Ransom

by Belle Ami

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Mossad Headquarters

  Tel Aviv, Israel

  Noam Levi stood, his arms rigid, his hands fisted behind his back. He wasn’t a large man, but his power filled the situation room. All of his attention was directed at the large video screen dominating the room. Satellite feed and a live feed of the team was being monitored and analyzed by twelve computer stations. Eight video screens were projecting live action as it took place. A command table was in communication with each branch of the IDF. Smaller monitors carried both domestic and foreign news feeds. The back wall held a row of clocks displaying different time zones around the world.

  Security systems and the Orfek satellite had picked up the missile launch. For less time than it took to take a breath everyone in the situation room froze as they watched the missile with its deadly payload rise through the roof of the greenhouse.

  The possibility of the team’s failure to stop the missile from being launched had always been a possibility. Plan B an unacknowledged plan had sat on a back burner in the hopes its implementation wouldn’t be necessary. The reality of failure activated the sci-fi solution.

  Weeks ago, the Ramsad had been briefed on new strategic defense technology that Israeli scientists had been working on for the last year. The premise of it was well known, Airborne Lasers, better known as ABL could be used to destroy a nuclear missile threat.

  Staring at the big screen, the Ramsad and everyone else in the command center held their breaths as the UAV drone lifted off from Tel Nof Airbase on a course to intercept the missile. They all knew this drone was their last hope of defense against an EMP attack.

  It was hard for Noam Levi to wrap his head around the fact that the fate of the nation was in the hands of a twenty year old video gaming genius who probably didn’t shave yet. Israel had an arsenal of computer geeks and gaming geeks serving in every branch of the IDF. The commanders of all branches of the military knew techy brains as much as brawn controlled the future of defense. Aggressively they targeted these teen prodigies for the military.

  The Ramsad’s gaze shifted between the screens displaying the drone and the missile. He knew the missile was stoppable only in the booster phase of the launch. Once the booster fell away the missile would be impossible to disarm. Its speed and trajectory beyond their ability to neutralize. Beads of sweat formed on his brow as he watched the missile climb into the night sky.

  The technology being used to stop the missile wasn’t new. For years earlier versions of ABL had been tested by the Americans. The problem was the oxygen iodine lasers they’d used had always been too burdensome. These enormous lasers mounted on the nose of a large aircraft were ineffective. Using scientific ingenuity Israeli scientists had come up with a solution. Megawatt solid state lasers were miniature in comparison to oxygen iodine lasers. Now without endangering pilots or aircraft, the new laser was mounted on a drone. They’d named the armed drone, Hakela shel David, David’s slingshot.

  General Samson, stood shoulder to shoulder next to the Ramsad. “Don’t worry Noam, so long as the missile is still in the booster phase we can stop it.

  “The drone using infrared sensors is calculating and transmitting at lightning speed the missile’s course, speed, aimpoint, and simultaneously measuring atmospheric turbulence.”

  The data sped across one of the computer screens so fast Noam wondered how the analyst monitoring could even begin to make heads or tails of it.

  “When, General, when will the drone engage?”

  Noam had barely uttered his question when the drone fired the laser at the missile. The bursts lasted only a few seconds. It seemed impossible those few bursts of energy could bring down a missile.

  “What’s happening?” The Ramsad asked struggling to remain calm.

  “Watch, sir. The laser’s concentrated power needs only a few seconds of pulses to be effective. The outside shell of the missile is heating to such a degree it will structurally fail.”

  The missile did seem to be wobbling. And then without warning the missile tilted. Right before their eyes as if by magic the missile burst into flames of fire, the heat radiating off its metallic skin had set the missile ablaze. Then in an about face, the missile upended and plunged toward the Earth.

  “But won’t the nuke explode?”

  “No, sir. The nuclear device and the missile are disintegrating together. The EMP threat is over.”

  Applause broke out in the situation room. Even the Ramsad who had fought to maintain a stoic calm seemed moved. “Thank God, we have prevailed.”

  “Yes, sir. We have won the day. David has slain Goliath again and saved the Israelites.”

