by Geoff Wolak
‘So noted for the record.’
I went and found the assistant manager, cash handed over, mattresses and camp beds asked for. And pronto.
An hour later we had thirty camp beds, the Colonel offered one with an inflatable bed. He was pleased, his lady adjutant to get one as well.
A truck at the gate, and Rizzo and gang were back.
‘Staff Sergeant, did you steal that truck?’
‘Course we fucking stole it.’ He handed me a piece of paper with the coordinates of the drugs on, insistent I take good care of it – and could I read his hand writing. I pocketed it and handed him some dollars for the shop, hoping the Colonel would not ask what the white powder on their uniforms was, Moran quietly scolding Rizzo with a pointed finger, slapping Rizzo's powder-covered webbing.
Swifty stepped up to me. ‘Anything happening?’
‘Nah, quiet day,’ I to him. ‘Get something from the shop.’
I called Tomsk and gave him the coordinates. He would send people to get the drugs and test them. ‘How you coping?’ I finally asked.
‘I can understand Medellin trying to screw me, but Frank was a shock. I have few genuine friends.’
‘I am in that list?’ I teased.
‘You are at the top of the list, you keep me alive and ask for nothing.’
‘As I said to the Panama minister today, you brought peace here, less crime, you build schools.’
‘Well … maybe. That lady doctor is doing well, they had her on the TV again; I paid for her clinic.’
‘I will try and visit her, when they stop shooting at me.’
‘I saw on the TV news the explosion there. That fucking airport is demolished!’
‘It will need some work, yes, bit of a sweep up.’
‘My people in San Vito could not find Canadians, but we know where they stayed and who they spoke to. And they say that the Costa Rica gang have been decimated, those left alive running scared. They think the entire American military is after them.’
‘That’s almost true, and the ship that fired a missile at you was sunk by my Navy, they have the crew, and that crew will be handed to the authorities here in Panama, so you can grab them from prison.’
‘Ah, good, I get that ship's Captain yes, and burn him alive myself in what’s left of my home!’
‘The Panama minster knows my true identity now, but I think we can trust him.’
‘I have enough dirt on him to get him hung. But I speak to him soon.’
Half an hour later, a Wolf brought back with a minor wound, Franks approached as I sat with Moran and Salome. ‘Some news, and it’s … mixed. Mixed in that the press will be asking awkward questions, good in that it closes a chapter. Manstein, it seems, hung himself with a shoelace.’
‘I get the feeling they may accidentally incinerate the body.’
‘No post mortem then,’ Franks noted. ‘This new colonel OK?’
‘Yes, fine. He's been busy organising our defences here, and in the morning we'll look at the map, but the border drug gang is running scared, reported by my friends in low places as having been decimated.’
‘So what about the Tiujana Cartel?’
‘That would probably see my men go ashore, get a fix on the leadership and call in an airstrike. Or, we use some bait. And then try and kill my third body double.’
‘Why haven't they used him to discredit you?’ Franks posed.
‘Not sure, and it’s a worry.’
Salome put in, ‘Best to keep him alive, and they replace Tomsk and tell people that Petrov is here and in control. Many people think he is the real power.’
I exchanged a look with Franks. ‘Major, you're not as dumb as they say.’
‘Who says I'm dumb!’
I smiled widely. Facing Franks, I said, ‘Yes, they keep him alive and have him scare the locals. If people think Petrov is around they won't see such a change, status quo drug dealing and the daily commute to work.’
‘So either way you need to shoot the fella,’ Franks noted before he walked off.
‘Who says I'm dumb?’ Salome repeated.
‘Those who see you sauntering around naked yet fail to appreciate your keen intellect.’
She cursed in Hebrew, Moran smiling till she focused on him.
Before dawn I got word of SEALs airborne, TV camera rolling. At dawn I got word of SEALs down and detaining people, helos arriving on the island with CIA and FBI men, several TV cameras rolling, and I soon wished they had stayed away. The man at the end of the phone was a retired British agent.
