by Bob Blink
Now the problem was to get it back in place and get out of here.
There would be no more calls to help them. Jake had warned Laney that Khabir and his girlfriend would be enthusiastically engaged in their lovemaking, and they would have to slip in unnoticed while this was taking place. Fortunately they were noisy as well as enthusiastic, and the return was accomplished without incident. Then they made their way back to the stairs, waiting until Jake signaled it was time. He’d been caught twice trying to make that move the last time, and had to wait until the lower level sentries had completed their routine. Once outside they zigged and hid once again, and then finally were able to make their way to the street and back to the waiting car.
“How soon will we know?” Laney asked once they were able to converse normally.
“Khabir will be on it in the morning,” Jake said. “Then we’ll know if we pulled this off again.”
Their task complete, they started the long drive back to Washington. Jake had driven down, so Laney did the honors for the drive back. That left Jake to sit and think.
“Are you okay?” Laney asked, looking at Jake. “You’ve been awfully quiet.”
Jake glanced back at his friend. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“I’d have thought you’d be exhilarated. We did it.”
“Actually I’m tired. And a little stressed. What we just did offered a bit of a challenge, but this whole event has been a draining experience. This is so unlike what I’m used to. Normally when I back-track, it’s for a relatively short period of time. Also, then I’m focused on trying to make a change. This event has stretched for days, and the goal has been to try and keep things the same as last time, while working around the fact I know what is going to happen, and that I can’t back-track. Frankly, I haven’t enjoyed it at all. I’m glad it’s virtually over now. Breaking into Graper’s the other day was the only aspect of this loop that has offered any relief. It was stressful in a unique way because we had to be careful not to trigger anything that would have required a back-track, but it was the only thing I’ve done in weeks that I didn’t already know how it was to turn out.”
“The last time when you, Carlson and I worked this together, we didn’t know what was going to happen. Each small accomplishment, each fact we learned, provided a small sense of triumph. This time I know you and she feel I’m holding back too much, while I’m afraid I’m letting things be known too quickly. I know that our relative perspectives on this mission will be different than they were last time around, and worry that might in some way be significant going forward. At least it’s almost finished.”
“We’re nearly done?” Laney asked, focusing on the immediate issue, not really relating to the deeper issue that Jake had been struggling with.
“Now we have only to react to what we’ll learn from the computer. It won’t be long.”
Laney was silent for a moment, then he said something that revealed he understood more than Jake had thought.
“How will you deal with six months with your family, knowing what is coming?”
Jake smiled wanly. “Karin knows I’ll know. That will help. I can also watch Janna grow up again, this time able to focus on the experience without being worried about the difficult times when she is sick or upset, knowing it will work out. It’ll be almost like having a second child, where the worries are more controlled. Assuming I can resolve the issue with Graper, it’ll all be okay. Unfortunately, I haven’t as yet decided what needs to be done there, and that’s the real reason I’m going through this all again. ”
Chapter 40
It was very early in the morning, and they had assembled in Carlson’s office to review the plan for the day. None had had any sleep the night before. Between coordinating the efforts of the many teams, and making multiple runs to various locations where canisters were found, they’d been kept very busy.
“If Varennikov was telling the truth then today is likely the day the attack is planned.”
“I’m certain he meant today,” Jake replied. “It depends on how he was counting his days. I’m guessing sometime in the afternoon. That’s when the city would have the maximum number of potential victims.”
“We haven’t finished disabling all the devices,” Laney reminded them tiredly. “The crews are still out working, but there are more than forty remaining. And that doesn’t count the vehicular weapons. None of those are in place yet.”
As Jake had known would happen, Khabir had accessed the important files on his computer the previous morning and they had learned the critical information that would allow them to put an end to this threat. Planting the device in the laptop the first time he’d experienced this problem would have probably been impossible without his back-tracking ability. It was only by following the sequence that had been vetted based on the multiple back-tracks to work around situations that had resulted in their efforts being discovered, had they been able to do it this time. But the results had been worth it. The files that had been retrieved pinpointed the location of all of the devices. Many of the spots they already knew of, but the ones that hadn’t been discovered were the important ones. The night had been spent locating the sites and making certain the devices couldn’t be triggered remotely. The files had also indicated that the mobile units were being prepared at the recently discovered McLean site. Ten vehicles would be situated around the government buildings, with an additional five driven by suicide drivers who would trigger the release of their weapon while moving through the streets. Given the number of drivers who would be required to move them into place, a large force was expected to be present there.
“You knew that Graper was wounded last night?” Carlson asked.
Jake nodded. He’d known that would happen, and that it would sideline the suspect FBI agent.
“There was a shootout between the security guard, Graper and his partner, and the installation team. Fortunately it looked like a random accident, the team being discovered by security. Since they hadn’t installed anything as yet, they won’t be alarmed that the shooting will expose what they are doing. We don’t believe it will change their schedule, although given the timing, there is not much they could change. I doubt they’d want to risk the effect by triggering it too early.”
