Murray McDonald - Kidnap

“Dead along with nine of his colleagues. Ten have gone to try to catch the targets and eight are trying to maintain a semblance of normality for prying eyes at the base.”

“But what happened?”

“I have no idea but it seems that one of your operatives may still be with them, somebody called Chen?”

“Excellent, some good news at last. Anyway, don’t worry, I had planned for this eventuality, it’s in hand. Will you be talking to our client?”

“No. I have orders not to make any contact until further notice.”

“OK, I’ll keep him up to speed. Anything else I need to know?”

“Nothing, other than I have the Headmaster, his PA and a student held at gunpoint for the next few days.” The sarcasm in Weadle’s tone was cutting. “Don’t worry, they’ll act as though nothing has happened. After the mission is complete, let me know and I’ll arrange the necessary.”

“Thank you. I appreciate your help, you have covered off Schmidt’s role perfectly. I must put the alternative plan into action. I’ll give you a signal on completion. Goodbye.”

“Goodbye and good luck,” said Weadle putting the receiver down.

Tom dialled his father’s mobile. It went straight to Voicemail. That was very strange. He had Call Waiting and it was only when the phone was switched off that it would go straight to Voicemail. After abandoning the mobile, he checked his watch. It was still morning in the UK and despite being a Saturday, his father would be in the office. He dialled the private line and Helen picked up.

“Hi Tom, how’s the new school?”

“Hmm fine, I really need to speak to my dad, is he there please?”

“No, sorry. He went home, he should be there by now. Shall I put you through?”

“No, it’s fine, I’ll do it.”

He hung up and dialled home.

The phone answered after only one ring.

“Mum, Dad, are you OK? It’s me. Something terrible has happened.”

The words rushed from his mouth in the relief that the phone had been answered.

“Ah, the elusive Tom,” came a strange voice in response.

“Who are you?”

“That’s of no concern to you. Let’s just say that I can help you and you can help me.”

“Where are my mum and dad? Why are you answering their phone?”

“Let’s just say they’re OK for now but what you do will determine whether they remain OK. Now firstly, where are you and how is Lela?”

“I don’t know and Lela is fine.”

“Now, now Tom. Do you want to see your mother again?”

“I honestly don’t know where we are. We’re in a helicopter over the Ocean.”

“OK, I believe you. Now what I’m about to tell you will help you keep your parents in oxygen for the next seventy two hours. You must not contact any authorities. If I hear one siren or hear any chatter regarding our situation, you’ll never see them again. Do you understand Tom?”

“Yes I understand,” replied Tom.

Lela heard the fear in his voice and started gesticulating. Tom shook his head and put his hand up indicating for her to stop.

“Good. Now, I have contacts everywhere as you have probably already guessed. If they hear one mention of the Kennedy name, they will call me immediately. So I cannot emphasise enough that you must not talk to anyone. ARE WE CLEAR TOM?”

“Crystal,” he responded.

“Now who killed my men, Tom?”

Tom’s brain was working faster than it ever had before.

“I don’t know, I heard them say something about drinking water they weren’t supposed to have drunk. I think they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time so they came to help us.”

“OK, how many are there TOM?”

“There are five of them,” he lied. They had left ten bodies behind and Tom thought that if he said there were only two soldiers, it would sound suspicious.

“OK. I need you to tell me where they’re taking you. Tell them you are talking to your father and need to know where you are landing.”

“OK. Will I call you back or are you holding on?”

“Holding on Tom. Remember your mum and dad, no funny stuff.”

Tom made his way to the cockpit to speak to Kano and Kisho.

“Where are we heading to?”

“Not sure, still trying to calculate exactly how far we can go on this tank. By the looks of it, we can do just over a thousand miles, this thing is full to the brim. Give me another ten minutes and I’ll let you know,” said Kisho.

“OK.”

Tom made his way back to the main cabin where a very concerned Lela watched his every move.

“What’s wrong?” she mouthed to him, conscious he was still on the phone to whoever was putting the fear of God into him.

Again, Tom only shook his head.

“The pilot doesn’t know yet, he’s still working things out but he reckons we’ll be flying about a thousand miles.”

“That is not the kind of answer I need if you want to see your mother again.”

“They honestly don’t know yet but as soon as they tell me, I’ll let you know. I promise I’m telling you the truth. Please don’t hurt them,” pleaded Tom holding back the tears.

“OK, OK, I believe you. Now take down this number and call me the second you know. Meanwhile, we’ll be tracking you.”

Reaper read out the telephone number and hung up.

As Tom hung up the phone, the helicopter suddenly took a dive towards the sea and they were all thrown to the floor.

“What the hell happened?”

Kano appeared.

“Sorry guys, we have a small problem.”

“What?”

“We just picked up a signal behind us. By the looks of it, we’re being chased by an Apache helicopter.”

“Oh God,” said Tom who thought things could not get any worse.

“What the hell is an Apache?” asked Lela.

“Very bad news. It’s an attack helicopter which will take us apart in about half a second,” said Tom turning to Kano, his brain kicking into action. “How far back is it?”

“I’m not sure. It was through a long range scope that we picked it up and we can’t actually see it yet,” replied Kano.

“I need to see Kisho and the charts,” announced Tom with authority.

“But Tom, what about the call? What’s happened?” asked Lela in desperation.

“Oh, our parents are being held hostage by, I assume, similar madmen to those at the four schools,” he answered glibly. He had much more pressing matters to deal with, they may be dead themselves in the next few minutes.

As Lela digested the devastating news, Tom made his way to the cockpit with Kano. Lela was left with Chen who did his best to comfort her.

“OK, let me see the read-outs,” said Tom. “And where are the charts and how far back is the Apache?”

“Here are the read-outs,” said Kisho. “And they’re about ten miles behind us but closing in fast.”

Tom looked at the charts and all the available data.

“OK, increase to maximum speed 167 knots…”

“But that’ll just eat up our fuel and we’ll fall short of the African mainland,” interrupted Kisho.

“I was going to say, for twenty minutes only,” said Tom.

“But why, what’s the point? They’re much faster than us and they’ll catch us in no time,” protested Kisho.

“Yes, but the only Apache sitting at the base had no auxiliary tanks and no missiles. It has a maximum speed of 197 knots but only for short bursts and every time they do that speed, their fuel will disappear. Their maximum range is about 260 nautical miles but that will reduce every minute they exceed their cruising speed of 160 knots. So if we increase to 167 knots, they won’t get close enough to use their guns unless they’re suicidal. The nearest land is where we just came from.”