The Second Renaissance Series Boxset

by Paul Heron

  ‘Right, we’re nearly there.’ Nicole shouted, killing the headlights. She pulled over on the side of the road and shut the engine off. ‘We'll go the rest of the way by foot. We can cut through the fields to stay off the road.’

  Inside the van was pitch black, just the lights coming from their phones. They all looked around at the dark shadows. The sound of them all breathing heavily behind their rubber masks was interrupted only by the sound of a clip being slid into a pistol.

  Scarlett cleared her throat. ‘Is everyone ready?’

  ‘Let’s go get your dad, Michael,’ Marcel whispered.

  Nicole loaded her weapon.

  ‘Are we getting a gun, too,’ Eduardo asked, his voice trembling, ‘I think we should have protection as well.’

  ‘That’s what we’re here for,’ Nicole said. ‘Scarlett and me. Along with Pierre, Avril and all our agents, are trained in the use of weapons.’

  Sofia laughed. ‘I’ve known how to fire a weapon since I was tiny.’

  ‘Sofia, you just keep getting hotter!’ Marcel joked.

  ‘In some circumstances,’ George said, ‘you will need to use them. Like in Mexico. You did what was needed, Sofia.’

  ‘I think it shows exactly why she chose you all!’ Scarlett said. ‘And she’s chosen the right bunch.’

  ‘Well, maybe Archangel Michael over here,’ Mohammad pointed to Michael, ‘can ask her the next time he goes on a date to 1600s Tuscany. Now, let’s go get his old man.’

  They all jumped out of the side door of the van, Scarlett first.

  The roads were quiet. After such a sunny day and no cloud cover, frost rose from each of their mouths. Nicole and Scarlett led the way through the farmland towards the warehouse.

  Michael was beginning to feel his senses sharpen. But behind the rubber mask, his breathing made him sound like one of those serial killers from a horror movie. The sweat was running into his eyes, causing them to sting; he could taste the salt as his body fluid continued to run down his face into his mouth.

  ‘Nobody speaks unless it’s absolutely necessary until we get Michael’s dad back,’ Scarlett whispered. She pulled her phone out of her pocket, feeling it vibrate. It was Pierre.

  I can see you. Don’t make a sound. Be careful. There are dips in the field.

  Michael received a text. It was from George who was waiting in the van with Ajit.

  Michael, they’re leaving soon. Going to Marseille. Tomorrow they plan to get the fragment first thing in the morning. Be fast. But be careful. Go get your dad.

  Michael passed on the information to the rest. He felt lucky because he had Nicole, Scarlett, Avril and Pierre who were all skilled and experienced agents.

  As they climbed the vertical hill that overlooked the grounds of the warehouse, they saw Pierre waving them over.

  Pierre got excited as they approached, as if he was waiting for some action. ‘Avril's on the way.’ Pulling a sniper rifle from the boot of his Audi, he smiled, ‘your dad's safe, Michael.’

  ‘Right, they’re on the move very soon. We gotta go,’ Michael said, taking the lead. He took his phone out and called Ajit. ‘Ajit, can you cut their communications?’

  ‘Ready and waiting. Might I suggest when I do so, you’re ready because the second I cut it, they’re going to know something's up.’

  ‘Good point, maybe we should draw them out instead of us going in.’ Michael looked at the rest. They all looked up for it.

  ‘Amigo,’ Eduardo tugged on Michael’s sleeve. ‘Maybe it would be a good idea to do something to their cars, so they can’t follow us.’

  ‘Excellent idea,’ Michael agreed. ‘Ajit stay on the line. We’re heading down now.’

  They all made their way quietly down the field. Nobody said a word. Raised voices could be heard coming from the warehouse, followed by a banging noise.

  ‘If they lay a finger on him, I swear...’ Michael said.

  ‘We hear you, bro,’ Marcel said.

  They reached the car park.

  Along the side of the warehouse were three cars parked out of view of any windows.

  ‘I’ve got a knife. I’ll puncture their tyres. Nicole, you cover me,’ Scarlett said, pulling a flick knife from under her skirt.

  ‘Scarlett, who are you?’ Mohammad said.

  She ignored the remark.

  Scarlett and Nicole advanced towards the cars, the rest stood in the shadows at the corner of the car park.

