New Encounters (27 page)

CHAPTER 33

My body feels a bit easier, I just wish she could have massaged my mind as well. I stay upstairs for a bit, and then realise I had not called my Mum. How do I tell her this? The little girl that used to have a sleepover once a week, the little girl that came over for birthday dinners, the little girl..... has now gone missing. Robert comes in the bedroom.

‘Was that okay?’ I can see he is trying to please me, and he has been so supportive.

‘Thank you Robert, it’s relaxed my body a bit.’ I stand up and kiss him and wrap my arms around him. ‘I need to call my Mum. Tell her what has happened.’

‘Oh of course. I will leave you to it. ‘

‘Thank you’.

I pick up the phone and an hour later, I have updated her with everything that has happened. She cries and I cry. We both cry together and admit how helpless we both feel. There is nothing we can do, but sit and wait. I feel shattered again with having to relay the same story. I get a text from Roberts cousin, Caterina.

* I have heard what has happened. If you need me, I will be over straight away. For now I will leave you in peace xx*

Oh Caterina, how I wish it was last week and we were sat on the beach again, or in the bar sipping cocktails. She made me feel carefree, I was carefree last week. I have forgotten how that feels, it just feels so distance. I really wanted to introduce Ash and Caterina to each other. I had it all planned out. Ash and I would go out for the day with Caterina and then hit the bars together. Ash would really like Caterina, the way she is, her attitude. I replied to Caterina.

*Thank you so much. Just pray... I am. xx*

I decide it’s definitely coffee o’clock and head downstairs. Padding through the deep carpet in my bare feet and then onto the cold marble. My room was so warm, and this marble makes me shiver a bit. I think I might get my coffee and take it outside in the sun. I think my sunglasses are downstairs, if not I am sure there are some near the terrace doors. As I reach the bottom few steps I can hear Robert and Giuseppe talking in the lounge.

‘Turkey? Shit Robert. When was this?’

‘Last night.’

‘Do we know anything on the guy that has taken her?’

‘No... no fuckin idea yet. But when I do find out, he will be taking his last breath.’

‘Where do you reckon they could be heading.’

‘I think we both know the answer to that one. Middle East. I just wish they would hurry up and make their ultimatum.’

Rage takes over me, blind rage. My body is propelling through the doors before I even have a chance to think and I scream at them.

‘What the fuck are you both talking about?’

‘Shit... Bella... ‘Robert walks towards me and I step back shaking my head at him. My chest heaves up and down to try and get enough breath... to explode.

‘TELL ME NOW’

‘Bella... calm down’ its Giuseppe's turn to try and come towards me. But he gets the same treatment as Robert and I step back.

‘Calm down........ You must be shitting me. Both of you... tell me now before I seriously explode’

‘We have traced the phone, but it was to Turkey. I sent someone along as the phone had stayed in the same place for a while, but it was a dead end. The phone was lying under a hotel room bed.’

‘So why do you think that they have taken her to the Middle East?’

‘Ash left a sign.’

‘What? Tell me know.’

‘Well when my guy went in the room, he checked everywhere and found the phone. He had to check into the room so that it didn’t appear suspicious to the hotel staff. He went for a shower that night and the steam in the room had caused the mirror to steam up. Ash had left a message on there.’

Ash and I used to do that to each other sometimes for a laugh at home in our bathroom. Leave jokes or messages in the mirror for a laugh, like a pair of saddos.... but it was our thing.

‘What did it say?’

‘You really want to know?’

‘What do you think?’ I am spitting as I say this to him. I am furious. How could he keep all of this from me. Robert shifts from foot to foot. The first time, that I have ever seen him looking uncomfortable, and quite frankly... out of his depth.

‘It said..... ‘They think I am Bella. Don’t believe I’m not. His name is Feda. Taking me to Middle East. Say they going to behead me’...... that was all she could fit on the mirror.’

‘oh my god.’ I manage to make it to the one of the chairs and collapse into it. The room is spinning again and I have pain across my chest. I can’t breath, but I can hear Giuseppe shouting at Robert to get a paper bag from the kitchen. He runs back and gives it to me to breath into it. Eventually it calms my breathing down, and Robert is on his knees beside me.

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Sorry? Have you even bothered to tell the police?’

‘No... no I haven’t but I have good reason.’ I have to speak in between taking breaths into this brown paper bag.

‘Tell me one good reason Robert. One good reason why you think it is better that the Police are roaming around France looking for Ash.’

‘They will mess this up. That’s why. They have no idea who they are dealing with. We have contacts in the Middle East and will sort this out.’

‘I’m confused. You know who has taken her?’

‘Well, we know of the organisation. They will not harm her, not yet. They want something. We don’t know what... yet, but they want something and we will find out soon.’

‘How will they know to get in contact Robert?’

‘They want that something from us, that’s why they have taken Ash.’

