by J J Cooper
Carter’s jaw tightened a fraction.
‘Millions to be made on your dodgy little anthrax detectors.’ Jay paused. He waited until Carter couldn’t help but reply.
The tightening of the jaw continued and a deeper shade of red began to spread across Carter’s face. No nod to the Maori to launch – yet. ‘Think you know it all, Ryan. Why the irony comment then?’
‘Well ... I was the one who busted your illegal interrogations in East Timor. No regrets either, I might add. And now you intend to make me ‘pay’ somehow. You should be kissing my arse and thanking me every day for turning you into a millionaire, Carter. Nice little spotter’s fee wouldn’t go astray.’
Carter loosened and his colour returned to normal. He even managed a grin.
Excellent, Jay thought. Now the talking should start.
‘Irony only in the sense that you kicked it off, but you won’t be around long enough to reap the rewards. Perhaps, metaphorically speaking, you were in the overture and sporadically appeared throughout the first and second acts. In the final act you suffer a gruesome death and only I survive to make it to the coda.’
‘You’re the antagonist, Carter. The coda can’t be about you. Just doesn’t work that way. Can’t disappoint the audience.’
A short burst of laughter escaped Carter. And, for the first time, Jay thought he could make out a slight smile on the Maori with the gun. Progress.
After he controlled his breathing and wiped a rather expensive-looking hanky under his eyes, Carter said, ‘Nobody will be disappointed when they race out and purchase our detectors. The fickle public will look towards the security industry for leadership that the police, military and government simply can’t provide.’
Jay shook his head and played to Carter’s ego. ‘Of course. It’s not about the money. It’s about being the saviour of many. The one the public turns to for help.’ Jay paused and smiled. ‘Have to admit, from what I can put together, it is rather cunning. Bold. But how did you stumble on to something that has the potential of elevating you to a position where you can leave a stamp on history?’
Carter frowned. ‘Are you mocking me?’
‘Not at all. I’m seriously interested. Besides, what’s the harm? I’m guessing you don’t plan on having me around long enough to inform anyone.’
A considered look and check of his watch, before Carter said, ‘I realised some time ago that technology was the key to sustainability of the security industry. I invested in some innovative IT security companies and picked up some patents along the way. One of the patents I bought was for an anthrax detector.’
‘Only one?’
‘Yes, I only purchased the one patent. I never place my eggs all in one basket.’
‘Who bought the other two?’
‘I do have to maintain some discretion, Mr. Ryan.’
‘Worried I’ll escape?’
A chuckle and slight shake of the head. ‘Not at all. We’re not the only two in the vehicle.’
Jay looked at the Maori with the gun, whose expression hadn’t changed. Obviously not too concerned his employer couldn’t trust him with a secret.
Carter continued. ‘Well, obviously the dearly departed Mr Sergeant held one of the patents. And I know that one won’t see the light of day. Pity really; rather ingenious invention.’
‘Let me guess – the watch alarm.’
‘Correct. What made you say that one?’
‘Your first dirty bomb went off at a concert. Demographics for that would be young people with an eye for a fad that looked cool – glow stick. You would have started proceedings, so I know that’s the patent you have.’
A genuine smile. ‘That’s very good. But why the watch alarm for Sergeant?’
‘The second one is due to go off tomorrow at a seafood and wine festival. That’s the one that you set up for Sergeant to do. People don’t wear glow sticks to those sort of outings. They all have watches, though.’
‘Impressive.’
‘That leaves the portable scanner to the mysterious third person with the patent for the handheld scanner. Someone with interests in a security-guarding business. Someone with access to a large number of people to fill positions at short notice. Tell me something, Carter. Is your brother about to hand in his resignation and take control of a security-guarding company?’
‘You won’t be around long enough to find out.’
‘Fair enough.’ Jay wanted to keep Carter talking and quickly changed the conversation to push forward with his information collection. ‘Why kill the scientist? I would have thought he would have been a handy asset to keep around.’
