by Phoenix Ford
"What is today's date?" asked John.
"November 3rd," replied Sylvia. "Would you like to ride up to take a look at the castle and then maybe have a drink on the harbor?"
"Sounds great to me," John smiled. "I'll follow you."
There was almost no traffic. The castle was on the east end of the harbor and was open to tourists. John and Sylvia purchased their tickets and picked up a couple of brochures in English with a diagram of the structure and a description. A detailed history indicated that the most recent structure was built by the Venetians in the 16th century but that the Byzantines built the original castle in the 7th century. In between those constructions there had been a whole succession of occupants including the Knights Templar and the Ottoman Turks. It was quite interesting. One of the rooms off the courtyard housed the Shipwreck Museum. It contained the remains of a Greek ship from the 4th century B.C.
"Wow, that was quite a sight," said John. "This would not be a bad destination for a real honeymoon." He smiled and took Sylvia's hand as they walked outdoors to their motorbikes.
"Yes, it's a scenic little town. How about getting that drink now? It's just past 4 PM, and I should be hearing from Colin pretty soon."
"Let's do it!" said John starting his bike. "I saw several little cafes along the harbor."
"Good," replied Sylvia. "Afterwards let's ride past the Arkin Colony Hotel so that we'll know exactly where it is. I checked it out online, and it's in the center of town only a few blocks from the harbor. I'm going to suggest that Colin and the other MI6 agent stay in that hotel. They might be able to pick up some additional details."
CHAPTER 36
The next morning Angelo and two of his men, Livio and Carlo, arrived at Eleanora's villa promptly at seven o'clock. Eleanora was waiting by the front entrance dressed in a dark blue pants suit with flat walking shoes and plain gold jewelry, only a pair of earrings fashioned after clam shells and a gold chain necklace and a watch. She had a small overnight bag and a medium size metal case with a combination lock which held the US$3,000,000. She climbed into the backseat of Angelo's silver SUV.
By eight o'clock they were in the air and on their way. The pilot said the weather was good and that they should arrive between two and three o'clock that afternoon, maybe even sooner. There were secret compartments underneath two of the seats. Eleanora stashed the briefcase in one. Angelo and his men carefully placed their hand guns in a leather bag in the other. Eleanora had some bogus purchase orders for parts for an electric power station together with correspondence to the freight forwarder. She would use these documents to explain the purpose of the trip to any passport control, customs or other governmental officials at the airport. From previous experience she didn't expect any problems.
Meanwhile back in Kyrenia, Colin and a woman MI6 agent, Charlotte, had arrived. Charlotte was a brunette in the same age bracket as Sylvia but not as beautiful. However, she had a very athletic appearance. John had little doubt she could hold her own in any fight. By hacking the Arkin Colony Hotel's reservation system MI6 had learned that room 316 had been assigned to Eleanora. Colin and Charlotte had managed to reserve the adjacent room 318. With their equipment they should be able to eavesdrop on every conversation in Eleanora's room.
From what they had managed to learn Sylvia and John weren't certain which airport Eleanora would be using. However, the closest airport to Kyrenia other than a few private landing strips was Ercan International Airport 26.4 kilometers to the southeast of Kyrenia. Sylvia decided it was worth the effort so she and John rode their bikes there. They arrived just past one o'clock in the afternoon and decided to have a sandwich and lemonade at an airport snack bar with a good view of arriving airplanes. Approximately thirty minutes later a small white turboprop plane with only some numbers on the tail landed. Sylvia pulled out a miniature set of binoculars from her backpack and discreetly observed the passengers and pilot descend the drop-down stairs of the plane.
"Voila!," said Sylvia. "There they are. Here, take a look," she said passing the small binoculars to John. He observed Eleanora and three men plus a pilot standing beside the plane as an official approached, presumably to check their papers and passports. The official's inspection of the aircraft seemed as cursory as the inspection of the yacht. After stamping their passports and collecting a landing fee the official pointed out a parking space for the plane. The pilot returned to the plane, re-started the twin engines, parked it and then returned to Eleanora and her men carrying her briefcase, another small bag with the handguns and his own overnight bag. Eleanora had told him she expected to stay in Kyrenia two nights at the most.
