Whatever It Takes

by Andy McNab

  The morning had been a frenzy of activity while we waited for Egbers to tell us anything he had found out about the intruder systems and where the ledger was. But the longer he took, the longer we had to prepare.

  Gemma and Tony had hired a Nissan pick-up each with a hardtop covering the tailgate.

  Gemma and Charlotte were using Gemma’s right now for a reconnaissance of Hunter Road and the phone line set-up along it, and eventually to Sanctuary. Tony was in town somewhere with Warren getting more kit and had just texted. He wanted a box of large steel paperclips, not coloured or plastic coated, just steel. I didn’t bother asking, just went and got. Warren had been hovering over his different-sized disc cutters and colour charts along with RAL number mixes for the grout since last night.

  Both vehicles were crammed with kit. Jerry-cans of water for the render and grout in case we couldn’t access water. Gemma’s core drill, with a heavy-duty core-drill bit to carve through the concrete. She’d also bought loads of blue plastic tarpaulins to keep dust off the floor, and even a Henry vacuum cleaner and a broom in case they didn’t. Tony and Warren had got hold of all the gear they needed, and everybody checked in with me almost hourly as they came up with ideas for the known unknowns.

  The one thing we did know for sure from the Js was that, to maximize power from the drones’ batteries, which were in series for superior output capacity, they would have to have a lift limit of 97 kilograms for this job. Even Tony came in under that – just – though he might have to travel with a light load. I’d also learnt from Egbers and the Brit how to rig up the holoport, and had walked Tony through it well before Mitre 10 Mega had even opened. He had no problem understanding the technology – in fact, he grasped it better and faster than I did.

  The team were now as upbeat as I was – even Warren had raised a smile this morning when they’d been given their account cards.

  I was excited about that, not only for those three but also for Charlotte – and, I had to admit, for myself. Like the team, though, I was getting my head down and doing my job, compiling methodical and boring lists of whatever. I really did feel that this was a mission for good. Nothing to do with the environment or politics, it was much more than that. It might take a while, but my kids and theirs would see the benefits. It made me feel lighter inside, like walking on air. I could almost understand the enthusiasm of Pentecostals, arms raised to the heavens, praying to their God. It was simply because they believed, and I now had hope, too.

  With the engine off, the inside of the car was hotting up. The car park was full of pickups and trucks being loaded by men in shorts and boots with trolleys full of wood and bags of sand. The immaculate BMW 4x4 that glided through them stuck out like a sore thumb, as did its well-groomed occupants. They cruised around slowly until they saw my tiny vehicle and pulled up alongside.

  The Brit jumped out and opened the rear door for me.

  Egbers remained at the wheel with the engine running, air-con going full blast to keep the interior pleasant. I climbed in and inhaled a lungful of new-car smell, just as I had in the Range Rover. That seemed like a lifetime ago.

  Egbers didn’t acknowledge me, his eyes intent on the screen in his hand on his lap. The Brit got in alongside him and turned in his seat. ‘We have someone you need to talk to.’ His tone was different. It was slow, low, almost as if he was having a civilized conversation rather than delivering orders or threats. But that didn’t stop my new-found confidence shattering. The Filipino and Richard were back in a flash. Shit – another victim.

  I leant between the two of them. ‘But let’s just talk this time. We don’t need to do it your way. I’m with you – I believe Parmesh. I believe that what he’s trying to do is right. Your crusade. Our crusade.’

  Yet, deep down, I knew I needed the information.

  The Brit twisted more in his seat. ‘How do you know you believe?’

  I took a breath, but couldn’t think of the words. ‘I don’t know. I … I can’t think how to explain, I … but at the same time, it can’t be denied.’

  The Brit smiled at me: a first. ‘Exactly. No one ever knows how. Shit, it just happens.’

  Egbers was on to WhatsApp the moment it rang. He gave comforting tones to whoever was on the other end, trying to keep them calm, trying to keep them focused.

  ‘It’s all okay. Everything’s to plan our end. It’s all over soon … No, you’d know if he’d found out. Just stay safe – I’ll be there soon. Just stay safe.’

