Twenty Six

There was little need for a battering ram. The rubber-soled boot did the job just as well. Two solid kicks and the door to Kae’s city retreat splintered, falling inwards as a vested officer charged through, diving to his side. Within a heartbeat a stun-grenade was lobbed in followed by five further armed men. The lead officer fired as he went. It was standard procedure to open up with live ammo during a high profile raid. With luck and surprise all assailants might be silenced before any counter attack could be unleashed. The policy did little to favour any occupants, innocent or not. A wide spray of bullets was intended to neutralise everybody. So long as the primary objective was hit the interior officials were happy and the procedure manual would go a further year without any amendments or reservations. Laotian police were very good with their paperwork and had a wide margin to work with on collateral damage. They peppered the entrance hall with a hail of high velocity rounds.

On the dark communal steps a group of curious neighbours gathered in the early evening humidity. They kept a discreet distance, as much for their own invisibility than for reasons of personal security. Many enjoyed the relative obscurity offered by the neighbourhood and preferred to keep it that way. Plenty held convictions borne out of poverty and opium addiction. They were used to frequent police raids and harassment, but not those requiring elite firearm’s officers. Some saw the insignia and closed their doors. This had “political” stamped across it. They remained inside, careful; not to be seen peeking.

Captain Vaenkeo briefly looked across at the hoard of darkened faces, keeping to the shadows, knowing that they would flee if he took so much as one step in their direction. If exchange of gunfire burst through the door many might be within ricochet distance. This wasn’t a consideration the captain took too seriously. Public health and safety rated low on his agenda. His more immediate concern was in pulling together a few statements. It was important to quickly establish any numbers and identities to recent occupants of Kae’s urban hideaway. He doubted whether any would be willing to come forward, given their lack of visibility within the city. Current profession or visa status might get a little awkward under questioning. It was more likely that bribes or force might become the requirement before willing witnesses could be coerced into signing any documents. Either would be easy enough to accomplish. It was common practice amongst his list of essential duties, only the list wasn’t officially recorded anywhere. You took on the mantle of Captain within PC38 and you had free reign so long as you didn’t fuck anyone over who mattered. For now what mattered was getting some kind of description, maybe even numbers. He didn’t need anything that would stand up in a court of law. There would never be a trial. Once his elite sharpshooters had secured the flat he would simply ask a few uniforms to rustle up some of the more pliable bystanders. For now they carefully watched and absorbed, aware that the operation underway on their doorstep looked serious. Anything involving PC38 would surely be shrouded in the darker side of politics.

A series of vociferous stun grenades and rapid small arms fire brought the show to an end. The captain remained on the external walkway, shielded by three armed officers. The whole assault took only a few seconds, indicating little or no opposition. Kae might be a scheming crook, brought up on a diet of cheap Kung-Fu flicks, but he would surely have put in a performance if cornered. It suggested that Vientiane’s very finest response unit were too late, the little fucker looked to be already on his way.

The men inside were efficient professionals. Moving through the sparse apartment in small numbers, they quickly cleared every room. Doors were forced and rallying shots fired. Long before any impatience were allowed to grow within the waiting captain they were able to realise his fears. Kae and an as yet unknown band of hired mercenaries were gone. The departure looked to be measured, planned. Cupboards were closed and beds made. The apartment looked bare and immaculate. This was no last minute dash for freedom under the lights of the approaching PC38 convoy. Kae and Company was comfortably on their way.

As Captain Vaenkeo fought to contain a marked disappointment, a young officer from the road blockade below ran to his side. He hoped such a powerful autocrat as Vaenkeo might notice the information he bore, mark it down against his record. It would be a big coup in his career. This helped him override his fear in approaching such a fearsome figure, especially one on the receiving end of bad news. He thought his dispatch might help lift Vaenkeo’s spirit.

“Sir, we just received notification from a local station on the Vang Vieng Road. A patrolman limped back earlier this evening from his rounds. He took a near hit from a speeding jeep. There were several occupants, one of which could have been a Thai. No further details, but given the failing light I doubt whether too many citizens would be heading out of town. Fewer still would flout the law in such a way, only if they needed to avoid being pulled over. The fact that they were willing to use force suggests that they could be the suspects we are searching for.” The young rooky stood to attention whilst he delivered his message. He hoped to appear both professional and loyal.

Vaenkeo barely noticed the officer as he digested the information, his thoughts were elsewhere. The summarisation sounded plausible. Few drivers would be keen taking to an unlit road with night-time falling. Not forgetting the potholes, there were plenty of tight bends and a few bandits to worry about. Kae would be armed and doubtless be welcoming the empty tarmac. Your average Laotian would hardly aim to run a police officer off the road. If he were in a hurry Kae would. It all added up.

The cunning Kae had cart-wheeled the net this time. This caused the captain less pain than colleagues might have suspected. His British contact was at his efficient best. His colonel had done well in recommending him. One visit to the Pembertons, a brief shinning smile and all the doors opened up. A selection of letters secreted away from the girl’s bedroom looked to be most revealing. Her paternal pen pal was quite specific on how she might make the trip to Laos. Kae could flee as fast as he liked, but Vaenkeo knew exactly where he was running.