by J. A. Kerr
Think, Anna, she scolded as she gently moved her stiff limbs and tried not to move her head. Her body adjusted to the pain and discomfort. Slowly, she moved her arms out, feeling with her fingers. She brushed the chair behind her. Her fingers knocked against something else and closed around it. With effort she pulled the object back. Fumbling, she stood the bottle of water up. She smiled weakly. She was broken, but she wasn’t dead. As long as she had breath in her body she would fight. Everything she read warned a neck injury should not to be moved. She needed a brace of some description to support her neck but had no idea how to achieve that. Her best option was to remain still. She remembered her mobile phone and gingerly felt in her pockets hoping it was still there but it wasn’t. Her pockets were empty.
A feeling of hopelessness overwhelmed her but Anna resisted it, she had to escape her attacker. As her eyes adjusted, she realised she was in a small room. It was too dark to see much and, unable to move her head, it was the ceiling that filled her vision. Squinting, the white enamel of the sink caught her attention. She could also make out another object which, if she had to guess, would be a chemical toilet. She realised she no longer felt wet but the pungent smell of urine was now mixed with dampness. It was obvious Nick Waters had planned this. The room felt like a cell. Did he intend to hold her captive long-term? Niven’s case came to mind—a copycat crime?
Her thirst could no longer be ignored. She had to be careful, this was all the water she had. She lifted the bottle up until the sports cap touched her mouth and gently tipped the bottle. A small amount of water filled her mouth and she swallowed gratefully. She repeated the process another three times before she put the bottle back on the floor. Anna knew her options were limited. Injured and unable to move, she opened her mouth to scream for help. A hoarse whisper was all that came out. She mustered all her strength and screamed again. It was hopeless and her thirst was back with a vengeance.
Chapter 50
The Braille Club Reborn
Evan
Evan was anxious to get to the hotel and oversee the operation as quickly as possible.
“What do you plan to do?” asked Guy.
“Observe Nick Waters. Nicki is the best operator I have and every second counts at the moment. Could you drop me near the hotel?”
“Yes, I’ll head over to the station after I drop you off. I need to speak with DI Clark about Anna and the pen. This could be a real break.”
“I’ll come with you both,” said Benedict as they headed to the car.
“I feel sure the pen will give us something,” said Evan, his tone even.
“Do you think Nick Waters will lead us to Anna?” asked Guy. His voice shook.
“If he’s taken her then yes.” The silence was heavy between them. The spoken question was not as difficult as the unspoken one, thought Evan. If Waters had Anna was she still alive? Evan could give Guy no assurances. Statistics on males abducting and keeping their female victims alive were slim. Evan knew from experience, sexually orientated crimes were the worst. Guy would be fully aware of these facts too. They had to hope Nick Waters’ motivation was something else. That he had a reason to keep her alive. But with no ransom, it was uncertain what his motives were...
“What is your assessment of Nick Waters?” asked Guy.
“Smart. Manipulating. Obsessive. He’s had time on his hands to plan and he’s not working alone. He has access to funds and a good lawyer. However, I think at a last he’s made a mistake.”
“You mean the pen?”
“No, I mean Anna’s abduction wasn’t part of his plan. From what I’ve read his target was Siena Harrison.” He saw Benedict’s face twist in anger. “Perhaps he thought she was home when he entered the house that night. I think he always intended to abduct the kids. The baskets and shovel tell us that and his intentions were clear but what if he wanted to hold on to Siena? Maybe he has somewhere where he could keep a hostage. Remember he’s a planner. Snatching Anna could have been opportunist if he had everything else in place.”
“I don’t know,” said Guy rubbing his face. He looked wretched. “If that’s the case, Anna might still be alive.”
“Yes,” said Evan. “Drop me around the corner from the hotel. I’ll keep you updated by email and I ask you do the same. Once this starts I won’t take calls but I will answer emails and texts.”