  A security light flashed, illuminating the entire area, except a tiny area that ran along the edge of the car park.

  Michael’s heart went into overdrive. ‘Get into the shadows, fast. Move!’ he hissed, backing into the darkness whilst watching Scarlett and Nicole duck down behind the cars. He was furious at their amateurish mistake. ‘This is all we need...’

  Chapter Fourteen

  THERE WAS A FEELING of uncertainty. Of whether or not this was going to draw out Mancini agents. It could have been an animal that set it off. Michael hoped that’s what the people inside the building would think, at least.

  A hissing sound came from the direction of the cars. Scarlett was going around all three vehicles, rendering them useless in a chase.

  The security light went back out. Darkness had fallen over the car park once more. Of course, as soon as Nicole and Scarlett were to dash back, it would come back on.

  Michael phoned Nicole. ‘I have an idea.’ He whispered.

  ‘I’m thinking the same thing, Michael. We draw them out?’ Nicole said.

  ‘Yes, have you been to this warehouse before? If we found the circuit breaker, we could cut the power supply.’

  ‘The plant room is in the basement, but the door that leads down is right beside the window to the room they’re in. We can’t risk making too much noise.’

  ‘Okay.’ Michael looked at the rest. ‘Feels like a sauna behind these rubber masks, the sooner we get this done the better. What do you suggest we do?’

  ‘We kill the lights,’ Marcel said. ‘We draw them out like we did in Mexico.’

  ‘Agreed. That’s the best option,’ Eduardo said, unaware he was pulling on his sleeve and fidgeting with his hands.

  ‘What’s wrong with you?’ Sofia hissed.

  ‘Nothing, just anxious to kick some ass.’ Eduardo was breathing heavily behind his mask.

  ‘I think we should just to go in there, Michael. We already know we can kick their asses,’ Carolina said. ‘So let’s just go in, pulverise them, get your dad, and be done with it.’ She took off her mask. ‘They don’t know who we are with these things on.’

  ‘I agree,’ Sofia said. ‘We don’t have time to wait around. We need to move fast and get back to Marseille. Remember, this could all be a way for them to keep us here, away from-’

  ‘Yes, Michael it makes sense,’ Mohammad said. ‘Remember, that’s what they did by sending us to Mexico for Eduardo.’ He too removed his mask to get some air around his face.

  Michael’s phone began to vibrate in his pocket. It was Ajit. He answered. ‘What’s happening?’

  ‘Michael, they’re preparing to leave,’ Ajit whispered down the phone, as if he could be heard by Couture. ‘Also, I can confirm there are five agents, including Couture. One is staying with your dad, and the rest are going back to Paris to meet with French politicians and a senior Mancini representative.’

  Michael looked at the rest of the group. ‘Okay, Ajit. I’ll call you back when we’re done.’

  ‘Go get your dad.’ Ajit ended the call.

  ‘We’ll get them coming out,’ Michael said.

  ‘What about just putting the security lights out the old-fashioned way,’ Sofia suggested. ‘If Scarlett and Nicole are a good enough shot.’ Sofia’s idea was genius.

  Michael called Scarlett. ‘How good a shot are you?’

  ‘Pretty decent, why?’

  ‘Do you think you could shoot out the lights of the car park before they exit the building? Ajit just called, they're coming out.’

&
nbsp; ‘I think we could do that.’ Scarlett ended the call.

  Michael looked at Sofia, and then the rest, even though he couldn’t see anyone’s face – just a dark outline – he smiled at them all. The adrenaline was coursing through his veins at the thought of seeing his father.

  ‘I can hear voices. They’re coming,’ Carolina hissed.

  ‘Okay, Carolina, you and Marcel take Eduardo to join -’

  The security lights came on for a split second, and then went out again. Scarlett and Nicole clearly had been well trained in shooting and were smart enough to have silencers on their pistols.

  ‘Join Nicole and Scarlett. Sofia, Mohammad and me will hide behind the door then sneak in once they come out.’

  ‘How are we supposed to see?’ Mohammad complained.

  ‘You see that device you call a phone? It has a torch numb-nuts!’ Marcel teased as they split up.

