The Jason Green series Box Set

by Gordon Wallis

  The contents were a thick translucent green in the light of the goggles. I pushed the end of the needle through the rubberised top of the bottle and drew the plunger out until I had retrieved twelve millilitres. Then I removed the needle and placed the bottle carefully back in the bag. I held the syringe close to my face and squeezed the plunger until the liquid squirted from the end of the needle. The needle was designed for livestock, and for that reason it was extremely thick. I was certain it would be incredibly painful for a human to be jabbed by such a thing. Perfect. I squeezed the liquid from the syringe until there was exactly ten millilitres left and then placed the plastic cover on the needle. My research had told me this was the preferred dosage for junkies and was sufficient to render the user near unconscious. There would be hallucinations and distortions of objects and although the user would be able to see and hear most things, he or she would be unable to speak or move at all. There would also be a complete loss of body sensation. I removed the garrotte which I wrapped up and placed in one of the tracksuit pockets. Then I took out the panga and strapped it on my back. I looked around in case there was anything I had dropped and then closed the bag. I took a deep breath and looked up at the south side of the mansion. This is it, Green. I strapped the bag to my shoulders, got up and walked slowly until I reached the front corner of the house. Stretching out to the right below me were the various tiers and levels that led down to the wall and eventually to the sea. In front of me was the level where Carlos had held his party. There were hidden spotlights shining all along the front of the house to the pool area. It was far too bright. I decided that I would descend one level and make my way in the darkness around to the pool and the staircase that led to Carlos’ private quarters. I crept slowly down the grass until I reached the base of the retaining wall and the second level of lawn. As I had expected it was much darker there and the lawn stretched all the way around the front of the house. I pulled the goggles over my eyes to see if there was anyone patrolling the area but saw nothing. Crouching low I crept along the retaining wall until I reached the staircase that Richard and I had used to get up to the party. It was well-lit and I knew there would be a tense moment as I crossed. I looked around once again and then as quick as I could I darted across the tiles into the darkness on the other side. I reached the end of the retaining wall and stood up straight to have a look at the pool area.

  It looked a lot bigger without the crowds of people and all the party lights. To the left behind the pool, I could clearly see the stairway that I knew led to Carlos’ quarters. There were five windows, all open, and only one of them had a light on. The area from where the food had been served and the band stand were in semi-darkness. I knew that I would have to approach from there and make a dash to the staircase to get in.

  I looked up at the third floor and wondered what I would find when I got inside. I had no idea what sort of hours Carlos da Costa kept. I had no idea what to expect. Perhaps the plan was just too audacious, too risky? I had no idea but I had come this far and I was committed. One way or another I knew that I had to stop Carlos da Costa. One, if not many lives depended on it. I climbed up to the pool level using the wooden railing. I made my way around the seating area until I arrived at the lawn that led to the ablution blocks. Thankfully, the area was dark and I crossed easily and stopped with my back to the main house. The breeze coming in from the sea did nothing to cool me down and I stood there with my heart pounding and sweat streaming from every pore. Keeping my back to the wall I moved around towards the front. Ahead of me was the band stand and the pool. Around the corner and to the right was the food serving area and beyond that, the staircase. I stood there watching and listening. It dawned on me that this was it. The time had finally arrived and there was no turning back. Fuck you must be crazy, Green. This is insane! You've got no idea what the fuck is up there! Turn back and go home. This is not your problem! But it was too late. I knew I was going up those stairs. Subconsciously I felt for the gun, the garrotte, the panga, and the syringe. They were all there. Feeling strangely calm I made my way into the semi-light of the rear of the bandstand. Keeping my back to the building I carried on moving through the area where the food had been served. The staircase was on my immediate right, and I noticed a dark area underneath. I decided to pause there for a moment near a large pot plant. All was quiet and a minute passed as I prepared myself to climb the stairs and enter the building. Finally, I decided it was time to move and I emerged from the darkness and crept to the base of the stairs. As quickly and quietly as possible, I made my way up to the arched doorway.

  The door was made from heavy carved wood and was decorated in traditional Zanzibari style with large brass studs. I was all too aware that at that stage, I was clearly visible to anyone who might be looking at the front of the building. At the same time I was completely oblivious to what lay beyond the door. My left hand felt once again for the gun as my right hand turned the heavy door knob and pushed slowly. The right hand side of the huge door opened with a soft click and the door swung inwards silently. As quick as I could, I stepped into the darkness of the room and closed the door behind me. To my right, across the dark room I noticed a few tiny green and red lights that I imagined were electrical appliances. This was confirmed when I pulled the goggles over my eyes and the room in front of me suddenly became visible. I was standing in a huge lounge area with low couches set around a large and ornate table. To my right was a massive flat screen television surrounded by various hi-fi equipment and speakers.

