Authors: Claude Bouchard
Surprised,
Scorpion hesitated a couple of seconds then responded, “Of course, I appreciate
any help you can provide and didn’t mean to insult you. As in the past, you’ll
be compensated for your assistance and any risk you put yourself in.”
“Very well,”
Nguyen replied. “I have not much time so you must listen carefully.”
“I understand,”
said Scorpion with forced calm. “What do you have for me?”
“We know where you
are,” Nguyen replied.
“And where is
that?” asked Scorpion, sensing a bluff.
“Cao’s vacation
home,” Nguyen said bluntly. “The North Americans tracked you and are planning a
raid tonight. As you might expect, General Quang insisted on being involved
since you are holding his family there. Luckily for you, he trusts me and asked
me to accompany him.”
“Jesus Christ,”
Scorpion swore. “How much do you know about this raid?”
“The North
Americans are working on their plans and will review them with us in the coming
hours,” Nguyen replied. “They are experts in this type of operation so Quang
agreed to let them handle the details. They have however already told us this
raid will take place late tonight, likely around midnight.”
“That gives me a
bit of time to figure some shit out,” said Scorpion, “But I’m going to have to
work out where the hell I’m going and how I’m going to get there.”
Nguyen chuckled
and said, “I believe I may have found a solution for you but it will cost you.”
“I’ll be happy to
pay what is required to get out of here discreetly and efficiently,” Scorpion
replied. “What is your proposed solution?”
“The
Sunrise
,
a container ship currently in port, will be sailing at dawn and heading to
Singapore,” Nguyen explained. “I have made enquiries on your behalf and
received confirmation that you would be welcome aboard. If you are interested,
appropriate documentation will be prepared to have you included on the crew list.”
“I’m impressed,
Lieutenant,” said Scorpion. “Could additional identification papers be
supplied? A couple of extra passports might prove useful and make my life
easier in the coming days.”
“All is available
for a price, my friend,” Nguyen assured him. “Tell me what you need and I will
do my best to have it arranged.”
The discussion
continued with Scorpion elaborating on the specifics of his requirements while
Nguyen listened and asked for clarification as needed. After several minutes,
they ended their conversation with the lieutenant promising to call back with
confirmations and related costs.
* * * *
“Any news from our
neighbours?” Sandy asked as Cathy, who kept in regular touch with Viet,
returned from the bathroom, aka, ‘communication central’.
“Nothing,” Cathy
replied, shaking her head. “Viet and her mother don’t know if they should be
elated or mortified.”
“Nothing the
guards said when they brought lunch?” Josée suggested.
“Nope,” Cathy
replied. “The guards brought food for the four of them and the ladies flushed
what the kids might have eaten down the toilet. Not a word when they returned
to pick up the dishes. If they know the kids are gone, they aren’t letting on
for a minute.”
“Let’s hope the
boys got away safely without these morons knowing,” said Sandy.
“And found someone
who contacted their grandfather as a bonus,” added Cathy, “Because I wouldn’t
mind us and our neighbours getting out of here too.”
“No worries,
girl,” Josée replied with a smile. “Dave, Chris and Jon will come to our
rescue. After we saved them last summer, they know they’ll never hear the end
of it if they don’t.”
* * * *
Vũng Tàu,
Vietnam, late afternoon
“Yes?” Scorpion
said simply as he answered the phone.
“A fishing boat
named
Horizon
will pick you up off the beach at the park two hundred
yards south of Cao’s property at ten o’clock tonight,” Nguyen replied. “The
skipper, who speaks English, will be watching out for you. You will need a
lighter or matches to signal him.”
“No problem,
smoking is still one of my vices,” said Scorpion. “Go on.”
“When you see the
boat, flick your lighter three times then walk into the water,” Nguyen
continued. “The skipper will approach and you will be able to climb in easily.
The water is shallow and the boat is small. You will be taken around to the
port on the other side of the peninsula to the
Sunrise
where you are
expected by Captain Nguyen – no relation, it is a common name.”
“What about
papers?” asked Scorpion.
“You will be
included on the crew list,” said Nguyen. “The captain will have all required
documents for you when you board the
Sunrise
, including two additional
passports. You will need to email me an appropriate photo as soon as possible.
A contact will be available in Singapore should you need anything else such as
driving permits or credit cards. Secure transportation from the port in
Singapore has also been arranged for you and a number of safe locations can be
made available as needed.”
“You’ve certainly
brightened my day, Lieutenant,” said Scorpion. “I believe you have everything
covered and I thank you for your efforts and the risks you’ve taken. All that
remains is to determine how much this will cost me and whom I must pay. I
should mention I’m not traveling with bundles of cash so I trust that won’t be
an issue.”
“All parties
involved have agreed, insisted in fact, to receive payment from me.” Nguyen
replied. “This will simplify matters for everyone, yourself included, as you
will simply have to arrange one wire transfer to my account, the details of
which you already have.”
“Excellent,”
Scorpion approved. “What amount should I be transferring?”
“Five hundred
thousand American dollars,” said Nguyen without hesitation.
“Half a million?”
Scorpion exclaimed, taken aback. “Isn’t that a little steep?”
“If you have a
more reasonable alternative,” Nguyen replied, “You are welcome to pursue it.
However, you will have to decide quickly. I have invested too much time in
trying to help you as it is.”
“I trust you
understand I don’t appreciate being taken advantage of, Lieutenant,” Scorpion
retorted.
“Neither do I,”
Nguyen shot back. “I am taking great risks to help you out of your predicament
and so are others. I trust this is something you
do
appreciate. Now, I
must get off this call to return to my official duties. What is your decision?”
