The applicants looked at one another.
“Yes, this briefing will be in two parts. One very general and the other classified and specific. However, I remind you of the oath you signed in your paperwork: should you divulge anything I say, even from the unclassified portion, you will be subject under the laws of your respective country to a substantial fine and a prison sentence of up to five years. Are there any questions?”
There were none.
“Good. Periodically, opportunities present themselves whereby one of our countries needs access to a specific individual. However, either because of our inability to get the proper authority to the particular location in sufficient time or because of the interjection of Interpol, the subject slips from our grasp. What you will be asked to do has its danger, and there is deniability by the country in which you are functioning. This does not mean that your country is not working behind the scenes to secure your release, should you be apprehended by a legal authority within the country in which you are operating. Much to the contrary, however, there remains the possibility that you could be incarcerated for a very short period of time. Now is the time for anyone who has any discomfort with what I have said to take a walk. You are reminded that you cannot discuss what you have heard up to this point with anyone or you could face a severe fine and forfeiture of your freedom for a period of time. And that I can promise you.”
The five sitting along the wall looked up and down the row to see if there would be any departures. Carl thought, Every time I went out on a mission in Afghanistan, I didn’t know whether I would be killed, captured, or safely returned to camp. At least in this program, I know that if I’m arrested, my country will secure my freedom. I’m going to go for it.
However, the Asian must have had different thoughts on the matter because he rose from where he was sitting and turned to Mr. S. “Thank you for the opportunity to interview, but I will be declining your offer.” He walked out of the room.
Mr. S. asked, “Are there any others besides Number Two who are having second thoughts? This will be your last opportunity to walk away.”
The remainder stayed where they were. All stared straight forward at Mr. S. and, with the exception of Number One, moved down a number. Carl was now Number Four.
Looking over the remaining four, Mr. S. said, “Is there anyone else who feels uncomfortable with the position they could be asked to fulfill?” There was no reaction from the remaining men.
“OK, I will now go into the classified portion of this briefing. For the final time, it is my understanding that all of you are now committed to the mission that is before us.”
All heads nodded in agreement.
“The code name for our mission is Operation Crash. The name comes from the fact that we are embarking on a new program to provide you with a crash course to accomplish a highly sensitive and delicate mission. It’s built around the skills and talents you each possess. Those skills range from your intellectual and language skills to your physical abilities to your knowledge of and skill with various makes and models of weaponry.
“I can best explain the reason for this sudden need with an illustration. There was an incident where an individual had committed murder and brought mass mayhem to thousands of people, much like Osama bin Laden. On two different occasions, his physical location was identified; however, because of the resources that had to be brought in from different countries or clearances from the authorities of various countries and Interpol, he slipped though our hands. We do not know whether it was the sudden movement of intelligence people or if an informant tipped him off. To avoid even the appearance of the movement of people across international borders, as well as an insider providing information to the target, there has been agreement among certain intelligence agencies to covertly recruit assets needed from within the country where the individual is located. Those recruits—you—will be given a two-week crash course to learn international law and in general to hone your skills and prepare a plan for execution. I hope that the word execution does not create a problem for you. Rest assured that the target is one for which execution may be the only solution On a date and at a time still to be determined, and one that you will not know in advance, the mission will be executed.
“The mission you carry out will consist of only two or maybe three of you. Those not chosen to participate will be returned to your home country under a German passport. This gives the appearance of a German citizen visiting another country. Once you are in your home country and under the control of your country’s intelligence apparatus, your country passport will be returned and you will commence a much longer course of intelligence training.
“The success of our mission will depend on providing the appearance that all is normal in and around the target of our mission. Beginning tomorrow morning, in this location, you will be immersed in the study of international law. Each afternoon, at a different hour, you will visit a local target range to hone your handgun and rifle skills. At no time will any of you be seen together at any place. You will be given the name of the firing range you are to go to and the time. You will be provided staggered times at which you can enter this building. When the time comes to execute the mission to either capture or eliminate the target, those of you who will participate in the mission will be given a two-hour notice. Those of you not participating will be given a purchased ticket to your home country, and you will fly out of Germany using a German passport. Are there any questions?”
Again no one said a word.
“Good. As you depart, my secretary will give you your schedule for the times you are to report here and the times you are to report to a specific firing range. Know that you will be under surveillance at all times but that you will never know who is watching or how the surveillance is being conducted. This is not because we don’t trust you; it is because we don’t want anything to inadvertently or accidentally go wrong. This is the last time for your questions.”
Silence filled the room.
“There being no questions, you are dismissed.”
As the four men stood to leave, Mr. S. said, “Finally, gentlemen, know that there will be times when you will be given information that is meant for you and you alone. Should you share it with another, you will be cut from this program. Thank you for your willingness to serve your country in this covert manner, and good luck in your training.”
