by Mark Arundel
‘Does it make sense?’ I asked.
‘Yes, this part is the international code. I understand,’ she said. ‘I’ll make the call now. I’ll do it in the garage. It’ll be better there.’
I watched her pass through the glass office door and it was then that the lights went out.
In the roof was a small skylight. It caught some of the glow from the city and threw it down in a flat opaque band. Unfortunately, it was barely strong enough to lift the grainy blackness to the level of gloom.
‘Penny, Jemima, neither of you move,’ I called out in a loud whisper. I knew where they were and I wanted it to stay that way.
‘What’s happened?’ Penny asked.
‘It’s just the lights,’ I said. ‘Stay in your seat while I get them back on, Jemima, you too.’
‘I’m scared,’ Penny said.
My combat sense was telling me I was in trouble. If it had an actual alarm bell, it would be ringing loudly.
If I were going to attempt a difficult hostage rescue on this garage then in darkness, wearing night-vision goggles would be my preferred method.
At that moment, I didn’t consider how anyone had found us because I was too busy thinking about what I was going to do. There were only two ways in. These were through the garage doors at the front or the small skylight in the roof.
While carefully covering the two or three steps to the office door, I glanced at the skylight. I saw the night and nothing else. Keeping low, I eased my way into the garage and called out to Xing in a whisper. She didn’t reply. Before I had time to say anything more, the garage doors opened. I dropped beside the taxi and watched. Three dark figures silently entered. I saw them silhouetted for a moment in the doorway and then the light was gone and they stood ghost-like. They were listening. It was exactly what I would have done. The silence was total. All three wore balaclavas and carried assault rifles. Something about them reminded me of the ancient shinobi.
My first thought was to shoot them, but I knew that the moment I showed myself and fired they would fire back. I’d get the first one, maybe the second if I was lucky, but not the third, and either way I wouldn’t avoid the automatic fire from the assault rifle that was certain to come my way. I thought again. Where was Xing?
My night-time vision had always been good. I was now working it hard. The shinobi were scanning ahead and the leader began a slow advance. It was decision time. I lightly sidestepped behind the taxi and then moved silently backwards to the wall beside the mechanics pit while maintaining the taxi as cover. The shinobi had fanned out. Two were moving forward into the open space and the third was approaching on my side. He stepped carefully across and I realised in a few more steps he would see me. I dropped into the pit behind the Honda and then pressed myself against the near side wall. I kept low and listened. He came alongside the taxi, by the pit and then stopped. If he leant over and looked down beyond the Honda, he would see me for sure. At least it would force the decision of what I was going to do. I knew he was going to look, I would have done.
As he angled his head and body over and across, I leapt up, grabbed his arm and assault rifle and yanked hard. Off balance and with gravity against him the man fell heavily. He smacked against the Honda’s bumper as he dropped the few feet into the pit and then landed on his head. Unfortunately, his trigger finger had squeezed and the rifle barked into life, spitting automatic bullets into the concrete floor. The sharp clatter of fire inside the dark silence of the garage was thunderous and was certain to bring investigation. At least one of the other two shinobi would be over me in seconds. The urgency of my position was instant and I dispatched my fallen adversary with a heel kick to his abdomen and two rapid forearm smashes to his jaw. I had pulled my Glock even before I had completed the second smash. Turning, I raised my weapon with critical speed just as the balaclava-covered head appeared around the taxi and approached the pit. He held the rifle tight against his shoulder and his cheek cradled the stock in a loving embrace. He was certain to fire. I had allowed the Glock to settle on his chest. I shot once. The bullet took him down. I heard his body slap the hard floor. I jumped from the pit, facing the fallen man in case he remained a danger. He was groaning and his body writhed in a semi-conscious state. It was then that I realised he wore a vest. I hadn’t killed him.