  As they ran to the door, Michael’s face was sweating under the mask. The usual pounding of his heart felt like it was jumping into his throat. The French conversations grew louder from inside.

  Scarlett ran to them, leaving Nicole at the cars with the others.

  ‘I’m going in with you.’ Scarlett whispered in Michael’s ear. ‘If the agent in there doesn’t know it’s you – which they won't – they’ll have no problem putting a bullet in you. Remember, they won’t kill you, but they’ll kill an anonymous stranger.’

  ‘Can we die by human bullets?’ Michael asked.

  ‘Do you want to find out?’ Sofia said.

  ‘Maybe ask your three-hundred-year-old girlfriend when she summons you again.’ Mohammad choked on his laughter.

  ‘Quiet.’ Sofia hissed.

  The voices got louder, along with the sound of shoes clicking off the concrete floors, picking up speed. There was a pause. A lady’s voice saying something in French. Michael understood it to be: our lucky charm will have to come to us now.

  Michael watched as the door handle lowered, he could feel Scarlett’s breath warming his neck. He realised she wanted her hands on Couture, but for what reason?

  The door opened. Fluorescent light flooded out into the car park. Couture spoke again in French, wondering what had happened to the security lights.

  The door opened wide with Michael, Sofia, Scarlett, and Mohammad behind it.

  The door closed, sending the light back inside again. Michael watched as the dark figures of Carolina and Marcel approached the Mancini agents from behind, instantly dropping two of them, and before Couture or the third agent realised what was happening, they too were grabbed and instructed not to make a sound. Nicole approached with her left index finger across her lips and her pistol pointed at them with her right hand.

  ‘Right, let’s go,’ Michael whispered, pulling the door slowly, being careful it didn’t make any unwanted screeching. Something as simple as rusty hinges could cause their surprise to go wrong.

  The door opened. Cautiously, he stepped into the light. A fusty smell indicated cleaners were not employed regularly.

  He tiptoed. The hard heels of his shoes would be as bad as, or worse than the door hinges at giving them away. He looked back, Scarlett, Sofia, and Mohammad behind him. He turned and made his way down the eight-foot-wide corridor that had dirty white walls covered in cobwebs and flaking paint. It was cold and damp, causing the smell.

  As they approached the door to the room, their footsteps became lighter. At this point, Michael’s heart was pounding against his chest. He could hear a French accent inside, trying to make small talk in broken English.

  They listened. Just one voice – one French accent. Then, he heard it - his father’s trembling voice.

  ‘Look, I don’t know what this is all about, but you’ve got the wrong person.’ Mr O'Hagan pleaded.

  ‘You very precious to Mancini. Can no’ tell you why.’

  Michael looked at Scarlett, wanting to take the gun off her and go in there blasting, but the man in there – his dad – taught him better than that. He taught him to be a thinking man.

  Chapter Fifteen

  MICHAEL PLACED HIS hand on the door handle, his sweaty palm gripping the cold steel. He looked back. Scarlett had her Desert Eagle pistol clasped in both hands, pointed to the ceiling. She was the only one without a mask, so it was hard for Michael to determine the other two's frame of mind. Sofia had experienced a trauma by killing Garcia, and Mohammad was the joker, but Michael knew a lot of the jokes were a cover up for his anxiety, perhaps his coping mechanism. But Michael knew one thing, after only a few days, after everything they’d been through together, they all had each other’s back. He knew no matter what they’d face anything together.

  ‘Go for it,’ Mohammad whispered as if he knew what Michael was thinking.

  Michael hesitated.

  ‘What are you waiting for?’ Sofia hissed, giving Michael a verbal kick in the ass. Just as he went to knock the door, gunfire ripped threw the silent air, coming from the car park. ‘Shit!’ Sofia whispered.

  The voice from inside the room got louder, and their footsteps got closer to the door. With his hand still gripping the door handle, Michael felt it being lowered from the inside. This was it. He forced the handle down and shoulder barged the door open, sending the Mancini agent on the other side tumbling to the ground. They all ran into the room.

  Michael was never so happy to see his father; even if he was tied up, and a bit rough looking. He ran straight for Mr O'Hagan, turning to Scarlett for her knife to cut him free, but it seemed she already knew what he was thinking and had produced the seven-inch steel blade.

