Nat and one other leaned out of their windows to return fire. Clouds of dust were flung into the air as tyres spun for grip on the dry ground. The cars lurched forward, heading towards the narrow uphill track that Rob had identified as a possible route.
Nat spoke calmly into a handheld radio, as he closed his window. “Four hostiles, shots fired. We are on the move heading for the pick up.”
“Acknowledged.”
Nat turned to Rob, “Good to see you, young man,” and gave him a gentle thump on the side of the arm. “You’ve had a lot of people back home very worried. The river crossing and this track should keep our pursuers well behind us. Good choice!”
The cars careened around the hairpin bends sending up plumes of dust as they went, climbing the hill from the valley floor.
Suddenly, the sound of whirring rotor blades cut through the air. Nat scowled as he looked out of the window, “I wasn’t expecting air cover.”
He lifted his radio to ask what was going on when the clatter of heavy machine gun fire from a helicopter accompanied spurts of dust on the road ahead and to the side of them, narrowly missing the two cars.
“Shit!” Nat pressed transmit on his radio, “We’re under attack from the air! Pick-up will be jeopardised!”
“Understood. Wait for instructions.”
“Damn! With that bird circling us we won’t stand a chance! You’ve really kicked-up a hornets’ nest, Rob!” Nat then leaned out of the window, as had the others from the second car, and started shooting at the helicopter, hoping that they would get a lucky shot. Reality, however, was that with the bumpy terrain, their shots were wild. Freja looked at Rob again, an expression of fear on her face.
Alvaro curled up in the footwell, crying. Freja, terrified, left Alvaro to himself and cuddled up to Rob, looking up into his face. “I know you said you had contacts who could help, but I wasn’t expecting this!”
Rob felt far from calm, his stomach clenched, his leg muscles tense, but knew he had to be strong for her. He put his arm around Freja’s shoulders and gave her a hug. I really hope Nat’s support arrives soon. We’ll be shot to pieces at this rate, or the driver will lose control and we’ll die crashing off the track!
Being less manoeuvrable, each time they swung around a corner the helicopter was forced to cease firing, fly past and turn before being able to start shooting once again. Suddenly, their car was rocked violently as the Jeep behind exploded, flew off the edge of the track and into the air before crashing into the scrub and rolling down into the valley below. Their rear window shattered, covering everyone in glass as Alvaro and Freja both screamed yet again.
“Damn! We’re on our own,” Nat muttered. “The only positive is that they were targeting the support car, not us!”
The helicopter kept shooting, but in front of their car, trying to slow them down and unnerve the driver.
“Bugger it!” Nat yelled, “Their chase cars are catching up!”
Occupants in the chase cars soon started shooting. Suddenly, the tail of their car started fish-tailing as a rear tyre was shot out, but their driver kept his foot firmly on the accelerator. Nat returned fire through the rear window, trying to deter their pursuers. The rear of the car kept sliding off and back on to the track, thumping into bushes, rocks and anything else at the side of the narrow dirt track.
Huge plumes of dust billowed out behind them as they went. “That’s the only good thing about this track,” yelled the driver. “Our pursuers won’t be able to close up on us any further or they won’t see a thing!”
Moments later, there was another explosion, this time overhead. A huge fireball rocked their Jeep as pieces of red-hot metal showered over them, clattering off the roof and crazing the side windows.
“What the…?!” exclaimed Nat, looking around to try and see what had happened.
A Mexican army helicopter gunship rose from the valley, the clatter of its rotor blades reverberating off the hills. A soldier was hanging out of one side next to a mounted heavy machine gun. He waved an acknowledgement to Nat as the gunship veered off to take up position to attack the pursuers. One flypast later, the lead pursuing cars were picked-off and destroyed.
“Yes! Way to go!” Nat yelled gleefully. “We’re in the clear!”
The driver slowed down as they continued on their way, now escorted by the gunship. What felt like an age later, they came to a large expanse of bare ground where another helicopter was waiting for them.
Pulling over, they all clambered out, legs shaking. A side door on the helicopter slid open and a crew member waved at them to climb onboard.
As they lifted off, amongst the swirling dust, their escort gunship spun round, gave a burst of gunfire and destroyed their car.
* * *
Three hours later, the helicopter landed at a military base close to Mexico City. Once disembarked, they thanked their driver, both helicopter crews and asked that the driver pass on their gratitude and condolences to the families of those who had died. Upon reaching the reception building they were met by a small crowd of officials. With a lot of wailing and tears, Alvaro was taken from Freja’s care to be looked after by the Mexican state.
British and Swedish embassy officials then approached. Introductions made, Rob asked “What’s next?”
“Together with your companion, Mr. McCall, you are free to leave,” a Mexican official said, before turning to Freja. “Ms. Karlsson, you are to remain here for a short time, supported by your embassy’s officials, to answer questions about your time with the Estes family. You may have some helpful information.”
As they were guided in their separate directions, Rob quickly grasped Freja’s hand and handed her his business card. “Stay in touch. Remember, my yacht will be waiting for you and your family.”
Freja threw herself into Rob’s arms and gave him a long hug and kiss, before being escorted away, looking over her shoulder, tearful.
“Well, gentlemen,” the British embassy official started, “It’s nearly dinner time. We have an escort back to the embassy and have everything arranged for you there. You will stay the night before taking a flight tomorrow morning back to London.”
15
When Rob arrived back in London it was a bit of an anti-climax. Amazingly, although his rescue of Freja and Alvaro had been widely covered on news channels, he had, as requested, remained anonymous. The potential threat from the cartel and, of course, his involvement with MI5 meant it was best he stayed out of the public eye. Consequently, Nat and he arrived at Heathrow only to be met by two drivers ready to whisk them to their respective homes.
There was, however, a spring in Rob’s step; Laura had sent him a text which he received the moment he turned his phone on. Dinner at her place that evening! She apologised for not being able to meet him – as always, something had come-up. She would explain all later.
Rob waited to respond to a request from Demir that they speak. He wanted to be settled in his flat in Vauxhall, southwest London, first. Rob lived close to the River Thames and, very coincidentally, close to where Laura lived.
“Hello, Burak. You well?” Rob asked two hours later. He imagined their very different environments, he was sitting on a sofa in his comfortable living room, cup of coffee in front of him, whereas Demir was in a stark, secure, covert holding establishment an hour’s drive away. Gurning had insisted that Demir be interred there following his recapture a couple of months earlier.
“Rob! How are you?” Demir asked. “I’ve been so worried.”
“I’m fine, thanks, Burak. There were a few close calls, but I’m home again. That’s the main thing.”
“Absolutely! Well, I hope that you will think about taking a few more of the courses that Steven and Laura can arrange for you.”
