Page 35 of No Time Off (Lexi Carmichael Mystery #15)
THIRTY-FIVE
Slash
M anny pulled over and motioned for us to get off the bikes when we were close to the path leading to the beach and the yacht. We left the bikes and walked the rest of the way until we could look out across the main road and see the water. The skiff was moored to the near side of the yacht. I couldn’t see anyone on the deck. We paused at the edge of the tree line and watched for any unusual activity.
It was quiet. The midmorning sun was still casting long shadows while starting to bake the dunes. The water sparkled and the waves were low. The yacht rocked gently in the water, seeming to be deserted, but we knew better. Still, it offered a sort of beacon of safety—or as close to safety as we could get right now.
A lone fisherman occupied the beach between us and the boat. When I pointed him out, Manny said he was one of the prime minister’s security detail guarding the boat.
“Stay here and take this,” Manny said, handing me his phone. “Lexi doesn’t have hers and yours is presumably dead. Instead of risking us all, I’ll head to the boat alone to brief the prime minister. I’ll call you from one of the phones on the boat. We can discuss the next plan of action then.”
I took his phone and watched as Manny strolled out of the jungle, down the road, and wandered along the beach by the fisherman. He waved and made a casual greeting and then kept walking. The fisherman stopped soon thereafter and pulled out his phone. Within minutes the skiff left the yacht and headed for shore, clearly being directed to come pick up Manny. As soon as the skiff arrived, Manny hopped in, and they headed back to the yacht.
While Manny was in the skiff, I pulled my phone out of my pocket. “You were right. My phone is completely drained. Hope you got something from it.”
“Oh, we did,” Lexi said. “Most important was hearing Shi’s plan to send you to China. I knew we had to get you out right away. Beyond that, I’ve sent that audio and everything else we’ve gathered to Elvis and Xavier. Frankie has been translating the Chinese sections for me. She and Elvis have also been feeding Candace everything we’ve gotten to this point. I think we’re close to having enough. That recording in your pocket should seal the deal.”
“Agreed. Are the twins making any progress?”
“Well, I haven’t spoken to them in over twelve hours, but the last I heard, Elvis and Xavier had still not been able to connect any payments from Signet Investments to Maivia. I tracked down Maivia’s official email address, and we sent him an email baited with Chinese characters and a malicious link. If he fell for it, we should own his official account by now. If we’re really lucky, it will have led the kids and Elvis to his private email as well.”
“That’s excellent news.” I smiled. “It gives us a lot of options.”
“It does. Add to that, the kids are already in the system and poised to take back control of the Cook Islands’ official media accounts, as well as the prime minister’s personal account, upon our command.”
“You have been busy.”
Lexi kissed my cheek. “Worrying about you, yes. Slash, when I heard you say Shi’s name, I thought it had to be a mistake. I couldn’t breathe.”
“It was a surprise to say the least.”
“You sounded so calm,” she said. “Whereas I wanted to jump through the phone lines and kick Shi where the sun doesn’t shine.”
I chuckled. “So vicious, my sweet wife, and yet, I wouldn’t have stopped you. I stayed calm because I wanted him to believe I knew he was here and was in the Cook Islands to bring him down. I knew that would worry him greatly. That’s when he makes mistakes.”
“So, what’s next?” she asked. “You had plenty of time relaxing in that closet. How do we take down Shi and Maivia?”
We discussed some possibilities, bouncing ideas off each other before the phone in my hand rang. I answered it. “Yes?”
“It’s me,” Manny said. “I’m here with the prime minister. Let’s talk.”
I put the phone on speaker so Lexi could hear. “Okay. Go.”
“First of all, I want to say I’m grateful you’re okay, Slash,” Petra said. “I had no idea about this Shi character, and I’m so sorry you were put in harm’s way.”
“All is well,” I said. “How are you doing?”
“We’re holding up the best we can under the circumstances,” she replied. “But I’m sorry to say your escape has already been discovered.”
“That didn’t take long,” Lexi said.
“It didn’t. From what we’ve heard on the police radio, the Chinese and Maivia are ramping up the search for you two. Listen to this.”
I heard a click, and the static-filled voice of an officer crackled. “Repeat: All units be advised—the foreign nationals, both Americans, have been identified as armed terrorists, wanted for the attempted assassination of Acting Prime Minister Liko Maivia. Lethal force is authorized to eliminate the threat.”
