A Price for Balancing the Scales

by W Earl Daniels

  “Did you notice any unusual physical characteristic about Smart?”

  “He was an older guy who walked with a distinct limp.”

  Light bulbs went off in Kaplan’s head. He was now confident in his own mind. The bogus lobbyist Smart was the same Smart who now worked for a private detective agency. That could only mean that he was investigating the death of the Hesse rep.

  Before ending the call, Kaplan tried to provide words of encouragement to Mustafa in his efforts to locate Smart.

  Kaplan sat for several moments at his desk, pondering his conclusion. He had to figure out a way to end the investigation. Money would not be the right suggestion to a former CIA operative. The only other option was to put an end to Smart’s limp…permanently.

  Chapter 39

  At twelve thirty p.m., Huck stood outside of customs at the Frankfurt International Airport. He was holding a sign that read Number Three. While waiting, he checked the electronic arrival board for inbound flights, which reported that there was a flight from Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, arriving on schedule at one o’clock. As Huck stood there holding his sign, the thought, Now we know where one of the assassins is coming from. He found it interesting that each member of the assassin team came from a different county.

  At one twenty, Huck detected a Middle Easterner approaching from his left. He was walking directly toward Huck. When he was within ten feet, he said, “I am Number Three.”

  Huck replied, “Guten Nachmittag. Do you speak English?”

  The Middle Easterner answered affirmatively in a manner that suggested he was insulted by the question. Maybe he was telegraphing to Huck, “I am educated, you dumb driver.”

  Huck brushed off the answer. “Thank you. I am your greeter. Our drive waits just outside the exit. Do you have any luggage I can help you with?”

  “No. I have everything I need in my backpack.”

  “Of course. If you will follow me to our car. I was glad to see that your flight was on time. Just so you know, the person who was supposed to meet you contracted our limo service instead. You are not one of my normal pickups. I primarily transport Americans. As the designated greeter, my English is supposed to make the American tourist more comfortable with our transportation services. Your pickup was an expedited job, and I was the only one available in the office. The sedan is just outside—”

  The Middle Easterner rudely interrupted Huck. “You are being paid for transportation, not conversation, so please take me to my destination without any further discussion.”

  When Huck and the Middle Easterner exited the terminal, Huck pointed toward the black BMW where Cedric sat behind the wheel, wearing a chauffeur’s hat.

  “Forgive me, sir, but would you like your backpack to be placed in the trunk?”

  “No, I will keep it with me.”

  “Yes, sir. Our driver’s name is Cedric.”

  The Middle Easterner again glared at Huck as if to say, “What is it that you don’t understand about keeping quiet?”

  Huck opened the rear door on the passenger side of the sedan for the Middle Easterner. Once he was inside, Huck walked around to the rear door behind Cedric. Sticking his head inside, he said, “Sir, please fasten your seatbelt.” Huck then sat in the rear seat behind Cedric.

  The Middle Easterner asked, “Why don’t you sit up front with the driver so that I’m not disturbed? It’s been a long flight.”

  Huck replied, “Sir, it’s company policy that I am to sit with the passengers to be available to answer any questions they may have about Frankfurt. I also believe it to be what our company views as a safety issue.”

  “I already know all I need to about Frankfurt, and I have my seat belt fastened.”

  “Sir, I do apologize, but if management learned that I violated company policy, I could be fired. I promise not to say anything unless you have a question.”

  “So be it.”

  The Middle Easterner relaxed in his seat and closed his eyes as if he planned to take a nap until they arrived at his destination.

  Huck thought, You little jerk. You may not want to talk now, but I can promise you one thing: you will want to talk soon because you’ll be getting an attitude adjustment.

  When Cedric pulled over to the curb in front of the office building where Empire Enterprises previously had a suite, the Middle Easterner placed his left hand on the seat to raise himself up where he could see out.

  During the ride, Huck had prepared himself for this moment. He already had an opened clasp of a handcuff in his right hand. As soon as the Middle Easterner placed his left hand onto the seat to look out, Huck slapped the opened clasp on the man’s left wrist and said, “Look familiar?”

  The Middle Easterner attempted to jerk his hand back, but Huck had already cuffed his own right wrist. With a smile Huck said, “You’re mine now, cowboy.”

  The Middle Easterner quickly turned to his left while at the same time attempting to strike Huck with roundhouse right.

  In anticipation of such a reaction, Cedric had turned in his seat and jammed the end of his cane at a seventy-degree angle against the roof of the sedan. The inside of the Middle Easterner’s right elbow absorbed most of the impact. His fist never made contact with Huck.

  Simultaneously, Huck’s left fist swiftly moved inside the cane and landed with full force on the Middle Easterner’s left jaw, causing his head to bash against the side window on the passenger’s side.

  Cedric looked back at Huck. “I think he’s down for the count.” Cedric hustled around to the rear passenger door and pulled the Middle Easterner out of the car, with Huck following. If anyone had observed their exit from the car, they would have assumed that the two men were carrying a drunken friend inside the building.

