#covertoperation

 CHAPTER 88(V)

In the older part of the village James Fraser eventually arrived at the address William Ransom had given him of her containment. Parking the SUV a short distance away, he got out of the car and quickly surveyed the area. It was dark and he merged into the dimly lit street easily. Double-checking the number, the house Jamie was looking for was just up the street from his parked van. Wasting no time, he swiftly ran along the pavement with the finesse of a jaguar in flight. His fluid movements were poetry in motion as his heels clipped his backside as he ran towards the house where he would find Claire. Before entering the property, once again, Jamie observed his surroundings, then, with his weapon drawn, he cautiously entered the residence as quietly as a shadow. Although the house looked old and dilapidated from the outside and appeared as if it had been unoccupied for some time that was far from the truth. There was evidence on the ground level that someone had been there of late but they had left recently as well. Obviously, Claire must have been moved to a different location. Jamie explored the house going from room to room looking for any evidence as to who may have her or where they may have taken her. The search didn't take him long but unfortunately, he came up empty handed, however, judging by the state of the rooms, he ascertained that he couldn't be that far behind them. Somewhat despondent that he hadn't been able to get here quick enough to rescue Claire, he was just about to leave the property when his foot accidentally dislodged the rug covering the floor. He kicked the rug away and to his surprise it revealed a hidden trap door. Bending down he lifted up the hatch, lowered the stairs and quickly made his way down only to find an abandoned corridor. As his feet touched the floor a rat suddenly scurried over his foot and he jerked back. Jamie hoped that his Sassenach had not been subjected to any rats. Her fear and abhorrence for the rodents was the one thing that she detested above all else.

Quietly and swiftly he made his way down the corridor until ahead of him he discovered a room that was locked from the outside. He listened intensely, but whoever had been here had long gone. Time held no meaning for him at this point. Jamie didn't know what was beyond that door but he suddenly needed to know. He fired his gun at the locked door. It splintered everywhere. Forcefully he then kicked it open and entered.

In their obvious haste they had forgotten to turn off all the lights and he was able to see for himself the place where Claire had been held prisoner.

It was obvious they had intended to keep her prisoner here for some time as the room was basic with the bare necessities with a bed in one corner and Jamie made his way over to it. He saw the rumpled bedding and gliding his fingers over the pillow he saw what looked like blood stains there. Remembering the conversation in the woods between William Ransom and Steven Bonnet, he was confronted with the reality of what her kidnappers had done. The blood stains confirmed that his Claire indeed had been held hostage at this house and what they had told him was true ... he had the evidence that she had been injured.

She'd been hit on the head and the discovery of her blood on the bedding made Jamie seethe inside. He looked around and on further discovery saw surveillance equipment and a glassed wall. This was most unusual but as he looked closer, he realised that Claire had been kept under close observation. He also noticed a trail of dry blood droplets that had fallen to the floor. William Ransom had admitted to shooting Claire with his gun. Jamie followed the trail ... they led to another set of iron stairs and he walked down them. 

Turing around his eyes thoroughly scanned the room, then the floor and Jamie noticed that there were marks on the floorboards. It looked like Claire had been dragged from the room. Bending down to study them closely he saw the scuff marks of two sets of muddy footprints. One was large ... obviously the imprint of a male and the second was smaller ... petite even. Putting two and two together he came up with the only conclusion that he could ... a woman was somehow involved. If, as he thought, it was Karen Yee that was involved in Claire's kidnapping, then her boyfriend Andy Ma was too.

Methodically he searched the bed for any clues that would indicate their involvement in her incarceration. Jamie lifted up the pillow then looked under the bed to see if Claire had left anything at all that would lead to her captors' identity ... but he found nothing. His eyes glanced around the room looking for anything at all that would confirm who her captors might be. Jamie searched the area around Claire’s bed again just in case he had missed something the first time. His suspicions were substantiated when he finally noticed something in the corner near the bed that had been dropped unnoticed on the floor. Bending down he picked up some embossed matches. Jamie examined them before flicking the small package over in his palm and read The Triangle nightclub. 

