Murray McDonald - Kidnap

“But how do you know all that?” asked Kano.

“I just do, like I know this is an EH101, maximum speed 167, cruising speed of 160 and range of just over 1,000 nautical miles with extra fuel tanks. I have a passion for aircraft.”

“Cool, do it Kisho,” said Kano. “But what did you say through there about your parents?” he asked, current crisis averted.

“It seems that my mother and father and I assume Saki have been taken hostage.” Tom went on to explain the whole conversation with the mysterious and fearsome caller.

“Get Lela in here,” said Kisho after hearing what Tom had to say.

Tom went to get Lela.

Reaper watched as his communications man worked his magic. He was the same man who had tapped into the Kennedys’ phone line, had diverted all their calls to his own line and had blocked all mobile signals into and out of the Estate. Within two minutes of the call, he hit the play button. Reaper listened.

“Excellent work, let’s go!”

Reaper made his way to the main gate and pressed the intercom button. He pulled his mask over his face to ensure that none of the cameras could see his face.

“Hello?” came a voice, it was Donald.

Reaper pressed a button.

“Mum, Dad, it’s me and Lela. We’re OK. Please help us,” pleaded Tom to his father.

“Mr Kennedy, your actions in the next few seconds will determine whether you ever see your son alive again.”

Reaper’s statement was menacing and final.

Donald’s finger hovered over the panic alarm.

“What do you want?”

“I want to come in,” said Reaper. “And if you press that panic button, you will have killed your son.”

Donald’s finger jumped away from the button. Saki arrived by his side, almost as though he had sensed he was needed. Donald quickly explained the situation. Saki did not hesitate, he pressed the entry button and the gates opened.

The eleven Range Rovers sped through the gates and down the driveway towards the Main House. Reaper made his way to the front door where Donald and Saki were waiting. Reaper’s communications man raced past Donald and found his way to the central security system which he updated so that it would accept the ‘new’ guards. Within two minutes, forty men were patrolling the Estate, ensuring nobody came in and more importantly, nobody left.

In the time it had taken for Reaper to reach the house, Rachel had been made aware of what was happening. As Reaper walked into the lounge area, she was crying. Donald sat next to his wife to comfort her. Saki sat quietly in the corner of the room.

“What do you want?” asked Donald.

“That will become clear but at the moment I just want to settle in,” responded Reaper.

“So you are Saki?” Reaper turned to Saki and looked at him.

Saki stared back, he recognised the eyes that were looking at him. They had been clearly described to him by a cripple in Sabah. If it were not for the fact that this man was holding the key to his most precious possession, he would have snapped the man’s neck there and then. Fury pulsed through every vein in his body. This was the man who had planned the attack which killed his Tylanni.

“Yes,” he responded. His training ensured that none of his internal rage was evident to anyone else.

“As long as everybody does exactly as we ask, nobody will get hurt. We will be with you for a few days and then we will leave you in peace,” announced Reaper to the room, smiling under his mask.

Tom made his way back to the cockpit to get Lela. Lela was crying, rolled up in one of the seats. Chen was playing with some sort of mobile behind her.

“What are you doing Chen?”

“Hmm nothing. I just found this device on the floor.” As Chen replied, the device buzzed.

“That’s the noise I’ve been hearing all day…let me see?” Tom asked.

“It’s nothing. Anyway, what are we going to do about your parents?” said Chen changing the subject.

“Nothing until I see the device… give me it!” Tom’s voice became angry.

Lela sat up.

“What’s going on? Chen, just give him the device!”

“OK…here,” Chen threw the device violently at Tom. As he did, his other hand moved quickly under his shirt to retrieve a pistol taped to his back.

Lela watched the device fly towards Tom. She could have stopped it but had noticed Chen’s other hand moving around his body. Lela watched and as Chen brought his hand around with the pistol, she pounced. She grabbed and snapped Chen’s wrist before his hand had made it round and the gun fell safely to the floor.

Tom ducked and the device hit the cabin wall at the same time as the gun hit the floor. Chen sat wide eyed looking at his hand in its unnatural position. Lela, had had enough and was ready to strike another blow but Tom raced over and suggested that Chen was not going to do any more damage. Shock had set in and his breathing had become very laboured, the pain would be intense.

On hearing the commotion, Kano rushed in.

“What happened?”

“It appears that Chen is not who we thought he was,” said Lela.

Chen stared blankly, the pain in his wrist was like nothing he had ever experienced.

“So who is he?”

“Well you heard the question, who are you?” said Lela moving towards Chen.

Chen flinched. He was a great fighter but Lela had bettered him without effort. He was still trying to work out what and how she had done it. He knew when he was beat.

“My real name is Ling.”

“But that’s a girls name,” said Kano.

“I am a girl. Well, actually I am a woman. I am twenty two and was hired to watch and help capture Tom and Lela.”

Tom heard the slap but did not see it even though he had not taken his eyes off Ling but her head snapped back and she let out a scream. By the time he looked over at Lela, she was just standing still with a smug look on her face.

A tear rolled down Ling’s cheek.

“I made Mia crash into the gate.”

“So who the hell is behind it all and what do they want?”

“I’m afraid I honestly can’t help you. I don’t know the answer to either of those questions. All I know is that whoever they are, they have lots of money. I was paid $500,000 up front and was to be paid the same again on completion.”

“Forgive me for not believing a word you say…bitch!” Lela was angry and finding it hard to control herself.

“Lela, please. You’re not helping,” said Tom to Lela but turning to Ling, he said, “As you know, we have access to a lot of money. If you do know anything that will help us get our parents back, we will pay you very handsomely.”

“No. I’ve told you all I know.”

“OK, we tried it your way, now mine,” said Kano.

He took Ling by the arm and led her through to the back of the chopper. Ling panicked and made a bid for the door but was on her back and being dragged down the cabin before she had moved an inch.

“What is he going to do to her?” Tom asked Lela.

“Nothing. He’s just scaring her. She’ll tell him everything she knows, he is a really scary guy. My dad reckons that the twins were the best two students he ever taught. In fact, it is said they’re the second and third best on the island.”

“Who’s the best?”

“My dad,” said Lela with pride.

“You never told me that.”

“You never asked.”

“So Saki’s good?”

“No, he’s unbelievable. Nobody comes near him. The twins are the closest but still some way behind. My dad is regarded as the best there has been for generations.”

“Wow, the things you find out at the weirdest times,” said Tom.

“I think it’s important you know now that nothing and I mean nothing will happen to Donald and Rachel while my dad is looking after them. We must not worry about them. We just need to get there so they know we’re OK.”