  ‘Here, hold this,’ she said, handing the pistol to Michael. ‘Don’t say a word, remember?’ she shouted. ‘Any of you.’

  Michael turned around to see Mohammad wrestling with the agent. Rolling around on the ground, the agent overpowered Mohammad, getting on top of him, trying to choke him out. Sofia swung a kick to his stomach. She went for a second, but the agent caught her foot and spun her around, pushing her away. Mohammad poked him in the eyes, causing the agent to scream in anger.

  Michael left Scarlett with his father, running over to help Mohammad. Handing the gun to Sofia, he grabbed the agent from behind, dragging him off Mohammad. The agent grabbed Michael behind the head from behind and pulled Michael’s head downwards trying to flip Michael over his shoulder.

  Michael let go of the agent at the same time the agent let go of Michael. The agent fell back to the ground, rolling over and jumping straight to his feet. He was extremely athletic, at least four inches taller than Michael with a similar build. With a chiselled face, Michael could see how women would find him attractive. He was very confident, despite being outnumbered in a room full of people with weapons. He spoke in French, asking Michael to fight him one on one with no weapons. Michael wasn’t in the mood for a duel. He was pissed off at the sight of his father, a nervous wreck.

  The agent laughed, he called Michael a coward in French, and before anyone knew it, Michael ran up to him, jumped, pivoted on his left foot, and swung his right foot in mid-air, connecting with the agent’s temple, sending him stumbling back towards the window. Michael landed on the ground just in time to watch the agent explode out of his suit. What stood before them now was a Fomorian giant. He looked like the police officers who’d changed their appearance in the carpark earlier. He was now three foot taller than the human he’d been posing as. He spat a green slime at Michael.

  ‘I walk out of here, or all of you die. I’ll take you all straight to Donn.’

  ‘No you won’t.’ Sofia pointed the gun at him. ‘I’ll send you to him. You can deliver a message.’

  He laughed, and pointed his lumpy finger at Sofia, as if imitating her. The nail at the end of the finger look like it could cut through metal.

  ‘Put that ugly excuse for a finger away, before the chief here snaps it off.’ Mohammad laughed, getting to his feet again.

  A lightning bolt shot out of the end of the giant’s finger tip, hitting the g
un, sending if flying across the room.

  ‘What the...’ Mohammad shouted.

  Michael ran up to the giant, side kicking him through the window into the car park.

  ‘Wow,’ Mohammad said. ‘What the hell just came out his finger?’ He patted Michael on the shoulder. ‘Good kick.’

  The Fomorian rose from behind the window. Scarlett pulled her backup weapon out and shot him in the head, causing him to explode into a ball of fire.

  Mr O’Hagan began shouting. ‘Who the hell are you, and what’s going on?’

  ‘We’re here to help,’ Scarlett said as she cut his cable ties. ‘We’ve got to move, now!’

  Michael stood looking out the window, the Fomorian was reduced to a pile of ash. Eduardo walked across the window and peeked in, still wearing his mask. ‘You need to teach me some of these moves.’

  ‘Let’s go, move!’ Scarlett shouted to the rest, directing them all out of the room while she followed them out, gun in one hand and mobile phone in the other. ‘George, we’ve got him. We’re on our way back now.’

  They left the building, grateful for Michael’s dad being with them.

  ‘Well done,’ Marcel said proudly.

  ‘The good news is we’ve got them all,’ Carolina said dragging one of the agents to the back of Couture's car. ‘The bad news is, Couture has a bullet in her leg.’

  ‘This is all we need.’ Scarlett sighed. ‘Stop the bleeding and leave her. She’s not our concern.’

  ‘Right, what’s this all about? Who are you people?’ Mr O’Hagan shouted, his voice trembling, tears running down his face. ‘I’ve done nothing wrong. You have the wrong guy.’

  ‘It’s your son, you dumb-’ Couture was silenced by Carolina's left elbow. She took Marcel’s tie and applied pressure to Couture’s bullet wound.

  ‘We’ve got to go,’ Mohammad said. ‘After that gun shot, I’m pretty sure someone would have heard it, and with Charvet missing, police and army will be everywhere.’

  Michael’s phone rang, but he couldn’t answer it because his dad was there. He handed it to Mohammad.