For the third meeting of the week, on the day after Paul Manning formally agreed to be a part of the company, Jack, May-Ling, and Malky joined Jules to receive Guna Rana in the boardroom. The Nepalese placed an ornately-decorated, wooden box on the large working table where they’d planned so much strategy together over the previous weeks. From another package he withdrew a black-framed photograph about ten inches by seven. Smiling from beneath the polished glass, the shot had captured the handsome features of Chandra Rana, dressed in full military battle kit, with medals pinned to his chest.
“Jules, as you may know, we seldom allow ourselves to be photographed. Our recent ancestors believed the camera steals our spirit and locks it away from the light.” He paused and smiled. “These days we’re a bit more savvy. But I think if my brother’s spirit is alive anywhere, it’s in the company of people such as you and your team. I’d like you to have this.” He handed the photograph to Jules. The ISP chief took it across to the long table against the wall bearing a plaque carrying the winged dagger insignia of the SAS, with the motto ‘Who Dares Wins’. He placed them solemnly side by side.
He turned back as Guna opened the box he’d put on the table. “I’d also want you to take this,” the Nepalese said, withdrawing a leather-sheathed knife. “This is Chandra’s kukri. If his spirit is here with you, so should be his kukri. Every Gurkha carries his kukri almost from adolescence, as part of him. I’m sure you’ve heard the myth the kukri should never be bared without drawing blood before it’s returned to the sheath. We don’t necessarily subscribe to that either.” He stepped forward with the knife in both hands and ceremoniously handed it to Jules with a slight bow. Jules took the knife in both hands and slowly unsheathed the weapon. With his left palm facing toward Guna, he pressed the sharp edge of the blade gently, drawing a little blood. “We’re big on myth around here,” he said without smiling.
“We also have something for you to look after, Guna.” He gestured to the others who smiled and nodded. Jules handed him an envelope. “Inside you’ll find a money order payable to the Gurkha Welfare Trust. We’d like you to give this to them in the name of Chandra.” Guna lifted the loose flap on the envelope and read the banker’s irrevocable money order in the amount of five million dollars. He closed his eyes for a few seconds then opened them again.
“Thank you, brothers and sister.”
Jules put the kukri in the wooden container and retraced his steps to the photograph of Chandra and placed them alongside each other.
He moved a step back and said briskly, “Gentlemen.” That included May-Ling.
In a military line including Guna they stood smartly to attention and saluted the image of the dead Gurkha.
THE END
Also in the Jack Calder Series:
THE VIOLIN MAN’S LEGACY
Jack Calder is an ex-SAS soldier working with former colleagues at ISP, a specialist security firm. He is sent to investigate a murderous diamond heist in the Netherlands, but swiftly learns that there is a very strong Far East connection. He then travels to Hong Kong where he meets the glamorous chief of ISP’s local bureau, May-Ling.
Together they begin to unravel a complex web of corruption. The twin spiders at the centre of this web are the Chan brothers, leaders of one of Hong Kong’s most ruthless and powerful triad gangs.
The trail of death and mayhem coils across Europe, Hong Kong and South America until all the scores are settled.
A Jack Calder Novel.
SAVAGE PAYBACK
A series of coordinated lethal bomb attacks on a dozen jewellery stores in London’s West End drag former SAS officer, Jack Calder, and his specialist security firm, International Security Partners, into a deadly mesh of murder and international drug running.
A black ops explosives expert, an ex-colleague turned renegade mercenary with a twisted lust for revenge, emerges from the past to join forces with a powerful and dangerous drug baron from Eastern Europe.
A major cocaine trafficker from South America compounds the threats as competitive turf issues straddle international territories.
Attacks close to home heighten the urgency for Calder and his team to find and deal with each of the three sinister adversaries in a final savage payback.
A Jack Calder Novel.
KILLER CITY
The discovery of a woman’s mutilated torso in a rubbish bin in the north of England sparks a twisting series of events for Jack Calder, a former SAS officer, and his colleagues at their specialist security firm, International Security Partners (ISP).
Jack’s offer to help an old buddy’s son escape a framed murder charge, leads ISP from Manchester and London, across Europe into Lithuania and the mountains of Tajikistan hunting down the peddlers of illicit synthetic drugs, murder, and prostitution rings.
Corruption at the highest levels in European police forces and political hierarchies call for the ISP’s black ops skills to combat the growing global menace of drugs on city streets.
A Jack Calder Novel.
VENGEANCE WEARS BLACK (Jack Calder Crime Series #2) Page 21