Chapter 7
Three weeks later, Huck sat quietly watching the cork on his line as it was pulled by the river’s current. Cedric had already landed two fish that definitely were not throw backs. He thought, Cedric has now caught his and Alice’s dinner, and I certainly hope that I will not have to endure him telling Rose how his fishing skills were the reason we had something to eat. The ringing of his cell phone interrupted his musing.
“Hey! See if you can hold the noise down. I’m trying to catch your dinner over here,” Cedric remarked snidely.
“Yeah, yeah,” Huck responded, then answered his cell phone. “Huck here.”
“Rose here,” came the reply. “This must be my fisherman.”
“Please don’t say that so that Cedric can hear you. He’ll probably tell you much differently.”
“What are you boys planning for lunch?”
“Probably a ham sandwich, unless you have a different idea.”
“Do you think the two of you could join me at the little Italian restaurant just outside the north entrance to Fort Belvoir? I want you to meet someone and hear her story. It might make for a job to keep you two out of trouble.”
“Just a minute.” Huck turned to Cedric. “How do you feel about an Italian lunch?”
“Sounds good to me. What’s up?”
“Rose, we can do that. What time?”
“What about one o’clock?”
“OK, see you then.”
Again Cedric asked, “What’s up?”
“Rose says she has someone for us to meet and that her story might turn into a job for us.”
“I hope it’s more exciting than confirming a wayward spouse or ensuring a custody claim. Have I got time to finish catching your dinner?”
“Not if you’re going to talk all the time,” replied Huck as he cast out his line.
Shortly after 1:00 p.m., Huck and Cedric entered the restaurant to find Rose and a Hispanic woman sitting on a bench beside the door.
“Sorry we’re a few minutes late. We got behind a semi with a driver who truly believed he had to abide by the posted speed limit.”
Cedric quickly spoke up. “Rose, don’t worry about your dinner. I caught a big one for you. Huck managed to catch a puny one for himself.”
After the moment of levity, Rose said, “Huck, Cedric, I want you to meet Sandy Rouse.”
Almost simultaneously both men said, “Glad to meet you, Sandy.”
Before Huck could secure a table, Rose said, “I have arranged for us to have a booth in a somewhat secluded spot at the rear of the restaurant. I wanted to ensure that we’re not disturbed while Sandy tells you her story. I’m hopeful that you’ll be able to help her.”
Rose signaled to the hostess that they were ready to be seated, and she led them to a round corner booth in the rear of the restaurant. Before the hostess could ask about their drink orders, Rose spoke up. “Could you take our orders now and, once the food is delivered, see that we’re not disturbed? If we need something, I will let you know.”
Huck thought, When Rose takes charge, it means something very serious is in front of us.
Once the orders were placed, Rose suggested that Sandy provide the guys with an overview of the issue for which she needed help; during the meal, she could provide more specifics.
In a somewhat shaky voice, Sandy began. “My son is in jail in Frankfurt, Germany, charged with the assassination of a member of the German cabinet. Carl referred to the cabinet as the Bundeskabinett. When I researched German states, I learned that the man was the representative from the state of Hesse.”
Cedric interrupted. “I think I read something about that in the Washington Post. Isn’t your son an ex-marine?”
“Yes. He had three tours in Afghanistan. During his third tour, his wife divorced him. He naively believed that if he resigned from the marines, it would restore their marriage. He was wrong. But in this case, I think he is right. He’s innocent.”
Huck thought, Probably ninety-five percent of those in prison for murder will tell you they are innocent, and ninety-nine percent of their mothers believe it. But Huck said nothing; he had missed the article in the Post.
Cedric asked, “What was he doing in Germany?”
The waitress arrived with their food, so all talking ceased. When she departed, Sandy continued. “He was there for a security consultant job interview.”
“As I recall from the article,” Cedric said, “he was attempting to leave the country under a bogus passport?”
Trying to hold back her tears, Sandy dropped her head. “He said he did not take the security job, but he had met a man on his trip to Germany who told him that if the interview did not go well, to see him because he might have a job for him. I’m so confused.”
“Did he go to work for the man he met on the plane?” asked Huck.
“Yes, but because it was a classified job, he couldn’t talk about it. He assured me that he will be cleared of the charges and that I shouldn’t worry because everything is being done to have him returned to the US.”
“I don’t want to cause you additional alarm, but trust me when I say that if he is charged with the assassination of a member of the German Bundeskabinett, there is nothing the US can do to secure his return to this country,” countered Cedric.
“That’s why I’m so worried. I don’t think Carl fully understands the ramifications of the charges he’s facing. I believe that whomever hired him convinced him in some way that he could not fully disclose his job or his involvement with the organization with which he was employed. Furthermore, regardless of the outcome, in the end, all would be worked out and he would be cleared.”
