3rd installment

a woman named Kitty.... part 3

 

1..

I picked up the cel with a trembling hand."Hello?" I said.

"Mark, this is Kitty.." Her name was no longer Arabella.

"Hey!!" How are you?..Where are you?"

" I am in the womens washroom of the airport. There are two gorillas in monkey suits outside, watching my every move..Two of the goons hired by Henry to bring me back to Manila.."

"Where did you get your cel?." I asked.

"I have a very tiny cel phone.It is hidden in a secret pocket inside my bra..Its a special gift from a friend I had before"

"Are these guys the ones who abducted you?"

"No" Kitty said.."The two who went to the Hotel just picked me up then they delivered me to these two f...rs!"

"Did they harm you?" "No" she said. "In fact I scratched the face of one and he bled slightly."

That explains the small blood stain.

.

"So these ones with you now haven't seen me yet?"

"No, not yet..Help me, Mark.." Her voice was trembling with fear..

She stopped a bit to calm her nerves then continued.."They are bringing me home to Manila to give me back to Henry. They will be paid handsomely for this..plus free travel expenses.."...

"What time is your flight?"

"We were supposed to leave at 7:00, but it was cancelled..Now we are to take the 10:00 pm..Have three hours ..Then I will never see you again.."

"Please help me, Mark". She started to weep.." Henry will surely kill me. And he does not kill people instantly....First he tortures his victims.And they will agonize to their deaths..I know this .There is a torture chamber below our house.He uses all kinds of drugs on his victims."

My mind began running in circles again... What can I do against these thugs? I do not even have a gun with me..And even if I did..

Then I asked.."What's the name of the airport you are in again?". She answered.."Trudeau International..".

 

" OK..call me again in exactly 30 mins..OK?.." There was a new ring in my voice.." I will tell you what to do.."

"Yeah? OK"whispered Kitty.

" So remember, be in a washroom again when 30 minutes is almost over, okay?"

"OK"..said Kitty. Her voice was about to break up..

 

 

2...

Then I dialed a number."May I talk with Ben please?"I asked the voice on the other line..

Another voice answered " Hello!!"

"Ben!!!!.."Listen!! I have a big favour to ask you.."

 

When I arrived in Canada my first job was at the Trudeau International. It was known then as Toronto Airport..My first job was an attendant in the parking lot. It was November and the weather was getting brutal but I needed a job very badly. One of my sons in the Philippines was sick at that time.

Two weeks later I met an old friend from the Philippines..That was Ben..He already had a high position in the Airport's Security Department..Noel recommended me to his superiors and I was accepted as probationary without much ado..

I was intelligent, had a good attitude and proper work ethics. After six months of probationary period, I won a permanent position. Plus the love and respect of most of my co-workers.. .My job also demanded a high level of anonimity..plus high stress that came with the position.

So I and some very close friends would usually spend our Saturday nights at the Magic Carpet lounge at a nearby airport Hotel..The hostesses wore flimsy Arabian Nights costumes..But no flying carpets in that joint. No lap dancing either. It was a 5 star Hotel...

After ten years, I resigned because I could not take the stress anymore.I found a job in one of the big corporate offices at Bay street.. The pay is just as high and the stress is just right for my sanity.. I surrendered my gun when I quit plus a signed waiver never to divulged any of the things I saw inside the department.

 

After 20 minutes of conversation with Ben, I dressed myself like a traveler then drove to the air port.I felt nostalgic when I saw its outline looming in the distance.

 

Terminal 3 was always packed with travelers ever since 9/11. Security got beefed up anytime a terrorist rumour circulated..Upon arrival, I went straight to Ben's office. Ben immediately brought me to the passenger's departure area, without having to pass through the Immigration.We used a special door. When we reached the departure lounge, Ben told me: "I will be here, Do what you have to do..Good luck!"

Immediately I went into a Men's washroom and waited for Kitty to call me. After 5 minutes, my cel phone rang.

Then we talked carefully and I had to be sure she understood everything I asked her to do.

