Off Reservation

by Bram Connolly

  ‘I can’t go outside these gates, not without Major Faruk. Can you imagine what would happen if we end up having a standoff with the police – or, worse, the military? Use your brains, Rachel. We don’t need to start a war with Turkey.’

  ‘There’s probably a bit more at stake here than our international reputation, Glyn. Do I need to remind you that we are trying to recover a nuclear weapon?’

  ‘Don’t be condescending, Rachel.’ He took in a deep breath. ‘It doesn’t suit you. I know only too well what’s at stake – and that’s why I’m not going without Major Faruk.’

  The two of them stood looking at each other in silence.

  Rachel turned to watch the activity behind her; the SBS operators were busy changing over their equipment and readying themselves for a vehicle operation. Rachel realised that Glyn must have already issued orders in the helicopters on the way back to the warehouse. She gave herself a mental shake. Glyn was right: this was just a setback. These guys were Britain’s finest and it would take a lot more than this to stop the SBS from completing their mission.

  ‘Listen,’ Glyn said, ‘once Faruk gets here we will deploy. And this time we’ll go in heavy. I’ll request a Turkish military cordon a mile around the hotel. We’ll go in using gasmasks, CS and stun grenades, the works. I will search every inch of that hotel and every building around it until we either have him or are satisfied that he’s gone. We’ll get the CCTV footage from every camera in the vicinity and all around; I’ll leave no stone unturned and we’ll do the intelligence work necessary to track him down. This isn’t the end, Rachel. He won’t get out of Istanbul on my watch, and he won’t make a fool of me again.’

  ‘Is this about the nuclear weapon, or is it personal now?’ she asked, without turning to look at him.

  ‘Damn right it’s personal.’ Glyn took his arms out of his flight suit and tied the sleeves around his waist. ‘Speaking of personal, let’s go talk to that Rix guy. It’s time we had a no crap conversation, find out what he knows about Faisal Khan and see what other information he might have.’

  Rachel led the way across the warehouse to the lunchroom on the other side. She wasn’t looking forward to explaining to Matt how Khan had made fools of her team.

  She opened the door and took a step in. ‘That’s strange,’ she said, looking around. ‘They’re not here.’

  Glyn moved past her to the table.

  ‘Well, they can’t be far away; this mug is still warm.’

  ‘Sir, one of the hire cars is gone,’ said Bluey from behind them.

  Glyn looked at Rachel. ‘Looks like our boy has gone out on his own.’

  ‘I’m not surprised,’ she said, trying to hide her smile.

  Glyn took his phone from the leg pocket of his flight suit. ‘I’ll ring Major Faruk, see how long he’s going to be. I’ll try to speed him up if I can.’ Glyn punched out a number on the phone and put it to his ear, walking back into the main warehouse as it began to ring.

  ‘I’m sorry about all this, ma’am.’

  ‘So am I, Bluey. We should have wrapped this up back in the alley.’

  ‘This reminds me of a job we did back in Northern Ireland in the early nineties. There was this bomber; he’d set fire to stolen cars and then blow up our lads and the emergency services personnel who responded. We caught him by stealing a car ourselves and planting it in a location that gave us an advantage. Sure enough, word got around and his network told him there was a stolen car up on the estate. He arrived to set the bomb and one of our snipers shot him in the head. Job done, simple as that.’

  ‘Jesus, that’s a bit brutal.’

  ‘That’s war. But my point is not to always be on the back foot. Sometimes, rather than all this responding, you just need to initiate something on your own terms.’

  ‘How does that help me here, Bluey?’

  ‘Maybe it doesn’t, ma’am. My job is just to point these things out. But, you know what, ma’am, I think that our Australian friend knows the moral of that story. He seems to be doing things on his terms now.’ Bluey smiled at her and for the first time she understood the pressure he was under; providing counsel to Glyn and keeping him in line while also looking after the welfare of his men. He had a massive responsibility and she was grateful for the advice.

  ‘Thanks, Bluey.’

  ‘You’re welcome, ma’am.’

