The Collectors - Book Four: Diamonds and Sand (The Collectors Series 4) (21 page)

The four men and ZZ began removing the sand from one side of the first
Toyota, using plates as scoops. In time the doors started to appear.

“Might as well give the door a try.” Bear grabbed the handle and heaved. It opened and he c
rawled inside, found two shovels and tossed them out. Drenched in sweat they worked hard shifting sand. Two hours later one Toyota sat in a large hole. Petros staggered in the soft sand as he inspected the vehicle.

“The rear tyres are shot to pieces but apart from a few extra ventilation holes it should, with luck, start,” said Bear.

“You
’re nearest and the keys are in the ignition,” said Amadou, “Give it a whirl.”

Bear gave a small grin and with four doors open, prepared to turn the ignition. “Here goes.” With a stutter
the engine turned, fired, the rev counter registered and loose sand blasted from the exhaust pipe. “At least we can get home. Shit, the anchor is in the other car.”

It’s too hot to keep this up,” said Petros, “We’ll start again at five.”

“Thank Christ there’s no wind or that hole might be filled by four.”

“One job left,” said Petros
as he rubbed his hand over an unshaven chin. “Those bodies outside the tent, they need to be disposed of.”

“
In a past life I bet you worked your slaves to death,” said Bear.

“No profit in that,” said Petros as he dragged the first body
by its right leg from under the sand.

Bear grabbed under
the arms and together they carried the carcass up the slope to the cavern chimney. With no thought, they dropped it and walked away passing Akeem and Amadou with another body. “In a thousand years someone might find them.”

“I wonder where Eva is?
” said Petros.

“In hell I shouldn’t wonder,” said Bear.

“I meant her corpse.”

“
I don’t care. Those morons murdered her and sealed us in a cavern. If it hadn’t been for world war two leftovers, you and I wouldn’t be having this conversation.”

“I’ll ask ZZ to scout around.
She can join her friends, not even the local travelling Arabs will find her in there.”

“I’ll drink to that,” said Bear as he tugged at the third body. “You take the heavy end.”

Petros grabbed the arms and dropped them. “Hang on, I’ve seen this man before. That scar across his left eye.”

“
Now you tell me. The bastard’s dead, lift and shift, I’m hungry.”

“I suppose you’re right.”

With the four carcasses deposited
in the cavern, they returned to the tent. In the shade each drank his fill of warm water, ate one tin of beef stew and biscuits.

“I’m going to grab some shut eye
s,” said Bear. “I advise you to do the same.”

“I
’ll keep watch,” said Petros.”

“Why?” asked ZZ.

“Just in case.”

***

In the evening the temperature dropped. Grunts and swearing from four men filled the air as they shovelled.              

             
“I can see the anchor,” shouted Akeem. “It’s close to the hatch.”

             
Petros looked at Akeem who faced him. “I’ll give you a hand.”

             
“Two shovels are better than one.”

             
Petros nodded and dug until the hatch remained free of sand. With a heave, he opened and removed the anchor. “Let’s see if we can get one vehicle mobile before we freeze.”

“I’ll fix the anchor,” said Bear. “Amadou, can you run out the winch wire
?”

“Good as done.”

“I’ll position the perforated metal plates,” said Akeem.

Petros
scrabbled into the pit and sat in the Toyota with the door open.

“Anchor
and wire secure,” bellowed Bear.

“Plates in place,” signalled Akeem.

Petros glanced at his watch and then at sunset. “We have half an hour before its dark. Shift your arses to a safe distance in case this goes pear-shaped. Hate to run someone over.”

The engine started first turn. Petros glanced around ensuring everyone was
well away before engaging first gear and winch drive. The wheels spun searching for a grip as the winch rotated and dragged the Toyota forward. A cloud of sand filled the pit as at a snail's pace the Toyota climbed. For an age, the vehicle hung on the wire until the tyres gripped and it surged out of the pit.

T
he roar of the engine stopped. Petros looked at his dirt-caked team. “Tomorrow we replace the tyres on this one and drag the other out.”

“You’re al
l heart, PK,” said Bear.

“I know. It’
s a bad habit.” His eyes alert, he proceeded to look around. The horizon blended with the desert, the larger dunes dark against a darker sky.

Inside the tent,
Bear examined their stock of food. “Enough stew and biscuits for two days and sausages for a week. Water’s okay providing we don’t use any to wash.”

“No problem,” said Amadou, “a long hot shower is first on my agenda when we return to civilisation.”

Petros checked his sat-phone’s battery, two bars. He entered a text.
Bear and I fine, miss you – talk tomorrow.
. “Bear, I’ve let the girls know we’re okay but my battery’s low.”

“Mine too and we might need
them if we can’t find the road. Anyone fancy some grub?”

ZZ jumped to his feet. ”I’ll heat the stew, Mr Bear.”

“What more could a man need?”

Chapter Sixteen

Night arrived at the end of a demanding day for four men and a boy. Wrapped in their blankets, the silence of the desert lulled them into a deep sleep.

