by Debbie Behan
‘And yet you protect him still.’
‘Ah! So this is where you’re going with this. Very clever Berry and I thought you were a dumb shit. You aren’t so stupid after all, are you? But it won’t work, you forget one thing. To give up the prince, I give up Sleeping Beauty.’
He looked amused he had been caught out. ‘And as you phrased it perfectly last night Jay, you can’t blame a guy for trying.’
‘Nice try.’
Jay stood up and Berry followed, tossing out their trays in the dispenser.
‘My people are waiting to talk to you. This I cannot stop. Please Jay, don’t be a smart mouth and you will be fine.’
‘What do you care?’ Jay grumbled as he followed. ‘Fatten me up to feed me to the wolves. Thanks.’
He didn’t comment but Jay could feel his tension too as they came closer to that room he already hated.
‘Sit,’ Detective Berry ordered before he left the room.
The lock clicked into place and Jay knew there was no escape.
Within seconds two cops with guns holstered came in to interview him. They were hard core hard arses that grilled him the entire day yet no matter what they said, he refused to talk. Even when they got rough Jay continued to keep silent, refused to look in their eyes. He could be so stubborn and now was one of those times. Most of the day they played good cop/ bad cop, going so far as to drink and eat in front of him. Not a sip of water did they offer him. It had been hours and left alone, finally, Jay stood up feeling angry and a little out of control. He leant against the wall with hands in pockets and closed his eyes to calm down. He thought of Kev and how much he missed him. Shit, he roughs me up more than these amateurs. Next he thought of Alina and their last date. They had got Robo-Dumbo to pack them a picnic lunch and taken it into the garden. They lay on the grass talking of so many stupid things. She fed him grapes as she might have done back in the cave days, before man was civilised. He pretended to attack her as one. They had laughed and fallen down hugging each other.
I miss you Sleeping Beauty.
Now calm, he opened his eyes ready for the next burst of foul words and drilling demands. He didn’t know the answers to most of the questions they spat out so he couldn’t have been any help to them, no matter what they did.
The door flung open and startled Jay out of his private moment to collect his thoughts. ‘Detective Berry, well–well, decided to show your traitorous face. Left me with your thug mates and not a sip of water have they given me.’
‘Jay, shut up! I know, I’ve had other duties and just returned. I need to think.’ He paced and it was if he was going to explode. Jay saw he wasn’t cranky at him so did as he asked and kept quiet while he got a grip on whatever had him riled. He came close. Jay’s instinct was to pull away but something told him to wait and trust him. Nearer his ear he spoke. ‘They want to move you to the torture chamber below. I have to get you out of here. Do exactly as I say.’
Jay nodded as the detective turned and cuffed him.
~ Chapter Twenty Eight ~
Mind Games
Detective Berry grabbed Jay’s arm and guided him quickly through a maze of corridors.
‘Prisoner coming through!’ he called out to those around him with authority and they quickly stood aside.
In the car park he opened the back door of a police vehicle and roughly shoved Jay in the barrier-caged back seat. As soon as the detective got into the driver’s side he started the engine and they sped away.
‘I’ll lose my job for this Jay. Why couldn’t you tell them something, anything? Shit.’ He sounded exhausted.
‘Douchebags asked questions I knew nothing of. I’ve only known the prince and Alina for about eight months. How would I know anything prior to that? Think the prince sits down with me, has a beer and a heart to heart? It’s not like that with us. Me and Kev spend most of our day on watch or working on the equipment. The time we have off we spend hanging out watching movies or playing computer games together. We’re geeks, what can I say. We very rarely see Ricco and Alina.’
‘Then what is your connection to Alina if you hardly see her?’
‘Once a week I get to spend the entire day with her. Ricco does my shift with Kev and no way am I wasting time discussing bygone years. I want to make her happy, is that a crime? Christ if I knew more I could tell you.’
‘Jay, why couldn’t you have just said that today?’
