“I understand and I will do as you ask Mr Jason.”
“I know what I am asking is unusual but I will make it worth your while ok Hassan?”
“Hakuna matata Mr Jason I will do as you ask, hakuna matata.”
“Thank you Hassan, now I am going to change my clothes.” I pulled the bag from the back seat and opened it. I removed my shoes and then pulled on the black jeans. They were still damp from the sweat of the previous evening.
Next I pulled on the black tracksuit top followed by the beanie and the blacked up trainers. Hassan watched in amazement as I did it. Last was the black polish that I smeared onto my face and neck. We were approaching the wall when I took the laptop out of my bag leaving only the rope, the panga, the night vision goggles, and the garrotte. Hassan slowed the car as we reached the wall. “This is fine here Hassan,” I said, “turn the car around like I said and wait up the road there. I don't know how long I will be but I promise I will be back.”
“I am afraid Mr Jason,” he said gravely, “what is happening here?”
“I promise I will tell you everything, Hassan but I have no time now. Just trust me and wait for me ok?”
“I will do it,” he replied. I trusted him. I grabbed the bag and jumped out of the car. Immediately I ran to the clearing between the thick jungle and the wall. I turned left and made my way as fast as I could. My plan was to reach the palm tree I had used to cross the wall the previous night. There was scrappy bush and tree stumps and more than a few times I stumbled over low lying vines and fell. Eventually I decided to stop and put on the goggles. When I did, it was a massive help and my journey was made a lot quicker, quieter and safer. I had no idea if there were guards patrolling but the sense of urgency was too much and if I had run into one, I would have dealt with him accordingly. Adrenalin rushed through my body in surges every ten seconds and I was completely oblivious to the steaming heat that enveloped me.
A few minutes later, I arrived at the familiar palm tree. I wasted no time in fastening the rope around it as I had done the previous night and tossing the other end over the wall. I climbed the wall as I had done to the best of my memory and before long I was squatting on the top panting and surveying the scene in front of me. My plan was to go to the main house and move around until I was sure that no harm had come to Angelique. If there was a shouting match, I could deal with it and I would leave once I was certain she was safe. But deep inside I feared the worst and my instincts told me there was a good chance it would come to more than that. Just go and see, Green. Deal with whatever happens when and if it happens. I climbed down the rope as quickly and quietly as I could, replaced the goggles and headed towards the clearing and the car park at the back of the house. From there my plan would be to skirt around until I found a suitable place from which to get closer. From what I had seen the previous night there wasn't very much security on the inside of the premises, probably due to the nature of the business being conducted there.
I felt sure I would be able to get close enough to establish what I had come for. Eventually I arrived at a place near the guard house. To my right I could see the car ports and back of the house. The Hummer was parked and all seemed to be quiet. I looked around and decided that I would gain entry to the main ground by going up near the guard house and through the darkness that surrounded the entertainment area. I felt sure that Angelique would be upstairs in Carlos’ private quarters and it would be relatively easy to gain access from there. It was at that very moment that I heard a door open and slam shut.
What followed chilled me and made my heart sink. The towering figure of Tintin and the much thinner and shorter frame of Angelique appeared from a door to the centre of the rear of the house. She was visibly angry and struggling against the vice like grip of Tintin who held her by one arm and was force marching her across the car park. “Let me go, you bastard!” she shouted. “You have no right to touch me like this!” There was more anger than fear in her voice and this was a small consolation to me as I watched from the darkness of the jungle. Tintin said nothing and continued his march across the clearing. It was then that I saw in his left hand he was carrying an AK47 automatic machine gun. Oh Christ, I thought, Jesus, no. No, no, no.
