Sea of Fire

Chapter Sixty-Seven

Monica Loh sat in the deep vinyl seat of the helicopter's dark cabin. She was watching Bob Herbert. His face was in shadow, but his posture was tense, aggressive. He was leaning forward, anxiously pressing a thumb into his palm. Loh did not wonder what he was thinking. She knew. He wanted to get information from Captain Kannaday using any means possible. Herbert had said as much when he was on the telephone.

But then something changed. Herbert glanced at his computer monitor and sat up. His hands relaxed. He turned toward Captain Kannaday and regarded him for a long moment. Then he looked at her.

"Wake him," Herbert said.

Loh turned and gave Kannaday's shoulder a firm shake. He opened his eyes slowly.

Warrant Officer Jelbart turned. "What is it?"

"I wanted to ask our guest a question," Herbert said.

"I thought we had decided to let the captain be for now," Jelbart said with a hint of annoyance.

"I let him have his power nap," Herbert said. "Now I want to know something. Something simple."

"You are free to ask anything you like," the man replied.

"Thanks. But you're saying you may not answer," Herbert said.

"As I said, I am extremely tired. I don't want to say anything that is inaccurate or may be misinterpreted."

"I understand," Herbert said. "How about this, which is pretty tough to screw up. Where were you born?"

The man looked at him.

"What's wrong?" Herbert asked. "Is that too tough?"

"Are you serious?" the man asked.

"I've been accused of that, yeah," Herbert said. "Have you got an answer for me?"

"I was born here. In Australia," the man replied.

"In which town?" Herbert asked. "On what date?"

"Why?" The man grinned. "Are you going to buy me a gift?"

"One that keeps on giving," Herbert told him. "A lifetime sentence in a maximum security prison."

"Really?" the man said. "For what?"

"I think you know," Herbert said.

"Bob, we decided we weren't going to do anything like this," Jelbart said angrily.

"You decided that," Herbert said. His eyes remained on Kannaday. "Where were you born and when?"

Loh did not think Herbert would bully someone unless he had a solid reason. Apparently, he did. She watched Kannaday's reaction. He was unfazed. After a few moments the captain closed his eyes. His head sank back on the seat and was lost again in darkness.

"Bob, why do you want to know that?" Jelbart asked.

"Why?" Herbert replied. "Because this man is not Peter Kannaday."

"What?" Jelbart said.

"I just saw a photograph of Captain Kannaday," Herbert said. He angled the monitor toward Jelbart and cranked up the brightness. "There is a picture attached to his license."

Jelbart looked from the computer monitor to their guest. "I'll be a nong — an idiot, to you. Bob is right. This isn't you."

"Rot," the man replied without opening his eyes. "There's obviously a mistake in the file."

"I don't think so," Herbert said. "There were two men on the deck of the yacht. One man dies. The other man assumes his identity."

"Why?" the man asked. His eyes were still shut. He seemed utterly unconcerned.

"What better way to earn our trust than to pose as a virtuous sea captain fighting smugglers? We give that trust, along with safe passage to shore. Then, as soon as you get there, you slip away."

"The photograph is as mixed up as you are, Mr. Herbert."

"Then answer the question," Herbert pressed. "Where and when were you born?"

Loh was watching the man carefully. He did not flinch. Nor did he tell Herbert what he wanted to hear.

"I'll tell you what," Herbert said. "You're a cheap fake and a lowlife smuggler, but I won't hold that against you. You're not the guy I want."

The man said nothing.

"The man I want is Jervis Darling," Herbert continued. "You give him to me, and you walk."

The man opened his eyes slightly. "You can't offer that kind of deal."

"You don't deny that Mr. Darling is behind this smuggling operation?" Jelbart asked.

"Mr. Darling," the man said with contempt. "You'd call the fallen prince Your Highness," he suggested.

"Obviously, you do know Darling, then," Herbert said.

"Only by reputation," the man replied. He closed his eyes again and settled deeper into the seat.

Loh was surprised. Herbert seemed unusually calm. Like a grand master with a checkmate move that no one else saw.

"You look like the kind of tough monkey who isn't afraid to face death," Herbert said. "Much as I'd like to, I won't threaten to throw you out the helicopter door or anything like that. What I am going to do, however, is change the plan. And since we found you in international waters, I don't think Warrant Officer Jelbart has the will or authority to object."

Jelbart nodded. The floor was Herbert's.

"We are not going to take you to Cairns," the intelligence officer went on. "We are going to land at Cape Melville where the local police will meet us and hold you. We will turn you over to FNO Loh. When her patrol ship arrives, you will be taken to Singapore, to the military police, and the ultimate justice of the magistrate's court."

The man looked at him. "Balls to you," he replied.

Herbert shrugged. "Suit yourself, tough little monkey. Either way, I get Darling. Pilot? Make the change."

The pilot looked at Jelbart. The warrant officer nodded.

"We will get the information we want," Loh added, "because the chief interrogator will have it flogged or drugged from you. The military police have that authority under the Singaporean Nuclear Emergency Response Act of 2002. It defined nuclear trafficking as an act of terrorism. In Singapore, individual rights are suspended when evidence points to imminent deeds of mass destruction."

Herbert gave her an appreciative look for the added push.

The man opened his eyes. They did not seem quite as relaxed as they were a moment before.

"We're nearing the coast," Herbert pressed. "What's it going to be? Jail here and cooperation, or jail there and electrodes on the earlobes and God knows where else?"

The man looked out the window. The coast was coming into view.

"I'm guessing you've been pretty slick till this point," Herbert said. "But your luck has hit a wall. Trust me."

The man regarded Herbert. "I won't go to jail," he said. "I did not run the ship, and I did not run the operation. I was just a mate."

"Are you John Hawke?" Herbert asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"What was your job?"

"Security chief," he answered unapologetically. "I had no contact with sellers or purchasers, and I did not interact with the contraband. Peter Kannaday ran the ship. Jervis Darling ran the operation. His nephew Marcus operated communications and is back there in the water."

"Those flares?" Loh asked.

"They were fired by Kannaday to sink the dinghies," Hawke replied. "He wanted to prevent anyone from getting away."

"Why?" Herbert demanded.

"Because we were told by Jervis Darling to sink the ship," Hawke said.

"To hide evidence of what?" Herbert asked.

"A nuclear processing laboratory on board," Hawke replied.

Herbert smiled.

"But I will not repeat any of this for the record if you send me to prison," Hawke said. "I go free, or you have no testimony."

"The deal is this," Herbert told him. "You talk or you go to Singapore. We'll encourage leniency, but that's the best you'll get."

"That's not good enough," Hawke snarled.

"The only other option is to walk out the door right now," Herbert told him. "Frankly, I think five to ten years with cable TV is a better deal than a long drop into a cold sea."

Even in the dark, Loh could see Hawke's expression tighten. He looked as if he wanted to put a fist through Herbert's chest. But that would get him nothing. He would still have to deal with Loh and Jelbart.

John Hawke's mouth sagged into a frown. His eyes lost their cruel luster. The slight man lowered himself back into the seat and looked out the window. He appeared to be lost. Herbert was right. This was probably the first time the man had ever been cornered. And it happened without a blow thrown or shot fired. The security chief had been undone by words.

Just words.

Herbert looked as pleased and surprised as Hawke looked sullen.