“And what’s happened since then?” asked Mikey.
“Since Bryn’s death, there’s been a power struggle taking place in Pakistan and Afghanistan. With his financial backers, he had a lot of clout, and that didn’t make him Mr Popular. Hence the attempted hit in Islamabad which was possibly orchestrated by a rival terror group; we don’t actually know for sure. What about our mutual friend?”
“Well, first, thank you for the heads-up. I owe you one,” said Mikey gratefully. “We moved to a remote location that only I know. After a couple of days, I learned that Bennet had sent a team to hit our previous safe house on the night we left. They blew it to kingdom come. They’d been briefed that a terrorist cell was holed up in there.”
“Briefed by our friend Bennet, no doubt. He’s got it coming to him, for sure.”
“I hear he’s on leave at the moment and gone north for two weeks. Have you got time to go north, or have you got to get back in a hurry?” asked Mikey.
“I’m in no hurry. I want to see how Hunter and Linda are for a couple of days, and then I’m good to go. Do you know where Bennet is?”
“I will this afternoon. I have a contact in the area where I’ve heard he might be. In all honesty, I haven’t been into the office yet. Carl must think I’m dead or something.”
“Do you think we can trust Carl?” asked Jago.
“He’s not been here long, but he has a reputation for getting things done and doing them right.”
“Maybe I’ll drop in and pay him a visit to see what he has to say for himself. Do you think he knows about Bennet?”
“If he does, he’s keeping it close to his chest,” said Mikey.
***
Mikey dropped Jago at Hunter’s house. Jago knocked on the door once and then continuously.
“I’m coming, I’m coming, hang on,” called out Hunter from the other side of the door.
Jago could hear Hunter’s aluminium crutches as he approached and he waited patiently, smiling to himself.
The door flew open and Hunter gasped at seeing Jago.
“Ah, man, it’s good to see you.” He dropped his crutches and embraced Jago. “Is it all over? Did you get the bad guys?”
“Yes, we got most of them.”
“Come in, come in,” invited Hunter as he bent down, trying to retrieve his crutches. “What do you mean, most of them? Are you losing your touch or what?”
Jago bent down and picked up the crutches. “Here, you need these.”
Hunter slowly led the way into the house.
“And to answer your question, no, I’m not losing my touch,” said Jago. “It so happens that on this visit I can mix business with pleasure. How is Linda? And where are the kids?”
“The kids are at their gran’s place, and Linda’s doing pretty well. They want to keep her in for a while – you know, tests and all that. Do you want to go and see her?”
“Yes, I do. But not if you’re driving,” laughed Jago. “I mean, you can’t even walk properly; heaven knows what your driving’s like.”
Jago and Hunter had lunch and a beer on the patio and discussed the recent events.
“So, what’s the loose end you’re after?”
“It’s someone on the inside, Hunter. The organisation we’ve just dismantled paid this person a lot of money to divert resources, cover up crimes and make murderous acts look like legitimate operations.”
“Really, someone on the inside? Anyone I know?”
“I can’t tell you, Hunter; you know that. You and your family have been through enough. I don’t want to put you in harm’s way, so I’d rather not say. You know what it’s like. We never know what the outcome will be, and if they get me before I get them, they’ll come asking what you know.”
“Jago, they’ll come anyway. They know I’m your mate. I’m in harm’s way anyway, so I might as well know who to look out for.”
Jago paused in thought and reluctantly had to admit to himself that Hunter had a valid point. Jago explained to him all the details that pointed to Captain Bennet being on Marne’s payroll, and how his team had seized Bennet’s assets.
“I know Bennet from way back,” said Hunter. “And what you’ve told me doesn’t surprise me in the slightest. But be careful. He’s used to not playing by any rules and he’s been involved in some tough stuff over the years. He didn’t become a captain by shuffling paperwork, and seeing as that’s what most captains do these days, I think it’s fair to say that he’s not following that trend. Are you going alone?”
“No, I’ll have Mikey with me.”
***
Hunter and Jago exited the hospital.
“Linda’s looking well,” observed Jago.
Hunter paused for a break on his crutches. He looked concerned. “They’re worried about her leg. It’s not mending as they think it should. She’s had two operations on it already and now they’re talking about another one.”
“Have you got a second opinion?”
“The insurance won’t cover a second opinion. We have to go with what they say,” replied Hunter dejectedly.
“Sit down for a second. I’m going to make a call.”
Jago wandered with his phone to his ear. “Abi, I need a favour for a friend.”
“Hi, Boss, sure – what do you need?”
“Can you find out the best specialist for gunshot wounds to the upper leg. My friend’s wife was shot and they’ve operated twice and we need a second opinion before they do something drastic like remove it. I don’t care what it costs, or whether they can come here or we send her to them. I’ll text you the details for her, the hospital, the doctors and Hunter.”
“I’ll get on it now.”
Mikey pulled into the car park and hung back until Jago had finished his call.
“Hi. How are they?” asked Mikey.
“They’re in pretty bad shape. I’ve just been getting my team to see if they can help out. Did you get a location?”