“You take your hands off me, you bastard. Do you hear me Tintin!?” she shouted. Then I saw her punch his arm and chest with her free hand. There was no reply or reaction from Tintin and he continued to drag her kicking and screaming across the clearing. I froze as I watched them pass me. Where the fuck is he taking her? I thought. If it hadn't been for the gun, I would have ambushed him and cut his throat but it was impossible at that point. Instead I decided to follow them and see what I could do when they got to their destination. Using the goggles, I moved with them, staying slightly behind them in the darkness. I was making a fair amount of noise in the bush as I went but it was nothing compared to the angry protestations of Angelique. She gave a spirited fight but there was no stopping Tintin. Within no time they had reached the other side of the driveway and I saw Tintin stop in his tracks. I wondered if they were going to walk up the drive to the main gate but then, using the hand with which he carried the gun, he flicked a switch that was hidden on a nearby palm tree. Instantly a series of low lights illuminated the path that lead through the jungle. It was the path that lead to the packing factory. The screaming and shouting continued as they made their way up the path. All the while, I followed from a distance like a predator in the night. The lights of the pathway glowed like phosphorous in the goggles but I avoided looking at them and instead concentrated on keeping up with them as they walked. My mind was racing all the while.
I knew there was nothing I could do until they reached wherever they were going. Once they were there I would assess the situation and deal with it accordingly. The only weapons I was carrying were the panga and the garrotte. I kept calm and followed.
THE TWO OF THEM ARRIVED at the factory. Unlike the previous night, there were no lights coming from the inside. Clearly they were not going there. I saw its tall square shape as a grey block in the goggles. The path of lights followed around the other side of the structure and I knew that they continued to the fresh water cave system. My heart was beating fast and the adrenaline coursed through my veins.
The two of them continued past the factory, following the lights, until they arrived at the entrance to the cave system. I could see a glow of light coming from the inside. All the while, Angelique kicked and screamed, but it was to no avail. There was no stopping Tintin and he made no sound at all as he pulled her through the entrance and they both disappeared from my sight. Please just lock her up, I thought, lock her up and leave her in the storage facility. I’ll get her out and take her to a safe place. I paused for a moment and thought about my next move. There was sufficient darkness in the first chamber of the cave system for me to hide myself. I imagined they were heading to the second cave where the lights and the office were. I thought I considered hiding in the shadows near the entrance to the ‘office’ and ambushing him as he left. Then I remembered the hole in the roof of the second cave. I had seen it the previous night and remembered clearly seeing the stars through it. It would give me a better vantage point from which to plan my next move. Every fear, every worry, and every scenario I had imagined was playing out right in front of my eyes but there was no time to cry over spilt milk. There was no time for blame or regrets. The situation demanded action. Immediate action. I skirted around the hillock that was the roof of the cave system until I was far enough from the entrance not to be seen. Then I started climbing. I knew that the opening was at the highest point so my first move was to get to the top. The rocks were sharp and the hillock completely covered with thorny scrubby bush. It made my progress slow and painful. More than once my tracksuit top and the skin underneath were torn by long sharp acacia thorns. Eventually I arrived at a clearing and I noticed a dip in the rock formation that was the opening at the top of the second cave. I paused briefly to catch my breath and remove the g
oggles. I placed them in the bag and put the bag down carefully. In the moonlight I lay on my stomach and, being careful not to shift any loose rock, I snaked my way towards the hole.
As I got closer and closer I became aware of shouting and cursing beneath me. A few seconds later I managed to pull my face over the edge of the hole in the rock and I was finally able to see the entire horrific scene beneath me. Angelique stood against the metal gate of the storage area. Her hands were behind her and were clearly shackled to the steel with handcuffs. Her chest was rising and falling rapidly, her face red with rage and pure hatred. Her ponytail was gone and her sweaty hair clung to her cheeks in thin strips. Carlos da Costa paced calmly up and down the length of the room two metres in front her. From above, his squat podgy frame looked like that of a bullfrog and I could see the moist bulges of flesh on his neck above his barrel-shaped body. To the left, leaning against the wall near the entrance to the second cave stood Tintin. His face was expressionless and he made no movement at all. The gun was still in his left hand with the butt resting on the gritty floor. In that moment, I wished to God that I had had a gun. The two of them were like sitting ducks and I could have ended both of their miserable lives in a second. “Five years, my darling wife,” said Carlos calmly. “Five years we are married and happy together.”
