The Collectors Book Six: Black Gold (The Collectors Series 6) (11 page)

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Authors: Ron Sewell

BOOK: The Collectors Book Six: Black Gold (The Collectors Series 6)
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              “Would you mind if I join you tomorrow morning?”

              “Fill your boots but remember it’s not a speed test. I need these men to have endurance and be prepared for the worst.”

              Petros’ build gave the false impression of youth. “I’ll follow you until I see the dockyard.”

              “And then you’ll sprint the remainder.”

              “You can join me if you want.”

              “No chance. I’m built for comfort not speed. Anyway, my mate the chef’s making me a few sausage-filled rolls with runny eggs. See you later.”

@@@

Stanley Ford alighted from the taxi and paid the driver. He waited for it to leave before entering the Cape Grace hotel. At reception he presented his Ocean Shipping Line card to the pasty-faced clerk. With one swipe the card was activated.

             
“I have a guest arriving in twenty minutes. She will ask for the Vice President of Ocean Shipping. Please make certain she’s escorted to the rooftop terrace.”
              The clerk smiled. “Of course Mr Ford. Can I have the lady’s name to guarantee no mistake is made?”
              “Linda Liu.”
              “Very good, sir.”
              He entered the spacious lift and inserted his key card. Classical music played as the unit ascended without stopping to the top floor. From the private hallway, he entered the extravagantly furnished suite, and strode straight into the master bedroom, found the remote and pressed the curtain control. Silently they drew back as he cracked open the bi-fold doors. The gentle breeze wafting into the room stirred the air. For a moment he enjoyed the majesty of the Cape. On inspection, the kitchen fridge was as instructed, full of champagne.
              The telephone nearest the queen-sized bed rang. He lifted the receiver and closed his eyes for a moment. “Mr Ford, your guest is on her way up.”
              “Thank you.” He replaced the handset, strolled to the main door and opened it just as Linda exited the lift.
              She ran towards him and kissed him long and hard on the lips. “I’ve missed you so much my body aches.” With her left foot she closed the door and with no resistance dragged him into the bedroom.  With a hard shove she pushed him onto the bed, removed her red trouser suit, bra and skimpy panties. In one erotic movement she unzipped his trousers and sat astride him. “I’ve waited for this moment.” She ripped open his shirt, the buttons flying everywhere. As a rag she tossed it to the floor. “You’ll never know how much I’ve longed for this. You satisfy my needs.”
              He shut his eyes and moved his body to the rhythm dictated by her.
              In a few minutes his features contorted as his body shuddered. She screamed and clawed at his chest. “Again, I beg you, you’re so good.”
              “Pull my trousers off”
              She slid to the carpeted floor, her fingers tugging at the material. In moments he lay on the bed naked. “You are not ready for me,” she whispered.
              “You know how much pleasure it gives me when you do it your way.”
              Her eyes opened wide as she kissed the tip of his penis. She used her tongue until he was ready. Again she mounted him but he pulled her close and rolled her on her back.
              She played the game, matching his thrusting with hers, screaming as he climaxed.
              He fell back, his head resting on a pillow as she slid close. “I want more.”              Stanley turned and perched on the edge of the bed. “Champagne. We need champagne.” Naked, he lurched to the kitchen, returning with two glasses and a bottle. The frothy liquid overflowed onto the floor as the cork burst from the neck and he filled two glasses.
              From his briefcase he removed a thin black leather box. “A present for my luscious mistress.”
              Linda grabbed and removed the lid. “Diamonds. I love the way they sparkle money. I shall wear them on a special occasion.”
              “Put them on now.”
              The diamonds circled her neck. Arms entwined, they sipped the champagne spilling most on the bed.
              Linda stroked his skin and tangled her fingers in his chest hair. She tugged, pulling him towards her. “When does Leviathan sail?” She pulled the hair so it hurt.
              “You bitch. I’ve a problem with a couple of limeys sent over from head office. They have full authorisation to implement anti-piracy measures.”
              She jerked her hand hard back ripping the hairs from his chest.
              He yelled and pushed her flat on her back. “You’ll pay for that.” The thought of what he wanted readied him. He flipped her over and pushed himself into her.
              She raised her buttocks and pressed back with enthusiastic thrusts until spent he collapsed on the bed.
              She sat over him and with subtle movements of her hips massaged his lifeless penis. “These men, what are they doing to your ship?”
              He opened his eyes. “You expect me to talk while you’re doing what you do best?
”
              She stopped and lowered her head to his.”If you want your bank balance to grow and our sex life to continue, tell me everything. When you have I’ll blow your mind one more time. I promise you’ll beg me for more.”
              His hands grabbed her waist and although awkward he pulled himself up until they were face to face. “They are installing three water cannon and some cameras to cover the main deck at night. You have nothing to worry about. My man on board will make sure they are out of action long before you arrive. This time they’ll be closer to India than Africa. Money for nothing.”
              “I need a pee.” She rolled off the bed and padded bare foot into the bathroom.
              A few minutes later she returned, picked up her handbag and out of Stanley’s sight removed a small package. “More champagne.” She lifted the two glasses and with her back turned, refilled them. In one, a measure of cocaine dissolved. “Wake up sleepy-head.” One glass she gave to him as she sipped from the other. “Soon we can disappear and spend the remainder of our lives together.”
              In one gulp he downed the drink. “The way you treat my body I’ll last six months at best.”
              She grinned and placed her empty glass on the bedside cabinet. “Six fantastic months.” With both her hands she massaged his penis until it cooperated. “How are you feeling?”
              “Out of my mind.”
              She chuckled. “You’ll get the buzz soon.”
              One hour later Linda showered, dressed and collected her handbag. She left Stanley sleeping. Using her mobile, she contacted a friend.
              “Hi, Linda.”
              “I need the frighteners placed on two Brits, one has blond hair and the other’s a black. If they should die you get a bonus.”
              “Give me the details and consider it done.”
              A few minutes later she hung up, smiled, dropped the mobile into her bag and left Stanley to his dreams.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Eight
A thin man with a cruel smile, wearing a pale blue denim jacket and jeans, smoked a cigarette. He leant against a wall and studied the five runners from a distance. “Same route for two days. We do the business tomorrow.”
              His associate, a dark-haired fat man, in his late thirties with an acne-scarred face and tattoos on his fingers, grinned. “An AK on automatic should scare the shit out of them.”
              “Steal a Merc. I like them. I’ll drive and you can take them out.”
@@@
Bear set a fast pace along the streets from the dockyard.  Petros remained with him, happy to be away from his duties on Leviathan. He had spoken to Maria the previous evening agreeing to her plans for their holiday when he arrived home. A few metres behind, Barry shouted at Colin and David to keep up. Rivulets of sweat rolled down their faces
              Bear dodged a couple of slow moving pedestrians as he turned his head to Petros. “Did you see those two in the old silver Mercedes?”
              “Yes. If my memory serves they’ve been watching us for two days, maybe longer.”
              “Time to increase the pace,” said Bear. He lengthened his stride opening up a gap between them and the others.
              The Mercedes slowed and kept pace with the rear group before accelerating along the road. Almost out of sight it turned, its tyres screeching on the road surface as it hurtled towards them.
              “Jesus Christ,” shouted Bear as he grabbed Petros’ collar and dragged him to the ground behind a parked car.
              The sound of gunfire filled the morning air. Bullets bounced off a wall while others thumped into the steel of the car. A woman pushing a pram screamed.
              “Shit,” roared Petros as he hugged the pavement.
              The Mercedes engine roared as the vehicle raced away and merged with the traffic.
              Five men lay prone until they were certain the car was not about to complete another run.
              “Bear, you saw something, didn’t you?”
              “It’s not rocket science. When a fool pokes the barrel of an AK47 out of a car window he’s out to hurt someone.”
              Four men lifted their gaze and glanced up and down the street before they stood and brushed the dust from their clothes. Bear crawled and knelt by the woman. Blood covered the pavement. He checked for a pulse, it was there but faint.
              “Put your hands in the air, you bastard,” shouted a uniformed police officer as he pointed a
9mm Beretta pistol at Bear’s head.
 