At last his suspicions were confirmed. Somebody had been here ... but who? Was it her neighbour or had Jonathon Randall been here as well? Either way he had concrete proof that someone from the nightclub had been involved in Claire's capture and hostage incarceration. 

Unfortunately, there wasn't anything more he could do here. Jamie put the matches into his pocket and climbed the stairs. He knew he would need to begin his hunt in earnest starting with her neighbour Karen Yee. The message Karen had left on Claire's answering machine had said that she was going on another business trip ... this had obviously been it. Perhaps he could catch her unawares at her apartment. Karen would not know that he knew of her involvement in Claire's captivity. Now having found a clue here that implicated her, Andy Ma ... and Jonathon Randall, Jamie knew that if Karen was to have an alibi it was logical that she would have to return to her apartment as if nothing had happened. When he found her ... he would find his Claire.

  ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Claire Beauchamp’s removal and transition from one place of incarceration to another had been done swiftly under the cover of night. The triad had certainly gone to great lengths to move expeditiously and leave no trace of their whereabouts. Karen and Andy together with the elder man Wang Yu had arranged for her to be taken away from the built-up populated area in Stanley and to be brought here to this isolated, remote and less accessible area.

Claire had been moved to a new hideaway in a disused monastery on Hong Kong's largest island Tai Yue Shan. Nestled in the hinterland of Lantau Island, the remoteness of the area was perfect for what they had in mind for their guest. Deep in the hidden country stronghold, the location was far enough away from the mainland of the big island and provided greater security from prying eyes. The fact that the monastery was abandoned, overgrown and well away from any touristy areas only enhanced their chances of anybody suspecting that the triad used it as a place of incarceration. 