“Okay,” both Benedict and Guy agreed.
They said little in the car. All were preoccupied with their own thoughts. Guy slowed the car and pulled in to park. Evan sent Nicki a text saying he would arrive at the hotel shortly.
“Be in touch,” said Evan, opening the car door and getting out. He watched Guy’s car disappear and walked quickly to the hotel. The hotel was fairly busy which was good. He moved through the foyer to a lounge area and sat down. He ordered coffee and took out his laptop. Coming straight from the airport, he did not have the equipment he normally carried but Nicki would bring everything they needed. His coffee arrived as he sent his first email to the case officer handling Anna’s disappearance while watching the dot on his phone moving but still a good distance from the hotel. Working with the lead case officer and the police made sense, they were all on the same team and wanted the same outcome—Anna Dunbar found alive and well. He read Penny’s email. Her update included how she planted the first tracker.
Evan,
Followed Nick Waters into the elevator and stood beside him. I dropped a file, scattering paperwork. While I squatted down to tidy the mess, I placed the tracker on his shoe. Waters even helped to pick up the remaining sheets. I let Nick Waters out of the elevator and made an excuse to return to my room. GPS working and I am monitoring his movements. When he is a safe distance from the hotel, I will enter his room. Will keep you posted.
Penny
Nicki had given her a master key she’d cloned earlier. His gaze was steady as he checked his mobile. The dot was still a distance from the hotel but getting nearer.
Evan: POI heading back.
Penny: Still trying to crack the password. I need more time.
Evan: Okay.
Penny would use software to crack Waters’ password. Results depended on the difficulty, the combination of letters and numbers used. Penny had no alternative but to wait until the software cracked it.
Evan: Anything unusual in the room?
Penny: No.
Come on, thought Evan, raking a hand through his hair. They needed to crack that code. His eyes flicked to his mobile and his agitation increased as the dot moved closer.
Evan: Penny, time’s up.
Penny: Can you delay him?
Evan had to decide. Cracking Waters’ laptop was important but not essential. The dot was just outside the hotel. He glanced around but couldn’t see Nicki. However, that didn’t mean she wasn’t around. The file he’d sent to Nicki on Nick Waters made grim reading. Although Evan didn’t feel pain, he certainly knew how to inflict it. He’d never come up against a man carrying a hypodermic needle full of sedative or worse. He worried Nick Waters would use it to kill. An overdose of the commonest prescription drug Paracetamol was just as deadly as a poison. His mobile buzzed. He swivelled around and clocked Nicki. She hadn’t been more than a foot from him but he hadn’t seen her. She walked by his table. Nick Waters was getting closer by the second. Evan stood up and moved towards the dot.
“Excuse me, do you have the time?” Evan watched Nick Waters glance at his bare wrist.
He stopped. “No, sorry.” He shrugged apologetically.
Nicki was right behind Waters. That was all it took. She would have planted the tracker in the back of his jacket usually along the hemline or collar. As Evan brushed past him, he nodded and moved to the reception. Evan noticed Waters was carrying a bag in his other hand. He repeated his question to the woman behind the desk while still looking at Waters out of the corner of his eye. He took out his mobile, sending the text quickly.
Evan: POI heading for elevator. Get out.
Penny
: Ok.
Nervously, he retraced his steps back to his table. Nick Waters was gone but, taking out his mobile, he could see Nicki’s GPS devise was in place. The green and red dots moved simultaneously. The hardest part of the operation had been accomplished. He sent a text.
Evan: Have you a visual?
Nicki: Y.
Evan. Can you handle?
Nicki: Y.
Evan couldn’t take the chance of pursuit after he had identified himself to Waters, but he had additional crew in place to cover Nicki.
Evan: Danny, cover Nicki.
Danny: Following now.
Evan: Craig, any movement from the car park?
Craig: All quiet, boss.
Penny: Cracked the code in the last few minutes. Browsing history was interesting, will email. He’s booked flights to Spain. He’s getting ready to run!