Jay shrugged. ‘They gave me attitude from the word go. If they want to treat me like a piece of dirt under their cheap Kmart shoes then stuff them. I’m no criminal. I’ve worked hard as hell for months now and not asked for one penny. If you check my pockets you will see I have no credit cards, no cash. I’m as broke as a fart and if you threw me out the car now I haven’t even got any money to buy a lousy cup of coffee.’
From the back seat Jay eyed him through the rear-vision mirror. ‘Even my clothes are borrowed because I’m too afraid to go home to get my own. That’s if my home is still there and you guys haven’t blown it to pieces. I’ve been shot at, chased on land and under water. Scared away my former lover and probably even killed my parents for all I know. I’m about as useful to you as a fly on heat. I just happen to like two people you think are criminals and you are destroying me because of it. Shit, just shoot me now and get this over with.’
* * * *
Out of the car, Detective Berry undid Jay’s handcuffs. The steel had dug into his skin when he was pulled through the compound and his wrists were raw and bleeding. ‘Great!’
‘Stop being a baby.’ Berry lifted his wrist and dropped it. ‘That won’t leave a mark. Let’s get upstairs. You need a shower my boy.’
Jay followed him into a lift that opened up inside an apartment. The décor was stylish and ultra-modern.
‘Wow-ee! This on a cop’s salary! You’ve got to work on the wrong side of the law to afford a place like this.’ The view alone was to die for. ‘No wonder the prince can’t buy you off, there’s not much more you need.’
Berry pulled steaks out of the fridge. ‘Shower’s through there.’ He pointed. ‘Bedroom’s down the other end of the hall. The clothes won’t fit perfectly but you may find something to your liking.’
Jay watched him for a minute wondering why he was doing this. Had he really got him out or just tricked him into shooting his mouth off and telling him what he knew? Whatever, Jay was tired, hungry and needed a hot shower.
Towel slung around his waist, Jay walked along the corridor to Berry’s room. It was huge and on opening the door to his walk in wardrobe he stood surprised. The closet was lined with the most exquisite suits, shirts and jackets. The wall to floor shoe rack was even more impressive. Jay took his time and picked jeans that were a bit short in the leg so he rolled the bottoms. He took a black AC/DC shirt that looked like it had been signed by the band members and found a pair of loafers for his feet.
He looked up when he heard a board creak.
‘What?’ Jay didn’t like the condescending smirk as Berry looked him over.
‘Settle down, I just imagined you in a white shirt, but that works.’
Jay looked a bit apologetic as he plonked down on the stool by the servery bench where the detective dished up two plates of food. ‘For a cop you sure do have snappy clothes. You’re not what I imagined at all Detective Berry.’
‘The name’s Kalam, Kalam Berry.’
Kalam turned the steaks out onto plates and handed one to Jay. He supplied him with cutlery, then motioned for him to sit at the table. ‘Join me I don’t bite.’ Kalam pulled out a chair for him.
Jay stood for a minute, not sure why he was being so nice. What was this evil little man up to? First he saves me, gives me his real name and now he feeds me. As much as it annoyed Jay he relied on Kalam now; anything was better than being treated with brute force. The steak had him salivating and despite the anger he contained while with him, Jay joined his host.
‘Don’t tell me this is something you just whipped
up while I was in the shower. There’s no mess in the kitchen.’
‘You’re too observant for your own good sometimes. But in this case a dishwasher does save time.’
‘I don’t get all this either–why?’
‘I guess I see a bit of me in you Jay. You were prepared to go through hell as I would in your circumstance. Alina must mean so much to you.’
‘Thanks,’ said Jay.
‘Why?’
‘For not saying her name with hatred.’ Jay eyed his meal, unable to focus as his eyes welled with unshed tears. It had been a long day and Kalam’s kindness was overwhelming. Kalam didn’t reply, but left Jay in his own thoughts as he ate.
A shove of his plate had Jay alert as Kalam stood up and moved over to the three seater couch. ‘What kind of movies do you prefer?’
Jay was so tired he could barely lift his head, but he got to his feet and sat on the other end of the couch. ‘Not fussed.’
The film was a mystery flick similar to the books he saw Kalam read. It stopped him from worrying for his life for a while. Will he take me back to be tortured tomorrow or is he actually taking me under his wing? Jay had no idea but for now Kalam gave him peace and even though weird, it felt awkward yet semi-comfortable spending time with his enemy.
