New Encounters (28 page)

Objective:
Neutralise

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

Objective:
Neutralise

Summary:
They will be meeting in 3 days in the house which is attached to this report. If anyone is there, they must also be neutralised.

‘These two clowns were here in Columbia going into the house the other day. I recognise them.’

‘Yeah me too.’

‘Well we have the address. We have our fake passports at the ready, time to bail out and get onto the next one then.’

‘It sure does, hey you reckon they have brothers called Mario and Luigi? Haha’

‘Probably mate, you know what the mafia are like. They have the biggest families ever. Your turn to destroy the file.’

Both of the men had read and mesmerized the contents including aerial shots of the house, floor plans, photos and names. There was really nothing else to say on it, but to get on with it.

CHAPTER 35

I had sat outside for a while and had barely been speaking with both Robert and Giuseppe. If I hadn’t been shitty with them, they would have suspected something when I wanted to go out. This way, they should let me go freely, but I know they will probably have me followed. So I will have to be clever and give them the slip. But I have to speak with the Detective and tell him everything I know. I don’t even care if it breaks Robert and I up. All I am bothered about is getting Ash out of where ever she is and back home. Robert comes to join me.

‘Are you still mad at me Bella?’

‘Well, let’s just say I am not impressed that you never told me, but I understand your reasons.’ 

I smile at him, and hope he feels more settled with my answer. I do this for a reason. I need to make sure that I keep him and his brother on side. Not only that, but I need them to keep telling me information. So I need to keep a lid on my anger.... for now.

‘Robert, I think I am going to go into town.’
‘I will join you’

‘No, if you don’t mind I would like to go on my own. I just need some time to get my head around things, and get a coffee. I just want to lose myself for a bit, and not talk to anyone. You know... ‘

‘Of course, I understand. The driver will take you in.’

‘Thank you.’ I bent down and kissed his forehead, but I have to say I feel like slapping him across his face and not kissing it.

I walk upstairs and pick up my bag. Someone had been in it, because one of the texts that has come through has been read. Why would someone be checking my phone? But then and again, at the moment, I have no idea who to trust and what to trust. It will be someone in the house that has done it. Checking to see if I had told anyone. That settles it, I am going to have to use a pay phone. The driver takes me in, and drops me off near the square. As I walk down the street with my sunglasses on, I pull out my compact and pretend to look at my hair. I can see a few old ladies behind me and there are three men walking along, one with a baby blue shirt, one with a white shirt, the other with a beige shirt. I walk along the streets and go into some of the shops and try to get a peek out of the window but its difficult to see properly. I walk down some more little lanes and there is a beautiful mirror shop. There is a massive mirror, and I hold it up pretending to admire it and look for any blemishes before I buy. But I can see them, all stood pretending to look at something else. Either Robert has sent them to spy on me, or he is worried for my safety. Maybe its both, but at the moment, its not my main concern. I only have one priority right now and that priority is called Ash.

I go into a women’s clothes shop and grab something off the rail to try on. If lady luck is shining on me there will be a window in the changing room. If not, then I will find some way. As I walk in, I could cheer, but that would be wrong right now. There is a window big enough for even my arse to get though. I put the top down and stand on the chair and manage to haul myself through. The window sill hurts my stomach as I drag myself through the gap and fall awkwardly onto the cobbled road. I would not make a commando unit, but at least I have got them off my back for a bit. I run down the cobbled road and turn right. I want to get maximum distance between me and them. As for the awkward questions from Robert, well... I will have to get round that. Actually... sod that, I will have a go at him for having me followed.

I walk briskly now so as not to cause too much attention and walk until I find a phone box, there has to be one somewhere. Then near the bus station there are some pay phones. I pull out my euros and my mobile and dial the Detective. I hope he picks up... if he doesn’t he is going to get some long messages on his voicemail.
Come on....Come on.... pick up...

‘Detective Wise speaking.’

‘Detective, its me Bella.’

‘Hi Bella. I don’t have any further updates for ..’

‘Sorry to interrupt but I need you to listen to me carefully. I really don’t have long until Roberts bodyguards find me.’

‘Bodyguards?’

‘Yeah, they have followed me into the town and I have managed to give them the slip. I’m calling you from a payphone as well and only have so many euros. I didn’t want to use my phone as someone has been checking it. And..... ‘I am ashamed to say this. ‘I don’t know if my phone is tapped.’

‘Go on Bella’

I tell him everything I have learned over the past 24 hours. Everything that Robert and Giuseppe told me, and how Ash was in Turkey, how she had left a message on the mirror and how they think she is me. I shudder as I have to vocalise that she believes she will be beheaded. That Robert and Giuseppe think she is in the Middle East, but they didn’t want me to tell him.  That they think the Police will cause too much of a risk.

