by Bryan Murray
“And you want to get the guys who did it?” she chose her words very carefully. “We’ve been watching Davidson and Jennings for a while and we know they’re doing illegal arms deals with terrorists.”
He listened attentively. “You mean like the Ashram Boys?”
She nodded. “Exactly. We also know they have strong terrorist links elsewhere, but we need more info to organize a takedown. I need to know what intel you’ve got?”
Jake finally decided to level with her. “Not a lot, except that whatever got my wife and her friend killed, was connected with the CIA, Midecon, the Trojan Project, and the Ashram brothers!”
She looked at him inquisitively. “And this is why you’re trying to get back in?”
He looked surprised and she smiled. “Don’t worry, I was watching you the first time, so, how about we work together?”
He smiled. “Well, first of all, we need to get inside, out of this damned rain!”
She produced her electronic access card from her pocket. “I do work here, you know, even if I am undercover. What d’you want to do?”
He thought for a moment. “I’d like to check the Trojan Manifest and see if I can spot anything out of the ordinary.”
She flicked her card in the door sensor. “Okay, follow me.”
Inside the building, they shook off the rain and headed up the staircase, keeping an eye out for patrolling security guards. They quickly reached Nancy’s old office and Jake used his tools once again to open the filing cabinet.
Sarah smiled. “Nice touch!” she looked at Jake, a strange chemistry between them, two people, both in search of a different goal. In Jake’s case, he could have cared less about illegal arms shipments reaching a bunch of terrorists who wanted to blow each other up. What he was searching for was evidence to identify, find and then kill his wife’s murderers or at least bring them to justice. In Sarah’s case, she was on a quest to expose the agency and their illegal activities and in so doing, no doubt improve her standing with the bureau.
She smiled at Jake. “So, what are we looking for and where do we start?”
He thought a moment. “Let’s check the outgoing shipping documents for the next delivery on the Trojan project. See if everything looks normal.”
She nodded in agreement as they both started sifting through folders. After a few minutes of searching, Sarah suddenly touched his arm. “Check this out!”
Jake stopped what he was doing to take a look. “What is it?”
She pointed to two documents. “This is the shipping manifest for the next shipment on Trojan. It shows four containers,” Jake looked closely as she continued, pointing to the second document. “But here’s the pre-prepared dock papers for the same shipment that shows five containers!”
Jake nodded that he understood. “Looks like Midecon are including a freebie!”
She nodded. “Exactly!”
“When is it leaving?”
She read the document again. “Ocean Mist, a Liberian container freighter, leaving Baltimore, November 11th at midnight. Damn, that’s tonight!”
Jake was curious. “Whereabouts?”
She checked the document again “Pier 28,” she turned to him, her lovely eyes sparkling. “This is the evidence we’ve been looking for. Are you packing?”
He patted his shoulder holster and his eyes suddenly widened. “You mean you want to try and stop them?”
Sarah had already started replacing the files. “Why the hell not. C’mon, let’s get out of here!”
He checked his watch. “That’s only three hours from now. We’d better get a move on!” they closed and locked the filing cabinet and left the office as they found it. They headed down the corridor and when Jake looked ahead, he quickly dragged Sarah back into the shadows. Down the corridor, they saw the approaching flashlight beam of the patrolling guard. As the unsuspecting custodian walked past, they melted back into the shadows until he had moved on.
Sarah whispered to Jake. “This way.” they turned another corner, heading for the rear exit. Outside, on the perimeter, they both climbed back over the wall.
Sarah grabbed his arm in the pouring rain. “My car is just down the road, wait until I drive by and then follow me.” He nodded, climbed into Lorinda’s car and a couple of minutes later, Sarah flashed her lights as she drove past and Jake pulled in tightly behind her as both vehicles roared off into the night.
Jake was under no illusion that organizing an intervention to stop the shipment, would leave some people seriously pissed off and in all likelihood grave and serious repercussions were bound to follow. He was also concerned that Sarah’s gung-ho attitude could get them both killed, particularly since he had no idea of her experience in such a situation, where one wrong move could be your last. He had a really uneasy feeling about the night ahead.
