Laughing Eyes: Bittersweet Familia (3) (6 page)

Danny

“So if we go by history, El Leon is set for another attack in less than four days.” The next day, after following the aid workers back to site four, Aiden and I set about making a game plan, our large map open on the hood of the truck.

“How do we know he won’t do it sooner, if at all?” Aiden’s question was valid.

“We don’t. I am only taking a stab based on behavior patterns that this is what he has planned. And if I were a gambling man, I would…” I placed a quarter over a spot on the map. “guess that this is where he would be attacking next.”

“Depending on the terrain, we could get there within twenty-four hours.”

“Correct.”

“So if all these villages are so close together, where does he go after each attack? Is he a local? Could he be watching and waiting?”

I wasn’t going to pretend that the thought hadn’t crossed my mind. Other than, ‘ghost eyes’, we really had nothing to go on. The notion that he could be watching our every move wasn’t sitting comfortably with me.

“We need to find out what that flower means.” Even after all I had seen, the mystery behind that flower was still eating away at me.

“You think it has something to do with the murders?”

“Don’t you?”

Aiden shrugged his shoulders. “Possibly. I mean it does seem rather strange that it was there in the first place.”

“If we can find out its origins we might just find some answers.”

“What about them?” Aiden inclined his head to where Anna and Luiza were attending to a woman who could barely stand.

“I know they are here to help, but I think they have unwillingly entered into a dangerous game, I just haven’t quite figured out the connection yet.”

***

“We’re leaving.”

Anna nodded slightly, “Ok. Do you know how long you will be?”

I was leaning against the hood of the car, the heat of the morning sun already scorching. Anna was biting her lip, an act of nerves, anxiety, I wasn’t sure, but she didn’t look happy.

“It’s hard to say. We are crossing some difficult terrain which could set us back a bit.” In all honesty, I didn’t want to leave at all. I knew I had a job to do, but I also had a gut feeling that wasn’t sitting too well. I simply didn’t want to leave these people alone.

“Here,” Anna said reaching into her pocket and retrieving a small photo. “This is all of the aid workers, Eduardo is the tallest one on the right and Sam is the blonde. Take it with you just in case.”

Taking the image, I studied the faces before putting it into my shirt pocket. “Thank you. Here is our SAT number. If anything happens that you think I should know about, just call. You don’t second guess, you just do it, ok!”

She nodded again, clutching the small piece of paper in her hand.

“Anna?”

“Yes?” She was so quiet, unlike the girl I had met a few days ago.

Closing the space between us, my hands came to rest on her shoulders.

“You can’t take the weight of the world on these tiny shoulders of yours. Do what you do best and leave the worrying to Aiden and I.”

Anna looked to the muddy tire tracks before throwing me a sweet smile. “Someone needs to worry while you’re gone.”

“I tell you what, when I get back, you can take me back down to the beach and tell me all about how you were worried about me.”

She threw her head back in laughter, a glimmer of joy shining from her beautiful eyes.

Anna

That night, I didn’t sleep. I was concerned for a man I had only known for a few days and worried about the futures of everyone unfortunate enough to be in the path of destruction. I could hear Luiza breathing heavily next me and I was grateful that she was getting some rest, but no matter how hard I tried, sleep just would not greet me. A chill had crept its way into the air and was filtering through my slightly ajar window.

Sitting up in bed, I wrapped my woollen blanket around my shoulders. It had been a parting gift from my parents. When I had boarded that plane, they had no idea what I was flying into. None of us did.

Creeping past Luiza, I slid my boots on at the door before easing it open, avoiding the creaks as best I could. The moon was still full, its faint silver glow caressing my surroundings. Suddenly everything seemed so at peace. All the lights in the cabins were off, everyone tucked in for the night after an exhausting and particularly rough day.

Taking my usual track to the beach just didn’t feel right.

For the last few nights I had walked it with Danny, his infectious banter enlivening my slowly dying spirit.

But tonight was different.

Tonight, as I walked through the dense trees, a chill traveled down my spine. One that wasn’t due to the cold. Suddenly, the space seemed to close in around me, every twig snap, the cooing of the owls and flitter of insects heightening my sense of unease. With a pounding heart, I stopped in my tracks to study my surroundings. A gentle breeze blew through the passage way, my loose hair tingling my skin, my senses on high alert. I was greeted by thick trees, heavy shrubbery and darkness. Yet it felt like everything around me had eyes, watching, haunting.

Quickening my step, I ran the rest of the way until I entered out onto the rocks and was hit with a feeling of immediate relief. Perched high up staring out at the ominous ocean, I sucked in a deep breath of salty air, inwardly chiding myself for allowing paranoia to get the better of me. I was starting to grow more frightened in this place. A part of me didn’t believe it possible. Yet here I was, completely unable to sleep, terrified over the symbology of one stupid flower.

A scent incongruous to my setting filled my nostrils, bringing me back to my ever-present danger. Spinning around, I squinted through the darkness for any evidence that I wasn’t alone. We were camped virtually in the middle of nowhere, yet someone had to be wearing that cologne.

