TWENTY

Jay brought the BMW to a stop down the road from the Centre, near the access point for the concealed entrance. 'You're coming with me,' he said.

'Why?' Catherine asked.

'Because you haven't once asked me where we are going or what we are doing. I'd hate to be set up again.'

'I –'

'I don't want to hear it. Let's go.'

The air was still and the gushing water of the Coomera River made for a tranquil setting. Like he did every night, Jay looked toward the stars and said a silent hello to his mother. He'd never missed a night since she passed away. From the mountains of Afghanistan to Iraq's Western Desert to the tropical hinterland of the Gold Coast and Brisbane's metropolis – he always made time to look up and give his love to her. A moment each night to celebrate the seven short years he had with her. A moment to let her know how much she was missed.

He became aware of Catherine beside him.

'What are you looking at?' she asked.

He ignored the question. Took another moment and then said, 'Let's go.'

Under the bright moonlight they dodged cane toads and moved across the oval, toward the concealed entrance. Catherine walked a couple of paces ahead. She knew where to go.

Jay's heart-rate increased with the expectation of confrontation with Primrose. The pistol added to his confidence. His phone rang and he stopped to answer it. 'Speak.'

'What kind of way is that to answer a phone? Your dad taught you better than that, boy,' Bill said.

'Yeah, sorry, mate. I'm in the middle of something. What's up?'

'What's up? You sound like one of those rappers. Where are you?'

'At Canungra,' Jay said. He looked over at Catherine standing nearby. 'Have you spoken to that person we were speaking to earlier?'

'What are you talking about?'

'You know who I mean.'

A momentary pause before Bill responded. 'Have you got someone with you?'

'Bingo.'

'OK. Got it. Is Sarah with you?'

'That's who I'm talking about.'

'What about her?' Bill asked.

Jay breathed out hard. He walked out of hearing distance from Catherine and lowered his voice. 'Have you seen her?'

'Not since I left you two earlier.'

'Shit. I need you to do something for me.'

'Yep.'

'Take Jersey and Kuta for a walk down the main road that connects to your street.'

'What for?'

'I dropped Sarah off there about an hour ago and haven't heard from her since. Take protection with you in case.'

'The shotty?'

'Yeah, but keep it under your robe. Don't go waving it around. Send me a message when you have some news.'

'Anything else?'

'Not for now. Why did you ring anyway?'

'Wondering where you were going without me. The girls were agitated and fairly fired up and I saw the van pull out.'

'When was this?' Jay asked.

'Ten minutes ago.'

'Shit. Shit. It wasn't me.'

'Figured that when you said you were in Canungra. Don't worry. I'll check it out when I go looking for your girlfriend.'

Jay ignored the girlfriend comment. 'Let me know.'

'I'll call,' Bill said.

'No. Just send me a text message.'

'What are you on, boy? Do you honestly think I have one of those annoying mobile phones?'

'Just ring then and leave a message.'

'Anything about your dad yet?'

'I'm on it.'

Jay hung up and continued walking to the concealed entrance. Catherine joined him.

'Who was that?' she asked.

'My lawyer. Just letting him know where I am.'

'What are we doing here?'

'You'll see.'

Jay led Catherine through the shed, scanned his palm and punched in the code for the entrance into the tunnel. 'Brings back memories, hey?'

'It wasn't my idea to bring you here.'

'I know, I know. Warren is the evil one and you were just doing what he told you to do,' he said.

'I'll take it from the sarcastic tone that you don't believe me.'

'I don't trust anyone who carves their signature into others without permission.' He nudged Catherine in front of him so she would lead the way to the interrogation rooms. 'By the way, where does the little Sub Rosa emblem come from?'

'Why don't you ask Warren?'

She appeared too calm for his liking. He removed the pistol and held it down by his side. 'I intend to.'

Catherine pushed open the door leading into the brightly lit hall. She stopped in her tracks. Jay checked his step and peered over her shoulder.

'What the fuck is she doing here?' The voice boomed through the hall.

Catherine replied first. 'Nice to see you, Major Bowen.'

'Get the fuck over here, Jay.'