Lexi pinched the bridge of her nose. “Lethal force. It’s the honeymoon every girl dreams of.”
I let out a dry laugh, then winced. I was still slightly favoring my jaw—evidence of the not-so-gentle hospitality I’d received at the compound. “Shi is pissed.”
“Like a rattlesnake,” Manny said. “This isn’t just damage control anymore. They’re tightening the net. Your escape from the compound has really stirred up a wētā nest.”
“I assume a wētā is the Cook Islands version of a hornet,” Lexi said.
“New Zealand’s version,” Manny corrected her. “They’re large, native insects known for their aggressive, and sometimes intimidating, presence. But you could say they’re a good stand-in for a hornet.”
“I’m glad he’s pissed,” Lexi said and then smiled. “You know, despite everything, that makes me feel pretty good.”
“Regardless, we don’t have much time,” Petra said urgently. “We don’t know how many Chinese reinforcements—police, military, who knows what else—are on the way. We can’t let them tighten their grip on the Cook Islands any more than they already have, or worse, capture us.”
“Then we go on the offensive,” I said.
That got a reaction—meaning dead silence. I figured they were shocked by my bold suggestion. Lexi, however, looked at me like she was thinking it was about time.
“We’re done hiding,” I continued. “We flip this back on them. They’re controlling the narrative—painting us as terrorists. We take that away from them.”
“And how do we do that?” Manny asked.
“Electronically. I need my computer, and Lexi needs hers. ASAP.”
Manny sounded skeptical. “What are you going to do? Post an angry Yelp review of the coup?”
I grinned at the thought of it. “Something like that. First, we contact the US government. I need to get this full recording from the compound to them right away. Second, we turn their own game against them. We now have the power to control their communications and leak the information we want to shift public opinion. If you’re right, Petra, the people here don’t want to be under China’s thumb. Economic support is one thing, but what we’ll expose is something entirely different. We just need to show the people the truth.”
“But we have a problem,” Lexi chimed in. “We’re uncomfortable about using the yacht as our center of operations to strike back. It’s too exposed, and it is probably just a matter of time until someone notices the unusual increase in activity here. Plus, to wage our campaign, we’ll need a better internet and Wi-Fi connection, at least as good as we had back at the farmhouse. Unless you have another safe location where we could operate.”
“I’ll have to check with the security guys to see if there is another safe spot,” Manny said. “They were supposed to be working on that. Wait a minute…” He stopped and must have turned away from his phone.
Finally, he returned. “Petra suggests returning to the farmhouse. She has reports that the police haven’t returned since we left. After considering the alternatives, we agree it’s probably as safe as any other location right now. Additionally, we can easily get there from here without using the roads.”
“That would be great if it’s safe,” Lexi said. “What do you think, Slash?”
“I doubt any place is truly safe, but I think we should trust the prime minister,” I said. “We can check it out first before anyone gets there.”
“I’ll lead you there,” Manny said. “If it’s clear, we can presume they think we wouldn’t be dumb enough to go back. Plus, in retrospect, I’m not even sure they can link us to the farmhouse. All they know is there were two people on a motorcycle who fled the house. They never saw the prime minister or her family.”
Petra’s voice came through the phone clearly. “I don’t know how you’re going to do any of what you’re planning, but I’m convinced the premise is the right one. We’re running out of options and time.”
“Manny, Lexi, and I will investigate the farmhouse,” I said. “If it’s clear, you can relocate with us. We’ll send Manny back for you while we start making Shi and Maivia very uncomfortable. Pack up and be ready to move, Petra. Manny will coordinate with your security. Manny, when you return to shore, please bring Lexi’s phone, our bags, laptops, and any cords or other peripherals that go with them. And, sorry to ask, is there any way you can find me a shirt? I’m doing a slow roast in this white food jacket and might as well have a bull’s-eye on the back of it.”
Manny chuckled. “Will do. Give me ten.”
I hung up, and Lexi and I exchanged a silent glance. Shi had taken on the wrong people…again. We weren’t going to go quietly, this time or ever. We’d stopped Shi and his brother before. He’d had his turn at bat, and now it was ours. All we needed was a little help from our friends.
He’d messed with the wrong honeymooners.