The Fine Line of Revenge (7 page)

‘Follow me,’ she said.  He was a little hesitant, but continued.  They came to a panel half way along the hallway.  Anjo stopped at a small, brass wall light, unclipped its side and swung it open.   Inside was a small, numbered keypad. Anjo pushed 67549.  Quietly the green, wallpapered panel slid across, revealing a stairway.  They both headed down the two flights of stairs and exited into the street, a street all too familiar to Jack.

‘So that’s how he managed to use this exit!’ exclaimed Jack. ‘How did you know it was there?’

‘I met one of his bodyguards in the street, we went for coffee and he told me about the secret passage after we became, shall we say, intimate.’

‘He told you the code as well?’ Jack said, surprisingly.

‘What can I say, when I’m naked I have great powers of persuasion,’ she replied.’  Jack raised an eyebrow in admiration.

‘I know we are after the same thing. I would like to help. We could combine our efforts,’ Jack suggested. ‘Here is my contact number if you would like to take me up on my offer, I’ll be making plans to visit him very soon.’

‘Thank you, I will consider it,’ she said, not wanting to commit to anything. ‘I just can’t believe I have come all this way to find out his latest home is not far from my own. Thank you again for your help Jack, but I must get back home to my family.’ The woman turned and walked off down the street and vanished.  Jack causally made his way back to his hotel to collect his things, ready for a trip back to London.

Alex met Jack at Heathrow.  Jack slung his bags in the back seats of Alex’s Freelander 2.  He got in the passenger side and shut his door and buckled his seat belt.

‘So you’ve come back to let me help you,’ Alex said, pulling into the busy traffic.

‘Nothing’s changed, your still not going to risk your life for my vendetta,’ Jack replied. ‘I just need a few more things, then I’m off to Brazil.’

‘So, this woman still hasn’t called? And I still can’t believe you gave her your number,’ Alex replied.

‘She’s a local. It would be good to have a guide and I think she can be trusted.’

‘If you say so. But if she does call, you have to let me come.  A hot chick, hot weather, bit of gunfire action, what more can a man ask for?’ Alex joined the heavy queue of traffic.

‘I never said she was hot.’

‘Your description, plus my interpretation, equals, hot chick, tell me I’m wrong.’  Jack paused for a moment.

‘Your right, she is quite something.’  Alex drove on, smiling, leaving the heavy traffic and heading for Jack’s home.

Jack had made arrangements for a flight to Teresina for the next day.  He was just stepping out of the shower when his phone rang.  It was the very person he hoped it would be.

‘Jack,’ the voice said.

CHAPTER 6

Anjo had invited Jack to her home in Codo, eighty miles from Terasina, in the north east of Brazil.  Anjo was sitting in a small, brown Jeep outside the airport arrivals.  Jack recognised Anjo immediately.  He approached her vehicle, but she did not recognise him.  He was now without disguise, looking a lot younger. They had had quite a long conversation on the phone about the area and her family, but most importantly, she wanted Jack’s help and as Jack had told Alex, he needed a guide.

‘Anjo,’ Jack muttered.

‘Jack? I did not recognise you. Please get in.’ she said.  ‘I have been staying with a friend nearby, I have yet to go home.  Anjo started the Jeep and they headed off onto the main road.  The sun was hot, with a few scattered clouds in the sky.  ‘You still haven’t told me why you seek revenge with Sperafico,’ Jack said, eager to get to the bottom of her story. Anjo felt safely relaxed with Jack and decided to open her heart.

‘I grew up in Codo.  Sperafico runs the town, and many around it. He has influences within the law and most local businesses.  He does not spend much time there any more, but his rules live on. Ten years ago he had a brief affair with my older sister. She came to him, confessing she was pregnant with his child.  I went with her, for support, but I was too scared to go in, so I watched through the gates of his big home.’ The woman paused for a moment, her face a concoction of anger and mourning. ‘He shot her there and then, once in the stomach and once in the heart. I was fourteen. I’ve spent those last ten years preparing for my revenge. Just when I thought I had him, he disappears.’  The remembrance of her sister past over and Anjo took a deep breath.  ‘Why are
you
really here, Jack?’ she continued.

‘Those two men in Italy, they killed my wife. Drove over her innocent body in their car, and I’d take an educated guess that the order came from Sperafico.’

