‘I know, it sounds stupid now to have kept quiet.’
I understood completely the need to keep a part of someone to one’s self, especially when they were gone.
‘Where is it now?’
‘I’ll have to go to the bathroom to retrieve it. And before you raise an eyebrow …’ She reached into her oversized handbag and removed, of all things, a sewing kit with a fine-tipped pair of embroidery scissors. ‘I had to hide it somewhere no one would think to look.’
Chapter 114
I SUGGESTED WE go straight to Eliza’s and pick up the book. Maybe there was a subtle message pointing to something in the text. And she could also extract the USB from her clothing in private.
My car was parked in the underground garage. I opened the passenger door and pain immediately exploded in the back of my skull. I hit the roof forehead first. Dazed, my head was suddenly in an arm lock.
‘You need to stay out of things that don’t concern you,’ a gravelly voice ordered, his grip tightening.
‘Like hell.’ I managed to pull more upright and jammed the heel of my shoe down his inside leg. The second he loosened his grip, I thrust my elbow hard into his solar plexus. He lost contact, staggered back. Using momentum, I spun around and struck. The crack echoed as my right fist made contact with his jaw.
He stiffened and dropped backwards on to the ground. He wasn’t getting up soon so I turned to Eliza. She was still in her chair, stunned.
‘Are you all right?’ She wheeled closer.
‘Better than him right now.’ A lump on my forehead throbbed. At least we were both alive. Bending down to check the pulse in his neck, I noticed red marks around his eyes. They looked like chemical burns. ‘I think this is the guy who attacked you the other night.’ I rifled through his pockets and found the wallet. Inside he had an Australian Department of Defence pass with his photo and name on it. Graydon Knight. I’d seen IDs like this before, different from ones carried by defence force members or public servants. ‘He’s Defence Intelligence,’ I said, as tyres squealed somewhere on a floor below.
‘ADIA was in my house?’
‘This time he didn’t mention handing anything over from your father.’
I suspected the Australian government wanted Eric Moss to stay dead as much for their own reasons as the CIA’s.
‘Craig?’ Eliza said. ‘Don’t move.’
I felt the sting of cold metal on the back of my neck.
Chapter 115
THE VOICE BEHIND me instructed, ‘Get him up.’
Knight had begun to rouse. I glanced sideways at Eliza, who nodded for me to do it. I wasn’t about to argue with the barrel of a gun at such close range.
A black van pulled up alongside us. The man with the gun aimed it now at Eliza. ‘Put him inside.’
It took what strength I had left to drag the semiconscious lug to the van. The man with the gun used his spare hand to open the van’s sliding door without his weapon losing its focus. I levered the dead weight of the agent in.
‘I’ve done what you wanted so let her go.’
‘Not so fast,’ he said. ‘I want Ms Moss to get in. We’d like to ask her some questions. Off the record, of course.’
He turned his back on Eliza for a moment and trained the gun on my chest.
‘Don’t hurt him,’ she pleaded. ‘I’ll go with you.’ She wheeled towards us.
Then I saw a silver glint in her hand. With one swift action, she lurched at the back of the man’s knee. He instantly buckled and I seized the gun.
Face contorted, he reached behind, yanked out the weapon and held up a bloodied pair of embroidery scissors.
Now I had the gun, I wanted answers. ‘What does Moss have that you need so badly?’
The man winced as blood gushed from his wound. ‘We thought he died in that blast, just like you.’
‘Who was behind the explosion? Moss can’t have acted alone.’
‘Ask her.’ He gestured with his head at Eliza. ‘She knows more than she’s letting on. That’s why we need to question her.’
I tightened my grip, aware the van had a driver I hadn’t seen yet, who could be armed. No one was taking Eliza. ‘Is ADIA acting alone or is the CIA pulling the strings?’
‘You already know Moss was privy to defence contracts.’ He tried to stem the bleeding with his hand. ‘Disabled or not, she’s dangerous. Next time it could be you she stabs.’
