Kill Chain

by J. Robert Kennedy

Life was good.

  The sound of the city beyond the park was unavoidable, though nature was making its presence felt, the sound of birds surrounding him something he would never tire of, something he missed dearly. He had left the family farm for the excitement of the city, a friend getting him the job he began tomorrow, and a room in his apartment. It was small, much smaller than he was used to, but he didn’t care—he didn’t plan to spend much time there. It had only been two weeks and he had met a girl, fallen in love, got a new job at an electronics factory, and made more friends than he could possibly have imagined.

  The only thing he missed was his mother’s cooking and the smell of his father’s corncob pipe, handed down from his grandfather who had fought with the Americans and worshiped MacArthur. He thought it rather ridiculous, though he could never imagine his father on the porch after a long day’s work without it.

  He sighed, pulling out his phone and firing a quick text message to his young sister.

  Tell mom and dad I love them.

  The phone immediately vibrated.

  What, you don’t love me?

  He chuckled.

  Tell yourself I love you too.

  Smiley faces and heart-shaped emoticons were the response.

  Someone whimpered near him.

  He turned his head toward the sound, seeing no one, and was about to chalk it up to an overly sentimental imagination when he heard it again.

  He sat up.

  Cocking an ear, he tried to find the source. There were others in the park, though no one alone, at least not within earshot, and no one that he could see crying.

  Again a whimper.

  He stood, brushing off his slacks, then slowly walked toward where he thought he heard the sound. There was a thatch of trees nearby, the traffic of the city on the other side, another whimper confirming without a doubt the sounds were coming from within.

  “Hello?”

  Nothing.

  He continued toward the trees, the whimpering now constant, it no longer a stray sound carried by the wind to his ears.

  “Are you okay? Do you need help?”

  He reached the trees and pushed through, the light traffic on the other side getting louder, the whimpers now sounding like they were from either a woman or a child. He broke through and gasped.

  An older woman, impeccably dressed, stood pressed against the trees, shaking in fear as four drones hovered in front of her.

  “What the—!”

  One of the drones turned toward him and his jaw dropped as he recognized the barrel of a gun pointing toward him. He leaped back into the trees as the sound of gunfire erupted, bark splintering in all directions as the shots missed, blasting apart the tree trunks. He crawled on his hands and knees as he scrambled deeper into the trees when the shooting stopped. Glancing over his shoulder, he had a view of the woman, still standing, thankfully not hit, and the four drones.

  Suddenly they darted away and out of sight.

  He tentatively climbed to his feet, gingerly stepping forward and back into the open, all the while scanning the skies, the drones nowhere to be seen. He turned to the woman.

  “What just happened?”

  29

  Noksapyeong Road

  Seoul, Republic of Korea

  “They’ve found the Chinese President’s wife!”

  Dawson’s eyebrows rose slightly, it no competition for Spock’s jacked-up single entry. “Where?” he asked their new liaison, Senior Inspector Kim still off with Niner and Jimmy.

  “Not far from here. Do you wish to attend?”

  “Does a bear shit in the woods?”

  The man stared at him, puzzled. “I don’t know. I assume so.”

  Dawson suppressed a smile. “The answer is yes.”

  The man’s head slowly bobbed then he smiled, his eyes widening as his translation buffer finally caught up with the conversation. “Ahh, I understand!” He smiled, pointing toward their vehicle. “Follow us. We are leaving now.”

  Dawson climbed in the passenger seat as he jacked into Langley, their embassy driver taking the wheel. “Control, Zero-One. Do you copy, over?”

  “Zero-One, Control Actual. Go ahead, over.”

  “We’ve just been notified they found the Chinese President’s wife. Do you have any additional information?”

  “Not much,” replied Leroux. “Reports are just coming in now. Apparently she was found on the side of the road about twenty minutes ago.”

  Dawson exchanged a look with Spock, suppressing his desire to curse. “Why did it take so long to notify us?”

  “A civilian found her and called it in. The police didn’t know who they were dealing with. I guess they thought it was just some old woman having mental issues. They just put two and two together a few minutes ago.”

  “Christ!” muttered Dawson. “Any luck on finding a possible destination for the bus?”

  “Still working on it, but she might be able to tell you something that could help.”

  “Copy that.”

  Spock pointed ahead as they rapidly approached half a dozen emergency vehicles.

  “Control, we’re arriving at the scene now. I’ll contact you with an update shortly. Zero-One, out.”

  The driver pulled to the curb behind a police car and they all piled out. An ambulance stood nearby, its green lights flashing, the rear doors opened, the Chinese President’s wife, Mrs. Cheng, sitting on the rear step, a blood pressure cuff on one arm. Their liaison was already in a huddle with those on the scene. Dawson walked toward them when something was shouted in Korean, their contact clearly surprised by something.

  “What is it?” Everyone turned toward him. “Did she say who kidnapped her?”

  Their liaison nodded, for some reason struggling with the answer.

  “Who?”

  He looked at Dawson, almost ashamed to reply. He sucked in a breath, the single word bursting forth.