I called David. ‘It was not Terotski -'
‘I know, we just got the call, and the screams will be loud.’
‘Who is this idiot anyhow?’
‘Rupert Chalmers, ex-Mi5 Russia House; he was Cold War trained. Mister Kitson already has a team looking at everything Chalmers touched.’
‘Would he have known Terotski?’
‘He was in on the interview, retired a year later.’
‘Does this fucking Terotski have some hypnotism skills or what?’
‘He does seem to be able to recruit people,’ David said with a sigh.
‘He need only look for people pissed off with their careers,’ I teased.
‘There are few of those, yes.’
‘Is he talking?’
‘The Americans have offered him the electric chair or retirement in an orange jumpsuit, so we are hopeful he'll talk.’
‘Give GCHQ a kick, and get Chalmers' phone traced. Maybe he was sloppy.’
‘He had maps of La Ninga on his dining room table, so I'm leaning towards sloppy.’
‘The sniper at my hotel in London, any leads?’
‘They have the window, partial prints, a hair they think, a modest description. Seems to be a pro.’
‘So why did he leave me alive?’
‘Good question, as yet unanswered. But maybe Terorski wanted you to follow the evidence.’
‘And … for me to chop up his own people and some drug runners?’
‘We don't know the full picture yet, but Terotski doesn't seem to care about his subordinates getting killed and caught.’
‘If the aim was to kill me and Tomsk then he failed, so … what’s next for him?’
‘I would guess he's running and hiding, perhaps with some facial alterations.’
As the sun came up Tomsk called.
‘What you doing up this early?’ I wondered.
‘I went to bed early, no club. Listen, police commandos in Costa Rica were killed this morning, thirty of them.’ He gave me the village name. ‘That place is forty miles west of you.’
‘I'll have a look.’
I found Franks and asked that he send an urgent message via the State Department to the government in Costa Rica, to pull out police and soldiers from the border region, and the area in question. And to tell the Costa Rican Government that we did not kill their people.’ He got on the phone.
I transmitted, ‘All Echo form up ready to leave, get supplies. Someone wake-up Rizzo.’
To Major Morgen I said, ‘Get all helos ready for me please, an insert.’
I stepped to the radio operator and grabbed his large map. ‘Here, this village. I want F18s low and slow to eyeball it, report back anything unusual. Straight away.’
He sent the message, an alert flight near us. Echo formed up on the apron, being observed by the Marines and the technicians, fresh water grabbed, as well as sandwiches and chocolate.
The Colonel strode over. ‘Where you off, Major?’
‘West forty miles more or less, sir, a team of Costa Rican police commandos killed this morning.’
‘Killed by who?’
‘Someone of interest, sir, someone who doesn't want what they're doing to be interrupted.’
‘More missiles?’
‘Possible, sir, and they have a range of two hundred miles, but my people suggested that the guidance system was crap across land and hills. So we just don't know, sir.’
‘We're spread out and dug in, so less damage they could now with a missile, mortars or rockets.’
‘You may get some cannon fodder on the wire, sir. I'd bet on it.’
‘We're ready.’
‘Some F18s taking a look at the drop zone now, sir, so we wait the report.’ I led him to the radio operator, Major Morgen there.
The radio operator finally lifted his face to me. ‘Fixed wing report a village wiped out, bodies everywhere.’
‘Civilians as well as police?’ I puzzled.
‘Yes, sir.’
‘Have the carrier send fixed wing for aerial photographs, low level and good quality, I want it all recorded.’
The message was sent.
‘Why massacre a village?’ the Colonel thought out loud.
‘To blame us, maybe,’ I told him.
‘We have reporters here, and witnesses,’ the Colonel noted. ‘Who'd believe it?’
‘Some will always believe the conspiracy theories, sir.’ I sent for Max. ‘Put a story on Reuters straight away. Village in Costa Rica wiped out, thirty police commandos killed, discovered by F18 overhead, scene photographed by US Navy, units being dispatched to investigate.’
I called Mitch. ‘Where are you?’
