by Chris Ryan
‘So you’re going after them,’ said Alex flatly.
‘Yes. I’m recalling the unit. We’re going deep undercover, as tourists. If we can find the cocaine factory, we can still salvage something out of this mess. I’m sorry, Alex. I know how much you were looking forward to our trip.’
Alex nodded. He was terribly disappointed but, after seeing what had been done to those men, he realized that there were more important things at stake than his Christmas holiday.
‘It’s OK, Dad. I understand. Really, I do.’
‘Good lad. I’ll just make some arrangements with Mike, then I’ll take you to the airport and see if we can arrange you a flight home.’
‘There’s nobody there, remember? Mum’s in Paris for Christmas, with her mates. I could go and stay in Argentina, though, with Paulo and Li.’
‘Sure his family won’t mind?’
‘No. They’d invited me anyway. I can call them on the way to the airport.’
When they got to the airport, they discovered that there was a flight leaving for Argentina in two hours’ time. Alex bought his ticket, then he and his dad stood looking at one another in the departure lounge. It wasn’t that Alex had nothing to say to his dad. Rather, he had too many big things to say and didn’t know where to start. He had seen what this drugs baron was capable of and he knew that his dad could be going into great danger. A deep-cover operation meant that the unit were on their own, pretending to be civilians, with none of the protection and authority that an SAS uniform might give them. Alex knew his dad might not come back from this one.
‘Well,’ said his dad finally, glancing at his watch, ‘I have to be going.’
‘OK,’ said Alex, looking at his feet.
His dad reached out and ruffled a big hand through his hair, then he lifted Alex’s chin and looked into his eyes. ‘Still ugly, I see,’ he said.
Alex grinned. ‘Older by the minute,’ he retorted.
His dad smiled. ‘Have a good Christmas, Alex,’ he said quietly, then he turned and walked away.
Alex sighed and reached into his belt pouch for his passport. His fingers closed around the little plastic case of fishing flies.
‘Dad! Wait!’
His father turned as Alex ran towards him.
‘Here,’ said Alex, pushing the box into his dad’s hands. ‘This is for you. For Christmas.’
They shared a quick, fierce hug and then his father was gone, disappearing through the doors of the airport terminal without looking back.
Alex wandered over to the check-in desk and flung his rucksack onto the weighing machine. He wished there was some way he could help his dad, but he was just a kid. What could he do? Then, suddenly, he remembered Amber’s last words to him before they split up for the Christmas break.
We’ll have to find our own mission, she had said. Keep your eyes open, Alex. Of course! There was a way to help his dad! Alpha Force could investigate the adoption men rumour. The street kids of Quito might not want to talk to adults, but they would talk to a group of kids their own age.
‘Any seating preference?’ asked the check-in clerk, in a bored voice.
‘I don’t want a seat,’ said Alex, grabbing his rucksack back just before it disappeared along the conveyor belt.
‘Excuse me?’ said the clerk.
‘I’ve changed my mind!’ yelled Alex, running for the phones.
SEVEN
‘Thanks for coming,’ said Alex that evening. He was once again sitting on the terrace of the general’s favourite restaurant, but this time his companions were Amber, Hex, Li, Paulo and Amber’s uncle, John Middleton. ‘It’s not just to help my dad,’ he continued. ‘If we can find these bogus adoption men, we’ll be helping the street kids too. You didn’t mind me calling, did you?’
‘Are you kidding?’ said Amber, flinging the menu down onto the table. ‘I’ve discovered Hex doesn’t do holidays. I mean, New York at Christmas, it’s pretty spectacular, right? There’s skating in Central Park, all the big stores have these amazing Christmas decorations and there are tons of shows on Broadway. What was the only thing Hex was interested in?’
‘You tell me,’ grinned Alex.
‘The local internet cafe,’ hissed Amber. ‘Sheesh! I ask you!’
Hex ran his hands through his straight brown hair so that it stood up in spikes. ‘We went there once,’ he grated, his green eyes flashing. ‘And she spilled coffee all over my keyboard.’