  Rachel left the small lunchroom and climbed the rusted steel stairs up to what was once the foreman’s office. Inside, the small group of MI6 and SBS intelligence analysts were busy typing away on computers and leaning over printed documents laid out on the trestle tables, trying to find something, anything, that might lead them to Faisal Khan or the weapon.

  She walked past them to the small room down the back where she had set up her own computer. Bringing up Skype she dialled the most recent number of the office back in London, checking that her security token was making the call secure as she waited for the connection.

  ‘Rachel, hi – what’s the news? Have you got it?’

  ‘Hi, Sandra. No, not yet.’ Rachel noted that Sandra was wearing her dark suit jacket, clothing that she usually would only wear to Whitehall or highly important meetings. ‘The last lead was us being played by the Afghan. We’ve regrouped and the operators are going back into Sultanahmet shortly.’

  ‘He’s sneaky, isn’t he? But we knew that from the IED in the alley. He can’t get far on his own, though, not with the weapon configured like it is. The airports have all been warned and we have agents and ‘friends’ with detection capabilities watching all the trains and ports. It’s amazing the people who offer to help when they think they might be implicated in the loss of a nuke.’

  Rachel sighed. ‘You’re right. I’d feel a lot more comfortable if we actually had it in our possession though.’

  ‘Of course, that goes without saying, I guess. So, in other news, I checked out the name you gave me.’

  ‘What?’ Rachel sat up straight, all attention.

  ‘My contact at the CIA says that Steph Baumer no longer works for them. In fact, she hasn’t worked for them since 2010. Apparently, she brought the agency into disrepute. There was an incident in Afghanistan and my source said that she endangered multiple human intelligence sources. There was a closed hearing and she was formally disciplined then released from service. No one even knows her whereabouts.’

  ‘That is interesting. So, she isn’t in Italy?’

  ‘No. I asked about the base you mentioned, and they’re adamant that there has been no base on Mount Cimone since the end of the Cold War. They actually laughed at me when I asked about it.’

  ‘That can’t be right. I mean, why would he lie to me?’

  ‘Rachel, I think it’s time you accepted that Rix isn’t exactly what he seems. In fact, I think he’s quite possibly delusional. He has a long history with Faisal Khan, right? Khan escaped from prison and Rix decided to go after him, it’s as simple as that. He’s been sacked from his job back in Australia, probably because of PTSD and his obsession with Khan. He probably made the whole CIA thing up on the spot when you confronted him. It’s just a coincidence that Khan is mixed up in this and you chanced across Rix because of it. Nothing more – certainly not some American conspiracy masterminded by a CIA station chief in Italy.’

  ‘Oh my God. He’s nuts? Is that what you’re saying?’

  ‘It seems that way. You weren’t to know. And let’s face it, I shouldn’t lecture you about bad choices when it comes to men.’ Sandra looked at Rachel sympathetically. ‘Anyway, we need to discuss succession planning when you get back. There’s not enough of us modern female spies and I need you to make a choice soon; I’m not getting any younger, you know.’

  Rachel stared at the grey wall behind the computer screen.

  ‘Rachel?’

  ‘Sorry, it’s just – oh, I’m such a fool.’

  ‘Rachel, what I am saying is that you need to get that weapon. Then, I think it’s time you stepped up and went ful
ly clandestine. You topped your induction and skills courses and you’ve done a great job here at Global Pursuit these past few years. This is your moment now. Forget about Rix. You need to do everything in your power to recover that nuke. If you’re successful, the sky is the limit for you.’

  ‘I understand, Sandra.’ Rachel focused hard on the computer monitor.

  ‘Get the job done, then go clandestine for a while, come back and take my job and then I can retire. Milton won’t wait forever for you to step up, Rachel. He’ll look elsewhere if you’re not ready.’ Rachel leaned back in her chair and thought about what she had achieved in the past. Then she thought about Matt. Could Sandra be right? Was Matt delusional? ‘I just don’t know if I’m ready to be Jane Bond,’ she said aloud. ‘I’m not sure it’s the right time.’

