by Alex Lukeman
Al-Bayati felt cheated. To have come all this way and then to have been denied entrance to the tomb. Denied the gold, the pleasure of holding Solomon's skull in his hands, because of meddling Americans. It was unfair. He imagined exploring Carter's capacity for pain with one of the ancient instruments of torture he had in his collection. As for the woman, his thoughts turned to how acceptable she would be as an offering to the god, after he'd sampled her wares, of course. The god didn't care about that. It was unlikely he would see either one of them again. If he ever had the opportunity, Al-Bayati vowed he would turn imagination into reality.
CHAPTER 50
Nick looked out the window of the hotel room in Addis Ababa at a row of flags flying in front of the United Nations conference center. He was waiting for new instructions from Elizabeth. Diego's body was waiting for shipment back to the states, courtesy of the U.S. Navy.
Selena came out of the bathroom wrapped in a hotel robe, combing her hair.
"It's good to get clean again," she said.
"Yeah."
She walked up behind him and put her arms around him and leaned against his back.
"I liked him," she said. "It was too quick. I hardly knew him."
"It's better quick than slow. It still stinks. You know what bothers me?"
"What?"
"I keep thinking that if someone had to get it, I'm glad it wasn't you or Lamont or Ronnie."
"And you feel guilty about that? About caring more for your friends than for someone you've only known for a little while?"
Nick was silent.
"I understand but I'm not sure that's what's bothering you."
"What do you mean?"
"I think what bothers you is that you couldn't stop what happened. It could have been any one of us. You knew we'd have to come out of that room shooting."
"If you hadn't, Bayati would have killed all of us."
"That's right. And you couldn't have known he'd show up," Selena said.
"I should have been prepared. I should've anticipated it."
"How? There wasn't any reason to think he knew about Ethiopia. We blew up the stone with the map. This wasn't supposed to be a combat mission, it was supposed to be a reconnaissance."
"Yeah, but recon has a funny way of changing into something more lethal."
"In a war zone, that makes sense. In this case it doesn't make any sense at all. It's not your fault Diego is dead."
Nick turned away from the window. "I know you're right. It's not the first time I've lost someone. I've never gotten used to it."
"That's why you're one of the good guys," Selena said.
Nick's satellite phone signaled.
"It's Harker." He made the connection. "Yes, Director."
"I spoke with the president. You're leaving for Turkey."
"What's in Turkey?"
Selena heard his end of the conversation. She raised her eyebrows in surprise.
"Incirlik Air Base. Transport will be in Addis Ababa tomorrow. A driver from the embassy will pick you up at your hotel and take the four of you to the airport. Keep your guns. You're getting on an Air Force plane. At Incirlik you can fit yourself out with the gear you need."
"Where are we going after that?"
"President Rice has been talking with the Israeli prime minister about what you found. By the way, you are all up for an Israeli Medal of Distinguished Service. It's quite an honor for a foreigner."
"It won't do Diego much good," Nick said.
"No, it won't. What I'm about to tell you might make you feel better."
"Go on."
"Rice and the Israeli PM agree that Al-Bayati must not be allowed to keep possession of Solomon's Seal. Various options were discussed, most of which resulted in an assault on his compound that would likely start a new war. The Israelis would like to go storming in there but they have their hands full with the Shia/Sunni civil war heating up. The president and the prime minister feel a military assault is not expedient."
"Where have I heard that before?" Nick said. "Usually when politicians say something isn't expedient they're ducking responsibility or they have something up their sleeve."
"This time it's you they have up their sleeve," Elizabeth said. "Al-Bayati is back in his villa. From Turkey you're going to Lebanon. Your instructions are to get into that compound, find that ring and get out again. While you're there, nobody would be upset if you took out Al-Bayati."
"How am I supposed to do that? That place is damn near invulnerable."
"I'm sure you'll figure something out," Elizabeth said.
CHAPTER 51
Incirlik AFB was in the south of Turkey near the city of Adana, not far from the Mediterranean and the coast of Syria and Lebanon. They were met at the plane and taken to guest quarters reserved for visiting VIPs like the Secretary of State.
Lamont looked around the suite of rooms that had been assigned to them.
"Nice digs," he said. "My mom would've liked that chandelier."
"Your tax dollars at work," Nick said. "The president must've told them to give us the royal treatment."
"Why is it that the big shots always seem to need stuff like this?" Ronnie said.
"It makes them feel important."
"It makes me feel like I'm on a movie set," Lamont said. "Seems like there might be better ways to spend the money. Like better armor for our guys. Stuff like that."
"Tell that to Congress," Selena said.
"I already have, along with a lot of other people. Problem is they never listen."
"Better enjoy it while you can," Nick said. "We're leaving as soon as we figure out how we're going to do this. Harker sent satellite shots of the compound. She's waiting for us to tell her what we need."
He pressed buttons on his phone. "The photos are supposed to show up on that monitor over there on the desk. I can't get it to work."
"Give it to me," Selena said.
She did something with the phone and the pictures of Al-Bayati's compound appeared on the screen.
"How did you do that?"
"I'll show you another time," she said.
