A Price for Balancing the Scales

by W Earl Daniels

  When Huck and Cedric were back in the BMW, one would have thought that Cedric had just been notified that he had won the lottery. He was ecstatic. “Now we have testimonial evidence that two men, neither of whom was Rouse, illegally entered the representative’s residence. They had to be the assassins.”

  “Need I remind you that we do not have a slam dunk? We have an unwilling witness who has reluctantly agreed to provide testimony as an anonymous source. Where are we if the judge should deny admission of evidence, consisting of a written statement, from which the source’s name is redacted? Not to pop your bubble, Cedric, but in such a high-profile case, I cannot imagine any judge, much less a German judge, not insisting that the witness make his statement on the stand where he can be cross-examined by the prosecutor.”

  “Huck, you really know how to crush a guy’s day.”

  “For now let’s set that worry aside until Berger can get a written statement from Allenberger. Maybe Berger will have some other ideas. That’s why he gets paid the big bucks.”

  “OK, after lining Berger up to interview Allenberger, where do we go from here? I had the last idea.”

  “Why don’t we take a more direct approach? The Frenchman’s phone has a telephone number for Mr. S. Why don’t we just give him a call?”

  Chapter 36

  To many of the residents of and visitors to the village of Avalon on Catalina Island, the stately mansion on the hill that overlooked the Pacific Ocean resembled the plantation home Tara, from the movie Gone with the Wind based on Margaret Mitchell’s novel of the same title. And although it attracted much attention, it did seem to be in both the wrong location and in the wrong time period.

  The primary difference between the original Tara and what had become known as Tara of Catalina were the side patios that accented the second story. The north patio is where, periodically, there appeared to be an early-morning coal-burning freight train puffing its smoke in circles around the perimeter of the patio. Few, if any, knew that the source of the smoke was due to the chain-smoking habit of Mary Harris.

  The other patio facing to the south was more serene, and, on rare occasions, is where one might catch a glimpse of a woman’s head moving from one spot to another. Each patio served its individual purpose. The one on the north opened into a large breakfast room where, many times before the sun rose, Harris secured her morning coffee and then went onto it to do her thinking and planning.

  The patio on the south side of the house was decorated to resemble a manicured lawn…a lawn consisting of Astroturf. There Harris had a hot tub, a sauna, a glider swing, a hammock, and other outdoor furniture, each with an overhead covering to block the heat from the sun’s rays. That patio opened into a well-equipped gym. The gym had a stationary bike, a treadmill, a punching bag, and weights for lifting. Much of the floor was covered with padded matting similar to that found where gymnasts trained.

  In addition to the workout equipment, Harris had two personal trainers. Her physical fitness trainer came three days each week. His mission was to keep her in the best physical shape possible. The second trainer, who came only on Wednesdays, helped her hone her karate skills to maintain her black belt status. After her karate workout, she liked to wind down either by sitting in her hot tub with its jets turned to the maximum strength or by spending time reclining in her sauna.

  When she reflected on her life, either in the hot tub or in the sauna—today she was in her hot tub—she could not help but wonder how many people were trained or educated for one career field but ended up doing something quite different. Harris had graduated number one in her law class and began her practice as a criminal prosecutor in Seattle, Washington. It soon became apparent to her how stupid criminals were. It was there that she discovered her calling to be the smartest criminal outside the legal system. It didn’t take a smart lawyer to soon figure out that contract hits of high-profile figures were where one found the real money. The key to Harris’s success has been to maintain a distant relationship with those who hire her services, and the same with those she hired to do the jobs. Just as important, one must never work for the same person twice, and one must always have a team whose members do not know anything about one another or who are linked to a relationship with their employer. With this latest hit, Harris had made the worst mistake of her career. She had ventured from her true and proven pattern to one of trying to improve perfection. What Harris didn’t understand was that if it’s not broken, don’t try to fix it. Once she had successfully tied up the loose ends of this job, she would retire. She no longer needed the money or the excitement.

  Harris was jarred from her reflections by the ringing of one of the several throwaway cell phones she had neatly arranged next to the hot tub. It was the second ring that permitted her to identify the correct phone—it was the one she had been hoping to hear ring for some time now.

  Harris answered, “Give me a status report.”

  The voice on the other end was brief. “Number Two; fatal accident; need replacement.”

  Harris’s reply was not brief and therefore violated standard practice. “What do you mean by ‘fatal accident’? What has happened?”

  The voice replied, “In attempt to accomplish mission, lost balance and fell in front of a moving train.”

  “You are sure he was killed?”

  “Most definitely; need replacement quickly.”

  Harris’s mind raced. What else could go wrong? This was supposed to be an easy job. At least his sloppy error cost him his life. “I’ll see what I can do. I will call Number Three to see if he is available, and if so, he will contact you directly to coordinate your rendezvous.” This was another violation of standard practice in that team members never contacted each other after a mission. “Call me as soon as the job is finalized.”