John paid for the sandwiches and lemonades at the snack bar. He and Sylvia then casually walked outside observing Eleanora and her men climb into an old light blue Mercedes with a driver. Sylvia pulled her encrypted satellite phone out of her backpack and called Colin.
"Yes, that's right," she said into the phone. "John and I probably won't be able to keep up with the car, but unless they go to the freight forwarder's office first they should be arriving at the Arkin Colony Hotel in about thirty minutes. I suggest that you or Charlotte remain at the hotel and the other keep a lookout near the freight forwarder's building. At both places try to pick up any intel you can." After describing the Mercedes and providing the license plate number Sylvia ended the call. She turned to John. "I doubt we can keep up with their car, but let's try following it at a safe distance."
"Okay," said John, climbing onto his motorbike and starting the engine. Sylvia did the same. For a while they could see the Mercedes on the road ahead of them, but it quickly outdistanced them. A couple of minutes out of Kyrenia Colin called Sylvia.
"Sylvia, Colin here at the hotel. Eleanora just arrived at the hotel. I will be using a device to listen through the wall, but first I'm going outside to stick a tracking device underneath the car. It should be easy."
"Thanks, Colin. John and I will return to the yacht, but please call the moment you learn anything." She ended the call and turned to John. "We might as well return to the yacht to relax and wait for any intel. I expect Eleanora to contact the freight forwarder today, but whether that's by phone or in person remains to be seen."
"Okay," smiled John. "I love all this cloak and dagger stuff as long as nobody is shooting at us."
By three o'clock in the afternoon Eleanora had settled into her room at the Arkin Colony Hotel. Angelo and his men had each taken a room on the same floor. Eleanora pulled a small notebook out of her purse and found the telephone number for Bozkurt Brothers, the freight forwarder. She dialed the number on the mobile phone she had purchased under a false name for use in Cyprus. She would dispose of it before she left the island.
"Buon giorno, signore. Lei parla italiano?" she asked when a man answered the phone.
"No," he replied, "but I speak English." He spoke with a thick accent, but Eleanora understood what he said.
"Excellent," she replied, "then we have something in common."
"How may I help you?" he asked.
"Are you Mr. Bozkurt?" asked Eleanora.
"Yes," he replied. "I am Adil Bozkurt. My brother Metehan Boizkurt is out of the office at the moment."
"Mr. Bozkurt, my name is Maria Conti," said Eleanora, using the false name she had picked for activities in Cyprus. She had registered at the hotel under that same name, using a fake Italian passport. "I have traveled here from Bologna because I have a business proposition I think you will find of much interest."
"What business proposition is that?" asked Adil Bozkurt.
"It's much too sensitive to discuss by telephone," she replied. "Could I meet you at your office tomorrow morning at about nine o'clock?"
"Are you already in Kyrenia?" asked Bozkurt.
"Yes," replied Eleanora. "I'm staying at a hotel not far from your office."
"Very well," he replied. "I will be expecting you."
"Thank you," said Eleanora. "I will see you tomorrow morning at nine o'clock."
> In the adjacent hotel room Colin and Charlotte had picked up and recorded every word of Eleanora's conversation with Bozkurt. Colin immediately called Sylvia and told her the time Eleanora had set for her meeting tomorrow, November 5th, with the freight forwarder.
"Thanks, Colin. Can you or Charlotte please go by Bozkurt Brothers late tonight and place listening devices on the window of the office area and maybe one other window?"
"Will do," replied Colin. What time do keep you wish to meet tomorrow?"
"We need to keep as low a profile as possible. John and I will wait here on the yacht. I suggest that you and Charlotte park your rental car close enough to Bozkurt Brothers to hear and record the conversation between Eleanora and Bozkurt but far enough away not arouse suspicion."
"That should be no problem," Colin replied. "These devices have a 100 meter range and are so small they're difficult to notice if placed on the glass close to the edge of the window. Charlotte and I will bring the recording to you as soon as the conversation has ended tomorrow morning."
"Perfect. We'll see you tomorrow morning on the yacht." Sylvia ended the conversation.
