Prologue
“The package is in place...”
“No sign of the Gecko or the Scorpion. All Teams...hold.” He was known as ‘Stoat’ and was the best the International Animal Protection Agency, I.A.P.A, had to offer. His mission was simple, to keep track of an undercover agent within the Winterhill Mob. The Penthouse of the Winterhill Mob offices was one mile from his current location. His monocular was focused on the table in the heart of the room.
***
The world’s top criminal sat around a lavish table, decorated with rare flowers, stuffed exotic birds and animals. Bejewelled fingers greedily picked at the food spread out before them. Deep fried Leatherback turtle, poached Dolphin and roasted Gibbon. At the table’s centre was a stuffed and half eaten Orangutan. The once, vibrant eyes watching the man sitting at the table’s head.
His size spilling over the edge of the seat upon which he sat. His hand linked with the long muscular arm of the Orangutan. His pearl white teeth sinking into the succulent red meat as his fingers grabbed berries before shoving them in on the meat in his mouth. Grey hair hung low over his dark eyes mixing with the great bites of food. A large blue silk napkin covered the top of his red pin stripped suit. Upon his finger he wore the ring of Don Vittori; the previous head of, the Winterhill Mob.
“Mister Sous, you have outdone yourself tonight with this fine beast. Tell me, how did you acquire such a fine specimen?” Edward Shamwari leaned back in his chair, while wiping a trickle of grease from the many folds of his chin.
“I liberated the ape from a zoo in Thailand
Myna Sous was a renowned chef in the criminal world. He had once been the Gordon Ramsey of the culinary world until the famous actor Steve Salatore commissioned him to cook a Giant Panda cub. Myna’s fame had dwindled overnight from the exposure the cooked panda had received. But those among the criminal elite and, also, the rich of the world, sought him out to cook rare and exotic animals for them.
“I believe that you are to cook for my good friend, The Yurugu, in Ireland
“Yes, I have a very, very rare menu for our good friend and his dinner party next month. I am looking forward to cooking, Horace, for you all at his home near Carlow” Sous smiled before taking a bow and backing from the room, leaving the Winterhill Mob’ to their business.
***
“As you know, I have called you here tonight for two reasons. The first is to celebrate the return of, The Yurugu, to our fold and the second, my friends, is business.” A round of
nods circled the table as the members listened to Shamwari’s speech. “The Scorpion, sent a crew after the famed Shangri La diamond” Kaggen waited as the murmurs rippled through his guests at the latest scheme.
“But the diamond is not real? It’s a myth, as was Shangri La.” A small man sitting in the lap of a large Japanese wrestler stepped onto the table. “So, why should we waste time searching for myths?” Nods fluttered about the table. The small man bowed and resumed his seat in the wrestler’s lap. The Kaggen just smiled.
“The diamond as we all know has been sought for years by the most powerful people in history. But we have found it. The retrieval of the diamond has been successful and we must now select a crew to take on the task of bringing the diamond into our procession”
“The Scorpion wants it retrieved for the return of our leader, The Gecko” Gasps surrounded the table at the mention of the third leader of the organisation. “He has acquired his release from Chi Te Prison and hopes to join us in the next few weeks. The Scorpion has the exact location of the diamond.” The Kaggen clapped his hands and two men entered the room. They carried a large map between them of Ireland
The Yurugu sat forward in his seat. “You believe the diamond is in Ireland
“We know it is there and we have received word of its safe arrival. It is at this moment, sitting in the one place no one will ever suspect. We have but to retrieve a meal and the diamond shall be ours...” Sitting back into his seat the Kaggen gazed around the table, watching as his associates stared in disbelief at the diamonds location on the map.