He gave me a village name and I had a look at the map. ‘Move west double-time, village of La Binono, ten miles or twelve miles from you.’
‘There're jeeps here, one careless owner.’
‘Use them, get there fast, but don't approach, it smacks of a trap; someone wiped out the entire village. Get to within two miles and walk, split up, expect a trap. Look for claymores or mines.’
‘Moving now.’
Off the phone, I approached Moran and Ginger as they grouped outside. ‘It smacks of a trick, so I have Mitch and his team and Wolf Murphy moving in from the side.’ I called Tiny. ‘Where's Gay Dave?’
‘Here with us in the hotel, why?’
‘Was he seen last night, and this morning?’
‘Yes, people smiled and waved at breakfast.’
‘Just an idea, talk later.’ I called the minister. ‘Did I wake you?’
‘No, I drive my kids to school early.’
‘A village forty miles west of us was wiped out, Costa Rican side, and maybe they want us blamed for it. Call your friends in the Coast Rican Government and ask about it, and if asked – Petrov was in Panama City last night and at breakfast at 7am this morning, you saw him.’
‘That double was seen last night.’
‘Yes, he's in the hotel, I'm at the airfield.’
‘Someone wants to blame you?’
‘And get me out the way to move on Tomsk.’
‘Then I saw you at 7am.’
‘They may ask why you never arrested me.’
‘I can tell them you keep the Medellin out of my country.’
‘Make the call now please. Oh, and ask to know why police commandos were sent, and who sent them so early today.’
I walked to Franks, our CIA man now unshaven and looking tired. He was not a morning person. ‘For someone to send those police commandos is odd. What were they for – in a small village?’
‘To arrest some drug dealer at dawn would be the norm.’
‘If this is a trick, then whoever sent those commandos is in on it. Have the FBI ask questions as to what the planned operation was, and keep them digging at it.’
He lifted his phone and stepped away, not quite with it yet.
I sent Echo back to the roof and to the rubble; we were going nowhere fast, the helos stood down.
The Panama minister called me back. ‘The Interior Minister in Costa Rica was sent evidence that Petrov wiped out that village, but stumbled when I said I saw you at 7am. I asked where the evidence came from, but he was reluctant to discuss it. I asked why the commandos were there, and he was again reluctant.’
‘He was paid off. Thank you, talk soon, but expect trouble today from the media.’
‘I am ready for it.’
I stepped to Franks as he lowered his phone. ‘The Interior Minister in Costa Rica, he's dirty. Get his phone traced, all movements, and send an official note to the President there that you strongly suspect him of involvement with the missiles. Work fast.’
I called David. ‘We have a problem. A village was wiped out forty miles west of me, police commandos dispatched at dawn by the Interior Minister in Costa Rica, who we're now certain is dirty. Send a note to the President of Costa Rica straight away asking for his phone and is contacts to be investigated as a matter of urgency.’
‘They're trying to set up Petrov.’
‘Yes, but a Panama minister saw Petrov at 7am this morning, so that helps. Work fast. And this means that Terotski has friends still out there, and still actively keen to move aside Tomsk.’
‘Could be the cartels, it smacks of their mentality. I'll talk to the Costa Ricans now.’
The American Wolf captain approached. ‘Just got a call from a team, they were heading back in - most are. They have a large force of what appear to be Costa Rican police near the border.’ He showed me on the map.
‘Have your team snipe at distance, hit trees, make the police get down and hide. Do that now!’
He made the call after looking up a number. We waited. He finally reported, ‘They're down and hiding.’
‘Have your team split up, circle around, look for a large force of well-armed men sneaking up on the police to ambush them. I know it’s asking a lot, but I want the attackers fired at, a few bodies to recover. Any other teams nearby?’
‘Some, yes.’
‘Have them move in quickly, warn them of the large force nearby.’
He made the calls.
Morgen noted, ‘A few Wolves against a large well-trained force?’
‘We have to try at least and save the lives of those police officers. They're going to be massacred to blame my men.’