“Five years of hell, you bastard!” screamed Angelique, tears running down her face. Carlos voice grew louder. His accent more pronounced. “Five years my darling, I give you everything you need. I give you beautiful house, I give you beautiful things. I give you everything you want, and now, you do this to me?”
He started to pace faster as his voice grew louder. Angelique watched him as he walked, a look of resigned disgust on her face. “I never loved you Carlos,” she screamed, “can't you see that? You disgust me! The sight of you makes me sick to my stomach!” My world went into slow motion. Carlos da Costa’s voice grew louder still and began to rasp like it had the night of the party. “Five years I try to make a good life for you and me, my darling wife! I work hard to make sure you happy! I pay for everything. I buy the clothes! I buy the jewellery! I fly you all over the fucking world and now I find you playing with another man?” Carlos was working himself into a frenzy. His short arms were shaking and gesticulating wildly as he walked. Then he stopped midway, directly in front her. “But no!” he screamed, “not just any man. No, no, no! I find you with the tall young carrallio from London! A customer of mine! You fucking whore!” He lunged forward and slapped Angelique on the right hand side of her face with such force that it sounded like the crack of a whip. At that moment I had never felt so helpless in my entire life. I felt my head was about to explode with rage and the entire scene below had filled with a red mist. If I could have, I would have jumped down from where I lay and ripped the little man to pieces with my bare hands. Never in my entire life had I felt such burning rage and hatred towards another human being. Angelique's head dropped to one side but she still stood. Carlos gripped her by the chin and held his face to hers. I saw a trickle of blood run down the left side of her mouth onto her chin. Carlos tilted his head to one side and spoke kindly as if he was talking to a child. “What you do now my darling wife? What you do now?” Her beautiful lips parted and turned into a snarl with the blood welling in between her white teeth.
“I am leaving you, you horrible little man. I love him and I am leaving you. Do you understand? You disgust me. It’s over. I never ever loved you,” she said calmly. Then she spat a gooey mixture of blood and saliva which landed directly in the right eye of Carlos da Costa. I saw the right hand of Carlos da Costa bunch up into a fist. “You fucking bitch!” he screamed as he slammed his fist into the side her head. Her body slumped unconscious immediately and I was sure that her arms must have broken behind her. I needed to close my eyes but I could not. My mouth filled with bile and I was overcome with nausea. I had never witnessed anything so cruel in my life. War was savage but this was different. Carlos da Costa stood there and looked at the slumped body of his wife. Then he turned his head skyward and for a split second I thought he might see me. His face contorted into an obscene mask and from his mouth emanated an ungodly screaming wail of rage. The sound was like a freight train smashing through a bottle factory. Then, with an air of calm serenity, he turned and walked towards the standing figure of Tintin.
“Give me the gun Tintin.” Carlos took the gun and walked back towards the pathetic slumped body of Angelique. I watched as the barrel was raised and then I closed my eyes. Bam, bam, bam, bam. Four rapid shots. My body shook with each shot and I smelled the cordite rising through the gap in the rocks. I opened my eyes and saw the horror below. A pool of dark red blood was steadily gathering around her slumped body. I was truly grateful that I could not see her beautiful face. Tears filled my eyes and the vomit sat in my throat. Carlos stood there staring calmly at the body of Angelique. “Tintin,” he said.
“Yes boss,” came the calm reply. “I want you to take this bitch to the boathouse. I want you to put her in the boat. Tonight my beautiful wife will swim with the sharks. Do you understand?”
“Yes boss.”
“Tintin,” said Carlos, “afterwards I want you to go get that carrallio Richard and I want you to bring him here quietly. I don't want any problem.