Jay moved in front of Catherine and started toward his boss. 'It's a long story boss, I . . .'

'What the fuck are you doing with a weapon in my facility, Sergeant Ryan?'

Jay knew he was in trouble when his boss reverted to calling him by rank. He knew the rules about weapons in an interrogation facility. Rule number one – no weapons. No wonder Bowen was angry. 'I can explain. It's necessary . . .'

'Unload that pistol now, soldier.'

Jay instinctively obeyed the order and unloaded the pistol. He held the working parts to the rear and walked forward so his boss could inspect the weapon. A habit from countless times on the weapons range.

Bowen looked into the breech. 'Clear,' he said. He grabbed the weapon from Jay and released the slide forward. He placed his index finger inside the magazine hold and depressed the trigger. The weapon made safe, he held out his hand to Jay. 'Magazines?'

Jay straightened like all soldiers do when chastised by a superior. 'Just the one, sir. Ten rounds only,' Jay said as he handed over the magazine.

'Good.' Bowen pushed past Jay and made his way to Catherine.

Bowen had taken four steps before Jay noticed the limp. In an instant, he realised the reason: the German shepherd.

Catherine's eyes narrowed and she smiled. Everything slowed.

Bowen stopped in front of Catherine. She reached up and kissed him.

The sound of the magazine reloaded into the pistol echoed. The slide, drawn to the rear and released, thundered. Jay's knees weakened. He reached for his phone. His hands trembled as he flicked it open. He dropped it to the floor. 'Fuck!' He shouted at his own stupidity and bent for the phone.

'Leave it,' Bowen said in a calm voice.

Eyes closed, Jay raised his head. He didn't want to look at the scene in front of him. He wondered why he hadn't figured it out. Betrayed again. His boss, his friend. Captured again and back in the interrogation rooms. He couldn't handle another torture session. He opened his eyes. Bowen pointed the pistol at him.

'You know the drill. Adopt the position,' Bowen said.

Jay obeyed, lying face down on the floor, hands behind his head. Bowen locked on a set of handcuffs and pulled him to his feet. Catherine had the pistol.

'Cat got your tongue, Jay?' she asked.

No wondering if it was an exercise this time. No need for name, rank, number and date of birth. No conventional interrogation sessions; just lunacy and evil in the depths of a secret interrogation facility. 'You really are a little whore,' Jay said.

A crushing blow landed in his kidneys and sent him hurtling forward. The wind was knocked clear from him as he landed on an ear. His head bounced up. The return to the ground smacked his jaw. He wanted to scream. There was no air in his lungs. Precious oxygen sneaked through as he gasped. Time stood still while he battled to breathe. His world was shattered. He couldn't believe a man he trusted – their history long and solid – would do this to him.

Bowen dragged Jay to his feet, led him inside the interrogation room and threw him into a metal chair. The nightmare of the recent torture returned to him, except this time he had a companion.

Jay guessed the hooded person in the chair next to him was a man because of the casual jeans, sweater and boots, his father's usual attire for Sunday afternoon football. He felt a faint glimmer of hope and tried to focus but the room blurred. He squinted. His vengeance for Primrose was thrown aside and replaced with desperation. Something told him he wasn't coming out of this situation in one piece. No need to worry about Primrose for now. One thing at a time. First, get himself and his father out of the interrogation room, alive. He squinted and shook his head. The picture became clearer.

'Dad,' Jay said.

Muffled sounds came from behind the hood.

Bowen loomed in between Jay and the hooded man. He raised his arm and swooped down, landing the back of his hand against the hood. The muffled sounds stopped and the hood drooped forward.

Jay used all of his strength to launch out of the chair and rammed his head toward Bowen. It had been anticipated and Bowen stepped aside as Jay hurtled off balance toward the wall. He regained his equilibrium in enough time for his shoulder to take the impact. Bowen grabbed him by the front of his jacket and held him against the wall.

Again, Bowen's voice was calm. 'Let's not get angry. We've got a job to do and we're on our way. Take it easy and you'll get through this OK.' He left Jay leaning against the wall and walked to the hooded person.

He removed the hood and Jay's heart sank.