'So I assume you haven't given the disc to the Director of NSIS yet, Jay,' Catherine said.
'Where's Sarah?'
'Interesting choice. You know the Director will kill your father, and you want to save Sarah instead. Don't tell me you're in love.'
Jay's knuckles whitened around the phone. 'Where is she?'
'I'll get to that. I just wanted to say how I admire your resilience. Fascinating how you have avoided capture and have managed to stay alive, considering the vast resources NSIS have used to get the document and now the disc. And Warren was right, you really shouldn't have been underestimated. I'll admit that I did just that. No matter what I threw down to turn you in a different direction, you always came back on track. Although, by admitting to the video recording, you really have upped the ante for your girlfriend here. We suspected you had deleted the recording in Iraq. But then again, the recording has kept you all alive to date.'
'Didn't help your husband or Bowen.'
'Or Lazarau,' she said.
'Guess you're not as on top of things as you think. Hate to throw a spanner in the works, Catherine, but Lazarau's still alive.'
A distinct pause.
'You still there, Catherine?' Jay acted on a hunch. 'Or whatever your real name is. By the way, what did happen to the real Catherine Zinner? I've seen pictures of her and I must say I think you could have picked someone to impersonate who looks a little like you.'
'Think you have it figured out, Jay? Zinner was a drug addict and I did her a favour by ending her miserable life. And I quite like the name so you can keep calling me Catherine. As for Lazarau, even if he is alive the Director will see to his timely death as soon as his use-by date has expired. All good things must come to an end, Jay. You really don't think the Director is going to let you live, do you?'
'I'm sure you'll both try your best to eliminate me.'
'I really have no need to kill you after you hand over the document and disc. It'll be as if the Iraqi interrogation never happened. I quite like the thought of you looking down at your wrist for the rest of your life and thinking of me.'
Jay glanced at his wrist but couldn't see the tattoo as his watch still covered it. 'Sub Rosa,' he said. 'The keepers of secrets are Mossad informants, aren't they?'
'I'll let you figure that one out some other time.'
'You know what . . . Catherine. I thought your husband was the psychopath of your little union, but you really are one nasty bitch.'
'I thought that would have been obvious when we made love, Jay.'
'We fucked. That was all.'
'And I thought you loved me.' She chuckled down the line.
'Enough bullshit! Where is she?'
'OK, business it is then.'
On Catherine's end the phone went silent. It sounded like it had been placed on a bench. Jay's heartbeat quickened. He thought he could make out the sound of velcro being ripped followed by heavy breaths. 'Sarah. Sarah are you there? Where are you?'
A high-pitched scream forced him to pull the phone away from his ear. No. No, he thought. He put the phone back to his ear. 'Sarah!' He heard sobbing and the phone being picked up.
'Let's do business, Jay.' Catherine said.
'What the fuck have you done to her, you sadistic bitch?'
'Calm down. Just playing my first card. She'll be fine as long as you play the game fair and do as I tell you. And I don't want the "if you lay a finger on her" speech. You know what I want. You have an hour to bring the document and the disc to me. Just you and no bullshit. And the picture I'm about to send you is for what you did to my husband. I was quite fond of him in the end.' The line went dead.
He threw the phone down and slammed his fist on the table.
Shannon called out softly from behind the curtain. 'Are you all right, Mr Ryan? Can I get you anything?'
Jay was terse with his response, too terse. 'No.'
There was no reply. He realised he couldn't let his frustrations get the better of him and slid back the curtain. 'Sorry, Shannon, could I have a bottle of water, thanks?'
She smiled and nodded. He closed the curtain and looked down at the phone, forcing aside his temptation to call Catherine again. He didn't want to convey his desperation to get Sarah back. A message popped up on the computer to say the disc copy was complete. He removed the disc marked XX and placed it in the envelope. Shannon returned with the bottle of water and Jay handed over the envelope for posting.
Despite the current situation, he felt the burden of the Iraq interrogation secret lift from him. A picture of the Iraqi girl handing him a flower drifted through his mind. He could only hope that he had done the right thing and sent the disc to the appropriate person. For good or bad, he knew the disc would change the world.
The mobile phone vibrated on the coffee table. He picked it up and read the message: You have an hour to get to the Gold Coast. Another message came through, this time a picture. His eyes widened. The image showed a hand, with the smallest finger now a bloodied stub. Catherine had lopped off one of Sarah's fingers. He tried to call back but a pre-recorded message stated the phone was switched off. He wanted to roar like a wounded bull, but bottled the rage inside.
He spent a minute running his hands through his hair. The picture made him feel sick. After shutting down the computer, he took the pistol from the bag and checked how many rounds were left: nine. He tucked the pistol into the back of his pants, placed the phone in his jacket pocket and grabbed his backpack.
Like a faithful servant, Shannon walked across to greet him as he exited the booth. 'I trust everything is in order, sir.'
'It is.'
'Is there anything else I can do for you today?' she asked.
Jay paused for a moment and frowned. 'Actually, there is.'
She nodded.
'As soon as I walk out of this bank there may be a lot of commotion.'
Her smile started to fade.
'You see, there are some very nasty people out there who are going to try their best to hurt me.'
The smile had disappeared altogether.
'Let me explain. They have kidnapped my father and they want something that's in this backpack. And when I walk out they will try to get it off me.'
'Shall I call the police?' she asked.
'I would like you to do that as soon as I go outside, but not before. They can't be tipped off that I told you.'
'What should I say to the police?'
'Tell them that the man they found in the caravan park north of Brisbane is my father. And that the men outside are his kidnappers.'
'What if they are gone before the police arrive?'
'They'll still be here.'
'Where are you going?'
'Tell the police that I am heading up north to see my father.'
'Mr Ryan . . .'
'Jay,' he said.
'Jay. You really didn't do what they say you did on television, did you?'
Jay was taken aback. 'You know about that?'
'I'm good with faces.'
'Why didn't you call the police as soon as I walked in?'
Her smile returned. 'I'm also good at reading people. Besides, you are a valued customer.'
'Thank you.'
'You're welcome, Jay. Good luck.' She led him to the entrance of the bank. The security guard glanced at them and she gave him a nod, as if to say Jay was a good guy.
The automatic door slid open and Jay stepped into the street. He held the backpack tightly by his side. Pat stared from across the street. Final target, Jay thought. Taylor looked away again as Jay glanced toward him in his parked car. Second target. He took out a cigarette and moved to the side of the building. Again Pat shook his head and Jay shrugged it off. He pretended to check his pockets for a lighter, all the while scanning for his final target. He searched for another smoker and noticed Cliffe still standing across the street, this time leaning on the building reading a magazine. If only Cliffe had looked around, he might have noticed that he was the only person doing such an activity. Fucking amateur, Jay thought.
Jay moved toward the bus stop, still searching for a smoker to give him a light. Thankfully, no smokers were around. He looked across at Pat and held up his cigarette, at the same time giving him a shrug. Pat waved his hand at Jay to indicate for him to come to the car. Instead, Jay paused for a break in traffic. He gripped his bag and crushed the cigarette in his clenched fist. He tightened his jaw and looked directly at Cliffe.
A break in traffic opened up as if sensing it should allow this madman to cross the road.
Jay launched towards his first target.