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The police sent Charlie and the others home at eleven o’clock. The calls they made to hotels, motels, and car-hire companies were all going to answering machines. It was beyond frustrating. The police called a taxi for them, and they rode back to Plimmerton in silence.
As they disembarked, Charlie had an idea. “Taxi companies work all night, so let’s call them next. It’s Friday night in the capital city. The night life should be jumping, which means taxis will be busy, right?”
Everyone was still up, even Sylvie, and Charlie outlined the plan. Ask each and every taxi company in Wellington to look out for Joni and Callum, and email them pictures to share with all their drivers. She’d either taken a taxi from the airport or hired a car.
Wellington had a surprisingly large number of cab companies for its size, but Charlie and the others blitzed them all in the next hour. Daisy was kept busy emailing pictures. The final calls were made close to midnight. By now, Kate, Lara, and Sylvie looked exhausted, but they had no intention of going to bed. The activity had served as an effective distraction from the planned rescue of Jordan, Nick, and Juli.
It also stopped Charlie from thinking about Daisy.
She was avoiding him—that much was clear—and only spoke to him when she had to. He hated himself for hurting her, but it was necessary. He clung to that truth. He was bad news, and she was better off without him in her life.
Finally, one of the taxi firms reported a sighting. They’d picked up Joni and Callum at the airport, and driven them into the city centre, to drop them off near the Ibis Hotel. This was on the edge of the main shopping area.
Alex gave the details to the police, but there was nothing more to be done. The Ibis had already been contacted, with no result. It all seemed hopeless again.
*
The glass impacted the base of Yanni’s skull. He slumped forward, to sprawl across the table, his glass dropping to the floor. The bottle tilted, but then settled again.
Juli was frozen. She had to move. Run away. Find the keys.
Was he dead?
She had to go.
She leapt to her feet, ready to scramble over him, when he grunted and shoved himself upright.
“What the fuck?” He sounded confused, his dark gaze sweeping around the room. He rubbed the back of his head with one hand.
It was too late. Her chance was gone.
“You?” Disbelief rang in his voice. “You hit me?”
She’d never get another opportunity. Frustration welled, and she wanted to kick herself. Why didn’t she run immediately?
“What the hell was that for? I thought we were under attack.” Yanni grabbed her wrists and held them firm. “Talk to me, Juli.”
She didn’t say anything.
“Would you like to explain? Or do I have to draw my own conclusions?”
“I don’t want to sleep with you.” She threw the words out so quickly they ran together.
“You don’t want to sleep with me.” He sounded puzzled, his voice low. “So you decided to bludgeon me with a crystal tumbler?”
Had she made things a thousand times worse? She shrugged.
“Jesus. Just as well there wasn’t anything heavier in your reach.” His gaze searched her face. “I’m going to let you go. No more bludgeoning, okay?”
She nodded, and he released her wrists. He sat way too close. She couldn’t get off the sofa without having to push past him.
“I like you, Juli. A lot. I admire your work and respect your fierce intellect. I want to persuade you to come work for me. But I will not ever force myself upon you or any woman.” He huffed a breath. “Not only are you beautiful and intelligent, but you’ve also got balls of steel.” He chuckled softly. “We could work so well together. Believe me when I say you can trust me. I intend to keep you safe.”
*
Jack was relieved to find himself assigned to night patrol again. He hung about in the kitchen, getting coffee with Scarab and trying to get a handle on where Yanni was. One of the men said he was upstairs with Juli again. They had dinner together and hadn’t come down again yet.
If Yanni hurt a single hair on Juli’s head, Jack would make him pay. With blood. And excessive pain.
Time was running out for Yanni. The rescue would be starting in half an hour, and the bastard would be taken into custody if all went to plan.
The first part of the op went like a dream. At midnight, as Scarab and Jack slowly patrolled the side perimeter of the compound, there was an enormous explosion in the hills, maybe half a mile away. Even Jack was taken aback for a second, and he’d been expecting it.
Scarab stared at him, open mouthed, his face lit up in the glow. “What was that?” His voice rose to a shrill cry as a second whumph sounded closer.
“Sounds like mortars. Go wake the others. I’ll get Yanni.” Jack shoved him toward the bunkhouse, and then ran to the main building. He wanted to use the time to disable the vehicles. He stole a sharp kitchen knife earlier, and it was enough to slash the tyres on all vehicles. Yanni and his men might try to use them for escape, but they wouldn’t get very far.
Next, Jack ran for the keysafe, almost colliding with Merlot and one of the other guards as they scattered across the yard.
“We’re under attack,” Jack yelled into the confusion. When everyone ran across the yard, he headed into the block and grabbed the keys.
Eight minutes down. He ran for the main gate.
Scarab caught his arm. “Did you find him? Yanni?”
“Yes.” Jack shook him free. “He said you were to group at the back of the compound. I’m just checking the front gate for him. Go.”
Scarab spun around and darted off, and Jack hurried to the gate.
