PRIMAL Vengeance

Chapter 48



The Bunker, Lascar Island



"Chen, we've got a fix on the number."

PRIMAL's intelligence officer leapt up from his desk. "Where is he?"

"Somewhere over central China, current ground speed nearly 800 clicks. Heading west." The intel analyst pointed to the blinking dot on his screen.

"Zhu's on his way to Sudan," said Chua squinting at the monitor. "He'll be on the ground before we're ready."

Chua had only been back in the Bunker for an hour. He had hit the office as soon as his flight from Hong Kong had landed.

"Time to throw out the bait," Chua said as he crossed the operations room floor. He knocked once on Vance's door and stuck his head in.

"Yes," Vance grunted from behind his desk. The PRIMAL commander looked grave. With Bishop captured and the recovery mission a failure, the stakes had never been higher.

"Zhu's on his way to Khartoum."

Vance stood up. "Let's put in the call. What's the latest on the team?"

They headed for the conference room.

"I spoke briefly to Mitch. They're taking it hard. Although it's Kurtz who's taken it the worst."

"Kurtz? Why?" Vance sat down in the conference room. One of the technicians was already at the table with a laptop.

"Apparently the kid's fallen for a girl in Budapest. She looks a bit like Jess."

"A girl from their recent job?"

"Yes, but I'm not across the details yet."

"What about Mirza?"

"He's OK. You know what he's like."

"Yeah, I pity the f*cker that gets in his way now." Vance looked to the technician at the end of the conference table. "We good to go?"

"Yes, Sir," the man replied.

"Let's get to it."

Chua picked the headset off the table, put it on and gave the technician a nod. The speakers in the room came alive with the sound of a number being dialed. There was a pause, followed by a dial tone. The phone rang three times before it connected.

"Zhè shì shuí?" asked a voice on the other end.

"Mr Zhu, the question I would ask is not who is this but why are you calling." Chua's voice was digitally altered; through the room's speakers it sounded distant and metallic.

"You have my son?" Zhu asked.

"This is correct, and you have one of my men."

"Yes, and you have already tried to recover him and failed."

"Zhu, I am not here to discuss the past, I am here to discuss the future. Do you wish to negotiate or would you prefer me to end this discussion?" Chua asked calmly.

There was a pause. "No, we will negotiate." Zhu said softly.

"Good. It is not my intent to harm your son in any way. I simply wish to return him to you in good health and receive my man in the same condition. Is this clear?"

"Do you know who you are talking to? I am—"

"I do indeed," interrupted Chua. "But do you have any idea who you are talking to?"

There was another pause before Chua continued. "I didn't think so. Now listen very carefully. Tomorrow morning you will be contacted on this number in Khartoum. You will have my man with you and we will conduct the swap. Is this clear?"

"Perfectly."

"Then I will speak to you soon. Have an enjoyable flight, Zhu."

The technician terminated the call. "Signal strength was strong, Chen. If they managed a trace, they'll be getting a small bed'n'breakfast in St Louis."

"Good work, team," said Vance. "Let's just hope they take the bait. Chua, I'll leave you to brief Mitch and the boys."