Doubtful Identity E-Book

Jeremy McHarry

• Herausgeber: Bentockiz
• Kategorie: Krimi
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023

Beschreibung

Today, it’s such a talk worthy event that people are even interrupting their own and other people’s meals to discuss it, something she’s never seen before and is even somewhat of a cultural taboo. As she’s hurrying, she is at least glad to hear that she can detect no embellishments to the story as it’s told and re-told. When she’s asked, she honestly says that she don’t have time to talk, because finally today is her day.

Leseprobe

Title Page

Doubtful Identity

Bouquet of Fresh Air

Jeremy McHarry

Doubtful Identity / 4th of series: Bouquet of Fresh Air / By Jeremy McHarry

Published 2023 by Bentockiz

e-book Imprint: Uniochlors

e-book Registration: Stockholm, Sweden

e-book ISBN: 9789198834147

e-book editing: Athens, Greece

Cover Images created via AI art generators

Table of Contents

Title Page

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Introduction

Through books we come into contact with everything important that has happened in the past, analyzing also current events and putting our thoughts together to predict the future. The book is a window to the world, acquiring valuable knowledge and sparking our vivid imagination. It is a means of entertainment and is generally seen as a best friend, or as a slave that carries together all valuable information for us. The book is a friend who stays together without demands, a friend you call upon at every moment and abandon when you want.

It accompanies us in the hours of boredom and loneliness, while at the same time it entertains us. In general, a book does not ask anything from us, while it waits patiently on a dusty shelf to give us its information, to get us out of dead ends and to travel us to magical worlds.

This may be the travel mission of our books. Abstract narration, weird or unconscious thoughts difficult to be understood, but always genuine and full of life experiences, these are stories of life that can’t be overlooked easily.

This may be the start of something amazing!

Chapter One

It was 3.17 am when a dark coloured car slowly drove down Kemurnian and stopped a hundred metres from a group of shops that were closed like all the others at that time of night. Colonel Mirzah glanced around and failed to see any sign of activity as none of his men were in plain sight. Finally he asked his driver ‘See anything?’

‘No sir!’

The next moment he heard a single knock on the glass that made the colonel’s head snap around with his heart missing several beats only to see Sergeant Darmadi and attempted to hide his surprise. ‘Report Sargent!’ Saying it louder than he intended.

The Sergeant squatted next to the car on the protected side to keep his presence concealed and whispering ‘Sir! Not so loud Sir! Captain Azimi is in position with his men. He said he’ll go in at 0330.’

The colonel asked. ‘And the support team?’

‘Around the corner on the left at the far end of the street. We have all the special items you requested. Even Captain Azimi showed a slight smile, sir,’ said Sergeant Darmadi with a continuing grin.’

The colonel found the Sergeant’s smile contagious and smiled only then remembering his professionalism and quickly returned to his usual stern expression, while thinking I’ve never seen Captain Azimi smile.The colonel glanced at his watch. ‘Five minutes to go, you better get back to your men Sergeant’ and watched the soldier fade into the night. He turn on his radio to monitor the channel to ensure radio silence was observed until the raid took place, then he glanced at his watch again and saw it was 0329, a minute to go.

Captain Azimi crept quietly down the footpath followed by ten of his soldiers all covered in sweat. The humid Jakarta night had done its work and made wearing heavy body armour a nightmare, not that the extra load of automatic weapons did anything to improve their discomfort. The Captain led his team and assembled outside the closed shop, beside it stood a locked door that prevented access to the staircase and the apartments above. Their target was asleep in the front apartment on the second floor. The Captain also knew it had an excellent view of the street and that a trapped agent with an automatic weapon could do a lot of harm if he considered he had nothing to lose, hence their caution. The Captain signalled one of his men to pick the lock in what seemed like a few seconds a click was heard and the door gently swung open.