Jay finally drifted off the sleep. When he woke he was in a bed. Jay lifted the sheet, and saw he was naked. Clothes from the previous night hung neatly on a free standing clothes hanger.
‘Did he drug me?’ Jay mumbled and a tap on the door had him pull the covers up to his neck. ‘Come in.’
A female in a maid’s costume carried in a breakfast tray. ‘Mr Berry will be back soon. He asked me to serve your breakfast and organise fresh clothes if you so wish.’
‘Where did he go?’
‘Mr Berry had breakfast early and went to work–I think.’
Jay checked the time on the bedside clock and it was nearly midday. Jay’s mind went into overdrive. He drugged me for sure but why? While I was out did he plant a tracking device on me? Or maybe change my voice recognition? What did he do, that required me to sleep so late? Jay was a light sleeper normally and this spooked him. Once the maid left he threw the covers back and headed for the bathroom to see in the mirror. Neck clear, he lifted both arms and ran fingers through every inch of his hair as he searched. There had to be a puncture mark or something left from either an injection or surgical procedure. Finally, just at the back of his ear, he found it. A slight mark and it was a little painful to touch. He rubbed his finger and thumb around the area until he had the object close to the intrusion. A sharp squeeze and he gritted his teeth with pain as it finally popped out. Removing it the rest of the way hurt like hell but just in case Kalam listened, Jay made no sound. Heavily he lay on the bed feeling sick and sore. This spy crap is hard work. He had a feeling now that the clothes would be full of tracking devices as well. With a rushed movement he pulled the bed sheet off the bed and turned it into a sarong. He would have to raid a clothes line along the way while making his escape.
Once he was ready he called the maid in and threw the other sheet over her head and tied her up in it. She looked so surprised he almost couldn’t do it to her but this was life or death… My death and my friend’s life. Wealthy Kalam, he concluded, was far too young, beneath that beard, to be the one chasing them for so many years. Maybe his son carried on the quest for his late father, in a vendetta of sorts.
Jay left the device he dug out on the bed and felt in the maid’s pocket to find her door swipe card.
He took off, and headed for a house he spotted with a line full of clothes. The back door was unlocked and he sneaked inside, and went to the upstairs bedrooms where he found a laptop. Glad they were on wireless, he locked the door quietly. At the keyboard he sent Kev a secret cryptic message that he would eventually find in a server they chose for just this purpose. After that he typed a virus into the computer and fled.
The sound of police sirens made him aware they were on to his escape already. Close to the back door he pulled a cap from the hat stand and tugged it over his hair as his feet hit the outside pavement. The jog slowed down when he reached a local shopping centre. Locals hurried in and out of shops, and Jay walked between them using whatever he could as cover while he made his escape. Head aching and swelling up he sought for someone to help. A chemist was ahead and, in considerable pain, he ducked inside. A teenager around his age came from behind the counter to serve him.
‘Can I help you?’ he asked with an American drawl.
‘I have absolutely no money, but have been bitten and it’s swollen and killing me. Can you help me?’ Jay pleaded.
The assistant pulled Jay’s hair back. ‘It’s infected, and you need to go to a hospital mate. That looks pretty bad.’
‘Look, I have to be honest here. You see I’m being followed and need help. I’m not dangerous, just hurt. Hospital is out.’
He stared at Jay as his mind ticked over and so did Jay’s time. Jay worried that staying in the one spot might get him captured. Jay pleaded again, ‘Please! I swear I’m not a criminal but can’t go to the cops as I don’t trust them either.’
Finally he seemed to make up his mind. ‘You don’t seem dangerous. Come.’
Jay followed him out the back to a small tea room. ‘Sit,’ he said and left Jay for a minute.
Sweat beads layered Jay lip as he waited and worried the guy might ring the police instead. Jay had to trust someone though and the shop guy did have honest eyes, so he waited.
‘I told them you were my brother and have come to have lunch with me. They won’t miss these couple of things. Now these tablets are strong so only two per day okay.’
