The Dark Series

by Catherine Lee

  “Can we substitute one of our guys for the pilot?”

  “That might not be as easy as it was with the ambulance. If he’s organised a plane, chances are the pilot’s working for him. Does Fisher & Co own a private jet?”

  “No idea, boss.” Quinn kept his eyes on the ambulance in front of them. They could afford to sit back a bit on the freeway, especially now that they knew where it was headed, but they still needed to keep it in sight.

  The security guy came back on the line and confirmed that the owners of the plane, Hannity Air, had been contracted to fly to Bangkok, with three refuelling stops along the way. They were to carry four passengers, one of whom needed medical care, plus the pilot. There was a doctor waiting in the plane. Cooper explained the situation to the guard, making sure he wouldn’t spook David into harming the children. Then he hung up and called Beth Fisher, who had stayed behind at the hospital with Annette. Annette had naturally wanted to go with Cameron in the ambulance, but Cooper wouldn’t allow it.

  “Does your company use Hannity Air?” he asked when Beth answered her phone.

  “Yes. Uncle Robert and David use them sometimes for interstate trips. Why?”

  “We’re following the ambulance to the Illawarra Regional Airport. I think David is going to try and take the kids out of the country.”

  “You can’t let him do that!” Beth cried.

  “Of course not. I need to know everything you can tell me about that company. Is there a regular pilot they would use?”

  “I’m not sure. I only went with them once, to Brisbane. Uncle Robert would know. Shall I call him?”

  “No. He’s being questioned right now. I’ll find out myself. Can you send me the company’s contact details?”

  “Doing it now.”

  After another three phone calls, Cooper finally got the information he wanted. There was a pilot with Hannity Air that frequently flew David and Robert Fisher interstate. From what the company manager told him, Cooper figured that David had a reasonably close relationship with this pilot. It was highly likely the guy was on David’s private payroll, and therefore they couldn’t switch him out with an undercover officer.

  “He can’t honestly think he’s going to be able to take off, can he?” asked Quinn. “I mean, you said he’ll know we’re following the ambulance. Then there’s the security at the airport. How does he think he’ll get away with it?”

  “We’re talking about a guy who’s used to using money and power to get what he wants, Joe. He’s got this far.”

  “Yes, but all the money in the world isn’t going to help him against us.”

  “No, and he knows that. He’s cornered, and that’s why he’s taken the two little ones. You heard Annette. Ever since Cameron was diagnosed, David Fisher has worked for a singular purpose — to save his brother’s life. Professor Keane said the same thing. David knows what it’s like to lose a family member, and he’s not going to let it happen again. It may have started out as a noble cause, but it’s become an obsession. He’s at the point where he’ll do anything to fulfil his purpose, rational or not.”

  “So we’re not dealing with a rational mind, then?”

  “I think it’s pretty safe to say his time for thinking things through has passed.”

  They were close to the airport now. Cooper sent a text to the paramedic, instructing them to park the ambulance at least fifty metres from the plane. When it was in place, he got Quinn to park midway between the ambulance and the plane. David had a head start on them, he’d almost certainly be in the plane already with the children. Security had told him there was also a pilot and a doctor on board, which meant David effectively had four hostages. He wasn’t going anywhere without his brother, though.

  Cooper and Quinn got out of the car and took cover behind it. “Whatever happens, Cameron does not get on that plane.”

  “Right, boss.”

  The head of security, who introduced himself as Greg Macken, joined them at the side of their car and confirmed that there were four people plus the pilot aboard, two of them small children.

  “Have you called for backup?” he asked.

  “Yes, but they’re waiting outside the airport,” replied Cooper. “He’s unstable, I don’t want him harming the children.”

  “What’s the plan, then?”

  “We wait. It’s his move.”

  They didn’t have to wait long. The Cessna fired up its engines, closed the door, and high-tailed it down the runway.

  54

  “Where the fuck’s he going?”

  As soon as Cooper realised the question had come from the undercover officer who’d driven the ambulance, he knew how much trouble they were in. He turned in time to see the ambulance take off down the runway in pursuit of the aircraft, lights and sirens unnecessary for this particular part of its journey. He’d been right to worry about leaving that paramedic in place. The guy must have been in touch with Fisher the whole time.

  “Get in,” he screamed, as he slammed the car into gear. He didn’t bother waiting until they’d all shut their doors. The undercover guy and Greg made it into the back seat, holding on as Cooper swung the car around and took off after the ambulance, the security guard issuing instructions into the two-way on his shoulder. Quinn, in the front passenger seat, handed Cooper the radio.

  “All units move in, Northern end of the runway,” he instructed. “Fuck!” he screamed, once Quinn turned the mic off.

  The Cessna was slowing at the far end of the runway, the ambulance closing in on it. “What the hell were you doing, leaving your post?” Cooper demanded of the very guilty looking undercover officer.

  “I thought the paramedic was cool.” It was the only explanation he could offer, and it wasn’t close to good enough. Cooper was glad he was driving, it meant he had no free hands to turn around and strangle the guy. He shook off his anger and focused on the task at hand. The ambulance had about a twenty second head start, surely that wasn’t enough time for them to load Cameron and get away without being caught? No, it wasn’t. David must have something else in mind. He grabbed the radio again.

