“Alright, that’s Australia,” a woman said from a computer. “Same again. Small group, but no word on them flying here like some of the others.”
“Lot closer,” a man commented.
“Right,” Tsyrker said. “About seven hours from the Western Coast, I’d think.”
“They’ve been told to keep an eye on them and report back,” the woman said.
“Thanks,” Cross said. “So?”
“So I think I need to go and talk to my team,” she said still looking at the map.
CHAPTER 34
“Something’s up,” Grant said.
“Agreed,” Tsyrker, er, agreed.
“All is not as it seems,” Regrette said theatrically with a grin.
They were all sitting in Gulch’s room in the spa, well, Kaskey was leaning against the wall next to the door and Grant had a tendency to get up and pace as he thought.
“OK, OK, well let’s put it together,” Gulch said.
“Let’s get the background out of the way first,” Tsyrker said. “A lot of this is being worked out against a background of other activity. There are other crims already working here. Something else is going on.”
“Yes,” Grant said. “I’ve heard the same. But the Shen Mi are definitely here for other reasons.”
“Then let’s looks at that,” Gulch said. “Rainsford?”
“Yes, according to my source we’ve got a fairly large number of Shen Mi newly arrived here for, we can assume, the defection, however, we’ve also got a small number of other criminals that also seem to be here for the defection. Not only that, but there’re more flying in from all over the planet.”
“Hiding their numbers,” Grant mused.
“Yeah,” Tsyrker agreed.
“Who are they, then?” Kaskey asked.
“We should assume they’re with Gothra,” Tsyrker said.
“Or the Desards,” Gulch added.
“Couldn’t it be, y’know, other gangs coming to try and get the defector? I mean, we are,” Kaskey asked.
“No,” Grant shook his head. “Remember what we said about getting hi-tech equipment? If this is out in the Underworld then Gothra will have picked it up.
“Desards definitely,” Tsyrker agreed. “So we keep it simple and go with Gothra.”
“So they know?” Kaskey asked.
“I think they’ve known all along,” Regrette said and told them about Squavoon.
“And where is he now?” Grant asked.
“I heard from other guests that someone committed suicide,” Kaskey said narrowing his eyes at Regrette.
“I heard that too, door and window locked from the inside, no one on the cameras and no sign of foul play,” Regrette said happily.
“What did he tell you?” Tsyrker asked.
“Not the greatest assassin, bit of a generalist. He didn’t tell me that, I just knew. But it was why they hired him, to protect Koleermeer, or assassinate him if it came to that. Whatever the situation demanded, he would do.
“And who was ‘they’?” Gulch asked.
“He didn’t know, at least not to a level that would help us.”
“It’s a trap,” Grant said.
“Yup,” Regrette agreed happily.
“Wait, what?” Kaskey asked.
“Koleermeer isn’t defecting, he’s a lure,” Tsyrker said.
“For what?”
“Shen Mi,” Regrette said.
“Why?” Gulch asked.
“Rain?” Grant asked.
“On first thought, it’s a show of strength, a blow to the rival organisation,” she said.
“But that would lead to recriminations,” Gulch interrupted.
“Right, gang war, they wouldn’t want that. Well, Gothra wouldn’t, but the Desards? A nice little gang war would strip the Shen Mi of resources and leave them even more vulnerable to being superseded.”
“The Desards aren’t using Gothra to extend their operations,” Grant said. “They’re using her as cover.”
“We need to be sure of that before we proceed,” Regrette warned.
“Explain?” Kaskey asked.
“We’re ghosts, we have to decide just how much we interfere within each mission. We have to consider collateral impact,” Gulch explained. “Sometimes it’s better to let things run out as they would, sometimes we try and alter them and sometimes stop them altogether.”
“A gang war isn’t necessarily a bad thing for us,” Tsyrker said. “As long as we can swoop in and get the required info from Koleermeer.”
“If that’s what’s happening,” Regrette said.