‘Alex, I have to thank you for calling us,’ said Amber’s uncle. ‘One more day with these two and I might have committed murder.’
‘Li nearly did that,’ said Paulo.
‘What, murdered someone?’ asked Amber.
‘Yes,’ said Paulo, grinning at Li and nodding his head so hard his dark curls bounced up and down.
Li narrowed her eyes at him. ‘Paulo told me all about the heated swimming pool on his family ranch,’ she explained. ‘He didn’t tell me it was going to be swarming with local girls, all competing to become Mrs Paulo. They wouldn’t stop talking about his gorgeous sexy eyes and his gorgeous curly hair. So-oo irritating.’
‘What did you do, Li?’ smiled Alex.
‘I just pushed one into the pool, that’s all,’ said Li demurely, but her dark eyes were sparkling and her high cheekbones flushed a rosy pink as she swallowed down a giggle.
‘Poor Rosa,’ said Paulo, grinning fondly at Li. ‘She was wearing an evening gown. And she couldn’t swim.’
‘Yeah, well, Paulo jumped in and rescued her,’ giggled Li. ‘And she decided that he must be in love with her. After that, she wouldn’t leave him alone for a second.’
‘I, too, am pleased that you called, Alex,’ said Paulo, in a heartfelt voice.
‘No problem,’ said Alex.
‘I think it’s a perfect first mission for Alpha Force,’ said Li. ‘It’s something only a group of kids could do.’
Amber nodded. ‘If someone’s murdering street kids, we need to stop them. My mom and dad would’ve approved,’ she said. ‘Right, Uncle?’
‘Right,’ said John Middleton.
The waiter arrived and they all ordered the dish of the day, except Amber, who insisted on ordering the local speciality.
‘Is the señorita sure?’ asked the waiter, looking at John Middleton.
Amber bristled. ‘Hey! I ordered it, didn’t I?’
‘The señorita would enjoy the dish of the day,’ insisted the waiter, still looking at Amber’s uncle.
‘I said, I’m sure,’ hissed Amber, glaring at the waiter, who retreated to the kitchens.
‘So,’ said Amber smugly. ‘What next?’
‘Well, I suppose we just hit the streets and find out what we can,’ said Alex.
‘I have been thinking about that,’ said Paulo. ‘The street children may talk to us more than they would to an adult, but there will still be a barrier there. Unless they think they are talking to one of their own.’
‘Ah. You mean we should pretend to be street kids,’ said Hex.
‘Not all of us,’ said Paulo. ‘Just one of us.’
‘I could do that,’ said Amber. ‘I speak Spanish.’
‘Not like a local,’ said Paulo. ‘You don’t look like a South American either.’
‘But you do,’ said Li slowly, giving Paulo a serious stare. ‘You think it should be you, don’t you?’
‘Yes,’ said Paulo. ‘It is the only way to get the – what do you say? – the inside information.’
One by one the others nodded. ‘Sounds like a good idea,’ said Alex, speaking for them all. ‘But are you sure, Paulo? It could be dangerous.’
‘I am sure.’
‘We can make it safer,’ said John Middleton. ‘There are such things as covert radios so that we can keep in touch with you. And I could get a tracker device fitted into your belt buckle. That way, we’ll always know where you are.’
‘That is good,’ said Paulo. ‘But where would we get such things?’
‘I have a friend
in Quito—’ began Amber’s uncle.
‘Don’t tell me,’ sighed Amber. ‘He owes you a favour.’
John Middleton smiled at his niece, then turned back to Paulo. ‘After the meal, you and I shall pay him a visit.’
‘And the rest of us will hit the streets and try to get a feel for what it’s like out there,’ said Li. ‘Find a safe spot for you.’
‘We can all meet up back at the hotel at the end of the—’ Alex stopped talking in mid-sentence and his eyes widened as he stared out at the street. Suddenly he pushed his chair back and dived under the table.
‘Alex, what the . . .?’ said Amber.
‘Don’t look at me,’ hissed Alex.