CHAPTER 37
Eleanora, Angelo and his two men, Livio and Carlo, arrived at Bozkurt Brothers the next morning promptly at nine o'clock.
As they entered a rather shabby reception area a man emerged from an office to the rear. "Good morning," he said. "You must be Maria," he smiled.
"Yes, good morning, Mr. Bozkurt," she smiled in return.
"Please call me Adil," he smiled at her, looking at the three men by her side.
"These are my associates, Amando, Luigi and Cristiano." The men shook hands as Eleanora made the introductions using more false names. "Is there a place where you and I could have a private discussion" she asked.
"Yes, certainly," replied Bozkurt. "We can go into my office. If your associates would like to sit over there I will have tea brought to them. You and I can have tea in my office, if you like."
"Yes, that's very kind of you," she smiled. Her men took their seats on a sofa and chair while Eleanora followed Bozkurt into his office. He closed the glass door through which Eleanora could still see Angelo and the other two men.
Bozkurt picked up the telephone receiver. "Please excuse me for a moment while I ring my assistant to request the tea,"
"Certainly," replied Eleanora. She waited while he made a brief call. When he put the receiver down she asked "Have you been in the freight forwarding business a long time?" Bozkurt appeared to be about forty years old. He was wearing gray slacks and a white long-sleeved shirt without a tie and nice but well-worn black shoes spit-polished to a glossy sheen. His office was surprisingly neat with an uncluttered desk, two file cabinets, and overhead fluorescent lights. A Turkish flag adorned the wall behind his desk. A single window on one side overlooked the adjacent street.
"Almost twenty years," he replied. "My parents had a restaurant here in Kyrenia," he said. "The restaurant was inherited by my older brother when they died. They left some money to me and my younger brother, so we formed a partnership to start this business."
"Well, judging by appearances," smiled Eleanora, "it looks like you have been successful."
"Yes," replied Bozkurt with obvious pride. "But I'm sure you did not come here to discuss my business. What can I do for you."
"Adil, I know that you have cut a deal to sell certain merchandize to Islamic State agents from Syria. I want to make a higher offer."
Bozkurt stood up abruptly with an angry look on his face. "Madam, I'm certain I do not know what you are talking about. You and your men must leave my offices immediately!" At the same moment a younger man came in with a tray and placed cups, a tea pot and sugar on the desk.
"Adil, please do not be offended or alarmed. I assure you I am not with the police or any agency of any government. I'm simply an Italian business woman trying to prevent the Islamic State from harming innocent people in Syria. As you must know, they are executing not only Syrian Christians, but Muslims too who do not conform to their extremist view. Please, Adil, just let me talk with you. As a show of my good intentions I brought one hundred thousand United States dollars as a down payment to give you right now." Immediately Eleanora opened her oversized handbag and pulled out ten bank packets of $100 bills worth $10,000 each and placed them on the desk in front of Bozkurt. "If you will just talk with me you may keep the hundred thousand dollars even if we don't reach a deal." The appearance of Bozkurt's eyes enlarging was not lost on her.
"I am not saying that I have any deal with the Islamic State, but if I had such a deal how can I know you are really not with some police agency?"
"Well, as they say, money talks," replied Eleanora "and I have just paid you one hundred thousand dollars in advance. "I am prepared to pay you $2,400,000 more for the goods upon delivery."
"But what 'goods' are you talking about exactly?" Bozkurt asked.
"Why play games, Adil? I have been very straight forward with you. Without even knowing you I came to your office, paid you $100,000 immediately and offered you considerably more for the goods than the Islamic State agreed to pay." Eleanora had much experience in contract negotiations.
"I am still not saying I know anything about the goods about which you speak, but even if that were true how could you possibly know what anyone agreed to pay me for anything?" Bozkurt countered with a shrewd look in his eyes.
"I know exactly what the goods are and how much the Islamic State agreed to pay because the private group I am helping has informants on the ground in Syria." She looked directly into Bozkurt's eyes without blinking. He could tell that she was serious.
"In that case, please describe the goods to me?" he replied.
"Well, let's just say they are radioactive and most probably come in lead-lined trunks or barrels. We know that you have two trunks or barrels."
