by Cherry Laska
Reza took a long shower and reminisced about his family and friends. Knowing he would carry out his mission to the end and exact revenge on behalf of his people brought him comfort. He prepared for the next day, reviewing the plan as he ironed and hung up his uniform.
Reza went to the closet and carefully removed each item he would use tomorrow. He examined the two oversized backpacks with modified compartments, a large toolbox, a thermos, and an insulated lunchbox. Satisfied the chemicals were safe, he repacked the items with precision. A sense of calm washed over him. Before leaving in the morning, he would lay out pictures and documents he had prepared. When they were discovered, the people of the world would learn about the atrocities being committed by the current corrupt Iranian government and how the U.S., NATO, and many other nations ignored proof of what was happening. The world would no longer be able to close its eyes to the oppression of the Iranian people. Everyone would learn about America’s part in the massacre of IYRM’s members. He only hoped this helped his people. Either way he would make them all pay and this would soon be over.
78
JOE WANTED THE TEAM TO have autonomy to work the way they needed to. Instead of being in the local government offices, he managed to get two sets of adjoining rooms at the hotel. When the team arrived, they hung the do not disturb signs on the doors and quickly set up to get to work.
“Las Vegas Metro and Homeland Security are checking passenger manifests, canvassing the area where the car was found, and reviewing all the security footage they can get their hands on,” Marshall explained. “The problem is there’s so much footage. Even with facial recognition software it takes a lot of time to process.”
“We still have to be careful not to scare Zircone and push him into something,” Joe reminded everyone.
“My bet is Zircone caught a plane,” Alejandro said. “It’s too coincidental. I mean, what are the odds this freak would be in the same place as Jess—” Joe cut him off with a look. Alejandro cleared his throat and said, “I don’t think he’s here, but what if we told the casinos that Zircone is a card counter? They have major security systems that include complete camera coverage.”
“That’s a good idea,” Mark agreed. “The casinos would wanna find a card counter fast and keep everything low key.”
“Do it,” Joe said to Marshall, who immediately started typing on his laptop.
“I’ll narrow my possible target list to only those in Vegas,” Jessica said, “and expand the information on each.” She went to the sitting area and spread out a map of all city’s structures. There were so many possible targets. She opened her Excel spreadsheet and highlighted the LOCATION column and sorted the data. She copied the rows for Las Vegas and created a new sheet. Jessica read down the CATEGORY column. She saw the numerous casino entries. She highlighted the more popular ones on the strip. Continuing down, Jessica did the same with the indoor malls and set Encore and the Bellagio in bold text. Under theaters, Jessica spent more time Googling and highlighting venues that were currently running shows. Jessica sighed looking at all the restaurant entries. She inserted a column and tried to think like a terrorist. She ranked the top twenty-five considering the largest and most well-known first. She could always come back to it and add more. Her heart sank reading the first entry under the next category: special meeting space, Convention Center. She pleaded silently for that not to be the target.
Jessica’s phone vibrated showing an incoming call from Anderson. She hit ignore. She didn’t have the time nor did she care to deal with him. She began looking up the square footage and maximum occupancy of each possible target on their revised list. “Marshall,” she called to him from across the room. “Could you possibly access blueprints online of the buildings I identify as targets?”
“That shouldn’t be a problem. As soon as I send this modified file on Zircone to the casinos, I’ll get on it. Give me ten minutes.”
Joe came over to her and looked over her shoulder at the map. “What are you thinking?”
“This guy’s moves make us think he’s pretty smart. I believe he’ll try to maximize the kill potential. I want to look at their sprinkler, air, and drinking water systems. Zircone would go for a system that has relatively easy access and has widespread distribution within the facility.” Jessica looked at the time. “I was supposed to go to dinner with the girls. If I don’t make a brief appearance, they’ll suspect something.”
“Wait a second. I have an idea.” He made a quick call. When he hung up the phone, he looked pleased with himself. “Will tickets to the Luke Bryan concert help?” Joe had procured two VIP tickets to Bridgette’s favorite singer. The ticket package included a limo and dinner.
Jessica told him he was brilliant and went to the girls’ room to share the news about their special night.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you,” they squealed.
“I’m trusting you two to behave. Do I have your word?”
“Definitely. Thank you.” They were jumping up and down. As they ran off to get ready, Jessica caught a tidbit of their conversation. “I’m going to wear the skirt I bought today. Can I borrow your white, sleeveless top?”
Jessica couldn’t help but smile at their extreme joy. Her phone chirped, indicating it was dying. She headed across the hall to grab her charger, check the message from Anderson, and freshen up. It was going to be a long night.
She put the phone on the counter and punched the speaker button, so she could brush her teeth while she listened. His tone was contemptuous from the start.
“I don’t like that I haven’t heard from you. I don’t know what you’re thinking, but it’s unacceptable. I’ll be there by ten tomorrow.”
She couldn’t waste any energy on him. She ran a brush through her hair, grabbed her lip balm, and went to rejoin the team. They continued working, inhaling room service food while talking on the phones and banging away on their computers. Jessica didn’t know if it was the time change or nerves, but she didn’t feel like eating.
