leave just enough doubt, their use of words was very clever. They had run the story to take the sting out of the tail and every other broadcaster and newspaper was now playing catch up. Global would lead the story from now on. They had been first to break it and people would now look to them as the definitive source. Very clever indeed.
“What do you think?” asked the President as he entered Beaumont’s office, pointing to the TV.
“Very smart, they’ve planted just enough doubt for the short-term but when the press start to dig, he’s had it.”
“I know, great move. How quickly can we leak the evidence we’ve got?”
“Not too quickly. If it all rushes out, we expose ourselves. It has to be slow and as though it’s only just being uncovered. That’ll probably buy a couple of days of doubt. But it’s irrelevant anyway,” replied Beaumont.
“True,” pondered the President. “In less then 24 hours, it won’t be an issue.”
Chapter 40
“So let me get this right. We’re going to land the plane at an airport 3,000 miles from here, make our way secretly to a prison we don’t know the exact location of, break in avoiding heavily armed guards, find your parents whose location in the prison is unknown, break them out avoiding heavily armed guards, find our way back to the airport and leave,” said Kano to Lela and Daniel who were in the back of the plane.
“That about sums it up,” replied Lela.
Kano shook his head. This was going to be impossible he thought. Daniel, in turn, realised that he hadn’t really thought through what they were about to do before deciding to join them and now wished he hadn’t.
Tom joined them from the flight deck.
“We just need to make a quick stop on the way, shouldn’t take long and we don’t even need to get off.”
“Fuel stop?” asked Daniel.
“Something like that,” he said disappearing back into the cockpit.
“What does he mean something like that?” asked Daniel.
“I’m sure it’s just that, don’t worry. Come and help me find the location of the prison before we lose the signal,” said Lela who was searching the internet to find the prison. However, coverage over Africa was still patchy and there was a good chance they would lose the signal at any moment.
“So what is the plan?” Kisho asked Tom as they flew towards their first destination, Owando — an airstrip in Congo.
“I reckon I’ve got the flight and ground transport covered. You guys just need to sort out the getting in and out part.”
“You do realise this is not going to be easy,” replied Kisho.
“Of course I realise but we have to try.”
“I know, I know.”
Three hours later, they were making their approach to Owando airfield. Flaming torches guided them in towards the darkened runway. Owando airport was closed, it only operated in the daylight hours. Tom could see a huddle of people awaiting their landing. Kisho also spotted an Alba International logo on a Citation X jet sitting on a taxi way. He looked across at Tom.
“What have you been up to?” he asked with a smile.
“Nothing much,” answered Tom craftily.
The landing was a little bumpier than normal. It always helped when you could see where you were going. It really was pitch black, the flaming torches offering nothing more than a rough guide to the runway’s edges. They taxied to a stop and were immediately met by a fuel tanker which began the process of refuelling the plane. Tom opened the door.
“Best everybody wait on board, I have some business to deal with and they’re not expecting anyone but me.”
“That’s the funniest thing you’ve said all day,” replied Kano. “You have two options, one you don’t go or two you go with one of us.”
Tom looked at Kano, he wasn’t kidding, this wasn’t up for debate.
“OK, I’ll take Lela,” he said. “She certainly won’t upset the locals.”
Kano looked at Kisho who, having spotted the Alba jet, was fairly confident he knew what Tom was up to. Kisho shrugged a ‘fine with him’. Lela could probably kick both he and Kano’s arses anyway. Kano nodded that this was acceptable.
Tom entered the combination for the war chest as he called it. The chest contained several hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash. It was common practice for private jets to carry a stash of cash as not all airport refuellers accepted credit cards and pilots never knew where they may be forced to land. However, it was uncommon to carry the amount held on Tom One but Donald had insisted they should have enough to buy themselves out of just about any hole they may fall in. He withdrew $150,000 before locking the safe and leaving with Lela.
A large well dressed man met him, counted the cash and nodded to his colleagues. They went straight to work and the plane shuddered under their efforts. Thirty minutes later, the men were finished and the plane was ready to go.
“Thank you again,” said Tom surveying their work. “It’s fantastic.”
“Amazing,” said Lela.
“No, no, thank you,” said the man, gesturing towards the bundle of cash.
“Not at all,” said Tom. “It’s more than worth it. You’ve been great and if there is ever anything I can do for you, please ask,” said Tom.
“It's ok, just tell young Rolf you were happy and I’ll be more than delighted.”
“Of course,” replied Tom, beginning to wonder how active young Rolf was in his father’s business. Rolf had proved, yet again, that whatever was needed, Rolf could get it and fast.
As they walked back to the aircraft, a jeep appeared and drove straight towards them. All that could be seen in the darkness were the full beams shining towards them. As Tom and Lela reached the top of the stairs to the plane, the jeep drew to a stop less than five yards away from them and killed its lights. Five men jumped out and ran towards the aircraft each dressed entirely in black. They silently ran up the stairs and slipped into the cabin before the door shut behind them. It was then that Lela, Kano and Kisho recognised them. They were four islanders from Penaraja led by Papa, Lela’s grandfather, the elder and leader of the Penarajans. Lela hugged her grandfather and refused to let go. She was very pleased to see him.
Kisho had guessed that Tom had organised some help but hadn’t expected Papa and the islanders. Tom explained that he had called Papa, they had discussed the options and agreed that there was nothing to lose by their coming and being ready, just in case. They had flown in early that morning.
Without further ado, Papa took control of the plan to break in and out of the prison. Within twenty minutes, even Kisho and Kano were beginning to think they might just pull it off.
Once the plan was agreed, Kisho and Tom got them back in the air. With less than an hour until they landed, they all began to get ready. The cash safe was not the only safe on board the plane. Befitting their status as bodyguards, Kisho and Kano also had a weapons safe. Kano punched in the code and extracted the small arsenal they had. The islanders had brought some weapons with them but preferred by far the ones on offer by Kano and Kisho.
Chapter 41
The story breaking early caught Smith off-guard. He had been told it would not break until the following morning but it broke a full 12 hours early. His men were still getting into position. He had arranged for over forty of his men to take up station with the prison guards. He wanted to ensure his plan worked. He had also arranged for ten of his toughest men to masquerade as prisoners and initiate the riot. They would ensure it lasted long enough