“It’s time for us to move,” Jake agreed. “With what we learned from Varennikov and the encounter their team had this morning, we haven’t any time left.”
“We have police SWAT teams standing by to deal with the factory in Alexandria and the warehouse in Newport News. Neither of those locations are expected to put up much resistance. The factory has a minimum team in the daytime, and they usually come in late. We will hit them in the early morning and have control when they show up. The warehouse appears to be a transfer point.”
“I’ll be leading the team against McLean,” Carlson added. “That will be the largest effort. I have a team of fifty agents scheduled to make the arrests. Brad Fenwick and Jim Smith will be my backup commanders. You two are tasked with bringing down Abdul-Khabir ibn Barir and making sure he can’t trigger that computer of his. We think we know where everything is, but we don’t want to take any chances. It would be nice if you could locate the transmitter while you’re doing that. Three of the stake-out team will meet you there and assist.”
“What about Toby Widner?” Laney asked.
“Jason Fenner, Lori and Carla, along with a couple of the stakeout team will deal with Widner and his crew, and the backup computer.”
“That just leaves Varennikov,” Jake noted.
“I have a feeling Mr. Varennikov isn’t going to be so easy to take,” Carlson noted. “I have asked my friend in the covert community for some help in that area. He is more prepared to deal with someone like Varennikov, and isn’t bound by some of our operational restrictions. We’ll have to see what he can do.”
Laney checked his watch. “We better get moving,” he said.
Carlson had arranged for a military chopper to take them to Fort Eustis in N
ewport News. They wouldn’t be making the long drive this morning.
“I’ll contact you when we are ready to go,” Carlson reminded them. “We’d like to have the remaining canister disabled, and we want all of our attacks to be coordinated.”
“Just be careful,” Jake said. “You are going into a facility where we know there are supplies of the deadly agents. A misplaced bullet could have very undesirable consequences.”
Laney was in charge of the move against the house where Khabir was staying. Jake was a consultant, not an FBI agent, so he couldn’t be, and the three additional agents were junior to Laney. They had to get into the house and up to the second floor where they expected to find Khabir and his girlfriend before they could be alerted and take any action. The plan was simple in concept, but could fall apart if things went against them.
The three supporting agents would be responsible for neutralizing the perimeter guards. Once in the house, Jake and Laney would deal with anyone inside. They’d have to move quickly, before any gunshots were fired outside. Jake said it had been done before.
All of the FBI agents, Laney included, were armed with suppressed MP5s. They carried the kind with the integral suppressors, which were extremely quiet, more so even than a suppressed handgun. With training and control, an agent could fire bursts or one or two shot groups. The weapons were preferred when there was a concern of guard dogs who could reveal their presence. Today they would hopefully allow any of the guards that spotted them to be taken down equally silently. Jake was armed with his familiar Sig. He had never fired the MP5, and now wasn’t the time to learn.
FBI agent Jason Fenner scanned the deck of the East Wind, but could see that no one was on guard. He wasn’t really surprised. The East Wind wasn’t a military ship, and the crew wouldn’t be expecting any trouble. For one thing, they were far from where events were scheduled to take place.
No swimsuits today. He and the others were dressed in normal clothing. All had donned defensive vests, and each was armed with multiple spare magazines where they could readily be accessed. Badges were on display where they could easily be seen, and the FBI letters were large and clear on their backs. Fenner and one of the stakeout crew carried shotguns, the others were limited to their service sidearms. The boat was close quarters, and while the larger weapons offered additional firepower, they were also less maneuverable. The only concession to the unique environment were their shoes. All of the agents were wearing deck shoes, not in any deference to Widner’s expensive decks, but because they offered surer footing and silence of movement compared to standard street shoes. They were ready and would move as soon as Carlson sent the signal.
The police SWAT team in Alexandria had only witnessed two men come to work in the factory thus far. They hadn’t been told exactly what the whole situation was, but that this was a terrorist facility and that containers of deadly toxin were known to exist inside. They were to take the building, arrest all occupants, and then hold it, arresting anyone who showed up later. They were not to investigate the contents of any container, waiting for the properly trained experts lest they release something deadly. Sergeant Brooks was more than a little uncomfortable with the idea of a firefight if some deadly material was present, and hoped the takedown would go smoothly.
The warehouse in Newport News was starting to come alive as the morning work crew showed up. Lieutenant Ed Kimble from the local police department would have preferred to take action and secure the facility before any more men arrived, but he had been warned by his superiors that no action was to be taken before the signal was sent. He had more than thirty men waiting in unmarked cars in the large parking areas not far from the facility. He’d been told that there might be dangerous materials being stored inside, but their job was to secure the facility and detain all individuals inside. They were not to institute a careful search since they weren’t trained to deal with what they might find.