I want you to take him quietly, and bring him here quietly. Tonight he will swim with the sharks as well. But first he will meet me and explain what he has been doing. Do you understand Tintin?”
“Yes boss. I understand. First the boathouse, then I go to get Richard.”
“Good, Tintin,” said Carlos calmly, “you go now.” The last thing I saw of the cave below was Carlos turning around and Tintin walking towards the body of Angelique.
I pushed myself backwards until I was clear of the hole and then got up in a state of complete shock and disbelief. I pushed my way through the scrappy bushes and over the rocks until I reached the bottom of the hillock. I pulled the night vision goggles over my eyes, and stumbled off in the direction of the wall. It was not long before I started to feel faint and dizzy, as if I might pass out. My brain was spinning and my mouth filled with bile and saliva. I leant against a tree and then suddenly it came. I fell to my knees and vomited violently four times in a row. I had never been affected so profoundly by the sight of a person being killed or indeed by death in general as I was that night. As I spat the last of the foul taste from my mouth, my brain began to clear itself and I started to think straight. She was dead. There was nothing that would change that. Although I was sickened by the fact that I had witnessed her death there was no way I could have saved her. It had all happened too fast and like most of the shit storm I had been in, it was totally beyond my control. Richard. Richard was the only priority for me at that time. I had no idea how long it would take Tintin to get the body of Angelique to the boat house. I had no idea where the boat house was, but I knew then that I was in a race against time. If I failed, I knew that Richard's death would be considerably more painful and drawn out than Angelique's had been. Carlos had demonstrated his inane cruelty very well and I knew that I could not let that happen to Richard.
The nausea had gone and was replaced by a blazing red mist of rage and a desperate sense of urgency. I pulled the goggles down, got to my feet and started off in the direction of the wall as fast as I possibly could. Got to get to Richard! Got to get to Richard! was the only thing going through my mind as I ducked branches and jumped over dead trees. Eventually I reached the clearing near the wall. I knew I was a fair distance up from the rope so I turned right and jogged. I arrived at where the rope was hanging within a few minutes and wasted no time climbing it. A few loose rocks fell and landed noisily but I paid no attention to that.
I climbed half way down the other side and jumped the final two metres to the ground below. As I landed my right foot bent at an angle on a rock and a sharp pain shot through my ankle. I fought the urge to shout out in pain and sat down to feel it. How it did not break was sheer luck bu
t I was sure I would have a bad sprain. I untied the rope and packed it into my bag. It was time consuming but I didn't want to leave any sign that I, or anyone else for that matter, had been there. When I was done I made off up the rough clearing towards the main road. I hopped and limped in pain as I went but I was grateful the ankle had not been broken. A few minutes later, I had reached the tar road. I paused to look around and listen for any vehicles. There was no movement or sound. I made my way on the right hand side of the road. I had told Hassan to wait a few hundred metres away, but I needed to be close to the cover of the jungle beside me in case of a vehicle from behind. I prayed that Tintin would still be busy with Angelique's body but I had no idea how long that would take, and there was a very real chance that the lights of the Hummer might appear from behind me at any time. I walked as fast as I could with my injured ankle, my eyes straining to see into the darkness ahead of me but I could not see any waiting car. Had he abandoned me? Surely not. Hassan, I trusted you. Perhaps the whole scenario earlier had frightened him and he had fled. Where would that leave me, and more importantly where would it leave Richard? Please, please be there Hassan. Oh god please be there. I was panting wildly with exertion and thought I might collapse when I saw the dim reflection of the number plate of Hassan’s cab. It was a massive relief. Hassan got the fright of his life when I suddenly burst into the front seat of the cab. My face blacked up with polish, bleeding, clothes torn, panting uncontrollably and smelling of vomit. “Jesus, Mr Jason! What happened?”
The Jason Green series Box Set Page 31
