by Rob Ashman
Accepting the job with Harry kept her close to him, which was essential if she was going to tidy up the loose ends. But she ran the risk that her real intentions would shine through – he might be dumb but he wasn’t stupid. A casual glance or careless word in the wrong place would tip Walker off. She had to keep it clean and controlled, and convince him she was genuine.
Mechanic had not finalised her thoughts, but sticking with Walker’s kidnap plan was a good option. It would also help to rebuild his confidence after things had gone so badly wrong. Mechanic needed him confident and careless.
The most difficult aspect Mechanic had to manage today was the logistics of Harry’s indecision about which casino to inflict himself on.
Then all of that changed.
Harry got a phone call while in Caesars Palace and he shifted into business mode. He beckoned Mechanic over.
‘I need to get back to the Hacienda – a couple of work issues need fixing,’ he said, sweeping chips into her outstretched arms.
‘Okay, Mr Silverton, let’s get you back to base.’ She nodded towards Walker who went to get the car.
Once back at the hotel, Harry shut himself away in the study and shouted down the phone. Mechanic could hear that all was not well and he was not a happy man.
That left her and Walker sitting in the lounge like a couple suffering the cold blast of silence following a quarrel. Walker edged forward with his elbows on his knees and spoke first.
‘So how is this going to work?’
‘Not sure yet,’ she said shaking her head. ‘How much were you going to take him for?’
‘About two mill.’
‘Wow, nice. Is he good for that much?’
‘And more. He’s got cash in his pockets to cover double that.’
‘Would the negotiations have run smoothly or were you expecting to cut bits off him?’
‘No. With me running that end of the operation it would have been a breeze.’
‘Would the police be involved?’
‘Definitely not. I’ve worked for Silverton for five years and I’m not sure everything he does would stand up to close scrutiny. His people back in Philly are well aware his business interests are a little shady and wouldn’t welcome a police presence.’
‘How was the drop going to go down?’
‘Keep it simple. I leave a bag of money in the trunk of a car in a disused warehouse out towards the Hoover Dam. My men come and take it, drive to the Valley of Fire State Park and switch vehicles. Then lie low.’
‘And you trust these guys?’
‘Yes, or at least I did until you wasted them.’
‘They were second-rate, Walker.’ She was unapologetic. ‘Are there any more of them?’
‘Yeah, there are still a couple of people I know could do the job.’
‘Local?’
‘Both of them.’
‘Are they known to the police?’
‘One’s done time for aggravated burglary, the other is clean. Neither does drugs.’
‘Good. Get them lined up because I want to move fast.’
‘How do you see it going down?’
‘Pretty much along the same lines as your screw-up but this time done properly. A carjacking followed by a ransom demand. Straightforward.’
Walker nodded his approval. He liked the fact she wanted to run with his plan.
‘But with one significant difference.’ She fixed Walker with an icy stare. ‘This time you get kidnapped as well.’
Walker shook his head in protest. ‘No, that’s not—’
‘If I’m going to hold your hand through this I need some added security. What’s to stop you and your boys cutting me out the loop when you get the cash? If we stick with your original plan you would be in Philly conducting the negotiations and your stooges would have two mill in a bag. Then with a puff of smoke, you’re all gone.’ Walker made a non-committal sound which sounded like ‘no we wouldn’t’ or ‘of course we would’.
Mechanic continued, ‘It’s my plan or nothing. I know how to do this and your execution is piss poor. I can pull this off, you can’t. When we’re done you will be a damn sight richer and a hero into the bargain. But I need you where I can see you. When the hit goes down, it will be you and Silverton taken hostage. That way I know where you are.’
‘But who would conduct the negotiations?’
‘Come on, Walker, think it through. I saved his life, remember – he thinks I dance on water. During the initial round of contact, you issue the instruction to the estates team to hand that responsibility over to me. That way I’m in control of the money and in control of you.’
‘But I could take a walk at any time.’ Walker shook his head. ‘You forget that my guys are calling the shots at the holding pen.’
‘No, I’ve not forgotten. That’s why I will have a little piece of added insurance of my own. One of my boys will be watching you. He’s a real pro, I’ve seen him take out bad guys from a mile away. They never saw him and neither will you. He’ll have eyes on you through the whole operation. One false move and you all die. Oh, and I will be the one to make the drop.’
‘Hell no. What stops you taking the cash and doing a runner with your invisible man?’
‘Nothing I suppose. But why would I put myself in that position? I’ve already saved Silverton from one attack so why would I expose myself like that? All I have to do is stay put and take my cut of the money. Think it through, Walker, think it through.’
‘I don’t like this.’ Walker was not prepared for the twist in the plan.
‘And the best thing about this plan is …’ Mechanic leaned forward, her voice hard and uncompromising, ‘you don’t have to like it. You get kidnapped along with our boss and two weeks later you’re one and half mill better off.’
‘One and a half, how do you figure that?’
‘The other advantage of you being in the mix is the ransom goes up. You’re a loyal employee and Silverton would want to secure your safe return as well as his own. So it’s three mill split fifty–fifty. And before you say anything, my math is fine. You get one and a half to share with your goons and I get one and a half. And yes, I get the bigger share.’