  To the far side of the room was a large dinner table and a bar, complete with stools and overhead storage. To the left of the bar was a staircase that led down to the lower levels of the house. At that moment I felt something soft brush across the shin of my right leg. Startled, I looked down to see what it was and saw a huge Siamese cat. It was purring loudly as it wound around my feet. Its eyes bright and yellow through the goggles as it looked up at me longingly. I pushed it away gently with my right foot and continued studying my surroundings. To my left was a long wall decorated with a huge painting of Stone Town. Beyond that was an archway to a wide corridor that I assumed led to the sleeping quarters. The inside of the building was air conditioned and cool but it did nothing to stop the streams of sweat running down my temples around the goggles. Making a conscious effort to control my breathing I stepped onto the carpet and walked slowly towards the entrance to the corridor. When I arrived I was instantly aware of a light coming from the first door on the left. The corridor stretched off ahead of me towards what looked like another staircase leading down. There were doors on either side but all of them were closed except the first one to the left which had been left slightly ajar. I decided that that room would be my first port of call and I crept slowly towards the door. As I got closer, the light from the inside of the room became too bright for the goggles and I shifted them into the upright position. It was then that I heard the snoring. It became louder and louder the closer I got to the door and I was certain that I had found the bedroom of Carlos da Costa. When I arrived at the door I saw that the light I had seen from the outside of the building was from an en-suite bathroom. The door to the bathroom had been left slightly open making the inside of the room light enough for whoever was inside to be able to see. In front of me were a series of arched windows that would have spectacular views of the sea. All of the curtains were closed but they glowed in the light from the hidden spotlights that shone on them from the front of the house.

  I paused to listen. The snoring was coming from the right hand side of the room which I could not see. It was the loud and repetitive snoring of a person in a deep sleep. Silently I stepped through the door and looked to my right. The huge room stretched off to the right. To the centre, against the back wall I could clearly see a very large double bed with an ornate headboard and side drawers. There was what looked like a human figure on top of it. With the light from the bathroom behind me, I pulled the goggles over my eyes and looked. Carlos da Costa lay on his
side fast asleep with his back to me. There was no mistaking his fat bald head and the folds of flesh of his neck. His squat body heaved under the satin sheets as he snored. To the front of the bed between two arched windows was another flat screen television and to the far of the room was what looked like a walk in wardrobe.

  Silently I pulled the syringe from my pocket as I stepped closer to the bed. Every nerve in my body tingled as I removed the plastic cover from the needle and placed it in my pocket. The needle glowed green in the light of the goggles as I stepped closer still to the sleeping lump in front of me. At that moment I felt the soft fur of the cat as it rubbed past my leg once again. It had followed me silently from the lounge area into the bedroom. In my mind I cursed myself a thousand times as it started purring loudly. I took my eyes from the sleeping man in front of me and looked down at the cat in desperation. It sat there looking up at me with an expectant look on its face and let out a loud ‘meow.’ Instantly the sleeping figure in front of me snorted in reaction to the noise and I watched as Carlos shifted from his side onto his back, his shiny face leaning slightly towards me. Instinctively my right hand came up and gripped the handle of the panga behind my neck. Carlos da Costa never knew how close he came to having his throat cut that night. If he had opened his eyes for a second the blade would have descended and cut the flesh to his spine. It would have been too quick a death for such a vile monster. Instead I watched as he opened and closed his mouth making a clucking sound below me. All the while his eyes were closed and I stood there absolutely electrified. I released my grip on the panga and once again I gently pushed the cat away with my foot. Then the snoring started once again but this time it was louder. It was a wet, gurgling sound, like air being forced through a burst inner tube. I realised then that I had to move and move immediately. I leapt into the air and landed on the stomach of the sleeping man below. My knees pinned his upper arms to the bed and my left hand slammed onto his mouth as I landed. His eyes opened with a look of abject terror as I sunk the needle into the right hand side of his neck and squeezed the syringe. His lower arms came up and gripped my biceps with an incredible vice-like strength. He rammed my back repeatedly with his knees and I felt the hot air of a muffled scream on my left palm. The ketamine took effect in seconds. I felt the iron grip of his fingers loosen on my arms and his legs stop moving. I knew the drug would leave him fully conscious. Able to see and hear, but unable to feel any pain or move at all. The look of terror in his eyes remained as his body became totally limp. I moved my face inches from his and whispered through clenched teeth, “You just relax my friend, we’re going to go on a little trip. You and me.” I removed my left hand from his mouth and studied his face. His mouth hung open and his jaw twitched in a silent scream. His eyes became dilated as the hallucinations began. I wondered if by that stage he knew who I was. Perhaps, in his now drug-addled brain he imagined he was dreaming. A malevolent, dark figure with mechanical eyes who had stabbed him in the neck. The look on his face told me it was probably the latter. I paused for a moment watching him and wondering what was going through his mind. I was feeling a mixture of intense exhilaration and anxiety.

