by Ben Brown
Martinez nodded. “Good. I was worried about that part of the plan. Any questions?”
No one spoke.
Martinez clapped his hands and said, “Good let’s get to it. The vehicles are waiting to take us to our drop off points.”
Lea, Martinez, and Zac got into the first car. Chinwendu got into the second. Zac attracted Chinwendu’s attention, she looked at him as he smiled and gave her a thumbs-up. She smiled back, but he could feel how nervous she was.
7
Chinwendu entered the little shop. It was cramped, dusty, and it smelled — a mixture of old books and cats. She looked around and saw cats everywhere. A soft purring sound resonated through the shop, very soothing. Chinwendu walked around, casually picking up the occasional book.
Five or six people were browsing through the eclectic assortment of books which lined the shelves. She took a closer look at some of the books and noticed they were very odd. Not the sort of books you’d find in a high street store. They consisted of mostly second hand books, graphic novels, and strange interest books like: How to Make a Fish Tank, or I Met a Martian, and He Was All Right.
“Can I help you? Are you looking for something in particular?”
Chinwendu turned to see an old Chinese man; he was balding and slightly bent from age.
“Yes, I’m looking for a book that was recommended to me. I was told by a friend to try this shop and to ask for a Mr. Smith. Is he here?” Chinwendu said as she looked around.
“I am Mr. Smith,” the old man replied.
Chinwendu looked back at him. She was surprised; he wasn’t what she’d expected.
“Forgive me, I didn’t expect — anyway the book I am after is, Highlights in the History of Concrete by Christopher C. Stanley. Would you have it?”
The old man suddenly seemed agitated. His voice trembled as he said, “I … I think I have a copy in the back of the shop. Would you like to come with me, I’ll see if I can find it?”
He rushed to the front door and said loudly, “I am very sorry everyone, but the shop is shutting early. My apologies, but could you all please leave.”
Chinwendu headed towards the door, but he gestured for her to stay. She could feel the panic and anger rising in her, but quickly regained control. This was something she couldn’t have done just a few hours earlier.
The shop was soon empty and the old man shut the door, locked it, and turned back to Chinwendu. He stood for a moment or two staring at the tall African.
“I wasn’t expecting you,” he said softly. “I knew she was working with others like her, but I was told she would be the one to make contact. Can I see her please?”
Chinwendu was puzzled.
“I’m sorry but, who are you talking about?”
The old man seemed confused by Chinwendu’s question.
“My granddaughter was supposed to contact me. I haven’t seen her since Dominic came to our village in China and took her. Dominic offered to help her with her studies here in America. She is to become a Doctor of medicine.”
As Mr. Smith talked, Chinwendu could see the pride in his face. Suddenly she felt like she was going to be sick. She now knew who he was talking about, and she knew the girl was dead.
The old man continued, “Dominic came back for me about six months ago and he told me that he’d give me this book shop, and that Chi would be able to see me again. He’s a kind man. So, where is Chi Xing? He told me she would be here.”
Chinwendu swallowed back a feeling of nausea as she said softly, “I am so sorry, but she’s dead, she was killed yesterday.”
The old man wavered as if he was going to faint. Chinwendu caught him in her strong arms and guided him to a chair.
* * *
Lea and the others listened in from the abandoned building. Zac could feel the old man’s pain. The distance between them did nothing to dull its intensity. His pain was so sharp; it cut into Zac like a knife. He began to feel faint, like the old man.
Lea caught Zac and guided him to a crate in the corner of the room. She kissed him on the cheek. “You had to stop her. She wasn’t that old man’s little girl any more. She had been changed — corrupted.”
Zac just nodded. He could feel the old man crying. It was as if he was inside his soul, inside his heart — and it hurt. It hurt as if Chi was his own flesh and blood.
* * *
Chinwendu went to the back of the shop and fetched the old man a glass of water.
“You are very kind. May I ask, did you know my beautiful granddaughter? Do you know how she died?”
The old man’s hands shook as he took the glass. He took a sip and then looked up into Chinwendu’s dark eyes. She wished she didn’t have to tell him what had happened, but she would. She knelt beside him and took the glass from his hand, placing it on the floor. She gently held his hands in hers as she told him what had happened to his precious grandchild.
Dr. Skinner sat listening, not crying, not moving, nothing. It was as if he was made of stone. When Chinwendu finished, he finally spoke.
“You say that Dominic changed her, and that he has done this to you. However, these people could save you, but Chi was beyond their help. I don’t understand. I must see Chi! She must return to China! She must be buried with her ancestors.”
The old man stood. He was resolute and strong. He seemed so different to the man who had sat on the chair just seconds earlier.
“We can arrange that for you,” Chinwendu agreed. “But first we must find Dominic so he can’t do this to anyone else. What were you supposed to do when we made contact?”
Dr. Skinner looked at her then he straightened up.
“You’re right! We must stop this man from hurting any more families. My instructions were to send a text message from the mobile phone he gave me. Dominic would then send someone here to take over. That was all I was told.”
“Send the text. Don’t let on that you know about Chi, or what I’ve told you. If Dominic thinks he has been compromised, he will kill you and me.”