  “Drones.”

  30

  Operations Center 1

  CIA Headquarters, Langley, Virginia

  “Drones?”

  Leroux exchanged a glance with Tong who appeared equally surprised. Dawson’s update was good news in that it most likely meant the other hostages were probably alive, though the question was why they let this particular one go.

  “Yeah, that’s what she’s claiming. From what we can piece together, the bus’s automated system was taken over and a voice over the speaker told them to stay put and do nothing or explosives attached to the bus would be detonated.”

  Leroux frowned at the mention of explosives. “We’ll have to work that into any rescue strategy obviously, but I find it hard to believe.”

  “Yeah, me too. That bus was swept front to back, top to bottom, before they boarded, and was under constant guard. The only way explosives got under the bus is if they were attached after they left, and you’d think the security team would have spotted that.”

  Child spun in his chair. “Could’ve done it from underneath. At a traffic light or something, when they stopped.”

  Leroux agreed. “Possible. But they would have had to know they were going to stop in a particular place.” He tossed his head back, closing his eyes. “Just like they knew the fuel truck would be where it was.” He drew a breath then exhaled quickly. “Which means it’s totally possible. I wouldn’t be so quick to dismiss the possibility, Zero-One.”

  “Copy that.”

  “Did she have any intel on where they went?”

  “Not much. She doesn’t know the city at all, and she said most people were keeping their head down. They apparently went into some sort of warehouse where they ordered the guards and the German Chancellor’s husband off the bus. They were shot by drones the moment they stepped down.”

  Leroux’s eyebrows shot up. “What kind of drones?”

  “Small Radio Shack type things from what she described. We’re not talking Predators here.”

  “Is that even possible?” asked Child.

 
Leroux nodded. “Yeah. Some guy did it a couple of years ago and posted it on YouTube. Definitely possible.” He glanced up at the ceiling, toward the speakers. “How many drones are we dealing with?”

  “She and the witness suggest there were four to six drones holding her, plus another couple of dozen apparently at the warehouse where they were offloaded and put in a semi-trailer.”

  “Why was she let go?”

  “That’s the sixty-four-thousand-dollar question, isn’t it? If it’s the North Koreans behind this, it does make sense. China is their ally, after all. Now they’ve got no reason to get involved.”

  “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” Leroux checked his watch. “When will she be given a full debriefing?”

  “She won’t.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “The Chinese have already arrived and taken her.”

  Leroux could hear the frustration in Dawson’s voice, his own chest tightening in anger. This woman was their only lead to the others. Lives depended on what she might remember, perhaps something she didn’t even realize she knew. Experts needed to debrief her, and they needed to do it now. “Where’d they take her?”

  “No idea, they’re not talking. She could be able to provide us with valuable intel, though, so someone above my pay grade needs to get on this right away. Zero-Two’s asking the President if there’s anything he can do, so that’s about as high as you can go.”

  Child leaned forward in his chair. “Could the Chinese be involved?”

  Leroux shook his head. “Doubt it. They’re Communist, not crazy.”

  Tong cleared her throat. “Why not just leave her at the warehouse?”

  Leroux looked at her, his lips pursed. “That’s exactly what I was wondering myself.”

  31

  Embassy of the United States Seoul

  32 Sejongno Street, Seoul, Republic of Korea

  “Drones?”

  Red nodded. “Yes, Mr. President. According to Mrs. Cheng, they were surrounded by weaponized civilian drones. As far as we know, they never saw anyone.”

  Starling felt his chest tighten. There had been no official communication from North Korea besides denials issued in their media and through the Chinese. They had his daughter and the others, and now from the sounds of what he was hearing, there were no humans involved, just hacked vehicles and drones.

  But why did they release the Chinese hostage?

  “Does she know where they were taken?”

  Red shook his head, his teeth clenching slightly. “We didn’t get an opportunity to question her for more than a few minutes. The Chinese arrived and took her.”

  Starling’s fist slammed onto the desk, everything rattling. “This is ridiculous! We need to know what she knows!”

  “Agreed, sir. She at the very least saw the truck they were loaded into. Even a vague description of that might help us.”

  Starling forced his fingers to relax, his clenched fist slowly releasing as he regained control of his anger, it never helpful. “Were there any cameras showing her getting out of the truck?”

  Red shook his head. “No, sir. All the cameras in the area were jammed the entire time she was there.”

  Starling leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling. “Drones. Does North Korea even have that capability?”

  “Sir, a fourteen-year-old in Texas could do this.”

  Starling closed his eyes and sighed. “For all we know, it is a fourteen-year-old in Texas behind all this.”

  “You’re not convinced it’s North Korea?”

  Starling opened his eyes and leaned forward. “I wouldn’t put anything past them, but this is a little insane even for them.” He stared at a monitor that had been set up showing the positioning of military assets for American, allied and enemy forces. “What are the North Korean’s doing?”

  Red glanced at the screen then checked a tablet. “They’re on full alert and sending more troops to the edge of the DMZ.”