My final words I said: "Even if you see me outside, pretend not to know me..OK?"

"I will, I will" she said weeping.

3...

I switched off my cel and calmly walked out..I saw Kitty leaving a women's washroom just a few meters away. She went to sit down beside those two atheletic looking men in monkey suits. Kitty was right. They really looked like gorillas...

I approached their seats with a Toronto Star paper in my hand. The minute I sat, Kitty looked at me briefly, then she lowered her eyes again. Her haggard face remained calm. She continued reading her book "Good girl" I said mentally..I continued reading my Toronto Star, but I could not understand any word of it..

 

Then a voice announced the initial boarding of the first class passengers. Kitty and her two friends remain seated. Stupid Henry, I said silently. Could not even afford a first class ticket for his wife he have not seen for years...

Then the rest of the passengers were called. I also stood up then shuffled my way directly behind Kitty.We were so close that I could smell the perfume in her hair....We inched slowly towards the counter where a last minute check of passports were being done.Airport security have really gone up the roof...My heart continued to beat high, and I tried not to lose my nerves..But it was getting there!

 

Then it was the two bodyguards' turn to show their passports. One of them turned to Kitty but the personin the counter said:"Wait sir, we'll start with you two first..She slowly examined their passports and while doing so, I noticed her hand went under the counter.I know there was.a button under that desk, Instantly 3 security people appeared from nowhere and surrounded the two. I grabbed Kitty's hand.."Let's go" I whispered..

The mens backs were towards us and in a minute, we were in the hallway..Ben joined us immediately when we turned into a corner and were already out of sight of the security people and the two Asian gorillas...We walked silently in a fast but normal gait....

We stopped in front of another door marked PRIVATE.. Fast as a wink, Ben opened it..Once inside, he said: "Okay, get out of this area as fast as you can using the second exit door you see on your left. This will bring you to the tarmac..From there you proceed to the parking lot..Hurry, and good luck..!!"

Thanks buddy!" I said shaking his hand tightly . He went out through the same door.

It was an empty dimly lit hall way..We started running to the 2nd exit door and then I opened it and peered outside..It was the tarmac, all right. Then we stepped out..Nobody was in sight.

The night air smelled so fresh and there was a faint machinery hum all over the area.The sky was filled with stars. We walked alongside the building until we saw a small door in the fence enclosing the tarmac. It was open! Good man, Ben!" I said..We continued running.I gripped her hand so tightly like I never did before..

We reached the parking lot without any hitch. Found my car, fumbled with the key and soon, we were inside. We were breathing hard like horses after a race as we dropped into the front seat..

"Mark, oh Mark!! We made it" cried Kitty, embracing my neck and kissing me all over my face..

"Thought I would never see you again baby" I said.But back of my mind I knew we were not completely out of the woods yet

"Ben is a good friend of mine..One time, someone in our department tried to sabotage his job, but I testified for him during a hearing. ..He was cleared so he got his old job back. He owed me big time.Now he paid me back. When I told him about you, he rounded up some of our old friends who were working night shift and concocted a plan to hold those guys at leasttemporarily on some false or suspicions. You know, the terrorist issue. At least long enough until we could make a clean getaway.."

"They looked like real terrorists anyway, " she laughed. She planted a kiss squarely on my lips.."I love you more "she said passionately

"But we have to get out of here", I said as I started my car..Then we pulled out of our spot to find the way back to the highway..

But when reached a striped passenger's crossing lane, a man darted in front of us and stared at us on the face.I stopped completely..

"Shit!" exclaimed Kitty.".It is one of them!!!..And he recognized me!!"

I saw his eyes blazed like a tiger. I stepped on the gas and our car sped away. Then I slowed down to see what the hell he was doing...

"He is looking for a car,," said Kitty.

"Now he is bashing the window of one with a rock.." We heard a car alarm sound...

"The bastard is stealing a car!" Kitty screamed..

I braced myself.."Put on your seat belt tight, sweetheart..We are going for a real rough ride!!!." I said as I stepped on the gas pedal---#

to be concluded