“Go fuck yourself! You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”
“Very well. I’m going to ask you some questions and you’re going to respond. If you lie to me or don't answer, I hurt you. Do we understand each other?” asked Namara serenely.
“Go fuck yourself!”
“If you like. Go on, James.”
Guerra pulled out a dagger and opened a gash on Ed’s forearm. Ed cried out and the blood flowed. Guerra took a pinch of salt and rubbed it into the cut. He screamed again, louder.
“That’ll happen every time you don’t cooperate,” said Namara.
“You’re dead, you bastards!” cried Ed.
“I see… James?”
Guerra repeated the action. Ed screamed. His face dripped with sweat. He was panting.
“What do you want to know?” yelled Ed.
“That’s better. The girls you sent to Father Gregor… I want to know how it works!”
“Gregor is the sale point in the States. He provides to rich guys there... he keeps them in Sauvalito. When there’s an order, he sends me an email. We find the girl and take her there through the tunnel. He pays us between five and ten thousand dollars... depending on her age and looks. He’s a Neo-Nazis... that whole fucking village is Neo-Nazis. It’s a front to hide the girls and move them over the border... that’s all I know!”
“Good. That matches up with what we knew. And the children?”
“Go fuck yourself!”
“James,” retorted Namara.
Guerra made another salty wound, and Ed cried louder.
“BRAKAN!” he finally spat.
“What?”
“We send the kids to a guy named Brakan!”
“Where?”
“Guardjana, by the Pacific Ocean.”
“Tell me more. How does it work!?”
“When we have a kid we call him... he sets up a meeting to exchange it, different spot each time. I don’t know what he looks like... he sends his men. We don’t know where he keeps them, either. He pays us twenty-thou per.”
“What does he do with them?”
“I don’t know, really! I heard of a paedophile network, or sacrifices to the Devil, maybe. All I know is he pays good!”
“How do we contact him?”
“I… don’t know! He contacts me.”
Namara nodded to Guerra. The next cut was dangerously deep. Ed wailed and perspired.
“I call him by cell!”
“Go on.”
“I send him a page. A few seconds later one of his men calls me. They ask a password... and then... I tell him I have a package. He fixes a meeting and we go and trade the kid for the money.”
“Is that all?”
“Yeah!”
“What's the password? ”
“664097.”
“Ok, you call him by cell?” asked Namara, pointing to the telephone he had at his waist.
“Yes…”
“So here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to call him and tell him you have a kid for him. What’s the number?” asked Namara, opening the phone.
“Press ‘B’ and dial my phone number. He’ll call back.”
Namara did as he was told and shut the phone. Several seconds later, it rang in his hand.
“It’s them,” said Ed.
“Yeah… remember... you lie, I hurt you.”
Namara answered and held it to Ed’s ear.
“Hey, it’s Ed... yes... 664097... I have a package, interested? … yeah. Two days, two a.m. Diaz and route 22.”
Namara hung up. Ed started to laugh like a man possessed.
“What’s funny?” asked Namara.
“You are, you idiot! You don’t know what you’re dealing with. Brakan is the Devil himself! You think you can take him so easily? He’s going to take care of you. I hope he puts you through worse than hell,” said Ed, continuing to laugh.
“We’ll see,” said Namara. “And now for you. Where do you keep the girls?”
“You’re not getting anything else. I don’t give two shits about the other, but you’ll never know anything about my brothers! You’ll have to kill me!”
James kept cutting, and Ed kept screaming. When it became clear that Ed wasn’t going to say anything, they abandoned the technique. If he wouldn’t sell out his group, they were done with him.
“All right, Ed. I guess we’re done here,” said Namara.
Ed laughed again. He glared at Namara with insane eyes. Foam built up around his mouth. His laughter became crazier and crazier.
“You think you’re strong, but you’re nothing against us. Belial protects us! You can wipe out his servants but you’ll never stop him!” he cried. “Look at all we’ve done already. We’ve won! You can do nothing against us! You coward, let me go and we’ll see who’s the mightiest. Go on! Untie me,” he said quietly, with a smile on his face. There was nothing human about him.