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Beqaa Valley

  Beirut, Lebanon

  Ash, Ben, and Yitzak found little resistance as they darted, zigzagging across the open ground to where Nira and Daniel had made their stand. Ash ran with his rifle slung behind his back, his eye pressed to an AR-15’s night scope. Sweeping the weapon back and forth, he sprayed bullets shooting any combatants who got in his way. Yitzak brought up his flank, and Ben ran beside him. As per their orders, they killed all enemy in their path, but their main desire was to get to Nira and Daniel.

  Yitzak radioed, “Nira, don’t shoot the milkmen we’re almost to you. Over.”

  Instead of her normal feisty reply, they heard a decidedly weak and tired voice. “Daniel needs immediate attention, and I…never mind you’ll see when you get here. Over.”

  Ash heard the communication between Yitzak and Nira and replied. “Hold on, baby. We’re coming for you. Over.” He knew she’d rip him a new asshole for calling her baby, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was making sure she was safe and right now he was plenty worried. Her voice told him something was wrong. Worry and anger only made him a more deadly killer. He ran like a madman firing bullets in every direction.

  “Slow down, damn-it,” Yitzak yelled. “She’s going to think you’re the enemy and shoot your ass.”

  Ash finally stopped and grabbed a breath. “Nira, don’t shoot.”

  Nira’s voice rattled in his ear. “Meshuganah, have you lost your mind?”

  Ash released a sigh of relief. Nira calling him crazy sounded more like the woman he knew. The three men walked around the tractor. Daniel was lying on the ground in a semi-conscious state moaning. Yitzak ran and dropped his pack in the dirt. He pulled out his medical kit and immediately began administering to him. Daniel had taken a bullet on the right side of his chest and was bleeding profusely. “He’s lost a lot of blood, but it doesn’t look like anything vital was hit. He needs immediate care. I’ll do what I can and give him some morphine, but we need to move.”

  Ben, who’d taken up a position of defense, called, “Do whatever you need to get them stable. No one is getting past me.”

  “I’ve only the basics, but Elon’s got provisions in the van, and the pick-up point isn’t far.” He turned to Nira, “Are you all right?” Then he saw her stagger, and Ash caught her in his arms before she hit the ground.

  “No, you big ape, I’ve been hit.”

  “Where?”

  “My thigh…” she groaned, her features scrunching up from the pain. He looked down and could see her pants drenched with blood. “Take it easy, baby.” He gently laid her on the ground.

  “Don’t call me baby, or I’ll…” Nira’s words were cut short and her features twisted in pain as Ash used his knife to cut away her blood soaked pant leg. Yitzak was packing Daniel’s chest wound. Neither Ash nor Yitzak was a doctor, but all of the team received training in the treatment of battle wounds. They knew how to ease pain and stop the flow of blood until medics could take over.

  He ignored Nira’s reprimand. “Lucky for you, it’s not the femoral artery, or you’d be dead.” He eased her onto her side. Using an auto-injector he administered a dose of morphine. The affect was almost immediate. Her eyelids fluttered and she sighed. “I feel better.”

  He grinned. “Feels
better doesn’t it, baby.” She glared at him, but he remained focused on cleaning the area where the bullet had entered. He tied off her leg with an Israeli bandage, designed with a pressure applicator to staunch the flow of blood. He wrapped it tight around her thigh, bandaging her up. “This should hold until we get you aboard the helicopter. Do you think you can walk? If not I’ll carry you.” He knew she couldn’t walk, but he wanted her to ask for his help.

  “I’m going to try,” she growled.

  “Suit yourself.” He offered his hand to help her up. There was no sense in reminding her that he’d saved her life. Nira was Nira, and the thought of owing him would only exacerbate her more.

  She took his hand without comment, but when she put weight on her leg, she cried out and collapsed. “Good try, but I’ll take it from here.” He swooped her up in his arms. “Yitz, can you manage Daniel on your own? I’ve got my hands full.” He held back his grin.

  “Yeah, I’ll carry Daniel on my back.”

  “I’ll cover you both,” said Ben. “Yitz we can take turns carrying Daniel.”