“Koey V is here,” she replied.
He arched his eyebrows at that.
“Why didn’t you just say that to begin with?”
“Because then we wouldn’t have had all this lovely conversation,” she returned.
“Well I think we should go and talk to him,” Regrette said.
“I know you do.”
“Well let’s go then.”
Regrette and Tsyrker both stood.
“Be quick,” Grant said. “Koleermeer is here in another day.”
“Quick and painless,” Regrette said. “Well, quick.”
“And what of us?” Gulch asked after they had left the room.
“If this is a setup then it changes everything,” Grant said. “We can’t just grab Koleermeer here at the spa as Gothra, and the Desards, will know he’s been kidnapped.”
“You’re talking about taking him in the middle of it all,” Gulch said. “It’s getting hairy, Ben.”
“Nah, Kas won’t be there.”
“Funny,” Kaskey pulled a face. “Wait, what do you mean?”
“You can’t leave the spa and we can’t hit him here. No point wasting your talents.”
Kaskey shook his head.
“I don’t like leaving you guys.”
“Like part of a team,” Grant grinned at Gulch.
“One of us,” Gulch nodded in return.
“Alright, so maybe I am. And I’m not sitting on the sidelines,” Kaskey said grumpily.
“Not at all,” Grant said. “You have one last job here and then you’re going to start the end of our friend Gothra.”
“Tell me,” Kaskey said.
CHAPTER 35
“You’re sure?” Regrette asked.
“I’m sure,” Tsyrker replied.
They were walking down the steps from the Skytrain and entering Victory Monument. It was just a large roundabout with a statue in the middle, but it was also a transport hub. Mainly for minibuses that went throughout the country. It was three concentric circles. The first being the main four-lane road, the second being the road that the minibuses used and the outer one had bars and shops along it. Just around the corner from the Skytrain steps was the famous Saxophone Bar. This was where Cross said Koey was.
As they walked in they found a horseshoe bar in front and slightly to the right of them with the longest side facing a round bar to their left that demarcated the band’s playing area. Within that circular bar a band was playing an up-tempo blues number. Regrette and Tsyrker found a spot there and sat down next to the rhythm guitarist.
A waiter came over and they ordered an Earthen whiskey each. They both took the chance to look around. Most of the room was taken up by the band’s stage and the bar surrounding it was full, however there were other nooks and recesses around the walls of the odd shaped building that contained tables and chairs along with a wraparound balcony above them.
“There,” Tsyrker said.
Across from them, in the gloom beyond the stage they could see Koey V sitting at a table with two girls.
“There or here?” Regrette asked.
“I think here.”
“Very well,” Regrette started to stand. “You know this is the end for our Mr. V?”
“He can’t be allowed to tell his masters what we’re doing,” she agreed.
“He can’t be allowed to have such a good description of
us.”
She nodded once. He was right, this would be the third time Koey had met them and if he had a whiff of who they were he could spread their descriptions far and wide. It was time for Koey V to be out of the game.
Regrette got up and walked left around the stage area, making no effort to hide himself. Koey saw him and predictably sprang up and headed the other way towards the door. Regrette picked up his pace, but made no effort to actually catch him as, at the last moment, Tsyrker sprang up and grabbed Koey’s arm. She pulled him back to their seats and Regrette sat down on the other side of him.
“Koey,” he said friendlily.
“What the shabbus?” Koey said angrily. “You guys just follow me or something? Want to make my life a misery?”
Regrette scratched his chin.
“I hadn’t really thought about it, but making your life a misery actually sounds like a worthwhile cause.”
“Up your crunghole,” Koey sneered.
“You should join the Navy with language like that.”
“Enough,” Tsyrker said. “Why’re you here, Koey?”
“I like the music.”
“Long way to come for a band.”
“It’s good for my health.”
“Your health is going to deteriorate quickly if you don’t start talking,” Regrette said.
