Terry Neale - Jo-el

I turned the volume down and asked Sally. “How are the FBI planning to explain this?”

“Lambert met with the Director and he asked her the same question. All she’s come up with is to lie. You know, months of painstaking work, hundreds of agents, bla bla bla.”

“What did he say?”

“He didn’t say yes or no, just said they needed to find you.”

“It won’t fly. If they know a child has been kidnapped for sexual abuse, they wouldn’t wait. There’s almost certainly no connection from one case to another.”

“He said that, also.”

“Should be interesting. Did those guys in Virginia Beach make the news?”

“That was earlier, they’ve moved on to the child abuse cases.”

“More public interest,” I said, “what about the serial killers?”

“Too busy with the children and kidnappings. Lambert has informed the teams working the cases for the five she was aware of, they are planning arrests in the next few days, when they have the back-up. The other two cases need a lot of work.”

“Did the Brits respond?”

“Nothing. They’re taking their time. The Home Secretary brought in the Chief Commissioner, he’s dealing with the list. They only have seven children kidnaped and held for sex abuse. They’re gathering data on the perps and most should be picked up tomorrow. The Home Secretary was blatantly honest with the Commissioner, told him the intel was from the man with wings, who calls himself Jo-el. He asked how you knew and she just said, she hadn’t got a clue. They were skeptical at first, the Commissioner had just one case reviewed initially, which took most of the day. Of course your allegations turned out to be accurate, so they’re working the other cases during the night and expect to arrest the men tomorrow. The Home Secretary is being briefed in the morning, it’s night in London right now. The British media hasn’t got word of that first case yet, they’re covering the US situation.”

“Should be a big day over there tomorrow.”

“What’s your next plan?”

“I need to see how this pans out, both with the police and the media. Maybe I’ll pick another couple of countries.”

It all seemed to be heading in the right direction. Maybe the direct approach, meeting with the FBI and CIA wasn’t a good idea. The media reaction would be fascinating, but that would take a few days.

I headed to the kitchen and spent the next thirty odd minutes preparing chili from a packet, with a few extra ingredients like tabasco and extra cumin. I opened a good bottle of Merlot, which was soon half empty. I’d had a restful and successful day.

Saturday morning was raining again, with brighter weather forecast late in the day. A text from Jimmy inquired if I was riding on Sunday. I replied that I was going to be out of town for a month, he said, ‘have fun’.

Sally informed me that Pippa had taken Billy to a small park to play on the apparatus and swings, she was still being watched. I planned to go and see her later. Check-in time at the cottage in Rodanthe was three, I’d told the local contact I would be there around five and that lady said she’d meet me at the cottage with the keys, so I had a few hours. I packed a case with food stuff and booze. My plan was to bounce to a car rental place at Norfolk airport and then drive down to Rodanthe, which I thought would take about two hours.

About an hour before I was planning to leave Sally said that Pippa was back at her condo making lunch for Billy. She also told me that the FBI had drilled holes into Pippa’s condo on both sides while she was out and could now see inside and hear everything said.

“Shit! What can you do about that?” I asked Sally.

“Simple. I can destroy the equipment, or I could place something over the camera and play some loud music. Whatever.”

“What are they planning?”

“If you turn up they’re going to raid the place.”

“Is there a team ready?”

“Yep, they commandeered the condo next door.”

“Damn, if I bounce her out of there, they’ll know it was me. Does she know what they’ve done?”

“She knows she’s being watched, but she doesn’t know about the camera and listening device. Also, she’s unaware they’ve got a team right next door.”

“How do the team expect to capture me?”

Sally grinned, “They have tear gas and a drug dart that they hope will work.”

“Will it?”

“No! Your shield will protect you from the dart. I’d have to get you out of there if they use gas.”

“I can’t breathe independently of gas?”

“No, you need oxygen, where are you going to get that from?”

“I could go with a hologram like I did in the Hangar?”

“Yep, that would work, but no kissy, kissy with the girlfriend.”

I ignored Sally’s snide comment but could see the problem. “Okay, here’s what I want to do. I’ll go in for five minutes and explain to Pippa what’s happening. Let’s go with blocking the camera now and see if that causes a stir?”

Sally blocked the camera feed and showed me on my heads-up what was happening. The two guys started to panic but didn’t activate the team. They began fiddling with wires and equipment.

“Right, add the music.” I said, which she did. Pippa was confused.

“Okay, bounce me in.”

“Wait!” Sally was alarmed.

“What is it?”

“The team’s been called.”

“Where?”

She put it on my display. Four, heavily armed men were running down the corridor to Pippa’s condo.

“Shit!” I watched as they used a key to open the front door, at least they didn’t break it down. Pippa must be scared to death.

They entered the foyer, two had the drug darts and two had canisters, no doubt the tear gas, but they didn’t use them. Pippa ran to Billy and was smothering him, she was screaming at the men, who ignored her. I watched with anger rising inside me, I felt helpless. They searched each room then returned to the main living area where Pippa held Billy tight to her body.

“Do you want me to knock them out?” Sally asked.

“No, let’s see what they do? Kill the music.”

One of the men was speaking on a radio attached to his shoulder. Then three left, leaving just the one man. He removed his helmet and addressed Pippa.

“I’m sorry if we frightened you or your son. I’m under orders to arrest the man, Jo-el.”

“Get out of my house!” Pippa screamed. “You have no right to come in here. Get out, get out.” She sniveled and pulled Billy away to the kitchen. Billy was crying. Pippa was shaking but you could see she was trying to keep herself calm.

All four men had retreated to the condo next door. The two watching and listening were still fiddling with their equipment.

“How can I get a message to Pippa? I’m sure they’re monitoring her cell phone. I don’t want to knock them out and go in now, I’ve got nowhere to take her and Billy.”

“Why don’t you go in as a service man?”

“They’re not going to trust anyone who meets with her, anywhere. I just need to get her a message.”

“Write it out, then bounce there and leave it away from the camera. They can’t see inside the bathroom or bedroom.”

I thought about that for a while and couldn’t see any reason not to try it. I typed out a note to Pippa on my laptop, as follows.

Pippa,

They have two cameras that can see into your living room and kitchen and a listening device. I will fetch you at six p.m. if it’s safe. Pack a bag for you and Billy in the bedroom. Bring cash only, no credit cards or your phone. Destroy this note.

“No lovey-dovey stuff?” Sally remarked.

“Leave it alone, Sally. Okay where is she?”

“The kitchen.”