Walker thought for a while. ‘Okay. I’m in.’ He extended an open hand towards Mechanic.
She looked at it and shook her head.
‘This is not a second-hand car deal.’
‘Have it your way.’ He withdrew his hand. ‘The only thing left is, where and when?’
‘It needs to be soon. But as for where—’ she stopped as Harry burst in waving a sheaf of papers.
‘Listen up. The Vegas idiots are making a complete fuck up of this, so we’ll be sticking around. Get your bunks sorted out, we’re gonna be staying till it’s fixed.’ He turned and marched the wad of papers back into the study and slammed the door.
Mechanic looked at Walker and smiled.
‘Vegas it is then.’
15
Lucas was in an enormous sulk. The rage he felt against Mechanic had been replaced by a dark morass of frustration which penetrated him to the core. His wife was gone, he was suspended from work and his so-called friend had turned out to be a total prick. Things could hardly be worse.
He’d been in this state for three days when he got a phone call from Harper.
‘What do you want?’
‘Meet me at Brightwood Country Club as soon as you can.’
‘Why would I do that? Do you have a whole crate of sugar for me this time?’
‘Just get there.’ Harper put the phone down.
‘Jerk off,’ Lucas said to no one.
Despite his anger Lucas had to admit Harper had a point – he had been going downhill and the envelope proved to be a wake-up call. He was firing on all cylinders now, even if they were firing in an unhealthy, morbid, obsessive kind of way. He had to acknowledge the letter had galvanised him into action, but he would never admit it to Harper.
Forty minutes later Lucas swung into
a visitor’s parking space at the country club and got out of the car. He waited in the sunshine as Harper crossed the grounds towards him. Harper was all business and no apology.
‘There’s something you need to see.’
‘Have you got yourself a FedEx van now to make deliveries in person?’
Harper ignored the insult and walked to the outbuildings at the back of the club. This was the place where Mechanic had beaten Lucas half to death. If it wasn’t for Harper’s intervention, he would certainly be dead, that was for sure. His anxiety ratcheted up with every step.
He took Harper by the arm and pulled him back.
‘Why are we going there?’ He tilted his head in the direction of the block-walled building with bright red roller-shuttered doors.
‘You’ll see.’ Harper was obviously not in the mood for chitchat.
They entered a side door into a room containing hedge-clipping tools, lawn mowers and every type of gardening equipment. A set of narrow concrete steps spiralled down to the left, leading to the basement where Mechanic had taken Lucas.
Lucas hesitated at the top, staring down at the steps as they blurred into the darkness, beads of sweat standing proud on his top lip. He grasped the handrail tight to steady himself. Harper pushed past and disappeared from view. A light flickered at the bottom and the landing below was bathed in a square of pale yellow light.
Lucas’s breathing was erratic and shallow. His knuckles turned white and his whole body began to shake.
‘You okay?’ called Harper.
Lucas froze. He couldn’t put his foot onto the first step. His heart felt like it was about to burst in his chest.
‘You coming?’ Harper called again.
Lucas’s legs wouldn’t move.
He couldn’t breathe and his head swam in a collage of pain. His pulse thudded inside his head and the sound of water rushed in his ears.
He felt Harper grip his arm.
‘Hey it’s fine,’ he said gently. ‘There’s no one here, it’s only us. Look at me, Lucas. Look at me.’
Lucas tried to tear himself way from the images in his head. The snarling, spitting face of a killer who wanted to take his life. The sickening sound as Mechanic shattered his leg and broke his ribs. The searing pain of the cord biting into his wrists as he swung helplessly from the overhead steam pipe. The feeling of warm blood running down his arms as the rope cut deep into his flesh.
He could taste bile in his mouth. He was going to throw up.
‘Look at me, Lucas. Look at me.’ Harper was supporting him on the top step with his hands on his shoulders. Lucas swayed back and forth, his eyes staring straight through Harper. The whole world was swimming, his peripheral vision closing in.
‘Lucas!’ Harper shook him. ‘She’s not here. Try to focus.’
Lucas let out a rush of air and snapped back to reality. He shook his head to collect himself.
‘Sorry,’ he said catching his breath. ‘It’s just … it’s flooding back.’
‘It’s okay,’ said Harper. ‘It’s okay.’
Lucas’s breathing slowed and the pounding in his head and chest subsided. ‘I’m fine,’ he said tapping both hands on Harper’s shoulders. He was still a little unsteady but allowed Harper to lead him down to the basement.
He swallowed hard as the features of the room came into view. The place had been jet-washed clean and the workbenches were much less cluttered than he remembered. He felt the bile rise once more into his throat when he saw the steam pipe. The grey concrete floor below was discoloured where his blood had stained it dark red. Lucas closed his eyes and struggled to fight the rising panic.
Harper was next to him. ‘You want to go on?’
‘Yes.’
‘I got something to show you.’ Harper walked to the back of the room and turned to face Lucas. ‘I’m sorry about the sugar packets. I thought I was doing the right thing.’
‘You weren’t.’
‘I realise that now. I’m sorry.’