Koey remembered the last time he had met this man. He’d given him a lot of information and couldn’t believe he was back again, what did he want? Why couldn’t he leave him alone? Still, he wasn’t sure how serious their threat of violence was. The last time had been uncomfortable, but it wasn’t torture and he’d been left alive. That suggested he wouldn’t go that far, but then again this was a man who got a Typan to come just to show he was serious. Could it have been this woman? He didn’t want to think about that; that would mean he’d seen a Typan’s face.
He had, he could admit now, gotten in over his head. It was one thing to do deals, it was another to play games with the Underworld. He’d crossed a line, become too involved and in doing so had attracted the attention of people he shouldn’t have. And the question was, how was he going to get out of it? The easy route was to tell these two what they wanted to know, but that could mean facing the wrath of others. He didn’t know these two, but he knew who he was working for. Knew what they could and would do to him.
“You don’t scare me,” he said bravely.
“Because you don’t know us,” Regrette replied. “You know we’re serious, you know we’re not to be messed with, but you just don’t know how we really stack up against your employers. So we should enlighten you, shouldn’t we?”
“So?”
“So my friend here is pretty quiet, isn’t she? That must be unnerving.”
Koey flicked his eyes over to Tsyrker.
“You’ve got your suspicions about who I am, or at least the type of person I am. After all, I brought a Typan to our last meeting. I bet you’ve done a little research. But her? Her you know nothing about, her you can’t find anything, not even a whiff. She should scare you.”
“You’re right, I know who pays my wage and I know what they’ll do if they find I’ve been talking.”
“But think of what we might do if you don’t. If I continue talking, or worse, she does, then you’re in a dead if you do, dead if you don’t scenario.”
“Perhaps we can work something out here, Koey,” Tsyrker said.
He didn’t look at her, his face had ticked in fear when she spoke. Instead he stared at the lead guitarist, watching his hands on the guitar as he tried to compose himself.
“Gah,” he exhaled and ran a hand through his hair. “Alright, alright. Yeah, I’m in too deep. I’m a businessman, I just shift stuff, y’know?”
“We know,” Tsyrker comforted.
“I don’t get involved, but now I am. Thought I could go up in the Underworld, but I’ve learnt that I have my place. Yeah I looked into you, no I don’t know who you are. I don’t want to.”
“Let me lay a deal on the table, Koey,” Tsyrker said. “I could do with someone like you, someone who knows the things you know. You tell us what we want to know and I’ll hire you.”
“I don’t think I want that.”
“No, you misunderstand. You’ll go back to doing what you used to do. It’s just that you’ll let me know if anything big is being moved. You’ll be intel for me and in exchange my organisation will protect you.”
“I’m already screwing over the Shen Mi and you want me to screw the Desards as well?” Koey said. “They’ll know it was me.”
“You know we’re taking care of that,” Regrette said.
“We’re put you somewhere safe until it’s over,” Tsyrker said.
“And then what? As soon as I go back to business the Shen Mi will be on to me.”
“I told you we’d keep you safe,” Tsyrker said and sighed. “Look, think of it this way: When I grabbed you I stabbed you with this,” she held up a tiny syringe. “You have twenty-four hours to live. You tell us what we want to know and I tell you where to find the man with the antidote. Whatever your choice, your time on Earth is over.”
He just stared at the tiny syringe.
“I told you, didn’t I?” Regrette grinned and punched Koey on the arm. “Even I didn’t see that coming.”
“It’s a trap,” Koey said in a daze. “To take out Lóng as well as a good number of Shen Mi. Lăobăn is here for it too.”
“We know that,” Regrette said with a good dash of condescension. “How and where, come on.”
“MBK. It’s a large mall off Siam Square. More like an indoor market. Anyway, sixth floor, a food court.”
“Lots of exits,” Regrette said.
“Tons, but also a lot of stalls around the food court, it’s a labyrinth. The whole mall is.”
“What’s the deal?” Tsyrker pushed.