“Yep. He’s staying in Port Douglas, a few miles north of Cairns. I’ve booked us on a flight at 1100 hours.”
“Okay, I’ll be with you in a minute. Let me have a word with Hunter.”
Jago entered the hospital waiting area and explained to Hunter that he’d got Abi to arrange a second opinion at no extra charge to him or his family.
“Do you remember when I told you about how we help others?” asked Jago.
“Yeah, I remember,” said Hunter with his head in his hands.
“Well, this is one of those times. Take care, my friend, and I’ll see you soon,” said Jago compassionately as he shook his friend’s hand.
Chapter 41
It was hot and sticky and mid-afternoon when Mikey and Jago arrived in Cairns and picked up their hire car, a white Toyota Land Cruiser.
“How far is it from here?” asked Jago as they packed the vehicle.
“It’s just over an hour away. We take the Captain Cook Highway all the way up. It’s a beautiful place.”
“I’m sure it is. Maybe we can take in the sights when we’re done,” replied Jago with a hint of sarcasm.
“Ah, Jago, I didn’t mean it like that,” said Mikey as he started to drive out of the airport.
“I know, Mikey, I know. I guess I’m a little out of sorts. Just thinking about how low this man could get, exploiting me at a time of grief. This was personal, and I don’t normally do personal, but Rebecca was special. She was the only one who understood me. I really thought we had a future, and that’s never happened to me before. Do you know what I mean, Mikey?”
“Yes, I know what you’re saying. I understand it completely. I don’t know whether you know this, but I was a teacher before I took this job and I was married. I lost my wife, Tammy, after the Bali bombing. She was badly injured and never recovered. So, yes, I understand you and your grief. And I’d like to tell you it gets easier, but it hasn’t for me, yet.”
“I’m sorry, Mikey. I didn’t know. How are you holding up?”
“I man
age until I get to things like birthdays and Christmas, or until I hear a piece of music that we shared a love for. That’s when it’s hardest.”
“How long were you married for?”
“We’d been going out and living together for two years and married for three.”
“And I’d only known Rebecca for about eighteen months.”
“It doesn’t matter how long you were together. What matters is that you loved one another. That can never be taken from you. Hold on to that, Jago; it’ll be your saviour, for sure.”
A peace fell upon each man as they dived inward, deep in thought. It was like Mikey was driving on autopilot.
Forty-five minutes into the journey, Mikey broke the silence.
“We’re booked into a small apartment on the edge of town. The town itself is tiny but likely full of tourists. There are also loads of day trippers who come for the reef tours.”
“Where’s Bennet staying?”
“He’s in the swanky Reef View Resort. It costs a fortune to stay there. It’s five minutes’ walk from our place. Listen, it will be sundown soon and we’d better get something to eat.”
Jago voiced concern: “We can’t just wander into town if it’s so small, can we?”
“It’s fine. Shaza is on the case. She’ll let us know if he leaves the site. He hasn’t left yet in four days. He tends to eat in the restaurant alone and then tries to chat up women in the bar afterwards. We’re good to go to town.”
“Who is Shaza?”
“Oh, just a friend of mine who doesn’t mind doing me a favour, especially in a swanky hotel.”
“You paid for it, didn’t you?”
Mikey’s voice became more resolute. “I want this bastard too, you know. If it costs a little dosh, so be it.”
“I’m a private entity and I have funds for this sort of thing. I’ll reimburse you when we’re done.”
“No, I don’t want your money, Jago.”
“Okay, so why are you here, Mikey? Really, why?”
“I can’t stand people like Bennet. He’s a traitor to all we stand for. I know that I can’t match him in terms of skills, weapons and tactics, and suchlike. But I am smart enough to know someone who can.”
He looked at Jago directly.
“Did you suspect Bennet before all of this then?”
“I had my suspicions, and I’m sure he suspected I had them. Even though he’s TRG, he did his best to keep me out of the way by coercing the decision makers. There were signs, but I didn’t know who I could trust. Then you came along. For the first time Bennet was uneasy; he looked concerned. He’d realised that he’d met his match in you.”
“I’m sure we can both leave here satisfied after today. Let’s go and grab a couple of beers and some food.”
“Do you like tapas?” asked Mikey.
“What, here?”
“Yeah, there’s a great tapas place in town. They even serve crocodile croquets.”
“You’ve got to be joking!”
“No, straight up. You’ll see.”
***
Mikey woke to the sound of his mobile ringing. “Hello?”
“It’s Shaza. I think you would enjoy a trip to Mossman Gorge today. The weather’s perfect. But you must find another group to go with, because I’ve heard that the ‘We Are Explorers Tour’ is full. Have a nice day.”
“Thanks, we will.”
Mikey looked around the apartment for Jago and then he walked in the door with takeaway coffee and some food.
“Good morning. Have you been anywhere interesting?” enquired Mikey.
“I’ve had a little recce.”
“That’s good. Did you see him?”
“Yes. He’s having breakfast with a couple of women.”