              “Officer, he’s trying to help the woman,” screamed Petros.
              “Hey, beer belly,” said Bear. “Get your arse in gear and call an ambulance or the baby in the pram will not have a mother.”
              Barry shouted, “Make the fucking call.”
              The officer pressed his radio and called for backup and an ambulance. His mind raced as his eyes darted in every direction.
              Petros held his hands high. “Officer, two white guys in a Merc opened fire. Don’t ask me why. I don’t know. The man you’re pointing your pistol at is my friend and colleague.”
              Sirens blaring and doors banging heralded the arrival of the police with weapons ready. The medics waited until summoned.
              “Sergeant,” shouted a tall, thin, grey-haired lieutenant. “Cuff all of them and go with them to the station.” He turned to the medics. “Will she live?”
              “Fifty-fifty. What about the child?”
              “Take it with you. A police station is the last place for a baby.”
              Petros scrutinized the man. “Those bastards shot at us. We’re the victims.”
              The lieutenant turned. “I need to know why they shot at you. Why are you in Cape Town? Who can vouch for you?” The doubt in his voice was obvious. “For the moment you are assisting us with our enquiries. If you resist, I will order my men to use force.”
              Petros frowned but held out his arms while the handcuffs were secured. One by one they were jostled into the rear of a police van.
              Bear began to laugh.
              “What’s up with him?” asked Colin.
              “No one will ever believe we were out for a run and got arrested,” said Bear. “It’s hilarious.”
              Barry shrugged. “Don’t try to be smart or give them a reason to use force. Their definition of reasonable can and has ended up with someone dying. Tell them what they want to know.”
              The van turned into a gated courtyard and stopped. A few seconds later the rear doors opened.
              “Step out one at a time, turn right and enter the door in front of you.” The truncheon in the sergeant’s hand tapped on the thin metal of the van. “If you need a helping hand I’m willing to oblige.”
              “Put the blond into interrogation room one,” ordered the lieutenant. “Make the others comfortable in our cells. And make sure they can’t talk to each other.”
              Petros glanced at Bear as he was led away by a young constable to an interrogation room. The man pointed. “Please sit in that chair.”
              Petros gave a feeble smile. “And the cuffs?”
              “They stay until a senior officer tells me to remove them.”
              The door opened and the lieutenant and sergeant entered and sat opposite Petros.

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