A kaleidoscope of thoughts raced through Petros’ mind.
Mental pictures formed and faded as memories from Bosnia, Iraq and Northern Ireland surfaced. Jumbled sensations battled with each other. The uniformed police sergeant stood motionless as he waited for the return of his warrant card. Most police officers have battle wounds but the deep and jagged scar over his left eye stood out.

Akeem shook Petros. “Are you okay?”

“What’s the matter?”

“You were shouting.”

“We’re in deep shit. Wake the others.” Petros gathered his thoughts, convinced it was the same man.

In a semi
-circle and with blankets wrapped around their shoulders, they sat facing Petros.

“My friend,” said Amadou, “what is so important to wake us in the middle of the night that cannot wait until the sun rises?”

“This is a set-up and we’re expendable. We shouldn’t have got this far.”

They
stared at him in disbelief.

“Give me one piece of evidence to convince me,” said Akeem.

“Those men we killed. The last time I saw one of them he wore a police officer’s uniform and I checked his warrant card. Think about it, with us and Eva out of the way the diamonds could find their way into the black market and make somebody rich.”

“Okay, being practical
, what’s the next move?” said Amadou.

“I’ve focused on the options available,” said Petros.
“Whoever is running this show believes we’re no longer a problem. Think of it as a game of chess. We have the advantage and it’s our move. I’m open to suggestions. Bear, you first.”

“I suggest we do the opposite of what our
adversaries expect.”

“But we’re not part of their equation,” said Petros. “We
’re dead or so they think. Can’t tell or ask awkward questions.”

“The unexpected would be to arrive back at
Waw al Kabir.”

“And do what? I can’t believe any of
this has been sanctioned by MI6. And we have no way of knowing who’s running the show. John Soames is the key.”

“We
must accept whoever wants us out of the way, needs us dead,” said Akeem.

“Petros
, you can recognise this Soames?” said Amadou.

“Yes.”

“I believe we should return to Waw al Kabir but drop you and Bear a mile away. Akeem looks and dresses as a local so along with ZZ we can act as your eyes and ears. If anyone starts to ask questions,” said Amadou. “ZZ can find and keep you in the loop.”

“I
agree with that plan,” said Petros. “And let’s face it, unless we find out who’s running this we can’t hide forever.”

“Don’t worry
, PK. I’ll watch your back,” said Bear.

“Haven’t you always?”

“It’s what I do best.”

“The problem is these people w
on’t go away. And from what we’ve witnessed so far they’re cold-blooded and well-organised.”

“A pain in the arse comes to mind,” said Bear. “Sleep might be a good idea.”

The group fell silent.

Petros checked the time. “Three hours until sunrise.” He wrapped his blanket around
his shoulders and closed his eyes.

***

The dawn light woke them but they rested for a while longer. Unwashed and unshaven, they said little, while breakfasting on biscuits, jam, and hot tea.

Petros stood
. “When you’re ready, we’ll dig the other Toyota out.” He picked up a shovel and wandered outside.

“Doesn’t give up, does he?
” said Akeem to Bear.

“Never.
” Bear shook his head and staggered to his feet.

“You don’t look so good,” said Amadou.

“I don’t feel it. So
me bastard is running in circles playing a bass drum inside my head.”

“Sit and let
me look at your wound. ZZ, go find Mr Petros.”

Amadou unwound the bandage and eased
the final strip by soaking it with water. “Some slight reddening around the edges but no inflammation.”

“Delayed concussion,
” said Petros as he approached. “Symptoms? Bear, you know the drill.”

“Balance dodgy, want to th
row up and a ringing in my ears. Will that do?”

Petros said with a hint of sarcasm,
“You’ll do anything to avoid work. Rest, if you experience pain. Codeine’s in the first-aid box. Take two.”

Bear shuffled his frame, pulled a blanket over his body, and closed his eyes. “Feel better already.”

“Let’s go,”
said Petros or the sun will fry us.”

             
They shovelled on and off for three hours until they could examine the second Toyota. Bullet holes scarred the bodywork but from their initial inspection, it appeared satisfactory. Petros clambered in and turned the ignition, nothing. “Battery’s dead.”

             
“How come?” said Akeem.

             
  Petros released the bonnet and leant out. “Maybe a bullet struck it.”

             
Akeem lifted the hot steel and scanned the battery compartment. “Still in one piece.”

             
“Amadou, get the other car and we’ll tow it out.”

             
With jump leads connected, the other Toyota started and spewed sand from its exhaust.

             
“Mr Petros,” said ZZ. “It is my fault the engine would not start.”

             
“Doesn’t matter, ZZ. It’s fine now. We’ll leave as soon as we have stripped the tent and loaded. Bear can use the bed in car two. Amadou, a word.”

             
Amadou ambled to where he stood. “What’s up?”

             
“Just letting you know if something happens. The diamonds are under the front seat of your car.”

             
“The Land Rovers, are we going to leave them?”

             
“Not our problem. We’ll tell the owner, if we find him, we spotted them and give an approx location. If he wants to dig them out it’s up to him.”