Murray McDonald - Kidnap

“How are you doing, Saki?”

“Not good, you?”

“Same.”

“Donald, I just can’t get it out of my head. I can’t believe the twins would let us down. Are you sure they have the kids?”

“Yes. I wish I was wrong but he had Tom on the phone and let me speak to him very briefly. I keep replaying the moment in my mind but all I come up with is that they must have them.”

Saki looked at the TV feed.

“Still no demands from the kidnappers. That’s very strange, it’s been over two days now.”

“I know. It’s all linked. They don’t care about anything but the deal,” said Donald. “It’s all I can think about. Four thousand children in danger because of me.” Donald became tearful.

“No! Four thousand children in danger because of them, not you!” Saki was adamant. “This is not your fault, you’ve done nothing wrong and don’t forget that!”

“I know you’re right but I can’t help thinking ‘what if…,’” said Donald. “Anyway I need to finish the final drafts by this evening. I better get on with it and check in with the anal retentive.”

Donald was referring to Mark who was driving him mad, checking every alteration in case there was some hidden code in the way he had crossed something out or had added a word.

Reaper’s phone rang. It was the client.

“What’s the latest?”

“They boarded the flight at 5.00 p.m. in South Africa. There was a half hour delay and so they’re due to land at 3.00 a.m. They should be here by 4.00 a.m. which gives us plenty of time.”

“How do you know they definitely boarded, if you’ve got nobody on the ground?”

“My communications man dialled into the airline’s system and checked, firstly that they’d checked in and secondly that they’d boarded. That kid has some system in his room.”

“OK and how’s Kennedy progressing with the deal?”

“Fine, our guy says they’ll be finished by tonight and he’s been extremely well behaved.”

“Watch him. He’s a very clever man and knows what’s going to happen. He won’t go down without a fight.”

“Don’t worry, he’s not prepared to lose his son,” replied Reaper confidently.

“Do not underestimate him.” The phone went dead, no goodbyes, no pleasantries.

Tom finished configuring the handhelds and used one of them to dial into his computer to check the AlbAir system. Tom’s system had access to each one of his father’s business systems and there were hundreds of them. His father knew nothing of this but Tom liked to keep an eye on the inheritance. He would need to give Kirstie, the daughter of the AlbAir CEO, a big thank you when he saw her next. As promised, she had ensured that Tom and Lela had checked in at 2.00 p.m. and boarded at 4.45 p.m. She had also arranged for the half hour delay. On arrival at Glasgow, the plane would be asked to stay in a holding pattern for thirty minutes despite empty skies and an empty runway. She would ensure that the plane would land no earlier than 3.30 a.m., as agreed.

The terrorists would be feeling quite safe in the knowledge that Tom and Lela were on the plane and on their way towards them. Tom had considered whether announcing the crash of the plane would be better. In that way, they would never be expected back. However, when Tom mentioned it to Lela, she pointed out that it might cause “just a little” distress among the other passengers’ families and that he shouldn’t be so ridiculous. Tom agreed and went for the delay instead.

He then went to check on the teams who had amalgamated into a mass of bodies relaxing and sleeping while they could. It was going to be a long night. Lela had crashed out on one of the bunks and it was then that Tom realised how little sleep he had had in the last thirty six hours. He lay down on the bunk next to Lela and fell into a deep sleep. Two hours later, the buzzer woke them all up. It was time to go.

One of the ground crew came running in to find Tom. There was a problem. One of the Citation X’s had a mechanical fault. Tom thought this wasn’t a problem. They could just double up in one of the other Citation X’s. However, it was pointed out this was not an option. The distance was already at the extreme end of the Citation X’s range and any additional loading would result in their having to refuel. The time involved in refuelling was not an option, a finite window existed for what they needed to achieve.

There was no other option. Tom looked across the runway at the monster A380. Kano and Lela followed his gaze and winced.

“Not again,” they whispered in unison.

“OK. Can you fuel up the 380, please,” said Tom to the ground crew.

The flying arrangements were quickly rearranged and the teams boarded the A380 for the final leg of the journey. Tom took the Captain’s seat, input their destination and then made a quick phone call to arrange additional transport at the other end. He then made corrections for the weight of the plane and prepared for take-off. Kisho, his First Officer, assisted with the final checks as Tom taxied onto the runway. Moments later, they were airborne and Lela and Kano applauded an extremely smooth take off. It did not, however, reassure them enough to stop them praying for a safe landing.

The flight was uneventful and the landing proved the theory again. The bigger the plane, the softer the landing. The airport was unexpectedly empty,

“Where are we?” asked Lela turning to Tom. “I thought we were landing in Glasgow?”

“We are, we’re at Glasgow Prestwick, just thirty miles South of Glasgow.”

“Why here?”

“I thought they might be at the main airport waiting for us and this is just a bit too obvious,” Tom gestured back to the plane. “So I thought it better to land here.”

“OK, so how do we get home?”

“Sorted,” said Tom pointing to a row of Porsche Cayenne Turbo S’s.

“Did you forget one small thing?”

“What?”

“Although we have lots of guys with us, they can’t drive, there are no roads on the island. You have four cars and no drivers.”

“Damn, I never thought of that. I should have asked Colin for some drivers,” said Tom. Colin’s father owned all the Scottish Porsche franchises.

“We can drive,” offered Kisho and Kano. “And so can I,” another islander offered. Those three had learnt to drive during their stint in the army.

“That leaves one spare,” said Tom looking at Lela.

“Why are you looking at me?” she asked.

“Because I know Saki lets you drive the cars and you’re wicked in a go-kart,” replied Tom.

“Yeah but that’s not on the main road.”

“I just flew a bloody plane!”

“Good point, well made. Give me the keys,” she said. Tom knew that Lela was well qualified to drive, she loved cars, especially fast ones.

In less than forty minutes, the cars pulled up at the Estate, headlights off out of sight of the security system. Tom who had travelled in Lela’s car assured her that those forty minutes were more terrifying than his fifteen hours of flying. She told him not to be such a pussy.

Reaper was awake. He was waiting for the AlbAir flight to land. Two of his men had been sent to the airport to follow the kids back to the Estate. He would not be happy until they were safely tied up in the Lodge House and within his control. A room had been dressed in the Lodge and a camera set up to film the children being watched by knife wielding guards. Reaper had disguised the room as he did not want the parents to know that their kids were close by.

Leo walked into the kitchen.

“Any news?” he asked.