I heard the third man before I saw him. He had come around behind me. I spun as fast as I could, but I wasn’t going to be quick enough. As my eyes fell on his dark form cradling his rifle in the same loving way I realised I was too late. He would fire before I had time to target the Glock. It was then, in that exact second that a foot flew out from beneath the taxi and struck the back of his leg. The result was instantaneous. He couldn’t avoid the reflex action, and his leg buckled. It gave me the extra second I needed. The Glock kicked in my hand and the bullet thumped his chest. He dropped and I heard his head smack the concrete. I breathed in deeply. It had been close.
The rest of the body swiftly followed the foot and Xing appeared from under the taxi. Even in the coal mine gloom, I could see the look on her face. As always, it was hard to read.
‘You did want my help?’ she asked.
I didn’t reply.
‘Shall I finish them?’ she said.
‘No,’ I said, ‘we don’t have time for bodies, not now. Let’s collect their rifles and ammo belts, get in the taxi and get out of here.’
‘How did they find us?’ she asked. ‘It was so fast.’
‘…the duckling in the second taxi?’ I suggested.
‘…perhaps,’ she said.
‘Who else knew we were here?’
‘Nobody,’ she said.
‘I’ll get Penny and Jemima,’ I said. ‘Check outside, we don’t want any surprises.’
I opened the office door and went in.
‘Penny, Jemima,’ I called out their names. I didn’t get a reply. I searched the room. Both of them had gone.
29
TUESDAY, 02:00—03:30
‘Gone, how can they have gone?’
‘I don’t know. They didn’t come through the garage and they didn’t go out through the skylight.’
‘They’ve vanished.’
‘They can’t have vanished. There must be another way out.’
‘We need the lights back on or a torch.’
‘We don’t have time. Did you see if the second taxi was still there when you checked outside?’
‘Yes, it was there, parked across the street.’
‘Was the duckling still in it?’
‘Yes. He looked asleep.’
‘There must be a hidden door, for security, used in emergencies. Let’s get away in the second taxi. We’ll ask the duckling and I’ll call Jemima. They can’t have gone far.’
We collected what we needed and left the garage closing the doors behind us. The three shinobi were all still down and I hoped it would be the last I saw of them. Jemima would not have thanked me if I’d left three dead bodies behind. It was the right decision. While thinking that, I found his number in Xing’s K106 and called it. Xing and I jumped into the back of the taxi, which woke the duckling. Xing immediately began explaining to him in Cantonese. Then Jemima answered his phone.
‘Where are you?’ I asked.
‘About a half a mile from the garage,’ he replied. He sounded out of breath.
‘Is Penny with you?’
‘Yes. She wants to go home.’
I knew how she felt.
‘Wait where you are. I have your location on the K106. We’ll come and get you. We’re on our way now. We’re in the second taxi. Tell Penny everything is okay. We’ll be with you in a few minutes. Tell her we’ll get her home very soon. Okay?’
‘Yes, okay,’ he said. ‘We heard the gunfire. I was scared. Both of us were scared. I…’
‘It’s okay,’ I said. ‘Just stay where you are. It won’t take more than a couple of minutes to get to you.’
I interrupted Xing. ‘Jemima and Penny are here,’ I s
aid, showing her the K106 screen. Tell the duckling to get us there quickly.’ Xing took the K106, studied the screen and then spoke to the duckling. He nodded energetically while pulling away and accelerating hard.
Xing sat back and turned to me. I took back the K106.
‘The office has a hidden door, just like you said. They use it to come and go in secret.’
I nodded. ‘Why didn’t you answer me?’
‘…when?’
‘…back in the garage when the lights went out.’
‘I didn’t want you to know where I was.’
‘…why not?’
‘My plan was to let them pass me and then shoot them from behind. I didn’t want you to do something different because you knew I was under the taxi.’
‘They could have killed me,’ I said.
Xing shook her head. ‘No, I had you covered the whole time.’
I wasn’t sure what to make of that. I studied her face. She had fixed her eyes on mine. They were dark and questioning. I could see she was expecting me to say something, perhaps to criticise her. I remained silent.
‘It wasn’t the duckling,’ she said.
