Authors: Ken McClure
Tags: #Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, #Thrillers & Suspense, #Medical, #Suspense, #Thrillers
The Trojan Boy (24 page)
Avedissian screwed up his face and said, 'Do you think
they're serious?'
they're serious?'
'It's my guess they are. They couldn't afford to take a
chance on being double-crossed.’
chance on being double-crossed.’
'Bastards,’ said Avedissian.
'Clever bastards,’ said Jarvis. 'But the boy should be in no
danger just so long as the Irish play it straight.’
danger just so long as the Irish play it straight.’
'This child may never be the same again when this is all
over,’ said Avedissian.
over,’ said Avedissian.
'What do you mean?'
'He's been through so much the scars may never leave
him.’
him.’
'I never thought of that,’ confessed Jarvis. 'I suppose all
I've been thinking about is getting him back alive.’
I've been thinking about is getting him back alive.’
'It's all we can do at the moment,’ said Kathleen.
'So now we play it by ear,’ said Avedissian.
Jarvis nodded and said, 'I think we should be getting back
to the Plaza. Time's passing.’
to the Plaza. Time's passing.’
There was very little to listen to on the recorder in Jarvis's
room. The kidnappers had not been back in touch with
Innes, and Roker had left shortly after hearing the details of
the exchange. There had been a brief conversation between
Innes and Roker about who would be present at the exchange. Roker had said that Shelby would definitely want
to be present. Innes had asked why. ‘To see what we have
paid twenty-five million for,’ Roker had replied. Innes had
agreed but asked that Roker keep the numbers to a mini
mum. As the tape went silent Jarvis switched off the
machine and re-set it. 'Now we just wait,’ he said.
room. The kidnappers had not been back in touch with
Innes, and Roker had left shortly after hearing the details of
the exchange. There had been a brief conversation between
Innes and Roker about who would be present at the exchange. Roker had said that Shelby would definitely want
to be present. Innes had asked why. ‘To see what we have
paid twenty-five million for,’ Roker had replied. Innes had
agreed but asked that Roker keep the numbers to a mini
mum. As the tape went silent Jarvis switched off the
machine and re-set it. 'Now we just wait,’ he said.
Kathleen had been quiet for some time. She sat on one of
the chairs, rubbing her forehead gently with the back of her
right hand. 'Are you all right?' Avedissian asked her gently.
the chairs, rubbing her forehead gently with the back of her
right hand. 'Are you all right?' Avedissian asked her gently.
'Just a headache,’ she replied.
‘
I’ll nip down and get you some aspirins from reception,’
said Avedissian.
I’ll nip down and get you some aspirins from reception,’
said Avedissian.
'No, I'll go,’ said Kathleen getting up. 'I could do with the
walk. It's stuffy in here.’ She got up and collected her
handbag. 'Won't be long,’ she said as she closed the door.
walk. It's stuffy in here.’ She got up and collected her
handbag. 'Won't be long,’ she said as she closed the door.
Avedissian watched Jarvis clean and check a gun and
then fit a silencer to it. 'Please God you don't need that,’ he
said.
then fit a silencer to it. 'Please God you don't need that,’ he
said.
'Amen to that,’ replied Jarvis.
They were both startled when the tape recorder suddenly
switched itself on. 'Someone is phoning Innes,’ said Jarvis,
putting down the gun and picking up a headset. He placed it
over his ears and sat concentrating on the floor while he
listened. Kathleen returned while he was still monitoring
the conversation and Avedissian put his finger to his lips when he saw her come into the room. A few moments later
Jarvis took off the earphones and said, 'That was Roker. He
and Shelby will be here in an hour. They've made
arrangements to fly the boy out of the Downtown Airport in
a private plane after the exchange.’
switched itself on. 'Someone is phoning Innes,’ said Jarvis,
putting down the gun and picking up a headset. He placed it
over his ears and sat concentrating on the floor while he
listened. Kathleen returned while he was still monitoring
the conversation and Avedissian put his finger to his lips when he saw her come into the room. A few moments later
Jarvis took off the earphones and said, 'That was Roker. He
and Shelby will be here in an hour. They've made
arrangements to fly the boy out of the Downtown Airport in
a private plane after the exchange.’
