After that the night was a frenetic blur of drinking and dancing. Mick got to meet the publican, who liked him and kept giving him doubles. He also got to meet some of the locals, who liked him and kept shouting him drinks. Before long Mick was everybody’s mate and Jesse could see what was in store, so she switched to soda waters leaving Mick inhaling Jack Daniels. By ten-thirty, Jesse had freshened up while Mick was a sweat-soaked, happy drunk getting worse by the minute. Around eleven, Mick was propped next to Jesse between the poker machines and the back door. The rich, creamy sauce on the fish he’d eaten earlier was starting to repeat itself and Mick was in desperate need of fresh air.
‘Oz,’ slurred Mick. ‘Do you mind…if we go outside for a while, mate? My head’s starting to spin.’
‘Starting to spin?’ replied Jesse. ‘It’s a wonder it hasn’t wound itself off, you drunken pig. You’ve had about a bucket of bourbon.’ She put her arm inside Mick’s. ‘Come on, Robbie Williams. Let’s sit in the car park. And if you’re going to be sick, aim for the bushes.’
‘I won’t be sick, Oz. I promise.’
‘No. Of course not.’ Jesse led Mick outside. There was no one around and they found a seat behind the bushes, away from the door. ‘Sit here. Where no one can see you,’ she told him.
‘Yes, Oz,’ belched Mick.
The movie finished at eleven. Officer Ryman locked her door at the Waverley and knocked on Officer Cozens.’ He was waiting for her and they got straight into the car.
‘That’s the third time I’ve seen that film,’ said Officer Cozens as he kicked the motor over, ‘and it’s still a hoot.’
‘I know,’ replied Officer Ryman. ‘Especially when that old farmer blasts Woody Harrelson with a shotgun.’
Officer Cozens steered the ASIO Commodore right at the roundabout and they chuckled about the movie till he nosed the car into the hotel car park.
‘I’ll park just down from that doorway, facing the exit,’ he said, ‘in case we have to leave in a hurry.’
‘Okay,’ replied Officer Ryman.
Officer Cozens backed the car up, leaving plenty of space between two dusty utilities on either side. ‘Shit! Listen to that band. Sounds like the place is going off.’
Coincidentally, the NSA agents had watched the same movie as the ASIO officers and enjoyed it just as much, but for different reasons. Instead of its humorous content, to them the film held a strong touch of realism. Now they were in Agent Moharic’s room and the Jeep Cherokee was packed and ready for a quick departure once they’d murdered Mick and Jesse. They were about to leave when Agent Moharic’s cellphone rang.
‘Hello. Yes, sir.’ He cupped his hand over the mouthpiece and turned to the other agents. ‘It’s Sierota. Yes, sir.’ Agent Moharic nodded several times and listened intently while the other agents stood patiently by the table. ‘Okay. That’s an affirmative. Yes, sir,’ he finally said, and pressed stop.
‘What was that all about?’ asked Agent Niland.
‘Zimmer wanted me to run the plan by him again. And make sure everything was kosher. He also said to bypass the safe house and drive straight to Williamtown. Go straight in the gate.’
‘That’s a much better idea,’ nodded Agent Coleborne.
‘I’m with Orrin on that,’ said Agent Niland.
Agent Moharic checked his watch. ‘Okay guys. Let’s go.’
Agent Moharic locked the door then dropped their keys in the night box and they all got into the Cherokee. Agent Coleborne sat in the front next to Agent Moharic. Agent Niland sat alert in the back.
Jesse took absolutely no notice of the white Commodore or the two people inside as it reversed back against the bushes and the headlights went off. She was too busy watching Mick and making sure nothing splashed on her jeans. However, after several deep breaths of fresh air and time out from the heat and smoke, Mick started to come good.
‘See, Oz,’ he said. ‘I told you I wasn’t going to be sick.’
‘I knew that, dear,’ replied Jesse.
‘It was just that fish I ate was a bit rich. That’s all. I’ll be as good as gold in a couple of minutes.’
‘Of course you will, darling. You’re a Newcastle boy. You’ve got a backbone of steel.’
‘My oath I have.’ Mick nodded emphatically. ‘Except when I’m on a dancefloor with you, cuddle pumpkin. Then it turns to jelly.’
‘Oh my God!’ said Jesse. ‘Now I want to be sick.’
Seated in the front of the Commodore, Officer Ryman adjusted the Glock in her shoulder holster and zipped her cotton jacket up. Officer Cozens took the keys from the ignition and did the same. The scanner was sitting on Kerrie’s lap. She switched it on and turned to Officer Cozens.
‘I’ll just make sure the Mormons are all tucked in snug and warm before we go inside,’ she said.
‘Yeah. We’ll come out later and have another look,’ replied Officer Cozens. ‘But I’d say they’re in for the night.’