“Nothing to it. Shen Mi all think it’s secret, they chose the venue and Koleermeer doesn’t even know it yet. They pulled me in on this, but it was all set up so they would. Gothra’s people will go in and shop during the day and then go in blasting,” Koey shrugged.
“No finesse,” Regrette said sadly.
Koey V pulled a disgusted face.
“We’re pulling a fast one on the Shen Mi and they don’t know it. You think that’s easy? What I’ve done to get this set up?”
“Perhaps you’re right, my apologies,” Regrette said graciously (and a little condescendingly).
“Whatever,” Koey sulked.
“You see?” Tsyrker said. “It’s that kind of talent that’s going to keep you alive, Koey.”
“Being a snitch,” he sulked.
“Being a live snitch.”
“But seriously, why not a little more finesse? Why not just rig up a bomb or something?”
“Not enough time,” Koey shook his head. “Plus they don’t want to kill Koleermeer and, I guess, they want to be brutal, want the Shen Mi to know they’re serious. Up close and personal.”
“Doesn’t make much sense for an escape. The local police will be all over a mass shooting.”
“Doesn’t matter. Gothra’s people are expendable,” Tsyrker said.
Koey just looked at her.
“We’re all just being used, aren’t we?”
“Don’t feel so sad, Koey,” Regrette said and patted his shoulder (condescendingly), “greed blinds everyone, not just you.”
“You’re taking Koleermeer in,” Tsyrker said.
“No. We got a hitman to cover his back, or,” he gave a little frown, “take him out if necessary.”
“Err,” Regrette said.
“What?” Koey asked. “Ahh, c’mon, man.”
“What?”
“Who’s protecting him now?” Koey whined.
Regrette and Tsyrker both just looked at him.
“Oh, right, yeah. OK,” he said.
“How many,” Tsyrker asked?
“Us or them?”
“Both,” Regrette said.<
br />
“Us? Only ten on the initial, but another fifty in the mall.”
“That’s not many.”
“Doesn’t need to be if they’re caught off guard.”
“And them?” Tsyrker asked.
“About the same, but all together. Protecting their prize, getting him out.”
“But they’re not expecting issues,” Regrette said.
“Not as far as I know. Hope. Hoped, until you two turned up. Not much hope for it anymore.”
“Stick to the facts, Koey,” Tsyrker said.
“Organisations like the Shen Mi are one reorganisation from being a military force. They plan for all eventualities. But I’ll tell you, it’s not often you get even that number of them in one place at the same time.”
“What’s he know that’s so important, this Koleermeer?” Regrette asked.
“He’s a trusted lieutenant of Gothra’s, he knows all her organisation’s workings. He knows how to get to her. That’s why you’re here, isn’t it?”
“Don’t you worry about our interests, Koey. And, no, I don’t buy that. Like you said, they’re one reorganisation away from an army. They could crush someone like Gothra if they wanted to,” Tsyrker said.
“Alright, but this isn’t percent, right? It’s just talk, just rumour.”
“Spit it out,” Regrette said.
“She’s got back up. The Desards made a deal, got their own army.”
“Who?” Tsyrker asked forcefully.
“Shadow Archetype,” Koey said quietly.
“That’s shabbus, Koey, you blew it,” Tsyrker said and began to stand.
Koey grabbed her arm to stop her, which was far more dangerous than he knew. She nearly killed him on instinct.
“You’ve seen what’s going on here, I know you have. The Underworld is moving onto Earth. Why’d you think that, huh?”
He let go of her arm as she sat back down.
“You have blown it, Koey. You’re the one supplying the information, it’s a trap remember?” Regrette said.
Koey shook his head.
“Even you don’t know. That’s how it is.”
“Make sense,” Tsyrker pushed.
“Shen Mi are too big, too tight knit. Like the Raiders. You don’t get to run them. The Desards? They’re always looking for a bigger piece of the pie. And smaller operations like Gothra? They’re always happy to have more powerful masters.”