  After about ten minutes, with a little assistance from Huck in the form of cold water to the face, the Middle Easterner’s eyes began to flutter. As he regained consciousness, he realized that he was now handcuffed to a bed in a very awkward position. Although the room appeared vaguely familiar, the two men looking at him were known only as his greeter and his driver.

  His first reaction was the normal attempt to get free of his bondage. When he saw that wasn’t working, he stared at the two men watching him.

  When Number Three appeared to be in a position to understand Huck’s words, he said, “Welcome to our world, Number Three. Know first that we are not police and that we don’t always comply with the legal ways of doing things. As a matter of fact, we find the so-called legal ways to be an unnecessary hindrance. Accordingly, we can do this the easy way or the hard way; it’s your choice. But rest assured that at some painful moment you will answer our questions. Finally, although I know you to be a man of few words, I will remind you that you have no allegiance to anyone; therefore, common sense would dictate that your painful future be avoided by simply cooperating with us now.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “You know where you are. And I know that you’re smart enough to make the connection between what was planned in this room and the role you played in carrying out that plan. We already know the roles played by Numbers One and Two, both of whom are currently in custody. Now it’s your turn. And just to add fuel to what you say, know that we have an eyewitness who will put you at the scene of a serious crime here in Frankfurt. I want you to tell us what you know about Mr. S. and the roles the other numbers played in the assassination of the German representative. As you confirm information we already know, we will try to make you a little more comfortable. By the way, we do not have a timetable. We can be here forever. The floor is yours.”

  Number Three sat there with his lips pressed tightly together, which suggested that he was debating either his options or the possibility of his escape. Huck and Cedric went to a small refrigerator, extracted a beverage from it, and took a seat at a table. Both men pulled out their cell pho
nes and began tapping buttons.

  After two hours, it became obvious that Number Three was beginning to experience some discomfort. Cedric rose from his position with a strip of duct tape. After he had plastered the tape across Number Three’s mouth, he said, “Soon you will have no choice but to scream out and we would not want you to disturb others in the building.” He then retuned his seat with Number Three’s backpack. All the personal items he had on him had been secured. Those items included his cell phone, some euros, a watch, and some keys that probably were to his car and living quarters in Riyadh.

  As Cedric rummaged through Number Three’s backpack, Number One’s phone, which Huck carried in his pocket, rang. Huck answered, “Ya.”

  The voice on the other end, which Huck identified as that of Mr. S., asked, “Have you and Number Three met?”

  “Yes. He is having dinner.”

  “Good. Now finish the job.” The connection ended.

  Chapter 40

  Kaplan’s phone conversation with Mustafa confirmed what he had suspected. Someone, in addition to the police, was investigating the death of the German state representative. And that someone, Cedric Smart, was probably a more experienced investigator than the Frankfurt police. Kaplan had believed that the Hesse state police were so confident that they had the right man that they were not looking for any evidence to change the current course, especially in light of the latest news report that the Strafkammer, or criminal division, had set a trial date.

  The obvious conclusion, Kaplan surmised, was that because an American was conducting the investigation, it led him to believe that Smart was the only one looking for evidence to prove that Rouse did not commit the crime. Kaplan’s brain was pulsating. He must concern himself with Smart’s background and experience. He was a former CIA operative with access to sources that exceed the capabilities of the Frankfurt police. Smart’s sources might be able to connect Mr. S. to the crime, which in turn could pave the way to Kaplan’s front door. He could not afford the chances of that happening.

  Over the years, as Kaplan continued to build his family’s holdings, he had encountered and used many unscrupulous individuals who were available to fix anything for a Turkish lira, a euro, or a dollar. The first name that came to his mind was Demir.

  Demir had a lot of dirty baggage that linked him to several crimes in Istanbul, but he was always smarter than law enforcement. Kaplan had used Demir on many occasions to either put pressure on someone to obtain a favorable result for the Kaplan Company or to cause some people to vanish. There was never any evidence that their disappearances were not voluntary.

  The only reason that Kaplan had not used Demir in the German representative hit was because he did not trust Demir to carry out the disappearance of a high-profile individual. Smart was not a high-profile individual, and if he was meddling in a matter for which the German police believed the case to be closed, then Smart’s disappearance might be a welcome event by German law enforcement.

  Kaplan placed a call to set up a meeting with Demir.

  Three hours had passed, and from Huck’s perspective, Number Three was beginning to experience some real pain from his locked, uncomfortable position. The contortions of his face showed that the man was enduring both physical and mental agony. From Huck’s interrogation experience, he knew that Middle Easterners were difficult to break. Some would pass out from pain before uttering a word. It was time for Huck to go after the man’s psyche before he passed out. To do so would require him to effectively bend the truth.

  Huck squatted down so that he was eye to eye with Number Three. “From my days in Afghanistan, I gained a lot of respect for the pain and agony some of your Middle Eastern brothers could bear without sounding a word. As a matter of fact, some could suffer pain and indignities for days. I could appreciate and to some extent admire how strong their belief was in their cause. They were trying to change a culture while defeating an enemy. What is your cause, Number Three?”