It was pitch dark, with the moon behind cloud. The only light came from the buildings and torches in the compound. Shouts rang behind him, and footsteps followed. It was total confusion. Perfect.
He felt a nudge in his side. Something hard and cold. The clouds parted enough for him to see a rifle barrel pressing against his shirt.
“Jack?” It was a whisper in the darkness. Tanner. Wearing night vision goggles.
“Yeah, it’s me.”
Tanner clasped his arm. “Good to see you, buddy. Is everything in place?”
“Yeah. I’ve got the keys for Jordan and Nick, but I’m not sure where Juli is. I think she’s with Yanni, upstairs in the main building.”
“We’ve got transport further down the track. Let’s get the hostages. The agents are going to round up Yanni’s men.”
Two figures materialised beside Tanner. Darcy and Aiden. Other agents moved silently into the compound in their wake. Jack led Darcy and Aiden to the bunkhouse and opened all three cell doors. Jordan and Nick were ready, and they were hustled away with Darcy and an agent Jack didn’t recognise.
Juli’s cell was empty.
Aiden stayed with him and passed him a sidearm. Jack checked it. Loaded and safety off. Glancing at the others, Jack spoke in a low voice. “Let’s go find Juli. She must be with Yanni.”
The first job was to disable the lights in the block, via the main fuse box inside the doorway. With narrow torchlights, Jack led the group through the building, checking the side rooms, and going upstairs toward the lounge and Yanni’s quarters.
Juli had to be here. He could only pray they weren’t too late.
*
The room flashed with light, and a muffled boom sounded in the distance. Thunder and lightning? No. It sounded more like an explosion.
Yanni leapt up and strode to the window, to scan the darkness.
Juli followed. “What was that?” she asked.
Before he could reply, a second bang sounded, closer to the building, and the room lit up again.
Yanni turned to her, his face grim. “We need to get out of here.”
Was this some kind of rescue attempt? It couldn’t be. Everyone thought they were dead. The brief hope snuffed itself out as rapidly as it emerged.
“What’s happening?” She was afraid to ask.
Yanni disappeared into a side room, and emerged with a black duffel and a backpack which he shrugged into. “We’re leaving,” he said. “No time to get anything.”
“What’s happening?” She repeated the question. “Who is it? And what about Jordan and Nick?” And Jack. No. She couldn’t think about him.
“I’ll explain later. Suffice to say, if they find us, we’re both dead.” He grabbed her hand and tugged her away, into a side room, before locking the door behind them.
“No. Not without Jordan and Nick.”
“They’ll be fine. This attack is aimed at me.” He shoved open a fire door, and Juli saw the metal staircase that spiralled down from the building. “You go first,” he said, “and don’t worry. I’m right behind you. Stop when you reach the ground.”
“What did you mean, we’re both dead? What do they want with me?”
“Come on, Juli. Get down those stairs.”
She was frozen. Who the hell was attacking? What chance did she and Yanni have to escape? It sounded like pandemonium in the compound. Men were shouting, and then there was the unmistakable sound of gunfire. If anything could get her moving, it was that. Somebody made a squealing noise. It was her.
“Stay quiet,” said Yanni. “We don’t wasn’t to alert them to our position. Any time you’re ready would be good. We need to go.”
Adrenaline lent her speed. From one bad scenario to another. Would she ever get home?
Light spilled out from the building, and she was able to see the steps and stay upright. Her leading foot hit the earth, and she whispered, “I’m on the ground.”
He soon stood beside her and grabbed her hand again. “Come on. Follow me. Your eyes will get used to the dark in a few minutes.”
“Where are we going?” Her voice came out high, and tight with fear.
“I always have a backup plan.” He sounded amused as he hauled her along, down a rough track. “We’re going down a slope now. Can you see a bit better?”
Her eyes were adjusting to the gloom. She could make out rough shapes, no more. “A little...”
“Good girl. Hold on to me. It’s just a few hundred yards, but we need to move quickly.”
The slope was steeper than she expected. Her foot slipped, but Yanni’s hand stayed firm and strong, balancing and leading her. Weirdly, she knew he wouldn’t let her fall.
Yanni urged her on. They were some distance from the building. Where the hell was he taking her? He stopped, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Now what?
There was a slithering noise—the sound of a tarpaulin being shifted and dropped on the floor. Seconds later, Yanni sat inside another SUV vehicle, the engine running and tiny sidelights showing at the front. “Come on.” He opened the passenger door. “Juli, we really need to move. Come with me if you want to live.”
The phrase was oddly familiar. Another volley of gunfire sounded, and Juli scrambled into the car and fastened the seatbelt with shaking fingers. “That’s a line from The Terminator.”
“It’s a good analogy. This guy won’t stop until he finds me. He took my wife. I won’t let the same happen to you.”
*
Jack searched every room in the building. There was no sign of Juli or Yanni. A small locked office yielded a metal fire escape. They could have fled the building at any time, but where did they go? He sank onto the sofa and scrubbed his hands over his head, trying to think clearly.