“I would never kill a restrained man. We’re not like you. That would make us cowards. Very well, I’ll let you go and give you a chance to get out. If you beat me, I assure you, you will be free to go. Everyone, witness: you are a free man if you beat me.”
“Let me go, you bastard, I'll show you what a former Bezbet soldier can do. I’ll crush you like an ant!”
“No problem. With all your protection, you’ll kill me easily.”
James released Ed’s bonds. The latter stood and stared Namara down, preparing to attack.
“Go on, Ed, show me you’re a man! Get over here,” said Namara with a smile.
“Hold on, Namara – let me at him,” said Guerra.
“Yours if you want him, James.”
Namara stepped back and Guerra took his place in front of Ed.
“Even better… let’s see what you got without a knife.” retorted Ed.
“Let’s go!” shouted Guerra.
Ed bounded toward Guerra with a punch. Guerra blocked it and got his arm around his neck, like a snake around a tree trunk. With a jerk, Ed’s neck snapped. The mad eyes of Ed went dull. Guerra let the body hit the floor. It was over for him.
“Tell Belial I said ‘hi’,” said Guerra to the sprawled body.
CHAPTER 63
Ming Mei and Shinsaku moved through the sleeping streets of Sauvalito like errant spirits, invisible in their black suits and hoods. They were placing explosive charges on each house and building in the village. Every charge was equipped with a remote detonator. Methodically, they used the shadows like invisibility cloaks. In time, the village was ready, and the two signalled Kamilia to proceed.
* * *
Kamilia, dressed in a long red cotton dressed, strode through the front doors of the church and slid into the aisle. She has completely changed her appearance. She was no longer a streetwalker but the worldly sophisticate. Her long dark hair was tied back and her tattooed arms contrasted sharply with her bohemian dress. Her lips were red and enticing. Inside, Father Gregor lit the candles at the altar. He didn’t hear or see her entrance. The church was otherwise empty, which was perfect for Kamilia. She stayed behind the doors and observed without saying a word. Finally, he turned and looked at her over with surprise.
“Good evening. I didn’t hear you enter. I’m sorry, but the church is closed.”
Kamilia stared at him mutely.
“Who are you?” he demanded worriedly.
“It’s me, Father Gregor,” she said, beginning to glide down the aisle.
The light passed over her face and he recognized her with a start.
“Kim, is that you!?”
Kamilia smiled and continued her advance. “If you like.”
“You’ve changed!”
“Father, I confess to a lie. My name is not Kim. It’s Kamilia.”
“I don’t understand…”
“To be honest, Father, I’m rather interested in your little business.”
“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”
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Kamilia smiled again and ignored him.
“All right. The truth, Father. I was sent here to see how you handle the girls. I’m afraid your reign has ended.”
Gregor, who had clearly realized she was wise to the network, changed his posture. If he didn’t get rid of her quickly, everything could come crumbling down.
“I see,” he said, laughing. “And what are you going to do? You realize that this is my house? It can be very dangerous for a pretty girl like you to threaten me like this…”
“Father, I’m going to ask you a few questions. If you do not answer, there will be consequences.”
Gregor began to laugh and stepped forward to meet her. He seized the crucifix at his waist and pulled on the crosspiece, which parted from the lower arm to reveal the dagger blade concealed within. Kamilia lifted her dress to her thigh and slid her own dagger out of her black garter.
“Very well, Father, whatever you want!”
Gregor lunged for her, but she dodged it. She seized his arm and with her knife, sliced the nerves to his forearm. He cried out and his knife clattered on the aisle, along with a jet of blood. Then, she opened a gash above his eyebrows from one side to the other, sending a sheet of blood into his eyes. Blinded by his own blood, he fell to his knees, twitching in pain.
“Have mercy! I’ll tell you everything,” he begged.
Kamilia, who had him controlled in an armlock, remained icy.
