As soon as the office secretary saw him, she busied herself filing, or pretending to file folders. Her back was turned, and he removed two keys, leaving the rest. Even if she saw him do it, she wouldn’t speak up, now or later.
Miklos loved when he could operate totally in the open while everyone else desperately tried to remain invisible.
WASHINGTON, DC
“Your enemy is smart,” Don Klugo declared. “If it’s a suicide mission he’ll send expendables. If it’s a political strike, he’ll have a true exit strategy for himself and everyone on his team. So you start with respect for those conspiring against you. They have scientists and chemists and all types of technical experts at their command. Never doubt that they’re deadly. Think like them. Be brave enough to make the hard decisions. Listen to your instincts and act. Better yet, prepare. Don’t ignore the signs, and keep experts on speed dial who can handle things like the CIA, the FBI, and when you need some muscle, people like me. So, who’s got a plan for a tiered approach?”
“I do,” Dan Reilly piped up. “Or at least an initial framework.”
“Let’s hear it,” the mercenary replied.
“I’ve been thinking about four categories of threat levels. Instead of numbering them, because people are often confused as to whether DEFCON 5 or 1 is the most serious, I’ve gone for a color code, much like the US approach.”
He returned to the dry erase board. “Green, Yellow, Orange, and finally Red.”
“Nope,” General Coons immediately barked.
Reilly cocked his head questioningly.
“Green. We spend our lives at traffic lights waiting for the green. Green means go. It’s an actionable word. Don’t start off confusing people.”
“Okay,” Reilly said. “White.”
“Bland. Says nothing,” Erwin, the ex-CIA director, complained.
“Blue?” Brodowski offered.
Erwin nodded.
“Okay,” Reilly said writing it on the board. “Blue will be normal. No intelligence, no apparent threats. The property is out of a critical area. But there will be a modicum of upgrades and training.”
“Like?” Chris Collins asked.
“Like staff members posted in all public areas, on two-way radios. Hell, if you can ask anyone anything when you walk into Office Depot, why don’t we equip our staff the same way? This will also encourage them to be to be more vigilant and share any suspicious activities. It’s an easy upgrade for sure.”
“Who would they report to?” the attorney followed up.
“Security at monitoring stations.”
“Not all of them are that equipped,” Tiano explained, “in terms of equipment and personnel.”
“I know. That’s another change for Blue.”
KIEV
Real weaknesses, Miklos thought. And blind spots. The few cameras that covered critical areas were caked in dust. Miklos reasoned they probably hadn’t been cleaned in years, and consequently it was easier for security to ignore them than wipe them.
WASHINGTON, DC
“Threat condition Yellow,” Reilly continued. “We trigger this alert status when intelligence returns unspecified threats to US citizens and US businesses in hot spots. The crisis management team will have the authority to advance to threat condition Yellow with consultation from our regional field president and the general manager of the hotel, but our crisis management team will have the final say. This moves all decisions above any local politics not to act.”
“Run through the basic changes to come with this increased level,” requested Tiano.
“I’ll have printouts this afternoon, Lou, but here are the key points from subtle to obvious.”
The KR chief operating executive put his pencil to paper as did his colleagues.
“First, the US flag is removed.”
There was a gasp from June Wilson.
Don Klugo cut right in. “Look, there’s a good shot you’re being targeted because you’re an American company. The flag becomes a powerful propaganda tool for terrorists. So take the fucking visual away,” the mercenary said, not mincing words.
“I got it,” Wilson replied. She returned to writing.
“Next, in relative order,” Reilly continued, “review evacuation plans, increase security patrols in public areas, be alert to suspicious persons or packages, require positive photo ID of guests at check-in, remove all large containers like waste receptacles, restrict roof access, inspect public restrooms hourly, keep meeting rooms locked when not in use, and all outside vendors must display IDs at all times.”
Reilly waited for people to catch up.
“Now even more serious procedures. All, and this means ALL suspicious packages must be treated as explosives and reported. ALL abandoned vehicles must be towed away. Protect and secure ALL water systems. ALL fuel trucks must be stopped before entering the property and not allowed to deliver until inspected and cleared and drivers’ identities confirmed. ALL engineering areas, including heating and air-conditioning plants, boiler, electrical, and pump room must be restricted. A real must. We got hit hard there in Tokyo. Secure ALL fuel supply tanks.”
