Chapter 14
This mission was cursed from the get-go. Dobby’s call confirmed it. They had just been identified as suspects in the bombing of the airport.
Lotfi had to be working with the witch. It was the only thing that made sense, since they’d given him the photo of the bomber and told him who he was.
He must have warned the man, and one of them killed the other security guard.
Which meant they had to avoid him and every person dressed in a uniform.
Airports in the UAE were off the cards for them now. As was a border crossing.
They needed their own transport.
There was a line at the taxi rank with police there to make sure people didn’t get violent in their attempt to get away.
Just across from them was a car park full of luxury cars, but it was at a gridlock as people were trying to get out.
Enough people were streaming away from the airport, and they should be able to hide amongst them.
He just wished they’d had a chance to change.
Heath pulled Zoe along with the next group who walked past their position, angling them so the other group was between them and Lotfi.
“What happened?” Zoe asked.
“We’re chief suspects,” Heath told her, enjoying the feel of her hand in his. He shouldn’t have kissed her though. It was unprofessional. She was his mission, he held her safety in his hands.
It didn’t matter that she’d initiated it. They were in a situation of high emotions, and he couldn’t take advantage of it.
No matter how much he wanted to kiss her again.
He kept monitoring their surroundings and moved quickly through the car park and out into the city. At this time of night the only traffic was to the airport, and aside from emergency vehicles and people leaving, it was quiet.
They had left the crowds behind in the car park and jogged across the road and into the streets beyond.
Zoe was huffing next to him, and he slowed his pace as the streetlights became further apart, and they were able to hide in the darkness.
“What now?” Zoe whispered.
“We need to find a car and drive to the Oman border.” Dobby was keeping his ear close to the ground, and Heath knew a guy on the border who owed him a favour. They might be able to charter a flight to Pakistan.
He crossed to a car parked on the side of the road. After a quick sweep of the area, he jimmied the door. When no alarm sounded, he unlocked the passenger side. “Get in.”
Zoe hurried around the other side as he hot-wired the older model car. He’d left Axle’s tool on the boat, knowing it would raise questions he couldn’t answer.
In moments they were driving away from the airport. He passed Zoe his phone. “We need to get to Al Ain. It’s on the border with Oman.”
She plugged in his phone and navigated them away from the airport. Heath kept a close eye on his mirrors to make sure no one was following but gave a quiet exhale.
“Why Al Ain?”
“I know a guy there,” Heath said. “We can’t use the usual border crossing as you have to pay an exit fee and they’ll want to see our passports.”
“And they’ll detain us.”
“Yep.”
“Will we have to cross the desert?” Zoe asked, her tone resigned.
He grinned. “Hopefully not.”
It took less than ten minutes to get on the highway heading to Al Ain. He knew the way from here. “Call Dobby for me.”
She put the phone on speaker, and Dobby picked up immediately. “Where are you?”
“Heading to Al Ain.”
“Didn’t Hamza go legit?” Dobby asked.
“I’m hoping he’ll do me a favour.” He had plenty of cash from the boat to sweeten the deal.
“Plan?”
“Hop to Pakistan. Depending on status, flight from there, or drive to India and fly.”
“I’ll get the usuals to listen to chatter and keep you informed.”
“Thanks.”
“Dobby, did the kids make it back safely?” Zoe asked. “Are you in Australia?”
Heath should have thought to ask for her.
“Yeah. The embassy staff and team are back in Australia, and Rambo sent out a tugboat to pick up the kids. They’re at the port now, waiting for the violence to die down before they take them home.”
Zoe exhaled. “Thank you.”
“I’ll report when we get to Al Ain.” Heath hung up. “If it wasn’t for you, those kids would still be in that container.”
She gave him a wry look. “I’m pretty sure I couldn’t have done it without you.”
“A joint effort. The Iranian navy wouldn’t have given you so much trouble if I hadn’t been there.”
Zoe muffled a yawn and then asked, “Hop to Pakistan?”
She must be exhausted. They’d been going non-stop for hours. “Charter flight. My contact in Al Ain has a small plane.”
Her eyes widened. “To Pakistan?”
“It’s only about six hundred kilometres. A few hours.”
“But over the ocean.”
“He knows his way. Has been doing it for years.”
“Smuggler?”
“Previously. Now he legitimately imports goods from Pakistan that Pakistani migrants can’t easily get here.” He got paid for it, but it was a nice thing to do to help people feel at home.
“Why would he help us?”