‘Not really. Not that long ago the scientist approached me for the sale of three canisters of the new anthrax strain. Turns out he needed the cash. After I purchased them, he must have decided he needed to develop the vaccine. Conscience got the better of him maybe. When we discovered that he was planning to extract the blood of you and your fellow interrogators to create a vaccine, we took action. The scientist and his other crony, the Major, with the help of Sergeant, had already picked up the other two of your party. We got to Simpson first and then the race was on to grab you or eliminate you. The scientist wanted you alive, so I figured you’d be better off dead. You evaded the capture and slow death the boys at the licensing centre would have dealt out, and also the bus crash my dead associate orchestrated.’
‘Not to mention dodging his bullets every now and then,’ Jay added.
With a grin, Carter said, ‘Indeed. Sergeant, through manipulating Toni, managed to get to you first. Very fortunate, I might add.’
‘Can’t say I feel that fortunate.’
‘You should. A deal was cut with Toni to deliver you alive. Seemed a waste having someone else kill you when I could settle the score myself.’
‘Sure know how to hold a grudge, Carter.’
‘No one messes with me and gets to live too long to tell the tale. I’m a patient man when it comes to revenge.’
‘As am I.’
‘Patience should not be mistaken for ignorance.’
‘How so?’
‘You’re ignorant to the fact that you will die very soon. Also ignorant to the fact that I’ve mentioned you’ll be watching closely as another dies a painful death and you still haven’t asked who.’
Jay had assumed Carter was referring to Simpson’s death when he’d mentioned it at the warehouse. ‘No need to,’ Jay replied. ‘It’s obviously your death I’ll be observing.’
‘Optimism and humour. Admirable to some in the face of death. But no, you won’t be around long enough for my death.’
‘I’ll bite. Then who?’
‘Whom.’
Jay remained silent.
Carter’s eyes bore into Jay as he gave an evil grin and said, ‘Australia’s leader, of course.’
Jay grinned back. ‘The original antagonist. Super villain who goes after the President, or in our case, the Prime Minister.’
Carter huffed. ‘I’m talking about the real leaders of our country. Not the ones they push in front of the cameras.’
The penny dropped and Jay knew whom Carter was going to kill; the key heads of security for the nation.
And the most senior member of that elite group – Jay’s father.
FORTY-FIVE
Deja vu. Or so it seemed for Jay. Another psychopath using his father to get to him. Or, this time, was it using Jay to get to his father? He closed his eyes for a moment and shook his head. Not possible. His father, as the head of Australia’s secret intelligence agency, would already be all over Carter. Tracking him with the help of the CIA and all of the nation’s policing authorities. But they should have been tracking him after the meeting at the farm. That was their intent. Yet Carter was confident enough to cruise the streets with armed guards and even pop into the opera, maintaining a public profile.
Carter must have sensed what Jay was thinking and he said, ‘Wondering why your father has eliminated me as a suspect?’
‘Seems your father’s focus shifted towards the dearly departed Major Sergeant as the real brains behind this whole anthrax thing. A few soldiers from the scientist’s rogue element broke ranks and came forward with the story of the real mastermind. Also turns out that Sergeant originally purchased all three of those patents we’ve been talking about. It wasn’t until recently that I purchased one from him – just after the first outbreak, like all good entrepreneurs would.’
Jay did all he could to stay calm. His pulse had increased and his breathing had become heavier.
Carter continued. ‘Why, just this afternoon I opened my home to a truckload of federal agents, who combed through it top to bottom. Of course, there was nothing out of the ordinary to be found. I even volunteered to an interview tomorrow morning.’
Jay opened his eyes and said, ‘You honestly think they’re stupid enough not to keep track of your whereabouts anyway?’
‘If so, why weren’t you rescued while I was enjoying the wonderful production of Rigoletto?’
Good point, Jay thought, but didn’t say.