The Captain’s hand went up and gave a signal, which instigated the four designated men to creep up the stairs. The first two went to the apartment while the second pair stayed on the stairs ready to relay signals from the first two. Once in position they indicated all was securer. Once the signal was given the Captain indicated to the others to follow and within a minute the entire team was in position outside the apartment ready to strike.

The lock specialist examined the door and signalled they should pick the lock rather than knock the door down. Captain Azimi shook his head but the specialist indicated that the door mightn’t open on the first attempt. Reluctantly the Captain gave him a nod and watched the lock specialist do his work. After a moment a very loud click was heard which make all the soldiers flinch as the noise seamed to echo up and down the corridor. The lock specialist glanced at the captain and shrugged, only to receive an icy glare from his officer in return. Gradually the door was pushed open. Captain Azimi once again regretted not having night vision goggles and decided he would raise the subject yet again with the colonel after the raid.

The room was only partially illuminated by the streetlight coming through the open window barely enough to detect the target. The only sound came from the heavy breathing from the bed. Captain Azimi signalled for two of his soldiers to enter while the remainder stared from the door all pointing their weapons towards the sleeping man. The two designated soldiers crept in slowly with the soldier on the left standing next to the bed with his gun pointing down at the sleeping man. The target was asleep uncovered in his underwear, clearly a victim of the steamy Jakarta night. The second soldier quietly placed his weapon on the floor then when readied to leap onto the sleeping man. Once he was holding down the target signalled the other soldiers to charge in too secure the room.

A startled cry was heard as the man in the bed woke and struggled violently, unsure of what was happening to him. The lights came on which answered his question when he saw all the guns and soldiers surrounding his bed telling him it was futile to struggle any longer. Still stunned by the realisation as to what had just happened he let his body go limp and accepted the inevitable. He had been taken prisoner. Seconds later he was forcefully rolled over onto his stomach with his arms being brutally forced behind his back followed by the dreaded sensation of cold metal being tightly fastened around his wrists and feet. After the cuffs were fitted strong hands grip him and dragged him off the bed then roughly dumped him on the nearest chair.

‘You two watch the prisoner. The others secure the corridor and stairs’ ordered Captain Azimi.

‘Yes sir!’ came the replies from his men.

Captain Azimi turned on his radio and announced. ‘Target is secured! All units move in.’

Minutes, later trucks were heard, accompanied by the sound of many heavy feet running up the stairs. This was followed by soldiers coming through the door carrying boxes of magazines, posters, VCR tapes while one man watched while holding a video camera. ‘Start setting up! Remember what we talked about. I want it done right!’

‘Yes sir!’ came the many replies.

Finally the Chinese man broke his silence and called out with a shaky voice. ‘What are you doing?’

Sergeant Darmadi turned coldly toward the man and said in Bahasa ‘We just caught the paedophile that has been terrorising all the children in and around China Town!’

The prisoner cried out ‘I’m no paedophile!’ and abruptly stopping as he saw the magazines and posters being precisely placed all over his room with his TV now showing a video on the subject, while another soldier was hanging assorted children’s clothes in his wardrobe. ‘Why are you doing this to me? I’ve done nothing!’

‘Because you’re a filthy communist spy from the People’s Republic of China,’ proclaimed the colonel as he stood in the doorway inspecting the now fully prepared room. The Colonel asked ‘Where’s the children and nurses?’

‘They should be arriving shortly’ replied Captain Azimi.

‘Start filming as soon as they arrive. I want it clearly seen that the nurses are rescuing the children. No carrying them out of the room into the Ambulances. Perception is everything. I want the world to see what a wretched creature we have caught here. Remember perception, is that clear and make sure you take plenty of film.

‘This is all a lie!’ screamed the Chinese man who was now forcefully being held in his seat by two of the soldiers.

The colonel saw his defiance and walked over extruding malice with every step until he bent down and quietly spoke into his ear. ‘No one in this room cares what you think. You will do what you are told or I’ll make you suffer! Just remember this, you don’t know what pain is until you have felt it from me.’ The prisoner stopped protesting. His defiance evaporated. His rage instantly transformed into a frozen expression of terror.