“And this is just for one step elevation above normal?” Pat Brodowski asked.
Reilly answered with an unmistakable, “Yes.”
KIEV
Two minutes left on his timetable. Miklos moved on to the electrical station, but not via the basement entrance. He studied the floor plan. There was an unlocked door off the ballroom. In fact, it was worse than unlocked. It had no lock. It opened to a hall that led to a flight of stairs. Down one flight was another unlocked door to the power plant and the boilers.
WASHINGTON, DC
Coons took Brodowski’s concern a step further. “This second threat condition should be a response to actionable warnings from credible sources. As we discussed, any one of these procedures could dissuade terrorists who are putting their target report together. Seeing elevated defenses generally reduces their percentage of success. Unless …”
“Unless what?” Brodowski asked.
“The target isn’t the hotel, but someone in the hotel.”
KIEV
Miklos walked the entire power plant unseen. He had his ID and his clipboard and made appropriate notes in case he was stopped, but that never occurred. At best, someone from management might quietly offer him 13,000 hryvnia or more to ignore any issues. That would get him roughly triple in rubles or 500 in euros and US currency. He thought about whether he’d take it. Would it create more visibility or less? But what did he need easy money for? His boss had taken good care of him.
WASHINGTON, DC
The last comment silenced the room. Reilly let the thought settle, then he cleared his throat and moved onto threat condition Orange. As he saw it, the threat level included ramped up security at the swimming pools and spas, chemical tests of drinking water, checking fresh air intakes, and securing any supply louvers accessible to the public.
“I hesitate to think what Orange could possibly lay on top of these deterrents,” Brodowski said.
“Well, you’re right to use the word deterrents, because Orange moves us into more active steps,” Reilly explained. “We activate this higher condition when there are specific threats against us. That means we’ve been threatened either in media or as reported to KR through our intelligence partners. We activate when a highly controversial political figure stays at the hotel during a time of regional terrorism.”
Reilly stopped for a moment and thought about what he’d just said. A highly controversial political figure. Or as Coons had stated, “Someone in the hotel.” A name came to him, a name of one of the victims of the Tokyo attack. He wrote it down.
KIEV
The assassin decided not to take any more chances. Before leaving at just under nine minutes, he made a few more observations in the hotel lobby, more than satisfied that his work as Yarik Danko was over. He’d return as he had checked in, and then complete his stay.
A few m
ore days, he thought.
WASHINGTON, DC
“Orange goes further. Much further. Everything under Blue and Yellow plus this. June, public relations will have to plan the spin, and there’s more on your shoulders, Spike. In anticipation you’ll need to create new interactive computer programs to handle the constant flow of information and critical checks.”
“I’ve been making notes all along. I’ll need a dedicated person for a month.”
Reilly looked to Lou Tiano.
“Done,” the chief executive officer said. “Cost it out for Pat and add a contingency. I’m sure our experts here are going to up the stakes more.”
“For certain,” former CIA director Erwin added.
“Definitely,” General Coons and mercenary Klugo chimed in together.
“Back to threat condition Orange,” Reilly said, referring to his notes. “Nothing stays in storage, including luggage. And anything coming in, all arriving packages have to be inspected in the presence of the guest. No exceptions.”
Even Alan Cannon looked surprised. “That’s going to be hard.”
“Yes, I expect it will be, Alan. But there’s more. I propose that we restrict access to the hotel with guards checking all guests’ IDs. No vehicles in parking lots unless they’ve been registered and cross-referenced to guests. Barricades should be installed to restrict parking close to the building. For that we’ll have to work way in advance with local authorities. It might require a special undefined line item.”
With that comment he turned to Collins and Wilson.
“You mean … ?” the lawyer asked.
“Let’s just keep it undefined. A political contribution.”
Collins shook his head. Wilson wrote down, Contributions.
“Guys, we’ve got to be proactive,” Reilly continued. “Barriers stop cars and trucks. We didn’t have any in Tokyo. Any vehicle sitting around or abandoned has to be seen as a potential weapon.”
Reilly heard a pencil break. It was June Wilson’s. Reilly slid a sharpened replacement down the table.
Jay Reardon, the retired FBI agent, had been quiet through most of the meeting. He raised his hand.
“I understand your ongoing concern,” he said. “You don’t want to hassle guests.”