‘Come on,’ drawled Hex. ‘You don’t look that bad. It’s only one pimple—’
‘See that army jeep coming down the street?’ interrupted Alex. ‘The guy driving it is General Luis Manteca.’
‘What’s wrong with him?’ asked Li.
‘Nothing,’ said Alex. ‘He’s a really nice man – a friend of my dad’s – but I can’t let him see me here. He thinks I’m in Argentina, staying on Paulo’s ranch.’
‘So what do we do?’ said Hex.
‘Just keep talking,’ hissed Alex. ‘Tell me when he’s gone.’
They chatted about the weather and watched the army jeep drive slowly past them. Alex held his breath under the table.
‘Uh-oh,’ said Hex, after a moment.
‘The general’s not coming in here, is he?’ yelped Alex.
‘No, he’s gone,’ said Hex in a strangely strangled voice. ‘But Amber’s meal has arrived.’
Alex emerged from under the table. Amber was staring down at her plate with a look of pure horror on her face and Hex was trying very hard not to laugh. Alex made a quick check up and down the street, then he got back onto his chair and stared at Amber’s meal. An animal that looked something like a large rat had been skewered, roasted whole, then laid out on a bed of rice.
Amber stared at the creature for a long time, taking in the neat ears, the little curled paws, the tightly closed eyes and the prominent front teeth.
‘What is it?’ she squeaked.
‘El cuy,’ said the waiter.
‘Mmm. Lovely,’ said Amber. ‘Thank you.’
As soon as the waiter disappeared, Amber rounded on Paulo. ‘What’s a cuy?’ she demanded.
Paulo was red in the face from trying not to laugh. He swallowed hard and looked at Amber. ‘It is a guinea pig,’ he said.
Hex gave a huge snort of laughter and Amber glared at him. ‘Guinea pig!’ she shrieked. ‘That’s the local speciality? What is it with these people?’
‘Oh, I don’t know, Amber,’ giggled Li. ‘You’ve eaten worse.’
They all knew what Li was referring to. Amber was a diabetic. She had to inject herself with insulin twice a day and she also had to make sure she ate regular meals, to keep her blood-sugar levels steady. If she missed a meal, her blood-sugar level could become dangerously low, causing a hypo – a dangerous condition with symptoms of sweating, faintness, irritability and dizziness. When they were stranded on the island, Amber had once been forced to eat raw grubs in order to avoid a hypo.
‘You promised you’d never mention the grubs!’ flared Amber. She pushed her plate away. ‘Anyway, I can’t eat this.’
‘Then we’ll get the waiter to bring you something else,’ said John Middleton.
‘No!’ hissed Amber. ‘He’d laugh at me.’
‘Here,’ said Hex, relenting. ‘You can share mine.’ ‘Thanks,’ said Amber, beaming.
As they settled down to their meal, Alex looked around the table at the faces of his friends and realized that, for the first time since that morning, he had stopped feeling scared.
‘Street kids up ahead,’ murmured Li. ‘Looks like trouble.’
‘Where?’ said Alex, moving closer to her.
‘See those two boys?’ said Li. ‘They’re building up for a fight.’
Alex went up on his toes and craned his neck to see over the heads of the crowd. A little way ahead, a thin, dark-haired boy of about thirteen with a sore-looking rash around his mouth was repeatedly shoving another boy in the chest.
‘I see them,’ said Alex and pointed the boys out to Amber and Hex as they came up to join him. The four of them had been walking around the streets of the Old Town for nearly two hours since they had split up from Paulo and John Middleton. They had been looking for the places where the street kids hung out and had been astounded at the sheer numbers begging on street corners, huddled in doorways or trying to sell roses to the crowds of people walking by.
Alex, Hex, Amber and Li had quickly learned that the street kids gathered in tourist areas, so they had headed for one of the biggest tourist attractions in the Old Town, the Plaza San Francisco. On one side of the plaza the twin white towers of the Monastery of San Francisco, the oldest church in Quito, rose into the night sky. The cobbled plaza below was ringed with stalls. Some were selling tacky religious souvenirs, others were hung with colourful woven bags and belts. Beside these stalls, Indian women, wearing dark felt hats, stood impassively as the crowds surged by.