“We know you’re a Supremacist, and that you sell women. What we still need is the names of your buyers, and where to find them.”
“I… the names are in my address book.”
“Where is it?”
Gregor began to laugh through the blood. Kamilia grabbed his hand and shattered his metacarpals, making him cry out in pain.
“ARGGG! In the drawer in my office! It’s a black binder… it’s all there!”
“Who’s behind this!?”
“I can’t tell you! They’ll kill me if I talk!”
Kamilia grabbed his other hand, ready to shatter it too.
“Ok! Senator Brian Murdoch! That’s where most of the girls go! Now you know. Let me go! Mercy!”
Kamilia raised her eyes and regarded the immense crucifix above the altar.
“May God pity you – I cannot.”
Kamilia cut his throat. A spray of blood spattered over the tapers, extinguishing several. She sighed as she glanced at the blood all around her. Gathering her skirt so her hem wouldn’t get dirty, she climbed the altar steps and crossed to the rectory. She dealt with Varna, found the binder and signalled the rest of the group.
CHAPTER 64
Ming Mei received Kamilia’s message over the radio. She raised her remote control and pressed the button firmly. One after the other, every building exploded in an orange plume. Pieces of wood and debris blew into the sky in all directions. Blasts like thunder rocked the ground. Whatever hadn’t been blown burned to ash in the fires. Whatever inhabitants had managed to escape fell under Guerra’s obedient harem. Powerful shots rang out steadily. Guerra doled out his punishment as he protected his team in the centre of the chaos. He manoeuvred with surgical precision, ending the luck of the escapees. The explosions were the signal to the others to charge the ranch. Namara, Taz, Twinkie, Mike and Gonzo stepped out of the timber to begin their assault. In a line, they ran at full speed in the direction of the barn. Gonzo, setting the pace, drew nearing and nearer through the inferno and the explosions. The group, completely out in the open, moved in complete cohesion. Gonzo caught sight of two men armed with shotguns several hundred metres ahead. The latter had noticed the hooded men running at full tilt. Gonzo caught them trying to hide behind a wall and reacted immediately:
“Gun!!!” he cried, signalling the potential for resistance.
Gonzo fired four times with his M16 without dropping his speed. The four projectiles hit their targets, killing them immediately. After having cleared the way, he heard a spray of fire from an MP5 submachine gun behind him. Namara had peppered the body of another armed man that was coming at them from the side. The guy was dead before he’d had a chance to fire a shot. They scaled the barrier around the ranch. The last over was Twinkie who heard Mike’s M16 take down another from twenty meters away. When they were sure of a clear way, they set off in the direction of the huge barn ranch in front of them. Behind them, the village continued to burn and explode while they crushed the sand under their boots, submachines in hand. The closer they came, the clearer it was that the two wooden doors were barricaded with a giant chain and padlock.
“Gonzo, Twinkie! Take the back and cover us!” yelled Taz.
The two about-faced to guard against attackers while the rest of the group worked on the door. Mike drew a .12-calibre sawed-off shotgun with ceramic cartridges, aimed at the padlock and fired. The padlock exploded under the impact. Taz cleared away the chain.
Inside were six steel-barred cells holding twelve young Mexican girls who looked at them with horror.
“Let’s go! Let’s go!” shouted Taz.
Namara headed in first, followed by Mike and Taz.
“Shit, there they are!” shouted Mike.
“Yeah, get them out!” said Namara.
“Get them out and get the hell out!” cried Taz. “Let’s go!” he retorted.
“We’re going to get you out, don’t be afraid! Get back from the door, we’re going to blow the locks!” Mike shouted in Spanish.
The girls recoiled fearfully into the corners of the cells while Mike loaded his shotgun with more ceramic bullets. He fired at the first lock. There was a blast and the lock exploded in a shower of metal. The door creaked open and the girls began to look hopeful.
“Get out, get out! No time to lose!” said Mike as he blasted the lock on the neighbouring cell.
In a few seconds, the girls were free and regrouped, ready to go. The fear in their faces was undercut with relief. Despite the chaos and the gunfire, they knew the men were their salvation, whoever they were.
