Page 90 of No Time Off

Shi’s head throbbed; his fingers clamped tightly on the phone. He glanced at the clock. Fifteen minutes until seven o’clock. “Whatever it is, Maivia—stop it! Get the internet down and send reinforcements about town. Who knows where she intends to make her announcement? I don’t care what you do, just don’t let her talk to the people. Take her into custody immediately.”

He slammed down the phone again before Maivia could answer. He had no idea what the prime minister would say, but he knew it would only make things worse. He had to shut her up.

Shi rose from the desk. “Chen, start destroying anything that might be incriminating. You know what I mean. And get my plane ready to go. If we must leave the island, we leave nothing behind. Understood?”

“Understood, sir.” Chen started moving while Shi churned over what was coming next. He couldn’t afford to lose his grip on this operation. If the Cook Islands and Kiribati slipped through his fingers, it would be the beginning of the end. But perhaps there was a way he could still survive this.

It was all Slash’s fault. His career had started and ended with Slash once before. Not again. He wouldn’t allow it.

A storm was coming, and Jiang Shi was determined to survive it.

FORTY-TWO

Slash

The trip to the television station was easy in comparison to the arduous hike across the island. Thankfully, no one paid attention to us as people began spilling onto the sidewalks, talking anxiously with their neighbors and clustering in groups. Their voices rose in confusion and anger. Anti-Chinese sentiment could be heard at every turn. By the time we reached the television station, at just after six thirty, a decent crowd had already formed.

I was in full operational mode, scanning the crowd and environment for any unanticipated variables or unexpected visitors. The scene remained stable. The two lone policemen still stood guard by the door. There was a glass outer door and a metal door a couple of steps inside. It was an odd arrangement, but I surmised it was due to the cyclones. The young kid Paul had identified was already on his radio, looking scared and certainly calling for backup. They had their hands full with the growing commotion.

A quick scan of the faces in the crowd indicated distrust, concern and confusion. People were mostly calm—a few shouted—but I feared that could change at a moment’s notice, especially when reinforcements arrived. We had to act fast. The social media blast and video had bought us the crowd we needed, but the anger and discontent were palpable and growing.

“At least we’re blending in,” Lexi said in a low voice. “No problem there. The crowd gathered faster than we anticipated.”

“I was just thinking that,” I said. “People have been wondering what’s been going on for days. Maivia has no idea what he’s doing as a leader.”

“Because he’s not a leader,” Lexi responded. “He’s doing whatever the Chinese tell him to do. The people want the truth.”

“Aredemandingthe truth,” I corrected. “As they should.”

“Hey, where’s the real prime minister?” a man shouted at the policemen, drawing a chorus of nods and anxious murmurs from the crowd. “Where is she? Is she in there?”

I resisted the urge to look over my shoulder at the prime minister and instead followed Manny around the left side of the building, near the side where the young policeman stood. They weren’t letting anyone in or out at the moment. We gathered loosely, the prime minister carefully keeping her head down and cap pulled low so she would not be recognized. Yet.

Unfortunately, the crowd had backed the two policemen closer to the doors, and we needed to remedy that. I motioned to Paul to start the scuffle on the other side of the door so we could get in from the left. He nodded, and he and his guys moved through the crowd into position.

A minute later, we heard some shouting and yelling that a fight had broken out. Like clockwork, the two policemen jumped in to break it up. This was something they were trained to do, not guard doors against a hostile crowd.

I was the last of the five of us to slip into the station. Just as I reached for the door, I could see the older guard turn toward me. He must have been apprehensive about leaving his post unguarded. Before he could complete his turn, Paul hit him from behind, and he went down. I slipped in, and we immediately locked the first door behind us. It didn’t take long for others to start banging on the door, wanting to get let in, too.

It took mere moments to secure both doors. Manny volunteered to keep an eye on them. Once inside, Petra quickly shed her disguise and faced the news crew. Several stared open-mouthed at her and Rangi, who stood beside her in support.

We stood to the side and watched. Several of the television and technical crew scrambled around, still oblivious to the prime minister standing in their midst. The team at the production desk were frantically typing on their computers—probably trying to figure out what was going on with the release of the prime minister’s video. Their fingers flew over the keyboards as the room buzzed with panic, and people called out questions and shouted answers.

Suddenly, a large, commanding man with brown skin, graying stubble, and a badge hanging around his neck stepped forward. His eyes were sharp and intelligent, and his sheer presence commanded authority. I presumed he was the station manager or news director. Definitely someone in charge.

“All, cease!” he shouted. The power in his voice quieted the newsroom instantly, save for some automatic clicking noises in the background. “Petra,” the man said, clearly surprised to see her. “You’re alive and well.”

“Hello, Tane.” The prime minister walked forward to greet him, and he gently took both of her hands in his considerable ones. “I’m sorry to appear here unannounced, but desperate times require desperate measures.”

“Completely understandable,” Tane replied. “I want to say I’m surprised, but with what’s been going on, I’m not. Desperate times, indeed. I assume you have a purpose coming here. How can we help you?”

Petra addressed Tane and the news team with a calm that seemed to steady the room. “I need to speak to the people of the Cook Islands at exactly seven o’clock tonight. That’s in eleven minutes.”

She spoke quietly but with authority, her voice carrying. “I do not condone or support the actions of Liko Maivia, who acted under the direction and orchestration of the Chinese to seize my position without authority, my consent, or due process. I have proof of Chinese involvement. I’ve been in hiding since their takeover, gathering evidence and opposing them at every step. Several police officers on the force have hunted me and my family and endangered people who have stood for our islands, me, and the truth. Some have been arrested, threatened, and even harmed. I want to make sure you and the world know I’m alive and resisting this foreign-sponsored coup.”

“Whoa, Prime Minister, are you sure you want to broadcast that?” a young man asked. Concern and fear were etched on his face. “Once we put you on the air, live, the Chinese will know you’re here.”

Petra’s gaze never wavered. “I’m aware of that. But to back down now will be even more dangerous for the Cook Islands. It’s time for the truth to be told. I’m not afraid to speak so the lies are exposed. The people deserve to know what has happened and what China really thinks of us. They are using us as pawns in their own geostrategic game.”

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