The doorman-cum-security-guard standing by the reception desk flirting with the clerk was the only sign of life. He looked at Ava, then at his watch, and said, “Early start, Ibu.”
“Yes, I have an early breakfast meeting.”
“A very early meeting.”
It was ten to five. She had slept badly, waking every hour, her mind a whirl, not able to settle on the day ahead, not able to settle on anything. She gave up at four fifteen, cancelled her wake-up call, washed, brushed her hair and teeth, threw on casual clothes, had two quick coffees, put her notebook into her bag, and then left the room with the bag in one hand and a roll of duct tape in the other.
“Do you want a taxi?” the doorman asked.
“No, I’m going to the Sheraton. I’ll walk.”
He left the desk. “That isn’t a good idea, Ibu, not alone in the dark at this time.”
“I can look after myself,” Ava said, going through the door.
“Maybe so, but I’m going with you anyway,” he said.
She started to argue but he was already walking beside her, a look of determination on his face. “Did Pak Indra mention me to you or any of the other security staff?” Ava asked.
“No, why?”
“No particular reason.”
The streets were still; the only noise she could hear was an insect chirping. “It’s like everyone’s left the city,” she said.
“In about half an hour you won’t think so. The muezzin will start the adhan, and everything will spring to life.”
The walk to Tunjungan Plaza was quick and uneventful, although twice Ava saw figures lurking in doorways. When they reached the Sheraton entrance, she tipped the guard ten dollars. “That isn’t necessary, Ibu,” he said.
“I know. Take it anyway.”
She saw Waru first. He wore a uniform she’d seen the day before, on the policeman who stopped Fay. “Hey, Ava, over here,” Perkasa called. He was sitting off to one side with Prayogo. They were both dressed in jeans and black T-shirts, and Ava wondered if that was deliberate.
“Is Waru a motorcycle cop?” she asked as she drew near.
“Yeah.”
“You don’t think it will look strange, him stopping Cameron in a Nissan Pathfinder?”
“Nah. Around here a cop is a cop is a cop.”
“If you say so . . .”
“Ava, don’t worry.”
She nodded.
“We’re ready to roll whenever you are.”
“Well, then, let’s hit the road.”
They rode the elevator down two levels to the underground parking garage. Both Nissans were parked beside the elevator doors. “The boys were here at four thirty,” Perkasa said.
“Let’s hope Cameron is as punctual,” she said, handing the tape to him. “Please tell Waru that as soon as he cuffs him, I want his eyes and mouth taped. He can throw him in the trunk then.”
“He knows.” Perkasa passed the tape to Waru and then spoke to the brothers in Indonesian. They listened carefully, nodding and then smiling.
“Well, that’s it. They’re as ready as they’re going to be,” Perkasa said to Ava.
The cars separated along the highway, the brothers heading towards the golf course, Perkasa driving the other Nissan to CitraGarden. There was hardly any traffic on the road, and as they entered the development there was no sign of life. The ride had been quiet, and that pleased Ava. She had worked with people who needed to talk incessantly in the hours leading up to a job, as a way to deal with their nerves. The only noise coming from Perkasa was a quiet humming as he accompanied music from a soft-rock radio station.
When they reached Cameron’s street, Ava felt a touch of concern. As they drove past his house, she looked anxiously at the driveway. The Porsche was still there, and she drew a calming breath. They drove to the end of the street, made a U-turn, and then parked the car pointed in the direction Cameron would be coming from. “Now the worst part — the waiting,” Perkasa said.
The first sign of dawn appeared on the horizon, the sun not yet visible but its advance light beginning to colour their surroundings. The houses on Cameron’s street were similarly if not identically constructed. Whatever real differences existed among them lay in the shades of pastel blue and pink and green the owners had chosen for their exterior walls.
Perkasa turned off the car engine and rolled down the windows. Ava could feel the heat start to encroach. In half an hour it would be like sitting in a steam room. She was about to ask him to turn on the air conditioning when she heard