‘I think together we can do this, my family will help,’ Anjo replied.

The sun was just setting.  Jack turned to admire the orange glow of the dust cloud that formed behind his vehicle as Anjo drove into her hometown and out the other side to a small farm.  There were many buildings, vehicles, loose farmyard animals and a lot more dust.  The small Jeep stopped hard, its front tyres skidding slightly on the loose dirt.  Jack sat for a moment, looking around at the various buildings.  Anjo jumped to the floor grabbing one of the bags from the back seats.

‘Are you coming?’ she asked, as Jack sat there, almost dazed.

Anjo led Jack through an old, white door into a narrow corridor.  The door on the left closed.  The door at the end, however, was wide open, revealing a great room beyond.  Sofas, large flat screen television and numerous other pieces of furniture were scattered around the room.  Beyond the room were large patio doors and beyond further were a host of people.

‘Anjo,’ bellowed a voice from the garden.

Jack stood and watched, as numerous people collected to hug Anjo, welcoming her home.  Anjo turned and introduced Jack to the gathered crowd.  A thin man took Jack’s hand and introduced himself as Paulo, Anjo’s cousin.

‘Pleased to meet you’, replied Jack in his basic Portuguese. The congregation now gathered around Jack, kissing him on each cheek and introducing themselves.

‘It is wonderful to have you home Anjo, we shall discuss our business soon, but first, we eat,’ Paulo happily announced, ushering the crowd back into the garden, where the smells of barbequing food made Jack’s mouth water uncontrollably.

It had been a meal of traditional
picanha
and spiced chicken all with an astonishing variety of rice dishes.  As the female family members and the older children cleared away the feast, Anjo took Jack into another room. Paulo and another cousin, Fernando, were sitting at a small wooden table.  A single, shade-less light hung from the ceiling, illuminating the table. In front of them, maps of the local area.

‘We have located the old fort, it is about an hours drive away,’ Paulo indicated, pointing to the map.  Jack took a look, scanning the coastline up to the fort.

‘We need to see it before we can plan anything. We need to know what we are dealing with. I suggest we get ourselves a helicopter and approach from the sea.’

‘I think I know a place that will have one, but it will cost,’ Fernando answered, leaning into the gathering.

‘I don’t think that will be a problem,’ Jack replied, a smile on his face, and I think I can get a piece of technology that can help us map out the fort and how many inhabitants there are.

The air had turned cold.  Anjo was sitting in a small wooden chair, taking in the cooling air, the last smells of the feast fading into nothing.  Her mother was draping a thick, orange blanket over her as Jack walked through the patio doors into the garden.  Jack pulled up a chair next to her and slowly sat down.

‘Having second thoughts?’ he asked, with concern.

‘If I’m honest, yes.  I did not think that there would have to be all this organisation, just to get to one man.’ replied Anjo, wrapping the blanket tightly around her body.

‘It would never be wise to enter into anything without preparation.  That’s the quickest route to uncertainty’, Jack explained.  ‘We need to know what we are facing. The man has a lot to protect.  And so do you.  I’m sure you want to protect your family.  We can do this without you being identified.  It will just take a little longer than you thought.’

‘But I had him, I did have a plan and he just disappeared.’  It was at this point that Jack decided to kill the conversation.

‘We best get our sleep, we have a lot to do tomorrow.’  He got up from his chair and entered the house, passing Fernando in the doorway.

‘Boa noite,’ smiled Fernando.

‘Good night,’ Jack replied, and he headed for his room.

Fernando took the seat next to Anjo.

‘Can we trust this man? I know you have said we can but you cannot be too careful,’ questioned Fernando, pulling a lighter from his pocket and lighting the cigarette that was behind his ear.

‘He has suffered as we have and I have seen what he is capable of. He will help us and yes, he can be trusted,’ Anjo replied.  With that she rose from her chair and kissed her cousin on the cheek.

‘Good night, cousin.’  Fernando sat in silence, the last of the orange sky, turning to black.

In his room, Jack took out his phone and scrolled down to reveal a number tagged as Brody Mackintosh.  Jack pressed dial.