He wasn’t going to give me anything useful and his colour was fading. He needed medical attention.
I kept the gun steady. ‘Slowly get in the van and leave us alone, or we’ll go public with what we know. Ambassador Roden’s friends won’t be impressed at your cock-up.’
He limped to the open door and slid in, nursing his leg. The driver gunned the engine and sped off towards the exit. If they wanted Eliza, they had to be desperate. I dropped the gun to my side and moved to her.
‘Is there anything you can’t do?’ I asked in amazement.
‘The “YMCA” dance is out of the question. Can’t lift my arms above my head, remember?’
She was shaken but hadn’t lost her sense of humour. I pulled her to standing position, arm around her waist and eased her into the passenger seat. She drew the seatbelt across with her left hand.
I grabbed a packet of cleaning wipes from the side door and wiped blood from her hands.
‘Did I just commit grievous bodily harm?’ she asked.
I bent down so our eyes were level. ‘You stopped yourself from being kidnapped. They would have used you as a bargaining chip to get to your father.’ Or worse. They could have held her as a terrorist because of her father and his defence contracts. From what the agent had said, it sounded like ADIA really did think Moss had died in the explosion. So they weren’t part of any cover-up. They’d been duped like the rest of us. Maybe that was true of the US too. And if ADIA and the CIA didn’t switch the bodies, who did?
I closed the car door and folded her wheelchair into my boot, senses heightened for other potential threats.
We needed to find out what message Eric sent Eliza before anyone else tried to stop us.
Chapter 116
I PULLED OUT of the garage at top speed and called Mary on the hands-free about the ambush and threat. I warned them all to be alert and go to their cars in pairs for safety right now.
Darlene came on the line.
‘Craig, our little Gene-IE came through. The data from the DNA sample of the body was compatible with one on record.’
I flicked a glance at Eliza who held her breath.
‘All I got was a name, Bobby Sim, but he left a trail of media reports and public records. Fifty-nine years old, multiple convictions for drug possession, one for trafficking and a couple for aggravated sexual assault. This guy drugged and assaulted his victims.’
Eliza looked relieved it wasn’t her father.
‘How and when did he die?’ I asked.
‘Two weeks ago from lung cancer.’
‘Did he have any identifying features?’ I was thinking particularly about the arm lesion.
‘A press shot showed him in a t-shirt with a jacket over his face. He had a tattoo of what looked like an angel on his left upper arm.’
‘Great work, Darlene. Remember, we all need to be careful. This isn’t over. In fact, it just got a whole lot worse.’
As soon as we arrived at Eliza’s house, she collected her spare set of crutches and headed to the bedroom. I followed. A double bed was raised higher than normal, easier to get down from, I assumed. A bookshelf in the corner only had books on the middle shelves, at a functional height for Eliza. The top and lower shelves were filled with photos, vases and trophies. I couldn’t help noticing the multitude of swimming awards, including a gold medal in one corner. There was so much I didn’t know about this woman.
‘Wait a minute. This is gold from the 2008 Paralympics!’
‘For breaststroke. As you know, butterfly wasn’t an option.’
I had d
one a quick background search on Eliza and this wasn’t something she promoted in her company or online.
‘You won this and never think to mention it?’
‘It doesn’t make me any better than anyone else. It was a personal goal I set and got to achieve it. It doesn’t define me. That blue ribbon,’ she pointed to a small wide ribbon with faded writing, ‘for running twenty-five metres in first grade means far more. Doctors said I’d never walk, and it took me longer than anyone else, but it was my proudest moment. Dad’s too. It showed me life was about potential not limitations.’
She leant across and removed an old, faded picture book. ‘Here it is.’
We sat on the bed and she lovingly stroked the cover. I noticed there was minimal dust on it.
‘When was the last time you looked at it?’
‘Couple of years, maybe.’