'The Downtown Airport?'
'Kansas City has two airports, the one you arrived at and a smaller one nearer the city. They plan to fly the boy out
in a small aircraft and pick up a scheduled flight out of Los Angeles.’
in a small aircraft and pick up a scheduled flight out of Los Angeles.’
Before either Kathleen or Avedissian had time to say
anything a knock came at the door and all three froze. Jarvis
got up quietly and hid the recording equipment out of sight
then, picking up his gun, he walked over to the door and asked, 'Who is it?'
anything a knock came at the door and all three froze. Jarvis
got up quietly and hid the recording equipment out of sight
then, picking up his gun, he walked over to the door and asked, 'Who is it?'
'Bellboy, sir,’ came the reply.
'What do you want? I'm busy.’
'I have some keys, sir.’
Jarvis put the gun away and opened the door. He
accepted
a
brown, Manila envelope and signed the paper
that was held out to him. 'Just a moment,’ he said and
brought out some change from his pocket.
accepted
a
brown, Manila envelope and signed the paper
that was held out to him. 'Just a moment,’ he said and
brought out some change from his pocket.
Thank you, sir.’
Jarvis closed the door and said, The car keys. The cars are
in place.’ He examined the paper that had been in the
envelope and checked the numbers on the keys, then he
put one set in his pocket and gave the other to Avedissian
saying, 'You hang on to these. It's a white series 3 BMW
with a blue triangle stuck in the windscreen.'
in place.’ He examined the paper that had been in the
envelope and checked the numbers on the keys, then he
put one set in his pocket and gave the other to Avedissian
saying, 'You hang on to these. It's a white series 3 BMW
with a blue triangle stuck in the windscreen.'
Avedissian put them in his pocket and said, 'Now you
know where they're going after the exchange, are you
going to make a rescue attempt?'
know where they're going after the exchange, are you
going to make a rescue attempt?'
'We'll still have to play it by ear. We know what they plan
to do but we don't know how many men are involved.
That's the next big question.'
to do but we don't know how many men are involved.
That's the next big question.'
Innes checked his watch. Roker and Shelby would be
arriving in thirty minutes. Providing these clowns didn't do
anything stupid he was now only hours away from pulling
off Kell's greatest coup. He checked his wallet to see that the
contents were in order. Money, credit cards, plane ticket.
He felt in the inside pocket of his jacket for his passport and
found it. His travel bag sat on the floor beside the bed,
already packed and waiting to be zipped.
arriving in thirty minutes. Providing these clowns didn't do
anything stupid he was now only hours away from pulling
off Kell's greatest coup. He checked his wallet to see that the
contents were in order. Money, credit cards, plane ticket.
He felt in the inside pocket of his jacket for his passport and
found it. His travel bag sat on the floor beside the bed,
already packed and waiting to be zipped.
He went to the bathroom and collected his toilet things,
packing them into a brown leather case before adding it to
his travel bag.
packing them into a brown leather case before adding it to
his travel bag.
All that was left beside the basin was a slim plastic wallet
which Innes now unrolled. From its pockets he removed a
scalpel, tweezers, artery forceps, a syringe and a small glass
bottle with an applicator. He left a series of needles, including two long hat pins, in their holder and gave a grunt
of satisfaction. He had everything he needed. That just left
the gun. He returned to the room and opened his brief-case
to take out an automatic pistol. He removed the clip,
checked it and reinserted it with a satisfying click, then
screwed a silencer into the muzzle before looking along the
barrel. 'Clumsy things,' he muttered under his breath.
which Innes now unrolled. From its pockets he removed a
scalpel, tweezers, artery forceps, a syringe and a small glass
bottle with an applicator. He left a series of needles, including two long hat pins, in their holder and gave a grunt
of satisfaction. He had everything he needed. That just left
the gun. He returned to the room and opened his brief-case
to take out an automatic pistol. He removed the clip,
checked it and reinserted it with a satisfying click, then
screwed a silencer into the muzzle before looking along the
barrel. 'Clumsy things,' he muttered under his breath.
