“Shit!”
There was silence for a few moments before Demir continued. “In that case, I will pull out all the stops.”
“Yes, I know you will, which is why I mention it.”
“Shit!” The Turk never minced his words, but when it came to those he loved and respected, it was clear when he really meant it. “I will find out everything I can… It doesn’t look good, does it.”
“Unfortunately not.”
“How’s Laura doing? I think she likes him.”
Gurning smiled at the understatement. “She’s taken it hard. That’s all I can say. Let me know if you hear anything.”
After their goodbyes Gurning pondered Demir’s news. The potential ramifications of disrupting major drugs routes were huge. While that was what the authorities strived to do, they always wanted to do so in a controlled manner to avoid an outbreak of violence. If dealers, runners and others within the drugs business suffered, so be it. But when there was potential for innocent collateral, then the authorities were very concerned. The unanswerable question was how quickly any interruption to the incoming drug supply chain would be felt on the streets.
5
Rob kept tugging on the nanny’s hand and dragged the boy over the grass with all his strength. All the while he looked about for where the shooter was, and for some protective cover. Silhouettes of another small group emerged from between two chalets, their profiles highlighted by the sensor lights illuminating their path.
It’s not us being shot at! Rob realised; they were comfortably in the shadows. But the nanny’s screech had given them away!
No sooner had the shooter killed the small group, than he turned his attention to them! Bullets started to kick up the earth about their feet, just as they crashed into the forest. Ignoring the branches that scratched their bodies, they ploughed on, desperate to put distance between themselves and the shooter. Rob knew they were making a racket as they crashed through the undergrowth, but there was no alternative as more bullets whizzed passed, thumping into trees.
Will the shooter hold his position, or follow us? Rob pondered. After a few minutes Rob slowed their pace; he was expecting to come across a path. “As quiet as possible,” he whispered. “There should be a path up ahead, if it’s not monitored, we can use it to move more quickly.”
The nanny gave a tug to make Rob stop. “But the gunmen will be able to find us more easily!”
“Only if they are bothered about us. Hopefully, they won’t know you escaped and not bother about a trio of guests. The path leads into the hills, away from the roads and their getaway cars.”
They set off again and soon came across Rob’s path. An hour’s hard walking later, Rob halted. They were exhausted, ears alert for sounds of a potential aggressor and eyes straining in the dark to avoid overhanging branches and holes or bumps in the path. “Okay, let’s find somewhere to rest.” Receiving no response, he guided them off the track. A few minutes later they found a small clearing and Rob pulled various ferns together with large clumps of grass to form a large rough and ready matt. The three were soon fast asleep.
* * *
Dappled, flickering light from the sun shining through breeze agitated leaves played on Rob’s eyelids, gently waking him from a deep slumber. Pleasant birdsong chattered through the forest. For a few moments Rob was completely disoriented, forgetting where he was and why. Gradually, he became aware of a strange weight on his chest. Rolling his head to one side and opening his eyes he saw an attractive woman’s face close to his and realised that her arm was draped over him, but it wasn’t Laura! What! Who is she?! Have we done anything?! The moments of sleep induced confusion soon passed as reality and recollection hit him.
Rob gently moved the nanny’s arm aside and stood up. Leaving her and the boy sleeping, Rob set about his daily stretching routine.
“What are we going to do?” Rob looked round to see the nanny watching him from where she lay.
“Somehow stay safe and find help. We also need to find something to eat. If we keep following the path we may come across a settlement. There’s no reception here so our mobile phones are currently useless.”
“Do you know which way to go?” the nanny asked dubiously.
“Not really, just away from the resort.”
“Why don’t we go back? Surely the police will be there by now?”
“Unfortunately, I don’t have the same degree of trust in their helpfulness as I do in a British policeman.” He paused for a moment. “I still don’t know your name.”
The nanny smiled. “Freja Karlsson. The police at home in Sweden are like yours in Britain; very approachable.” She paused before adding, “Thank you for helping us, you saved our lives.”
“It was the least I could do; there is no reason why either you or Alvaro should get caught up in his dad’s affairs. What do you know about him?”
“Very little, but realised early on that he must be an important criminal.”
“Why is that? How did you become their nanny?”
“I was here in Mexico travelling and applied for a nanny job to earn some money. I met the Estes’ at their amazing home in Mexico City. Everything was above board, I had gone through a reputable agency and the first days were fine. However, it all changed when Henrique announced that we were going to northern Mexico for a couple of months. I objected. I didn’t want to go because of the drug crime up there and I had only taken the job as a fill-in. That was months ago.”
Freja hesitated and glanced back at Alvaro, who was still sleeping. “What happened?”
“I didn’t have a choice. Henrique flew into a rage and refused to let me leave, saying that I was to stay until I was no longer needed. He was very threatening, adding that I had better do a good job. When I returned to my room I found that my computer and phone had been taken away, so I was effectively a prisoner. I haven’t spoken to my parents or anyone outside of the family since. You were the first person yesterday.”
Tears started to flow and Rob stepped forward and, awkwardly, gave her a hug. “Well, you are free of him now and we will soon have you back in contact with your family.” A few minutes later Rob pulled away. “Come on. Let’s wake Alvaro and head off. The sooner we do, the sooner we can put you back in touch with your family. By the way, does Alvaro speak any English?”
“No. None. I learnt Spanish before coming out, which is how I got the job.”
* * *
Two hours later the path they were walking along forked, a well-trodden route to their right while a narrow path headed downhill. Alvaro was grumbling from hunger, and Rob was becoming desperate. He told Freja and Alvaro to wait for a few minutes and jogged down the smaller path.
When Rob returned it was with a smile on his face. “The path leads to a small settlement. I also saw a market, so at the very least we will be able to get something to eat.”
As they were about to emerge into a small dirt square with a few market stalls, Freja grabbed Rob and Alvaro back, pushing them behind some bushes, holding a finger up against her lips.
Once well-hidden, Freja pointed to the far side of the square where a clean and expensive car had just pulled-up, “Look.”
Rob nodded: the car and the two men who had got out looked out of place. “What are you thinking?”