Someone else had touched it since.
She opened it and flicked through the pages. ‘Every page is here.’
‘May I?’ I ran my hands over the cover and binding. ‘We need to pull it apart.’
Eliza hesitated then agreed. ‘Do whatever you need to.’
I used a knife from the kitchen. The lining inside the back cover came away more easily than expected. I opened the binding and separated the cover, exposing a thin piece of paper.
Chapter 117
ELIZA READ THE letter slowly, then handed it to me.
My dearest Eliza,
These words are my legacy to you. I see you rolling your eyes because you have heard all of this before, many times, in various forms over the years. These are my firm beliefs. If we are separated, this is what I pray you remember.
I have always been the best person I could be. I beg you never forget that.
It isn’t who you are in life that matters. It is what you do and WHY that counts. Intentions are paramount. I have always believed that inaction is more harmful than well-intentioned actions that fail.
Life is a series of illusions. Things aren’t always what they seem.
Each of us is the hero in your own story (and you in mine). However, we may equally be viewed as a villain in others’ stories, for genuine or perceived crimes. Despite holding different views, looking or sounding different, originating from another place, one truth is certain:
We all strive to live in a just world, and to see that our loved ones are safe and cared for.
If events occur beyond your control, accept them. You were neither complicit, nor responsible. You should never be shamed by them. Hold your head high for the woman you are. Innuendo, supposition and accusations of others have no role in your life.
Anger, hatred and bitterness are lethal poisons. They cause a slow, painful emotional death that only you suffer. Self-destruction will never defeat an enemy or create justice.
Be prepared to live with the consequences of your actions. If you will not be proud of an act, don’t commit it.
In times of struggle, always remember that when the pupil is ready, the teacher will appear. You will always have help should you need it.
Words can start wars, so be careful what you say and whom you say it to. Again, if you are afraid to own those words in a public forum, they are best never said.
Remember these things and you will have a safe, fulfilling and satisfying life.
Be true to yourself, my darling Eliza. Let each step bring you closer to your ultimate destination.
You are the greatest inspiration a man could have, and the dearest child. I love you forever, in this life and the next, from Questacon to Timbuktu and beyond.
This was a farewell note. Wherever he was, he was sure he would not be back.
Eliza slid off the bed and rested herself against the tallboy. She held a photo in a frame and handed it to me. In the faded image, a toddler grinned with pure joy at being held high in the air. The back of a man’s head was in the frame, as the child looked down adoringly.
‘I thought I could fly when I was in his arms.’ She wiped a tear from her cheek.
The letter referred to wars, crimes and self-destruction but I had to ask if Eliza had picked up anything else from his words. I re-read the final sentence.
‘Is there any significance to the phrase “from Questacon to Timbuktu and beyond”?’
‘Timbuktu was the silliest word I’d ever heard.’ She smiled. ‘It made me laugh every time Dad said it.’
‘Could he be letting you know he’s going to Africa?’
Eliza studied the photo again. ‘He’d ask me where it was, tickle me every time I got the answer wrong.’ She half-smiled. ‘I knew exactly where it was, so I mentioned every other city I knew, just to make the game last.’
Maybe the letter was a confession of sorts. Jack Morgan said CIA intelligence believed one of their operatives had turned. But who was he turning to?
There had to be something vital in the message. Questacon was a hands-on science centre in Canberra, the home of parliament.
As we headed back to Private so Darlene could examine the USB, I began to quiz Eliza, hoping to prompt a memory or association.
‘Did you ever visit Questacon with your dad?’
‘A few times. I loved that things were at wheelchair height and I could use almost every exhibit. But that was years ago.’
I thought about the buildings around that site on Lake Burley Griffin. The High Court, Old Parliament House, the National Gallery, government departments.
‘Did you visit any other places when you were there?’
‘We went to the zoo, the Australian Museum, the War Memorial. I always wanted to go in those paddling bikes, but Dad didn’t think it was safe for me.’
