Malcolm unlocked the door of the concrete structure that was partially buried in the hillside behind the villa, and switched on the light. He went to the bench along one wall and opened a drawer, removing a three ring binder and opening it on the bench top.

"What's the plan?" The big man that accompanied him stood to one side, cradling his automatic weapon.

"These are the schematics for the power and water service on the island. From here I can shut down any or all power and water supply."

"What's that do for us?"

"First, it will render their villas useless and second, it will disconnect the audio and video control from the main house."

"Leaves us a little blind too then doesn't it?"

Malcolm's face twisted into a smile as he crossed the room to another desk and switch on a wall screen. "It is all duplicated here, Joseph."

Both men watched as the large screen divided into twelve smaller pictures, the villas, the house above the marina, the airport, the kitchen, and other main rooms including the control room.

"What are the blanks?"

"Three couples covered their cameras leaving only audio, but that doesn't matter," Malcolm said with satisfaction. "Look what we have here."

On the control room screen the men watched Gretta and Billy pointing to different pictures and speaking. Malcolm turned on the audio and listened to their discussion.

"They've gone on the alert obviously," Gretta said, pointing to the men at the house and the airport. "Looks like they are setting up defences around the only means of escape."

"What can we do?"

"Decide on how we want to proceed. That needs to be discussed with the others. Whatever Forrester had planned I'm pretty sure has left the rails and he's cutting to the chase."

The screens all suddenly switched to the same picture – Malcolm's leering face.

"Very true, Miss Lawrence, and that chase is in progress. You will soon learn that deadly fact."

"Oh, my God, he can see us!" Billy clutched her throat.

"Indeed I can, Miss Estrada."

Gretta moved closer to the screen and nodded. "A secondary control. Well done, Forrester. I presume that's not all you can manage from your hidey hole."

"How right you are, Miss Lawrence." He quickly demonstrated by killing all the power to their villas.

"Unless you can all see in the dark, I would say you had a dangerous night ahead."

The room suddenly went dark and he laughed at the frightened gasp.

"Shall I go in and take 'em out?"

"Not yet, Joseph. I want them all together when that happens. Get your men to start rounding up the others. Leave a small force at each site. I'll keep these two in the house."

Malcolm opened a box of Midland GXT series walkie-talkies and gave his man enough to distribute.

"Tell them to keep these on at all times."

****

Arny and Miller watched the big man stride up from behind the villa, carrying the large box. He didn't seem to have any concern about being seen, and when he stopped and pulled a small Vespa from the bushes, both men muttered a curse.

"Shit, we should have seen that" Arny smacked a fist into his palm.

"He's loading that box in the carrier. Wonder what it is?"

They watched and in a moment they saw the man hang something from his belt then kick the Vespa to life.

"Communications. They'll all be in touch now."

****

The power in the control room returned and Malcolm continued his gloat over the monitors. Gretta and Billy watched the screen at the marina house and saw the little Vespa pull up with the big man handing the two guards something from the carrier.

"Are they phones?" Billy covered her mouth, pointing.

Gretta nodded and spoke softly into her ear. "Same idea, they will be in communication with one another now. Be nice to get hold of one." She scanned the room but saw nothing usable. They watched the screens a little longer and a while later saw the Vespa again at the airport, delivering the equipment then the power cut off again. Malcolm left them with a threatening warning, 'It won't be long ladies.'

"What can we do now?" Billy worried.

"See if we can locate Malcolm's other control room. It won't be in the house either."

****

"Well that's not good." Jeff flicked the switch in their villa and got nothing.

"No water either," Jessica called from the bathroom.

"Good thing we don't have a full house." Jeff cracked.

"No, all we had was a flush."

"Parker can you please stop." Des sagged and looked at the others. "What are we going to do?"

"First," Jessica said, patting her friend's back, "is not give up. And in spite of the quality, humour is a good frame of mind."

"I need another critic." Parker complained.

"What's the pay like?" Jeff grinned at Parker's expression.

"Okay, humour – not little boy games." Jessica checked her watch. "We need to get to the airport and find out the chances of getting that plane."

"Are you sure you can fly that thing?" Parker asked.

"No, but I think if we are successful we might persuade the pilot to take on that job."

****

"Ooops! Looks like Forrester is playing hardball." Hart went to the door and looked across the grounds. "All the villas are dark."

"That's a bit of an advantage though, right? We won't be as noticeable."

"Neither will they, Gordon." Deborah pointed out. "And they know their way around."

"Then we better get a move on," Verna said.

"Look at you, gung ho, Verna! Lead the way."

"Does that mean I get the gun?"

Hart smiled grimly and started out the door. "No, it doesn't."

The group ran crouched across the grounds toward the servant's house, careful not to blunder over small plants or other objects. Hart drew up to where he had first seen the house and waved the others to stop behind him.

"Wait here a sec while I get closer to have a look." He handed Gordon the gun who took it with a shocked expression.

"I don't want this! I don't like guns."

"Just hold it for me okay? You don't have to shoot it . . . unless I get in trouble." Hart slipped away before Gordon could respond.

"Don't hold it by the barrel, hold like you're supposed to."

"Deborah, I'm not supposed to hold a gun at all, okay?"

"Shhh, both of you, we don't want to attract attention." Verna strained to see what Hart was up to.

The door to the house opened, and a man came out with a coffee. When he spoke, Hart nearly fainted, he hadn't seen the man sitting on the porch in the dark. As he turned to creep away he heard the metallic squawk of a speaker and he saw the man who had been sitting, stand and walk to the railing as he answered.

Hanging back, he could only make out part of half a conversation, but the gist was, the women were to be kept alive. Not a hard decision, Hart thought, for a bunch of mercenaries.

"What did you see?" The group all hissed as he rejoined them. Gordon immediately handed back the gun.

"There are two at the house and they are in touch with walkie-talkies."

"With each other?" Gordon cringed away from a slap on the arm from Deborah.

"With the rest of their friends. Another disconcerting bit was, that the women were to be taken alive."

"In their dreams," Gordon scowled.

"I think that's probably the reason."

"Hart!"

"Well . . .?"

"Do you have a plan at all?" Verna's question sounded like a warning.

"I think I might."