MANO

CHAPTER 12

It was a sporadic attempted hit that lacked real planning and it went south almost as soon as it swung into operation. Mano and his security detail were just too alert and experienced for Hakim's plan to work, and unknown to Hakim, Mano had already heightened his security knowing that terrorists were in Hawaii. Mano was no fool. He'd already reasoned that the terrorists might have a handle on him and he had moved to nullify any possible threat. HPD had been ordered to step up patrols in his neighbourhood and to investigate anything that seemed out of the ordinary.

*        *        *

It was time to use the media.
Mano scheduled a press conference for later that
day. He appeared with a terse face, flanked by two of
his public relations advisers. He'd spent all afternoon with the Kaikane's family ensuring them that no stone would be left unturned.
"I regret to inform you that earlier today Lieutenant Kaikane of HPD lost his life. He was a very valued member of this department and no stone will be
left unturned in the hunt for his killers. His murderer was also shot dead by police in Honolulu earlier today.
This man was not acting alone and a full-scale search is underway for his accomplices. The public should notify police immediately if these men are sighted. On no account are they to be approached. They are armed and extremely dangerous."

*        *        *

The trouble with media conferences is that they could give ideas to others. Having watched his nemesis appear on tv, Hakim was quick to spot the talents of April Lee who appeared after him.

There was a woman who knew how to make a dirty
bomb. He set up the snatch straight away.

As April Lee collected her six year old boy, Daniel,
from his local school bus run, Nuhallah and Jahil bundled them both into the back of a transit van.

* * *

He had known the hit on Mano had gone south as soon as he saw Jahil arrive back and go straight for the bottle of scotch on the tabletop. He watched in silence as Jahil poured a hefty measure.

"Batul?"

Jahil shook his head. "He's dead."

"And Mano?"

Jahil downed the whisky in one go. "He lives."

Hakim felt rage.

"What happened? How did it go so wrong?"

Jahil shrugged. "You sent a boy on a man's mission.

Batul was too eager. He took too long to take the shot and when he did fire he hit the wrong man. They were just too alert."

"The wrong man?"

"Looked like another cop. He was talking to Mano

when Batul opened up. It might have worked, but his

bodyguard returned."

"O'Malley?"

"Big, raw boned guy. Same guy we cased out earlier.

He spotted Batul and yelled out to Mano."

"What then?"

"He opened fire. Mano did the same. Batul never
stood a chance. Pinpoint accuracy with their weapons.

Head and chest shots."

"And then?"

"I took off. There was nothing I could do for the kid."

Hakim remained silent, thinking. The loss of Batul

was not something he had been planning on. It left him with only two men. It threw the entire operation into doubt. He bit his lip in fresh anxiety. He looked greedily at the whisky and then shook himself. There were no answers in the bottle. He needed to think and act fast.