Oleg. We made it round the bend,” Mia was thinking hard but she was still in shock.
“Who’s we? You’re the only one here,” asked Mr Sakamoto with concern growing in his voice.
“Chen, Tom and Lela,” she said.
“Oh my God! Where are they?” Mr Sakamoto looked around at the dead bodies and could not help but think of the hostage crisis around the world. Had his school been hit?
“I remember,” said Mia. “That we were coming down the hill and Chen started screaming at me, grabbed the wheel and slammed his foot on the accelerator pedal. I didn’t know what to do, he was screaming at me in a Chinese dialect that I didn’t really understand. All I could do was scream back at him.”
“What happened then, dear?” Ms Anderson was being surprisingly tender.
“I’m not sure but he basically made us crash into the gates. After that, I don’t remember a thing.”
Weadle returned. He had failed to find any soldiers, every single one had vanished. Mr Sakamoto thought about the unfolding scene and raced to his car.
“Come on, we must contact Donald Kennedy. Something is very, very wrong.”
“No, I’m afraid that’s not an option,” said Weadle confidently.
Three soldiers came around the corner with guns aimed at the three of them.
“But you said all the soldiers had gone?” said Ms Anderson who was slower to catch on.
Mr Sakamoto put his arm across her forearm to let her know to stop talking.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“Absolutely nothing. That is exactly what I want the three of you to do for the next few days,” said Weadle enjoying the power over Mr Sakamoto.
“I’m sorry?”
“We’re going to go back to your office and we’re going to continue as if nothing is wrong. You didn’t see anything and no children are missing. Just in case you try anything clever, these three young men will be joining us and will have no hesitation in spending hours prolonging the death of our young student here.”
Weadle looked down and smiled insanely at the injured Mia.
Mr Sakamoto knew he was not bluffing. The look on the man’s face was pure evil. He had little option but to agree. He looked at Ms Anderson who was still struggling to comprehend what was happening and just said, “OK.”
Five more soldiers appeared and began clearing away the bodies and hosing down the pools of blood. Within ten minutes, nobody would have known that death and destruction had recently visited the base.
The phone rang once before he answered.
“Reaper here.”
“We have a problem,” the voice said.
“Who is this and how did you get my number?” Reaper asked irritated.
“My name is Weadle and let’s just say that we have a mutual client who has spent a great deal of money for our services.”
“OK, what’s the problem?” asked Reaper realising his client had obviously some back-up resources he was unaware of.
“The targets have gone and all of the operatives that should be with them are dead.”
Reaper could not believe his ears.
“What about Schmidt, where is the imbecile?”
“Dead along with nine of his colleagues. Ten have gone to try to catch the targets and eight are trying to maintain a semblance of normality for prying eyes at the base.”
“But what happened?”
“I have no idea but it seems that one of your operatives may still be with them, somebody called Chen?”
“Excellent, some good news at last. Anyway, don’t worry, I had planned for this eventuality, it’s in hand. Will you be talking to our client?”
“No. I have orders not to make any contact until further notice.”
“OK, I’ll keep him up to speed. Anything else I need to know?”
“Nothing, other than I have the Headmaster, his PA and a student held at gunpoint for the next few days.” The sarcasm in Weadle’s tone was cutting. “Don’t worry, they’ll act as though nothing has happened. After the mission is complete, let me know and I’ll arrange the necessary.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your help, you have covered off Schmidt’s role perfectly. I must put the alternative plan into action. I’ll give you a signal on completion. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye and good luck,” said Weadle putting the receiver down.
Chapter 47
Tom dialled his father’s mobile. It went straight to Voicemail. That was very strange. He had Call Waiting and it was only when the phone was switched off that it would go straight to Voicemail. After abandoning the mobile, he checked his watch. It was still morning in the UK and despite being a Saturday, his father would be in the office. He dialled the private line and Helen picked up.
“Hi Tom, how’s the new school?”
“Hmm fine, I really need to speak to my dad, is he there please?”
“No, sorry. He went home, he should be there by now. Shall I put you through?”
“No, it’s fine, I’ll do it.”
He hung up and dialled home.
The phone answered after only one ring.
“Mum, Dad, are you OK? It’s me. Something terrible has happened.”
The words rushed from his mouth in the relief that the phone had been answered.
“Ah, the elusive Tom,” came a strange voice in response.
“Who are you?”
“That’s of no concern to you. Let’s just say that I can help you and you can help me.”
“Where are my mum and dad? Why are you answering their phone?”
“Let’s just say they’re OK for now but what you do will determine whether they remain OK. Now firstly, where are you and how is Lela?”
“I don’t know and Lela is fine.”
“Now, now Tom. Do you want to see your mother again?”
“I honestly don’t know where we are. We’re in a helicopter over the Ocean.”
“OK, I believe you. Now what I’m about to tell you will help you keep your parents in oxygen for the next seventy two hours. You must not contact any authorities. If I hear one siren or hear any chatter regarding our situation, you’ll never see them again. Do you understand Tom?”
“Yes I understand,” replied Tom.
Lela heard the fear in his voice and started gesticulating. Tom shook his head and put his hand up indicating for her to stop.
“Good. Now, I have contacts everywhere as you have probably already guessed. If they hear one mention of the Kennedy name, they will call me immediately. So I cannot emphasise enough that you must not talk to anyone. ARE WE CLEAR TOM?”
“Crystal,” he responded.
“Now who killed my men, Tom?”
Tom’s brain was working faster than it ever had before.
“I don’t know, I heard them say something about drinking water they weren’t supposed to have drunk. I think they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time so they came to help us.”
“OK, how many are there TOM?”
“There are five of them,” he lied. They had left ten bodies behind and Tom thought that if he said there were only two soldiers, it would sound suspicious.