‘So they think she is me... they took her because they thought that she was me and they did it because of you and your family?’

‘Yes.’

Giuseppe tries to intercept and diffuse the situation.

‘Bella... we will sort this out. Like Robert said, they want something and will be in touch soon for it.’

‘What exactly do you lot do? What people are you involved with? What are you, involved with that someone wants to get back at you so badly that they would resort to this?’

‘We deal in business transactions. It’s very complex.’

‘I want to go back home.’

‘No. Bella this is not a good idea. If you show up in the UK and they hear it’s you, they might decide that Ash is worthless. You can not be seen or you will be putting Ash’s life in danger.’

I am speechless. My whole world is collapsing around me. I have so many questions in my head, but I don’t know if I can trust their answers. I can’t let them be the ones to sort this out and find Ash on their own. They could put her at risk. I have to tell this Detective, but I can’t exactly use my mobile. I don’t want to be overheard. I also don’t know if they have tapped my phone. Noooo that would be ridiculous. But my gut instinct tells me to use a phone box. The nearest one is down in the town. I need to make an excuse, one where I can get out of the house alone.

I wait painstakingly for hours, to let the dust settle. Then I will find a way of getting out of this house. I need to tell the Detective.

CHAPTER 34

In a hot sweaty town, full of hustle and bustle there is a secluded park. Chris strolls along with his coffee and a newspaper, and finds the 3rd bench from the East exit and sits down. As instructed he opens the paper and puts the coffee down on his right hand side. The guy with no name will meet him there. Chris sees out of the corner of his eye, exactly at 2pm a guy strolling towards him. Beige pants, white shirt, panama hat and sunglasses. Chris chuckled to himself, as the guy looks a right prick. It will be some guy stationed in Columbia in a sub station attached to the CIA, MI5, or some government or other. These are the guys who thought they controlled it all, and always came across as pretentious arseholes. In reality, then never saw any action never mind being directly involved. These were the guys who would swap briefcases with you on a train, or slip you a note on a bus. These were the guys without any balls, but wanted to feel like a spy. Hilarious really, as all they were.... well, they were messengers. This messenger looked like he needed to run up the Brecon beacons himself.... more than once and shift some of that fat. Chris folded the newspaper in half picked up his coffee and put the newspaper in its place. The messenger sat down, and put his newspaper down next to it.

‘Last super went well.’

‘Yeah, the plates were clear.’

‘Good.’

‘See you then.’

Chris picked up the other paper and walked off in one direction, the messenger picked up the other paper and began to read a few pages, before he too... would walk off in another direction. Chris went back to the cheap hotel on the outside of town. He wasn’t about to book himself into a fancy hotel, there would be too many people too interested. This way, they would be overlooked. He did think he was being followed at one stage, so he had to loop around a few times to check, but it was all clear. There was only so many times you could do the little tricks to shake a tail off before you ended up sticking out like a sore thumb. Chris knocked on the door twice, waiting a second then knocked twice more. Bob let him in the room. Whenever they did operations, they always treated everything as though they could lose their partner at any time. That way, they were always covered. Chris had known of some operatives being left with no radio, no weapons, no money or passport. Bad times.

‘Did you meet the messenger?’

‘Yep, all fine.’

‘Let’s see it then.’

They had both been told they were going on another op straight away. You never knew anymore then that. Not until you got the details from the messenger. They weren’t exactly the kind of details you could send over email. No emails were safe from hacking. Not only that, but if it was a government against government operation.... they were always watching emails. Contrary to belief, the documents wouldn’t self destruct in 10 seconds either. That job was still manual, and had to be done with great care.

Bob and Chris stood side by side and opened the newspaper up, it revealed the file they were waiting for. Top Secret - Confidential. Chris always chuckled to himself when he saw that. I mean... really....? If someone picked up a file in the street and it says Top Secret - Confidential on the front are they really going to stop themselves from having a look?

It was an assassination job this time. Looks like these guys have trod on some toes as well. The guys in question were a family of 4, based in Sicily. Two brothers and two uncles. It was to be a straight job, go and suss the joint out, then take them all out with our method of choice. We didn’t have to do the clear up afterwards.

Roberto Costa
- Head of the Mafia family, based in Sicily. Recently started dating a woman who is unknown so far, from the UK. Travels regularly to the Middle East, particularly Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan to trade in weapons. He is one of the world’s largest weapon dealer and responsible for arming many of the third world countries.

Objective:
Neutralise

Giuseppe Costa
- Roberto’s brother and right hand man. Not dating anyone currently, based in Sicily with his brother in their family home. Travels regularly to the Middle East, particularly Iran, Iraq and Afghanistan to trade in weapons and he also dabbles with the drug import and export business, heavily involved with the Cartel Columbia.

Objective:
Neutralise

Vito Costa
- Uncle to both Giuseppe and Roberto, aids them in all of their business dealings, and help distribute the instructions for assassinations.