A pregnant pause followed as Bozkurt and Eleanora stared each other down. Finally he said "You may have noticed a warehouse behind this office. The goods are not there now, but can you meet me there tomorrow morning with a truck? I will keep this hundred thousand dollars, but you will need to pay $2,500,000 more upon delivery if you want those goods. The barrels weigh 100 kilos each due to the density of the lead lining the barrels as well as what they contain."
"Agreed," replied Eleanora. "How about nine o'clock in the morning?"
"The time is good, but let me speak in no uncertain terms. I know you have men with you, probably armed men. I will have many more men there than you, some of them with assault weapons. Don't try any tricks, or you will never leave this island alive. Am I clear?" he replied.
"Perfectly," replied Eleanora. "Thank you for doing business with me. We will be here promptly at nine o'clock tomorrow morning." She stood up, shook his hand and walked out of his office, never touching her tea. As she re-entered the reception area she nodded to Angelo and his two men who followed her out of the office.
"Wow," said Colin to Charlotte. They had both heard the entire conversation with their ear pieces sitting in their rental car well away from the freight forwarder's business. "The 'goods' must be nuclear waste. They must be planning to make dirty bombs!"
"That's exactly what I think," agreed the Charlotte.
"Since you speak both Turkish and Greek you'd better stay here in the car listening for any other intel while I go to yacht to speak with Sylvia. I'd rather tell her in person. Nuclear waste really ups the risks of this assignment."
Colin walked to the yacht which wasn't far from Bozkurt Brothers. It was half past eleven o'clock in the morning. He found Sylvia and John drinking coffee on the covered deck. When he told them the details of what he had heard with the listening device Sylvia called MI6 headquarters in London. MI6 agreed to arrange for six to eight British commandos wearing black ops gear to intercept Eleanora, her men and the barrels the next morning after they left Bozkurt Brothers. Following the independence of the Republic of Cyprus in 1960 the United Kingdom had retained sovereignty
over two military bases, so logistically it would not be difficult to provide the commandos. Colin and Sylvia didn't know exactly where Eleanora and her men would be headed, but with a little help from a helicopter they would be able to track them.
When they reached their rental car Eleanora turned to Angelo. "Can you please go rent a truck for tomorrow? A small one should suffice as long as we bring a tarp or blanket to cover the barrels after we load them into the truck. After we take delivery all we have to do is drive the truck to the private pier I showed you just west of the port. I will call the Cypriot man with the fishing boat which will take you about twenty kilometers offshore where the Syrian Christians will be waiting in another fishing boat. I would like you and your men to ride in the Cypriot boat to be certain the Syrian Christians receive the barrels."
"Yes, of course, cousin," replied Angelo. "What about getting back to Rome? Are you going to wait for us at the hotel."
"Yes," replied Eleanora. "I want to return to Rome as soon as possible."
CHAPTER 38
By eight o'clock the next morning Sylvia, John, Colin and Charlotte were in place watching Bozkurt Brothers and waiting for Eleanora and her men to show. Colin and Sylvia sat in the rental car to listen to any conversation that would occur in the office of Bozkurt Brothers while Charlotte and John sat drinking coffee at a sidewalk cafe a block down the street. Sylvia and Colin were in touch with the commandos who were waiting in an unmarked military transport truck near the yacht. They were all armed except for John. What Sylvia didn't know was that John was actually an excellent marksman, both with rifles and handguns. Starting when he was ten years old his grandfather had taught him to shoot at the family ranch in Texas. He had only been hunting a few times because he had a distaste for killing creatures, but on a ranch it was sometimes necessary to kill predators stalking the cattle, especially the young calves. Knowing full well that Eleanora's men were undoubtedly armed and that it was probably those same men who had kidnapped him and were most likely responsible for the bombing of his hotel room and the other incident in Paris, he now wished he had some type of gun. Sylvia had agreed that he could watch from a distance but insisted that he ride his motor bike to the cafe where he could sit with Charlottet. She warned him not to become involved in any fighting because he was not officially a CIA agent and lacked the necessary training and experience to participate. She reminded him that she had agreed that he could accompany her to Cyprus but only to help her maintain her cover.
