Redemption (39 page)

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When Ed woke up, he was bound tightly to a wooden chair. His jaw was throbbing, but not broken. He gathered his thoughts for a few seconds and tried to remember what had happened. The van, the hooded man, his loss of consciousness. He looked around. There were eight hooded figures staring at him in what appeared to be an abandoned warehouse. There were no windows that could tell him where they were or what time of day it was. How long had he been out? How many hours, or days, even? He tried to struggle against the restraints, but he couldn’t move. He was trapped.

“Where am I!? What did you do to me!? Let me go, you don’t know who you’re dealing with!” yelled Ed.

“Oh, I believe we know more than you think,” said a familiar voice.

Three people removed their hoods to reveal three familiar faces.

“Rick? Arthur? What the…
Léa
!?”

“Hello, Ed,” said Namara. “I hope my friend wasn’t too hard on you, but we can’t take chances, understand? If you had decided to draw your gun, we would have killed you and we didn’t want that.”

“Rick… shit… you tell me what happened!”

“There’s no Rick, there never was.”

“You, you piece of shit! You think you tricked me!?”

“I do. I was surprised how easy it was to do.”

“What do you want? Money? You won’t get any! You’re all gonna die, I’ll make sure of it!”

“I don’t think you understand, Ed. Your money doesn’t interest us. Don’t worry… you deserve an explanation, so we’ll explain. We’re not barbarians,” he said with a smile.

“Who are you?”

“There’s no name to describe us, you know. What
does
matter is what we do.”

“Fine, then what do you do?” sneered Eduardo, and spat at their feet.

“We track people of your type, my friend!”

“I see. And what type am I?”

“The type who kills hundreds of people over years and who’s gotten away with it.”

“You mean this is all because of the girls?”

“Yes. We were hired to find you, Ed, which we have done.”

“What are you? A cop?”

Namara laughed at him.

“I fear we’ve deceived you. No, we’re not the police. Were that the case, my work would be done. How do I put this… you could define us as cleaners. We’re getting to the source of the mess. We are those that eliminate garbage like you that believe they’re above everything. We eliminate mistakes like you! There, that’s my work: putting the spokes in the wheels. I hope you didn’t think you’d get away with it.”

“Go fuck yourself! You don’t know what you’re dealing with.”

“Very well. I’m going to ask you some questions and you’re going to respond. If you lie to me or don't answer, I hurt you. Do we understand each other?” asked Namara serenely.

“Go fuck yourself!”

“If you like. Go on, James.”

Guerra pulled out a dagger and opened a gash on Ed’s forearm. Ed cried out and the blood flowed. Guerra took a pinch of salt and rubbed it into the cut. He screamed again, louder.

“That’ll happen every time you don’t cooperate,” said Namara.

“You’re dead, you bastards!” cried Ed.

“I see… James?”

Guerra repeated the action. Ed screamed. His face dripped with sweat. He was panting. 

“What do you want to know?” yelled Ed.

“That’s better. The girls you sent to Father Gregor… I want to know how it works!”

“Gregor is the sale point in the States. He provides to rich guys there... he keeps them in Sauvalito. When there’s an order, he sends me an email. We find the girl and take her there through the tunnel. He pays us between five and ten thousand dollars... depending on her age and looks. He’s a Neo-Nazis... that whole fucking village is Neo-Nazis. It’s a front to hide the girls and move them over the border... that’s all I know!”

“Good. That matches up with what we knew. And the children?”

“Go fuck yourself!”

“James,” retorted Namara.

Guerra made another salty wound, and Ed cried louder.

“BRAKAN!” he finally spat.

“What?”

“We send the kids to a guy named Brakan!”

“Where?”

“Guardjana, by the Pacific Ocean.”

“Tell me more. How does it work!?”

“When we have a kid we call him... he sets up a meeting to exchange it, different spot each time. I don’t know what he looks like... he sends his men. We don’t know where he keeps them, either. He pays us twenty-thou per.”

“What does he do with them?”

“I don’t know, really! I heard of a paedophile network, or sacrifices to the Devil, maybe. All I know is he pays good!”

“How do we contact him?”

“I… don’t know! He contacts
me
.”

Namara nodded to Guerra. The next cut was dangerously deep. Ed wailed and perspired.

“I call him by cell!”

“Go on.”