“Shaza called a few moments ago. He’s going out on a tour today to Mossman Gorge. A lot could happen in a place like that.”
“Indeed, it could. But the question is, why? Why bother to go on a tour? He knows enough about the jungle, so why would he go on a guided tour?”
“A woman maybe, he could be chasing a woman. Or it could be a meet?”
“Maybe. I’m not sure. He’s cunning and we’ll have to be careful. Have you noticed anyone watching us?” asked Jago.
“Can’t say I have. Why? Have you?”
“There was a guy out jogging this morning who was in the tapas bar last night. Five-ten, short dark hair, tanned, athletic build. He was on his own and spent a lot of time on his phone. When I went out this morning, he was stretching against a tree at the end of the road and then he jogged around the block. When I returned via the store, he was a way behind me.”
“Is he still out there?”
“No, he left the area when I started back here. We just need to keep alert,” advised Jago.
“Let’s have breakfast and get going. How was it in Mauritius? We haven’t spoken about it yet.”
As the pair ate, Jago explained how the operation had panned out, and he continued as they checked their weapons and equipment for the day.
“What’s the island like?” asked Mikey.
“Why, are you thinking of taking Shaza there or something?”
“I might be. It would be a good luxury holiday, wouldn’t it?”
“Yes, but how can you afford that on your measly government salary?”
“Well, when Tammy died, I got a pay-out on the insurance. Not that it replaced her or anything, but it meant that I could pay for the house outright and have some left over. And now it’s time for me to start over again, so I put the house up for sale three weeks ago and it went the first day for way more than I thought it was worth. So, I’m buying a smaller place on the beach.”
Jago looked at his watch. “Good for you, Mikey. I hope that it works out for you. Are we ready to go?”
“Yeah, I’ve got everything. Let’s go.”
Mikey left the apartment first and put their bags in the back seat of the car. Jago exited the apartment and was looking over the balcony to speak to Mikey when he noticed a car parked down the road a little way, with a single occupant who was looking in their direction. Jago discreetly checked up the street to find his jogger was on the corner outside the takeaway bakery where Jago had been earlier.
He thought, Something’s not right here.
Jago called down to Mikey, “I’m sorry, Mikey, but can you bring those bags back up. I haven’t finished with them yet.”
“Sure, no problem. I’ll be up in a second.”
Jago watched as Mikey grabbed the bags, shut the car door and made his way to the stairway. Jago met him there.
“Get out the HKs,” instructed Jago with a sense of urgency. “We’ve got company. There’s a grey saloon car down the street a little west of here with one occupant, and our jogger is watching from outside the bakery. They’re expecting something, yet keeping their distance, which can only mean one thing.”
“Am I missing something here?” asked Mikey.
“Mikey, I’m saying that there may be a bomb in our vehicle. You take the jogger and I’ll take the driver.”
“You mean to say I was in that vehicle and there could be a bomb in there?”
“It’s possible. But they’ll want to take us both out, not just you, which means one of them has some kind of remote detonator. Make sure you look for it when you take out the jogger.”
“What do you mean, take out the jogger?”
“Somehow, I don’t think he’s just going to let you arrest him, if you get my drift? Let’s take the back stairs, and I’ll see you back here in ten to fifteen minutes. Don’t go near the car.”
“Don’t you worry, I have no intention of going near the car.”
Chapter 42
Jago moved quickly through the apartment gardens, past the poolside of the adjacent building, to the end of the street. He made his way along the side of a building under the cover of shrubbery. He could see the car and its single male occupant, who was studiously watching the area in front of Jago’s a
partment.
A delivery lorry pulled up in front of the building, blocking Jago’s view. The driver alighted from the vehicle, opened the back, loaded stuff onto a trolley and took it into the building complex. Jago moved towards the nose of the lorry. This gave him a good forward position. He could advance on the driver from a diagonal position without the driver being able to see him in his rear-view or wing mirrors.
Jago waited for the lorry driver to return. As soon as the tail of the lorry passed, Jago advanced, weapon at the ready, pointing at the head of the driver. The driver must have sensed someone in his peripheral vision, but it was too late: Jago was upon him. The driver’s window was open and the muzzle of Jago’s weapon met the man’s head.
“Don’t move, not a muscle,” instructed Jago.
The man froze. He had one arm leaning on the window edge and the other hand on the steering wheel.
“I’m Jago, but you know that already. Who are you?”
“Brolin Miles, sir. Please don’t shoot.”
“Who do you work for, Brolin? And don’t mess me around. I get annoyed when someone tries to kill me.”
Brolin hesitated, and Jago nudged the muzzle into the side of his head as a prompt.
“I work for the government.”
“TRG, AusInt or SpecOps?”
“Similar, sir.”
“Who told you to put a bomb in my car?”
Brolin hesitated. “I can’t tell you, sir.”
“Not even with my gun pointed at your head? I suggest you think again. Let’s make it easier for you. What did they tell you about me and my partner?”
“Someone briefed us that you were terrorists planning an operation, and they ordered us to take you out before you got the chance to complete your mission.”
Lethal Promise Page 26