“I helped him out of a jam a few years ago.”
She chuckled. “Let me guess, you can’t give me any details.”
He smiled. “No, but let’s just say he owes me. Why don’t you close your eyes and rest? I know the way from here and I don’t know how much opportunity we’re going to get to sleep over the next day.”
“It’s our word against Lotfi’s, isn’t it?” she asked.
“Yeah, and he’s probably erased all footage of the witch by now.”
She nodded and settled into her seat. “I’ll rest my eyes, but wake me if you need anything.”
“Will do, sweetheart.”
She smiled and closed her eyes. “Thank you for protecting me, Heath.”
The quiet words touched his heart.
“Any time.”
***
It took just over an hour to reach Al Ain.
The town was quiet and dark at this time of night with only the streetlights lighting the way.
Heath wasn’t expecting any trouble, but he drove by Hamza’s house first as a matter of course.
No lights were on, and the gate into the walled compound was closed.
Good.
He drove around the block and parked the car behind the house in an area it wouldn’t be noticed.
Zoe woke and glanced outside. “Are we there?”
“Yeah, but I want to go in first, make sure there are no issues.” He glanced around the neighbourhood.
It was nicer than some, with small compounds and apartment blocks, but not luxurious.
Zoe should be safe waiting in the car, but with the way their luck was going, someone would have reported the car stolen and the police would drive past. “I’ll go in the back way and check out what’s going on, and you can hide nearby. ”
They were both dressed in dark clothes which made blending into the shadows a little easier.
“Stay a couple of steps behind me,” Heath told her.
He moved quickly and lightly over the dirt, staying away from the streetlights and closer to the walls that cordoned off each yard.
When he got closer to Hamza’s place, he stopped behind one of the few trees in the street for Zoe to catch up.
“Wait here,” he said. “I’m going to do some reconnaissance.
Stay low against this tree until I come back for you.
” The street was empty and dark. She should be safe here.
“Can I borrow your multi-tool?” His had been confiscated.
She handed it to him. “Be careful,” she whispered.
He smiled and moved one house over to Hamza’s yard. He grabbed the edge of the wall and pulled himself up to look over.
Darkness.
He climbed over into the garden.
Houses here were built like fortresses to keep out the heat and cold. He moved over to the kitchen window to see if there were any lights on inside.
Heath didn’t know which room was Hamza’s bedroom, and he didn’t want to scare the children.
The sound of a car door slamming caught his attention. It was coming from the front road, not the road where he’d left Zoe.
Quickly he moved down the side of the building as the entrance gate squeaked open.
Shit.
He ducked behind a palm tree as a man strode across the courtyard to the front door.
Inside at a nearby window, a light turned on and then as quickly was turned off.
Possibly Hamza, realising no good visitors came at this time of night.
The man knocked loudly, brazen, uncaring if anyone heard.
Heath frowned. Whoever it was, they weren’t expected.
The man pounded on the door again and inside Heath heard a child’s voice, followed by a female hushing them.
Hopefully Dalia was putting her children back to bed.
The hallway light went on and the door opened. Light spilled outside illuminating the man as Hamza said, “Can I help you?”
Crooked nose, dark clothes. Heath clenched his hands. The witch. It wasn’t possible. He should be long gone.
Heath took the multi-tool out of his pocket and flicked up the knife, acknowledging the rage coursing through his body.
The witch pushed himself inside and Heath crept closer to look through the window. “I need a flight.”
“I’m sorry, I think you have the wrong person,” Hamza replied.
“Don’t waste my time,” the witch growled, pulling out a gun. “My pilot decided to get drunk, a decision he paid for with his life. The next pilot I went to made the fatal mistake of refusing me.” The witch paused a moment to let it sink in. “You will take me to Iran.”
Shit. The witch wouldn’t hesitate to hurt sweet Dalia, and Hamza’s children.
Don’t argue with him.
“Of course. Let me get my things.”
Heath exhaled as Hamza moved towards the back of the house. The witch followed him.
There was no way the witch would keep Hamza alive after the flight. He was a witness. Did Hamza realise that?
Heath crept to the front door and peered inside. Both men went into the kitchen at the back.
He moved inside and into a receiving room. They would have to come past to get outside, but if Hamza decided to defy the witch, his family would be in danger.
The bedrooms were between the front door and the kitchen.
Heath looked down the corridor and spotted Dalia tiptoeing towards the kitchen. His pulse hitched.
No.
That would end badly.