“The package is ready to go!” shouted Taz from inside the barn to Twinkie and Gonzo.
“Clear!” shouted Twinkie.
“Go! Go! Go!” shouted Namara to the girls – it was now or never for their escape.
They left at a run in a group. Outside, they fell into step behind Gonzo and Twinkie, who began to run toward their point of extraction where three concealed vans awaited them. Namara, Mike and Taz covered the other three sides of the procession. Namara at the left sprayed fire at a man concealed in a grove. There was a phantom bang from Guerra that took down a man who none of them had seen. Most of the women ran with bare feet on the sand. They left the village and were engulfed in the obscurity of the desert. In vans, they left behind them that which had several minutes ago been Sauvalito. There was nothing left but for a heap of cadavers that burned in a huge inferno under and open sky.
CHAPTER 65
Guardjana, Mexico.
They drove for several hours in the darkness until they could see the reflection of the Pacific Ocean on the horizon. The vegetation and the countryside had changed suddenly. The vast sandy plains of San Matanza were traded for red rocky reliefs interspersed with huge cacti. The arid land seemed surreal for Namara and his group that watched through the windows. They found the rendez-vous point where they parked their windowless van. Ming Mei and Kamilia were hidden in the back while Namara and Guerra waited patiently for their clients, leaning against the vehicle, looking at the moon. Shinsaku, Taz and the others were concealed, scanning the horizon. At the indicated hour, an automobile arrived. Two bald, black-clad Mexicans climbed out. Namara tried to make out the tattoos on their necks, but was unsuccessful in the obscurity. Everyone was on their guard. Namara greeted them with a nod. One of the men broke the silence when they drew within earshot:
“We’ve never seen you before.”
“Ed recruited us recently. It’s the first time we’d done this for him,” said Namara in Spanish.
The men furrowed
their brows and scrutinized them in silence.
“Where’s the kid?”
“In the back of the van. You can have her when we have our money.”
“Naturally. May we have a peek?”
“Of course,” said Namara, motioning them toward the back doors.
One of the men grabbed the handle and opened the door. Ming Mei and Kamilia launched themselves outside, smashing their knees into their faces. Namara and Guerra drew their pistols and pointed it toward their prone bodies. Ming Mei and Kamilia frisked them and took their concealed guns.
“Surprise, gentlemen!” said Guerra.
“What do you want!?” asked the more conscious of the two, who was struggling to get up.
“Now, I don’t recommend that,” said Guerra. The Mexican reconsidered and stayed on the ground. “We want to know where we can find your boss!”
“Out of the question. You’re going to have to kill me.”
“If you insist!”
Guerra shot him in the head. His partner was splattered with brains.
“And you? Do you agree with your friend?”
“I… I’ll drive you,” he babbled through the blood of his friend.
* * *
“We’re here. Go down that path. You’ll find his house,” he said dully, the dried blood cracking on his face.
“How many men?” asked Guerra.
“You wanted me to tell you where you could find him. If you want to know more, ask him.”
“You’re telling me we have no further use of you, is that it?”
The Mexican stayed mute. Kamilia reached up from behind and broke his neck. The body collapsed onto the red ground. “What are we waiting for!?” she crowed triumphantly.
“Onward!” said Namara.
The gravel road descended into a small valley dug into the red rock walls. The valley, shaped like a funnel, was full of dense vegetation, and the group used the black mud to camouflage their faces and hands. The mud removed all traces of humanity from their skin and rendered their descent slippery and dangerous. At the base of the valley was a veritable manor of eccentric modern architecture. It was built into the rock wall and coloured a similar shade of red. It appeared to be made out of huge rectangular panes of glass, and it seemed that the mountain was eating it whole. There were two floors that they could see. It was still night when the group approached Brakan’s manor. They could distinguish nothing through the panes of glass – everything was heavily curtained. No trace of resistance. Such silence, and a house in the middle of nowhere… they waited in the darkness.
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