The old man simply bowed and took a mobile phone from his pocket. A few seconds later he said, “It is done, we must now wait. Chinwendu, please be careful dealing with this man. I misjudged him. Because of that, Chi is dead. He must be treated with great care and wisdom.”
Chinwendu smiled at Dr. Skinner. “I’ll be careful. Plus my new friends are ready to back me up, if needed.”
At that moment, the old man’s mobile phone beeped and he read the text. “Dominic’s men will be here in less than five minutes,” he said.
* * *
Martinez spoke into his head set. “Targets will be in the arena of operations within five minutes. I want safeties off and game heads on.”
He turned to Lea. “We need to leave.”
Lea nodded and looked at Zac. “I’ll see you soon. Look after yourself, and Chinwendu.”
She quickly pulled out her gun and pointed it at his chest. Zac smiled as she shot him with the tranquillizer.
* * *
Two men knocked at the door of the little shop. Mr. Smith went to the door and unlocked it, allowing them in.
The old man looked at Chinwendu. He was clearly concerned for her but as the men entered all concern disappeared from his face. He bowed. “May I get you gentlemen some tea?”
The taller of the two men said, “No thanks, Mr. Smith. Could you please give us some privacy. We need to talk freely with our colleague.” The old man bowed once again as he locked the door.
“As you wish, I will retire to my rooms in the back. If you need anything, just call out.”
The old man then shuffled from the room.
Chinwendu watched all this in silence. She knew the two men. She disliked them both intensely. Both were French, and brothers.
The taller of the two was the eldest. He had grey hair, which he wore tied back in a slick ponytail. His most striking feature was his nose. It was long and hook shaped, giving him an aristocratic air.
The younger brother
was a smaller version of the taller man, right down to the ponytail and hook nose.
The elder brother had been part of Dominic’s subject program. He had made several passes at Chinwendu while she had been in training. On one occasion he had even become physical.
The younger man, René, had no abilities and a very low IQ. He seemed to enjoy watching as his brother intimidated people and worse. Only the taller brother, Octavien, could speak English.
“It’s good to see you Chinwendu. It’s been a long time. Where’s your mother?”
Octavien walked around the room picking up books. He looked at the young woman to see how she reacted to his question. Chinwendu knew he was testing her. He wanted to upset her. He had clearly heard the news by now, and he knew her mother was dead.
“She was killed obtaining our target.” She tried to steady her emotions, but it was hard. She knew he would feel her losing control — she wouldn’t let that happen.
“I’m sorry to hear that. You must be heartbroken,” he said with little sincerity. “Still, it is all part of the job, I’m afraid.
“You took quite some time making contact — why?”
Octavien moved closer to Chinwendu; he watched her every expression.
“Things got out of hand, all the others were killed. I only just made it off the Island with the target. It has taken all this time to get here.” Chinwendu tried to keep her voice level as she answered the Frenchman. “It’s hard hiding an unconscious man, you know.”
“The target is alive you say?” he raised his eyebrows in disbelief. “That’s hard to believe. He is supposed to be almost as powerful as Dominic.”
“I got lucky. One of the shooters in the tower hit the girl he was with. It distracted him for a second, and I got his gun and shot him.”
Chinwendu could feel beads of sweat forming on her forehead; Octavien apparently noticed too.
“You seem nervous. Is it because you have a wounded man somewhere, or is it because you’re lying?”
Octavien’s face was only an inch from hers now.
“Of course I’m nervous! I have all of New York looking for me! The man’s not wounded; his gun has a tranquillizer setting. I used that, but he’s been out for a long time now. It must wear off soon.”
This got Octavien’s attention. He suddenly became more intense as he spat, “Where is he? You were a fool to leave him! If he’s gone, I will kill you!”
Chinwendu knew she had Octavien’s interest. She might survive this after all.
“He’s in the abandoned building half a block south of here. He’s on the third floor, room 1A.”
Octavien went over to his brother. He put his hand on his sibling’s shoulder and spoke to him in French. “René, I need you to go to the old abandoned building just south of here. Go to the third floor, room 1A. If you find a man asleep there, take him to our car and call me.”
René smiled eagerly. “If I don’t find the man, then should I call you, brother?”
Octavien nodded slowly. “Yes, call me by all means, and then return here. We will have some fun with this one if she’s lying.”
As Octavien spoke the two men looked at Chinwendu. It made her skin crawl. She couldn’t understand what the two were saying, but she knew that things could go bad for her.
The two men walked to the door which led to the street. Octavien unlocked it and sent René on his way. He waved to him as he locked the door.
The image seemed odd to Chinwendu. The scene seemed like a proud father sending his beloved son off to his first day at school. Instead, both men were dangerous and enjoyed inflicting pain. Now here she stood, trapped in an old, dank, shop with one of them. She knew he wanted to settle a score.
Octavien turned and looked at her for a long while. He just stood staring at her.
She felt uneasy. She had seen him look like this before. That time, she had only avoided rape by the smallest of margins. Then, with a sudden movement, he headed towards the back of the shop.
Chinwendu jumped. She was annoyed with herself, but she couldn’t help it.