  After disconnecting, Harris wasted no time in calling, on a different cell phone, her contact in Riyadh. He answered the phone on the fourth ring. Like all the others, except the American, he had been given a cell phone to hold on to for sixty days in the event that Mr. S. needed to contact one of them. After that time, they were to dispose of their phones, as would Mr. S.

  Number Three answered in Arabic.

  Mr. S. said, “Need your help immediately, at double the previous payment. Are you available?”

  It did not take a mathematical genius to calculate that that was a lot of money. He responded that he was available.

  Mr. S. then gave the cell phone number of Number One to Number Three. “Before you depart, give Number One a call to coordinate your meeting and to be sure he understands that I want the job finished within the next ten days. It is important for you to tell him those exact words. Do you understand?”

  “I do, Mr. S. I will tell him as soon as I see him face-to-face.”

  Huck’s expression registered complete disbelief as he lay the phone down and looked at Cedric, causing him to exclaimed, “Huck, are you all right? I can’t interpret the expression on your face.”

  Huck looked in Cedric’s direction. “Cedric, I am in total disbelief at what just happened. Mr. S. appeared to buy the story I just shot him about the death of Number Two, and now he’s going to try to replace Number Two with Number Three, who is the Middle Easterner. Number Three is to call me direct to coordinate where I will meet him.”

  “Now I’m in disbelief,” replied Cedric. “This means that it might be possible for us to get Number Thee in our grasp. If we do so, we’ll have either the assassin or the one who held the ladder. Do we share this information with anyone?”

  “Not now. Let’s try to work this one like we did the other two. I want it to be us who first puts the squeeze on Number Three. I’m sure he’ll deny any involvement, and although we can claim that we have an eyewitness, I doubt seriously that Herr Allenberger could identify him in a lineup. The prosecutor will nail Allenberger’s testimony to the courthouse wall because of both the
distance between him and the two assassins and the darkness of the night.”

  Huck’s ringing phone interrupted their discussion. Cedric listened to Huck’s side of the conversation. “It seems like every time we think we’ve gotten one step forward, we’re knocked back a half dozen. But you did get a written testimony from Herr Allenberger? OK, thanks for calling to let me know.”

  Huck turned to Cedric. “Berger got Allenberger’s written testimony, but the criminal division has set the trial date for thirty days from today. As of now, we don’t have sufficient offsetting evidence to secure a delay. The truth as we know it will not change the balance of the scales. I don’t believe we can be ready for a trial in thirty days.”

  “Neither do I,” replied Cedric. “I guess that means we’ll have to hit the shoe leather a little harder.”

  Chapter 37

  Markel Kaplan was not known to be a man of virtue or patience. His characteristics were more of a man who would do anything to make money and destroy his opposition and enemies while maintaining a cordial and likable relationship with those who could help him achieve his goals. In that respect, he would not let a sizeable monetary gift to his wannabe friends constitute any hesitations or reservations on his part. He did not fool himself into thinking that money would buy friendships, but it could steer acquaintances to positions more favorable to his own position.

  It was for that reason that he did not believe much of what Mustafa had said. He believed that Mustafa made up the lobbyist Cedric Smart to enrich himself. But on the other hand, if there was someone who mysteriously vanished off the radar, he might be carrying with him a trove of information that was not favorable to Kaplan. He decided to launch his own investigation into the man known as Smart. If nothing more, it would be interesting to compare what he learned with what Mustafa discovered.

  After his decision to confirm what Mustafa had told him about Smart, Kaplan contacted a Turkish diplomat who had been a recipient of some of Kaplan’s gifts. The diplomat readily accepted his phone call.

  The diplomat answered the phone and spoke in Turkish. “What a pleasant surprise from my dear and generous friend Markel Kaplan. I hope you’re calling with something I would be honored to help you with?”

  “Thank you for your kind greeting. I know you are a busy man, but I’m hoping you are in a position to help with a small issue pertaining to one of my business dealings.”

  “You know I will if I can. Please tell me how I might help you.”

  “There has been some confusion over the status of an individual who claims to be a lobbyist for the US Steel Manufacturers Association, but neither the association nor the German government can confirm that to be true. Unfortunately, some sensitive information regarding my rail contract may have gotten into his hands. If that is true, it could be detrimental to both the Turkish government and the German government. Personally, I could experience a serious financial loss. As I recall, you have a great relationship with our ambassador to the US, correct?”

  “That I do. I would go so far as to say we are good friends. Do you need an introduction?”

  “Thank you, but I trust that he might work a little faster if the request comes from you.”

  “OK. What do you wish me to do?”

  “I would like to get any information the US government may have on one Cedric Smart. That name may be an alias. However, if the ambassador could seek the information from the US intelligence community without revealing why the information is needed, it would be most useful. Such information could help me to deflect any potential negative or incorrect information he may be planning to distribute.”

  “Why do you think Smart would do that?”

  “My confidential sources tell me that he may be trying to steer the acceptance of the construction bid toward the US in much the same way as the German state representative did. You know, regardless of how false information may be, a tainted or an improper suggestion could work against our government and my company.”