Karen and Andy had set in motion their contingency plans for Claire but had not accompanied her on the journey. Instead they had returned to Hong Kong to act as normal as possible. It was imperative that they keep up appearances and follow through on their alibis and professions as if nothing had happened. Therefore, they had gone to great lengths to make their schedules and routines appear as normal as possible. Andy was also expected for questioning about the bombing by Detectives So and Murray of the OCTB and if he didn't turn up suspicion could be placed on him. He could then be called away without misgiving for a few days once he had fulfilled his obligations to the detectives. It was a win-win scenario. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ In their absence, Wang Yu had arranged for Jonathon Randall to start the interrogation of their prisoner. He'd been summoned to the monastery to elicit information from Claire Beauchamp especially about what she knew about the bombing and massacre at his nightclub.  Everything had been carefully planned and anyone who may be searching for him in regard to her kidnapping would come up short. Jonathon's alibi had been well orchestrated by Inspector Jiang Ng and his message left on Claire's answering machine was testament to the fact that he would be out of town on business. There was no way that he could be implicated in her kidnapping. Randall had covered his bases from all angles. Hence his disappearance for a few days could very easily be explained and verified. This was the ideal situation. They would be able to interrogate Claire Beauchamp and also find out what she knew about the Rising Dragons and in particular the death of Tony Wong and the disappearance of Madame Cheung without any hindrance or interference whatsoever. Sun Yee Lok had given explicit orders that they were to elicit the information that she knew about the triad members by any means necessary. Wang knew that Jonathon was the best person to extricate this information. He would enjoy the challenge of matching wits with this woman. So far Claire Beauchamp had put up a great resistance but that wouldn't last long here for their facilities for interrogation were far superior at this new location. Wang looked forward to what Jonathon Randall may have in mind for their prisoner and his arrival at the monastery tomorrow would be well received. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ Randall stared at Claire through the mirrored panels and observed their recalcitrant captive. When he'd first seen her, he had been surprised, and judging by her appearance Karen had already began some interrogation of the prisoner, as Claire had been wounded and whacked around the face. This time however, his methods for interrogation were more severe.  The captive’s wrists were secured with an old seat belt which was attached to a thick chain hanging from the concrete ceiling in the cell. Jonathon watched as Claire dangled there, her arms over her head and her feet just scraping the floor. However, they had merely been toying with her. It was time that Claire Beauchamp's grilling started in earnest and not a moment too soon as far as he was concerned. Studying the body language of the beautiful, brunette hostage Jonathon Randall wondered why such a stunning woman could be so unwavering and unbending in the face of adversary. In a way, he admired her tenacity, fortitude and resolute determination under the extreme conditions Karen and Andy had inflicted upon her already. He was impressed. Watching Claire's reactions through the two-way mirror, Jonathon saw her head fall forward on to her chest as her mattered hair fell limp over her face. The woman was beautiful with looks that could kill. The question though was ... was she really a killer? If so ... then who did she work for? Flipping the speaker switch, Jonathon spoke in an ingratiating way. "Good morning, Claire. How are you feeling?" Recognising the voice, she lifted her head. Her eyes slowly opened and with a steely look stared at him through the two-way glass. "How do you think?" She was strong ... very strong, he reflected. Anyone else would have broken by now, lost hope ... but not her ... not Claire Beauchamp. Although he knew she couldn't see him, Jonathon smiled at her reply. "Claire ... you know we could dispense with all this in-hospitality ..." Then his look suddenly changed, his voice too as he stated tersely "... if you'd just tell me what we want to know." "I'd rather burn in hell," Claire answered just as snappily. Unfortunately, she gave him few options. "My dear, I can arrange that." He leaned to the side, and called to his men. "MacNab and Robert shall we go see to our guest?" "Certainly, sir," they replied knowing that their services were soon required to convince the prisoner to talk.   ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Claire watched as Jonathon Randall and two men opened one of the mirrored panels and stepped into the room with her. The men remained just inside the door whilst Jonathon slowly but menacingly approached her. She tried to straighten her spine as he walked closer and closer until he was nearly eye to eye. Her wound had reopened and Claire could feel wet, sticky blood on her skin. Although her shoulder was throbbing from the exertion placed on it from her being strung up, she kept up her resistance in the face of adversary and looked her interrogator in the eye. "Hello, Claire ... You remember my bodyguard Robert Ling... oh, and Ronald MacNab  too. Ronald’s a very good friend of mine." His meaning was not lost on her as to what his role would be here and why he was with Jonathon Randall. His next words only confirmed her suspicions, "He will ... take very good care of you." The gruff looking man approached her and menacingly asked, "Who sent you here, Claire? Who do you work for?" When she didn't answer, MacNab slapped her hard across her face with the back of his hand, snapping her head to the side. He repeated his question.

"Who sent you here, Claire?" 

Once again, she remained silent. He slapped her again, this time in reversal of the first smack which sent her head reeling with the force of the blow. Her face flared with a sharp, stinging pain of her face swelling, but Claire bit her lip and said nothing. However, the pain was so bad, that she had to fight to keep from screaming.

"Was it, Section One? Your equipment and tactics suggest a Section One operative, am I right?" Jonathon Randall stated watching her closely for any flinch of recognition of his questions.

Claire gave a guarded look his way but remained silent. How could he have possibly known about Section One? She thought. "We have your gun ... it's Section One issue ... Did they send you here, Claire?" Yet again she was non-committal. "Silence is affirmation ... I gather. Now ... What do you know about the death of Tony Wong in Aberdeen?" Jonathon demanded in a menacing tone of voice. "Who? ... I don't know what you're talking about." "Ah ... she speaks at last," he replied sarcastically. "I think you do!" He stared at the woman who refused to capitulate even after such a vicious beating. "And what of Madame Cheung?" Jonathon continued, "Were you involved in her disappearance as well?"