He nodded. ‘We can dispatch men from here..?’
‘The helos would be heard and seen, and fired at.’
My phone trilled. ‘Wolf Brigson, Boss, and we got some Russian soldiers sneaking about.’
‘Give me your position.’ I checked the map. They were a mile from the Costa Rican police unit. ‘How many?’
‘Say thirty to forty. And they're all kitted like us, Valmets as well, jabbering away in Russian.’
‘They're moving in on a group of Costa Rican police commandos, to massacre them and blame us.’
‘That’s naughty. Can we open fire?’
‘Just four of you?’
‘Four mad dogs, sir.’
I smiled, but forced it away. ‘You'll take casualties...’
‘Nasty shit stream and some tight bush between us, sir.’
‘Get the leader first, then hit anyone you can. Help on its way.’ I transmitted, ‘Slider, get the snipers and get down here fast.’
I pointed at Major Spencer. ‘I need two Hueys ready to go.’ He rushed out. Turning, I shouted, ‘I need two medivac helos ready to go!’
The radio operator updated the pilots, still sat in their helos. I stepped to the apron, Slider coming in from the side. ‘Get on the Hueys, go due north twenty miles.’ I showed him the map. ‘Use your radios, keep the helos above 500ft – our radios work well up at altitude. Contact Wolf Brigson, British, get him to guide you in, expect a hot landing.’
He ran after the team and split them up. As they loudly lifted off I could see them sat on the sides, boots on the landing skids, smiles on their faces.
The Colonel appeared at my side with his command team. ‘Problems?’
‘A set-up, sir. Earlier, thirty Costa Rican police commandos were ambushed, a village wiped out, my men to get the blame. Now we have more police commandos seen, and a gang of Russian soldiers moving towards them, but my men are attacking. Four of mine, thirty Russians.’
‘Your men are shit hot...’
‘Yes, sir, but these are Wolves … we'll lose one or two.’
‘Can the
y snipe from a distance?’
‘Tight bush terrain, sir. So … fingers crossed.’ I paced up and down near the radio operator.
When my phone trilled it was Brigson. ‘We killed eight, rest are hiding.’
‘Any wounds?’
‘This lot sprayed it around, but we were down and hidden. This bunch are pants.’
‘Then kill the fuckers, eh.’
‘Like a shooting gallery at the fair, just waiting for a head to pop up.’
Smiling, I cut the call and faced Morgen and his expectant team. ‘Eight enemy soldiers killed, no wounds our side so far.’
The Lt. Commander approached. ‘You have wounded?’
‘Not yet, but I'll need you to collect bodies of those we shot. You have body bags?’
‘Some, yes.’
‘Get some plastic sheets then, for thirty bodies. Airport manager.’
He headed that way.
My phone trilled. ‘It’s Wolf Murphy, Boss.’
‘What you got?’
‘Got us a fella with a long lens, two of them.’
‘I want them alive and back here. Capture them, and then we send in the helos.’
‘Hold on...’ I heard the crack. ‘That'll hurt in the morning.’
‘What did you do?’
‘Two ankles with the one round.’
‘I'm sending a helo now, use your radio.’ To the radio operator I said, ‘Dispatch two helos to the village that was wiped out, they establish radio contact with Wolf Murphy and grab two wounded prisoners. Have Marines in the trailing helo.’
Morgen organised the Marines and the helos for me.
My phone trilled. ‘It’s Slider, and we're down, ridge behind the fighting, but Tomo and Nicholson are still on a Huey, high up above. They're shooting down, we have them on the radio.’
‘I want someone alive if you can get me one without any risks.’
‘I'll have a look now.’
Ten minutes later my phone trilled as I stood on the apron in the bright sunlight.
‘It’s Mitch, and we dispatched the two reporters, if that’s what they are.’
‘Comb the area, but don't go near any bodies or houses, it could be a trap. Look for more sneaky men with cameras.’
‘Will do.’
He was back on five minutes later. ‘We found two wounded civvies! Women!’
