Uncoiling the Coil Read online

  “Angelina knows that a mine is nearby, and Alabastor has been none the wiser to this location. Although, he has sent men to scout and find it. You two look so shocked to see me! Do I leave you that speechless?”

  “Yes, Diego. You always have when I think of how many masks you’ve probably worn in the past,” Hona shakes his hand firmly and with a smile that proclaims, “I’m glad to see you again.” Angelina prefers to hug Diego, who accepts it gratefully.

  When he lets go of Angelina, he gives them both a thoughtful glance, “Did you have much trouble finding your way here again?”

  “It’s been so long since we’ve seen you here. But afterwards, it came back to me. And Angelina was good at finding the right turning. We often went the wrong way but found our bearings each and every time.”

  “Well, you’re here, and that’s all that matters. How’s Sandra?”

  “Not sure. My phone is dead. And Sandra kept cutting off.” Angelina checks her phone, but it refuses to power back on. “Have you got any reception out here?”

  “Yes. But in terms of a secure range for Wi-Fi, you’re out of luck. Who did you want to call?”

  “Darren and Lee. To see how they’re getting on.”

  “You don’t sound too positive that they’re doing well?”

  “They’re young people with a job to do. I can’t see them resting back at Sandra’s. Knowing Lee, she’ll be on the trail of the N.O., and Darren, well, they’re both so unpredictable –”

  “And that’s why I liked them when I saw them arrive here. Have you been helping them?”

  “We have,” Angelina speaks up. “They’ll find Camila, Diego. I know they will.”

  “They don’t have much time left. Alabastor plans to show his ugly face in East Shanti in a few days. That marks the commencement. But some good news can come from this. A couple of rouge rebels like myself, have blown up the construction process and damaged plenty of his stock that is highly expensive. Just waiting for the news on how they did it. Next, we plan to break into the mines, and that includes the facility where they are making the certified printing press that will dispense the currency. The long-and-lost search is closing in.”

  “But what about the halts to the economy?”

  “Alabastor knows he still needs the help of his neighboring guineas. Demand has been high since word got out that something is going on out here. Do you know who got the word out about Camila?”

  “No. So it did make the news?”

  “Yes.” Diego walks back to the barracks and a few of the officers give a greeting nod to Angelina and Hona before they step in. Inside are a few sheetless bunks, a basic radio transmitter where they can tune into the local news, news of Shanti town and the whole of Torbelli scattered besides a few unworkable machine guns and knives. The clutter is cleared for Hona and Angelina to be able to sit down.

  The wonky stools feel snugger when they sit. No part of Diego’s wall is free from sketches that tell various stories of what is being done out here. The main structure that Angelina can understand is various sites and spots where Alabastor has struck his hand and made his own. The areas where Diego and Peacock have stalled are covered in notes that are written in their language.

  Diego takes a seat opposite them, “The rebellion has halted many plans. Peacock might be a ruffian, but the younger ones love his ways and that’s what we need. And if we can get Felis on our side, then that’s an entire military operation on our end of the bargain. He just needs to see that our people here can rise to the occasion. We need him. He has all the weaponry. And those soldiers need more to do as they are causing too much trouble.

  Another thing to take on board is that Peacock was taken away. Or freely went to speak with a nameless face? But he’s American, and I think connected back to Lee and Darren. I’ve had someone follow this man who speaks with their accent. And arrived on one of the same planes sent by Henny.”

  “Really? Who was the pilot?”

  “One of theirs. But Peacock and this guy have been communicating with each other. Discussing what, I do not know?”

  “There you go ... reason to be skeptical, Diego. And does that man wear a suit like all the rest?”

  Diego nods, “But he stands out in spite of it. Not like all the others. I just hope Peacock’s instincts are right, and he might be on the good side. And one of the first who can be an insider to getting a way-in to see Alabastor. God knows where his residency is?”

  “Last I heard it was in Torbelli.”