  ‘There’s never a right time. Look, I have to go now – we have an update on Syria in a few minutes and I have to get some things together. Turns out the Russians want to use the situation as an extension of their own foreign policy, and the Americans are readying the 3rd Ranger Regiment to roll into Raqqa. It’s all a bit of a mess. Keep me updated on events there today as you go.’ Sandra waved goodbye and the screen went blank.

  Rachel crossed her legs and scanned the small room. Tapping her fingers on the desk for a moment, she looked back at the pattern of her relationship with Matt. She slammed her hand on the desk. How on earth had she wasted so much time on him? She jumped up. ‘Let’s finish this,’ she said to herself.

  29

  ISTANBUL

  ‘Just pull the car up anywhere down this street.’ Matt pointed to the turn-off coming up on the right-hand side. ‘We can park down here and do our final recon from a few streets back.’

  ‘No worries, Matt.’ Todd changed down the gears of the Fiat sedan and turned into the small laneway that ran down the hill away from the old town.

  ‘Jesus, there are a lot of police cars around,’ JJ observed from the back seat. ‘What do you suppose that’s about?’

  ‘Yeah, there’s certainly a lot more than usual,’ Matt agreed. ‘No sirens though, which is strange.’ He turned in the passenger seat to face JJ. ‘Another coup, perhaps?’

  ‘Imagine that: trapped in Istanbul with a crazy Afghan running around with a nuclear weapon during a coup. Not an optimal holiday, thanks, boss.’

  Todd pulled the vehicle in behind a small delivery van. The street was quiet, as it was mostly the back entrances for the hotels on the larger road, plus some restaurants and a bookshop. A handful of men sat out the front of their businesses on old crates, smoking cigarettes and drinking Turkish coffee. They paid the foreigners no notice.

  ‘Okay, lads, here’s the plan. I’ll go around to the front of the hotel and make entry through the main door. Give me ten minutes, and then you guys head around the back. Scope out the fire escape around there and see if you can climb across onto his balcony. If it’s unlocked, make entry at exactly fifteen minutes from when we set our watches – on the dot! That will be the same time as I go in the front. If it’s locked, put the outdoor furniture through the window, go noisy. The distraction will help me to get in and close on him. Either way, one of us will distract him from the other.’

  ‘Classic.’ JJ smiled. ‘I hope it’s locked.’

  ‘Of course you do. Alright, let’s all set watches and get moving.’ Matt counted down from ten seconds and the three men all set their stop watches at exactly the same time. ‘Try not to use those weapons if you can help it; I’m not all that comfortable with the fact that you even took them.’

  Todd and JJ both smiled.

  ‘Ah, they had plenty,’ said JJ carelessly. ‘I don’t think they’ll notice a couple of handguns missing.’

  Matt shook his head in mock admonishment. ‘Okay, I’ll see you up there then.’

  He watched as the two other men started off down the hill, and then he turned to head back to the main road. The hotel was a couple of streets up and it wouldn’t take that long for him to get there. He strolled slowly, keeping an eye out in case Faisal Khan was on the move.

  Matt got to the corner and looked down the street; it was deserted and the streetlights had just started to come on. The lighting bathed the hotel in a soft orange glow. Matt had to decide whether to enter through the reception area and take the elevator, or use the fire stairs like he had on the first day. In the end, he opted for the elevator. He stepped in from the cold. The heavy glass door closed loudly behind him. There was no one at the reception desk. Matt continued on towards the two golden and purple velvet armchairs near the elevator and then sat down. Taking out his phone, he pretended to be engrossed in a message, but in reality he was killing time to allow Todd and JJ the chance to get into position. He watched the foyer discretely in the mirror hanging on the wall. Checking his watch, he slowly stood up and moved towards the elevator, pressing the button to call it down. He looked down at the ground, but kept his situational awareness, monitoring for anyone who might enter or be moving around in the foyer.

  The elevator doors opened and he got in.