* *

It was mid-afternoon when Zhi Yi was brought hooded into an interrogation room still only wearing his underwear then he was roughly forced into a chair. Sergeant Darmadi unclipped one of the handcuffs then looped it through a steel ring that was fastened to the table then reattached it again before he removed the hood.

As the light hit his eyes Zhi Yi blinked several times as he looked around the room and cringed at the sight before him. Two soldiers with cold-blooded stares stood beside a transformer with attached cables.

‘Zhi Yi you are a spy! We have your radio, computer and codebook. Now you will tell us about your handler and what you have been doing’ demanded Captain Azimi.

‘I am no spy you have the wrong man’ pleaded Zhi Yi.

‘Sir! Permission to torture the prisoner, sir’ yelled Sergeant Darmadi enthusiastically.

‘No Sergeant I believe the General wants to personally shove the electrodes up his arse. You can flick the switch if you want,’ said the Captain, the last part sounded more like an afterthought before he continued with his icy glare at the prisoner.

‘Thank you. Sir!’ bellowed the Sergeant.

Zhi Yi tried to move but the steel ring held him fast and forced him to give a short cry after he hurt his wrist.

‘Don’t struggle. You’ll only hurt yourself. If we want you hurt we’ll do it for you!’ proclaimed the Captain after he had leaned over and quietly spoke into the prisoner’s ear.

Only minutes after he entered the interrogation cell it become apparent that the prisoner was rapidly crumbling from the psychological pressure.

Zhi turned his head and stared into Captains Azimi’s cold eyes and realised this man could happily torture him to death without the slightest hint of remorse.

Distracted by a noise informed Zhi that the interrogation room’s door had opened. The two soldiers snapped to attention which allowed Zhi to tear his gaze away from his interrogator’s eyes. Before him stood a senior officer who casually sat in the opposite chair at the other end of the table and stared at the pathetic sight before him. ‘I’m Major General Rundi second in command of BAKIN. I believe you might have heard of us.’

‘I not heard of you! I, I am wrong man! Cook, me cook food, food at restaurant’ stammered Zhi Yi.

The general said quietly ‘this is a copy of your radio and e-mail transmissions for the last six months, you are not only a spy but a bad one at that.’

Zhi Yi looked at the papers showing the time and dates with the attached messages he had sent. BAKIN had him and there was no way of denying it so he decided to tell them the truth and hope for a trade of some sort.

‘I am Captain Zhi Yi of the People’s Republic of China. I’m attached to the International Liaison Department (ILD). If you let the Embassy know of my capture I am sure they will negotiate for my release.’

‘You’re an illegal! They will deny you even exist’ declared the General.

‘So your handler is in the embassy’ yelled Captain Azini.

‘No, no I never said that!’

‘You’re telling me bullshit! I hate it when someone lies straight to my face!’ yelled the General, slapping the table with his teak baton.

Zhi not knowing what to do hung his head and said nothing. Seeing his submissive gesture the captain moved closer. ‘Do you want the electrodes, Sir,’ asked Captain Azimi while the Sergeant grinned so the prisoner could see his eagerness.

The General thought for several long seconds to consider his options. He needed to turn this agent without seriously hurting him either physically or physiologically. In the end he decided to merely scare him some more and when the time was right give him a way out.

‘Captain what sort of results have you been getting out of the different interrogation methods of late,’ asked the general.

‘Sir, water and sleep deprivation has been giving good results, but it’s slow. The Sergeant here is very talented with his fists and gets good results, though sometimes the prisoner dies not long after from the sustained beatings. We have developed a new technique with the electrodes is very effective but the prisoner keeps passing out from the pain. Though the compensation for this is they soon find they have a lot to talk about. The main side effect is they typically lose control of their arse for three to six months.’

The general could see the sweat pouring downZhi’s face and thought he wasn’t a brave man nor was he a smart man. He was someone putting in his time so that he could be promoted when he returned to China. Probably a relation to someone in the Politburo.

