“OK. I need you to tell me where they’re taking you. Tell them you are talking to your father and need to know where you are landing.”
“OK. Will I call you back or are you holding on?”
“Holding on Tom. Remember your mum and dad, no funny stuff.”
Tom made his way to the cockpit to speak to Kano and Kisho.
“Where are we heading to?”
“Not sure, still trying to calculate exactly how far we can go on this tank. By the looks of it, we can do just over a thousand miles, this thing is full to the brim. Give me another ten minutes and I’ll let you know,” said Kisho.
“OK.”
Tom made his way back to the main cabin where a very concerned Lela watched his every move.
“What’s wrong?” she mouthed to him, conscious he was still on the phone to whoever was putting the fear of God into him.
Again, Tom only shook his head.
“The pilot doesn’t know yet, he’s still working things out but he reckons we’ll be flying about a thousand miles.”
“That is not the kind of answer I need if you want to see your mother again.”
“They honestly don’t know yet but as soon as they tell me, I’ll let you know. I promise I’m telling you the truth. Please don’t hurt them,” pleaded Tom holding back the tears.
“OK, OK, I believe you. Now take down this number and call me the second you know. Meanwhile, we’ll be tracking you.”
Reaper read out the telephone number and hung up.
Chapter 48
As Tom hung up the phone, the helicopter suddenly took a dive towards the sea and they were all thrown to the floor.
“What the hell happened?”
Kano appeared.
“Sorry guys, we have a small problem.”
“What?”
“We just picked up a signal behind us. By the looks of it, we’re being chased by an Apache helicopter.”
“Oh God,” said Tom who thought things could not get any worse.
“What the hell is an Apache?” asked Lela.
“Very bad news. It’s an attack helicopter which will take us apart in about half a second,” said Tom turning to Kano, his brain kicking into action. “How far back is it?”
“I’m not sure. It was through a long range scope that we picked it up and we can’t actually see it yet,” replied Kano.
“I need to see Kisho and the charts,” announced Tom with authority.
“But Tom, what about the call? What’s happened?” asked Lela in desperation.
“Oh, our parents are being held hostage by, I assume, similar madmen to those at the four schools,” he answered glibly. He had much more pressing matters to deal with, they may be dead themselves in the next few minutes.
As Lela digested the devastating news, Tom made his way to the cockpit with Kano. Lela was left with Chen who did his best to comfort her.
“OK, let me see the read-outs,” said Tom. “And where are the charts and how far back is the Apache?”
“Here are the read-outs,” said Kisho. “And they’re about ten miles behind us but closing in fast.”
Tom looked at the charts and all the available data.
“OK, increase to maximum speed 167 knots…”
“But that’ll just eat up our fuel and we’ll fall short of the African mainland,” interrupted Kisho.
“I was going to say, for twenty minutes only,” said Tom.
“But why, what’s the point? They’re much faster than us and they’ll catch us in no time,” protested Kisho.
“Yes, but the only Apache sitting at the base had no auxiliary tanks and no missiles. It has a maximum speed of 197 knots but only for short bursts and every time they do that speed, their fuel will disappear. Their maximum range is about 260 nautical miles but that will reduce every minute they exceed their cruising speed of 160 knots. So if we increase to 167 knots, they won’t get close enough to use their guns unless they’re suicidal. The nearest land is where we just came from.”
“But how do you know all that?” asked Kano.
“I just do, like I know this is an EH101, maximum speed 167, cruising speed of 160 and range of just over 1,000 nautical miles with extra fuel tanks. I have a passion for aircraft.”
“Cool, do it Kisho,” said Kano. “But what did you say through there about your parents?” he asked, current crisis averted.
“It seems that my mother and father and I assume Saki have been taken hostage.” Tom went on to explain the whole conversation with the mysterious and fearsome caller.
“Get Lela in here,” said Kisho after hearing what Tom had to say.
Tom went to get Lela.
Chapter 49
Reaper watched as his communications man worked his magic. He was the same man who had tapped into the Kennedys’ phone line, had diverted all their calls to his own line and had blocked all mobile signals into and out of the Estate. Within two minutes of the call, he hit the play button. Reaper listened.
“Excellent work, let’s go!”
Reaper made his way to the main gate and pressed the intercom button. He pulled his mask over his face to ensure that none of the cameras could see his face.
“Hello?” came a voice, it was Donald.
Reaper pressed a button.
“Mum, Dad, it’s me and Lela. We’re OK. Please help us,” pleaded Tom to his father.
“Mr Kennedy, your actions in the next few seconds will determine whether you ever see your son alive again.”
Reaper’s statement was menacing and final.
Donald’s finger hovered over the panic alarm.
“What do you want?”
“I want to come in,” said Reaper. “And if you press that panic button, you will have killed your son.”
Donald’s finger jumped away from the button. Saki arrived by his side, almost as though he had sensed he was needed. Donald quickly explained the situation. Saki did not hesitate, he pressed the entry button and the gates opened.
The eleven Range Rovers sped through the gates and down the driveway towards the Main House. Reaper made his way to the front door where Donald and Saki were waiting. Reaper’s communications man raced past Donald and found his way to the central security system which he updated so that it would accept the ‘new’ guards. Within two minutes, forty men were patrolling the Estate, ensuring nobody came in and more importantly, nobody left.
In the time it had taken for Reaper to reach the house, Rachel had been made aware of what was happening. As Reaper walked into the lounge area, she was crying. Donald sat next to his wife to comfort her. Saki sat quietly