He could see how grateful Jay was and patted his back kindly.
‘Thanks for not dobbing me in.’ He swallowed down two tablets and received a glare. ‘I know, ‘Jay said. ‘From now on I’ll only take one, promise. And when I get home I’ll send you the money for them but I really must go. I hope I haven’t got you in trouble.’
He grinned and shrugged. ‘This is the most excitement I’ve seen around here in months. Don’t stress. It was fun to play cloak and dagger for once.’
Jay smiled for the first time and left via the back door. He turned and waved goodbye before settling into another jog. He was grateful for the help, and enlightened to find a Good Samaritan.
With no money, his only option was to try and hitch a lift. The truck stop ahead was lit up, bringing Jay to a stop by a sixteen wheeler.
‘Where you heading?’ Jay called to the truckie who checked his tyres used a tyre rod lever. He tapped on each one and, apparently happy with them, tossed the chrome rod in his toolbox and slammed the lid.
‘Headed up north.’ He looked Jay over. ‘Skinny lad, ay. Looks like ure needen a damned good feed der son.’
He had a thick accent of some kind.
‘Can I get lift?’ asked Jay. ‘Won’t squeak if you want quiet.’
‘Guess I gottanuff fer two,’ he said. ‘In yer hop laddie.’
This was perfect. Jay breathed out, unable to believe his luck. This was exactly the direction in which he said he’d travel in the encrypted message to Kev. He prayed they were close and would pick up on his voice code before Detective Berry. He was sure that he had got every tracking device out of him because he’d not been caught. The enemy should have found him by now. Unless–his mind ran wild – unless they waited for him to lead them to the Ricco and Alina. He glanced into the roadside café where a police car had parked and fortunately left windows open. The driver was in buying snacks. Jay jumped down and surprised the driver. ‘If it’s a long drive I better go to the gent’s.’
‘Urry up laddie.’ The truck driver checked his load was secure.
Jay jogged up to the car. Glancing around he saw that the truckie and policeman were busy so he snapped his head around and caught sight of a Taser gun. Just what he needed! His hand was quick to snatch it up as he moved hastily into the men’s room. Sweat
dribbled down his face with fear that he had been seen. It was too late for second guessing what he had to do next. He hoped it wasn’t fantasy or he was about to be in a world of pain for nothing. Once in the toilet he locked it and sat working out how to use it. On high he decided it would destroy the bugs but he hoped it didn’t throw him through the wall. Too scared not to do it, he turned it on himself and pulled the trigger. The impact threw him off the toilet and on to the floor. The gun shot out of his hand and he lay a quivering mess on the cold tiles.
Shock subsided and he stood up dazed and shaken. He trusted the effects would wear off quickly. The weapon he hoped he’d never see again, he picked up and wiped his fingerprints off before tossing it in the bin. He snatched up his cap from the floor and pulled it over his head and steadied himself as he almost staggered back to the truck. As soon as his backside hit the seat the truckie crunched the gears in and they headed out. Relieved he had made it this far, Jay put his head back and rested.
Suddenly his mind focused on his shoes. He had slipped into the loafers from the previous night. They had come from the house. Worry gripped him as he realised they had been most likely been bugged too. All that effort for nothing. He slowly slid them off his feet, hoping the truckie didn’t notice, and then asked him to stop. ‘I’m going to throw up, pull over here!’ Jay demanded.
The truck skidded to a halt on the side of the road. ‘Don’t wait for me.’ Jay turned to him as he opened the door. ‘I’ve decided to stay.’
‘Bloody teenagers.’ The truckie was furious and spat up heaps of gravel as he fishtailed up the road. Jay had spent too much time in the gents and now he had to pull over. Jay had made him fall behind his schedule. But Jay didn’t have time to worry. He was already in a jog as he tried to get off the roadside and into the bushlands where he could hide. If his shoes were a problem he wished he was there to see the frustration on the detectives’ face when they pulled the truckie over and found only shoes, no Jay.
Jay leaned over holding his side and panted. The medication from the chemist had kicked in and, tired, he collapsed on the ground. Leaning against a tree, he fell asleep.