‘Zhi do you have a particular choice as all our options have proven effective? So tell us what you know or we will torture you until you do’ demanded the General with a hint of sinister friendliness in his voice.

Zhi lifted his head slightly and started crying. He knew he was about to be tortured until he could bear no more. In the end his body would be broken and he would tell them everything as he knew no one can withstand prolonged torture.

General Rundi watched his reactions very closely and could tell he was on the brink ‘Turn on the VCR.’ They watched the tape then played it again, finally the General said ‘Captain Azimi, excellent work. After this is given to the international media everyone will believe we have caught one of the foulest creatures on the planet a paedophile then after searching his computer and apartment we discovered he was a spy for the People’s Republic of China. There will be an outcry from all around the world that within the ILD agents have organised themselves into international paedophile rings. We might even push the issue in the United Nations. After all this hullabaloo we will have a very public show trial and after you are found guilty and to show the People’s Republic of China there are no hard feelings we will send you back home. We both know it will not be a happy homecoming. After a grilling by your superiors, who will not believe a single word you say or even care if you are telling the truth you will be treated as a drug addict. You will be taken to the mountain where one bullet will be put in the back of your head with the bill for the bullet being sent to your family, just as if you were a heroin user. Of cause this will take twelve months. Twelve months of pure hell and all the time you will know what is coming in the end: the mountain and the bullet. I suspect by the time the bullet comes it will be a blessing.’

Zhi sobbed as he realised his life was over and he would be trapped in a living hell. ‘What are you going to do to me now?’ Zhi said sniffling between each word.’

‘Popular opinion is that I should let you spend a considerable amount of time with Captain Azimi and his very talented Sergeant, then continue with our plan. Though, I do have another alternative. One that would not only save you from all this unpleasantness could make you a national hero!’

Zhi lifted his tear stained face as he had given up all hope, ‘What? What are you saying?’

‘I’m saying you could not only live through this! You could become a national hero. Just tell the captain all he asks and if we are convinced you are telling the truth and can be trusted, we’ll talk again. Just remember this, if you lie we’ll know and you know what will follow. If you cooperate we’ll talk again,’ said General Rundi as he got up he nodded to the captain before he left the room.

* *

The next morning Captain Azimi gave a full report to General Rundi. He sat at his desk and carefully read the document. ‘So his controller comes from the embassy. He was to collect general information on Indonesia and their political groups and be ready for any special assignments. His last special assignment involved the purchase of the F-16 fighters. It’s a pity he doesn’t watch CNN, it would have saved him a lot of trouble.’

Captain Azimi then interjected, ‘Sir. He has high connections. His uncle is the Minister for Defence. He was simply putting in the required time to obtain a promotion. He was due to go home in six months.’

General Rundi stared at his Captain for a long moment as he knew the Captain had no idea of his plan or how valuable that piece of information would be then asked ‘how is he?’

‘He is completely shattered.’ He should never have been selected as an agent,’ said the Captain. ‘Zhi spent the night sleeping on a cold concrete slab and has no idea what we intend on doing with him.’

‘Good! Tell me, did he lie?’

‘Not that I could tell. He appears to be a broken man not capable of deceit,’ pronounced the captain.

‘Take him to the interrogation room,’ ordered the general as his mind raced as he went through all the options.

Half an hour later the general sat down at the other end of the table from Zhi Yi and stared at the pathetic sight before him. At first sight the general began to have second thoughts on whether this man was up to the task. Finally he demanded ‘What’s your real name?’

‘Huang!’

‘Sergeant, leave the room.’

‘Yes sir,’ and promptly left closing the door behind him.

‘I have a proposition to put to you. If you accept you will become a national hero in the People’s Republic of China or if you decide not to accept then you will become a national disgrace not only to yourself it will include your family. I would imagine a scandal like this would destroy your uncle’s career. Would it not?’