“Shit,” said Evan. He felt his stomach clench. What did that mean for Anna? The trackers were imperative now. When Nicki placed the GPS on Waters’ jacket there was always a chance he might change or take it off. The same could happen with the shoe tracker but people changed their shoes less often than their jackets. It if happened they would have to do it again which would be more awkward but so far, so good. Evan waited for Penny’s email. She would have copied as much information as possible. That was a bit close for comfort but she was safe now in the next room. Penny would analyse the data and send him anything relative.
Nicki: He’s inside his room. I think he’s planning a trip. Couldn’t get too close but looked like he was buying holiday clothing.
This confirmed what Penny had found. If he was leaving the country…did that mean Anna was already dead or that he planned to kill her? Evan picked up his mobile and dialled Guy’s number. He answered after a few rings.
“Are you still watching him?”
Evan could hear the anxiety and agitation in his voice. “Yes, we have GPS trackers in place.”
“You were right about the pen,” said Guy in a rush. “There is evidence on there. DI Clark is scrambling a team together now a direct link to Nick Waters has been established.”
“Great,” sighed Evan.
“What’s wrong?” said Guy, his voice rising in alarm.
“Nick Waters is planning to leave the country.”
There was a sharp intake of breath. “How do you know?”
“We saw his browsing history. He has booked flights for Spain.”
“Oh my God. Anna. We need to find her. The police are all set to take over, Evan, so just sit tight.”
“Of course. Let me know what you need. This type of work is what I specialise in. Guy, I can’t have the police tipping him off because that would be disastrous for Anna. Stealth is the only approach now. Let me do what I do best. When I have him the police can handle the arrest…take the glory, but I need to do this my way. This is the critical part of the operation. I’m sure he’s not on to us.”
Guy let out a harsh breath.
“Penny and Nicki are my best operatives. We need to hold our nerve for a little longer. Stay with the police, Guy. I will not put Anna at further risk. Both trackers are in place so you can assist from a safe distance.”
“We can work together?” said Guy.
“Yes, but it’s best if I work with my team and take the lead. I trust their ability. I’ve never failed to follow and detain. Anna’s life depends on my skills but I’ll need backup.”
“Okay, let me talk it over with DI Clark,” said Guy. “And I’ll get back to you.”
“Guy, no heroics. We need to keep everyone safe.”
“Understood.”
They finished the call. Evan normally hated this part, the waiting, but instead was glad of the time to organise things. A helicopter with heat seeking facilities was needed to locate Anna if she was being held where Nick Waters led them. Although evidence had been found they could not arrest Waters before Anna was located. That meant staying out of sight and keeping tabs on him until he led them to her. If he didn’t then the police would take him into custody but that would be very bad news for Anna.
Evan had joined Penny in the room next to Waters and called in eight more staff. He briefed them and they spread out around the hotel. Nick Waters had returned over an hour ago. Evan could hear him now and again, moving around in his room as he sat with Penny. Nicki had returned to the room with a bag containing what they needed. Penny had changed into dark running clothes and had an earpiece hanging loosely from her ear. They didn’t speak. Evan had also changed. He could feel the tension building and was glad to finally leave the room and get into the car with Nicki. They were ready but expected Waters to wait until nightfall before he made his move. He jerked when he heard Penny’s voice in his earpiece.
“He’s on the move. Still in the hotel but going downwards.”
Evan was surprised as adrenaline surged through him. He glanced at Nicki. She had turned the engine on and was gripping the steering wheel. “Let’s do this,” she said.
He followed the GPS location of Nick Waters on his phone. A message flashed on the screen.
Mandy: He’s in the car park. Black Ford Fiesta. Registration RO15 TXR. Leaving now.
Evan: Follow at a distance until relay takeover.
Mandy: Will do.