  Starling shook his head. “And we’re doing the same.” He sighed. “All it might take is a single shot fired in anger or fear to ignite a second Korean War.”

  “Let’s pray that doesn’t happen.”

  Starling frowned then shook his head, tearing his eyes away from the display. “Unless we find my daughter and the others, war may be inevitable.”

  The sound of a helicopter lifting off outside had Red heading for the window. He glanced back at Starling with a slight smile. “Looks like you just left, Mr. President.”

  Starling was about to reply when his cellphone vibrated on the desk. His eyes narrowed and Red turned away from the window. “Who could that be?”

  “Do you get calls to that phone?”

  Starling shook his head. “Rarely, not even my wife would have called.” His eyes popped wide and his heart raced. “But my daughter!” He grabbed the phone as Red activated his comm, holding out a finger for him to wait.

  “Control, Zero-Two. Trace the call coming into the President’s cellphone, now!” Red listened for a moment then nodded to Starling.

  Starling, fingers trembling, tapped to take the call. “Hello? Nancy?”

  “No, Mr. President, but I am the person who has her.”

  32

  En route to Shinhan Motors

  Seoul, Republic of Korea

  “Drones?”

  Senior Inspector Kim’s eyebrows shot up as she exchanged a glance with her driver. The very idea was preposterous, though it fit perfectly with what they already knew. The security vehicles had been hacked and steered into the fuel truck, and the automated tour bus had disappeared with no one physically at the controls. Traffic cameras had been hacked, and now drones—technology—were herding the hostages from one location to another.

  Incredible!

  “Yes, Inspector. That’s what she said before the Chinese took her.”

  “Didn’t we get a report this morning of something with drones?”

  She heard fingers tapping on the other end of the call. “Yeah. Bonggyo Industrial Bakery. They reported that a shipping container had been delivered that apparently contained hundreds, possibly thousands of drones that took off and disappeared the moment they opened it.”

  “Any progress?”

  “A little. The container was traced back to the Merchant Ship Red Star, apparently loaded in Yantai, China, two weeks ago. The bakery says they have no idea who ordered it. The owner is visiting family and swears he never placed the order.”

  Kim stared ahead at the traffic. “Do we believe him?”

  “According to the file, the business is struggling financially. There’s no way he could afford to buy that many drones.” There was a pause. “Inspector, do you think it’s related?”

  “Hundreds, possibly thousands of drones are shipped here and disappear, then later the same day drones are used in the kidnapping of the G20 spouses?” Kim grunted. “I don’t believe in coincidences.” She checked her side mirror, the vehicle with the Americans close behind them. “I’ll inform the Americans.”

  33

  Unknown Location

  Republic of Korea

  The truck jerked to a halt and Nancy gasped as a previously unnoticed panel in the floor slid open, the sound of traffic heard as the engine turned off. A buzzing sound had Nancy pressing against the wall before two drones suddenly floated through the hole. Someone screamed, who she didn’t know, for it could have been her. The Canadian squeezed her arm and Nancy’s free hand clasped hers, gripping it hard as she trembled, the two devices hovering in front of her before floating to the door.

  “Miss Starling, please climb down through the opening.”

  Every muscle tensed and her hand darted out, gripping the Canadian by the wrist as she began to tremble. She felt the woman gently place a hand over hers as she leaned in closer.

  “It’s okay, dear. This is all about you. They’ll never hurt you.”

  Nancy’s head spun toward the woman, her eyes wide as the words sunk in. It was abou
t her. Both times, she had been the first told to move, and if she was the reason for all this, it made sense. If something was to go wrong, they’d want their primary target already in place should they need to flee and leave the others.

  They’re not going to kill you.

  She relaxed slightly, easing her grip.

  At least not yet.

  She tensed up again.

  “If you do not comply immediately, we will kill one of the others.”

  The others’ whimpers forced her to inhale deeply and let go of the Canadian’s arm. She closed her eyes for a moment then peered through the opening, seeing the gaping pit of an uncovered manhole below. She sat on the floor, her feet dangling over the edge, then lowered herself into the hole, her feet finding the first rung of the ladder inside. She looked at the others as she slowly climbed down, tear-streaked faces of mothers surrounding her, there little doubt they were all imagining their own children in this situation. The Canadian stepped into view, a gentle smile on her face, her glistening eyes betraying her true feelings.

  “It’ll be all right. Just do what they say.”

  Nancy nodded as her head passed floor level and suddenly she could see under the truck. Several blinking lights drew her attention, what appeared to be cameras and other sensors placed around the underside of the vehicle.

  Maybe that’s how they were able to stop right where they needed to.

  She shook her head.

  Or this is another automated vehicle, and those sensors just help keep it on the road.

  She kept climbing down, a sudden thought occurring to her.

  Who moved the grate?

  Her eyes widened with excitement as she noticed a sliver of the street ahead of her, several people walking by, their shoes evident though little more. She stopped, her fingers tightening around the rung as an internal debate raged on whether to call out for help.

  Then her mind flashed to Herr Holst, to the security guards, to the heroic Chinese woman.