Leopard Dreaming (26 page)

Back up. They took the whole vehicle?

Except the plates. My guess is they came prepared with replacements so they wouldn’t red-flag as they made off with it past highway toll booths and speed cameras.

He needed no effort to fake surprise. He couldn’t imagine why Kitching’s people would have taken anything more than Mira’s personal belongings, but at least it explained how Garland came to have their rusty old Landcruiser.
They left their own car behind?

She nodded.
A pity yours didn’t have the appropriate tracking device. Nice bike, by the way.

You know how she feels about privacy
.

Some privacy, letting the rock star post your situation to his fans! That
Limo
spots easy from space.

He never mentioned either of us. If you saw that, you know he announced it as a failed attack by armed robbers.

Who got away. Those alleged fans who just happened to be out on the bay? They posted their sighting from the private phone of one of the sea patrol officers who were still aboard, bound and gagged, during the attack.

Are they okay?

Left adrift in a sheltered inlet by the time those two detectives happened past them. Back to the point, I need to know why you didn’t leave at least one of our bugs on your vehicle.

I did — on the shades. If you could track her, so could Kitching. So it seemed much safer for her if he was only tracking me.

And yet we lost track of you two days ago — until this morning. Did you disable them temporarily, or carry a jamming device?

Why don’t you ask him?
He glanced at Lasso. The airman had a reputation as the best in the business at keeping tabs on whole squads and battalions, so he should have known all the tricks — far more than Lockman. However, Lasso only continued to stare blankly at him, intermittently stirring and sipping his peppermint tea, while the discarded bag leaked a circle around his saucer. Apparently, his skills fell short when it came to sign language for the deaf, despite certain similarities with hand signs for a battlefield situation. Odd for a senior communications officer, but not uncommon among the lower ranks.

I took a risk leaving two bugs aboard for as long as I did,
Lockman argued. He wouldn’t have told her anything, except he needed something from her.

So this other bug?
she asked.
Is it still on you?

He shook his head.
They shot it this morning.

But you said Kitching could hear us?

Indirectly, yes. There’s another reason for this slap dancing with our hands, General.
He pressed a finger
to his lips in the universal sign for silence.
Someone else is listening. Someone who’s working with Kitching.

Oh?
Her eyebrow peaked.
You have a lead on Mr Mystery?

Not the one you’re hunting.
He knew she had her net cast wide, with no intention of bagging Kitching until she also had the mysterious middleman who’d been sourcing all of the former colonel’s foreign buyers for stolen weapons and technology.
This guy hasn’t been in a position to act as an agent any time in the last decade. He’s flat out communicating well enough to order his own room service.

So how can he be of any use or threat to us?

He has other … talents.
He paused, reluctant to reveal any more for now, but without briefing Garland of the precise danger, she was likely to start making noise all over the neighbourhood …
A talent like Mira’s.

Garland’s mouth fell open; the biggest show of surprise he’d ever seen from her, even counting the time he’d first informed her about Mira.

Are you serious? There’s two people now with that gift?

Not exactly. This time it’s future, not past, and audio instead of visual. Apparently, light and sound waves behave much the same way.

Hence the slap dancing?

He nodded.
There’s more, just as hard to believe. It’s the identity of the newcomer … It’s Colonel Kitching’s brother … goes by the name Freddie Leopard.

The missing inmate from Serenity?

Lockman nodded.

That’s a monumentally huge coincidence.

No such thing. Call it fate or a conspiracy. You must not underestimate him. He introduces a whole new level of complexity, starting with the matron.

Garland processed the news silently, taking her time as if she had to re-evaluate every report and
conversation she’d ever had about the situation, in date order.

We can’t let Mira get anywhere near them,
Lockman signed while Lasso continued to sip impassively at his tea.
As much as she cares for Sanchez and loathes the other two, she’s vulnerable to all three. If the matron is somehow forced into cooperating with them, they could convince Mira to do almost anything.

You’re not managing too badly yourself, if you’ve made it this far with her.

I don’t manipulate her! We cooperate!

Whatever makes it happen.

That’s your problem, right there, General. You don’t understand how she ticks. Mira is a free spirit.

She can’t afford to be. Good work, though. It’s unfortunate that her freedom had to be so brief, but we’ll take it from here.

No!
He slammed the table so hard it made the anchovies jump in her salad, along with the cutlery.
We do this her way, or not at all.

Careful, Mr Lockman. Or should I say, Locklin?

Lockman tensed. He would have been happier if she’d thrown a live grenade at him.
You know about that?

It’s not every day I get a soldier who requests a discharge on the same day he’s awarded a medal for bravery. Made me curious as to why you’d want to avoid all that media. Damn fine job forging a new identity by the way. Never would have found you, if not for the national facial recognition network. You could have knocked me down with a feather when I learned you’d made it to corporal once already. Not your first commendation for bravery either. So pay attention, soldier. Before we part company, you’re going to explain why you rejoined the army under such a similar alias, why you left again, and why you’re putting your neck on the line now for Mira Chambers, as a civilian.

‘No ma’am,’ he said, calmly. ‘I don’t believe I will.’ His past had to remain buried for the sake of his sisters, even though it still dictated all his motives.

Garland glanced left and right to alert him how close her team had approached, but he’d already noticed.
Careful, young man. I can have you detained pending investigation for fraud, murder and perhaps even tax evasion.

Tax evasion?

Taxable income earned under a false name, don’t you know?

Lockman grinned.
Go right ahead.
They had him surrounded, but he’d already scoped three unorthodox exits as he came in, and he knew how to stir up a crowd to give his opponents the slip, especially when he’d been portraying himself as deaf.
Try it, and lose your best chance at nailing Kitching and taking down his whole network.