“I send him a page. A few seconds later one of his men calls me. They ask a password... and then... I tell him I have a package. He fixes a meeting and we go and trade the kid for the money.”

“Is that all?”

“Yeah!”

“What's the password? ”

“664097.”

“Ok, you call him by cell?” asked Namara, pointing to the telephone he had at his waist.

“Yes…”

“So here’s what you’re going to do. You’re going to call him and tell him you have a kid for him. What’s the number?” asked Namara, opening the phone.

“Press ‘B’ and dial my phone number. He’ll call back.”

Namara did as he was told and shut the phone. Several seconds later, it rang in his hand.

“It’s them,” said Ed.

“Yeah… remember... you lie, I hurt you.”

Namara answered and held it to Ed’s ear.

“Hey, it’s Ed... yes... 664097... I have a package, interested? … yeah. Two days, two a.m. Diaz and route 22.”

Namara hung up. Ed started to laugh like a man possessed.

“What’s funny?” asked Namara.

“You are, you idiot! You don’t know what you’re dealing with. Brakan is the Devil himself! You think you can take him so easily? He’s going to take care of you. I hope he puts you through worse than hell,” said Ed, continuing to laugh.

“We’ll see,” said Namara. “And now for you. Where do you keep the girls?”

“You’re not getting anything else. I don’t give two shits about the other, but you’ll never know anything about my brothers! You’ll have to kill me!”

James kept cutting, and Ed kept screaming. When it became clear that Ed wasn’t going to say anything, they abandoned the technique. If he wouldn’t sell out his group, they were done with him.

“All right, Ed. I guess we’re done here,” said Namara.

Ed laughed again. He glared at Namara with insane eyes. Foam built up around his mouth. His laughter became crazier and crazier.

“You think you’re strong, but you’re nothing against us. Belial protects us! You can wipe out his servants but you’ll never stop him!” he cried. “Look at all we’ve done already. We’ve won! You can do nothing against us! You coward, let me go and we’ll see who’s the mightiest. Go on! Untie me,” he said quietly, with a smile on his face. There was nothing human about him.

“I would never kill a restrained man. We’re not like you. That would make us cowards. Very well, I’ll let you go and give you a chance to get out. If you beat me, I assure you, you will be free to go. Everyone, witness: you are a free man if you beat me.”

“Let me go, you bastard, I'll show you what a former Bezbet soldier can do. I’ll crush you like an ant!”

“No problem. With all your protection, you’ll kill me easily.”

James released Ed’s bonds. The latter stood and stared Namara down, preparing to attack.

“Go on, Ed, show me you’re a man! Get over here,” said Namara with a smile.

“Hold on, Namara – let me at him,” said Guerra.

“Yours if you want him, James.”

Namara stepped back and Guerra took his place in front of Ed.

“Even better… let’s see what you got without a knife.” retorted Ed.

“Let’s go!” shouted Guerra.

Ed bounded toward Guerra with a punch. Guerra blocked it and got his arm around his neck, like a snake around a tree trunk. With a jerk, Ed’s neck snapped. The mad eyes of Ed went dull. Guerra let the body hit the floor. It was over for him.

“Tell Belial I said ‘hi’,” said Guerra to the sprawled body.

CHAPTER 63

Ming Mei and Shinsaku moved through the sleeping streets of Sauvalito like errant spirits, invisible in their black suits and hoods. They were placing explosive charges on each house and building in the village. Every charge was equipped with a remote detonator. Methodically, they used the shadows like invisibility cloaks. In time, the village was ready, and the two signalled Kamilia to proceed.

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Kamilia, dressed in a long red cotton dressed, strode through the front doors of the church and slid into the aisle. She has completely changed her appearance. She was no longer a streetwalker but the worldly sophisticate. Her long dark hair was tied back and her tattooed arms contrasted sharply with her bohemian dress. Her lips were red and enticing. Inside, Father Gregor lit the candles at the altar. He didn’t hear or see her entrance. The church was otherwise empty, which was perfect for Kamilia. She stayed behind the doors and observed without saying a word. Finally, he turned and looked at her over with surprise.

“Good evening. I didn’t hear you enter. I’m sorry, but the church is closed.”

Kamilia stared at him mutely.

“Who are you?” he demanded worriedly.

“It’s me, Father Gregor,” she said, beginning to glide down the aisle.

The light passed over her face and he recognized her with a start.

“Kim, is that you!?”

