Archer picked up the weapon from its rack, less than four feet long, a muzzle suppressor to hide the flash, ‘Is that a BORS scope?’
‘Yes, the mark two with integrated range finder, just enter the ammunition type on the keypad, it works out barometric pressure, range, wind and you just point and shoot.’
‘It is a little harder than that Benito.’
‘I know, but I am trying to sell this to you, course that would mean you were paying, so whatever.’
Within ten minutes Archer had bagged the rifle, ammunition and some other essentials, and was off up the road heading past abandoned Fort Clayton, keeping the Panama Canal in sight off to his left. From Benito’s warehouse to near Canopy Tower was just ten miles.
He hid his bike off Old Gamboa Road North, just up from Summit Gardens, ventured into the forest for a good vantage point, a large tree would be ideal. He was spoilt for choice but one tree took his eye. An Espave, with a large base over three metres across it looked like an elephant was standing with all its legs together balancing. The thick trunk led up to the extensive canopy over one hundred feet above. Archer walked around the side away from the path and began to climb. He was careful not to break branches giving away his position. He reached the top, just above the canopy, attached his rope to the top and fixed a clip to his harness. He wedged himself in the junction of three branches, the fingers of timber held him in place. He could see the gold dome just under a kilometre away, his scope showed him more, chairs up on the observation deck, but he could not see inside the tower, too many reflections off the windows. He checked his position near the top of the tree, he could fire, and then abseil down to the base, double time to his bike and be back on the road before anyone could get there. The muzzle suppressor and density of the canopy would reduce any flash from his weapon, even if he had to take two shots, which he doubted. At this range he could easily take out his intended target, there was no wind and rain, and unlike Afghanistan, no sand and dust. He checked his kit and got comfortable, relaxing into his harness for support.
Enzi enjoyed the sumptuous breakfast presented on the table in the centre of the dining room, his associates dug in, much less formal and polite in their eating style. Enzi settled down next to his contact in the library, the older man still engrossed in his book. Enzi chose not to interrupt him, instead checking his email. Enzi and The General moved onto the roof, to enjoy the fresh air, and talk unmonitored. His team back at their designated posts.
Archer saw movement on the roof, a suited black man, the distinctive Chui Enzi. He brought his rifle to bear, adjusting the sight, and inputting the information for the BORS scope to calculate. He focused. Enzi’s chest and head clearly in the sight, Archer’s finger over the trigger, paused. He moved to fire, braced the stock of the rifle against his shoulder, just beginning to apply pressure to the trigger. A blur came across his line of sight. He could not focus on the object, a bird? He adjusted his weapon to check his field of fire; a second man had walked onto the deck. He could not see his face, he was standing looking away to the canal entrance, and then he turned to face Enzi.
‘My dear Enzi, you and I have a lot to discuss, and I need to inform you of the next stage of our plan.’
Enzi was attentive and smiling, but not for much longer, ‘And I need to know how you have been so incompetent!’
Enzi was taken aback, and stood to address his contact at eye level, increase his hostility towards him.
‘I have done everything you have asked General!’
Enzi was furious, staring straight at The General. ‘You cannot order me! I do not obey a President, so why should I obey a mercenary, a paid assassin!’
‘I am a paid assassin? What do you think you are? A saint?’
Archer levelled his weapon, preparing to fire. Then he thought he heard his name echo across the jungle.
‘Enzi you could not even keep hold of Archer Mathias!’
It was The General’s voice, had he been involved from the start? Despite his instinct Archer decided that killing these men would not be beneficial, although extremely tempting. He needed to hear the rest of the conversation, but had not brought any surveillance equipment. He shouldered his weapon and abseiled down to the base of the tree, rapidly checked the contents of his bag. He found something that might work, but he was too far away, needed to get closer.
Enzi sat down, The General doing the same, neither breaking eye contact. They both took coffee from the table in between the chairs, and paused.
‘Look Enzi, Chui, this situation is recoverable. Just you need to trust me.’
Enzi was hesitant, he had trusted no one since he was ten years old, if he could convince The General that he was being trusted, he could dispose of him later. ‘Alright, from now on we follow your plan, what do I need to tell you?’
‘I need to know exactly what you have done, and who has been in contact with you regarding the Bow of Yi and the Ten Suns.’
Archer was running through the semi deciduous forest, following a trail that was created by the Spaniards moving Inca Gold to the coast. The Spanish had used mules to move the gold and other artefacts, and even after four hundred years some of the stones they laid to prevent the trail washing away were still visible. Archer’s boots slapped the surface of the stones. He needed to be at an uncomfortable ten metres from the tower. He slowed down, checked for any sentries, saw none, but knowing they would be in the vicinity.
He moved up the Espave nearby, not as impressive as the previous one, but still substantial, using the last of his rope to ascend, then pulling the surplus up with him. He got to within a few metres of the top and could see the tower, he was on the edge of the forest, and would be visible from the right angle, even at the rear of the structure. He began to assemble his improvised listening device, checking below periodically, his handgun suppressed ready for any visitors.
Enzi informed The General of the events in Mabalia, Khan’s appearance and subsequent torture and murder, obtaining no information. The General listened attentively, not interrupting to ensure he got all the information he required. After more coffee The General responded, ‘Enzi I have never agreed with all your methods, but I can appreciate that you used the limited talents you have acquired. Now I have the information on the artefacts, how many there are and their current locations, I have plans to acquire all of them shortly. However I cannot use Unit Zero 3 operatives to retrieve them, as I do not want my head of operations or anyone else knowing. I already suspect that Khan was sent by someone from within my organisation, but I have no more information at present. This is for our benefit, and I am concerned that should the United States government discover my intentions, they will ensure I am killed correctly.’
Archer had completed his surveillance kit, he was unsure if it would work, but had no other choice. He used his Sony phone to take pictures of Enzi and The General together, the clarity effective enough for a positive identification. He could not make a call; a local signal jammer was stopping all cellphone activity, but not all frequencies.
Enzi could hear a buzzing sound, ‘Do you hear that noise?’ Mastasson paused trying to focus on Enzi’s concern, ‘It’s a humming bird, or more likely a few of them, there are feeders here for them, I will show you later.’
The humming bird belonged to Archer, and it was landing to the side of the gold dome, aligned with the two men. The small remote controlled helicopter barely a foot long that Archer had been given by Benito for fun was designed for flying inside. He had dismantled his Bluetooth headset taking off the carefully styled cover, leaving just the few grams of components reducing the weight. This skeleton of electronics was strapped to the belly with the microphone taped across the helicopter’s nose, making it difficult to fly, but manageable. Upon landing he had selected voice record and the headset should now be transmitting the conversation to the phone, and storing it. The Bluetooth bypassing the signal specific jammer. He estimated that he had about ten or maybe fifteen minutes before the memory card filled up, it was only a burn phone. Archer could not hear the conversation, his position masking him from sight, but also out of earshot, he just had to wait, record, then review the information.