Extensive data was compiled, but there still was no clue where Zircone was. The list of possible targets was a mile long. By the time they finally decided to call it a night, Bridgette and Allison had been back from the concert for hours. Jessica was organizing her printouts when she had an idea.
“Hey, Joe, any chance you can get me a helicopter for tomorrow? I’d like to get in the air. It’ll give me a different vantage point.”
“I think I can arrange it. Mark, I’d like you to ride with her for another set of eyes. I’ll be meeting with the heads of the local office, the police commissioner, and casino security chiefs. Alejandro and Marshall, you can work it from here.” Joe read something on his iPad. He looked up and asked, “Jess, do you have to be at the Convention Center tomorrow?”
“We’re all supposed to meet there early, but I can slip out after I make an appearance. My boys are heavier weights. They won’t wrestle until one o’clock or later. Anything can happen, but the first couple rounds shouldn’t be a problem for them. I can make up some excuse, and if all goes right, I can be sitting in the stands with Zircone in custody, cheering them on when it counts.”
“I wouldn’t mind catching some of the action.” Mark said, bowing out his chest. “I was a three-time Alabama State Champ.” This got a laugh out of Joe. “Oh yeah, boss? I’d be careful what you laugh at.” Mark bumped Joe, horsing around.
“That’s a nice little accomplishment, junior varsity,” Joe mocked. “You do remember I was a two-time Pennsy State Champ, don’t you?”
“I don’t get it,” Marshall said. “Isn’t Mark’s three better than Joe’s two?
Jessica explained, “If you didn’t know high school wrestling you would think so. Mark’s accomplishments are impressive. He must have been good, but sorry, Mark, Alabama wrestling doesn’t compare to Pennsylvania wrestling. PA is a significantly tougher state. There’s so much more competition. What Joe did was amazing.”
“Well, I think I could take you, old man
,” Mark said, and tried to throw a move on Joe to take him down. Joe quickly and smoothly made a series of countermoves that ended with Mark on his back.
“Would never happen,” Joe said through a big grin before jumping up and giving Mark a hand.
“Well, I hope we end this threat and are all watching the tournament,” she said. “Good night, everyone.”
Jessica took a quick shower, just towel-dried her hair, and climbed into bed. Her body was tired, but her mind was racing through all the material they’d looked over. She tossed and turned, flipping from side to side in an attempt to get comfortable. Her mind was flipping back and forth almost as much. She was worried about Zircone releasing the sarin before they found him. She was also trying to figure out how to work out her personal life. She told her mind to shut down—that everything would be fine. She just needed to get some sleep. There was a knock at the door. Jessica silently tiptoed over to look out the peephole. It was room service.
“Wrong room,” she said through the door. “I didn’t order anything.”
The man in the hotel uniform opened the folder. “There’s an envelope addressed to Jessica, ma’am. Do you want it or would you like me to return the order?”
She opened the door and let the waiter wheel in the cart. She tried to give him a tip, but he refused. He said he’d already been generously taken care of and left. She lifted the cover from the tray. It was a stack of mouth-watering pancakes and a dish of strawberries with whipped cream. There was a glass of milk, and two sinful looking chocolate chip cookies. She smiled when she opened the envelope and saw the note was in Joe’s handwriting.
Jessica,
Sorry you didn’t get to go to Morrell’s. I know you love it there. I promise I’ll take you some other time. I noticed you didn’t eat anything earlier, and I know you aren’t able to sleep if you’re hungry. You don’t need to worry about the “poids”/pounds or anything. Just enjoy. You need to get some sleep and so do I, otherwise I would have brought you the breakfast for dinner myself.
Joe
When she reached the last line, her thoughts turned to how thoughtful and playful he was. It was a really attractive quality. She ate most everything on the tray, not caring what the late night carbs would do to her body. She could deal with that later. It hit the spot, and she felt so much better when she climbed back into bed. It was three a.m. The evil they were facing could be handled tomorrow.
She was grateful she had the natural skill to compartmentalize. The military and flight instruction had honed it. Without compartmentalization, the constant pressure and ugliness of it all could eat a soldier up and interfere with the ability to perform their duties. She pushed terrorists and chemicals out of her mind, grabbed her phone, and switched off the lamp. She typed a text message to Joe.
Thank you so much. You’re so thoughtful! I would have loved the personal delivery; however, you’re also very wise. If you were here right now, I definitely wouldn’t be able to sleep. I’d want you to show me more of your wrestling moves.
She excitedly watched the flashing dots as Joe was typing a reply.
You’re welcome. But please don’t mention wrestling me. I’m trying to be good, and I could easily lose control. I’m seriously fighting the urge to kick in your door.
That rush of heat hit her. She started typing her reply, knowing she shouldn’t, but after the kiss in the elevator, she didn’t care. She wanted more. Besides, she was safe and sound in her bed, alone in her hotel room. They couldn’t do anything about Zircone until tomorrow. She finished typing and hit send before she could change her mind.
