ARMOUR

TUESDAY
19 months ago

CHAPTER 1

Connor Madden placed a hand on the briefcase nestled in the passenger’s seat as he pulled the black Mustang into a parking garage. It was a carefully selected predefined stop on his journey, a simple precaution along with every other safeguard. Four LED lights embedded into the wristband firmly attached to his wrist blinked in a random pattern and mirrored by the panel on the front of the briefcase.

He pulled his car into the designated parking space next to another black sedan. He had swapped a vehicle already, and this would be the last time he would have to disrupt his journey to the end point. He checked both wing mirrors and took one last look in the rear-view mirror before kicking open his door and pushed himself out.

Something flashed in his periphery, and he pirouetted as he instinctively reached for the firearm. Last line of defence. If the systems and processes didn’t protect the critical information, then the good old-fashioned lead certainly would.

Out of the shadows, a hand reached over his shoulder and placed a rag over his mouth. Within seconds, Connor closed his eyes and fell into oblivion.

Fifty-four minutes later, he awoke with a start. He was sitting in the sedan with no recollection of what had happened. He reached for the case in the passenger seat and ensured the light array matched his wristband. Then he checked his watch and rubbed his forehead. Long hours. Stressful situations. The job sometimes took its toll… at least, that’s what he kept telling himself.

He fired up the car, backed out of the parking spot, and left the garage for the bright Brisbane sunshine. Even though he arrived much later than originally planned, he was still in the delivery window (just), and the contents arrived in a secured format.

Being too embarrassed to say he took a nap in the car, Connor put the delay down to traffic, and no one ever mentioned it again. A blip on the radar. Barely made a flutter. But the people who kept Connor prisoner for almost an hour got everything they needed.

TUESDAY
14 months ago

CHAPTER 2

Asaf Cohen marched across Rabin square towards the recruiter. He checked his watch as he skipped over the geometric pattern inlaid into the pavers. Punctuality was a requirement. Not early, not late. Right on time, every time.

Although a public square lay in the centre of Tel Aviv, the landscape was sparse of people. A few families sought refuge from the Middle Eastern sun, resting on benches under the Cork Oaks and Olive trees. Regardless, Asaf surreptitiously memorised their faces. One never knew when such information would become useful.

A couple passed by behind him, scattering the resting pigeons with every step. She wore jeans and a yellow top. He wore denim shorts and a brown shirt, a blue backpack hanging from one shoulder.

Standing at the southern end of the square, in the shadow of a memorial sculpture commemorating the Holocaust, was the recruiter. Exactly where the instructions said he would be. A straw hat shielded his dark features from the public and was the same colour as his linen pants. A camera hung around his neck. Asaf didn’t know his name, would never find out his name. That’s just how things worked. Besides, it was different each time, and sometimes Asaf even wondered if they designed tests to push his patience more than get a result.

Asaf took in the sculpture as he approached; an upturned metal triangle, the walls of which are made up of vertical bars. He read that from above, it resembles the Star of David, and given the triangular cement base, he could see how that might be.

As he neared, the recruiter continued to read a section of his newspaper, the broadsheet having been folded over several times into something one hand could manage.

“Excuse me,” Asaf started. “Could you point me towards City Hall?”

“I could,” came the reply. “But then I’d have to look up from my newspaper.”

“Perhaps someone else might know the way.”

The recruiter checked his watch and then into Asaf’s eyes. No look of approval or displeasure. You never really knew where you stood with them… wouldn’t know until the end.

He looked back down at his paper.

“You see the apartment building to your right?” the recruiter asked.

“Of course,” Asaf replied without looking. He saw it when he arrived at the square. A drab rectangular building with a strip of shops at street level and residences taking up the rest of the six stories. Air conditioning units dotted balconies, with numerous white and grey shutters blocking the sun.

“The apartment four levels up, five from the right. You have ten minutes to appear on that balcony with the owner, drinking a glass of water. Time starts now.”

Without saying another word, Asaf turned and walked towards the building.

Several minutes later, in his periphery vision, the recruiter observed Asaf part the louver doors and place a hand on the balcony railing. He took a sip and pointed out to the square with the glass. The man beside him nodded vigorously. Without looking away from his paper, the recruiter tilted his camera and snapped a few photos.

Satisfied the task was complete, the recruiter placed the newspaper under his arm and marched off the square and into a waiting taxi.