“Hello? Alec?” I called into the night.

No response.

“Is someone here?”

I waited. Still nothing.

Wrapping my blanket tighter around my shoulders, my body involuntarily shuddered. There was no other way back to camp. I had to pass through the dense trees, yet my mind was screaming at me not to.

Watching for the slightest movement, honing my hearing to pick up any sound, I waited, willing my confidence to make a hasty return. I knew I couldn’t stay out here any longer. My visits to the beach would be limited to only when Danny could be with me. I no longer felt safe. I no longer felt like I was out of harm’s way. Perhaps my imagination was running wild, but I knew I would be playing the fool to be flippant.

Bracing myself, I took off at a sprint back through the trees, tears of fear springing to my eyes. For a moment I thought I could hear footsteps behind me, crunching on the fallen leaves and debris. I couldn’t turn around, my body refusing to stop until I made it out of the trees. My heart pounded painfully against my ribs and only when I saw the opening to the clearing did I feel a sense of hope. Making it back through safely, I continued running until I reached the cabin. I spun around hoping to catch sight of my pursuer, the moonlight illuminating the grounds around me.

Nothing

No one.

Had I imagined the sounds, the smell?

Had the fear been all in my head?

Doing my best to secure the broken door, I stole a glance at Luiza who was still sound asleep. I should never have left her alone.

Kicking my shoes off, I climbed back into bed bringing the cover up to my chin. My body was still shaking from fright, my mind more alert than ever. In the darkness, I closed my eyes willing sleep to take me.

Eventually a pseudo haze held me at ransom, the faint smell of men’s cologne lingering in my dreams.

***

The next morning as the men loaded up the truck, I found Alec under the shelter stocktaking the medical box. His gaze barely met mine as he counted a half empty box of syringes.

“What is it?” he asked, mid count.

“Were you or the others out last night?”

“Out where?”

“By the beach. Did anyone go for a late walk?”

Alec stopped counting and placed the syringes back in the box before his curious expression met mine. “No, we all went to bed straight after dinner. Why? What’s going on?”

I shook my head confused by this revelation. I hadn’t been imagining it. The cologne was distinct, obvious!

“I just, ah… I thought someone was out there that’s all, but I must be mistaken.”

“You went to the beach? On your own?” Alec reprimanded. I knew I wasn’t allowed to. We were under such strict rules here that doing something reckless like that would endanger the whole group.

“Yes, I’m sorry. I couldn’t sleep.” I was sorry. I should have known better.

He sighed heavily, his annoyance and concern a confusing mix. “Anna, with Eduardo missing we can’t tempt fate any more than we are by being here. So please be sensible. I can’t stay awake all night looking out for everyone.”

I nodded, feeling the fool.

As I walked back to my cabin to collect my bag, I stared ahead at the thicket of trees. In the daylight there was nothing ominous about them. But I knew better. Something or someone had been in there last night, watching us, waiting for the slightest taste of vulnerability.

Danny

Aiden and I waited fifty yards apart in the tree line, perfectly still, sniper rifles at the ready. We had been like this since pre-dawn, our eyes glued to the happenings of a small building stuck in the middle of nowhere. We knew we were at a target site. The larger than life symbol in black on the west wing wall that matched the engraving on the bullet shells found at site, told us so. This was a hub for El Leon workers. We also knew that it was too small to be the main factory.

“What are you thinking?” Aiden’s voice came through the ear piece as we watched a man walk from the building, yawning and stretching before lighting a cigarette. He was large with a gut that hung from beneath his shirt, his underwear sitting higher than his slacks.

“We play your favourite game, brother. It’s called watch and wait.”

Taking action on this place wasn’t ideal. If El Leon knew we were on his tail, we could kiss goodbye any leads.

By mid-morning there was movement all around, trucks running an endless route back and forth, dropping off boxes on arrival and disappearing with empty trays. We counted at least seven on route.

“We follow them, it will take us straight to our hot spot,” I said, shifting weight off my dead arm.

“We need in on one of those trucks,” Aiden replied, his way of thinking matching my own.

“Pack it up, bro. We have a ride to catch.”

“Wait!”

Caught off guard by my friend’s tone, I fell flat again, my rifle ready. “Fuck me, is that who I think it is?”

The last truck to arrive pulled to a stop, its driver rounding the cab to the passenger side door. With his gun pointed through the open window, we watched as Eduardo and Samuel set foot on the ground, their pale bloodied faces reflecting the stress of capture, both with their hands bound.

“Game changer,” Aiden said quietly.

By now more men had filtered out from the building, gathering around the two aid workers. There was a mix of anticipation and tension in the air as the taunting began.

“Clearly we’re not leaving this place without spilling some blood and our lead has been shot to shit.” While I was worried for Eduardo and Samuel, my main fear was now for the rest of the aid workers and the repercussions that would follow after today.

The man who had come out for a cigarette earlier broke his way through the loitering men positioning himself in front of the duo.

With a Glock by his side, he mouthed an instruction. The captives, wisely cooperating, fell to their knees.

