Authors: Claude Bouchard
“Contact the
others and tell them to get their butts over here fast, and I mean today,”
Scorpion replied. “I’ll get on the Net and find whatever I can to substantiate
these damned raids. I need to know how bad the damage is over there. Also,
start thinking about local people we can trust because we’ll need some support
along the way to get out of this alive.”
“If it turns out
to be as big as it seems, do you think we
can
get out of this alive?”
asked Thao.
“I’ll figure
something out,” Scorpion replied. “In fact, I’ve already got some ideas to work
with. Now, get busy.”
* * * *
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon),
Vietnam, early afternoon
“That’s the place
there, on the corner,” said Jonathan, referring to a high-end watering hole
called
Cock-Tails
. “Want to go in for a beer and have a closer look?”
The eight North
American operatives had split into pairs and were spending the afternoon
visiting key locations Cao had been using for his drug business in Saigon.
“Might as well,”
Chris agreed with a shrug. “It’s not like we have anything constructive to do
to pass the time.”
“You’re still
annoyed with the raids?” Jonathan asked, somewhat rhetorically.
“It certainly
complicates what we’re trying to do,” Chris replied. “Unless he’s an idiot,
which I doubt, Scorpion is going to bolt and I’m sure the man has the financial
means to pay off the right officials here, regardless of what the General does,
not to mention get a new identity, background, even a new face, for that
matter.”
“I agree with
everything you’re saying,” said Jonathan, pausing at the entrance of the bar,
“But we will have a lot more people looking for him and Scorpion won’t be able
to pay everyone off. Quang even suggested monetary rewards might be offered to
anyone supplying information leading to Scorpion’s capture. He may end up being
delivered to us on a platter without much effort required on our part.”
“Let’s go have
that beer and drink to wishful thinking,” said Chris as he pulled the door
opened and moved into the welcomed air-conditioned interior.
* * * *
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon),
Vietnam, early afternoon
“Everybody is on
their way,” Thao announced as he rejoined Scorpion who was busy on the
computer. “Did you find anything?”
“Oh, yeah,”
Scorpion muttered, his eyes not leaving the screen, “And there are new posts
popping up every minute.”
“What happened?”
asked Thao. “How bad is it?”
“What happened is
the Feds probably got hold of Martinez. Fucker wasn’t on vacation, he was
spilling his guts in exchange for a deal,” Scorpion replied. “Russell and
Silver were arrested. So was the head of my main distributor in California.
Tons of stuff were seized and I mean that literally. They ripped us apart from
the top down. It’s bad.”
“Jesus,” said
Thao. “So, it’s over?”
“I wouldn’t say
it’s over,” Scorpion replied, “But they certainly screwed up my business. It’s
early still but so far I get the impression they didn’t do anything outside the
U.S. and Canada. I’ll have to check but I wouldn’t be surprised if my
production in other countries is still in place.”
“So what?” said
Thao. “You’ve got nowhere to send it now.”
“You think we’re
the only ones in this game?” Scorpion scoffed, growing annoyed. “I know people
who will move the stuff for me. They’ll take a cut but they’ll be happy to get
it out on the streets. There are still a bunch of distribution networks out
there. Just not mine, at least for now.”
The trilling of
Thao’s mobile interrupted their conversation.
“Yes, what is it?”
he answered then his eyes widened in surprise. “Wait. Let me put you on
speaker. Okay, repeat what you said.”
“Two of the men
who grabbed my brother and me on Saturday are here,” said Pham Tuan.
“They’re back to
see you?” asked Scorpion, obviously intrigued by this unexpected development.
“I don’t think
so,” Tuan replied. “They came in and sat down to have a beer.”
“Where are you?”
Scorpion demanded.
“
Cock-Tails
,”
said Tuan. “What do you want us to do?”
“Who else is there
with you?” asked Scorpion.
“Hung is here and
two other guys in the back,” said Tuan. “Do you want us to grab them?”
“These guys are
connected to the police and are looking for me,” Scorpion replied. “That might
be exactly what they want, to get kidnapped and taken to me while others
follow.”
“I don’t think
so,” Tuan replied. “They are here alone and the only other customers right now
are four regulars. We can take them easily and get them out through the back.
We are preparing deliveries and have a truck at our disposal.”