‘You’re a prick.’
Harper smiled. ‘Yes, you’re probably right.’
‘Why are we here anyway?’ Lucas was feeling a little more stable.
‘It’s what you said the other day.’
‘What did I say?’
‘That you couldn’t get your head around how Mechanic would know your return-to-work date.’
‘I don’t remember. I only remember it wasn’t her after all.’
‘You said that you invented all sorts of convoluted explanations to make it fit. You convinced yourself that somehow she knew. When you figured it out, there was no complex reasoning, it was straightforward. She didn’t know when you were returning to work, I did.’
‘Yes, I remember. What of it?’
‘You’re not the only one wrestling with unanswered questions. I could never work out how Mechanic and Jo simply disappeared, the roadblocks and search zones were in place for two weeks and they vanished into thin air. How could that be?’
‘I suppose she slipped through the net.’
‘I don’t buy it. The force threw everything at it and got nothing.’
‘She’s a clever bitch and somehow evaded us.’
‘Yes, that’s right, she is. But she’s not a magician. She’s a clever bitch with a working knowledge of building modifications,’ said Harper rapping the back wall with his fist. He picked up a screwdriver, removed two screws from the side of the plasterboard wall and levered its flat edge against the corner. A section of the wall moved, swinging towards them like a door. Lucas held his breath.
Harper opened it wide and stepped inside. There was a flicker and the interior flooded with light.
‘Take a look!’ he called.
Lucas stepped around the edge of the wall and stared at the concealed room within. It was fifty-feet square with three rows of shelving running around the walls. A military field bed was in one corner and a soiled mattress in the other. He could see pots, pans and cooking equipment along with articles of clothing folded into piles. Large blue polythene drums stood against one wall and sealed white buckets were stacked against the other. Canned and dried foods sat in rows on the shelves and black plastic bags tied at the top were scattered across the floor.
‘You were right.’ Harper broke the silence. ‘We both made the same mistake. We were looking for a complicated theory to explain how they managed to escape, when we should have been looking for the simple explanation. We couldn’t find them because they never left.’
‘How long do you think they were here?’
‘Don’t know but judging by the amount of preparation that went into this place they could have been here for weeks. While we were busy combing the basement for hair follicles, fibres and blood matches, they were here all the time.’
Lucas walked around inspecting the various items. He reached the sealed white buckets.
‘Careful with them,’ Harper said, ‘they’re full of shit.’
‘Much like you.’ Lucas retreated to a safe distance. ‘This is incredible, it’s like those people who prepare for doomsday.’
‘Yeah it is,’ replied Harper, ‘but here’s the best bit.’
Harper pointed to a stack of white boxes on the shelf.
‘Medical supplies,’ Harper said flipping through the boxes. ‘Loads of them. Saline drips, bandages, antibiotics, adrenaline pumps, intravenous lines – you name it, it’s here.’
‘Are those—’
‘Oxygen bottles, yes.’
‘It’s kitted out like a field hospital.’
‘That’s what I thought.’ Harper knelt beside a dark patch on the floor. ‘This is blood and lots of it. And take a look at this.’ He stood and opened up one of the bags pulling out a dressing stained brown with old blood. ‘There are sacks of used dressings and empty saline pouches. I shot one of the bitches but we don’t know which one, right?’
‘Right,’ said Lucas.
‘So let’s ask ourselves a question. Which one knew how to use this
stuff?’
‘Not Jo, that’s for sure,’ replied Lucas. ‘She was a backroom girl. It has to be Mechanic.’
‘With her training and covert ops experience, that’s what I figured. This whole room has to be down to her. It’s her retreat, a place to run to when things get hot. It makes sense she would stock it with medical gear in case she was hurt and needed running repairs.’
‘Agreed.’
‘Mechanic wouldn’t stockpile this stuff if she didn’t know how to use it. And there are bags and bags of it.’
Lucas nodded and looked around him.
Harper continued, ‘So now let’s ask ourselves a second question—’
Lucas interrupted, ‘Why would you use so much?’
The obvious answer flashed between the two men.
To keep someone alive.
16
Staying in Vegas suited Mechanic. She was on home turf which put her at a distinct advantage over Walker. He still harboured misgivings about being taken hostage but the logic was overwhelming and the additional money was inspired. Anyway, it wasn’t as if he had a choice.
Harry was spending his time either yelling at someone on the phone or holding crisis meetings with a constant stream of worried staff dressed in suits. Hitting the casinos was off the agenda, which gave Mechanic time to complete the necessary planning.
She identified the location where the kidnap was to take place and scripted the sequence of events after the vehicle was hit. The warehouse near the Hoover Dam suggested by Walker was a sound choice and she identified the ideal place for the money drop. Mechanic drew up a detailed timing plan to synchronise the play, developed a comms strategy and built a set of contingencies to cover the what-if scenarios. She took out a short-term rental on a flea-infested condo on the outskirts of the city, it was the perfect place to hold Silverton and Walker while the negotiations were in progress. The block housed around twenty apartments which were rented out by the week – different people came and went all the time and it was dirt cheap, cash only. Walker was impressed. No wonder she thought his work was shoddy.