Ronnie studied the shots. "When were these taken?"
"This morning," Nick said. "Why?"
"It's different than the last time we looked." Ronnie pointed at the gate and the street outside. "His security is Hezbolla, right?"
"That's right."
"So where are they?"
The four of them contemplated the photos. There were civilians passing by the compound but the armed thugs they'd seen before were gone.
"Still looks like trouble," Lamont said. "He's got men inside the walls and they've moved that Quad .50 into the center of the courtyard, covering the gate."
"Not as many men," Nick said.
"Something must have pulled them off," Ronnie said. "Is there another war starting up?"
"A lot of them are going to Syria to fight the Sunni rebels," Selena said. "That might have something to do with it."
"Whatever the reason, it's good news for us," Nick said.
"I don't think we can climb up on the water side," Lamont said. He pointed at a swirling chaos of water and foam where the Mediterranean broke against the cliff. "Those rocks at the base would cut a zodiac to pieces and there are whirlpools. The currents would suck us under before we got close enough."
"Then it's the walls or the gate."
"I don't like the walls." Ronnie pointed at the razor wire. "Aside from the wire, they're high and everything is lit up at night. We'd be spotted and picked off."
"That gate looks like something from a crusader castle," Lamont said. "All that's missing is a moat. If they don't want to open up we're not getting through it without blowing it."
"That will attract too much attention. We can't do that."
"There are no windows on the ground floor. Al-Bayati is a little paranoid, isn't he?" Selena said.
Ronnie nodded. "He should be. He's got good reasons."
"Now he's got four more,"
Lamont said.
"If we don't go up the cliff in back and we don't go over the wall or through the gate, I guess we'll have to drop in on him," Nick said.
"You want to use a chopper?"
"You have a better idea?"
"What about that Quad .50? If they don't like what they see, they'll blow us right out of the air with that baby."
"We don't have to use a helicopter," Selena said. "We can make them open the gate."
Nick looked at her. "How do you plan to do that?"
"Al-Bayati has a big ego, right? What if we think of something that strokes his ego? Something that makes him want to open the gate for us?"
"Like?"
"Like a television interview, say from Al Jazeera. We set it up ahead of time."
"What's the hook?"
"Doesn't he contribute to the cause? Hospitals for the fighters, things like that?"
"Shia fighters. Al Jazeera is biased towards the Sunni."
"They make a token effort to appear balanced and the Shia/Sunni thing is big news right now. If Al-Bayati thinks they're going to present a program showing him in a favorable light he might go for it."
"Let me guess," Ronnie said. "You're supposed to be the interviewer."
"Why not? We steal one of Al Jazeera's vans and pull up to the gate. His guards see me step out of it dressed like a Muslim woman should be, someone who's expected. They'll relax. They open the gate, we drive into the compound and that's when we take them out."
"It could work," Lamont said.
"You have a devious mind," Ronnie said to Selena.
"You just figure that out?" Nick said.
Lamont turned to Selena. "Once we get through the gate all hell's going to break loose. How are we supposed to get out of there when we're done? Whoever's left will be waiting for us."
"That's when we need a helicopter. Just for extraction."
"However we do it, we're not going to have a lot of time once we get inside," Nick said.
Nick activated the satellite link and put it on his speaker.
"Yes, Nick."
Harker's voice came through with a slight echo. An odd noise rumbled in the background.
"Director. What's that noise? It sounds like a lawnmower."
In Virginia, Elizabeth stroked the huge orange cat sprawled across her desk. He was purring. It sounded like a motorcycle engine with a carburetor problem.
"It's just Burps. Where are you with the mission planning?"
Nick told her about their idea to pose as a news crew. "We need a helicopter to get out of there."
"That's tricky," Elizabeth said.
"Lucas could set it up," Nick said. "He's itching to get even for what happened to Steph. Hood will okay it. Langley has to have something in the area. That way everything stays in house and nothing goes public. The only other option I can see is to let SOCOM in on it. Without a chopper to take us out of there it's a suicide mission."
"The last thing I want is Special Operations Command involved. Rice wouldn't like that."
"So you'll talk to Lucas?"
"I will. This will take a little time to set up. How are your quarters?"
"Impressive, if you like this sort of thing. The bed is big enough to sail to France in."
Elizabeth laughed.
Nick got serious. "When is Diego going home?"
"The plane is due at Andrews tomorrow morning. Rice had his family flown here to meet him. They're taking him to Colorado."
"He ought to be in Arlington."
"It's what his parents wanted."
"Al-Bayati has a lot to answer for," Nick said.
"I expect you to take care of that," Elizabeth said. "Out."
CHAPTER 52
The Al Jazeera van was painted with the iconic logo of the network and sported a satellite dish on the roof. Nick drove. If they were stopped it could be a problem because of his lack of Arabic but it would look suspicious if Selena was behind the wheel. She sat next to him, wearing modest clothes and a brown headscarf.
Nick had darkened his skin and applied a false beard. It was good enough to pass a quick glance. His clothes were Beirut casual He wore a cheap striped shirt open at the collar, jeans and a shapeless jacket that concealed his pistol. An unspoken attitude completed the disguise. Ronnie and Lamont rode in the back of the van, crammed in next to a built in console used for television broadcasts.