  The Brit came closer and spoke quietly. ‘She works for Castro. She’s risking her life for you right now, just by making this call. You must not fail.’

  Egbers handed me the phone and I put it to my ear. She was nervous. I could hear the erratic breathing. ‘Hello?’

  I faced down to the footwell, a finger in my spare ear as if it would make the call more secret for her. She spoke in a semi-whisper and was hesitant. It was a young voice and she was American, West Coast twang and high-pitched – but that could have been her emotional state.

  ‘I’ve found out as much as I can. Yes, the house has back-up power, you know, the batteries. Yes, there are alarms. Many kinds, lots of alarms. I don’t know how many, I don’t know what type, but they’re all connected to the cellular system. Three different companies in case one fails. That’s all I know for now, that’s all I can find out without—’

  She stopped talking and voices filled the background. ‘Oh, no! Oh, no!’ The line went dead.

  I looked up at the Templars.

  49

  Egbers grabbed the mobile and stared at the screen, like the power of thought could make it ring. For the first time I could see he actually felt emotion: there was human in him.

  The Brit was just as concerned. He kept his tone low. ‘She – we are willing to die to control the ledger. You say you believe, James? Are you willing?’

  The mobile rang and Egbers jabbed the answer icon. ‘All good? Great. He’s here. Wait.’ He handed it to me.

  ‘Hello? Do you know where the ledger is?’

  ‘It’s not that easy.’ Her breathing was ragged and scared as she gathered her thoughts. ‘It’s in the basement – I’ve never been, just heard it talked about. That’s all I know right now. I’m trying, trying hard to find out more.’

  She stopped, but hadn’t cut off. I could hear her heavy breathing as voices, American voices, echoed in the background, then slowly faded. She controlled her breath before continuing.

  ‘Set the holoport up in the basement. It’s there, but I don’t know exactly where yet. I need to see, need to be with you. I need to put the bits in my head together. You understand what I’m trying to say? You need to help me.’

  ‘I will.’

  ‘Okay. Tomorrow night, your time – you’re twenty, twenty-four hours ahead?’ She was sounding flustered.

  ‘We’ll work it out. But we will be there for you tomorrow night, our time. I won’t let you down.’

  I glanced at Egbers. He nodded, showing concern for another human being.

  ‘And I need Casper back.’

  ‘Yep.’

  I pulled the mobile away from my ear as I sat up, assuming I knew which one Casper was.

  We could all hear the mobile now as I pushed it between the front seats.

  ‘Shit! Gotta go!’

  The line went dead again.

  I offered Egbers the Samsung.

  ‘You Casper?’

  He nodded as the phone went back on charge via the vehicle’s power jack, worry etched all over his face.

  ‘She thinks Castro is on to her.’

  The Brit turned to him. ‘She’ll be okay. She’s smart. Not long now, she’ll be home.’

  Egbers tried to regain some semblance of normality as the Brit settled in his seat. I had eye contact with him in the rear-view mirror. ‘What’s your name? After all, we’re in this together, aren’t we?’

  The Brit studied me in the mirror. ‘Jonathan Drum. Jon.’

  There was silence
in the cab as they both thought their thoughts. It was very clear to me what I needed to do.

  ‘We’ll be ready tomorrow night. We’ll meet the drone guys at the same place, just before dark. That’s about seven-ish, so six thirty. They need to keep their lights off, coming up the hill.’

  Casper nodded.

  ‘No need to worry about cutting power and communications or the rebroadcasts. The alarms are using mobile networks. That Faraday bubble on the yacht, can the drone guys, or whoever does it, create the bubble over the house? If we have your Samsungs for communication, then the holoport will be able to send out through the Faraday.’

  Egbers nodded. ‘You can have whatever you want. Saraswati is just off the west coast waiting for the ledger. We are leaving in an hour, back to Atherton. The jet’s waiting. We need to be with Mr Mani and we have to be sure Skye makes it to the holoport at all costs. That’s one of the reasons Mr Mani chose you instead of us. Without Skye with Mr Mani, and you in Sanctuary, we’ve lost our chance.’ He checked his mobile again, as if he could command Skye back onto it. He returned to me. ‘You must find the ledger, whatever happens at Atherton tomorrow. Nothing else matters.’

