Sally interrupted my misery, “they’re moving them to the east coast. I’m sorry.” She knew I was hurting. “They are both in FBI cars, Maggie is being taken to Travis Air Force Base, Sean is leaving out of John Wayne. There’s two guys with each of them holding weapons to their heads.”
Oh, my God! They must be frightened to death. “How long before they are airborne?”
“Twenty minutes for Maggie, maybe ten for Sean.”
Perhaps I should get them out, but I struggled with what that would achieve? Right now, they knew nothing about me, which was fine. There was nowhere to take them? Their current lives were over, not a chance of a reconciliation with the authorities in the US, so no way they could continue as they were. And it was my fault. Damn the bloody Americans. I fiddled nervously with my coffee spoon. I should let it play out? Those idiots would soon realize that Maggie and Sean knew nothing. Lie detectors and sodium pentothal wouldn’t help. I cringed at the thought. The clock on the right wall was moving fast, I had five minutes to rescue Sean. I was in two minds. Tears blurred my vision, my stomach wretched, I fought the urge to rush in, I needed time, then suddenly the correct path became clear. My head raised up, a rush of adrenaline invigorated my body and a smirk crossed my lips.
“What do you think I should I do, Sally?”
“Get them out and terminate the bastards,” she replied, instantly.
Sally’s solution, subtle as a brick.
“I didn’t pick up the container, is there time?”
“Sure, if you don’t mind kicking some teeth.”
“Show me!”
My heads-up screen came to life with a view of the outside of my home. A circle of heavily armed men stood in the street. I moved the view inside the house. They were turning it upside down but hadn’t reached the garage. I left a couple of bucks on the table at the café and walked around the corner. I changed back to Jo-el.
“Activate the shield, Sally and bounce me into the garage.”
Immediately I heard the commotion from the kitchen. The container was where I’d left it on the shelf. I grabbed it and was about to leave. A soldier came through the door from the kitchen and saw me, I grinned at him as he raised his weapon.
“Fuck you bastards,” I yelled at him and bounced back to the park.
“That felt good, Sally.”
“Where do you want to go?”
“I need to stash this thing, find me a lock-up that hasn’t had a lot of use lately.”
“Okay, ready?”
“Let’s go!”
A light came on as I came to rest. Boxes were strewn randomly and a layer of dust covered everything. I placed the container along a wall after depositing the pills and small box with the remaining disc monitors inside. “Where am I?”
“Stockton, hasn’t been opened for almost two years.”
“Fine, let’s go find a hotel?”
I changed my likeness back to the Asian man.
“You want to stay in Stockton?”
“No, let’s go downtown San Francisco. A Hyatt.”
Twenty minutes later I was enjoying the view from a suite on the twenty-sixth floor of the Grand Hyatt.
I called Sally to join me. She walked around the room, admiring the décor, pretending to run her hand along the drape curtains. She was elegantly dressed in a white cocktail mini-dress with an outer shear cover. A gold pendant graced her neck. Rings sparkled on both hands.
“You look adorable,” I said, but my voice couldn’t hide my fear.
She smiled and sauntered over to where I was standing, allowing her cheek to touch mine very gently. I was taken aback as I felt the softness of her face on mine.
“I like the new look, tré chic.” I’d upgraded my look, still Asian but younger, expensive dark grey suit, white business shirt with cufflinks, modern tie and highly polished black shoes. “Seems like you have a plan, Jo-el?”
“Jason Lee,” I said, “that’s how I signed in. So first thing, I need some more cash, I only had enough for one night, what with the security deposit.”
“You want to steal it?”
“Yes, preferably from a bad guy, but if the FBI have any cash lying around that would be perfect.”
“I like the new you, Jason.” She smiled and allowed her nails to run down the side of my face. “They have lots of cash all over the place, confiscated mostly. There’s a couple of million in the Los Angeles office safe.”
“Ten thousand will be fine for now, too much to carry.”
“So smart. You want to get it now?”
“Is it guarded?”
“Just a couple of guys outside, but it’s a walk-in safe, lots of other stuff there, guns and drugs.”
“Okay, let’s do it.”
Ten minutes later I was placing twenty thousand in the room safe and three thousand in hundreds in my jacket pocket. Slight change of plan.
“What about the kids?” Sally asked back in the hotel suite.
“They must be on their way to the east coast?”
“Actually, they’re keeping Maggie at Travis and flying Sean there to pick her up.”
“Cheap bastards.” Sally laughed.
“Have they tried to contact me?”
“No, not yet.”
“It’s late on Easter Sunday, I’m sure we’ll hear in the morning. Probably need to ensure their ducks are in a row.”
“Adrianna sent a message about ten minutes ago, you won’t like it.”
“Now what?”
“The US State Department have asked the Australian Government to delay the interview for a couple of days and they agreed.”
“How did they know?”
“Adrianna tweeted that she was interviewing you. That did it.”
“Damn!” I should have told her to keep quiet about it. Next time. “At least I’ll get some sleep tonight.”
Sally looked disappointed. I was fascinated, I went over to her and touched her face, her skin was smooth. I grinned at her. “What have you done?” She drifted away and flopped down onto the sofa, crossing her legs and beaming at me. “Sally, how can you do that?”
“I want to be real for you, Jo-el.” A devilish look pieced the air.
“Are you all real?”
“Not yet, no, but I can touch,” she grinned.
I was at a loss. “Let’s have a drink, downstairs. It’s late but I could use something.”
That night Sally slept in the bed next to me. Well maybe she didn’t sleep but she was there. I heard her purr every so often. She lay on her side gazing at me, her eyes wide open, a smile etched on her face the whole night.
Chapter 41
STAND-OFF
It was the last week of March; the miserable weather of winter was receding, giving way to the joy of spring and the dream of summer. The sun was electric, bright, unencumbered by clouds, the forecast was glorious weather all day. I awoke with a rush of fear. Fear for my children, now grown up but caught in a tangle of my making.
Sally had allowed me to sleep until my natural clock chimed. It was gone seven on the west coast of America, already mid-morning in Virginia. I ordered room service and told registration I’d be staying for two more nights. Sally was curled up on the sofa like a contented kitten waiting my instructions.
“Where is Sean and Maggie?”
“Underground at Langley.”
That was as I expected. “Messages?”
“From Alberton about an hour ago. He said, I’ll read it out to you, ‘Mr. Murphy, we have your children as I’m sure you are aware. We mean them no harm; we will release them as soon as you give yourself up and join me here at Langley.’”