  “Nira you can hold my AR-15 just in case Ben needs backup. It’ll give you something to think about other than your being helpless in my arms.” The grin that had threatened to make an appearance spread across his face.

  “When this is over I’ll teach you a thing or two about being helpless,” she snarled.

  “I think I might enjoy being helpless to you.”

  Yitzhak radioed Elon. “Elon, we’ve got Daniel and Nira, they’re both wounded. We could use back up. Over.”

  Cyrus answered. “Elon’s indisposed but I’m on my way to you. Over.”

  “Roger that. What about the EMP missile?” Asked Yitzak.

  “It’s been eliminated. I’ll fill you in later. Over.”

  Carrying Daniel on his back, Yitzak fought for every breath and every step forward. Nira fell in and out of consciousness, mumbling incoherently.

  A bullet whizzed by Ash just missing his temple. He hit the ground with Nira. She cried out. Ash yelled, “Damn it, Ben do something,” Yitzak gently lowered Daniel and grabbed the AR-15 from Nira.

  Ben and Yitzak crawled forward on the ground. Two minutes later the air crackled with gunfire. Ash angled his body in front of Nira protecting her from the retalitary fire. His eye pressed to the scope of the rifle, he stilled. He blew out a breath of relief when he saw Ben and Yitzak walk back smiling.

  Nira was moaning. Ash gave her another shot of morphine. She quieted. Ben hoisted Daniel back on Yitzak’s back, and they pressed slowly forward.

  Cyrus met them when they reached the fence. It seemed like hours since they’d originally cut and crawled through. “How are they?” He helped Yitzak with Daniel.

  “Daniel took a bullet in the chest, and Nira’s got a bullet lodged in her thigh. They’ll both need surgery and blood transfusions,” said Ash.

  “What happened to Elon?” Yitzhak asked, bending forward with his hands on his knees, trying to catch his breath. Carrying Daniel’s dead weight had left him exhausted.

  “Mustafa knocked him out and took Zara, but she managed to talk him into letting her go. I suspect Elon’s going to be nursing a hell of a headache. We’re set to go as soon as we get Daniel and Nira in the van.” He glanced at a semi-conscious Nira her head resting against Ash’s chest. “She’s pale. Doesn’t look so good.”

  Ash stared down at her colorless face, worry lines threading across his brow. “I know. She’s lost a lot of blood. She’s been mumbling a whole lot of gibberish. The sooner we get her to the medics the better.”

  They made it to the van and loaded Nira and Daniel inside. But when Ash kneeled to lay Nira down, she cried out, “Ash don’t leave me,” and her arms locked around his neck

  Ash brushed his lips over her forehead and whispered. “Don’t worry, baby. I’m here. You couldn’t drive me away if you tried.”

  She whispered in a delirious state, “I need you Ash.”

  The last thing he ever expected to hear was Nira saying she needed him. She drifted off with a contented smile on her lips. Ash stood, his gaze fixed on her as Elon got an IV with hypertonic fluids flowing into her arm. Elon sporting a bandage on his head worked feverishly to stabilize both Daniel and Nira. When he’d done what he could he gave the okay for the team to move.

  The team with Cyrus and Aryeh in the lead raced back to the farm. The Stealth Hawk that had crossed into Lebanese airspace ten minutes before landed. The first rays of sunlight warmed the eastern horizon. Daniel and Nira were loaded first so the medics could start immediate treatment. Then the rest of the exhausted team climbed aboard. The rotors had never stopped silently turning, and the invisible bird lifted off on command from Abe.

  “You should know the Ramsad believes you performed well.”

  Cyrus frowned. “We failed, Abe. You don’t have to sugarcoat the truth.”

  “You didn’t fail. Without your efforts the missile wouldn’t have been stopped. We wouldn’t have been ready for it. Believe me we’re all grateful. Last night the people of Israel slumbered peacefully ignorant of how close they came to Armageddon. As far as I’m concerned you should all be decorated.”

  Yitzak laughed. “Decorated? That’s pretty funny. How do you decorate a team that doesn’t exist?”

  “You thank them behind closed doors and hope it is enough.” Abe reached out his hand and shook each member of the team’s hand. “Thank you.”