If Yanni wanted Juli as a hostage, it meant he was more likely to keep her alive and well, ready for a negotiation later. Then again, he might want her as a prisoner, for her expertise. That was not so good.
Aiden gazed down at him. We’ve searched all the buildings and surrounding area. They’ve gone.” He hesitated. “I’ve sent Jordan and Nick home with Lucky. There’s no sense in them waiting any longer. As for Yanni’s men... I think we’ve got them all in custody. Do you want to stay with them?”
If Jack was supposedly captured alongside Scarab and the others, he might be able to find out where Yanni had vanished to.
It was worth a try.
With some reluctance, Aiden cuffed Jack’s hands behind his back, removed his weapons, and walked him into the yard, where Casey was in charge of the hostiles. Scarab, Merlot, and the others lay face down on the ground, hands fastened behind them. Aiden handed Jack over wordlessly.
Casey pushed him roughly down to his knees. “On the ground.” He yelled louder than necessary, and Jack scowled. Casey hated him, for whatever the fuck reason. He wouldn’t expect the guy to treat him kindly.
They lay silently until a pickup truck lurched into the yard and they were loaded into the back, again with Casey guarding them. The bastard was enjoying this. They swayed and bounced as the truck raced through the darkness back to Wellington. So far, talking was not allowed. Hopefully Casey would make sure Jack had a chance later.
*
The waiting was unbearable for everyone. When Kate’s phone rang, she stared at it, fear pinching her face. She answered and sank into the nearest chair, head bowed and tears trickling down her cheeks.
Lara’s phone rang next. Like Kate, she stared at it, before answering. Daisy’s heart was in her mouth. She prayed it wasn’t more bad news.
Kate looked up, a radiant smile breaking out. She held the phone to her chest and let out a shuddering breath before speaking. “They’re safe—Jordan and Nick.” She paused while Lara spoke into her phone, a similar look of joy appearing on her face. Seconds later, Lara sobbed into her phone, while Kate tried to explain.
“They’ve been rescued, and they’re on the way home. Here. They wanted to keep the line free, but they’re okay.” She ran out of words.
Lara sniffed and blew her nose.
Daisy frowned. “Did they mention Juli?”
Kate shook her head. “No, but Jordan only had time to say a few words. They’ll be here soon. I can’t believe it. Please tell me this isn’t just a dream?”
The next hour dragged, but eventually a car pulled up at the front of the house. Lara and Kate both ran for the door, while the others followed.
More tears flowed, as they all greeted each other. Jordan and Nick looked surprisingly well for newly released hostages. They were tired and pale, their clothes crumpled and grubby, but they were in great spirits.
Kate clung to Jordan, her proud smile never faltering. “I knew it couldn’t be true. I just knew.”
Nick held Lara as though he never meant to let her go.
Jordan and Kate disappeared, so he could see Poppy sleeping.
Somebody asked Sylvie how she got such a bruise on her head, and the story about Callum being taken came out.
Lucky, who’d brought the hostages home, immediately swung into action, wanting to know what had been done so far.
One miracle had happened with the rescue of Jordan and Nick. Daisy prayed there would be another in finding Callum.
*
Yanni’s driving was terrifying. He hurtled along a series of narrow tracks, the car jolting along at breakneck speeds in the darkness. Juli had to assume he had good night vision and knew the route well. With only sidelights for a long part of the journey, there was little forward visibility.
Just when Juli reached the point of near hysteria, he threw the car around a tight bend, and with a welcome scream of rubber on tarmac, they dropped onto a road. An actual road. It was barely wide enough for one car, let alone two, but at least it was reasonably flat.
Up to now, he’d gripped the wheel and gearstick with total concentration, and judging by the state of the tracks, she was glad.
He turned on the headlights—much to her relief—and glanced at her. “You okay over there?”
“I think so. Where are we going?”
He reached out and briefly squeezed her hand. “I’ve got a safe house on the other side of the mountains. We’re a couple of hours away, so feel free to sleep if you’d like.”
The way the car was moving, sleep would be unlikely. “What happens now? Who was that, at the compound? You said we’d both be killed.”
She thought he’d ignore her questions, but eventually he said, “For the past ten years, I’ve been playing an elaborate game of cat and mouse with the man who murdered Ana. He’s a high-ranking official in the U.S. government, hence my business with them.”
It felt as though he was telling the truth, or at least a partial version of it.
“My men warned me that my photo is being circulated by the police. It looks as though he’s managed to track me here, to the Wellington region. Under normal circumstances, I’d head north, but I have some business to attend to on Saturday night. Once that’s taken care of, we’ll drift up toward Auckland and charter a boat.”
She digested his words. He assumed she’d be travelling with him, but if they ended up in Auckland, she could give him the slip. “What is it you have to do?”
“I’ve scheduled a little demonstration for midnight. Proof that the oscillator works.”