Daniel Ganninger - Icarus Investigations 02 - Peeking Duck (26 page)

-Chapter 53-

The
Southern Sea
began to pitch with increasing intensity as the storm the crew had warned us about was beginning to show its power.  The helicopter was only a few minutes away to whisk us to Cape Town, but first it had to get itself on the helipad of the rocking vessel.

Galveston
and I pulled Lee from his stateroom, got him a parka from the research staff, and proceeded to the deck where the helicopter pad was located.  We watched as the Bell 525 helicopter neared the vessel.  The crew had taken on a dangerous job because the helicopter was operating at its maximum range and there was no turning back.  It had to land on the
Southern Sea
to refuel or risk running out of gas and ditching in the ocean. 

Maddie had procured the sophisticated helicopter after offering the company that ran it a sizable amount of cash to take on the operation.  The
Bell helicopter had to hopscotch its way across the South Atlantic, landing on another vessel to refuel before it arrived for us.  We would have to do the same dance going back to Cape Town, but the increased speed of the helicopter would be a godsend.  Eighteen hours had already elapsed, and we still needed to take an eleven hour flight from Cape Town to Paris. 

The
Southern Sea
was set up nicely to receive a large helicopter, since the scientists often used one to survey the pack ice around Antarctica.  The vessel had the capability to refuel a helicopter and the only thing jeopardizing success was the approaching weather.

The
Bell 525 approached cautiously, and between a large set of swells, touched its wheels gingerly onto the helipad.  The crew sprang into action, and used chains to attach the helicopter to the deck of the ship.  Galveston and I gave each member of the crew a hearty handshake and thanked the Captain for his help.  They seemed disappointed we would be leaving. 

We crouched and walked to the helicopter, with Lee by our side, and climbed in.  The helicopter finished refueling and started its engines.  It strained to get into the sky due to the massive amount of fuel
in the tanks.  As it lifted higher in the air, I could see the crew of the
Southern Sea
waving their hands at us.  I believed we made the end of their voyage a memorable one.

The helicopter
moved itself forward, and we started the long journey to a ship called
AG Titan
, a natural gas exploration vessel operating 500 miles off the coast of South Africa.  The helicopter would refuel again there before flying on to Cape Town.  Maddie had done an excellent job with her logistical planning.  We would be in Cape Town in enough time to get to the ferry terminal before leaving for Paris.

The time aboard the helicopter allowed us to study the upcoming situation carefully.  We wouldn
‘t be able to charge in like a couple of hopped-up cowboys.  Acting like that would only get us killed.  We needed to be deliberate, calculating, and smart.  This wasn’t the movies where the good guy comes in, guns down a bunch of street trash, beats up on the bad guys with fancy kicks and punches, and then saves the beautiful woman who somehow didn’t even scuff her hair or makeup.  We were normal guys without big muscles or big guns, looking like we just stumbled out of bed after an all night bender.  Due to these hard to stomach facts, our best assets were our less than stellar brains, and our complete lack of machismo.  We were going to dictate the situation and the outcome on our terms, using the safest and most clandestine tactics possible.

Galveston
‘s mind was racing in thought, and I could see the hamster in his brain tiring from thinking of a viable plan.  He furiously wrote lines of text on a piece of paper, pausing long enough to stretch his fingers before writing again.  I waited patiently and just let him go.  He would fill me in when he was fully prepared.  Finally, he seemed to be finished and placed his pen down on the paper.

“
Do you remember Rule fifty-seven?” he asked, as if I would.

“
Of course, but do you?” I responded, since I had no clue what it was.

“
The element of surprise is the greatest enemy and the most beneficial friend.”

“
Wow, that is certainly profound, but what exactly are you talking about?”

“
We have more bargaining chips than you realize, and we have the element of surprise.  We’re going to set our own plan, and Olvary will be forced to follow it.  You will have to be strong because it will put Jane and Maddie in a dicey spot,” he said seriously.

“
I’m listening,” I responded, but was secretly scared out of my wits for Jane.

“
We have Lee, and they want him—bad.  We also have a potential team of two of the greatest hackers on the planet.  I have a plan to put the fear of God into Olvary, but before I lay it out, you have to agree to go all in.  There will be no turning back.  If we follow Olvary’s demands, Maddie and Jane will be dead.  I hate to even think that, but it’s true.  You and I will be next.  It’s all a setup to get us into one place under their terms and eliminate us.  If I was in his situation, I would do the same.  All the loose ends have to be taken care of.  I propose to turn his neat, little, egomaniacal world upside down.”  Galveston stopped and looked at me for a response.

“
I haven’t gone anywhere,” I stated flatly.

“
So you’re in?  No waffling?” Galveston prodded.

I thought for a second.  I had to trust him and knew he was right.  I cringed at what the plan would entail and how it would sound like absolute absurdity, but he knew me well and wanted me drinking the
Kool-Aid without trepidation.

“
Yeah, yeah, I’m in.  I trust you, and trust that you’ll make sure Jane and Maddie are safe,” I sighed.

“
Good.  Now that we’re all clear, here’s my plan.  It’s a doozy.”

-Chapter 54-

The black sedan raced to the outskirts of Paris and into the rolling green countryside.  It would have been a beautiful sight for Maddie and Jane to experience, but the uncertainty of their fate removed any thoughts of pleasurable sightseeing.

Olvary said nothing to the driver.  He seemed to be nervously working his cell phone and paid no attention to his captives in the back.