“You and your
brother have a look around outside,” said Scorpion, making a decision. “If you
don’t see any of the others from Saturday, take these two down, quietly, and
bring them somewhere safe. Once you’re sure you haven’t been followed, let me
know because I’ll want to meet them.”
* * * *
Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon),
Vietnam, early afternoon
As they chatted
quietly over a cold beer at their table along the wall, Chris absently noticed
the waiter go to the only other occupied table in the bar and address the four
men seated there. A moment later, the men rose and headed to the exit.
“We’ve got the
whole place to ourselves,” Jonathan, who was seated facing the door, commented
then added, “And that’s going to be a problem.”
Pham Hung had
entered as soon as the four customers had left and stood watching them as the
solidly built man with him locked the door.
“I believe you’re
right,” Chris murmured as he saw Tuan appear through a swinging door leading
from the rear accompanied by another young, fit man. “Are you up to this?”
“It’s not like we
have a choice,” Jonathan replied as he and Chris stood, turned toward the
approaching men and assumed the familiar military at-ease stance with their
hands behind their backs.
“Remain in your
seats,” Tuan barked as the four men approached from either side.
“Tuan, Hung, what
a pleasant surprise,” said Jonathan, both he and Chris remaining on their feet.
“I said sit down,”
Tuan snarled as he and the three others closed in, effectively caging their two
captives between them and the wall.
“We’d rather stand
if that’s alright with you,” Jonathan replied.
“Turn toward the
wall and raise your hands in the air,” Tuan demanded. “Otherwise, I promise you
will regret it.”
In response,
Jonathan and Chris swung their arms forward in unison, both adopting a
two-handed shooting stance as they trained identical Beretta 3032 Tomcats on
the Pham brothers chests.
“Two steps back,
everyone,” said Chris, “Hands on your head and turn your backs to us.”
“Who else is in
here?” Jonathan asked once the men had assumed the requested positions.
“Only the waiter,”
Tuan replied. “I told him to stay in the back until we were done with you.”
“Well, you’re done
with us now so we’ll ask him to join us,” said Jonathan before speaking to
Chris. “Are you okay with these guys while Tuan and I go check out the back?”
“I’ve got eight
bullets for three guys,” Chris replied. “I’m good.”
“Let’s go, my
friend,” said Jonathan, pushing Tuan toward the door leading to the rear of the
building. “Keep your hands on your head and walk slowly. If you try anything
stupid, I’ll kill you. If we find anyone else besides the waiter back there,
I’ll kill them and you. There’s nobody else, right?”
“Only the waiter,”
Tuan repeated as he approached the door.
“Okay, stop
there,” Jonathan ordered. “What’s his name?”
“Hien,” Tuan
replied as he came to a halt.
“Call him,” said
Jonathan. “Tell him to come here.”
“Hien,
đến
đây
,” Tuan called out loudly.
Only seconds
passed before the door swung open and the slim, young waiter entered the bar
area, looking nervous and frightened, his hands raised in the air.
“Do you speak
English?” Jonathan asked as he gestured the man forward.
Hien nodded. “Yes,
a little.”
“Is there anybody
else back there?” Jonathan asked.
“It is nobody,”
Hien replied, shaking his head. “It is me.”
“Go stand with the
others,” said Jonathan then looked at Chris. “I’ll have a quick look out back
with Tuan.”
They disappeared
through the doorway with Tuan leading the way and returned a minute or two
later.
“All clear,”
Jonathan announced.
“
Très bien
,”
Chris replied, reverting to French on the safe assumption their captives didn’t
understand the language. “We have enough of them to deal with as it is. Any
idea what to do with them?”
“As much as I’d
like to take the time to get these guys to talk to us, I think we’d be wiser to
get the hell out of here,” said Jonathan, also in French. “There could be
another dozen morons on their way right now.”
“I’m with you,”
Chris agreed, “But what about our friends here?”
“There’s a storage
room back there with a sturdy door and lock,” Jonathan replied. “I had a quick
look and a key is needed inside and out. Tuan was gracious enough to give it to
me when I asked for it. We’d better frisk these guys. Someone else might have a
key, not to mention phones and weapons.”
“No time for
that,” said Chris before addressing their prisoners. “Okay, gentlemen. We’re
going to lock you in in the storage room out back to make sure you don’t come
after us when we leave.”