Roker and Shelby arrived on time. Shelby, in particular,
seemed excited for he was sweating profusely. Innes could
see the wetness seeping through his jacket near the armpits.
Innes invited them to sit but Shelby could not settle. He
fidgeted constantly and finally got up to pace about the room. 'I can hardly believe it,' he murmured.
seemed excited for he was sweating profusely. Innes could
see the wetness seeping through his jacket near the armpits.
Innes invited them to sit but Shelby could not settle. He
fidgeted constantly and finally got up to pace about the room. 'I can hardly believe it,' he murmured.
'Believe what?'
'That a child, a British royal child, is going to walk through that door in less than half an hour.'
'You'll believe it when it happens,' said Innes.
‘
This is a moment in history,' said Shelby. 'We are going to go down in history as the patriots who brought freedom
to Ireland.'
This is a moment in history,' said Shelby. 'We are going to go down in history as the patriots who brought freedom
to Ireland.'
'Providing nothing goes wrong,' said Roker.
'What's to go wrong?' asked Shelby. 'We're playing it
straight from here on in.'
straight from here on in.'
'Glad to hear it,’ said Innes dryly.
'Don't you have anything to drink?' Shelby asked.
'Afterwards,' said Innes.
Fragmentary conversation died away completely as the
time grew near. There was silence in the room when a
knock came to the door at three minutes past eleven. Innes,
Roker and Shelby got to their feet before Innes said, 'Come
in.'
time grew near. There was silence in the room when a
knock came to the door at three minutes past eleven. Innes,
Roker and Shelby got to their feet before Innes said, 'Come
in.'
The door opened and a little boy stood there accompanied
by a man wearing a light raincoat. The man prompted the
boy with a hand at his back and the child stepped unsurely into the room. The man followed and closed the door be
hind him. He waited with his back against it while Shelby
moved towards the boy and stooped down to touch him
almost reverently on the shoulder. 'Hello,' he said gently.
The boy remained silent.
by a man wearing a light raincoat. The man prompted the
boy with a hand at his back and the child stepped unsurely into the room. The man followed and closed the door be
hind him. He waited with his back against it while Shelby
moved towards the boy and stooped down to touch him
almost reverently on the shoulder. 'Hello,' he said gently.
The boy remained silent.
Shelby turned to the others and said, 'Hell, I don't know
what to say to a royal boy. What
do
you say?'
what to say to a royal boy. What
do
you say?'
'The boy has had a shock,' said the man at the door. He
has temporarily lost his voice.'
'What the hell do you mean?' demanded Shelby.
has temporarily lost his voice.'
'What the hell do you mean?' demanded Shelby.
'It's not uncommon and it won't last long,’ said the man
evenly.
evenly.
Shelby ran his hands over the boy and was impressed
that he did not shy away. He turned again and said with a
half laugh, ‘I’ll say this for him. He's got dignity, yes sir
real class. Haven't you, little feller?'
that he did not shy away. He turned again and said with a
half laugh, ‘I’ll say this for him. He's got dignity, yes sir
real class. Haven't you, little feller?'
The child did not flinch but continued to stare at Shelby.