After an hour of driving from the airport, the sedan pulled into a long, dirt driveway, flanked by grape vines on either side.  As it rounded a turn, Jane and Maddie could see a massive white villa come into view.  The car stopped abruptly by the large front doors and Olvary jumped out.  The back doors of the car opened almost immediately, and the same imposters posing as French customs officials peered menacingly through the opening.

Jane was dragged from the car first, followed by Maddie, as the men clutched their arms tightly.  As soon as the daylight hit their eyes
, it was shut off by a black hood crammed down over their heads.  Jane and Maddie could hear footsteps walking towards them.

“
I want no trouble,” Olvary whispered closely to them.  “These men will not tolerate insolence.”  Jane could feel his sickening breath on her neck, and she held down her reflex to throw off the hood.  “Take them to the back and get them something to eat,” Olvary ordered his men.

The men followed the command and guided Maddie and Jane into the house.  The two were unaware of the direction they were heading and were soon separated. 

As the hoods were pulled from their heads, they each found themselves in a bare room with a large wooden door, a bed, and a plate of food.  They were each alone.  The men left the room quickly and each woman surveyed her new surroundings.  There was no apparent escape. 

Jane sat down on the bed and cried, thinking about Roger and her urge to see him again.  Maddie on the other hand, paced the room.  She had no idea where Jane was, and in a futile attempt, banged at the thick wall and yelled her name.  Hearing no response, Maddie sat on the bed.

This was a predicament she had been trained to deal with, but being thrust into it in real life made her feel unprepared.  She was trapped, and had to rely on the notion that someone, either her people, or Galveston and Murphy, would get her out.

-Chapter 55-

The helicopter bounced through the sky and the turbulence was becoming unbearable for me and Lee.  Galveston, on the other hand, seemed to love the jostling.  He was a seasoned pilot and was used to such things.  The only thing I wanted to do was toss my cookies.

In between bumps
I managed to get out a statement to Galveston.  “So I’m ready.  What is your grand plan?” I asked as another jolt sent me reeling against my seatbelt.

Galveston
didn’t miss a beat.  “When we get to Cape Town, we catch the first plane out to Paris after we go to the ferry terminal.  I’ve discussed with Lee what I expect from him and he agrees.  Right, Lee?”

“
Yes, yes,” Lee managed to say, with a green face.

“
Luckily the CIA helped us out with a false passport.  The crew of the
Trusian
found his bag.”  Galveston showed me a United States passport with the name Andrew Kim on it.  “We shouldn’t have any trouble until we arrive in Paris.  When he shows his passport it might alert the Feds, so we’ll have to act quickly.”

“
Uh-huh,” was all I could manage as I felt my lunch beginning to try to make an escape again.

“
Alex will meet us outside De Gaulle airport in Paris.  Then we’ll hightail it to a hotel and set up shop.”

“
What kind of shop?” I asked.

“
Let’s call it a hacker hub.  Lee and Alex will have some work to do.”

“
Like what?” I inquired, slightly regretting the question.

“
They’re going to hack into Olvary’s finances.  We’re going to break the guy,” he seemed to yell through his headset microphone.

“
And how is that going to help us?”

“
This is the part I was talking about.  Now don’t freak out, okay?” I nodded my head that I would not.  “When we get to Cape Town and to the ferry terminal, I’m betting that we’re going to get our instructions on the meeting place.  I bet they’re going to have something there so we can talk to Olvary, either a number or a phone.  They wouldn’t leave a paper trail if they’re smart.  When I talk to Olvary I’m going to play hardball and change the plans.  They’re going to meet us where we want.”

I immediately knew what this meant. 
“But that will put Jane and Maddie in danger.  There is no telling what they might do to them,” I said emphatically.

“
Don’t worry.  I have it thought out.  When I contact them from Paris…”

I stopped him
midsentence.  “What if we can’t contact them?” I yelled.

“
That’s a chance we’ll have to take.  They want Lee too badly to jeopardize not getting him.  He’s too important for their cause,” Galveston stated coolly, rebuffing my comment.  “When I contact them in Paris, we’ll have control of his money, or at least it will seem that way.”

“
You’ve lost your freakin’ mind,” I yelled again.

“
You said all in, remember?  Keep your shorts on.  We’ll have the leverage, and we can set up a meeting on our terms.  If we don’t, and we meet them in their spot, we are most certainly dead.”

His words struck me to
my nerves because I knew they were true.  There was no way Olvary would let us leave alive—that fact was clear.

“
What if we get the authorities involved in Paris and let them take care of it?” I asked.

“
Too risky if it’s on their turf.  Don’t forget, we smuggled a Chinese national into the country on a false passport.  Where do you think we’ll end up?  No, we have to keep Lee safe, and we’ll get INTERPOL involved on our terms, and in our meeting spot.”

I was impressed how well he
had thought this insane plan through. 

“
Alright, I see your point.  What happens when we get them to meet where we want?”

“
I have another plan for that, but let’s get this first phase down.  If all goes accordingly, then I’ll tell you the rest.  No point in having you question me,” Galveston said with a smile.

“
Agreed.  I’m here for you, as horrible as that sounds.”

“
Aw, you big lug,” Galveston said hitting me in the arm, “you really do care.”

I could only respond with a smirk.

The helicopter was finally nearing our next waypoint, the
AG Titan
, where it would refuel before the final leg to Cape Town.  I couldn’t quit thinking about Jane and knew the crush Galveston had on Maddie was causing him to worry about her.  We had to make it work, but we also had to prepare ourselves for the unknown problems that invariably crop up in these situations.

The helicopter landed roughly on the deck of the
AG Titan
, giving Lee and myself a brief reprieve from the turbulence of the air.  We were soon airborne again, however, and as I tried to calm my stomach again, I played our plan out in my head.