  “No, Angelina. He’s forever moving. And we need to do the same. Angelina, will you be able to assist a few other young women to the mine? I will need your help out there.”

  “Yes, that’s fine. How many does Alabastor have working there?”

  “Not that many in numbers. I’m going to wait until the arrival of our friends and their good-or-bad news, which should reach in the next few hours. So, if you’re ready, you can grab some food because they’ll be leaving soon.” Angelina knew it was time to let Diego and Hona speak privately. She gave Diego a departing hug. Then squeezed her father’s shoulder who pats her hand before Angelina exits.

  “Has he come back?”

  “Who?”

  “The cameraman? Sandra thinks we don’t know, and we’ve never pressed her trust. But Camila mentioned him to us, and they were good friends. Plus, I hear he’s tried to contact you even though he’s hiding?”

  “Tried. And not with me, Hona. I’ve had somebody act as a third party on my behalf. I think he’s better working with Lee and Darren, who I need to see soon. We departed on such bad terms. They accused me of knowing a man called Shaka.”

  “Sounds familiar to me –”

  “Very familiar. But at the time, I needed to rush back and take control of things. I couldn’t allow Peacock to take all the abuse when I too, play a major part.”

  “What should we do about Lee and Darren out here, when so much is against them?”

  “Let Lee solve her case and bring it back to the right source. She has plenty to discover. And we need her too. Because the link travels all the way back to where she came from.”

  “That much you discovered when you were in the states?”

  “Yes. And a few government names. Camila would know –”

  “And the cameraman. He must know the names of who is involved too? We’ve neglected him for too long out here, Diego. We should’ve protected him. And searched for what he might’ve known about the disappearance of Camila.”

  “A stupid thing we did, I know. But it’s all moving at the right pace and we can now search for this Mark. My third acting party was meant to meet with him under the name Ringo. But I’ve had no phone call. So, maybe he did not show.”

  “I see.” Hona puffs-out his frustration, “I can’t wait to get a good night rest.” He massages his tired eyes.

  “Have a nap now –”

  “No. No. I’m here to help you. I’ll rest later.”

  Diego rises, “Then grab a sub-machine gun and let’s start our search for this facility. I shall leave a little later. But you go with Angelina.”

  “As you wish, Diego. I wonder, how do you think this will all turn out?”

  “I’ve been asked so many times, that all I can say is, I hope we find the two facilities before Alabastor commences the illegal into legal. And on top of that, let’s hope Lee can find Camila and get the names needed to be brought before a jury. If all that goes well, then we might be ok. But otherwise, I pray that we’ll not be trapped in a web that we cannot be free from. It’s an uneven story.”

  “We’ve worked too damn hard for nothing to come from this.”

  Angelina dashes back into the barracks with her phone close to her right ear, for Hona and Diego to hear, “so, your confident that Lee was taken away in a black Sedan?” Angelina gives Hona blinking-and-swaying-hand-gestures that all is not well. “Ah shit. And where did the sedan go? Uh huh. So, she left from the front of Eric’s restaurant again. And there was a
van behind? Ok. Yeah. Well ... let me ask my father what to do. Hang on.” She holds the call, “They’ve got Lee, Diego.”

  “Did she get a glimpse of who it was?”

  “No. She just saw that Lee got into a black sedan. The appearance of the guy is what she missed.”

  “And if she was taken back to the restaurant then it could mean it’s the same guy who’s been meeting with Peacock.”

  Angelina is in shock, “What!? Is Peacock a traitor!?”

  “I hope not. He tells me very little. But if she’s with this man then we might not need to act.”

  “But what should Sandra do? She is in hysterics!”

  “Tell Sandra that across from that restaurant is one of my men who was meant to meet with Mark today. He’s been letting me know who’s going in and out of there. And it’s been extra busy lately. Sandra needs to head there when the restaurant closes, and when nobody is around. But they still have somebody on a subtle lookout, so she needs to be aware. For now, tell her to get some personal things from home and stay with him. Then wait to see if Lee will show up there. It’s the best she can do.”