You’re awfully cocky for someone who’s reduced himself to a civilian guard dog.
She waved her team to hold back anyway.
Just so you know, your actions here aren’t covered under national security protection laws, unless I say so. And it takes a highly funded and well-resourced team to keep that girl safe from people as slippery as our rogue colonel. So if you still wish to be the one to close the noose on his neck and prove your innocence in the death of your last sergeant — if that really is your primary motive — you’ll put yourself back on my leash, as Miss Chambers so quaintly puts it, and you’ll sit, stay or go fetch on my say-so. Got it?

Lockman laughed.
If anyone holds my leash, it’s her.
He rose casually to leave.
You’ll never find her without turning the mainland upside down, and you can’t do that without alerting Kitching that you’re onto him again.

Nice try. We know she’s here on the island. The two
sherlocks finally complied with their obligations to step aside from this operation.

Lockman held his tongue, doubting they’d betray Mira’s location or anything she’d told them willingly. Not even to the general herself. Vague about it, perhaps. But they’d been so keen to forge a direct alliance with Mira they’d be fools to betray her and assume that she’d never find out. And Lockman didn’t take them for fools.

Backtracking their movements via sat-surveillance of the bay led us to the rock star, who’d lingered a little too long with his songwriting at Poacher’s Cove where you disembarked with her.

Kitching’s coming here for her,
he reminded her, holding his ground.
I’m not betraying her current location and
y
ou can’t risk turning over a single stone without tipping off Kitching that you’re here, if you haven’t already. So it’s Mira’s way, or no way. Your choice, General. Make it quick please. We’re on a schedule.

Garland frowned and pushed her salad away as if she’d lost all stomach for it.
What if I were to tell you that Kitching was the man behind your father’s court martial twelve years ago? That he helped those rebel militia escape the day your father shot the school bus. That he’s the one who paid them to stage your mother’s car accident off the wall of Wivenhoe Dam. And that he recognised your resemblance when you passed his command tent in East Timor as Corporal Locklin, and consequently he’s also the one who assigned you to that border patrol, knowing you’d be ambushed. What better way for an arms dealer to stir up extra business, while ridding himself of a small thorn, than by triggering a small war?

Lockman felt sick, as if she’d slugged him repeatedly in the gut, but he set his jaw with renewed determination.

Being obstinate, you didn’t die, so he’s kept you close, biding his time to use you as a scapegoat like your father before you.

Lockman stiffened his shoulders, already resolved on his course of action with Mira.
You wouldn’t be spewing dirt if you weren’t desperate for information and open to trade. Will you be civilised, or shall we do this the hard way?

So be it,
she said, inviting him to sit again.
You first, Mr Lockman. What does she need?

Waking at the sound of a latch, Mira opened her eyes to get her bearings. She noticed the time had flicked to noon, and feeling the joey wriggle in her lap, she realised Pockets had curled up in her sundress. The joey stirred now too and tensed at the sound of the door opening.

Cuddling the wallaby to her chest, Mira tried to summon enough strength to stand. However, her mind and body weren’t yet properly coordinated after her blackout from pain, and she barely managed to sit up. She heard footsteps enter and smelled popcorn, and knew instantly it was Lockman.

Pockets wriggled free and hopped to meet him.

‘Mira?’ He leapt to her side and tilted her face towards the sound of his voice. ‘You’ve been crying?’ He wiped her cheeks dry and helped her up to the sofa.

‘Where’s the pouch?’ she asked groggily.

‘Beside you. Steer clear of the rug until I clean it up. She made a mess while you … what exactly happened?’

‘Passed out, I guess. It’s nothing. Just stress or another side effect passing through. And good riddance to it.’

‘Amen to that. You had me worried.’

‘As if I haven’t been enough trouble.’ She rubbed her forehead, still feeling dizzy.

‘No trouble. Are you hungry? You never had much at breakfast.’

Mira shrugged. ‘I don’t feel like anything.’

‘I can order room service? Anything you want.’

‘After the boat, I don’t think I can hold anything down yet.’

‘Spoil yourself,’ he said, bumping her arm with something that felt like a cardboard box. ‘Line your stomach with a little chocolate. I bought a box of Favourites. Excellent for brain function and energy.’

‘Chocolate?’ Such a rare treat she didn’t know if she had a favourite, until she realised he must be talking about a brand. He offered her three with soft caramel centres, and a small nibble did make her feel better. By the time she finished the second one, she felt inclined to try something more substantial.

She smelled something else that sparked her interest. ‘Is that popcorn?’

‘Sure. For watching TV, I didn’t know if you’d go for sweet or savoury.’

‘I’ve never had popcorn.’

‘Never?’ He offered her a handful, and she squeezed it to find it amusingly spongy, but as the first piece neared her nose she smelled the much more subtle scent of salt, which turned her stomach and she had to push it away.

‘Not meant to, apparently. It’s only for the good kids.’

‘How about a jelly bean, then? Purely medicinal. Ask any doctor.’

‘You bought me chocolate and jelly beans?’ She grinned, loving that he could be so thoughtful. ‘I haven’t had jelly beans since my sixth birthday!’

She nibbled two.

‘Raspberry and lime,’ he said, and she fell in love with them both. The idea made her sad too, unexpectedly, since she’d hoped to experience all her firsts and special moments with Ben.

‘We’ve got eight hours to kill,’ he said as he headed for the kitchen, and after plucking off a few paper
towels, he made the sounds of collecting wallaby pellets from the rug and flushing them down the toilet.

‘Eight?’ she asked, glancing at the clock again. ‘The meeting is set for nine.’

‘The last hour we’ll need to prepare. Want to watch a movie or two first?’

‘I can’t watch movies. You might as well switch on a radio.’

‘You can if you look back through time to choose one that other guests have seen, then we sync them up from the start so you get the full experience.’