“Did he say who hired him?” asked Huck.
“When I asked him, he would say only Empire Enterprises. He wouldn’t say the name of the person.”
Huck looked over at Cedric. “You know, diplomatically this falls more under your expertise. From my perspective and with all due respect to you, Ms. Rouse, your son, if innocent, has gotten himself involved in something much bigger than anything we have tackled to date.”
Looking at Rose, Huck said, “Rose, I promised you before we were married that I wouldn’t take on any more cases where there was even the smell of danger. This is one of those cases. Certainly Cedric and I can ask a few questions, but, as you’re well aware, we never know where our questions will lead us.”
Rose looked sympathetically at Sandy and then back at Huck. “Huck, is there any way you and Cedric could just scratch the surface and, if you find something, turn it over to the proper legal authorities?”
“Rose, the fact that Sandy’s son has been charged means that there is sufficient evidence that he was involved in some way. Furthermore, his attempt to leave the country with a bogus passport, soon after the incident, does not bode well for him.”
Cedric took up the conversation. “Rose, what Huck is saying is that the Frankfurt and the German federal authorities are not looking for evidence to clear Carl but to dig the hole he is in much deeper. The only ones who will be interested in looking for evidence to clear Carl will, hopefully, be his defense team. And he certainly is not helping himself without his full disclosure of the events that have placed him in this predicament.”
The reality of what both Huck and Cedric had said hit Sandy like a ton of bricks and she broke down, weeping to the point that she could hardly catch her breath. Rose did the best she could to comfort her.
Turning again to Rose, Huck asked, “Does Carl have a father?”
“They have been divorced for several years. She doesn’t even know if he’s aware of Carl’s situation.”
“Although it’s none of my business, I think she should confirm her husband’s knowledge of this matter.”
Rose continued to pat Sandy on the back and tried to reassure her that things would work out. “Huck, would you and Cedric consider what you might be able to do, and then, with Cedric’s Alice present, the four of us could discuss this matter?”
“Certainly. We’ll research what public information is available, and Cedric might be able to find out something from his sources within the agency. After he and I have a better understanding the four of us can have a discussion as to how we might be able to help.”
Sandy, who was sniffling and whose face was red and completely wet with tears, said, “Thank you, Mr. Price and Mr. Smart. I’m sorry I’m not any stronger.”
“Ms. Rouse, give Cedric and me a few days, and we should be able to get back to you with what we can or cannot do,” said Huck.
Huck stood up and looked in Rose’s direction. “Rose, I’ll get the check.”
Cedric leaned over to Sandy. “Keep praying. The Lord has a way of turning difficult situations into miracles. Look at me—I wasn’t expected to walk again.”
With those words, Cedric limped behind Huck toward the cash register.
Chapter 8
Back in the car, Cedric had a big grin on his face. “Huck, my friend, we’re off the fishing bank and back into action. Now, what’s our plan? From the time that Rose suggested our intervention, I could tell from your face that your brain was already considering courses of action.”
“Cedric, there are times when I think we are almost joined at our heads. You remember Frank Walton from the Penny case, don’t you?”
“Yes. As I recall, he was an advisory for the National Security Coun
cil.”
“That’s right. When our new president came into office, Frank moved over to the State Department. I’ll give him a call to see what he knows about the Rouse case. At the same time, I’d like for you to check with your CIA sources to get their read on what may be going on. From what Ms. Rouse said, it appears that Carl may think he’s a player in some covert operation. Also, I’m going to ask Rose to contact her counterpart at the Marine Corps headquarters to find out all she can about Carl Rouse. We need to know if what he has told his mother is correct.”
Beaming from ear to ear, Cedric responded, “I’m on it, Huck. Maybe by late tomorrow we can regroup to see where we need to go next.”
“Cedric, let me caution you not to be too optimistic. Rose and Alice have to be fully on board before we take on a case of international magnitude. There’s no telling where this might lead.”
“I understand, but get me home so that I can start working my assignment.”
Huck started his Audi and pulled out of the restaurant’s parking lot.
From the time Rose came home from work and through the dinner hour, neither had brought up the subject of Carl Rouse. After Huck had pushed his dinner plate back, indicating that he had finished eating, and refilled his glass with sweet tea, he said, “Rose, we need to talk.”
“I know,” acknowledged Rose.
Huck began. “You know the dangers Cedric and I encountered in the Penny case, the Major Crook case, and the Frazier case. None of those dangers were foreseen. We simply followed the leads wherever they took us. There are several significant differences between those cases and what could become the Rouse case. And both you and Alice need to know them if Cedric and I are to proceed.
A Price for Balancing the Scales Page 3
