Hostage (Bodyguard #1)(29)
Amir held up the phone and pointed to the tiny lens on the back. ‘Ten megapixel camera with optical zoom, high-definition video, night-vision and instant face-recognition software. Film or photo a crowd and it’ll ping an individual that it’s seen before at a different location. If it records multiple occurrences, the app will highlight the suspected face in red. But Bugsy says don’t rely on this app. The Mark One eyeball is always your best piece of surveillance kit.’
Amir winked and Connor laughed. Bugsy often referred to his eyes as ‘Mark One’.
Opening a small fabric pouch, Amir now handed Connor a tiny flesh-coloured earpiece.
‘For when you want to communicate covertly,’ he explained. ‘It has a vibrational mic that will pick up your voice. The smartphone acts as your transceiver. Just remember the battery life of the earpiece is limited. Eight hours tops before a recharge is needed.’
His finger flicked across the smartphone’s screen. ‘There are a whole bunch of other apps, like Mission Status, Threat Level and SOS – that’s my own program,’ Amir said proudly.
‘So it worked!’ remarked Connor. ‘Can you now tell me what it’s for?’
‘Real emergencies,’ Amir replied, his expression serious. ‘Even when you don’t have a phone signal, the SOS app can send a short burst of location data to a GPS satellite which is bounced back here to headquarters. Works anywhere in the world. Drains the battery like crazy, mind. I’m still trying to fix that. But you can explore all these apps when you’re on the plane. I’ve also added the latest Angry Birds game in case you get bored.’
‘Not much chance of that!’ replied Connor.
Amir laid the smartphone gently on the table, seeming almost reluctant to let it go. Connor knew his friend was a bit of a tech-head and was dying to keep it for himself.
‘That’s the showpiece,’ Amir sighed, returning to the bag. ‘The other items I’ve prepped include a basic medical kit, mini-halogen torch, prepaid credit cards and this set of clothes for high-threat situations.’
Alongside the rest of the gear, he laid a baseball cap, a pair of sunglasses, a black T-shirt, a cream-coloured fashion shirt and a styled leather jacket.
‘Jody promises me that they’ll fit. Why not try them on for size?’
Connor slipped on the jacket. The cut was perfect, the quality equal to top-brand Italian leather, but the weight was odd.
‘Feels a little … heavy,’ he remarked.
‘That’s because it’s bulletproof,’ explained Amir. ‘Both this and the shirt can stop a handgun at close range. The jacket’s stab-proof too, as is this T-shirt.’
Connor took a moment to inspect the clothes more closely. His fingers felt the thick cotton-like fabric of the collared shirt. ‘Are you certain this will stop a bullet?’
Amir nodded his head with the utmost conviction. ‘You can ask Jody, but I wouldn’t recommend it.’
‘Why not?’
‘When I did, she shot me.’
‘What?’ exclaimed Connor, not sure he’d heard right.
Amir lifted his shirt to reveal a purple bruise across his chest. ‘She got me to wear one. It’s constructed from a hi-tech woven fabric that “catches” the bullet and spreads the impact over the whole torso rather than in one specific area. So I can guarantee you – on my life – that the shirt works.’
‘I bet that hurt, though,’ said Connor, grimacing in sympathy as Amir re-covered his bruised chest.
‘I’d be lying if I said no. It felt like a battering ram. But at the time I was more worried about the contents of my pants! She scared me half to death. I’m never going to hand in homework late again.’
Amir began to repack the bag for him.
‘It’s all right. I’ve already got my own backpack,’ said Connor.
‘Not like this one you haven’t,’ he replied. ‘This backpack could save your life too.’ He tapped the rear panel, then flexed it. ‘State-of-the-art liquid body armour. The jacket and shirt are only effective against handguns. This backpack will shield you from high-powered assault rifles and machine guns like the MP5.’
‘That’s reassuring to know,’ said Connor, hoping he wouldn’t be confronted by that sort of firepower.
‘Colonel Black spares no expense on our safety equipment,’ explained Amir, showing Connor how the panel folded out to double its coverage. Then he resumed packing the bag.
Connor was astonished by the gear at his disposal. State-of-the-art phones, bulletproof clothing, anti-ambush backpacks. ‘I feel like James Bond,’ he said, picking up the snazzy pair of sunglasses with dark mirrored lens. ‘So what do these do?’
Connor was hoping for a ‘heads-up’ display with augmented reality like the heroes used in the movies.
‘Now these are really clever – one hundred per cent anti-radiation, anti-glare devices,’ explained Amir, slipping them on and grinning. ‘They keep the sun out of your eyes!’
The Gulfstream jet touched down on the runway and taxied to the small private air terminal. As its engines wound down, the passenger door opened and the steps automatically unfolded. An immaculately presented air stewardess checked the exit was clear before ushering the sole passenger from the plane.