  “Markel, you have my word that I will call our ambassador today to seek his assistance.”

  “Would you please stress to him the urgency? The bidding process will close in the next ten days, and as of now, we are on the fence. An unexpected bid from the US coupled with false and negative information about our country and its diplomatic staff could make the difference.”

  “I will. And again I thank you for your call. You will be hearing from me soon. Goodbye.”

  Mustafa was at his wit’s end. He hoped that his panicked state had caused his impatience and was the result of the caustic comments he had made to the German lobbyist registry assistant and the hotel clerk after learning of the nonexistence of Cedric Smart, which may have caused them to view him as rude and critical. He decided to approach them both again in a more composed manner.

  He was pleasantly surprised to see different people manning the desks. That in itself boosted his confidence. And although their conversations were more pleasant and they conveyed a genuine interest to be helpful, the results were the same. The registry assistant let Mustafa look at the computer screen, which had revealed that Cedric Smart had never been registered as a lobbyist. The hotel manager came to the desk with a copy of the hotel policy and procedures manual containing emphatic words that no information about past or current guests could be released without the guest signing an authorization document. If Cedric Smart had been a guest at their hotel, he did not sign a waiver granting authorization for the release of any information about him.

  Mustafa was well aware of Kaplan’s power and influence. And although he had no evidence to support this assertion, he also believed that Kaplan was behind the assassination of the German representative. He knew that he would not be safe if he quit his lobbyist position and returned to Turkey or if he quit and tried to remain in Germany. He knew of many Turks who stayed in Germany and who, because of their English and German language skills, became employed by the US government as third-country nationalists. Mustafa wondered what to do. Should he remain in Germany or seek refuge in another European country?

  In the final analysis, the only thing he felt certain about was his death if he stayed where Kaplan could touch him. Within the next couple of days, he must come up with a plan to disappear. Otherwise, he knew he would be a dead man.

  Chapter 38

  Huck and Cedric had hatched their plan to take Number Three into custody should he call to coordinate the rendezvous between Number One and himself. The waiting was the hardest part of the plan. At eight o’clock the following morning, the phone that had belonged to Number One rang.

  Huck looked at Cedric and nodded. “This is the one we have been expecting. Let’s hope Number Three is on his way.” Huck answered, “Bonjour.”

  The Middle Easterner replied in French. “Scheduled to arrive at one p.m. via Saudia Airlines. Where do we meet?”

  Huck asked the man to speak in English or German and then continued in English. “We are not to be seen together. My driver will meet you outside of customs. He will be holding a sign that reads Number Three.”

  Number Three replied in German that he understood. The phone went dead.

  Huck said to Cedric, “My friend, the games will begin at one p.m. He will arrive on Saudia Airlines. I want to be there no later than twelve thirty in the event that he arrives early. Hopefully, all goes as we have planned.”

  At one o’clock on the same day that Huck had received a call from Number Three, Kaplan received a call from the Turkish diplomat.

  Kaplan picked up immediately. “Please tell me that you have some information on Cedric Smart?”

  “I do, but I doubt it will be much help to you.”

  “I’m listening. Do you mind if I record what you tell me?”

  “Not at all. Please start your recorder. Our ambassador tells me that much of what he learned about a Cedric Smart comes from the Washington
Post. I think someone may be using his name. I learned that a man by the name of Cedric Smart lives in Northern Virginia and is retired from the Central Intelligence Agency, or CIA. A few years after he retired, he started to work for the Price Detective Agency, also in the northern Virginia area. Around eighteen months ago, he was involved in a massive car wreck caused by a bomb planted by a homegrown terrorist. He almost died. He did recover, but he was left with a permanent limp. When he went back to work with Price, their detective agency redirected its focus strictly to administrative cases, such as divorces and custody battles.

  “Our intelligence agency also contacted US Customs to see if there was a Cedric Smart registered as a lobbyist. There is no record of Smart having any involvement in lobbying in the United States or in any other country. Accordingly, I believe that the use of that particular name was either an alias or a coincidence. Can I be of any other help to you?”

  Kaplan reflected on what he had just been told. “No, and thank you for your assistance. I will try to look into this matter from another angle. I’ll take no more of your time. Goodbye.”

  Still puzzling over the information he had received, Kaplan realized that the only way he could confirm whether the Cedric Smart who Mustafa talked with was an alias or a coincidence was to call Mustafa to find out if the man walked with a limp.

  When Mustafa’s phone rang, he was hesitant to answer. His caller ID told him it was Kaplan. After four rings, Mustafa mustered the courage to answer.

  To Mustafa’s surprise, Kaplan was friendly and polite. He began by asking Mustafa how things were going. Mustafa replied, “I think I am achieving some results. I did speak to the Berlin lobbyist who told me that Smart also talked to him. He agreed that Smart said he was a lobbyist and presented himself as one who understood how the system worked. But when I pushed him for more details, he brushed me off by saying that Smart’s location was not his problem but mine.”