The wind was settling as midday arrived.  It had been a hot two-hour drive but they were finally there.  The airfield was home to a small tower and four tarnished hangers, two either side of a small runway.  Off to one side a large concreted area, four helicopters neatly lined up, rotor blades dancing in the breeze.  There was no sign of anyone.  Jack leaned across to Anjo and told her to pull up outside the hanger with the door slightly ajar.  Anjo banged on the sizeable shutter.  The instant sound of dropping tools could be heard, followed by footsteps.  A hand appeared around the door, moving its bulk, increasing the gap.  Anjo stood back as a short, stout man appeared in oil-stained, grey overalls. 

‘
How can I help you?’ he said in Portuguese, his thick, grey moustache in motion as he spoke.

‘We phoned yesterday evening about a rental, are you Carlos Sabino?’ Jack asked in English.

‘I am Senhor Sabino,’ he replied, rubbing his hand on his overalls and outstretching it at Jack.  ‘English hand shake, pleased to meet you, you are David, er?’ the man thought for a moment. ‘Jenkins, yes, I have good memory for names, but I have some bad news Senhor Jenkins for you, my pilot is sick today.’

‘Is there anyway you could take us?’ Anjo asked, sombrely.

‘I am sorry, Senhorita, I am very busy today.’

Jack reached into the inside of his jacket.  His hand returned with a wedge of money.

‘Fifteen thousand Reais, if we can borrow a helicopter for one hour? I am a qualified pilot,’ Jack offered, waving the chunk of notes in temptation.  The man’s eyes widened.

‘For one hour, ok, but you will have to use the black one at the end. It has just had a re-spray, there are no markings on her.’

‘Excellent,’ Jack said, eagerly placing the rest of his money back in his trousers, no markings was perfect for what they needed.

‘I will fuel it up for you,’ Carlos said, sliding the money from Jack’s fingers.  He flicked through it, a glowing smile on his face.

Carlos raised his thumb to Jack and Anjo as they sat in the cockpit of the Jet Ranger.  It had been shut off for some time and all dials were dead cold.  Jack undid the top two buttons of his light, blue shirt and instigated the proceedings.  He turned on the electrics and the avionic switch, checking the fuel level.  Jack was pleased Senhor Sabino had not scrimped on the fuel. It was full.  With the fuel valve and navigation lights turned on, Jack drew his attention to the rotor rpm whilst checking his communication and navigation.

‘Well, let’s hope I remember how to fly one of these, it’s been a while,’ Jack said, looking at the numerous dials.  With a look of concern on her face Anjo closed her eyes and made the sign of the cross on her body.  Jack noticed her movements.

‘Don’t worry, you never forget, it’s like riding a bike. Just a little bit more complicated and if you do make a mistake, it’s a lot longer till you hit the ground,’ Jack smiled, now noticing the rotors rpm had reached one hundred percent.

‘Well, here we go,’ Jack shouted, grabbing the collective and the cyclic tightly, coordinating the controls with immediate dexterity.  The skids straightened as the weight of the Ranger left the ground.  Jack turned to Anjo and smiled.

Once airborne, the airfield was just a speck in the distance.  Jack headed towards the coast where they would follow its line up to Sperafico’s private residence.

‘Take the camera out of that bag,’ Jack said, gesturing towards the black holdall behind them. As the shoreline rushed beneath them, Jack increased altitude as they came closer.

‘I’ll fly by and then circle back round, you get ready with the camera,’ Jack announced, competing with the sound of the rotor blades.

‘I’m frightened I might break it, it’s quite heavy.’

‘It works just like a normal camera. But you’ll be amazed at the images.’

The old fort was indeed close to the waters edge.  Its vast structure spread into the dense tree line.  They could both see the layout of the three buildings, but the camera’s zoom couldn’t quite pick up the entrances.

‘We need to get closer,’ Anjo suggested.  Jack nodded and manoeuvred the Ranger into a banked descent.  The buildings became clearer.  Anjo sat, bent forward, constantly taking pictures of the entrances and the routes into, what they could now see as, a sealed compound.  Jack then noticed movement on the ground.  A man in a khaki uniform ran from a small building near the entrance.  He could see that the man was carrying something large and cylindrical. He placed it on to his shoulder and stared in the direction of their helicopter.

‘Hold on to something,’ exclaimed Jack opening the throttle, dropping the nose and heading for the safety of the shoreline.  It must have been pure luck or a terrible aim that sent the immense speed of the AT4’s rocket way above them, as it disappeared into the distance.