  Angelina leaves and addresses Sandra with those exact words.

  “This could actually work in Lee’s favor,” Diego says this as they hear Angelina speak to Sandra who needs plenty of persuasions that Lee will be fine. “Who knows? It might be ... what’s the saying? A boot in the right direction. We’ll just have to wait and see.”

  Chapter 5

  Henny gives the door one more knock-knock-knock-knock that varies each time. His stress levels peak at being invited to a location at ten-o-clock in the night, when he could be at home with his feet up, snuggling with his wife and blocking calls from work and all who seek to bother him.

  But there’s no choice tonight. Henny made the drive and endured his wife’s complaints of spending less time with her. And it hits him every time in the navel, clogging his arteries and sniffling drafts of guilt. There’s no use explaining the overused terminology of; work is my life! She no longer cares for that excuse. And it worries Henny at night. When he holds her close because he needs somebody else to give a shit! Or else, he’ll not understand why he’s doing this anymore.

  Henny keeps checking the boot. He knows it’s there, but it doesn’t hurt to double check when he hears that beep-beep and the blinking red light that last a few seconds. He opens the boot, pushes down on the bin liners and then closes it again. Locks the car. And goes back to the door.

  A light comes on ... and Henny waits on the doorstep outside the back-end of a recently closed restaurant. It got closed way back when word came in that the ball would now be rolling. It’s being used for other matters that Henny knows, which concludes his headache will still be ongoing. It’s been a home run so far...but nobody has been there to reclaim the lost ball.

  “You’re late.” Henny knows that’s a lie. But who’s going to argue with a man shrouded by the darkness in the background that conceals his identity. Henny knows who he is, but they haven’t set eyes on each other for a very long time.

  “Yeah. I’m sorry.” The irritation is there to be known.

  “No more postponements. Have you got the bags?”

  “In the boot.”

  “Can you bring them?”

  “Don’t you want to ask me what’s what first?” A little courage never hurt the one-winged bee.”

  “Hmm. Is there any point when things aren’t altogether going to plan, Henny?”

  “You mean with Lee Coil?”

  “With everything that you’ve put on the map. Seems like you have sent those that don’t want to return.”

  “I wouldn’t blame this all on me –”

  “Who else can be blamed?”

  “Whoever thought it would be wise to have Camila out there being the hotshot that she is. That wasn’t my idea –”

  “Well, who’s idea was it?”

  “I don’t know -”

  “And thus, Lee Coil seems to be involved in trying to find her whereabouts. My next question then ... how did the meeting go with the board of directors?”

  “They want to find her too? It’s not good for the public when a name like that goes missing. Bad for morale they say. And what’s more, the cameraman is another matter. The family is planning to go forward with the idea that she was kidnapped. It’s all pretty much out in the open now.”

  “I see. It needs to be closed again. So, I need a new suggestion, if you get my drift? To deliver back.”

  “A suggestion from me? I already sent that suggestion on a plane.”

  “Another needs to be sent. I was thinking more in-line with doubling the risk of anything getting back to damage me.”

  “Nothing will get back to you. I’m sure of that.”

  “There are many people who feel uneasy about all this. So, I can’t just take your word for it.”

  “Who should I send? You know flights are no longer operable until further notice.”

  “Not if I arrange to speak with him.”

  “Well ... I ... Ok, then.” What more could Henny add? That was that.

  “Bring the bags around the back.” An offer to help wouldn’t go amiss. But Henny is in his boot, bringing out more than eight bags filled with illegitimate notes that he carries to another trunk. “How much have you calculated?”

  “There’s more than seven-hundred-and-ninety-thousand in those bin liners. And another nine-hundred-thousand more waiting for when this gets transferred.”

  “And how about the wire?”