‘…what?’
‘…that gave away our location to Missouri.’
‘How do you know?’ I asked.
‘I’ve just questioned him about it. I would know if he was lying to me. He didn’t do it. Anyway, he was asleep.’
‘Who was it then?’
Xing shrugged. ‘I don’t know,’ she said.
‘Penny wants to go home,’ I said.
‘How long does a money transfer take from Hong Kong to London?’ she asked.
‘I’m not sure,’ I said. ‘I think it can be immediate, but a billion pounds may need some kind of bank official authorization.’
‘Perhaps Missouri already knew about the garage and took a chance,’ she said.
‘…perhaps,’ I said.
The duckling spoke over his shoulder in Cantonese.
‘We’re almost there,’ Xing translated.
I looked out. On the corner, I saw a rectangular stone street sign: Rua De Cinco De Something, and then the duckling turned. We drove over a zebra crossing and onto a narrow one-way street. It was little more than a city lane, which wound uphill between old tall buildings that supported high mounted street lamps. It was much darker and quieter.
‘There they are,’ Xing said. The duckling had also seen them. They stood on the pavement in the lamplight like stars on a stage. He slowed the taxi and then stopped beside them on the narrow lane.
‘Get in,’ I told them.
Jemima sat in the front and Penny got in the back next to Xing.
Jemima kept saying sorry. ‘I didn’t know what to do, I panicked,’ he explained.
It was then that I heard the car. The powerful engine was screaming in high gear. I looked up. The headlights were set to full beam. It raced straight towards us driving the wrong way down the one-way street. For a moment, I didn’t think it was going to stop in time. The tyres squealed as they slipped under hard braking. Then, as it snaked to a halt only inches from us, I saw the make and model and I recognised the car. It was Missouri’s Mercedes. Instantly, Xing recognised it too. Her urgency was obvious. It filled the taxi. Penny caught it. She stared at the Mercedes.
‘Papai,’ she screamed.
Missouri was sitting in the front passenger seat. For a single breath, it seemed everything stopped. Then we all exhaled and everything happened at supersonic speed.
Xing lifted her hand. In it, she held her Glock. My own hand went to hers.
‘He hasn’t transferred the money yet,’ I said.
Penny was attempting to push past Xing and get to the door. She wanted to go to her father. I couldn’t allow that. I didn’t have feelings about what I did. I acted in a way I instinctively knew was most likely to achieve my objective. The army is very good at embedding successful-mission-completion DNA into every Special Forces soldier.
I grabbed Penny by the hair. It was thick and long, easily allowing my fingers to secure a firm grip. I pulled her back and up. Her head twisted and her body squirmed. She screamed and fought against me, but only for a second. I was much too strong for her, and like a captured gazelle, she succumbed to the inevitable. I forced her between the seats, head first, face lifted. The duckling and Jemima turned and moved, Jemima uncomfortably so. With her face almost pressing against the windscreen, I leant over further and using my free hand pressed the Glock hard into the side of her head. If Penny’s face wasn’t already displaying pain and fear, it certainly was now. I stared coldly at the Mercedes windscreen and allowed my menacing eyes to settle on Missouri’s face. Holding the uncomfortable position, I allowed two or three distressing seconds to pass. I could almost taste Missouri’s anger and frustration. He was helpless. I spoke loudly over my shoulder to Xing.
‘Call him, call him now,’ I said.
Xing didn’t reply, but I knew she understood.
Then I spoke to Jemima. ‘Tell the duckling to get us out of here. Reverse back onto the main road. Don’t worry, they won’t follow.’
Jemima told the duckling who nodded his approval. He found a gear and then the taxi shot backwards, whining loudly in reverse. The Mercedes remained stationary. I watched it closely until we were out of sight. Only then, did I remove the Glock and loosen my grip. I released her slowly. She was crying. I felt her body soften and I helped her back.
