Chapter 15

Jack and Bobby left him to stew as long as possible hoping to rattle him but were sorely disappointed. The man sitting behind the table in the interview room exuded confidence, He leaned back elegantly on the hard chair looking relaxed as he casually inspected each of his beautifully manicured nails appearing to not have a care in the world.

"G'day Marco," began Bobby cheerily. "I hear that you are expanding your business empire." Marco rolled his eyes. "Got your fingers into lots of different pies these days. I've even been told that some of them are almost legitimate." Marco smirked. "Shame you can't get the staff though," continued Bobby. "Those two thugs, couldn't wait to spill the beans on your activities. We've certainly got enough to put you away without you even having to say a word."

Marco grinned, "I doubt it somehow," he sneered. "Now if you would give me my phone call I will be out of your hair soon enough."

"Sure, no worries mate," said Bobby. "Let me just go through the list of things we are holding you for so that you can give your lawyer all the details. In addition to all the things stated at your arrest we can now add supplying narcotics and attempted kidnap." Jack looked quickly towards Bobby and opened his mouth to speak before snapping it shut again. "I don't know what you're talking about," exclaimed Marco, indignantly. Whether this was real or fake was hard to determine.

"Really," replied Bobby, in mock surprise. "So you had no knowledge that Eddy, one of the goons working for you, tried to abduct a young lady."

Marco shrugged, "What Eddy does in his own time is his business."

"Your business empire is starting to tread on a few toes isn't it," put in Jack, steering the conversation away from Olivia. "How many crime lords have you brought down now?"

"What can I say, I appear to have the magic touch when it comes to business," Marco responded, arrogantly.

"I think that the magic may have evaporated or you wouldn't be here," said Jack, dryly.

"Yes, why am I here? You keep coming out with generalities, nothing specific, almost as if you were afraid to go there," drawled Marco.

"Go where?" asked Bobby.

"You know that I'm not after him, don't you?" he said casually, his eyes focussed on the two agents. Bobby and Jack straightened up, could this be it? Could it be this easy?

"Who?" asked Bobby, trying to act surprised.

"Oh I think you know who and I'll get to him at some point, that's a given, but for now I have more important fish to fry." Bobby and Jack felt puzzled, who was more important than Giordano if indeed that was who Marco was referring to?

"And the best part is, it will happen whether you put me in prison or not, you are too late," he began laughing.

"Too late for what!" cried Jack feeling worried.

"Why, to save Richard Leland of course! My uncle can be so stupid at times, he never realised that the 'computer expert' was my insipid cousin's husband. I knew straight away and now I can get rid of him and my uncle in one fell swoop."

Alarmed, Bobby nodded his head towards the door and he and Jack quickly left the room.

"Why is he telling us this?" demanded Jack. "That was practically a confession, even though he didn't mention Giordano by name. What's his plan? It's not as if he can take over operations from inside prison."

"I'm with you there, mate," replied Bobby "But we have to think about that later, first of all we need to know if Richard is alright!"

They rushed back to the bullpen, "Tara!" Jack called. "Is Myles' phone line clean?"

"Nope," she replied immediately. "Mobile only if you want to keep secrets." Jack quickly dialled Myles' number and waited for what seemed like hours before it went to voice mail. "Bobby, you're with me," he shouted. "There might be trouble."

"Jack," began Sue. "I have Olivia's number if that helps."

"Brilliant, see if she know where Richard is and keep me informed. We're on our way to Myles' house now."

"Is everything alright?" asked Sue, worriedly.

"I certainly hope so," answered Jack, grabbing his coat. "Try Olivia's number please, it's urgent."

They were almost at Myles' home when Sue telephoned Jack. "I managed to get in touch with Olivia. Myles has gone out to do some food shopping so it's just her and Katia inside. She sounded a little worried and when I asked she said that she thought there was some-one watching the house."

"There is. King's team is round at Mrs Wogie's, remember?" replied Jack.

"No, this is different. Olivia knows about the surveillance team, she thinks that there is some-one in the back garden, she says that she saw movement in the shrubs." explained Sue. "She sounds really scared."

"OK, we're on his road and about to pull up his driveway. I think we shall play the friends visiting card. Let Olivia know we're here?"

"Will do, be careful." Sue hung up.

Meanwhile, Jack went to the boot of his car and removed a large holdall. He and Bobby walked to the front door and knocked. When there was no reply Jack opened the letter box and shouted, "Myles, you in there? I've got your sports gear, have to say it's a good thing you remembered it, it starting to whiff a bit!"

"Doesn't look like he's in," commented Bobby, for the benefit of the surveillance team. "Take it round the back and leave it there, it should be safe enough." The two men sauntered round the side of the house then quickly ran to the back door which, fortunately, was unlocked. Olivia was in the kitchen clutching a large frying pan like a baseball bat. "I did know it was you," she said. "I heard you at the front door I'm just being careful." And she placed the pan back on the hob.

"We think that Richard is in danger," said Jack getting straight to the point. "Do you know where he was going to today?"

"He was going to show Papa the fake website. I think that they were meeting at the Blue Hibiscus. Papa was going to check how the renovations were getting along and Ricardo was going to meet him there." answered Olivia, worriedly.

"Stay here," ordered Jack. "Hide upstairs and make sure that the doors are locked. Don't let anyone in except Myles." Olivia nodded and the agents left.

"You aren't thinking of going in alone?" asked Bobby as Jack reversed the car out of the drive.

"No," replied Jack. "I'm taking you with me."

"That's not what I meant and you know it, we need to call this in mate," argued Bobby getting his phone out.

"Who can we call? We are the only ones available from our team." replied Jack.

"Then we need to call D. As our superior he has to know then it's up to him to arrange back up." Bobby was firm and Jack, after careful consideration, reluctantly nodded.

Bobby quickly explained the situation to a non too pleased D, finishing the call just as they pulled into a parking space near to the Blue Hibiscus. Jack moved to get out of the car.

"D says to wait for backup," remarked Bobby.

"Naturally," replied Jack. "I just want to get the feel of the place first, it can't harm." he got out of the car and moved towards the building, Bobby following closely behind trying to persuade him to get back into the car as instructed.

Neither was prepared for the loud explosion as the Blue Hibiscus turned into an inferno, the force of the blast catapulting the two agents into the air.