Kamilia smiled and continued her advance. “If you like.”

“You’ve changed!”

“Father, I confess to a lie. My name is not Kim. It’s Kamilia.”
“I don’t understand…”

“To be honest, Father, I’m rather interested in your little business.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m going to have to ask you to leave.”

Kamilia smiled again and ignored him.

“All right. The truth, Father. I was sent here to see how you handle the girls. I’m afraid your reign has ended.”

Gregor, who had clearly realized she was wise to the network, changed his posture. If he didn’t get rid of her quickly, everything could come crumbling down.

“I see,” he said, laughing. “And what are you going to do? You realize that this is my house? It can be very dangerous for a pretty girl like you to threaten me like this…”

“Father, I’m going to ask you a few questions. If you do not answer, there will be consequences.”

Gregor began to laugh and stepped forward to meet her. He seized the crucifix at his waist and pulled on the crosspiece, which parted from the lower arm to reveal the dagger blade concealed within. Kamilia lifted her dress to her thigh and slid her own dagger out of her black garter.

“Very well, Father, whatever you want!”

Gregor lunged for her, but she dodged it. She seized his arm and with her knife, sliced the nerves to his forearm. He cried out and his knife clattered on the aisle, along with a jet of blood. Then, she opened a gash above his eyebrows from one side to the other, sending a sheet of blood into his eyes. Blinded by his own blood, he fell to his knees, twitching in pain.

“Have mercy! I’ll tell you everything,” he begged.

Kamilia, who had him controlled in an armlock, remained icy.

  “We know you’re a Supremacist, and that you sell women. What we still need is the names of your buyers, and where to find them.”

“I… the names are in my address book.”

“Where is it?”

Gregor began to laugh through the blood. Kamilia grabbed his hand and shattered his metacarpals, making him cry out in pain.

“ARGGG! In the drawer in my office! It’s a black binder… it’s all there!”

“Who’s behind this!?”

“I can’t tell you! They’ll kill me if I talk!”

Kamilia grabbed his other hand, ready to shatter it too.

“Ok! Senator Brian Murdoch! That’s where most of the girls go! Now you know. Let me go! Mercy!”

Kamilia raised her eyes and regarded the immense crucifix above the altar.

“May God pity you – I cannot.”

Kamilia cut his throat. A spray of blood spattered over the tapers, extinguishing several. She sighed as she glanced at the blood all around her. Gathering her skirt so her hem wouldn’t get dirty, she climbed the altar steps and crossed to the rectory. She dealt with Varna, found the binder and signalled the rest of the group.

CHAPTER 64

Ming Mei received Kamilia’s message over the radio. She raised her remote control and pressed the button firmly. One after the other, every building exploded in an orange plume. Pieces of wood and debris blew into the sky in all directions. Blasts like thunder rocked the ground. Whatever hadn’t been blown burned to ash in the fires. Whatever inhabitants had managed to escape fell under Guerra’s obedient harem. Powerful shots rang out steadily. Guerra doled out his punishment as he protected his team in the centre of the chaos. He manoeuvred with surgical precision, ending the luck of the escapees. The explosions were the signal to the others to charge the ranch. Namara, Taz, Twinkie, Mike and Gonzo stepped out of the timber to begin their assault. In a line, they ran at full speed in the direction of the barn. Gonzo, setting the pace, drew nearing and nearer through the inferno and the explosions. The group, completely out in the open, moved in complete cohesion. Gonzo caught sight of two men armed with shotguns several hundred metres ahead. The latter had noticed the hooded men running at full tilt. Gonzo caught them trying to hide behind a wall and reacted immediately:

“Gun!!!” he cried, signalling the potential for resistance.

Gonzo fired four times with his M16 without dropping his speed. The four projectiles hit their targets, killing them immediately. After having cleared the way, he heard a spray of fire from an MP5 submachine gun behind him. Namara had peppered the body of another armed man that was coming at them from the side. The guy was dead before he’d had a chance to fire a shot. They scaled the barrier around the ranch. The last over was Twinkie who heard Mike’s M16 take down another from twenty meters away. When they were sure of a clear way, they set off in the direction of the huge barn ranch in front of them. Behind them, the village continued to burn and explode while they crushed the sand under their boots, submachines in hand. The closer they came, the clearer it was that the two wooden doors were barricaded with a giant chain and padlock.