Xing’s eyes were on us. She had turned on the rear interior light. She held the K106 to her ear and then she began speaking in Portuguese. Penny pulled away from me and pressed herself against Xing. She buried her face into Xing’s body. Xing allowed it, but she didn’t stop talking. I listened to the phone call. Her voice was flat and without emotion. I didn’t understand every word, but the meaning was clear. After reading out the bank numbers Xing paused. Missouri must have said something. Xing listened and then she spoke again briefly, before ending the call. I didn’t catch what she said. We were back on the main road and the duckling was driving east in traffic. Car horns were sounding. Xing pocketed the K106 and then looked at me.
‘I’ve given him one hour,’ she said. Her demeanour was chilling and certain. She didn’t look at Penny who was quietly sobbing. The girl still clung to her.
‘One hour?’ I questioned.
‘One hour,’ she confirmed. I knew what she meant.
‘What’s the time?’ I asked.
Jemima told me.
‘What did he say?’ I asked Xing.
‘He offered me a good deal,’ she said. I questioned her with my eyes and waited. ‘...two hundred and forty million Hong Kong dollars.’
‘How much is that?’ I asked.
‘...a lot,’ she said.
‘More than...’
‘Yes, much more.’
I didn’t like it. Things were going badly.
‘How did Missouri know where his daughter was?’ I asked. ‘He was rushing to get her. He knew exactly where to find her. He knew she had split from us, from you and me, which gave him the confidence to go himself.’
Jemima answered. ‘He must be tracking us,’ he said.
Jemima was right.
‘Or someone is passing him the information,’ I said.
‘Well, it isn’t me,’ Jemima said.
‘...and isn’t the ducklings,’ Xing said.
‘...then who is it?’ I asked.
‘If we knew how he’s tracking us...’ Xing said, and then paused.
She was right. The realisation hit me. It jabbed at me with tight, hard punches, constant and relentless. Billy Bradshaw’s words replayed in my head: Just be careful that you’re not washing someone else’s dirty face. I’ve seen it happen. If I were you, I’d question everything. A set-up is always possible. Espionage is a grubby business. Tenerife was your first lesson and you survived. I wouldn’t like Macau to be your second. This time, the dice may not roll your way. Your boss is ruthless just remember that.
; It was London. London was tracking us and passing the information to Missouri. London, it had to be.
‘Stop the taxi,’ I said. ‘Jemima, tell the duckling to pull over.’
We passed a bus and moved over to the inside lane. The duckling stopped abruptly, which forced the bus to serve around us. The driver sounded his horn in frustration.
‘Give me all your phones,’ I said. ‘All the K106s and your own phones, the duckling’s too.’
‘What’s wrong?’ Jemima asked.
‘It’s the phones,’ I said.
‘The phones, but that means...’
‘Yes, it’s London.’
‘London,’ Xing said, ‘but why? They want the money back. They want us to succeed. Why would they help Missouri?’
It was a good question.
‘I don’t know,’ I said, ‘but it’s the only way Missouri could have known our locations: the hotels, the pathway by the water, the garage and now a random backstreet. The K106s give London our positions and London gives those positions to Missouri.’
‘When you say London what exactly do you mean?’ asked Jemima.
‘I don’t know. Someone with access to the system or someone with the authority, someone who knows what we’re doing here...’
‘...Meriwether?’ Xing said, interrupting.
‘I don’t know.’
‘...not Meriwether,’ she said.
‘...why not?’ I asked.
‘Why would Meriwether send us and then sabotage us? How does he benefit from that? It doesn’t make sense.’
She was right. Who would benefit from our failure—not Meriwether surely?
Either way, the phones had to go and then I needed to decide where to wait out the hour. Once the phones were gone, London couldn’t track us and Missouri couldn’t find us. I hoped.
One problem, though, was how would we know whether he had transferred the money? London wouldn’t be able to contact us. I wasn’t certain of the solution.
I dismantled all the phones and then put them into a paper bag. It was an old lunch bag, which still had a smell of noodles. The duckling found it in the glove box.