Zhi was so traumatised he hadn’t given the slightest thought to what would happen to his family back in China. Then he broke out into uncontrolled trembling. ‘Stop! Stop this!’ he cried with snot running from his nose while he continued to lower his head until his forehead rested on the table. ‘I told you everything. There is no more! Just make it go away. Please, please make it go away,’ he sniffled as the snot continued to spot the table. ‘Tell, tell me wha...’ sniffled Zhi as the body tremors increased.

‘You will act as a double agent and keep Captain Azimi informed on what you are doing. We will not act on any of your contacts while you are in Indonesia so your cover will be protected. When the time comes for you to return to the People’s Republic of China we will let you go and say nothing. But I want you here for four years. Not a day less.’

Zhi nodded then said ‘And how will that make me a national hero?’

‘Captain would you join the Sergeant.’

Once the door closed the General leaned closer and spoke with a low voice, ‘I want you to make contact with your uncle the Minister for Defence and tell him I would like a private meeting. I want to discuss a plan I have which will return Taiwan to the People’s Republic of China.’

Zhi eyes widened, he could hardly believe his ears. Getting Taiwan back would easily make him a national hero. But how ? ‘Why would you do such a thing?’

The General smiled ‘that is not your concern at this time. What I need you to do is establish a communication channel with your uncle that does not involve your embassy. I would suggest a courier system. Those pig eating Americans listen to everything electronic but are too lazy to chase a single man. Say nothing about Taiwan just say the subject is of great importance to your uncle and the People’s Republic of China. Can you do that?’

‘Yes it will be easy we already have a contingency plan for sending such messages’ whispered Zhi.

‘Good! Captain Azimi knows nothing of this. Put all your correspondence in a sealed envelope and ask the captain to bring it to me, only the captain. I will brief the captain on what is to happen’ ordered the general. ‘Do we have an agreement?’

Zhi nodded as enthusiastically as he could while saying ‘Yes, yes just don’t double cross me! My uncle has long arms and it will take a lot more than BAKIN to keep us both alive if this goes sour!’

The General let his friendly expression fade to one of stone. ‘This is a dangerous business! No one ever said it was safe. If things go wrong there will be a queue to see who kills us first. So stop being sloppy and start using the skills you were taught.’

Zhi nodded then held up his handcuffed hands.

‘Captain Azimi will look after you,’ the General stood and gave Zhi one last penetrating stare before he left the interrogation room. He struggled not to show too much residual disgust for his prisoner, or rather, his new double agent. He thought the man is out of his depth though I can manipulate him to do anything I want .

J.L.Kartikautama Jakarta, January 1998.

It was mid-afternoon when the taxi pulled up in front of Stuart’s house in Jakarta. Stuart climbed out of the car and was relieved to be out of the four-wheel sweatbox silently cursing the lack of air-conditioning. Once the taxi drove off he entered the code into the security pad and heard the electric motor activate to open the large steel gate, which allowed him to walk into the courtyard with his bags. He hit the red button with his elbow and heard the gate rumble again as it closed. The only thing he had on his mind was a cold beer. Just as he reached the front door he noticed a woman wearing a purdah jump through the remaining gap a split second before the gate closed just avoiding the closing metal.

Completely surprised by what had just happened Stuart snapped incredulity ‘can I help you?’

‘Bloody well get me inside so I can get out of this thing.’

Stuart stammered ‘Maryanne!’

‘Can you say it a bit louder? Not everyone in the street heard you’ snapped the ASIS agent.

Stuart was exhausted, stunned and simply unable to relate the woman in this garb with the same well dressed woman he had met at the Embassy. After the initial shock wore off he rolled his eyes up to heaven. Cursing, ‘Come in!’

Once inside his two-story house he turned on the air-conditioning and watched Maryanne pull off her disguise with Stuart seeing she was wearing a tee shirt and shorts underneath. Her hair and clothes were sopping from perspiration with salt stains clearly being seen around the neck of her tee shirt. She was exhausted and looked a real mess.

