Tom dialled his father’s mobile. It went straight to Voicemail. That was very strange. He had Call Waiting and it was only when the phone was switched off that it would go straight to Voicemail. After abandoning the mobile, he checked his watch. It was still morning in the UK and despite being a Saturday, his father would be in the office. He dialled the private line and Helen picked up.
“Hi Tom, how’s the new school?”
“Hmm fine, I really need to speak to my dad, is he there please?”
“No, sorry. He went home, he should be there by now. Shall I put you through?”
“No, it’s fine, I’ll do it.”
He hung up and dialled home.
The phone answered after only one ring.
“Mum, Dad, are you OK? It’s me. Something terrible has happened.”
The words rushed from his mouth in the relief that the phone had been answered.
“Ah, the elusive Tom,” came a strange voice in response.
“Who are you?”
“That’s of no concern to you. Let’s just say that I can help you and you can help me.”
“Where are my mum and dad? Why are you answering their phone?”
“Let’s just say they’re OK for now but what you do will determine whether they remain OK. Now firstly, where are you and how is Lela?”
“I don’t know and Lela is fine.”
“Now, now Tom. Do you want to see your mother again?”
“I honestly don’t know where we are. We’re in a helicopter over the Ocean.”
“OK, I believe you. Now what I’m about to tell you will help you keep your parents in oxygen for the next seventy two hours. You must not contact any authorities. If I hear one siren or hear any chatter regarding our situation, you’ll never see them again. Do you understand Tom?”
“Yes I understand,” replied Tom.
Lela heard the fear in his voice and started gesticulating. Tom shook his head and put his hand up indicating for her to stop.
“Good. Now, I have contacts everywhere as you have probably already guessed. If they hear one mention of the Kennedy name, they will call me immediately. So I cannot emphasise enough that you must not talk to anyone. ARE WE CLEAR TOM?”
“Crystal,” he responded.
“Now who killed my men, Tom?”
Tom’s brain was working faster than it ever had before.
“I don’t know, I heard them say something about drinking water they weren’t supposed to have drunk. I think they were just in the wrong place at the wrong time so they came to help us.”
“OK, how many are there TOM?”
“There are five of them,” he lied. They had left ten bodies behind and Tom thought that if he said there were only two soldiers, it would sound suspicious.
“OK. I need you to tell me where they’re taking you. Tell them you are talking to your father and need to know where you are landing.”
“OK. Will I call you back or are you holding on?”
“Holding on Tom. Remember your mum and dad, no funny stuff.”
Tom made his way to the cockpit to speak to Kano and Kisho.
“Where are we heading to?”
“Not sure, still trying to calculate exactly how far we can go on this tank. By the looks of it, we can do just over a thousand miles, this thing is full to the brim. Give me another ten minutes and I’ll let you know,” said Kisho.
“OK.”
Tom made his way back to the main cabin where a very concerned Lela watched his every move.
“What’s wrong?” she mouthed to him, conscious he was still on the phone to whoever was putting the fear of God into him.
Again, Tom only shook his head.
“The pilot doesn’t know yet, he’s still working things out but he reckons we’ll be flying about a thousand miles.”
“That is not the kind of answer I need if you want to see your mother again.”
“They honestly don’t know yet but as soon as they tell me, I’ll let you know. I promise I’m telling you the truth. Please don’t hurt them,” pleaded Tom holding back the tears.
“OK, OK, I believe you. Now take down this number and call me the second you know. Meanwhile, we’ll be tracking you.”
Reaper read out the telephone number and hung up.