Kerrie switched the scanner on and gave a double-blink. ‘Shit! You’re not going to believe this, Craig. They’re moving.’
‘They are?’ Craig stared at the scanner. ‘Which way?’
‘This way.’ With Craig watching, Kerrie followed the arrow. ‘They’re coming down Kelly Street. They’re still coming. Now they’re slowing down. Slowing down some more. Now they’re in
front of us.’ Wide-eyed, Officer Ryman turned to her partner. ‘Craig. They’re entering the car park.’
‘What?’ Officer Cozens stared through the windscreen at the headlights coming in the entrance. ‘I don’t believe it.’
Agent Moharic was all business as he swung the big black 4WD into the car park. He stopped and turned the wheel to reverse in near the entrance, when Agent Coleborne tapped him on the shoulder.
‘Floyd. Look over there. Between those two pick-ups. That’s their car. I can read the number plate.’
Agent Moharic had a look. ‘Shit! You’re right, Orrin. It is. Goddamn! I knew they’d be here.’
Agent Niland leant over the front seat and peered through the powerful beams of the headlights. ‘Better than that, guys! They’re both sitting in the front.’
‘What?’ said Agent Moharic.
‘Sonofabitch!’ said Agent Coleborne. ‘Steve’s right. They’re sitting in the front seat.’
‘And there’s no one around either.’ Agent Niland gave Agent Moharic a thump on the shoulder. ‘We’ve hit the freakin’ jackpot, Floyd. You’re a genius.’
Agent Moharic stared at the shadowy figures in the white Commodore and felt a sudden surge of adrenalin in his stomach. ‘Okay. Settle down, guys. I’ll still park the car as planned. Then we’ll walk over, slow and careful like, and do them.’
Agent Coleborne grinned at the two other agents. ‘Who’d have thought it’d be this easy?’
Agent Moharic cut the engine and turned off the lights. ‘Okay, guys. Take out your weapons. Let’s go.’
The two ASIO agents were staring through the windscreen at the Jeep Cherokee when the casually dressed NSA agents got out and advanced towards them. Officer Cozens leant forward over the steering wheel not sure if he was seeing things.
‘Kerrie,’ said Officer Cozens urgently. ‘I think they’re all armed.’
‘I just bloody noticed, Craig,’ replied Officer Ryman. ‘What the hell are they doing?’
‘I don’t know,’ answered Craig. ‘But something’s not right. Get out of the car. Quick.’
The two ASIO officers exited their vehicle, unholstered their Glocks, and took up a defensive position behind the two open front doors. The three NSA agents were a little surprised at this.
But not noticing the ASIO officers’ weapons, it didn’t worry them. Suddenly Agent Coleborne heard a noise and, turning to his right, spotted Mick and Jesse seated behind the bushes.
‘Hey, Floyd,’ he whispered earnestly. ‘There’s someone there.’
‘Where?’ replied Agent Moharic.
‘Over there,’ said Agent Coleborne. ‘Behind those bushes. Jesus! It’s them. It’s Vincent and his girl.’
‘Vincent?’ quizzed Agent Moharic. ‘It can’t be. They’re sitting in that car over there.’
‘Floyd. I got A1 night vision,’ Agent Coleborne assured Agent Moharic. ‘I’m telling you it’s them.’
But it was too late. Agent Niland was in a hurry to get the job done and flashed a sinister smile at Officer Cozens from barely metres away.
‘Nothing personal, Vincent,’ he said. ‘It’s just the way it has to be. Mate.’
Agent Niland cupped his .45 and fired two quick shots at Officer Cozens, shattering his window. Officer Cozens snatched a quick, angry glance at Officer Ryman as the heavy calibre bullets showered him with glass and thumped into the utility behind him.
‘Kerrie,’ he shouted. ‘These dills are off their heads. Return fire.’
Officer Cozens fired three quick shots at Agent Niland. The first one smashed the agent’s collarbone and tore through his shoulder. The other two hit him in the chest. His eyes bulging with disbelief, Agent Niland gasped, then dropped his weapon and collapsed to his knees. A second later, he slumped face forward, dead in the car park. From out the side of her door, Officer Ryman fired two shots hitting Agent Coleborne in the right side of his body and smashing the agent’s ribs.
‘Jesus Christ, Floyd!’ howled Agent Coleborne, clutching his shattered, bloody side. ‘I’m hit. So’s Steve. What’s…?’
Agent Moharic was as worried and confused as his partner. This was the last thing they’d expected to happen. He was about to yell something at Agent Coleborne when another bullet from Officer Ryman ripped through one side of his throat and a bullet from Officer Cozens hit him in the leg.
‘Shit! Something’s wrong,’ yelled Agent Moharic as blood began running over his jacket and down his leg. He fired two wild shots at the Commodore then turned to Agent Coleborne. ‘Help me with Steve. And let’s get the hell out of here.’
