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He told Kincaid, “My friend with the Australian Crime Commission says sharks came back when Sydney cleaned up the pollution. Your boy just jumped into a harbor full of bulls and great whites.”
“Poor sharks.”
“There’s the harbor patrol.”
“Good. This time I want to see a body.”
Blue flashing lights were setting out from both North and South Sydney shores and racing toward the center of the mile-wide strait between Milsons Point and the Central Business District. Janson handed Kincaid a mini water bottle from his windbreaker. As she gulped gratefully, he spit on a handkerchief and wiped the blood from her face.
“Ditch that gun in case we run into the cops.”
Kincaid threw Mikie’s Tomcat into the harbor. “Where to?”
“Canberra. My friend on the commission traced Dr. Fla
They walked down the arch, side by side, bumping shoulders like a couple heading home from a late-night date.
“Paul?”
Janson leaned close to hear her over the wind.“What is it?”
“Don’t you think that SR is going to way too much trouble for revenge? They had a whole program in place to nail me. Plus, what they did to our phones? No professional wastes that kind of energy on payback.”
“They could be doing it for the money. What if someone hired SR to hunt us?”
“Who?”
“Whoever hired SR to hunt the doctor.”
“Why?”
Janson had been weighing that question since Securité Referral had hacked their phones. “Clearly, we’ve threatened somebody.”
“We’ve been hired to capture Iboga. That threatens Iboga and SR.”
“Yes, but Iboga hasn’t the assets to hound us.”
“SR sure as hell has.”
“Yes, but what if SR is essentially what they appear to be—hired guns doing a job?”
“Like us.”
“In essence,” Janson agreed. “We’re paid by Ferdinand Poe to capture Iboga and we’re paid by ASC to rescue the doctor. SR is paid by somebody to protect Iboga and kill the doctor.”
“Are you thinking we threatened the same people the doctor did?”
“I’m thinking what I’ve been thinking all along. We can kill two birds with one stone when we grab the doctor. Even if he doesn’t know who is hunting him, Dr. Fla
TWENTY-SIX
I rented a bicycle,” the blonde told Terry Fla
“I’m not exactly in bike shape,” Fla
“There aren’t any hills. Just flat, wonderful paths. They go all around the lakes and miles and miles out into the countryside. There are private spots where you can lie in the grass all by yourself.”
“I used to ride bikes,” he said, hoping her picnic included a blanket. “Where do I rent?”
She told him where and gave him directions to pedal along the lake to a more private place they could meet, as if understanding and not minding that his thing with the senator might be longer term than a picnic.
Fla
It turned out to be true that one did not forget how to ride a bike. After a wobbly hundred yards, he was pedaling along just fine. The spot she said she’d meet him was only a half mile away, and by then he was actually enjoying himself. The pleasure of the warm sun, the crisp breeze, the truly attractive park with its sparkling lakes, lawn, and trees and the delicious sight of numerous good-looking women pedaling bicycles in short skirts and tight jeans ceased abruptly when he turned onto a path that ran closer to the water.
Out of nowhere, swooping down like wolves, A
“Don’t be afraid,” she said. “We’re on your side.”
“I’m not afraid,” he lied. He was so scared his face felt cold, as if the blood had drained from it.
The Wall noticed and said soothingly, “We are not the ones trying to kill you. We will protect you.”
That would be wonderful news, if he was fool enough to believe them. “How did you find me?”
“Your fellow tourists noticed the senator take a shine to you.”
“What do you want?”
“We want to deliver you safe and sound to ASC headquarters in Houston. As soon as your employer sees that you are alive and well, you’ll be free to go. No one will hurt you.”
“Either you’re lying to me,” Fla
“What do you mean?” asked the woman.
“I don’t work for ASC.”
The two of them exchanged looks.
“I haven’t worked for them in five years.”
The woman said, “That is not true. You were aboard Amber Dawnwhen the FFM rebels attacked.”
“Well, that answers that,” said Fla
“What do you mean?”
“Now I know that you two aren’t lying.”
The man stepped closer. “Can you explain— By the way, Doctor, we’ve been through a bunch together, but we’ve never exchanged names. We know you’re Terry. I’m Paul. This is Jesse.”
Paul thrust out his hand. Fla
“You wereon the boat, weren’t you?”
“I was on the boat. But ASC didn’t knowI was on the boat.”
“What?”The looks they exchanged this time were like clashing laser beams.
“No one knew I was on the boat.”
“What are you saying?” Jesse snapped. “You stowed away?”
“I hitched a ride. I had a little trouble in Port Harcourt. I had to get out of town. Amber Dawn’s captain was a friend of mine. She smuggled me aboard and hid me in her cabin. No one knew I was on the boat.”
“No one?”
“She’d have been fired. It was strictly against company policy.”
“Why didn’t you tell us earlier?”
“They killed everybody on the boat. How could I trust you? How could I trust anybody?”
A bicycle bell chimed merrily. Fla
They shot sharp glances at the blonde, took in the picnic basket attached to her handlebars and her shy smile. “Wait,” said Paul, moving between him and the girl.
Jesse walked over to her and smiled. “Hello. We are responsible for that gentleman’s safety. Would you mind if I frisked you for weapons?”
“Weapons? Is he all right?”
“He’s fine. We’re just making sure that he stays that way. This will just take a moment, with your permission.”
Kincaid checked her clothing, with gentle apologies, and the picnic in her basket. The forks and knives were plastic disposables. Kincaid nodded to Janson. Janson told Fla
* * *
“YOU’RE A WOMAN,” Janson said to Kincaid while they watched the doctor explaining the situation just out of earshot.
“Yes, I am, Paul.”