‘She who became a Paralympian swimmer.’
‘He was just protecting me.’ She looked out the window.
‘Did he ever go to meetings or stop for business when you were there?’
‘When we were together, he left work behind. It was just him and me. Unless there was a massive bushfire or floods or something he needed to be involved in, which was rare when we were on a road trip.’
‘Where did you stay?’
‘Close enough for us to get to Questacon without a car. He got a good deal, I think, at the Hyatt, the one on Commonwealth Avenue.’
I knew the hotel. It was a favourite for visiting politicians and dignitaries.
Eliza reflected, ‘I remember the first time he took me around the embassies. I loved the different types of architecture but one was my absolute favourite.’
Eliza’s eyes widened. She reached out and gripped my left arm tightly.
‘Oh my God, Craig. I know where my father is.’
Chapter 118
‘DAD’S AT THE Chinese Embassy. He has to be.’
I didn’t need proof. Eliza’s revelation made complete sense now. So much so, we were quickly back at the Private office. I stopped Eliza from mentioning our destination in the car or in the office. We had no idea who could be listening in. First, we needed to know if Darlene could extract any useful data. She put it straight in her computer.
‘I can’t see anything else on here apart from the kids’ book,’ she admitted, defeated. ‘Not even encrypted or corrupt files.’
I had been sure there was something else on the USB. Otherwise, Eric Moss could have sent his daughter a card or note making reference to the text. I hid the USB in a zippered compartment in my belt, something Becky had bought me for when we travelled. At the time I’d humoured her by wearing it. Now it might just come in handy.
We needed to get to Canberra asap. If Eliza’s hunch was right, her father could be preparing to leave the country with the help of the Chinese. And after the fiasco with his supposed funeral, he couldn’t afford to wait much longer. Thanks to us, the police, ADIA and CIA now knew he hadn’t died in that boat explosion. He could have already gone, but I believed the only reason he’d left the letter and USB was to give Eliza a chance to find him.
There were two major operative rules, both of which Mos
s had broken. Adopting Eliza was a complication he was supposed to avoid. He’d also failed to walk away and not look back when he had the opportunity.
But how to get to Canberra? Three hours on the road was too dangerous. We’d be followed for certain. I contacted Geoff Andren and explained the situation. Within half an hour Eliza and I were seated behind Geoff, in one of his friend’s private planes.
‘I just wanted to thank you for everything.’ Eliza leant over towards me. ‘I couldn’t have had this chance to find Dad without you.’
‘We haven’t found him yet, and we may be too late. Not to mention the trouble we could be in if we try to get into a foreign embassy.’
The engine started and I placed my palms flat on the armrest. Not knowing what we’d face, Eliza seemed keen to talk.
‘I loved seeing the variety of architecture among the embassies. Weird, for a child, but hey, I’ve always been different.’
I smiled. ‘I see you more as a stand-out. For all the right reasons.’
She looked down and pulled a section of hair behind her ear. I had to admit, from someone so confident and accomplished, the action was more than a little endearing.
‘We’ve got about forty-five minutes,’ I said. ‘We should rest while we can.’
Within minutes she was dozing. I watched her, wondering what the next few hours had in store. Eliza had made it clear that no matter the consequences, she’d seize any chance to see her father again. I consciously hadn’t asked what she would do if Eric wanted her to join him.
When the wheels finally hit the tarmac Eliza opened her eyes and stretched her neck. ‘Are we here already?’
‘Better grab your things. We don’t know when we’ll be back.’
The keys to a rental car awaited us at the terminal and we were soon headed north-west towards the city. Extensive road works slowed us. I obeyed every speed zone to avoid unwanted attention.
Within a few kilometres, it became apparent – two cars were tailing us. One was a marked police car. I accelerated, it accelerated. I slowed, it slowed. The Feds already knew we were here, and had to be still after Eric Moss.