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Tel Aviv, Israel

  Cyrus as the operational commander sat through each team member’s debriefing, except for Daniel and Nira, who were taken to Hadassah Medical Center.

  As soon as Ash finished with his debrief, he grabbed his things. He was going straight to the hospital where Nira was undergoing surgery. He wanted to be there when she woke up.

  “Ash, call me as soon as she’s out of surgery.”

  “Will do, boss.” He grinned. “She’s tough. I figure when she sees me hovering over her like a mother hen she’ll want to kick my ass. If I know my girl, it’ll get her well quick.”

  “Give her a kiss for me.”

  “I plan on giving her a lot of kisses.” He grabbed his backpack and gave Cyrus a thumbs up and left.

  Zara’s interview was quick. She was commended for her contribution and then escorted to the airport. The DGSE apprised of the situation recalled her, and she left to board a flight to Paris. Her career as a spy was at an end. What should have been a proud moment for her, ended with tragedy when she learned Hezbollah in retaliation for her collaboration with Mossad had executed Faiz, her photographer. Cyrus tried to console her, but she was devastated. She left for the airport as if she was on her way to the guillotine.

  During Zara’s accounting of the events, Aryeh leaned against a wall but said nothing. The old comrades in arms had exchanged few words since their return from Lebanon. Zara tried to give Aryeh a hug before departing, but he pulled away. Once she was gone, Aryeh disappeared without a word. As usual, the illusive spy kept his thoughts to himself.

  The rest of the team parted with handshakes eager to reunite with their families. For the time being, the entire team was given a leave of absence.

  Before they left, the Ramsad stood before them. “I know you all blame yourself for the missile being launched. You think you failed, but in reality there was nothing you could have done. Regardless, we were successful and without your efforts the attack wouldn’t have been stopped. You did your best. Enough said. Go home to your families and forgive yourselves. The enemy still plots, still plans, and we still need you to stand against them. Take this time and seek renewal. Unfortunately, I know you will be needed again to keep our country safe.” The sly fox who headed Mossad didn’t lavish praise or scorn. He was a realist not an idealist. With a nod he left the room.

  Cyrus arrived at the safehouse in Ramat Hasharon. The driver punched in the security code, and he walked through the gate. Even though he was running on borrowed fuel, having n
ot slept in more than twenty-four hours, he couldn’t wait to see Layla and Cerise. Not that he needed reminding of what they meant to him. Everything he’d been through only reinforced how precious they were to him. He heard voices coming from the kitchen. His beloveds were safe and he couldn’t wait to see them.

  He dropped his bag in the entry and brushed back his hair. When he strode into the kitchen, Cerise shrieked, “Aba,” and threw herself into his open arms. He lifted her up smothering her face with kisses. Across the room, he saw Layla turn. She stood frozen, completely unaware the spoon she held dripped oatmeal on the floor.

  As if waking from a dream Layla ran to him wrapping her arms around both Cerise and him. She wept, “You’re safe. You’ve come home.” she repeated over and over.

  “Eshgham, my love, I promised you I would.”

  “I’ve been so worried about you. Is it over?”

  “For now it’s over. I wish I could say it was over forever.”

  “I don’t care.” She pressed her lips to his neck. “Having you home safe is an answer to my prayers.”

  Amused, he pulled away so he could gaze into her eyes. “And where’s my hero’s welcome? Superman did everything in his power to come home to you.”

  “You’ll have to wait for your proper welcome home, but I promise you’ll get one.” She pressed against him until there was no space between them.

  Heat spread throughout his body. The effect Layla had on him sent his pulse racing. He was putty in her hands. He bent to claim her lips, his love for her filling all of the empty space in his heart.

  “Daddy, you’re crushing me.” Cerise interrupted unaware of the fire that raged between her parents. “Stop kissing. Ima and I have a surprise for you.”

  He sighed, reluctantly ending the kiss. “A surprise? What kind of surprise?” He tweaked Cerise’s chin, eliciting a string of giggles.

  Cerise’s eyes grew wide with excitement. “Let me show you.”

  “Cerise let Daddy rest a bit before you show him.” The quirk in her lips meant she was hiding something.