Octavien glanced at her with a menacing grin on his face. “What shall we do with the old fool? He’s not one of us; he’s weak and old. I say we kill him.”
Chinwendu could feel the blood lust rising in Octavien. She knew it would be hard to stop the Frenchman from killing the frail old man.
“Dominic hasn’t given us orders about Smith. So he should be left alone,” Chinwendu said quickly, as she put herself between Octavien and the back of the shop.
“How do you know what Dominic has ordered me to do?” Octavien stared at her.
“If you had been ordered to kill him, he would already be dead. No, I think you want me to agree with killing him, so you can blame me.” Chinwendu was thinking fast. She knew if he lost interest in her, the old man would most likely die.
Octavien pressed himself against her, his face was only an inch from hers. She turned her head. The memories of her last encounter with Octavien were rushing through her mind. She could feel the rage within him building to an inevitable explosion of violence. Chinwendu knew she would have to take the brunt of his rage.
“That fool should be dead! He’s weak, old and worst of all, he’s not a subject. Only Dominic’s people are worthy of life, the rest of humanity is like insects in comparison to us!”
“Well your brother certainly has the brains of an insect,” she taunted. “Maybe he should be dead too. So after Smith, why don’t I put a bullet in his head?”
Chinwendu braced herself for his outburst.
Octavien hit her across the face with the back of his right hand. She flew across the room and landed in a crouching position. She was ready for him. This time her mother wasn’t there to save her from his brutality. Octavien launched himself at her with incredible speed. He lunged at her with his right hand; she grabbed it with her left. In a fluid motion, she brought her right hand up into his stomach. As she did this, she stood up, flinging him back across the room and into a bookcase.
Two large cats that had been asleep on the top shelf flew into the air. Octavien seemed taken aback by her skill. The last time he had attacked her, she had been weak and unsure of herself. If her mother hadn’t walked in on them, he would have taken her.
Chinwendu taunted him. “You think you’re so tough, but you only attack the weak and defenseless. You thought I wouldn’t fight back, like the last time when you tried to rape me. My mother beat the crap out of you then, and now I’ll do the same. How does it feel to keep getting your ass kicked by a woman? It’s a pity your retarded brother won’t be here to watch!”
“Filthy, stinking whore! I’ll cut your throat and watch you bleed to death. Then I’ll kill that old fool!” As Octavien screamed, he reached into his coat and pulled out a large curved knife.
* * *
“We should go in! She’s out of her depth. It’ll be a blood bath!” Lea pulled off her headphones. She and Martinez were monitoring Chinwendu via her communicator implant.
Martinez remained calm.
“She hasn’t called for help yet, but I will put the extraction team to level one. The second she gives us a sign, our men will be in there.”
“Are you joking? It sounds like World War Three in there.” Lea was pacing back and forth as she shouted at Martinez. “We have to go in now!”
“Calm down, Lea, we knew this was risky. Chinwendu’s no fool; she’ll call for help if she needs it. But for now, we should let her deal with the situation. We can’t blow this. It might be the only chance we get.”
Lea knew he was right. She still didn’t like it, but what choice did she have?
* * *
Octavien drew the blade from his coat as a strong blow to the side of his head knocked him to the floor. He fell on his side but didn’t lose his grip on the knife. He looked up, blood clouding his vision. He was shocked to see the old Chinese man above him, holding a large wok in his hand, the base of which had a clump of hair-covered flesh stu
ck to it. Octavien felt his head and found a gaping wound oozing blood.
“You will leave this woman alone, you are a man without honor, and I will not …”
Before the old man could finish, Octavien lunged upwards with his knife. It tore through the small man’s chest and out his back. The sheer violence of the attack lifted the old man off his feet. He was left hanging from the knife as it lodged into a beam.
Octavien stood back to admire his handiwork. Once again he began to grin, forgetting for a split second about Chinwendu. It was all she needed. With tears in her eyes, she launched an attack on Octavien that was so fast and brutal Octavien could not even begin to contain her. She was struggling to stop herself from killing him. She knew the team needed this animal alive. It took all her will to pull herself off him. Finally, she managed to contain her desire to kill.
She stood back and looked at the blooded mess that lay before her. He was spitting out teeth and bleeding from every part of his body.
Then, to her surprise, Octavien began to laugh. When he spoke, his voice was calm and collected. “I thought you had been corrupted, Chinwendu, but after that little show, I can tell you are still one of us. Now we must wait for René. Go get me something to clean up with. My brother will get upset if he sees me like this.”
Chinwendu said nothing as she fetched him some towels from the rear of the shop. She thought to herself, if I were still like you, you would be dead.
She looked at the old man hanging from the knife. Her heart ached for him. She wanted desperately to lift him down, but knew that was impossible. She would have to leave that for the others to do.
Octavien saw her looking at the corpse and said, “He looks like a piece of art, no? We should hang him in the Louvre, what do you think?”
Chinwendu forced a smile, but she wanted to be sick.
Octavien’s mobile phone rang. He answered, speaking in French for a few seconds, and then stood up. “Time to go, the package is in the car. It seems you have done a good job here. Dominic will be pleased. Let’s go.”