Evan had designed the system several years ago, but it only worked if they had a trace on their target. There would be four pursuit vehicles in total. All had access to the target’s GPS location. There would be one lead car in front of Nick Waters, anticipating his movements, one to follow up close and turn away once a visual was confirmed, and two cars following a distance behind. Between them they would have him boxed in. Two behind, one beside and one in front. The system had never failed them but Waters must have removed his jacket—only one dot remained on his mobile. They were reliant on a solo tracker. If, for any reason, he removed his shoes they would have to abandon their long distance approach and pursue on a visual basis. He hoped their luck would hold.
Nicki was driving and they were well behind Nick Waters. He communicated with the helicopter and told them to standby. They confirmed they were in attendance. Evan wasn’t surprised to see the scenery change as they moved towards a more run down area. He knew the housing estate and he told Nicki to pull over. They parked in between cars. The red dot was stationary ahead. They could see Nick Waters’ car had pulled over but not parked. Both he and Nicki brought out high powered binoculars. They watched as a man approached the car and leant into the passenger window which was open. It was difficult to see what was going on. Minutes later, the car moved on.
“I know his contact. He’s a known dealer,” said Nicki.
“I couldn’t see much,” said Evan. “You think Waters has bought drugs from him?”
“Yes,” said Nicki. The relay teams were still in place. When it became evident the POI was heading back to the hotel, Evan texted Penny.
Evan: POI returning to base. Are you clear?
Penny: Clear. Was in and out in five minutes. He’s bought summer clothes and a rucksack.
Evan: Okay.
“Let’s stay in the car, Nicki,” said Evan. “I don’t like this.”
“Neither do I,” said Nicki, her voice grim.
Chapter 51
The Braille Club Reborn
Guy
Guy drove his car to the police station with no memory of how he’d arrived. He asked for DI Clark and stood waiting with Benedict. His nervous energy was gone, leaving him exhausted. His mind was foggy and his body sluggish.
“Guy?”
He turned to see DI Clark.
“Any update on Anna?”
Guy watched DI Clark’s gaze slip away as he shook his head.
“Not since Evan Radley told us he was in position.” He looked at Benedict. “I’m not sure I agree but he’s got the licence and it’s your money.”
Benedict’s hands tightened into fists. “We need to do something.” He gave DI Clark a dirty look. “So far he’s ru
n rings around us.”
DI Clark’s mouth tightened. “You wanted to look at the pen again. I’ve requested it from evidence but it’s not here yet.”
“Yes. We need to re-examine it.”
The DI gave him a wary look. “It’s important. Please.” Guy wondered if he looked as desperate as he felt.
He saw the hesitation in the officer’s face. “Why? What is it you think we’ve missed?”
“Evan Radley believes the pen is both a recording device and a data storage facility,” said Benedict impatiently.
The DI looked startled. “Come through, Guy, Benedict. I’ll get the pen from evidence myself.”
Guy and Benedict followed the DI into an interview room and waited while he fetched the pen. Evan gave Guy the accessories he’d used earlier and Guy hoped they worked with the pen DI Clark was retrieving. But, if not, the police would source the fittings. He agonised over what Evan was doing and itched to be involved. All his instincts told him Evan was good. He desperately wanted to be with him but couldn’t risk jeopardising the operation: Nick Waters knew what Guy looked like. Instead, he had come to the station hoping this pen would give them a break.
“Okay,” said the DI, his face full of doubt. “Here it is.”
Guy looked at the pen closely. It was identical to Evan’s. His heart rate increased as he took it and found, to his relief, the pen unscrewed. It revealed the same fittings. With shaking fingers he took Evan’s headphones and slotted them in place. He picked up the control and pressed rewind.
The DI’s eyes widened and he leant forward. “So it’s not just a pen?”
“Let’s find out,” said Guy. He pressed play and listened. Nick Waters’ voice was quiet but clear and as he spoke a range of emotions passed through Guy. Incredulity, comprehension and, finally, anger.