  He paused, waiting for my understanding, and he got it. ‘Nothing.’

  Everything made sense. These two going to Atherton was for exactly the same reason Charlotte had come here to protect Pip and the boys. I had to ask. ‘My family – are they still in danger?’

  Egbers shook his head. ‘You believe – you have hope, don’t you?’

  ‘I do.’

  I wanted to ask if he would have carried out the threat, but thought better of it. I’d leave that one alone because, deep down, I knew the answer.

  Casper Egbers had a question for me. ‘Is Charlotte going in with you?’

  I nodded, and they looked at each other, both making sure each other had seen correctly before Casper acknowledged.

  ‘OK. You need to keep her safe.’ Casper pushed on: ‘Change of plan. Once you have the ledger, you’re to take it and Charlotte to the airport. Flavia will be waiting with the helicopter to take it to Saraswati with both of you. You are both important to Mr Mani. You need to be safe. The rest go back to the hotel, pack, and leave. Tell them we’ll contact them after they’re back in the UK.’

  I got it and nodded.

  ‘James, once we have the ledger, our crusade will surge. You’ll want to be part of that, won’t you?’

  I nodded again. I did want to build something.

  ‘Good, James, good. I’ll see you tomorrow night via the holoport. Good luck to us all.’

  I climbed out of the BMW and into my Toyota, not worried too much about tomorrow night. That was going to happen regardless. What stuck in my mind was that Casper, Jon, Skye and Parmesh were willing to risk their lives for the ledger.

  A question went round and round in my head. I was strong enough with the words, and the emotion to say them, but … was I really strong enough to put my life on the line?

  50

  Friday, 7 December 2018

  Dead on time, just as we were rigging up the last of the bulk bags ready to be airlifted, the Js’ 4x4 snaked up the track towards us with their lights off. It felt a good omen.

  We’d finished off the final planning that morning. Everyone had decided to check out early and had their passports, cash and personal items on them, ready to leave once we were successful … or had to run because we weren’t. Questions were answered; some were not. We had all the equipment we thought we’d need, charged up tool batteries, and if we didn’t have something we needed, it was too late. We were where we were. All that mattered was that we were on the high ground with what we had, and that we were going to go for it.

  As the 4x4 pulled up alongside me, the Js were already staring at the bulk bags through the windscreen. James was at the wheel. His window came down and a fist came out to be bumped. His tone was serious. ‘It’s a ninety-seven-kilo limit, right?’

  ‘Right.’

  Our fists touched. Jamie was already out of the cab and heading for the tailgate. Their mood had changed. No funnies from him: he got out and got on with the job. No more surfer vibe going on. More like a workplace vibe, which made me happy.

  James opened his door and was straight into work mode too. ‘We have to get the deniability in place first.’

  Jamie joined us. ‘Have you got any more of those bags?’

  ‘How many?’

  ‘Just the one.’ He turned to James. ‘I’m thinking: the deniability in the bag – easier to recover?’

  James agreed. He followed me to Tony’s Nissan while Jamie got on with the drones. He seemed to have something he wanted to say, but hesitated before taking a deep breath, as if he was gulping in all the air before it disappeared. ‘I hear you’re with us – you get the gig? You’re synced up and ready to go?’

  I nodded, but my head was on the job, and that was where I wanted to keep it.

  James was very happy, and I got a couple of gentle slaps on the back. ‘Big day, man. We got Saraswati off the coast, we got Flavia at the airport, and Mr Mani at home for Skye to get this done. I’m stoked, man.’

  As I pulled one of the still-folded bulk bags out of the Nissan, Tony and Warren had been checking out the two surfer characters, but I knew they wouldn’t ask questions. They knew what they were about. They probably just hadn’t expected them to look like the cover of a Beach Boys album. Besides, they had their own jobs to be getting on with. They were busy double-checking the weights of the kit inside the nine white bulk bags laid out in a line.