Susan Carlson was as anxious as any of those waiting to initiate their actions. She felt that time was slipping away, and the chance of a quick and surprise raid was increasingly less likely. One more facility remained to be cleared by the Hazmet team, and then they could go. She knew that this was going to be the high risk effort because there was no doubt that multiple containers of deadly materials were inside. Their best estimate was that at least several different weapons were secured in the vehicles, both biological and the faster acting Sarin GB gas.
She was set with her team of twenty agents to take the north entrance, while Agent Fenwick with another twenty would take the southern entrance. The southern entrance was where the vehicles would depart, so he had the task of making sure that none got away. Agent Jim Smith with a smaller force of ten agents would come in through the smaller west entrance, that opened into the office spaces. Many of the agents were armed with M4 semi-automatic weapons, while others had shotguns. The distances involved supported the carbines, and there was far less chance of collateral damage here, although the carbine bullets could penetrate the canisters if someone got careless. Both her team and Fenwick’s had a large armor plated vehicle that would provide some protection for some of the crew as they made their entry.
Her command radio squawked and then the call came through.
“The last one has been disabled,” Rory Cantor from the Hazmet team informed her. “No trigger signal can reach them. As far as we know, there are no more of the devices in the city. The counters still have days to go, and we’ll deal with them before they run out. We don’t know anything about the mobile units.”
“Thanks, Rory,” Carlson replied. “Good work.”
It was time. She pulled out her cellular and sent the text message to the remote teams. As soon as each had replied, she picked up the command radio in her lap and informed her own squad leaders they were to advance.
“Let’s go,” she said to the agent standing nearby.
Laney pointed to the house. They had watched the guards make a pass not too long ago. The last time he and Jake had been here, they had learned that wasn’t a guarantee that it would remain clear for a while, so they had to move quickly. The raids were starting in multiple locations, and Khabir might get a call informing him of the fact. Laney had triggered the cellular blocking device after getting Carlson’s call, but they couldn’t be certain it would be completely effective at blocking service.
He and Jake sprinted across the open space to the front door. Jake had been through the door once before, and it only slowed them minutely. The three agents with them had spaced themselves where they could protect the front entrance. They would move toward the back once Laney and Jake were inside.
Jake had switched barrels on his Sig, and had twisted on the suppressor before they had made the run for the house. Laney stood ready with the nearly silent MP5. It was a good thing too, as they had barely entered the house when one of the inside guards stepped out of the kitchen and into the hallway. Laney fired two controlled rounds, taking down the guard. Hopefully Khabir, behind closed doors above, wouldn’t have noticed. The carbine was surprisingly quiet
“Let’s go,” Jake urged, as they started up the stairs in a hurry.
Jason Fenner and his team moved quickly down the gangplank off the Lazi Daze when they received the word from Carlson. The five of them moved swiftly along the docks. Moving down to the crossover, then along the section where the East Wind was docked. The evening Fenner and the two female agents had spent on the ship was time well spent and had guided their planning of the action they would take. Yesterday they had watched the boat covertly, and were certain the only persons on-board were Widner’s two girlfriends and the two male deckhands.
They reached the gangplank and walked up to the side of the yacht. There was no one watching, but the small door at the top of the gangplank had been closed. Lori, who wasn’t encumbered by a shotgun, placed her hands on top of the railing and vaulted over onto the deck, landing softly. From the inside, it was a simple matter to unlatch the door and provide ac
cess to the assault team.
They moved toward the aft stairs, ladder to the more nautical types, stopping when Carla hissed a warning. One of the two women was sleeping in a large deck chair adjacent to the entryway to the lower levels.
“I’ve got it,” she whispered, and moving ahead, she crept closer to the sleeping figure, poking her with the muzzle of the shotgun when she was near enough.
“What?” replied the woman sleepily. Her eyes grew wide when she realized what she was looking at.
“Not a word,” Carla whispered. When the woman tried to shout a warning, Carla butt-stroked her with the shotgun, rendering her unconscious.
“Tie her up then watch the docks,” Fenner instructed, as the rest of the group headed below decks.
Carlson racked the slide of the 18-inch barreled shotgun and chambered a round of number one buckshot. Another half dozen were fixed to a special holder on the side of the weapon for quick access. There were five more rounds in the tube under the barrel. This was going to be a rough one. This was the one site where the enemy was active and in final preparations for the attack. They would be nervous, armed, and half expecting something to go wrong at the last minute.
She didn’t know who might get hurt. Jake wouldn’t have told her had she asked. If she knew in advance that Fred was going to be shot, she might change the order or take extra care with him. That might have repercussions they didn’t know about. The only person she was certain about was herself. Had she been at risk, or had something happened to her the last time, Jake would have back-tracked around the situation and made sure it didn’t take place. The fact he hadn’t warned her, told her that she would be all right. For some reason that didn’t entirely quell the butterflies in her stomach. She nodded to the agent on her right and announced over her command radio that Brad and Jim should begin their own attack. They would hit the three entrances simultaneously. Then they were on the move. She heard the first shot as they pushed through the doorway. It had come from the south end of the building where Brad was moving in with the armored vehicles.