Stuart sat her on the lounge and fetched a bottle of cold water then watched her gulp it down so he got a second.

‘What in the hell are you doing Maryanne? Bloody hell! You shouldn’t be here.’

‘I had to talk to you. I have been travelling all over Jakarta today to make sure I wasn’t being followed. Fortunately no one did.’

‘Almost killing yourself in the process. This heat is bad, really bad. If you don’t drink enough you’ll collapse. Always take a bottle of water with you. Damn you’ve been here long enough to know that,’ growled Stuart as he came back with another bottle of water.

Maryanne ignored her foolishness and wanted to push it aside. She only wanted to ask Stuart why he had her cut out of the assignment.

Stuart had already realised her motive and cut her off. ‘No we aren’t doing this! Not now! Not until you’ve had a cold bath and some more fluids, then I’ll make dinner. By the way you’re staying here tonight and that’s not negotiable.’

Maryanne felt so bad from heat exhaustion she conceded and returned a slight nod.

Stuart ran her a cool bath and placed a clean bathrobe in there with fresh towels.

‘I don’t want to see you again for an hour. If you come out any sooner I’ll throw you back into the tub, is that clear!’

Reluctantly she nodded.

Stuart watched her close the door cursing to himself all I wanted was and easy afternoon before beginning that mountain of paper work on my desk.He glanced at the calendar on the wall which only reminded him he had three weeks to get everything together. On top of all that he had Maryanne stumbling around like an amateur.

He unpacked and threw a heap of dirty washing into the laundry, before he returned to the kitchen to finish his beer, then he noticed the answering machine as he walked by. The number read thirty four messages prompting him to groan before he snapped back at the machine ‘tomorrow will have to do.’

Not knowing what he should prepare prompted him to search the fridge and kitchen where he found he could make spaghetti-bolognaise and decided that it would have to do as he was too tied to make anything else.

An hour later Maryanne walked into the lounge room wearing a bathrobe with a towel wrapped around her head. ‘Thanks! I feel much better.’

‘Well I hope you still think that after you’ve tasted my cooking’ said Stuart with a smile.

She sat at the table as he placed a plate of spaghetti-bolognaise and a beer in front of her.

Stuart lifted his glass and said ‘Cheers.’

‘This is good. I should come over here more often’ declared Maryanne.

‘Over my dead body’ said Stuart flatly, then he saw the hurt look on her face.

‘We can’t see each other again, not like this. It would be like putting a neon sign on my house saying “ASIS Safe-house!” spies live here!’

She had already come to terms with what she had done so she softened her stressed expression ‘I know, but I had to ask you. Why you took my assignment away from me. This was my big chance to prove myself it would have been the turning point in my career.’

He looked into her large brown eyes and could see she was very hurt over the situation. Blood hell, it’s my life on the line not hers. ‘Have you learnt how BAKIN nailed this Abdi Reza?’

‘No.’

‘Well if you don’t know and I don’t know which includes Canberra then how did it happen. BAKIN is not all that good at catching moles so someone told them. Unless! This Abdi guy cracked under the pressure and had some sort of death wish?’

Maryanne shook her head.

‘So who told BAKIN?’ asked Stuart. ‘Unless you believe they just got lucky.’

Maryanne pondered this for a moment then said ‘Abdi was an arrogant bastard but he was very careful, though he was showing signs of strain towards the end. Most of the pressure was from the Indonesian political system not his spying. He told us he could see the end of Suharto’s presidency and it scared him.’

‘So how was he caught?’ asked Stuart.

‘I, we just don’t know’ she said. ‘His handler is back in Australia and he said everything was fine right up to when the wheels fell off.

‘Personally, I believe we have a leak!’ Stuart watched her face closely before continuing ‘At least I assume we have one and I am going to work under that assumption.’

Maryanne conceded any mainstream operation would have been compromised before it even started so she gestured for Stuart to continue.