The rain was now falling very heavily and the earlier forecast of a major storm cell moving through the Chesapeake area, was apparently coming to fruition as Jake followed Sarah in haste towards Pier 28.
Each new chain of events, including those of the last hour in Midecon, had now convinced Jake beyond any shadow of a doubt that it was Davidson and Jennings who had arranged Nancy’s murder to silence her and that they were also behind the murder of her friend Nicole. He now knew in his heart, that he could not lay the memories of Nancy or Nicole to rest until their deaths had been avenged.
If the information he had seen regarding the clandestine shipment plans was correct, he was convinced that before the night was over, he would have his revenge and hopefully, both he and Sarah would survive unscathed.
His mind wandered back to Sarah, an extremely attractive and tough woman, who although somewhat aloof and gung-ho at their initial meeting had somehow engendered a protective instinct in him, particularly since he sensed that she felt a genuine sympathy over his loss of Nancy. He realized that he was not just trying to stop the shipment, but also trying to make sure that they both survived the night.
Driving on in the howling rain, Jake’s mind was back on track. He had never visited the Container Port in Baltimore before, but if they were going to try and stop the clandestine arms shipment as well as take on Jamal and his thugs plus rogue CIA Agents and their henchmen, they were going to need some serious back-up,
He noticed Sarah’s car ahead, indicating a turn off into a roadside mini-mall. Jake followed her in and after she parked, she quickly left her car, grabbed her tote and rushed across to Jake’s car and scrambled in from the pouring rain.
He looked at her curiously. “We’ll take one car, easier to get into the port that way.” she suggested.
He grinned. “You always this bossy?”
She smiled. “Only when I’m awake!”
He laughed out loud. “Touché. So, what’s the game plan, oh fearless leader?”
She thought for a moment. “How many d’you think we’ll be up against?”
Jake thought for a moment. “Well, my guess is that Midecon and the CIA will be there, at least Peterson, Davidson and Jennings and their henchmen, not to mention Jamal and his brother, plus their goons.”
She nodded. “That’s more or less what I figured. I’d better call for back-up.”
Jake shrugged. “Yeah, I’d rather it be your guys, at this point,” he gave a wry smile. “I’m having some ‘trust’ issues with the agency to put it mildly!”
Sarah was already dialling Senator Johnson and outside, the weather was getting even worse, with the rain almost falling horizontally due to the howling wind as they punched in the co-ordinates for the port on Sarah’s GPS.
CHAPTER 24
In Jamal’s hotel suite, Davidson, Jennings and Benny together with Peterson, Jamal, Anwar and their bodyguards, were making their final plans. Davidson looked anxiously at Jamal. “We can’t wait any longer!”
Jamal still looked angry. “But the infidel is still alive. I want to cut his heart out!”
Davidson had a note of urgency in his voice. “Yes, but that will
have to wait. The container ship leaves tonight and we need to make sure the shipment is on board.”
Jamal looked at them beseechingly. “You will promise to kill this man Harrigan?”
Jennings nodded. “Absolutely, my friend. But there’s one more thing on which we must agree.”
“And what is that?” Jamal asked
Jennings tried to be discreet, money uppermost in his mind. “How will your friends with ‘Sons of Allah’ get the twenty million to us?”
Jamal waved his hand as if it were nothing. “Do not worry, it is all arranged. As long as the weaponry and targeting software are as ordered, it will automatically be deposited into your offshore accounts.”
Peterson rubbed his hands. “Great! I supervised the loading of the shipment personally.”
Jennings got up, urging them to move. “In that case, we’d better leave now!” They grabbed their automatic weapons and prepared to leave. Outside in the hotel parking lot, they all emerged and headed for their vehicles in the pouring rain.
Jamal looked up as he opened the door before climbing into the SUV. He had a determined look in his eye. Across the parking lot, the eighteen wheeler with the illegal arms shipment on board, was parked to one side, the driver already in the cab, waiting for their signal to move out.