‘Bella. Well done for finding a way to tell me all this, and quite frankly, you have done the right thing. For now, they are probably right about you not going back to the UK. If they learn that the real Bella is alive and well and not the girl they have, it could put Ash in even more danger. As for them not telling me, this is not the right thing to do. They are doing this to protect themselves and who they are.’

‘What do you mean who they are?’

‘I will explain another time. For now you need to ensure that you stay there for now. Can you do that Bella?’

‘If it helps Ash I will do anything.’

‘I will text you with updates and you do the same. Just delete the history.’

‘ok, bye’

‘bye’

I hang up and walk towards the cafe where I last had coffee and order one. What does he mean they are trying to cover up who they are? I don’t get it. I don’t get any of it. But at least I have told the Detective. I know that this was definitely the right thing to do. But it must be complicated. It’s not as if they can charge around the Middle East looking for her. As I sit there sipping my coffee one of the guys that was following me with his white shirt charges around the corner, out of breath and sweating. He looks at me square in the eye and his eyes widen in shock. He tries to look inconspicuous as he goes on his mobile phone. Clearly to tell the others that he has found me. Bring it on... I carry on sipping my coffee.

CHAPTER 36

Chris and Bob land on the island of Sicily. Jet lag is not allowed in the job description. After they had memorized their new operation they had to bin their weapons. It doesn’t go well in the airport if your rifle and handgun shows up on the security scan. They tend to get a little bit touchy. They used their fake passports, and had set off on their long way across Atlantic. The weather in Sicily was nice, and no where near as humid as Columbia. Sicily looks nice but there is really no time to go sight seeing. They have to get to a little harbour and find a boat that contains the stash of weapons that they need. But they had to wait to do this when it was a little darker. Might look a bit suspect to people passing by if they start pulling out rifles from a fishing boat.

So instead they decide to get dinner, they were starving and had been away on two back to back operations. So far they had been away from over 4 weeks now. It didn’t matter, it wasn’t as if they had wives waiting for them back home. That was the reason that most marriages to people like Chris and Bob don’t survive. The women just can’t take it. But in that time they had been away, they were starting to get tired. This is never good, tired means that mistakes happen. They knew this and knew that they had to get some rest and food. So they would collect their weapons, get in position and take it in turns to get some rest again. The hit would take place tomorrow night. Then they could go back to the UK and hopefully get some R&R.

They had a huge two course dinner, and their stomachs felt satisfied. On looking at the maps, there was some room for cover that overlooked the back of the house. It should be close enough for them to take the family out.

They made their way to the point, by moped. After hiding them in a field they made the rest of the way on foot so they didn’t cause any unnecessary attention. They approached their point and they could see the lights on in the house. This would be a good vantage point for them to watch the house and maybe do a few recces around the house. This way they could work out every exit point. Then tomorrow night, when the meeting was due to take place, so long as all the players had entered they would make the hit. The bosses must have some other eyes on the ground here, as they said they would also text when the Uncles were en route.

It was time for them to bed down and start making themselves familiar with the territory, and prepare.

CHAPTER 37

I was taken back to the house, by the driver. I have to say I felt quite smug that I managed to give those guys the run around. They looked pissed off when I last saw them. But now I have to face Robert. What on earth am I going to say? How the hell am I going to act normal? As we pull up to the house, Robert is already stood in the doorway waiting for me. Dear me... this isn’t a good sign is it. I open the door before he or the driver has a chance to.

‘What the hell did you think you playing at?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘You know exactly what I mean.’

Wow, he is mad... you can see it in his eyes, and I can possibly see steam coming out of his ears.

‘Robert, I said I wanted some time along. You send an entourage with me. Why? You said I was safe here. So yes I did. Get over it.’

‘GET OVER IT?’

‘Yes, get over it. I am tired and I have had a lot to digest. In case you haven’t forgotten you have been lying to me. I needed time to think about that and what it meant’

I push past him and go upstairs to make my point clear to him. He manages to catch up with me in a few strides.

‘Your leaving me aren’t you. Please I beg you, don’t leave me. I love you’

I turn around and look at him, and he has tears in his eyes.

‘I really can’t understand anything. Not right now. I just feel as though I can’t trust you. Let’s not forget that all of this... well its down to you. Its your fault that Ash is in danger. Your fault Robert.’

I am past angry, past everything now. My voice is calm and level.

‘I won’t let you leave me Bella.’

‘If I decide to do that, you can have your money back if thats what your worried about.

‘Money? You think I’m bothered because of the money? I love you. With all my heart I love you Bella.’

‘What the hell are you involved with, that someone would do this?’

‘Its complicated.’

‘Well well well.. you still can’t answer me this can you. ‘

‘I will get Ash back Bella. I promise you I will. ‘