  James finally noticed what was missing. ‘Hey, I thought there were gonna be five?’

  ‘There will be. The other two are on the road, ready to cut the phone line when the deniable is in place.’

  He took the bulk bag from me and unfolded it as he continued checking our cargo. FIBCs, as they were properly called – flexible intermediate bulk containers – were big polypropylene square-shaped bags, with handles, used worldwide for storing or transporting dry goods like gravel, sand or fertilizer. Today they were going to be used as air-cargo containers.

  I pointed to the one furthest away. ‘They’re in the order in which they may need to come to us. But that will all depend on what we need once on site.’

  He nodded, checking inside it, more about the weight than the contents.

  ‘Once you’ve got that deniable in place, the first lift will just be two of us.’

  He nodded but his eyes were on the kit. ‘Who’s going with you?’

  I pointed to Tony, and James was immediately concerned. ‘With how much kit?’

  ‘It’s okay, he’s ninety-five kilos. He just looks a solid unit. I’ll be taking the tools. Just drop us on the hard-standing outside the outbuilding. Once we’re in, we can start calling in the team and the rest of the kit as it’s needed.’ I pointed at Warren. ‘He’ll be the last one in, so he can co-ordinate that with you. He knows what’s in the bags, so he knows which has to be lifted once we find out what we need. That okay?’

  ‘Cool. We’ve got no equipment coming out apart from one cargo bag, right?’

  I nodded.

  ‘That gives us more juice to keep the babes up there. I’m going to keep one over the house scouting out, so if it all goes wrong and you have police or whoever screaming towards you, I can get the deniable out of there. Sorry, dude, but the kit’s out first.’

  My face must have told him I had different priorities. ‘But hey, I’ll let you know, so you guys just get outta there, run towards us and we’ll get out there looking to pick you up. These babes don’t leave soldiers behind, man.’

  A high-pitched buzz came from behind the tailgate and all our heads swung as the drone turned itself into an eagle, releasing its legs from under its body so they could articulate themselves, claws extended, then grab as if they had caught their prey. It continued to gain height and was soon out of audio.

  James gave me another gentle slap on the back. ‘We are going to ch
ange the world, man.’

  51

  The deniable, as the Js called it, was a dark grey plastic box maybe five hundred millimetres square, surrounded by bed pillows held in place by black duct tape.

  ‘Not quite as hi-tech as I expected.’

  Jamie opened the FIBC ready to take it. ‘We had to protect it somehow when it came off Saraswati. Let’s show you that it works, okay?’

  He pulled his Samsung from his pocket and I did the same with my mobile.

  Three bars of signal.

  Jamie shoved his fist between the pillows and powered up the deniable. Instantaneously, my three bars went to zero.

  ‘Give my number a call on WhatsApp.’

  I did, and nothing from my end.

  He handed me a Samsung that was now mine, showing four bars. ‘Call me.’

  I did and his mobile rang.

  ‘See? Cool.’

  He put his ice-cream tray over his head and got to work. Above us, in the ever-increasing gloom, I soon heard a familiar high-pitched buzz. As the big dark shape materialized above the 4x4s, Jamie presented the four handles of the bulk-bag for the two sets of claws to close around. A metre now above the bag, the drone took up the slack and hovered, motionless and solid.

  James glanced up from the screens. ‘Time to go. Check your own cell for the signal to return.’

  The buzz tone changed as the eagle took the strain, lifting slowly, metre by metre, until the buzz faded into the oncoming darkness and disappeared from sight as it flew swiftly in the direction of Sanctuary.

  I watched my phone and it was no more than thirty seconds before the signal returned. I showed both my mobile and the Samsung to James as he concentrated on the infrared images on his screen. Sanctuary came into view in greyscale, and as the drone flew over the centre of the multi-roofed building, the picture slowed. It was an easy choice of landing site for James: on the video I had identified a flat roof protruding over the eastern elevation to protect the veranda.