CHAPTER 25
In his elegant town house, Senator Johnson was watching the hockey game, just finishing a snack by the fire, when the phone rang. He checked the ID of the caller before answering. “Yes, Sarah?”
Sarah explained the reason for the call. “I think we hit pay dirt, Senator!”
Johnson was listening. “Go on?”
“We’ve located a hot shipment from Midecon that looks like a black-ops CIA shipment to terrorists!”
Johnson leaned forward, wiping his mouth with his napkin. His eyes lit up. “Really! What do you need from me?”
Sarah explained. “We need back-up urgently. They’re loading this illegal shipment at the Container Port here in Baltimore tonight and there are some rogue CIA agents and bad ass Arabs in town. The shipment is headed for Dubai!”
Johnson looked totally confused. “Hang on a second. You keep saying ‘we’, who’s we?”
Sarah answered, a little apprehensively. “I’m working with Jake Harrigan of the CIA.”
Johnson was in shock. “What? Did you say the CIA?”
She continued. “I did, Senator. Jake’s with us. He’s convinced the CIA killed his wife and her best friend and he’s on their trail, just like we are, but we need back-up now if we want to take these guys down!”
He could sense the urgency in her voice as he walked over to the window and looked out at the intense wind and heavy rain. He could forget his relaxing evening at the bridge club. There were now much more urgent things to be taken care of. “Not goin’ to be easy,” he began. “This is a helluva storm coming in. I’ll call the Deputy Director. D’you think you can hold the fort till we get there?”
Jake came on the line. “Hello, Senator, Jake Harrigan. We need back-up right now at Pier 28. A container ship, the Ocean Mist will be sailing at midnight with the illegal arms shipment on board, heading for the ‘Sons of Allah’ in Dubai.”
Johnson replied. “I’ll see what I can do, Mr. Harrigan. The whole area’s gridlocked with this storm, it’s all over the TV. Multiple accidents on the freeways, won’t help us to get there. I’ll be in touch.”
“Thank you, sir.” Jake replied.
Johnson clicked off the call and pushed a single button as speed dial did its job. A voice answered. “Federal Bureau of Investigation, how may I direct your call?”
Johnson was anxious to talk to his friend and contact. “This is Senator Johnson, may I speak with Deputy Director Davies, please?”
“Just a moment, Senator.” the voice replied and Deputy Director Peter Davies, slimly-built, balding, in his 50’s, quickly came on the line.
“Davies here, Senator, what can I do for you?”
Johnson quickly brought Davies up to speed. “Hello, Peter, I just heard from Sarah Schaumberg. There’s an urgent matter that needs immediate attention!”
Davies was immediately riveted to the conversation. “What’s the problem?”
Johnson explained. “I’ve just heard that Sarah’s on her way to the Container Port in Baltimore to try and stop an illegal arms and software shipment from Midecon, being sent by rogue CIA agents to terrorists in Dubai.”
Davies was in shock. “Jesus! Right under our goddamned noses! This needs to be addressed immediately and delicately. My God! The last thing we need is a public spectacle involving Arab terrorists tied up with multiple US government agencies and a shipment of illegal arms. I’ll see what I can do. I’m going to need some details? What’s the sudden urgency that this needs to happen so fast, for God’s sake?”
“Agent Schaumberg only just found out and if we are going to stop the shipment, it all has to happen before midnight tonight, when the container vessel the ‘Ocean Mist’ is due to leave from Pier 28 at the container port.”
Davies was concerned. “Damn! And how many men does Sarah have?”
Johnson replied quickly, almost embarrassed. “Just one, I’m afraid, and he’s CIA!”
After a discernable pause, Davies answered. “CIA, are you serious?”
Johnson put him straight. “Afraid so, but don’t worry, he’s with us. Apparently he believes that the CIA murdered his wife and her best friend!”
Davies was still trying to grasp the full scope of what was going on. “And that’s it, just the two of them?”
“Afraid so.”
“Leave it with me, Senator, I’ll be in touch.”
