Page 12 of Into the Gray Zone

Kamal continued, “We agreed in the prison that when we got out, we would make a difference. We would fight for the Sikh cause. It’s why I called you to work with Chin when it was just internet scams. We were going to use the money to fund organizations that would help the Sikh. Now I think we do something more overt. We do the action ourselves.”

Manjit said, “How? We aren’t the KCF. We have no contacts withthem. I’m not even sure they actually exist anymore. We’re a lone wolf organization. We can’t do what they did. We have no following.”

Kamal said, “We create the following.That’swhat we do. We’re the new Khalistan Commando Force.”

Manjit said, “That’s easy to say but harder to execute. Mr.Chin had a plan before, but it’s gone now. With Sidak dead, so is his original plan. We can’t do anything against the billionaire now.”

Kamal said, “Maybe. Maybe not. Let’s see what Mr.Chin says. At the very least, we can use his money. We can leave here and start on our journey as the new KCF. Are you with me? Or do you want the sum total of your life to consist of scamming old women in America?”

Agam flicked his eyes to the others, then said, “I’m with you. Let’s cut ties with Mr.Chin and go our own way.”

Randeep nodded and said, “I’m good with that.”

Kamal said, “Manjit? How about you?”

Before he could answer they heard a knock on the door, causing them to jump, all of them jittery. Kamal went to the door and said, “What? I told you no maid service. I don’t want it.”

He heard: “Open the door. It’s me, Mr.Chin.”

Kamal looked back into the room, then swung the door. Mr.Chin stood outside, a short, bespectacled man whose slight stature belied his true nature. He was wearing a suit complete with a tie, looking completely out of place in the environs.

He said, “Can I come in?”

“Only if you’re bringing a paycheck.”

He chuckled and pushed past Kamal as if he owned the room. He said, “A paycheck for what, exactly? We aren’t done yet.”

Kamal grabbed his arm and said, “We did what you wanted, and it failed. There was no success part of the contract. You owe us for a service, not for success.”

Mr. Chin pulled his arm away and said, “Yes, I paid you for a service, but there was no time limit on it. The service is still outstanding.”

“What’s that mean?”

“It means the mission is still a go. It means I want you to execute.”

Manjit stood up and said, “How? Sidak is dead. They know we’re coming. He probably won’t even show up now.”

Mr.Chin said, “Yes, Sidak is dead, and I regret that. I know you don’t believe it, but I do. And the mission is happening. The billionaire, Thakkar, is still coming to the resort. Nothing we’ve done has altered that.”

“How do you know?”

“Your friends. The ones providing security for him.”

Kamal said, “Then why don’t you just use them to kidnap him? Pay us now for what we did and get this over with.”

“They are, shall we say, tainted. If they are involved, then my company will be compromised. They have a trail. It has to be a clean hit. Something with no connections. They can give us the intelligence, facilitate the capture, but they can’t do it themselves.”

Kamal took that in, but he didn’t like it. He said, “Well, you’re out of luck. We’re done. I’ll continue doing the computer stuff for you, but we’re not doing this. Give us our money and we’ll be gone.”

Mr.Chin looked at him, then went from man to man, settling back on Kamal. He said, “It doesn’t work that way. You’ll do this, or you’ll all be rounded up.”

Kamal stood up and said, “What’s that mean?”

“It means you work for me now. That’s all. Nothing different from yesterday.”

Kamal stood there, letting the words sink in, then said, “So you’re now threatening us? Do what you say, or go to a RAW funnel room?”

“No, no. I didn’t say that. You did. But that is the end state. Fail me here, and you’ll never go home.”

---