Shelby stood up and turned to Roker and Innes. 'I
suppose this
is
the right boy?' he asked with an
embarrassed grin. 'It's crazy but it keeps occurring to me
that none of us has ever seen him before
...
in the flesh, I
mean . . . it's crazy when you think about it
...
pictures
are OK but. . .' Shelby reached inside his jacket and
pulled out a revolver. He levelled it at the man standing by
the door and said triumphantly, 1 see you changed your
mind about the explosive device. The boy is clean. I just
frisked him.'
suppose this
is
the right boy?' he asked with an
embarrassed grin. 'It's crazy but it keeps occurring to me
that none of us has ever seen him before
...
in the flesh, I
mean . . . it's crazy when you think about it
...
pictures
are OK but. . .' Shelby reached inside his jacket and
pulled out a revolver. He levelled it at the man standing by
the door and said triumphantly, 1 see you changed your
mind about the explosive device. The boy is clean. I just
frisked him.'
The stony expression on the face of the man at the door did not change. He shook his head slowly and said, There
was no change of mind. The boy is wired.'
was no change of mind. The boy is wired.'
Shelby was embarrassed. 'What the hell do you mean?'
he demanded weakly.
he demanded weakly.
'May I?' asked the man, gesturing to the child.
'Go ahead.'
The man bared the left side of the boy's neck and
pointed to a very recent scar. 'He has an implant.' He
checked his watch. 'If I do not return within twenty-five
minutes, you can scrape him off the wall.'
pointed to a very recent scar. 'He has an implant.' He
checked his watch. 'If I do not return within twenty-five
minutes, you can scrape him off the wall.'
The sweat was pouring down Shelby's face. He dabbed at
it angrily with a handkerchief. 'Well," he mumbled. 'You
can't blame a guy for trying.'
it angrily with a handkerchief. 'Well," he mumbled. 'You
can't blame a guy for trying.'
The man said nothing.
'And if you are back within twenty-five minutes?' asked
Roker.
Roker.
'You will be called and asked for the password. The
device will not be triggered. When the money has been
transferred you will be directed to a nearby clinic where the
device will be removed.'
device will not be triggered. When the money has been
transferred you will be directed to a nearby clinic where the
device will be removed.'
'What's to stop you just running off with the money?'
demanded Shelby to the embarrassment of the others.
demanded Shelby to the embarrassment of the others.
'As you've been told before. A dead child is no good to
anyone. We like to keep our customers happy.'
anyone. We like to keep our customers happy.'
'Just who is "we"?' asked Roker.
‘
That need not concern you,' replied the man. He looked
at his watch. ‘Time is running short.'
That need not concern you,' replied the man. He looked
at his watch. ‘Time is running short.'
A knock came at the door. Innes acted immediately to
calm the others. 'It's all right, take it easy,’ he soothed.
'Who is it?' he called out.
calm the others. 'It's all right, take it easy,’ he soothed.
'Who is it?' he called out.
'Your whiskey, Mr Innes,' said the voice.
'A little celebration,’ smiled Innes. 'He's a bit early that's
all. Come in!'
all. Come in!'
A waiter entered and put down a tray bearing a bottle of
Irish whiskey and a number of glasses on the table while life
stopped around him. 'Will that be all, sir?'
Irish whiskey and a number of glasses on the table while life
stopped around him. 'Will that be all, sir?'
'Not quite, Reagan,’ said Innes. The fat one is yours!'
The waiter took the silenced pistol that he had been
holding under the tray and fired three times into Shelby. At
the same time Innes fired twice at the man by the door and
watched him slump to the ground.
holding under the tray and fired three times into Shelby. At
the same time Innes fired twice at the man by the door and
watched him slump to the ground.
'What the hell . . .?' exclaimed Roker, unable to believe
his eyes. 'What in Christ's name did you do that for? Just
what the hell do you think you are doing?'
his eyes. 'What in Christ's name did you do that for? Just
what the hell do you think you are doing?'
Reagan took off his waiter's waistcoat and flung it in a
corner before securing Roker to a chair while Innes held his
gun on him.
corner before securing Roker to a chair while Innes held his
gun on him.
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