“Thanks. Peter.” Johnson put the phone down and called his butler James, an English gentleman in his 50’s, who appeared immediately. “Yes, Senator?” he asked. Johnson was already putting on his jacket. “Get the car ready, we’re going to Baltimore.”
“Right away sir.” James disappeared quickly.
* * *
Back in Lorinda’s car, as they drove along in the pounding rain, Jake turned to Sarah. “So, it looks like we’re on our own for now?”
She nodded. “Pretty much, what do you suggest?”
Jake was thinking out loud. “First thing to do is get on the docks, initiate a lockdown and keep an eye on things.”
She was playing devil’s advocate. “And if they make a move before back-up arrives?”
He gave her a thin smile. “That’s why we have bulletproof vests!”
A sudden shiver went down her spine when Jake mentioned her bulletproof vest. Unknown to Jake, this was her first potential engagement with hostiles who would be shooting to kill. She was already saying a silent prayer that both she and Jake would make it through the night.
* * *
Back in his office in Washington, Davies was already briefing his agents, all gathered in combat gear, fully armed, and at the ready. “Okay,”’ he began. “We need to be at Pier 28 in the Container Terminal in Baltimore like yesterday,” they all listened attentively as he continued with tactical details. “Help will be on the ground, but we’ll be up against rogue CIA operatives and some Arabs with terrorist affiliations! This is all classified, understood?”
The men and women nodded and looked at each other as Davies continued. “One thing we do know is that the good guys on the ground will be our own Sarah Schaumberg and Jake Harrigan, a guy from the CIA.”
Agent Cohen, a bespectacled man in his 30’s, repeated. “CIA, Deputy Director?”
Davies shrugged. “Yeah, go figure!” they all looked at each other anxiously and any reservations that anyone may have had about working with the CIA, certainly didn’t manifest itself. “Now let’s get outta here!” they all rushed out, led by Davies.
CHAPTER 26
In Langley, Virginia, things were far from calm at CIA headquarters. Ben Rogerson, the Director of the CIA, had been urged to attend a meeting by his senior staff to discuss the developments in Baltimore.
Rogerson was a clean-cut gentleman with noticeably white hair. He had just returned from a visit to Dubai, where he had spent a week of cooperating with the authorities at Al Towar, the police headquarters on Al Etihad Street, trying to smooth things over in the wake of apparent complaints of the involvement of an American in Dubai. He had, of course, also been trying to protect the integrity of the CIA.
Since he had taken up his current position, he had seen an increasing amount of flak from civil liberties groups, all complaining at the unbridled way in which the agency had been handling non-combatant individuals, all in the name of national security and now, the ripple effects of Jake’s visit were even reverberating on US soil. This was the kind of stress the Director really didn’t need.
He called the meeting to order and looked at his second-in-command Jim Handforth for an update. “I don’t believe this, I just spent a week covering our ass in Dubai and this shit has now followed us to the US. Could someone please tell me what the hell’s goin’ on?”
Handforth, dark-haired, in his 50’s, explained. “The whole thing seems to be out of control, Ben. Looks like we have some enterprising rats in our midst, black-ops guys who think they can make a killing on the side!”
Rogerson was steaming mad. “Doing what for Christ’s sakes?”
“Making illegal arms deals with the sons of Mahmoud Ashram in Dubai, the very guy who was taken out by one of our own black-ops group. And it appears that Ashram’s sons are apparently in town to avenge the death of their father, as well as to oversee this illegal shipment!”
Rogerson was incredulous. “Let me get this straight. You’re actually tellin’ me we took out the old man and the sons still want to do the deal, but only after they wipe out the guy who made the hit?”
Handforth nodded. “Go figure!”
Rogerson rubbed his hands up and down his face in frustration. “So, what the hell’s going down in Baltimore?”
Handforth filled him in on the details. “From the intel we have, it seems that these black-ops assholes, with help from Midecon, are trying to ship out a container worth millions in highly sensitive defense material, right under the noses of the authorities in Baltimore!”