“The money will be
in your account within an hour,” Scorpion replied, “And for that amount, this better
work to perfection.”
“Be on the beach
at ten o’clock tonight,” said Nguyen, “And everything will go exactly as
planned. I will be looking for that transfer.”
* * * *
Vũng Tàu,
Vietnam, 9:38 p.m.
“Thao,” Scorpion
called as he stepped out onto the terrace and into the warm, muggy evening.
Thao left the
patio table where he had been chatting with a couple of their men and sauntered
over. “What’s up?”
“Nothing, yet,”
Scorpion replied, “But I’m waiting for a call which might be our ticket out of
here.”
“That’s good,”
said Thao, “Because some of the guys are starting to get antsy with this whole
thing. We can’t stay here forever without attracting some attention at some
point.”
Scorpion stared at
him for a moment before responding. “I didn’t pay these schmucks to whine. I
paid them to do a job which turned out to include some pretty damned
comfortable R&R so I don’t want to hear about anyone getting antsy. I’ve
got a hell of a lot more to lose than all of them put together, understand?”
“I get it, boss,”
Thao replied. “Don’t get me wrong. I just don’t want none of us to get busted.
That’s all.”
Scorpion sighed.
“Listen, I get the guys are worried and I’m working on it. Like I said, I’m
waiting for a call. It’s looking real good but until things are confirmed, we
have to sit tight.”
“Anything I can
tell the others to calm them down?” asked Thao.
“Tell them this
should all be wrapped up by tomorrow,” Scorpion replied. “Now, if you’ll excuse
me, I’m going to take a walk on the beach to get rid of some stress of my own.”
“Uh, okay,” said
Thao. “You want someone to go with you?”
Scorpion shook his
head. “No, I’ll be fine. I’ve been cooped up inside since we got here so I want
to stretch my legs for a bit and get some air. You go tell the boys to relax.
I’m sure we’ll be out of here by tomorrow.”
* * * *
Vũng Tàu,
Vietnam, 9:51 p.m.
“Status, Leslie?”
Jonathan murmured into his mouthpiece.
“We’re over the
wall,” came her response from the north side of the property. “I’m behind the
garage and have a decent view of this side of the backyard. All clear so far.
Lights are on in one window toward the front but the curtains are closed.
That’s it. Chuck’s headed out front to have a look.”
“Nobody wandering
out front as far as I can see,” Chuck Whittaker reported. “I’m heading back to
Leslie to deal with the cars.”
“Good,” said
Jonathan. “Brian, what have you got?”
“Front yard looks
deserted on this side as well,” Brian Kelly replied from the same tree the boys
had used to get over the wall. “Nobody on this side of the house either. No
lights or signs of anyone in the windows anywhere.”
“Excellent,” said
Jonathan. “Move into position to cover the front door. Jerry?”
“Four sitting
around a table on the terrace,” Washington replied from atop the wall by the
backyard, shielded by some trees. “Two in the hot tub. No visible firearms
though they may have handguns.”
“Let’s do our best
to keep them from using them,” said Jonathan. “Get in position. Leslie and
Chuck, cover the terrace from the north side when you’re done with the cars.”
“Cars are done.
Eight flat tires and two cut gas lines,” Leslie announced. “We’re moving into
position now.”
“Hold off any
confrontation as long as you can,” said Jonathan. “I’d like to get the hostages
out safely before dealing with these guys.”
“Got it,”
Washington replied.
“Yes sir,” said
Leslie.
Jonathan turned to
the others who accompanied him in the park by the door in the outside wall.
“Okay, folks. We’re going in.”
* * * *
Vũng Tàu,
Vietnam, 9:57 p.m.
Scorpion sat on
the low retaining wall which delineated the park from the beach and kicked off
his Reeboks before proceeding to roll up his jeans. To his right, some fifty
yards away and slightly offshore, he could see the small fishing boat, an old
but sturdy wooden craft with a tiny cabin, rocking gently in the waves.
His task complete,
he picked up his shoes, tying the laces together and slinging them around his
neck then strolled off toward the
Horizon
, his ride to freedom. Once in
line with the boat, he stopped and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his
shirt pocket as he gazed out at the dark sea beyond. Extracting a cigarette
which he placed between his lips, he returned the pack to his pocket before
flicking his lighter three times, allowing a couple of seconds between each
flick and lighting the cigarette on the third.
Almost
immediately, a diesel engine rumbled to life and, as Scorpion began walking
toward the shoreline, a man exited the boat’s cabin and quickly hauled up the
anchor holding the boat in place. Seconds later, the man returned to the cabin,
the diesel’s rumble increased a touch and the small vessel glided forward,
directly toward Scorpion. A few seconds more and the boat scraped gently
against the sandy bottom as Scorpion climbed out of the calf-deep water and
over the gunwale. Without delay, the skipper reversed his craft, backing away
from the beach as he turned until the bow pointed southwest toward open sea.
“You may sit down
and relax,” the skipper called out in slightly accented English through the
glassless front window of the cabin. “We must move out to deeper waters before
going around to the port to avoid the reefs. There is cold beer in the cooler
if you are thirsty. Help yourself.”
“Thank you. I
think I will,” Scorpion replied, smiling at the husky Asian man.
He opened the
cooler and pulled out a bottle of
Green Saigon
. After twisting the top
off, he turned toward the receding shoreline, raised the bottle and said, “
Tạm
biệt
, Vietnam,” before settling down for the ride.
* * * *