Free Kidnap (The Billionaire Series) by Murray McDonald Page A

listened.
    Suddenly three Lynx helicopters swooped over the tree line behind
him and flew over his head, two men stood poised on each of the helicopters
skids. As he saw the helicopters enter the Estate, each of the twelve men
dropped ropes and began to rappel down even before they had stopped moving.
    ***
    “Saki, come in Saki,” said the voice into Saki’s head set .
    Saki pressed the communicate button.
    “Saki here, who’s this?”
    “Captain Harris, what’s the situation?”
    Saki knew Captain Harris very well. They had run a number of
exercises together. The Kennedy Estate was less than ten miles from Her
Majesty’s Naval Base Clyde at Faslane , home to the
UK’s nuclear arsenal. The facility was under the protection of the Fleet
Protection Group Royal Marines, an elite Royal Marine Commando unit, home to
some of the toughest and most highly trained soldiers in the world. Donald had
been approached by the Commander of the unit when he had purchased the Estate
fourteen years earlier. The derelict estate had been an excellent training ground which his men had used unofficially and he had asked
if there were any possibility for some of the old buildings to be retained.
Donald never missed an opportunity. On hearing that he and his family were
within 10 miles of this elite group, he bent over backwards for them. He partitioned
off 3 square miles of his Estate, including some of its prime shoreline,
arranged for the removal and rebuilding of the derelict buildings exactly as
they were on this area and handed it over for the Commando’s to use as and when
they wished. He threw in a luxury club room for good
measure. The Commandos and their Commander could not believe his generosity and
in return, said that whatever they could do for them, they would. He had
invited the Commander to dinner one evening soon after the Estate was completed
and showed him the security system. The man was amazed, he had commented that perhaps they should store their nukes in Donald’s
basement, where they would probably be safer. Both had laughed but both knew he
was right, they would be. Donald had then subtly mentioned what a fantastic
training exercise it would be if the Commandos responded to the Estate’s alarms
should they go off at any point. The Commander took the hint and within 24
hours, had obtained the clearance, everybody agreeing it was a great idea.
    “Seven intruders, about a half mile from the main gate near the
driveway.”
    “We’ll be there in two.”
    “You may miss the fun, I’ll be there in one,” replied Saki.
    Captain Harris screamed to his pilot.
    “Can’t this thing go any faster? We’re going to miss the action!!”
    They were flying a Lynx helicopter, the fastest production
helicopter in the world, but the answer was no, they couldn’t.
    ***
      “What was that?”
asked Kevin. Conor’s crew was now very jumpy.
    Conor turned round and could just make
out the silhouette of three helicopters and men dangling from them as they
cleared the main gates way behind them. The men shot down the ropes as the
helicopters slowed, landing without fault at a half run. He could see they all
wore night vision goggles and were heavily armed. The helicopters flew just
over their heads and Conor recognised the Royal
Marine insignia. What he had thought could not get any worse, just had. At
least with the police, they could always give up and spend a few years in
prison. With the Marines, that was not an option. The hunters had become the
hunted.
    Conor gave the signal to turn back into
the woods, their best chance of avoiding the Marines. However, in less than ten
yards, a scream stopped them dead in their tracks. It hadn’t come behind them,
where the Marines were, but   from their man up front.
    Things had just got even worse.
    ***
    Saki watched as the men took a sharp turn towards him as they
tried to avoid the Marines. He silently moved into position and just as the
first intruder approached him, he stepped out