No need to resort to destroying hotel property, RO-me-o. I’d gladly answer the door wearing PJ choice A or B. ;-)
Thinking she’d had the last word, she put her phone on the nightstand and giggled. She couldn’t believe her boldness. This mature version of flirting was exciting. Jessica’s phone buzzed again and her pulsed quickened.
SMOKE! Be careful. I’ll hold you to what you say. If not tonight, then very, VERY soon. I’m going to close my eyes and REFLECT on what I SAW today with a smile on my face. Now, go to sleep. THAT’S AN ORDER
Jessica flushed. That stinker was cleverly referring to seeing her naked in the mirror. There were all kinds of things she could text back, but she decided to let it go. Her mind swirled with several fantasies. With her belly full, she drifted off while her imagination ran wild.
79
JESSICA’S EYES FLEW OPEN BEFORE the sun was up. She turned on the light and saw it was only five thirty. She was eager to make a quick appearance at the tournament and get back to work to shut down the threat. She made a cup of hotel room coffee, thinking weak coffee was better than nothing. She threw on some jeans and chose a white wrestling t-shirt. She put her hair in a ponytail and did her make-up. She still had a couple hours until she could wake the girls for them to get ready to head to the arena. She looked over her work, double-checking her notes and research.
With their event passes, they entered quickly through the fast line. Jessica, Bridgette, and Allison spotted their group in the crowded stands and started making their way to them. The older boys had weighed-in and were re-fueling and rehydrating with a big breakfast.
Amazingly, wrestlers generally weighed five to eight pounds more by the time they stepped on the mat. They had to make weight plus one pound tomorrow, so they’d be careful how much food and drink they took in. It would have a big effect on how much they’d have to run and work out before tomorrow’s weigh-ins, but they still had to fuel themselves for the day. Tomorrow, all bets would be off and each boy’s weight would jump considerably.
“Bridgette! Come sit next to me,” Dan Taylor called, moving his bag to make room for her.
She shot him daggers while smiling charmingly. Jessica didn’t think she needed to worry about her daughter. Bridgette took a seat near some of the parents she’d spent a lot of time with over the years. She started telling them about the concert she and Allison had gone to last night. Jessica looked over at Trevor, who seemed relieved and maybe even a little proud of his sister.
“That’s right, dick,” he said to Dan. “She’s not interested.” Jessica would have been mortified if the adults around them weren’t wrestling parents. These parents had experienced it all. Wrestlers are tough. They are a special breed, and so are their parents. The energy of excitement and nerves hung in the air of the arena. Once the tournament got underway, emotions would settle down, a little anyway.
“When is Dad getting here?” Trevor asked.
“He said by ten, so he should be here in plenty of time.” He better show.
Things got started and the scores of matches were close. This was a high-level tournament.The wrestlers were all pretty talented, tough, or the deadly combination of both. After watching for a little while, she was anxious to get out of there. Bridgette and Allison were going to hit the shops and planned on being back about one, which, as long as the tournament ran smoothly, was about the expected time of Chase’s first match.
Jessica told the boys she was going to go get some decent food and assured them she’d be back way before they wrestled.
“Think Dad’s going to actually make it?”
“I’ll try to get an update and let you know.” She wasn’t going to cover for Anderson, but she didn’t want Trevor to feel let down or be distracted by his father’s absence.
“Whatever,” he said. It seemed he was getting an attitude resembling hers. A person can only take so much.
“If I don’t talk to you before your match,” she said through clenched teeth, “kick butt.” He laughed.
The hallways of the Convention Center were packed. Jessica couldn’t stand taking baby steps and moving so slowly. She needed to get out of there and find out where things stood. She cleared the crowds as quickly as she could maneuver through the groups clogging the hallways and called Joe.
“Mark and Marshall are waiting for you outside the east exit in a black Suburban. They’re goi
ng to take you to the North Las Vegas Airport so you can pick up the FBI’s Las Vegas Office’s brand new Bell 407. I’m walking into a meeting. The guys will fill you in. I’ll check in with you when I get out.”
“Okay.”
Joe added, “Be careful, Jess.”
She made it to the exit and spotted the guys idling at the curb. She climbed in the Suburban, and Mark pulled into the traffic.
“What’s the update?”
Marshall said, “Joe convinced some of the casinos to work with us under the ruse of the card counter story and upped the ante to a casino PR nightmare. He told them the card counter was funding a terror group. Facial recognition got Zircone on tape at the Luxor last night.” He took a breath. “I followed him on camera back to Aavi, but I lost him in the casino. I’m sorry. We’re trying to find out what room he’s staying in. We’re crawling all over that part of town with no luck so far.”
“It’s not your fault. It’s good we’re on to him. Are there officers on scene?”
“Yes, but the hotel is not being very cooperative. The new owner is a wise guy and has had several run-ins with the feds. The dirt bag is holding out for assurances and favors,” Mark explained. “Joe’s in a meeting with various key players from all the agencies to try to hammer out the legalities, coordinate the search, and plan for all the contingencies.”