  Leaving the lift at Khan’s floor, he checked his watch again. Matt took the circuit board from his jacket pocket and located the small hole in the electronic lock. He checked the time; twenty seconds to go. A noise came from within the room – a crashing sound and then some inaudible shouting. Matt pulled his t-shirt up and over the Heckler & Koch pistol that sat in the paddle holster in the front of his pants. He checked his watch again and waited then made entry. The door lock clicked open and Matt dropped the electronic circuit board at his feet. He pushed hard on the unlocked door, drawing the H&K as he took three quick steps into the hall.

  Someone fired twice. The first round slammed into the doorframe making Matt flinch and the second hit him under his extended right arm, in his armpit and through the back of his shoulder.

  ‘Ah, fuck!’ Matt dropped the pistol, then, realising his predicament, dived through the open bathroom door to his right, slamming it shut and locking it. With his good arm, he pulled down the shower curtain rail and jammed it hard between the door and the sink.

  His assailant fired twice through the closed door and then three more times.

  Matt dived into the bathtub and curled up, making himself as small a target as possible. That did not go to plan at all, he thought. Looking around for an escape route, he noticed that one of the panels in the ceiling was slightly ajar. That’s my exit, he thought.

  His assailant was now trying to kick open the door. Fortunately, it held firm, just. Matt heard him yell out to someone else in the room.

  It was time to move. Matt jumped up onto the toilet cistern and smashed the ceiling panel with the palms of both hands. It lifted and then fell back into place. He winced. The pain in his right shoulder was intense. He glanced across in the mirror and saw the large red patch on his back from where the bullet must have exited. There was a huge kick at the door behind him and it folded in and then out again. Matt smashed again on the roof. This time the panel flew up and into the cavity above it. Ignoring the searing pain as best he could, he grabbed the metal beams and did a muscle-up into the ceiling. He tried to kip himself up and heard the door exploding against the wall just below his feet from the force of a kick on the other side.

  Matt hefted himself further up into the ceiling, kicking his legs frantically to get his body up over the last little bit. He could see up into the cavity and looked around for where he would go. Down the far end he could just make out a metal case.

  ‘Well, well, Faisal you crafty bastard,’ Matt said to himself.

  Suddenly he felt huge hands grasp his ankles and he was pulled down to the floor like a child’s toy, hitting his head on the way down and passing out cold.

  ...

  ‘Got ya!’ screamed Brutali.

  ‘Move out the way and I’ll put a bullet in him,’ said Hassan from the doorway.

  ‘No, I have a better idea,’ said the brute.

  Holding his captive down by his
neck in the bath with one hand, Brutali put the plug in with the other and then turned the taps on full. The water rushing over his head and injured shoulder brought the injured man back to consciousness. Drawing a breath in he got a lungful of water and started to cough and choke.

  Brutali laughed.

  ...

  On the balcony, Todd and JJ were trying to work out how to get through the heavy glass sliding doors. Not only were they locked, but there was no outdoor furniture with which to smash the glass. Khan had clearly taken the precaution of moving it inside.

  ‘What the hell do we do now?’ Todd said.

  ‘We go through the front too,’ JJ replied.

  The pair climbed down the fire stairs at the back. They made their way through the small courtyard and then sprinted up the access stairwell on the side of the building, getting off on the third floor.

  They ran down the corridor, looking for room 313.

  ‘That one!’ JJ pointed to the door of Khan’s room.

  Todd took a run-up and smashed his shoulder into it – only to bounce off.

  JJ laughed. ‘Allow me.’ The big sergeant took four huge steps and threw himself against the door. He reared back, holding his shoulder. ‘That’s metal – it looks like wood. Jesus, who does that?’

  The two men tried smashing the door together, but even with their combined weight they didn’t make a dent.

  ‘What was that?’ said Todd, in response to a sound coming from within the room.

  ‘Sounded like Matt yelling something,’ said JJ.

  ‘JJ, we need to get in there – fast.’ Todd pulled out the pistol he’d recently liberated from the SBS equipment pile.

  ‘What exactly are you going to do with that then?’

  ‘I don’t know – shoot the lock off, I guess,’ said Todd.

  ‘Bad idea. It’s metal and you’re more than likely going to end up shooting one of us.’ JJ looked around for a fire extinguisher or something else with which to batter the door. As his eyes scanned the carpet, something drew his attention.