  I had carried out half of one of the most audacious missions of my life. The next step was to get Carlos out of the house and off the property. Satisfied that he was completely immobilised, I got up and left him lying there as I walked back into the lounge area. Not wanting to create an unusual situation with the lighting I kept the goggles on and made my way down the stairway I had seen when I had entered the room. Realising that the exit to the car park would be two flights down I skipped the middle floor completely and arrived in what looked like a service area. There were washing machines and dryers to my right and an archway leading to a huge kitchen to my left. The kitchen had a series of windows from which the lights from out side shone in. I shifted the goggles into the upright position and made my way to the last window to have a look at where I was. When I arrived I could clearly see the carports outside to my left. There were two doors, one leading to a hallway and the main entrance to the house, and another staff entrance. I opted for the latter and to my surprise I found it open. I realised that the entire house must have been air-conditioned as I felt the heat and humidity of the night hit me as I opened the door. There was no movement on the outside and I noticed a dark pathway to my left that lead to the carports. It was looking good so far. There was no time to waste so I made my way back into the kitchen and upstairs to the top floor.

  As I walked through the lounge I saw the cat again. It had climbed up onto the back of one of the couches and it purred loudly as it watched me walk past. Carlos da Costa was in exactly the same position I had left him. The only thing that moved were his eyes as he watched me approach and lean over him again. “Time to go, big guy,” I whispered as I grabbed his left arm with mine and pulled him into a sitting position. His head flopped back as he came up but his eyes kept staring at me. With my right arm I pulled his legs until they flopped over the side of the bed and the satin sheets fell away. I could see he was wearing boxer shorts and I noticed the thick black hair that covered his huge belly and shoulders. I groaned as I lifted his awkward shaped body into a fireman's lift. Although he was nowhere near as heavy as Tintin he was of considerable weight and my lower back twinged with pain as I straightened up. I was aware of the sickly sweet smell of his body odour as I made my way out of the room and through the lounge. Carefully I made my way down the stairs to the ground floor. Occasionally he would make a wheezing sound as if he was battling to breathe but I paid no attention to that as I made my way to the window closest to the kitchen door. As I paused to look out the window for any signs of danger I realised that no one in their right mind would ever dream such a thing could happen. Considering the amount of armed security on the perimeter of the property it would seem completely outrageous and pretty much impossible. Perhaps it was for those reasons that I was actually succeeding. Having seen it was all clear outside I opened the kitchen door and stepped outside. The last step down to the pathway was a big one and the fat man on my shoulder grunted involuntarily as my right foot landed. In front of me was a clear tiled pathway that lead to the carports. Most of it was in semi-darkness except for the carports themselves which were bathed in the glow of a hidden spotlight. I realised that I would need to be quick getting him and myself into the Hummer. Any sound Green, and you drop him like a stone, duck for cover and reach for the gun. I walked as quick as I could with the grunting lump on my shoulder and arrived on the driver’s side of the big car. Using my left hand I opened the rear door and then unceremoniously dumped the sweaty body onto the back seat. I closed the door as quietly as I could and got into the driver’s seat. It was a blessed relief to be finally concealed by the tinted windows of the big car and I sat there panting heavily from the exertion and the nerves. I turned around in the seat to look at Carlos. He had landed badly on his side and his right arm was extended behind his head. I could see his eyes watching me, his mouth still open with a steady dribble of saliva running onto the seat. “Are you ready to go?” I asked. “Let’s do it then.” I knew there was no point in trying to be quiet from that point on so I turned the ignition key and revved the engine loudly. My hope was that the security personnel at the gate to the property would naturally assume that it was either Tintin or Carlos driving and would open the gate quickly. Failing that, the car was big and heavy enough to smash its way through easily and I would hopefully have time to make the transfer to Hassan's car. Still revving loudly, I reversed the vehicle and engaged first gear. The tyres squealed as we took off down the winding driveway with the lights on full beam. Thick jungle surrounded us as we drove and I hooted continuously to warn the staff at the gate that we were leaving and we were in a hurry. In front of me the driveway veered off to the left. I rounded the corner at speed and came face to face with the grey facade of the perimeter wall with the gate to the centre. Two very sleepy looking security guards were frantically attempting to unlock the gat
e and they almost fell over themselves as they slid it open for me. They stood to attention and saluted and I saw the whites of their eyes as I drove the big car out and onto the main road. My plan had worked superbly. It had been far too brazen and outrageous to fail. I swung the car to the right and headed up the road parallel to wall. A few hundred metres later, the road made a sharp right at the end of the wall and the tyres screeched as I took the corner.

  I was praying that Hassan had kept his nerve and was still waiting for me beyond the wall. I took the left turn and left the wall behind me. To my relief in the distance I saw the reflectors of the waiting taxi. I pulled up behind Hassan and jumped out of the vehicle. “Stay in the car please, Hassan,” I said as I noticed him getting out of the cab,.“ I will deal with this. Just open the boot for me please.” He did so and I heard the click of the boot as he pulled the latch.

  As quick as I could I opened the back seat of the Hummer and roughly pulled the limp body of Carlos into another fireman's lift. I pushed the door closed and walked over to the open boot of the waiting cab. I figured there was no need to be gentle with my load so I dropped the fat man into the boot like an animal carcass. There was a loud metallic thud as he landed and I had to bend his left leg at the knee to get him in properly. Without wasting time I slammed the boot closed and returned to the Hummer. I removed the keys and threw them as far as I could into the jungle on my left. “Right Hassan,” I said as I got into the front of the car, “we are almost finished now. Let’s take a slow drive to Baya Beach.”