"Why are you doing this to me? I've done nothing." "Answers! ... We want answers! You're not being completely truthful, now are you Claire Beauchamp?" "I can't tell you what I don't know." Randall tried to put her off kilter and sow seeds of doubt. "You're probably wondering how we got onto you in the first place? Section One isn't quite as invisible as it likes to think, and we're very good at what we do. Actually, we probably know more about you than you know about yourself." They each stared at one another in an impasse. Jonathon Randall walked around her and stopped when he came face to face. A look of contempt crossed his features. “What about the bombing in my nightclub? I’m sure you know something about that too, don’t you?"

She completely ignored his attempt to get a reaction from her and remained silent. When Jonathon Randall gained no information with these statements, he continued the interrogation. His next question however, was completely out of left field. "Who's Jamie?" 

Claire’s head rose slightly at the mention of his name. "Nobody important." 

Her answer brought a clenched fist to her kidneys by Jonathon's bodyguard. "Liar ... tell us who he is and what he knows about the Rising Dragons and the bombing of my club." "He doesn't know anything ... I don't know anything ..." "Come, come Claire ... we're not stupid." Jonathon berated. "He's ... he's my brother," she replied dispassionately. "And here I thought he might be your boyfriend."

Ronald MacNab and Robert Ling smirked at this statement from Jonathon Randall. 

"That's another lie ... You talk in your sleep. Well I guess your friend Karen will just have to provide the answers to my questions seeing that you won't." Randall watched Claire Beauchamp's face for any sign of emotion to his statements. When noting was forthcoming ... again he implied confidently, "You know we will find out one way or another, then we won't need to resort to these tactics again if you cooperate." Claire remained silent. It was evident that they would get nothing out of her today. MacNab looked at Jonathon Randall, his face expressing his queries about what he wanted him to do next. His boss' words confirmed his thoughts.

"That's enough for now ... we'll continue this another time." 

The men slipped out of the room but before closing the mirrored panel behind them, Jonathon Randall stated with conviction. "Don't think you've won Claire Beauchamp ... I'll be back ... we'll continue this later on. Trust me ... you'll give us the answers we want one way or another." When she heard the click of the door, she let herself sag to the floor trying to relieve the ache in her arms and the throbbing of her kidneys. Claire didn't know how much more she could withstand.

“Jamie ... where are you?” She whispered silently. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~* Jonathon Randall sat back down in his observation room and stared at their prisoner.  He was not happy though as the woman had given him nothing. It had been some time since he'd seen a woman with her resilience. Claire Beauchamp had the strength of a man and the tenacity of a lion. Although Section One obviously trained their operatives well, he would make her break and when she did; the triad would have what they wanted. Dismissing the sight of her in the cell Jonathon turned around and faced the two men giving each specific orders.

"Cut her down MacNab and see that she is attended to." 

"Yes sir." "We don't want to kill her just yet before we have our answers." "Of course, not sir. Do you know who this Jamie is she talks about?" Ronald enquired. "Someone she wants to protect," he answered logically. "Someone she obviously doesn't want us to know anything about." "He could be Section too." Anticipating that it could be a lead they might pursue Jonathon gave him further orders. "Yes, I agree. Find out anything you can about him." Then turning to his bodyguard, he issued him with a challenge too. "Robert ... you contact Karen and get all the information she has on this mystery man ... then listen to the surveillance tapes again. Claire talks in her sleep; I want to know anything you can find out about him. Give me something I can use next time. I expect both of you to come up with good news shortly." "Yes, sir," they replied in unison before taking their leave. As the men quietly left the room, Jonathon Randall turned to face the sight of their captive once more. The woman was a conundrum but he would get to the bottom of her involvement in Rising Dragons’ business sooner or later. He liked a challenge and Claire Beauchamp was certainly that. A slight smirk crossed his lips at the thought of the battle of wills he expected to experience with their hostage in the forthcoming days. However, the quicker she capitulated the better it would be for everyone, but if, as he anticipated, she would resist ... then it would be to her detriment. There was only ever going to be one winner and it wasn't going to be this woman … Claire Beauchamp.