The men
instinctively turned toward the door leading to the back when Chris added. “Not
so fast, guys. I want everyone to strip.”
“What do you mean
by strip?” asked Hung, his first words since the ordeal had begun.
“I mean take your
clothes off,” Chris replied. “Get moving.”
“I’m not taking my
clothes off,” Hung retorted.
Chris pointed his
pistol at Hung’s face and said, “I can blow your brains out if you prefer. It’s
up to you but you need to decide quickly because you’re wasting our time.”
Hung glared at
Chris but began to undress and the others did likewise, all stripping down to
their shorts and dropping the rest of their clothes into a pile.
“This is stupid,”
Hung muttered. “I hope you’re happy.”
“I’ll be happy
when you lose the shorts.” Chris replied. “Less chance of you running out for
help that way. Drop them, now.”
Grudgingly, the
five men removed their underpants then casually attempted to hide their
privates with their hands.
“Hands back on
your heads, gentlemen,” Jonathan barked and, once all had complied, added,
“Into the storage room. This party’s over.”
The men quickly
filed through the doorway and into the open storage room, anxious for their
visitors to leave and for their embarrassing predicament to end.
“Move to the back,
please,” said Chris once the last one had entered.
Following in
behind them, Chris smashed one then the other of the two bare bulbs affixed to
the low ceiling to illuminate the enclosed space.
“There,” he said
with a smile. “Now none of you have to worry about the others checking out your
bodies and stuff.”
“Thanks for your
hospitality,” Jonathan added before slamming the door shut and locking it.
After taking
another minute or so to collect their prisoners’ mobile phones and stuffing
their clothing into a garbage bag, they left through a back door which opened
onto an alley. Hurrying down the alley to distance themselves from the bar,
they paused briefly along the way to toss the garbage bag into a trash
container and soon emerged onto a further street, once again, two harmless
tourists wandering the bustling city of Saigon.
Dao Tieng Lake,
Vietnam, late morning
The morning had
gone well to date with Lieutenant Nguyen proving to be an excellent and
knowledgeable tour guide. The little over two hours it had taken to drive from
Saigon to Tay Ninh had quickly gone by as Nguyen entertained the ladies with
anecdotes and brought various points of interest to their attention.
Arriving in Tay
Ninh a little after ten o’clock, they had spent over an hour at the garishly
colourful Cao Dai Temple, snapping hundreds of photos while Nguyen recounted
the history of the rather recent religion known as Caodaism.
By mutual accord,
they had decided to skip the noon service which would no doubt be crowded as
more and more tour buses arrived at the temple. Instead, they would head on
toward the Cu Chi Tunnels, taking a slight detour to drive along the shores of
Dao Tieng Lake.
“It’s beautiful
here,” said Sandy, taking in the view of the lake.
“Absolutely
marvelous,” Cathy agreed.
“We will soon stop
so you can take photos,” Nguyen suggested. “We are close to a spot where the
road crosses over the water. From there, you can take nice photos of the water
with Black Virgin Mountain in the background.”
He pulled over a
moment later, off the road and down a gentle slope, following dirt tracks in
the grassy surface made by countless vehicles which had done likewise in the
past. The slope leveled off to a flat area large enough to allow several cars
to park at a time. Hiking paths branched out in different directions through
surrounding woods and toward the water below. Though the road was not far above
them, the lower elevation made traffic invisible and reduced its sound to a
distant hum.
“This is
gorgeous,” Josée exclaimed as they got out of the car, gazing about in awe.
“It’s so peaceful.”
“I could live
here,” said Sandy, taking in the natural beauty which surrounded them.
“That is the image
I was speaking of,” said Nguyen, pointing over the water to the mountain in the
distance. “I have been here many times and have taken that photo over and
over.”
The sound of
approaching engines got their attention and they turned to see a car approaching
followed by a box truck. Both vehicles reached the bottom of the incline and
rolled to a stop, parking nearby. Their engines went silent and the doors
opened, releasing four men from the car and two from the truck, all Vietnamese
in their late twenties to early thirties.
“
Xin chào
,”
said the car’s driver as he strolled by with his three friends, moving past
Nguyen and the ladies toward the water.
“
Xin chào
,”
Nguyen repeated with a nod and a smile.
“It’s a beautiful
day,” the car’s driver said in flawless English, he and his companions stopping
and turning toward Nguyen and the women.