“Cover me!” Aiden instructed. “They’re all yours. I’m going around their left to flank.”

The group began to circle the aid workers blocking the cigarette man from view.

Lining up my first target, I fired a clean shot into the neck of a man directly in front. Blood splattered on the men either side of him as he fell to his knees, then face down on the ground. There was a moment of confusion as there always is in a silent attack, but within seconds the fear set in as all the men yelled and scrambled out of the firing line.

It didn’t matter.

They weren’t quick enough.

Soon enough eight of the twelve men were dead, the other four now crouching behind trucks and crates. They still had no idea where the attack was coming from, but that didn’t stop them from shooting at random targets, their rapid fire exploding through the valley gorge we were positioned in. The aid workers did the right thing and fell to the ground to avoid any stray bullets. Aiden would collect them when the others were dead. What I couldn’t see though was cigarette man.

“Do you have a view of the four fuckers left?” I asked, through the ear piece.

“All except one. I’m gonna shoot the side of the truck and send him your way.”

“Got it.”

Half a second passed before I heard the familiar sound of bullets piercing metal, followed by the shots of a desperate man trying to flee. Rounding the truck, he fired in Aiden’s direction, leaving him completely exposed on my end. Shooting him in the side of the knee, I watched as his body twisted with the sudden force, his gun firing into the sky. His sickening screams echoed, his agonized cries falling on the deaf ears of his remaining comrades.

“You are a brutal man, Danny Peters!” I could detect the smile coming through Aiden’s voice.

“Someone had to be the example.”

From somewhere in the tree line, more shots rang out as another two men fell to their deaths.

“And then there was one.”

“And guess who that one is?” Aiden quipped, as he emerged from the left, his rifle now replaced by his Glock, pointed directly at our last target.

Cigarette man rose to his feet, arms raised in surrender, his upper half now in my line of view. Aiden made his way across the clearing as I skirted the back.

We closed in on him around the same time, his worried face flicking to me and back to Aiden, knowing he had nowhere to run.

Using the tip of the Glock, I edged him to the middle of the clearing.

“Move!” I demanded when he displayed some resistance.

The grateful, if not mortified looking aid workers, scrambled to their feet as we passed them.

“On your knees,” Aiden instructed in his quiet, yet authoritative tone.

“Who the fuck are you?” The heavily accented man spat, clearly pissed by the morning’s events.

“It’s irrelevant who we are,” I said, meeting his angry gaze. “We don’t even care who you are. What we do want to know is where we can find El Leon.”

He laughed.

Throwing his head back as if it was the funniest fucking thing he’d ever heard.

Aiden and I glanced at each other, both sharing the same impatience.

“You won’t ever find him.” Cigarette man announced.

“Oh? And why is that?”

“Because not even I know where he is!”

“But, you must know where these trucks are coming from.” Raising my Glock to his head, the man attempted to hide his fear.

“We are all sworn to secrecy. Only the truck drivers know where the base is, and you have killed them all.”

“Bullshit!” Aiden replied, unconvinced.

“Not bullshit. We all stay here, the drivers stay there. The packages are delivered to them from yet another place and so on and so on.”

Losing his last thread of patience, Aiden pushed the man’s chest with his foot sending him skidding back onto the dirt. He stood over the now terrified figure, his gun trained right between the eyes.

“Last chance, asshole. Where the fuck is El Leon.”

“I don’t know, I don’t know, I don’t know!” He was begging now, a stark contrast to his earlier attitude. Aiden had this way about him that seemed to achieve the desired effects on people. He wasn’t an angry man, but everyone always seemed to be shit scared of him.

“Why did you take the aid workers hostage?” I asked. Surely he would know the answer to that.

“Why don’t you ask them?” He nodded to the two men who swallowed hard lumps.

Eduardo stepped forward. “They’re going back through the sites they’ve already destroyed looking for those who escaped.”

Suddenly, a fierce grip took hold of my stomach.

Anna!

“They still want more recruits. We heard them coming and told the villagers to run and we stayed behind. The men knew that there should be some survivors otherwise we shouldn’t been there. So that’s how we ended up here.”

I turned my attention back to cigarette man. “So it’s not good enough that he kills hundreds, he then goes back for more and takes the aid workers hostage?”

“It’s not my problem!” He said with genuine disinterest. “My job is to move them from this country to the next. You are a lot like us, just blind to it. Our leaders both in white.”

“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?” Aiden’s impatience had reached its limit.

“You will figure it out. How easy it would be for you to just turn and walk away instead of thinking everything is your problem to solve.”

“I happen to believe otherwise.” The bullet pierced the man’s chest killing him in a micro second, his last expression still worn on his face.

We may not have found El Leon, but at least we stopped the next shipment hitting American soil. Our current and very real problem was the gangs travelling back through the sites indiscriminately killing the aid workers.

I turned to meet Aiden who also shared my concerns. We were at least a day away from base. He was already on his SAT phone dialling Alec’s number. Holding it up to his ear, we waited. “It’s not connecting. We need to get out of the gorge.”

Fuck!

I could only hope and pray that we wouldn’t be too late!