay’s sleeve. He placed the strap around Jay’s bicep and tightened it.
The doctor retrieved a thick syringe from the counter and returned to start collecting his specimen. As the needle fed into Jay’s vein, he said, ‘Many years ago I was employed by the military to work on a top secret program developing different strains of anthrax. I was, and still am, an expert in this field. I worked extremely hard and produced great results for the military. As well as developing new strains, I developed vaccines for them. Then the terrorist attacks occurred in America. Not long after, some idiot decided to send samples of anthrax through the mail over there.’
The doctor withdrew the needle and stepped back over to the counter to start labelling the sample. ‘Typical government knee-jerk reaction here in Australia saw my valued work shut down overnight. Extra guards were placed inside the facility and I was watched like a hawk as I shut it down. Fortunately, I managed to keep some samples of a new strain I had developed as well as the vaccine. I knew as soon as they discovered the samples missing they would search high and low for them. I was then reassigned to giving you interrogators regular inoculations for anthrax and saw a perfect opportunity for a place to store the vaccine. When five interrogators came along with different blood types, I had the perfect storage facility. Inside each of you.’
‘So not only did we have the regular injections, we had inoculations for your hybrid strain of anthrax?’
‘Not exactly. You just got my inoculations. Just as well you weren’t exposed to the regular stuff. Although we all knew they didn’t have any over there, even before you all went chasing your tails.’
‘What about the anthrax you took?’
‘That’s something I’m keeping to myself. Not even the good Major here knows where it is.’
Jay looked from the doctor to the Major. ‘I’m not the only one who doesn’t trust you.’
The doctor chuckled and removed his gloves. The Major tightened his jaw.
Jay continued. ‘Why take it in the first place?’
‘It was my work, my passion and they shut it down overnight. Call it a souvenir or taking something that may be of use later down the track. An investment even.’
‘An investment you’re now cashing in on.’
‘You’re a smart man, Mr. Ryan.’
‘An investment that has already killed a bunch of kids and caused public chaos. Must be really proud of your work.’
‘I simply provide the goods. What the buyer does with it is up to him. A lot like someone who builds a gun. Is it his fault the wrong person should buy it and use it to kill someone?’
‘Justifying your guilt?’
‘Stating a fact.’
‘Except guns can also be used to protect people. Can anthrax?’
‘It can be used to deter.’
‘What were you deterring those kids at the concert from? Listening to bad music?’
‘I’m the manufacturer. You’ll have to ask the end user those questions.’ He looked over to the Major.
Jay shook his head. ‘He couldn’t run a bath. Who’s in charge?’
‘You finished with him, doc?’ the Major asked. ‘I’m looking forward to starting to work him over while you play with his blood.’
‘Just keep him alive.’
The doctor was about to leave with his sample when Jay said, ‘Guess Bowen spoiled your party a bit when he was murdered?’
‘It was a shame. I have vaccines from three blood-group types. Your donation will make four. It just means it will take a bit longer to produce them for all blood types.’
Before Jay could answer, the Major yelled out, ‘Guards!’
The door swung open and the doctor stepped aside to let them in. The guard who stepped inside first was a huge Tongan who obviously liked to eat. And by the looks of him, he could probably demolish a cow in one sitting. His offsider was closer to Jay’s size – could probably only eat three-quarters of a cow in a sitting.
The Tongan held Jay’s wrists again while the left handcuff was removed, then the right. The offsider put one pair of cuffs aside and clipped the other pair over Jay’s wrists.
Past the Tongan and by the door, the doctor and the Major were whispering to one another. The Major nodded and the doctor turned to walk out of the door.
A split second later the doctor’s own blood, mixed with bits of brain matter, exploded across the room.
TWENTY-TWO
Jay reacted first. He ducked behind the Tongan’s huge frame just before a bullet caught the soldier in the neck.
The offsider stood still, handcuffs rocking back and forth around his fingers as the third bullet shattered his nose and embedded in the wall behind. The offsider went straight down as if his legs had been taken from under him.
From the corner of his eye, Jay saw the Tongan swat his neck. He pulled his hand away and held it high, looking at the blood without any signs of emotion, until the next bullet took his two middle fingers off at the knuckles.
The Tongan roared as Jay rolled off the bed and on top of the body of the offsider. Through the bottom of the bed, Jay could see the Tongan staggering for the door. His pistol was in his good hand and he was firing blindly outside. Others joined him in returning fire against the sniper. Jay watched the Tongan stagger beyond the door, still firing away.
A movement caught his attention. The Major was crawling towards Jay, reaching for the pistol of the dead soldier.
‘No, you don’t,’ Jay said. He led with his head, diving forward and catching the Major on the bridge of the nose. The bones cracked under the force.
The Major rolled away, hands covering his face. Jay got to his knees and took the pistol from the dead soldier’s holster. He levelled it onto the Major.
‘Crawl back into the corner. Now!’
The Major moved slowly into the far corner from the door. Jay looked around for the keys to his handcuffs. He kept an eye on the Major while rolling the dead soldier on to his side. He dug into a pocket and pulled out a set of keys.
If there were ever an opportunity to disarm Jay, it was while he held the pistol and fumbled to unlock his handcuffs. The Major appeared too busy to take the opportunity, attempting to stop the flow of blood from his shattered nose.
Jay shuffled across to the Major and lifted him to his feet. He held the pistol into the Major’s back and turned him towards the door. He didn’t think the Major had a weapon, but checked anyway. Habit.
‘Let’s hope the sniper has gone, Major.’
They stepped over the dead doctor and stopped at the door so Jay could survey the scene. The Tongan had disappeared into the bushes and at least a dozen soldiers were hot on his heels. All firing wildly.
About fifty metres to Jay’s left stood a shipping container with an army Land Rover parked beside it.
Jay dug the pistol hard in the Major’s back. ‘We’re running to the holding area. I won’t hesitate to kill you should you try to call on your boys or pull anything funny. Understand?’
The Major grimaced, and then nodded.
‘Good. Let’s go.’
Jay pushed the Major forward and instantly regretted the decision to run. His knees ached under the pounding they’d already received. He fought through the pain. They made it to the Land Rover unseen as the soldiers’ attention was directed towards the sniper. They slowed to a walk as they neared the door of the shipping container. Jay kept a low profile behind the Major as he pushed him through the doorway.
Apart from the prone soldier with a pair of handcuffs and blacked-out goggles on his back, the container was empty.
‘Shit!’ Jay now knew the sniper’s identity. ‘Get in the Land Rover. You’re driving.’
They walked to the rear of the military vehicle. Jay climbed into the back, keeping the pistol levelled at the Major. The fabric camouflage sides of the Land Rover had been rolled down. Two vinyl bench seats sat on either side. He motioned with the pistol for the Major to get into the driver’s side. He leaned out of the back and tracked the Major to ensure he followed the directions.
The engine fired up and Jay lowered his profile behind the passenger seat, pistol pointed at the Major.
‘Hit it,’ Jay said.
‘The Major put the vehicle into gear and took off down a path that hugged an industrial shed. The place appeared to be an army reserve outpost. Jay caught a glimpse of a sign that confirmed it. Unfortunately, it didn’t give the location, just the unit name. They passed through a side gate and hit a gravel path. Ahead stood a gate manned by two soldiers lying on their stomachs, facing the vehicle, with the commotion to the rear.