  “Why would you accept what others, specifically your team members, Numbers One and Two, have said about you? Why would you let Mr. S. take advantage of you for money? Surely you know Mr. S. is not going to pay you after you have lost your freedom. The only thing the money you currently have will buy you, if you do talk to us now, is a good lawyer, who may be able to save you from a very long prison sentence. Your silence is of no value to you or to us. However, it will certainly enrich Mr. S. Your other team members came to the realization that only by telling us what we wanted to know would they be permitted, some day, to again see the outside of prison walls.

  “To show you that I am sincere in what I am saying, I am going to release your left hand from the leg of the bed, which is causing much of your discomfort, and reattach it to the headboard with your right hand. This will permit you to think about my offer in a more comfortable position. I will give you fifteen minutes to reflect on what I have said. If you want to talk, nod your head in the affirmative and I will give you some water and we will have a conversation. Should you decide that you have some sort of loyalty code with Mr. S., or with your teammates who believe you to be the shooter, we will restart your very uncomfortable waiting position. If you understand what I have said, nod your head.”

  After a pause of seconds, Number Three nodded his head.

  “Cedric and I are going into the next room to leave you alone with your thoughts. Should we hear anything like you trying to get loose, your discomfort will become personal to me with regard to how much pain I will allow Cedric to inflict on you. With Cedric’s CIA experience, he fully understands just how to do so. You have fifteen minutes, starting now.”

  Şehzade Cağ Kebap was a quaint restaurant in the Faith district of Istanbul, Turkey. Its meats, mostly lamb, were cooked on skewers and served with lavish bread, onion, and a spicy tomato and herb salad. They were also moderately priced. The restaurant offered both a sidewalk café and secluded booths for more private dinners. Kaplan had selected the latter for his meeting with Demir.

  Demir was noted for his no-nonsense approach to getting down to business. He was most interested in the job and the timetable. He would then dictate the price for the job; there was never any dickering.

  Kaplan, wearing a simple disguise of a beard and a wig and the clothes of a moderate-income Turk, liked this simpler approach to doing business. But he certainly did not like having to be in this area of the city or to be meeting with Demir, even in disguise.

  Although law enforcement had arrested and convicted Demir several times for crimes that he had committed, he never served more than a few months in jail or paid a substantial fine. Not so surprising was the fact that Demir had never been arrested for the more serious crimes for which he was the prime suspect. Although punishment for serious crimes in Turkey can be severe, it is alleged that some prosecuting officials can be bought. Many believed that was the reason Demir’s sentences never resulted in long incarcerations.

  There were three primary reasons why Kaplan did not contract with Demir for the Hesse assassination job. First, he was Demir, who was already a known local hoodlum; second, he would have been a natural suspect; and third, the Kaplan Company would never win the rail construction bid were there a connection between the assassination and the country of Turkey. Many Germans would have suspected that the government of Turkey was involved. The job Kaplan now wanted to offer to Demir was much different in that politics could not be associated with the demise of Smart.

  From Kaplan’s perspective, this was a very simple job for Demir. After a brief exchange of greetings, Kaplan got right to the point. “I need a nosey American, currently in Germany, done away with as quickly as possible. His name is Cedric Smart and he is investigating the death of the Hesse representative. His investigation has the potential to disrupt a significant investment I have in a project in Germany. I believe him to be working out of Frankfurt and collaborating with the defense team representing the ma
n currently charged with the assassination of the representative. The man the Germans are holding is named Rouse.”

  “Let’s speak more plainly,” said Demir. “Do you want Smart dead or just run out of the country?”

  “Dead.”

  “What can you tell me about him other than that he is an experienced detective? With his background, he will not be easy to get close to. He will be very vigilant of those around him.”

  “He is believed to be an ex-CIA operative who walks with a distinct limp. If this were to be an easy job, I would not be talking to you, Demir. I need someone I can trust not to talk should something go wrong. None of what takes place can come back to me. I know you would never let that happen.”

  “You have an expensive request.”

  “Have I expressed any concerns over the cost?”

  “That is what I like about working with such an astute businessman as you. How do I find this Cedric Smart in a city of seven hundred fifty thousand people?”

  “I suggest that you first go to Karlsruhe, the public prosecutor general’s office, to find out the name of the attorney in Frankfurt who is defending Rouse. I will leave it up to you how you get the information from that office. However, I see two obvious approaches. You can go directly into the lawyer’s office and ask, or you can spend some time watching who goes in and out. An American with a distinct limp should be easy to spot. And although I’m not one to tell you how to do your job, know that I want this done quickly. The faster it is finished, the greater your compensation.”

  “Speaking of compensation, this job will cost you two hundred fifty thousand US dollars, plus expenses.”

  “If you can accomplish this job within the week, I will add an additional fifty thousand.”