  “All units, proceed with caution. This is a hostage situation. Maintain a twenty metre perimeter, and do not approach the ambulance or the aircraft without my direct order. Follow my lead, people.”

  There were three police cars besides their own, plus a security car. Cooper handed the radio to Quinn. “Get the team to circle the plane once it stops. Make sure he can’t pull that stunt again.” He turned to Greg. “You tell your guys to join in. We’ll go for the ambulance.”

  The instructions were issued, and Cooper felt a moment of calm. He imagined his own two children on that plane, instead of Beth Fisher’s. He thought of Liz, how she would react if Michael and Patrick were in danger. It was every parent’s worst nightmare, and he knew he had to get them back.

  The Cessna came to a halt, and the three police cars combined with the security car to execute a beautiful manoeuvre effectively grounding the plane before the pilot realised what was going on. They couldn’t have done a better job if they’d practiced for hours.

  Cooper focused on the ambulance.

  “You ready, Joe?”

  “Ready, boss.”

  He shot past the slowing ambulance and spun the car around, before heading straight back towards it head on. At the last minute he slammed on the brakes and came to rest with his passenger side door in front of the ambulance’s windscreen. Both Quinn and the undercover officer leapt from the car, guns pointed at the startled paramedic behind the wheel. Cooper allowed himself a momentary smile. Then his phone rang.

  “Nice moves, Detective.” It was David Fisher.

  “You’re surrounded, David. You’re not going anywhere. Let the children go, and we can talk about this.”

  “No. Jacob for Cameron — that was the deal. Give me my brother.”

  “You know I can’t do that.”

  “Then I’ll have no choice. I need Emily, but I don’t need
Jacob. Don’t think I won’t hurt him, Detective.”

  “He’s four years old, David. He’s your cousin, your blood. Do you really want to spill your own blood today?”

  “No, I don’t. But I will if I have to. I won’t lose another brother.” David hung up.

  Cooper wasn’t equipped for this. He told Quinn to get on the radio and find out if there were any trained hostage negotiators in the area.

  “There’s a team in Sydney, just over an hour away. Shall we bring them in?”

  “Yes.” He had no idea how long this was going to take. “We might as well get comfortable.”

  The security guard stepped back to take a call on his radio. “There’s a couple of women here asking for you,” he said to Cooper. He listened to the radio again. “Beth Fisher and Annette Jones,” he relayed. “You want us to send them away?”

  “No. Can you have them brought here?”

  “Boss?” said Quinn.

  Cooper shrugged. “Maybe he’ll listen to his mother.”

  Beth and Annette both appeared a lot calmer than when Cooper had left them at the hospital. He was worried that Beth would be hysterical, but the sight of the plane surrounded and unable to go anywhere must have been at least a little reassuring.

  “Can I speak to him?” Annette asked.

  Cooper nodded and dialled David’s number, putting the phone on speaker before handing it to her. For the second time today, he was surprised at what happened next.

  “David? I need to take Cameron back to the hospital. They’ve got him a kidney.”

  “I don’t believe you.”

  “I don’t care whether you believe me or not. I don’t have time to argue. He needs this transplant, David. I’m taking him back to the hospital.”

  “He’s not at the top of the list. They can’t have a kidney for him yet. I have one. I’m going to save him.”

  “You don’t have a kidney, David. You have two scared children who need their mother right now. Just like Cameron needs me. Let Emily and Jacob go, so we can get Cameron back to the hospital before they give his kidney to someone else.”

  Cooper didn’t know whether Annette was telling the truth or not, but she sounded pretty convincing. He decided to go along with it.

  “David, I’m going to instruct this ambulance to go back to Wollongong Hospital now so your brother can get the care he needs.”

  “No! I’ll hurt the kid, I told you I would!”

  “I don’t think you will. You care about Jacob, just like you care about Cameron. You heard your mother, you don’t need to do this anymore. Cameron is going to get a kidney, but only if we get him back to the hospital right now.”

  “You give me back my children!” screamed Beth. Cooper shot her a look, then indicated to Quinn to get her out of earshot. That wasn’t helping.

  “David, we’re running out of time. You know there’s no way I can let this plane leave the ground with those kids on board. The only chance Cameron has is if you let them go. It’s up to you now, David. It’s all on you.”

  The line went silent, and for a moment Cooper didn’t think it was going to happen. But then the plane door opened, and Emily and Jacob came down the steps and into the arms of their mother. Cooper was up those same steps moments later, his Glock leading the way.

  “You did the right thing,” he said, holstering his weapon once he saw David was unarmed.

  “Did I? Do you really believe they’ve got him a kidney?”

  Cooper turned David around and secured him with handcuffs. “She sounded pretty convincing,” he said, leading the prisoner down the steps of the plane. “But even if it’s not true, Cameron still has a better chance here than on that plane.”

  55

  “I think he’s waking up.”

  Beth marvelled again at just how much Cameron looked like Tim as she came to his bedside.

  “Hey, little cousin,” she said.