Carter continued. ‘Well ... to be honest, I was being followed for a short time this afternoon. That was until those rogue soldiers indicated that a considerable number of their colleagues were hunting you. Seems your father pulled out all stops when he heard the news. Police, military and spy agency personnel have descended on Byron Bay in the race to get to you first. Plus, I’m certain your father will lead the charge in hunting the head of this elaborate evil plot.’
‘Sergeant?’
A nod. ‘When they get to his apartment, they’ll no doubt find detailed plans, maps, receipts, photos, even traces of anthrax, and all of the right evidence required to implicate him.’
‘Planted, you mean.’
‘Maybe so. But that’s the beauty of our incompetent policing and intelligence agencies; they’ll accept the evidence as they see it and pass on all of the glory to their masters for a very public showing.’
Jay shook his head. ‘Too many loose ends, Carter. It’s too big, and far too complicated, to go on unnoticed. Sooner or later it’ll all catch up with you.’
‘I doubt it. By this time tomorrow the public will be buying my products by the truck load.’
We’ll see, Jay thought. He peered back out of the window and noted the distance between houses growing as they hit the outer suburbs. A road sign indicated they were approaching Samford, an outer northern suburb. An area known for peace and tranquillity with a price tag to accommodate the privacy of one with plenty of cash.
The vehicle meandered over undulating tree-lined roads and through the semi-rural suburb. Jay started putting some serious thought into an escape. He pulled at the plastic ties; testing how far his hands could reach towards the razor in his pocket. Belt loop was about as far as he was willing to test with the Maori looking on. Didn’t seem he had much more reach anyway.
‘I’m looking forward to using my interrogation skills up against your resistance to interrogation skills,’ Carter said.
‘You don’t have any interrogation skills. You use torture as a means to get unreliable information. Totally different skillsets. Anyone can torture.’
‘So, in your opinion then, not everyone can interrogate using your outdated methods.’
‘Proven methods.’
‘Torture’s been proven over time.’
‘No it hasn’t. At least you’re admitting that’s what you do.’
‘How long do you think you’re good for against a pair of pliers, crowbar and a hunting knife?’
‘Depends which one I get. If it’s just you, I’ll take the pliers. I doubt you’re any good with a knife and the crowbar’s probably a little heavy for those wafer-arms.’
Carter seemed dumbstruck that Jay would answer in such a way considering the predicament. He took a moment before giving a snort and saying, ‘I’m going to use the pliers to hold your eyelids up while I slice them off. Then you’ll be able to watch every swing of the crowbar as I start with the lower half of your body and smash every bone. I’ll keep you conscious long enough to witness me starting to peel layer upon layer of flesh from your bones.’
‘Never were that imaginative or original, were you, Carter?’
‘What?’
‘All you need now is a couple of AK-47s and a video camera and a shitload of troops will stop checking caves in Afghanistan for you once they know you’re here.’
Carter took the comparison to Bin Laden well, or maybe he didn’t know how to respond to such a comment. Jay half-expected another lunge from the Maori. Thankfully, it didn’t happen. Jay figured Carter was imagining the interrogation process. Maybe rethinking how he would kill Jay.
Jay turned his attention back to the window. As they descended down a gentle incline, the large iron-barks on Jay’s side seemed to come alive as a vehicle to the rear shone its headlights over them, causing eerie shadows to dance amongst the trees. The dance continued and jumped ahead as the car approached to overtake. Although there was nothing illegal about the manoeuvre, Jay had an uneasy feeling forming in his stomach. He gave a quick glance to the Maori, who had been staring at the headlights before quickly bringing his attention back to Jay.
The make of the overtaking vehicle was difficult to gauge as it crept up alongside. A dark sedan perhaps. Jay couldn’t see beyond the windows, until the rear window wound down and the barrel of a shotgun poked out.
Jay threw himself to the floor between the seats as a blast ripped into the interior of the car. They didn’t come to a screeching halt. Only decelerated. Meaning the driver took the full brunt of the shotgun blast before he had a chance to react. The Maori with the weapon had taken a hit, judging from the moaning coming from the front seat. Carter finally reacted by thumping down on top of Jay.