  “I haven’t heard from the supplier yet. But it’s been sorted.” Henny wants it to be over! Not a day or night goes by without him thinking of Lee Coil’s safety. He liked the kid. This job has added lines to the grey that he wasn’t supposed to see until his sixties.

  Ten more years, and he’ll be a wrinkled fool with a pension. Traveling with his wife and daughter to Zimbabwe by first class and never having to work again. Sixteen years he’s given, and he’d extend it, if it wasn’t for the fact that being in charge no longer holds a thrill-pill.

  So many decisions made behind the embodiment of the law. And too many times, it’s fallen back on him to clean up the mess. Then there’s Lotan, who’s always been by his side, gnawing at the chance to beat the second best in the game; Lee Coil. It would be better to resign, to change his mind, have a motive that could get him out alive.

  “Get in.”

  “Why?” He should never question the man. It all seems darker than the night skies allow, and he’s the villain alongside one a level-up! “My car!”

  “Give your keys to Mathias.” Henny jumps when a figure gets out of the car and appears before him with no words uttered. He just extends his hand to receive the keys that Henny can’t refuse to drop into his palm.

  He grips the keys shut. Walks past Henny and then gets into his car and drives off. Henny could barely see what the man was wearing because of the excessive amount of black topped with a woolen cap. It’s hot out.

  “Drive.”

  “But I –”

  The man’s already getting into the back seat and waiting. Henny goes to drive the noir Jaguar. His heart tells him to fake the attack. Feign being under the weather and unable to stand the heat. If he gets into that Jaguar and drives, he’ll be inside this for good. No turning back from that point. He thinks there’s still a way out. His instinct tells him to think this through, old man. For the sake of your family, Lee, and even Darren.

  Darren might not be on the best of terms with him, but he’s done something that can’t be erased. So, Henny gets into the Jaguar, closes the door, receives the keys that are handed to him and starts the engine. It purrs like his emotions on the redial and stops when a muzzle is raised at him that he notices from a quick peep at the rear window. Time is immobilised for Henny. What’s to come next?

  “One question is all I’m going to ask before we get going ... are you in or out?”

  Henny’s been waiting far to long for that quest
ion. It got asked at the very beginning. And now, towards the end, they need reassurance from him once more. “I need your final answer?”

  “A final answer with a gun to my back?”

  “Yes. This gives you an incentive to think long and hard about your answer.”

  “What if I say I don’t want to anymore?”

  “Then you’ll make plenty of people unhappy. And you might just end up buried next to your grandmother.”

  “I’ve done everything you’ve asked me to do. The hiccups are not my fault. You said send Lee, I did that. You asked for an assistant to be with her, I sent Darren, who’ll prove a good alibi. I had her act the lead on the case with Eric, and she busted the case quicker than everybody expected. An open line ... I was the one who set it up. Find the Peacock, it was me who orchestrated that. But there’s another man out there who’s just as liable to be a problem. It’s offensive to think that you’d suspect me from not wanting to be a part of this.”

  He was hardly moved with compassion. And changed the subject to, “Shaka!”

  “His name irritates me –”

  “As does it me. But in a few days, we’ll need Shaka off the radar. And if he’s not, Henny, they’ll come for you.”

  ...

  “I’ve been here before.”

  “I doubt it. Nobody knows about this place but me. Think of this as a way for you to trust me.”

  “My own mother has a problem gaining my trust, Bennie. You bringing me to some deserted pastures means very little. So try harder.”

  “There ARE only two of these pastures that exist. And the reason why, lies underneath it all.”

  “And what’s that?”

  “Camila wrote the lines; where they find the gold that supplies all this misery. To keep it underground means to keep it out of harm’s way.”

  “Give me more than riddles?”

  “It’s what Shaka will use to buy this place of nowhere, Lee Coil. And what many men want to invest in. Very-very profitable. And prone to be a rich man’s pond that will never get shallow.” Bennie points to the floor of the car, “down under the ocean.”