Jackpot

15

Bingo had finished the code for the drone hack well before Ziggy Peng called, but he’d hoped to fine-tune it more before go-time. That wasn’t going to happen now. He only had a few minutes to finish processing everything and track down the drone he was going to use.

The plan had been much easier during the initial stages, because the Chinese government had been testing stealth drones throughout the country, including heavily in the special administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau. But the recent unrest and protests in Hong Kong had diverted the government’s attention, and most of the drones had been sent to Hong Kong, leaving only a couple in Macau.

Ziggy Peng called again. “They are going to be in the penthouse of the building we discussed. It’s a circular suite with windows on all sides, so targeting shouldn’t be a problem.”

“All of those fancy buildings have window coverings. It won’t stop a bullet, but it will make it hard to see who I’m shooting.”

“It’s all controlled electronically. I trust you’re able to hack something as simple as window shades.”

Electric shades were as easy as anything in a house was to hack, but it added another task to an already tight time frame. But knowing his protests would fall on deaf ears, Bingo said nothing.

Perhaps sensing Bingo’s silent discontent, Ziggy spoke again with a more pleasant tone.

“Arrow Donaldson has talked the female agent into taking a smaller group of agents with her.”

This was not the type of good news Bingo had been expecting. Ziggy continued talking.

“If the American woman is killed during the attack, Arrow Donaldson has promised bonuses for all involved.”

“Then she will die.”

Millie pulled up to the high-rise to which Arrow had directed her, located at the end of the strip near the more naturalistic area of Coloane Village. The exterior looked to be made entirely of windows so that every unit boasted an uninterrupted grand view, one of the many luxuries the building afforded.

The men she’d brought with her were quiet and deferential, but she knew they were capable of taking on anything they faced on their way up to the penthouse. As Millie conversed with the driver of the SUV about where to park to make sure they could get in and out as quickly as possible, the other three agents went around to the back of the SUV. Two of them grabbed assault rifles, and the other grabbed a shotgun. Millie also took a shotgun, and the four of them entered the building. Obviously having been appraised of their imminent arrival, the guard at the desk waved the party through and gave Millie the code for the elevator to access the penthouse.

“Mr. Donaldson says hello,” the guard said.

“I’m sure he does,” Millie said.

She knew it was not a casual greeting, but rather one more way for Arrow Donaldson to show her he was watching.

The elevator zipped Millie and her team quickly to the top of the building, and as they exited onto the penthouse floor, Millie suddenly felt very vulnerable. The walls were all glass. While others might find the views awe-inspiring, Millie merely felt exposed.

Millie hurried everyone off the elevator and toward the entrance of the penthouse. Li Feng answered on the second knock and Millie pushed everyone quickly inside. She was pleased to find that the apartment had dark drapes pulled down over all the windows. Li Feng was dressed in the same long, dark coat and dark hat and sunglasses she’d been wearing when she had been whisked away by Arrow right after her arrival. Millie let her breath return to normal speed and she relaxed her muscles. Maybe, for once, something would go as smoothly as planned.

While Li Feng gathered her luggage, the agent in the polo shirt came over to Millie with a concerned look on his face.

“This doesn’t feel right,” he said, looking back toward the bedroom where Li Feng was visible in the doorway. After briefly greeting her CIA protectors, the soft-spoken woman had told them she’d be ready in a few minutes, and asked them to be seated while she finished getting ready. None of them took her up on the offer of hospitality.

“I looked at every photo I could find of Li Feng when I got assigned to this detail, so I could get a feel for her. See if I could spot any patterns or vulnerabilities.”

“That’s good work. I did the same thing.”

“Then you see it, too?”

Millie paused to consider.

“She seems a bit off from how the file describes her,” Millie said after a moment. “But this is a stressful situation for her, and people don’t always act the same under stress.”

“Li Feng has been under stress most of her life. This kind of stuff is barely a blip in her day.”

Millie nodded along as Mike talked. She was growing more concerned, and frustrated that she hadn’t been confident enough in herself to do something about it before a man called it to her attention.

“You’re right. I noticed it, too, but wasn’t sure it was a big deal.”

“I don’t believe the woman in that bedroom is Li Feng.”