Even though they were slowing, with the thick terrain they were travelling through, Jay knew the only thing that would stop them would be the trunk of an iron-bark – if they were lucky. Should they miss one of the thick trees, the journey over the edge of the steep risers was one he didn’t want to contemplate.
The screams of metal on metal accompanied a jolt that bounced Carter and took the wind from Jay. The overtaking vehicle hadn’t finished with them yet. Jay struggled for breath as the silence of bitumen gave way to the sound of rubber on gravel. He tucked his chin to his chest. The passenger side of the car crinkled as it slid along a tree. Shit! They’d missed the iron bark.
Foliage ripped at the undercarriage. Carter continued to bounce on Jay, who hadn’t got the chance to get his breath back. Probably didn’t matter as he would have held onto it anyway.
The engine revved hard when they became airborne. Although his life didn’t flash before his eyes, Jay couldn’t help but think of the irony. At least with a car crash and the possibility of two dead Maoris, he had a chance of escape. Assuming he survived the crash.
FORTY-SIX
Jay couldn’t remember the impact. He awoke to complete silence. Figured he was knocked out as the car bounced from tree to tree, battling with Carter in a contest of who could hit the metal doorframes more often with their head. A good assumption was that Jay had lost, as Carter remained unconscious. Jay rubbed his face against the back of the car seats to clear blood from his eyes.
The vehicle had flipped at least once, from what Jay could feel. It had landed on its wheels, most windows smashed with a lone interior light capturing the carnage. Surprisingly, the roof hadn’t completely buckled and remained mostly intact. Carter had his head on the floor, back over the rear seat; one arm laying naturally by his side while the other had snapped at the elbow and sat awkwardly across his torso. One leg, minus a boot and a couple of toes, hung out the shattered window, while the other was tucked in an unnatural angle under him.
Jay went through a routine of tensing his muscles and flexing as best he could. Apart from the wound in hi
s head, which he couldn’t check due to his hands still being tied, everything else seemed to work – just some bumps and bruises.
He leaned forward to check the front seat, and immediately flung himself back. There was no sign of the Maori with the pistol. No doubt he’d been sent hurtling out of the shattered windscreen during the rollover process. What made Jay reel back was the driver’s near-decapitated body lurched over the remaining parts of the steering wheel. The body was the right way up while the head stared back at Jay like a stunned bat ready for flight. A snapped branch had taken most of the driver’s neck and impaled the front seat.
An urge to vomit quickly abated, replaced by a sense of survival. He turned to look towards the road. In the distance, he could make out a couple of small lights bouncing towards him. Shit! After a slight shuffle towards the middle of the back seat, Jay launched upward and cracked his head against the hard plastic cover of the interior light, to no effect other than an immediate head-rush of pain. He hoped he wouldn’t knock himself out as he launched again. Success this time. The light cover caved in and the tiny bulb, which had illuminated the car’s interior, smashed.
Night vision gone. Small specks danced in the darkness. No chance of getting his night vision back before the flashlights arrived at the vehicle and poked into the interior. Jay closed his eyes tight and worked his tied hands towards the razor in his pocket. He fought for the right angle, leaning awkwardly over the still form of Carter. He grabbed at one of his belt loops and started to bunch his pants. The lip of the pocket teased at his fingers. The flashlights played at his peripheral vision. His fingers grabbed and bunched, grabbed and bunched. Knuckles dug into the pocket. An instinctive withdrawal of his fingers as he glanced the razor and nipped his fingertips. The flashlights bounced and he dove back into the pocket. Forefinger and thumb grasped the razor and he slowly removed it. He used his other hand to get a better grip and started work on the zip ties.
Jay guessed the two flashlights had closed the distance by at least half as the first snap of the zip ties occurred. One more and he’d be free. Seconds passed and he could now hear the rustle of foliage under the feet of his pursuers.