Late afternoon sun shone through gleaming rolls of razor wire lining the top of Al-Bayati's walls, throwing twisted shadows onto the dusty street below. The street was almost empty. Whatever was happening in Syria had drawn off the Hezbollah terrorists that usually frequented the area.
Nick slowed as they approached the compound and stopped in front of the massive iron gate. One of Al-Bayati's men emerged from the guardhouse on the other side. He looked like something that had escaped from the primate cage at the zoo. He had a sloping forehead with thick black eyebrows that met in the middle and a chest that looked like something you could ride over Niagara Falls.
"Maybe we should have brought a battering ram," Lamont said.
"Or a tank," Nick said. "You ready, Selena?"
"Alihya Kalil, budding journalist, at your service."
"What's Alihya mean?"
"The exalted, of the highest social standing, so watch your manners."
"Yes, your Majesty."
Selena got out of the van and walked over to the gate
"As-salamu alayka," she said.
"As-salamu alayki," the guard responded. "You are the journalist here to interview? You are not expected until this afternoon." He regarded Selena with suspicion. "I watch Al Jazeera all the time. I haven't seen you before."
Selena handed a card through the gate with her name and the Al Jazeera logo on it. A white plastic ID card with her picture and official seal hung on a chain around her neck. She held it up for him to see.
"I'm new. This is my first big assignment." She turned to the van and gestured. Ronnie got out of the back with a camera. He was dressed like Nick.
"I'd like to start the piece with some background shots with you in them," Selena said. "Then I'd like to ask you a few questions. Is that all right? It's a responsible position, protecting such an important man."
"Yes, it is." The guard puffed himself up. "An important post. Al-Bayati relies on me."
Ronnie put the camera to his shoulder and aimed it at the guard. He looked through the lens and turned it on. The guard looked through the grill work of the gate at the red light, thinking how his image would soon be seen by millions.
Selena turned to Ronnie and held up her hand to stop, telling him in Arabic that the gate was in the way of the shot. He had no idea what she'd said but the hand signal was clear enough. He lowered the camera.
"Could you please open the gate for us?"
She smiled at the guard.
He retreated to the shack and threw a switch. The gate rolled slowly to the side. Nick put the van in gear and drove into the compound. Once they were clear, the guard toggled the switch and the gate closed behind them.
Showtime, Nick thought.
He reached down by the seat, laid an MP5 across his lap and clicked off the safety. All his senses were on high alert. He looked through the cracked windshield of the van and took in the large courtyard, the steps to the entrance of the villa, the lethal shape of the half track with the Quad .50. The weapon was unmanned, the four deadly barrels at rest and pointed toward the sky. Several guards lounged in the shade at the front of the villa. He cracked his door open.
Nick watched Selena and the guard in his mirror.
"I need to look inside your van," the guard said. He began walking toward the truck.
"Get ready," Nick said to Lamont. "When I go out the door. One talking to Selena and heading this way. Three in front of the house. They're watching to see what's happening. No one's on the Quad."
"One piece of good news."
"Now."
Nick kicked the door open wit
h his foot and came out facing the villa. Behind him, the back doors of the van banged open as Lamont piled out. The men at the villa started to stand. Nick fired a quick three round burst, then a second. Ronnie dropped the camera, took an MP5 from under his jacket and shot the guard.
Nick's first burst had taken down one of the men in front of the villa. The other two scrambled for their weapons. One of them brought up an AK and got off a burst. The bullets racketed against the metal side of the van, punching holes through the Al Jazeera logo. Lamont shot him. The last man never made it to his weapon before Ronnie put two rounds in him.
Selena reached into the truck and took another MP5 from the back. The four of them ran toward the villa entrance. A man appeared in the doorway. Lamont and Nick fired and he fell away out of sight.
Then they were through the door and inside the house. They found themselves in a large atrium with a tiled floor and a tiered fountain in the middle. Streams of clear water spouted up and fell back into the basins with a pleasant sound. After the heat outside, the room was cool and comfortable. Seven lamps with elaborate metal shades hung from the ceiling far overhead. A staircase made of flowery white and yellow tiles rose to the second floor and a balcony held up by columns of white stone. A carved stone railing followed the balcony around the sides of the atrium. Doors to more rooms were visible on the second story. Huge painted urns holding flowering trees were spaced at intervals around the ground floor of the atrium.
Two men came out of a side room firing AKs on full auto. Nick dove for cover behind one of the planters. The bullets smashed into the pot, shaking loose a rain of red blossoms and showering him with dirt. More AK rounds went by, sounding their distinctive, deadly whine. Guards emerged on the balcony above and began shooting down into the atrium.
The air filled with chips of tile and spent bullets ricocheting around the open space. The atrium echoed with the harsh explosions of the guns and the clatter of empty shell casings bouncing on the hard floor.
At a brief pause in the firing Nick leaned around the pot and shot one of the men on the balcony. The body fell over the railing and landed headfirst with a dull sound like a watermelon breaking.
