them praying for a safe landing.
Chapter 61
The flight was uneventful and the landing proved the theory again. The bigger the plane, the softer the landing. The airport was unexpectedly empty,
“Where are we?” asked Lela turning to Tom. “I thought we were landing in Glasgow?”
“We are, we’re at Glasgow Prestwick, just thirty miles South of Glasgow.”
“Why here?”
“I thought they might be at the main airport waiting for us and this is just a bit too obvious,” Tom gestured back to the plane. “So I thought it better to land here.”
“OK, so how do we get home?”
“Sorted,” said Tom pointing to a row of Porsche Cayenne Turbo S’s.
“Did you forget one small thing?”
“What?”
“Although we have lots of guys with us, they can’t drive, there are no roads on the island. You have four cars and no drivers.”
“Damn, I never thought of that. I should have asked Colin for some drivers,” said Tom. Colin’s father owned all the Scottish Porsche franchises.
“We can drive,” offered Kisho and Kano. “And so can I,” another islander offered. Those three had learnt to drive during their stint in the army.
“That leaves one spare,” said Tom looking at Lela.
“Why are you looking at me?” she asked.
“Because I know Saki lets you drive the cars and you’re wicked in a go-kart,” replied Tom.
“Yeah but that’s not on the main road.”
“I just flew a bloody plane!”
“Good point, well made. Give me the keys,” she said. Tom knew that Lela was well qualified to drive, she loved cars, especially fast ones.
In less than forty minutes, the cars pulled up at the Estate, headlights off out of sight of the security system. Tom who had travelled in Lela’s car assured her that those forty minutes were more terrifying than his fifteen hours of flying. She told him not to be such a pussy.
Chapter 62
Reaper was awake. He was waiting for the AlbAir flight to land. Two of his men had been sent to the airport to follow the kids back to the Estate. He would not be happy until they were safely tied up in the Lodge House and within his control. A room had been dressed in the Lodge and a camera set up to film the children being watched by knife wielding guards. Reaper had disguised the room as he did not want the parents to know that their kids were close by.
Leo walked into the kitchen.
“Any news?” he asked.
“The flight is in a holding pattern above the airport. Can you believe it. It’s 3.00 a.m. and it has to wait to land.” Reaper was exasperated. “I’m telling you, it will take all my strength to stop myself from killing those bloody kids when they walk through that door.”
“I know exactly what you mean,” said Leo.
“Have you got the message to the schools?” asked Reaper changing the subject.
“Yes, at 10.00 a.m. our time, our guys will let the terrorists make their demands and to show they mean business, they’ll kill 50 kids at each school.”
“I thought we said 100?” asked Reaper nonchalantly.
“They’ve all agreed 50 is fine.”
“OK. Well that should cause enough confusion and news for the next month. No-one will pay the slightest bit of attention to the deal. Perfect,” said Reaper, relishing the tactics.
“He is one cold bastard, this client,” said Leo.
“I know. He’s the only guy I’ve ever met who puts a shiver down my spine,” responded Reaper.
“And that’s saying something. Are you absolutely sure he wants that many kids killed?”
“He was adamant. His exact words were that it would be excellent cover for his transaction.”
“Cold bastard.”
“Very,” said Reaper and then changing the subject asked, “Do our Team Leaders have an exit?”
“Yes. When the kids are slaughtered, they’ll be dressed as ambulance men and will stretcher one of the bodies out when the time comes. They’ll leave their teams behind to what we’re sure will be a swift response from the authorities.”
“Yeah, fifty dead bodies will bring an end to the softly, softly approach,” said Reaper watching the hostage scenes which looked like the usual media circus, all brightly lit with news cameras from around the world vying for position.
“What if we have to call them off?” asked Reaper.
“No can do. It’s a one time communications burst. The system only allows one message and that’s what makes it so secure. Once the message has gone, it effectively self destructs so nobody can tap into it. We’re told it’s the only system the NSA can’t beat,” said Leo referring to the ultra secretive American National Security Agency whom it was said could listen into any conversation or read any message in the world.
“So there’s no going back?”
No. The orders are irreversible. At 10.00 a.m., 200 kids are going to die.”
“What the hell???” Reaper screamed at Leo as he watched the TV screens.
Chapter 63
The A380 was not the only plane to have left Masirah, four of the six available Citation X’s had taken off right behind it. They were to be joined by an Airbus 319CJ, a Scramjet and another Citation X which had taken off from Kota Kinabalu. In total, eight aircraft were aloft that morning for Operation Retribution.
The Airbus 319CJ landed in an airfield just outside Moscow and had four Porsche Cayenne Turbo S’s waiting for it.
The Scramjet had left Kota Kinabalu long after any of the others and landed well before them despite having almost twice the distance to travel. It landed on a secret base just outside Washington and again was met by a row of Porsche Cayenne Turbo S’s.
The final plane from Kota Kinabalu, the Citation X, had a much shorter flight plan. It headed to a remote island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
The four Citations from Masirah flew in formation for almost 3,000 miles before two broke off and landed in Paris, while the other two made their way across the Channel to London.
At each of the airports, a row of Porsche Cayenne Turbo S’s sat waiting for the islanders. Tom owed the Porsche family a huge favour.
Tom listened to his earpiece as each of the teams checked in at their various locations. Everybody was exactly where they should be with five minutes to spare. Tom could not believe that everything had gone so smoothly.
At exactly 3.30 a.m. Glasgow and London time, 10.30 p.m. in Washington, 4.30 a.m. in Paris and 6.30 a.m. in