“It is indeed,”
Sandy replied. “Your English is excellent.”
“Yeah, it’ll make
our understanding each other so much easier,” said a voice from behind.
Sandy and the others
turned to find the two men from the box truck standing some ten feet away,
aiming shotguns at them.
“What is the
meaning of this?” Nguyen demanded, stepping forward.
“Stay where you
are, Lieutenant, and raise your hands in the air. I’ll ask you ladies to do the
same,” the truck driver ordered then spoke to his four accomplices behind their
captives. “One of you check if the lieutenant is armed. I’m guessing he is
since he’s officially on duty.”
“My gun is in the
car,” Nguyen snarled. “Otherwise some of you would already be dead.”
Ignoring the
officer’s words, one of the men frisked him and announced, “Nothing on him.”
“Good,” said the
truck driver and obvious leader. “Lieutenant, we won’t be needing you anymore
so I’ll ask you to get in the trunk of your car.”
“You will regret
this,” Nguyen hissed as one man escorted him to the car trunk which another had
already popped open to search for weapons.
“Ladies, I’m sorry
but we have to make sure you aren’t armed as well,” said the leader once Nguyen
was safely out of the way. “I promise my associates will do so respectfully.”
Three of the men
approached and thirty seconds later, the pat-downs were over, having revealed
nothing remotely close to weapons.
“Do you have
phones?” the leader asked.
“In our bags,”
Sandy replied dryly, “In the car.”
“We’ll get your
bags and give them back to you later,” the leader explained. “Please get in the
back of the truck.”
“I don’t think
so,” Cathy replied. “We’re not going anywhere.”
“We don’t want to
hurt you but we will if we have to,” said the leader. “You can come along as
is, unharmed and unbound or we can knock you out, tie you up and throw you in
the back. Why not make it easier for all of us.”
“He’s got a
point,” said Sandy before turning to the man. “I’m simply warning you that
you’re signing your death warrant by taking us and you can tell Scorpion I said
so.”
The man nodded,
looking pensive then responded. “We’re looking at it more as life insurance.
Either way, it’s time to get into the truck because we have a ways to go to get
to our destination.”
* * * *
Mui Ne, Vietnam, late
morning
When General
Quang’s daughter, Viet, had learned she was pregnant with her first child
almost eight years earlier, she had broken the joyful news to them by calling
her mother
Bà
, or Grandmother. The name had stuck from that day forward
with even her husband rarely addressing her by anything else.
Though
Bà
was enjoying her time at the beach with her daughter and grandsons, she
certainly wished the circumstances which had led them there were different. She
was deeply worried for her husband’s safety and, to make matters worse, he had
insisted they avoid contact barring an extreme emergency, not wanting to give
Scorpion the slightest opportunity of finding out where they were. She only hoped
the man would be apprehended quickly as they could not spend the rest of their
lives hiding or on the run.
“
Bà
, I’m
hungry,” Xuan, her older grandson, announced as he ran across the sand to her,
interrupting her thoughts. “When are we eating?”
“How can you be
hungry after the breakfast you ate?” his mother teased from where she lay,
sunning on a lounge chair.
“I’m a growing
boy,” Xuan replied. “Don’t you want me to be healthy and strong?”
“Of course we do,”
said
Bà
, winking at her daughter. “I will go make you a big salad with
plenty of vegetables.”
“A salad?” Xuan
exclaimed in disgust. “You said you would make your magic burgers.”
Bà
laughed and
replied, “In that case, I’ll make my magic burgers.”
They gathered
their belongings, including Van,
Bà
’s younger grandson, and strolled the
short distance along the beach to the house which Quang had rented for their
forced vacation. Climbing the handful of steps to the terrace, they entered
through the patio doors which led to the kitchen.
“I can make lunch
if you like,
Bà
,” Viet offered. “You don’t have to do all the cooking.”
“Nonsense,”
Bà
replied. “You can’t make my magic burgers. Go get Van cleaned up instead.
There’s more sand on him than on the beach. Xuan can help me since he insisted
on having burgers.”
“Okay,” her
daughter agreed, turning to her younger son. “Come on, little monkey. Let’s go
rinse you off.”
“Oooh, oooh, oooh,
oooh!” Van screeched in his best monkey imitation as he followed his mother out
of the kitchen.
