Ling had sent the signal just before the cart crashed to let Reaper know she had started.
Reaper contacted his team members. Everyone was in position and ready to go. He looked across at his communications man who gave him the thumbs up. He looked across at Leo who was on the phone, he signalled thumbs up. Donald was home and his helicopter had left.
Mr Sakamoto, Weadle and Ms Anderson arrived at the crash scene just as the helicopter was taking off. They looked on aghast at the devastation. Ten dead soldiers lay around the gate area. Other soldiers seemed to be running towards the boats and another two helicopters. Mr Sakamoto screamed across to a soldier as he ran by but the soldier ignored him and continued on his way to one of the waiting helicopters.
It was Mr Sakamoto who noticed the injured Mia first. Ms Anderson, previously a nurse, jumped into action. Mr Sakamoto sent Weadle to find someone who knew what was going on. As Ms Anderson tended to Mia, she began to regain consciousness.
“Mia, are you OK? What happened?” asked Mr Sakamoto.
“Mr Sakamoto, please give her a minute,” said Ms Anderson sternly.
“No, it’s OK,” said Mia weakly. “I’m not really sure, we were playing a game with Zach, Ahmad, Mingmei and Oleg. We made it round the bend,” Mia was thinking hard but she was still in shock.
“Who’s we? You’re the only one here,” asked Mr Sakamoto with concern growing in his voice.
“Chen, Tom and Lela,” she said.
“Oh my God! Where are they?” Mr Sakamoto looked around at the dead bodies and could not help but think of the hostage crisis around the world. Had his school been hit?
“I remember,” said Mia. “That we were coming down the hill and Chen started screaming at me, grabbed the wheel and slammed his foot on the accelerator pedal. I didn’t know what to do, he was screaming at me in a Chinese dialect that I didn’t really understand. All I could do was scream back at him.”
“What happened then, dear?” Ms Anderson was being surprisingly tender.
“I’m not sure but he basically made us crash into the gates. After that, I don’t remember a thing.”
Weadle returned. He had failed to find any soldiers, every single one had vanished. Mr Sakamoto thought about the unfolding scene and raced to his car.
“Come on, we must contact Donald Kennedy. Something is very, very wrong.”
“No, I’m afraid that’s not an option,” said Weadle confidently.
Three soldiers came around the corner with guns aimed at the three of them.
“But you said all the soldiers had gone?” said Ms Anderson who was slower to catch on.
Mr Sakamoto put his arm across her forearm to let her know to stop talking.
“What do you want?” he asked.
“Absolutely nothing. That is exactly what I want the three of you to do for the next few days,” said Weadle enjoying the power over Mr Sakamoto.
“I’m sorry?”
“We’re going to go back to your office and we’re going to continue as if nothing is wrong. You didn’t see anything and no children are missing. Just in case you try anything clever, these three young men will be joining us and will have no hesitation in spending hours prolonging the death of our young student here.”
Weadle looked down and smiled insanely at the injured Mia.
Mr Sakamoto knew he was not bluffing. The look on the man’s face was pure evil. He had little option but to agree. He looked at Ms Anderson who was still struggling to comprehend what was happening and just said, “OK.”
Five more soldiers appeared and began clearing away the bodies and hosing down the pools of blood. Within ten minutes, nobody would have known that death and destruction had recently visited the base.
The phone rang once before he answered.
“Reaper here.”
“We have a problem,” the voice said.
“Who is this and how did you get my number?” Reaper asked irritated.
“My name is Weadle and let’s just say that we have a mutual client who has spent a great deal of money for our services.”
“OK, what’s the problem?” asked Reaper realising his client had obviously some back-up resources he was unaware of.
“The targets have gone and all of the operatives that should be with them are dead.”
Reaper could not believe his ears.
“What about Schmidt, where is the imbecile?”
“Dead along with nine of his colleagues. Ten have gone to try to catch the targets and eight are trying to maintain a semblance of normality for prying eyes at the base.”
“But what happened?”
“I have no idea but it seems that one of your operatives may still be with them, somebody called Chen?”
“Excellent, some good news at last. Anyway, don’t worry, I had planned for this eventuality, it’s in hand. Will you be talking to our client?”
“No. I have orders not to make any contact until further notice.”
“OK, I’ll keep him up to speed. Anything else I need to know?”
“Nothing, other than I have the Headmaster, his PA and a student held at gunpoint for the next few days.” The sarcasm in Weadle’s tone was cutting. “Don’t worry, they’ll act as though nothing has happened. After the mission is complete, let me know and I’ll arrange the necessary.”
“Thank you. I appreciate your help, you have covered off Schmidt’s role perfectly. I must put the alternative plan into action. I’ll give you a signal on completion. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye and good luck,” said Weadle putting the receiver down.