It was the week before Christmas, a time when traditional, life-sized Nativity scenes were installed in churches and public places all over Quito. The Nativity scene at the Monastery of San Francisco was meant to be one of the most spectacular and a constant procession of people were making their way across the plaza and up the steps to see it. Li, Amber, Alex and Hex were right in the middle of the crowd when the two street kids started to fight. Suddenly, the thin boy gave the other boy an extra-hard push in the chest and he staggered backwards into the crowd. The two boys started fighting in earnest, fists and feet flying, and the four friends found themselves squashed between two layers of people as the crowd in front of them stepped back and the crowd behind them surged forward for a better view.
‘Hey! Watch it!’ gasped Amber. She hated being in a crush and she was starting to panic, but the fight was over almost as soon as it had begun. The two boys picked themselves up, nodded to one another as though the fight had never happened, then ran off through the crowd. A third boy pushed past Hex and Amber and ran after the two fighters.
‘What was that about?’ said Li as the crowd moved on, filling the space where the fight had been.
‘It was a diversion,’ said Hex grimly, patting at the pocket of his jacket. ‘My palmtop’s gone.’
Li’s eyes narrowed. ‘They stole it?’
Hex nodded.
‘Well, what are we waiting for?’ snapped Li. ‘Come on!’
Li darted off through the crowd after the three boys with Alex, Hex and Amber at her heels.
‘There they go!’ shouted Amber, pointing to the steps that led up to the monastery. The three boys were pushing their way through the crowd towards the main doors. Li put on a spurt and reached the bottom of the steps just as the three street kids were about to disappear into the monastery. The thin boy with the rash around his mouth glanced back. His eyes widened for a second as he saw Li and the others charging up the steps towards him, then he scowled, grabbed the other two boys by the shoulders and pushed them ahead of him into the church.
Li bounded up the steps with her long black hair flying behind her. The other three caught up and they raced into the church together. There, they stumbled to a halt and stood, panting. It was quiet inside the huge church. The only noises were the scuff of feet on the creaking wooden floorboards and the sigh of whispered conversations floating up to the high ceiling. The ornately carved roof was lost in gloom and the bare light bulbs gave only a dim glow to the thick gilding which covered the walls of the church. The three street boys were nowhere in sight.
‘They must be here somewhere!’ shouted Hex, his fingers frantically keying the air as he yearned for the return of his stolen palmtop.
A disembodied ‘Shhh!’ came floating towards them. As quietly as they could, the four moved into the main part of the church, looki
ng around them. Over in one corner a life-sized Nativity group dressed in traditional local costume stared back at them. There were benches, statues and dark corners everywhere. If the street kids were lying low in here, they had plenty of hiding-places.
‘Split up,’ whispered Alex.
The four of them spread out in a line and began making their way to the centre of the church, checking every possible hiding-place. They had nearly reached the other end of the church and Hex was groaning in frustration, when Li suddenly gave a wordless yell.
A second later the three street kids exploded out of a confessional box and pelted towards a tiny door set in the back wall of the church. Instantly, the four of them changed direction and shot out of the little door only metres behind the street kids.
On they ran, following the street kids through narrow, winding cobbled streets. Li was determined to catch them and she seemed to have boundless energy. Whenever the three boys ahead of her turned a corner, she would increase her speed, always managing to get to the corner just before the boys disappeared around the next one. After a while the street kids were glancing over their shoulders more often, as though they could not quite believe they were still being chased. Alex, Amber and Hex panted along behind, doing their best to keep up.
The streets grew narrower and the crowds thinned out. They were into a quieter, residential area where old houses were divided in flats with wooden balconies leaning out over the street. Alex was beginning to get worried. Suddenly he realized that he had no idea where they were. The street they were running along was completely deserted and their footsteps echoed loudly on the cobbles.
‘Li,’ he gasped, ‘perhaps we’d better give up.’
‘We’ll catch them at the next corner,’ promised Li, sprinting on up the steep incline. ‘They’re just about finished.’