“What do you want
me to do to help?” asked Xuan.
“Your job is an
important one,”
Bà
replied. “You must sit here at the counter and watch
carefully to see how I make my magic burgers. Then you will be able to make
them yourself when you are older.”
“Okay,” Xuan
agreed, hopping onto a stool across from her.
Bà
got busy chopping
green onion, garlic and hot chilies, working hard to suppress a smile as Xuan
observed her every move with great intensity. Adding these and her special
seasoning to some ground beef she started blending the ingredients by hand.
“It’s important to
really get your hands in there to mix everything well,” she said to her
grandson then noted his gaze had strayed to something behind her. “Xuan, you
must pay attention.”
“I’m sorry,
Bà
,”
he replied, his eyes still fixed on some point beyond. “I am wondering who that
man is?”
Bà
whipped her head
around to find a man standing a few steps away, silently watching them and
smiling.
“Who are you?” she
demanded. “How did you get in here?”
The man laughed
and said, “The door was wide open. It wasn’t too difficult to walk in here.”
“Well, walking out
will be just as easy,”
Bà
replied in anger and fear. “Get out of here
immediately.”
“I’m sorry, Mrs.
Quang,” he replied as two other men entered behind him, the second sliding the
door closed and locking it. “I will be leaving but you and your family are
coming with us.”
“Y-you’re
Scorpion,” she gasped.
“At your service,”
he replied. “I wish we could have met under better circumstances.”
In a sudden move,
Bà
grabbed the meat-filled bowl at her side and flung it at Scorpion then reached
for the chopping knife which lay on the counter. Scorpion easily sidestepped,
the stoneware bowl shattering and its contents scattering across the floor as
the two other men withdrew handguns and moved forward.
“Put the knife
down, Mrs. Quang,” Scorpion calmly ordered. “You’ve already ruined lunch, let’s
not do anything to make this mess any bigger.”
In resignation,
Bà
returned the knife to the counter then sidled around to her grandson whom she
embraced in a protective hug.
“I will go with
you if I must,” she said. “But please, leave my grandson so he is here when my
daughter returns.”
Scorpion chuckled
and replied, “I can’t blame you for trying,
Bà
. Your daughter is here
somewhere with the younger kid. Two of my men are gone to get them.”
As if in response,
Viet entered the kitchen escorted by two other men, with Van gripped tightly in
her arms.
“
Bà
, are
you okay?” she asked with concern.
“I’m fine,”
Bà
replied “My brave Xuan was here to protect me.”
Viet glared at
Scorpion. “What is the meaning of this? What do you want with us?”
“I believe your
father and others are after me,” Scorpion replied, “And not for reasons I
approve of so, I may need you for negotiation purposes.”
“My father is the
head of police in Vietnam,” Viet retorted, “And you are a criminal. He is only
doing his job.”
Scorpion smiled
then replied, “I have paid your father well to leave me alone and he has
reneged on our agreement. He has forced me to take such extreme measures.”
“That is where you
are wrong,” said
Bà
, stepping away from her grandson and reaching under
the loose cotton top she wore.
“What are you
doing?” Scorpion demanded while a couple of his men raised their guns in
uncertainty.
“Be quiet and you
will see,”
Bà
snapped back. “Have your men shoot me if you fear an old
woman.”
She worked
something beneath her top for a few seconds then a small snapping click was
heard and she pulled a compact, nylon waist pack which had been strapped across
her stomach with a light, elastic band. Unzipping the pack open, she pulled out
a thick, sealed white letter-sized envelope which she threw at Scorpion.
“That is the
twenty thousand American dollars you had left at the post office,” said
Bà
.
“My husband left it with me for safekeeping because he doesn’t want your dirty
money. Now, take it back and get out of here because my husband owes you
nothing.”
“No problem,
Bà
,
I’ll take it back,” Scorpion replied, “But that changes nothing to my plans. I
may need you to get some issues settled to my satisfaction and, until I’m sure
your presence is no longer required, you’re all going to have to be my guests.”
“You’re an animal
to use women and children,”
Bà
hissed in rage. “I rarely wish harm to
others but I hope you suffer greatly in the future.”
Scorpion offered
another smile but there was no humour in his expression. “I get it. Now, shut
up and go sit, all of you, in the living room. Our transportation will arrive
shortly.”