  Cameron managed a half smile, then looked at his mother.

  “It all went well, mate. You’ve got a new kidney,” said Annette. She looked over at the man in the bed next to Cameron. “Thanks to your father.”

  “We’ll both be up and about in no time,” said Robert.

  Beth couldn’t remember the last time she’d seen her uncle smile like he did right now. She was glad she’d convinced Annette to call him. Not that Annette had needed much convincing. As they’d talked, Beth worked out that Annette had wanted to contact Robert for years. She felt guilty about leaving, about hiding Cameron from him, and the way the police had treated him as a suspect. For all his faults she’d never meant to hurt him. But time after time David had talked her out of it, saying he wouldn’t understand, that he was an even harder man than he was when she first left. David had perpetuated the lie, and Annette had felt helpless to do anything about it. Until David had revealed his true colours, that was.

  As much as she’d wanted to speak to him, Annette admitted to Beth that the phonecall to Robert when the police were still trying to locate David was one of the hardest she’d ever had to make. To his credit, though, Robert had dropped everything and made his way to Wollongong, arriving at the hospital just as the ambulance returned with Cameron. Annette had lied to David at the airport, there was no kidney, but she knew it was the only way to save Beth’s children. If she was honest with herself she’d seen glimpses of the true David for years, and although as she explained to Beth she’d never suspected him of anything illegal, she’d had her suspicions that he was becoming obsessed with saving Cameron at all costs.

  In the days that followed, Robert had insisted on being tested. Unlike the rest of the family, he’d never given blood at Fisher & Co’s one hundred and fortieth birthday celebrations. He turned out to be an excellent match, and the transplant went ahead as soon as possible.

  “Are you sure you want to do this?” Beth had asked her uncle as he waited to go into the operating theatre.

  “More than anything,” he replied. “I would never have made Annie give up a child.” There was a pain in his eyes Beth had never seen before as he hesitated. “I know I was never the best husband and father, and I said some terrible things to cope with the loss of Tim. I have many regrets, Beth. I feel responsible for driving David to act the way he did.”

  “That’s not your fault. David went too far, he developed an unhealthy obsession. It changed him: he’s not the man he was. He’s not the son you raised.”

  “He’ll always be my son, Beth. Regardless of what he’s done.”

  “He hid your family from you for fifteen years.”

  “I know. And Jill…”

  Beth shook her head. She wasn’t ready to acknowledge that. Robert changed tack.

  “I want to do this, Beth. I want to show Cameron that I’m here for him, that I’ll do anything for him. I owe him that much. Annie too.”

  “Okay.” Beth had kissed him on the cheek then, and watched as they wheeled him into surgery. Uncle Robert had always been someone she looked up to. She never believed the rumours, justifiably as it turned out. She was proud of how he ran the company, how he held the family business in such high regard. And she was enormously proud of how he stepped up when he found out about Annie and Cameron. He’d come straight down to be with them, and hadn’t left their side since.

  Now that the transplant was over, Beth began to wonder what would happen next. David was going to prison, probably for a very long time. In addition to the kidnapping, he faced a whole bunch of charges relating to the drug importation, as well as those relating to contraventions of the Research Involving Human Embryos Act. Beth had taken a look at the legislation, and with her limited understanding of what the Foundation had been involved in, it wasn’t looking good for her cousin. And on top of all that, there was still the question of her sister’s murder.

  Beth’s phone rang. It was the office, so she answered it. Michelle, her uncle’s assistant, didn’t even say hello before virtually demanding to speak to her boss. “He’s not answering hi
s own phone,” she told Beth.

  “That’s because he’s just had surgery. Whatever it is, Mike can deal with it,” said Beth, referring to the senior manager Robert had left in charge.

  Robert gestured wildly from his bed. “Give me the phone,” he said. Beth reluctantly handed it over. “Michelle? Yes, hi. Look, I know we’ve said before that I’m always available, but things have changed. Mike is in charge, and he’s more than capable. I don’t want to hear it. In fact, if the office burns to the ground, I don’t want to hear it.” He looked proudly at the boy in the next bed, and the woman standing beside him. “I’m spending time with my family.”

  He hung up and looked at Beth. “You need to do the same,” he said.

  Beth nodded, finally understanding that with all the time she’d spent working for the family business, she’d been neglecting her real family. Louis, Emily, and Jacob. That was the family that mattered. And they were out in the waiting room right now.

  “Are you going to be okay, Annette?” she asked, picking up her bag.

  “Annie. I think I want to go back to Annie. And yes, we’re going to be just fine.”

  56

  In a revealing interview with Cooper and Quinn, David confessed everything. Jill had found the email on her computer connecting Fisher & Co to the Chiefs, but that wasn’t what got her killed. She’d found out about Cameron and Annie, and had wanted to tell the rest of the family. David had visited her that night to ask her to hold off. The Foundation was close to being able to build Cameron a new kidney, and David didn’t want his father jeopardising that. Jill had insisted that the family be told, and David struck her in frustration. Cooper believed him when he said he’d never meant for her to die, but his obsession with saving Cameron at all costs took over and he covered up her death to keep his mother and brother a secret.