Agent Coleborne could feel the warm sticky blood oozing through his fingers. ‘Ohh Jesus!’ he moaned. ‘My ribs.’
With more bullets from the ASIO officers zipping past them, the two NSA agents grabbed Agent Niland by the arms and dragged him back to the Cherokee. Agent Moharic opened the back door and they bundled him inside. Agent Coleborne gave the door a quick push and they both climbed painfully in the front.
With the keys still in the ignition, Agent Moharic swiftly started the engine, but clumsily gunned the big car too far out from the wall. He shoved the gear lever into reverse and as he swung the Jeep round, the back door flew open and a briefcase fell out, scattering its contents across the car park. Grunting with pain, Agent Coleborne reached over and slammed the door shut as Agent Moharic shoved the Cherokee into drive. Fighting back dizziness, Agent Moharic sucked as much air as he could down his ripped throat, then hit the accelerator and roared out of the car park towards Muswellbrook.
Once the Cherokee was gone and the smoke had cleared, the two ASIO officers stood up behind the doors of the Commodore, lowered their weapons and turned to each other, wide-eyed.
‘What the bloody hell was that all about?’ said Officer Cozens.
Officer Ryman shook her head. ‘I’m buggered if I know, Craig. I know one thing though, we’ve got to keep this quiet.’
‘You can say that again.’ While the band thumped on inside, Officer Cozens quickly ran his gaze round the car park, not noticing Mick and Jesse crouched behind the bushes. ‘We’re lucky,’ he said. ‘There’s no one around. And no one’s heard anything either.’ He turned to Officer Ryman. ‘You were right earlier, too, Kerrie. They were onto us.’
‘Yes. But why would they want to kill us like that? Even the dopey bloody NSA has certain guidelines.’
‘It’s got me beat,’ said Officer Cozens, holstering his weapon. ‘Anyway. We’d better get after them.’
‘You’re right.’ Kerrie holstered her weapon also. ‘Get the car. I’ll grab the gun and the briefcase.’
Officer Cozens shook his head. ‘Jesus! Hasn’t this turned out a nice shit fight.’
Officer Ryman picked up the .45, removed the clip and when Officer Cozens pulled up alongside her in the Commodore, put it in the back with the briefcase. She had a last look around then got
in next to Craig and they took off in pursuit of the Jeep Cherokee.
Hiding behind the bushes Mick and Jesse couldn’t believe what they’d just seen. When the second car disappeared out of the car park they turned to each other, slack-jawed.
‘Did you see that?’ Mick asked Jesse, blankly.
‘See it?’ replied Jesse. ‘Of course I saw it. It was like something out of a bloody Clint Eastwood movie.’
‘It must have been a drug deal gone wrong,’ said Mick.
‘I don’t know what it was,’ replied Jesse. ‘But that woman missed something from the briefcase. It landed in those bushes over there.’ Jesse stood up and walked over to where she indicated. She had a quick look on the ground then came back carrying a shiny black object. ‘It’s some kind of phone,’ she said.
‘Phone? Hey, keep it,’ said Mick. ‘Maybe we can use it.’
‘Yes. I’ll put it in my bag.’ Jesse placed the phone in her leather bag then sat back down next to Mick. ‘How are you feeling now?’
‘Half all right,’ replied Mick. ‘That sure sobered me up.’
‘All right. We’ll go back inside.’ Jesse turned seriously to Mick. ‘Mick. We didn’t see anything that happened out here tonight. Okay?’
‘Ohh mate. I’m with you there,’ replied Mick. ‘That was too heavy for me.’
‘Me too.’ Jesse stood up. ‘All right. Come on. And remember, not a word.’
Mick shook his head. ‘No. Not a word.’
Agent Moharic was weakening and having trouble controlling the Cherokee along the highway out of Scone. His jacket was soaked with blood and more was running over his shoe and onto the pedals. Alongside him, Agent Coleborne’s face was twisted with pain as he clutched his ribs. Blood was trickling around his fingers and he could feel the pieces of jagged bone through the holes in his shirt.
‘Orrin,’ wheezed Agent Moharic, spitting blood as he tried to talk. ‘Can you drive? I need a doctor. I’m starting to black out.’
‘Oh Christ, Floyd! My guts are all tore up,’ winced Agent Coleborne. ‘I can hardly breathe. Let alone drive a car.’
Agent Moharic turned to his partner. ‘I’m gonna have to pull over, buddy. I can’t keep going.’
‘That’s okay, Floyd,’ replied Agent Coleborne. ‘Shit! What went wrong? That was a complete cock-up.’
‘I know,’ groaned Agent Moharic. ‘Christ! It looks like Steve’s dead, too.’