“Correct.”
“And you’re right. But trained security officers can usually distinguish between innocents and others. They can pretty well tell who’s taking harmless family shots and selfies versus pictures and selfies that are more focused on the background.”
“Thank you,” Wilson replied.
Now Reardon’s voice changed. “But it takes training. And I’m willing to bet your people aren’t trained.”
“They aren’t,” Cannon replied. “At least most of them aren’t.”
“Then get them trained fast, and by people who know what they’re doing!”
More note-taking. More money to spend. Brodowski’s list was already four pages long.
“One more on my list,” Reilly said. “At shift changes, department heads will supervise work areas to see if any suspicious boxes or packages were left.”
“Won’t that suggest that we don’t trust our own people?” Tiano wondered.
“Jakarta,” Klugo responded. “The hotel’s flower vendors planted bombs. So, to answer your question, damned straight. Trust no one. Check everything and everyone.”
“But we’re in the people business,” Wilson replied.
“Yes, you are. But now you’re also in the keeping people alive business.”
KIEV
First the badge came off. A half block later, the hat. Around the corner he took off his jacket and slung it on his arm. A few minutes later, he casually reversed the jacket and put it back on. Yarik Danko was gone. In his place was the visiting businessman, Karl Richter.
He continued walking, checking traffic patterns and the best ways to escape into the city if he needed to.
WASHINGTON, DC
“Just to be clear, we do all this and never communicate that we care about safety?” June Wilson asked.
“Correct,” replied Carl Erwin. “This is not a public relations exercise, Ms. Wilson. You let your actions speak for you.”
“He’s right,” Alan Cannon added. “We presume the bad guys are smart enough to spot our defenses. Anything that adds risk to their operation increases the possibility of their failure. Terrorists don’t like failure. It doesn’t further their cause.”
“I don’t mind saying I hate this new normal,” Wilson said.
“No one likes it,” Erwin replied. He turned to Reilly. “Now to your top threat level measures.”
“Threat condition Red,” Reilly said. “If we’d had this in place we might have averted the Tokyo attack.”
KIEV
Miklos was empowered to act if and when he was assured of success. Nothing he saw deterred him. Now, a simple one-word text to his team—five members for this assignment—confirmed the time and place of their final meeting before going mission active. The clock was running. He could almost smell death approaching.
WASHINGTON, DC
“We activate Red with a specific, serious threat toward the property, persons, or US interests in the region, particularly if the threat comes from known terrorist organizations or individuals.”
“A clarification,” General Coons offered.
“Certainly.”
“The word serious. Your crisis management team could get bogged down debating what was serious enough to activate this level. This can’t ever be misconstrued. It must be an automatic trigger based on the intel. Enough boxes checked, you go to red. No equivocation.”
“You’re right,” Reilly replied. “If and when a threat meets the minimum standards, we suddenly have ourselves a Red Hotel.”
It was the first time he used the term. It suddenly sent shivers up his spine.
KIEV
Miklos checked his watch and picked up his pace. He had to pass a man on Zhilyanskaya Street in three minutes. If he showed up on time and on the correct side of the street, it signaled all was well. If late and on the opposite side, then the mission would be scuttled. Go or no go. That simple. No coded messages at dead drops. No other intrigue than passing a man on the street.
WASHINGTON, DC
“This is the highest level,” Reilly continued. “On top of all the previous safeguards in Blue, Yellow, and Orange, threat condition Red adds mandatory hotel entrance through metal detectors for all guests, all luggage inspected in a room off the main lobby, vehicles thoroughly inspected before entry in parking lots, and IDs required for cars, trucks, drivers, and passengers. No vehicles left unattended within fifty feet. Cement bollards installed and deployed to prevent full vehicular access to the hotel.”
Reilly waited for reaction.
“Anyone have any thoughts?” he finally asked, breaking the silence.
Nothing from the KR side. They were still absorbing the steps.
“I do,” Klugo said. “Pick a city. Then let’s run through how unprepared you are today and how long it would take to implement each threat condition, including all the negatives you’d expect to find on-site. Worst case scenarios based on management egos, limited staff, local law enforcement and political relationships, and where you are with active intelligence in the region.”
“I’d like to think we’re not completely unprepared,” security chief Alan Cannon volunteered. “Dan and I have been working with our regional offices on basic preparedness and we have open dialogue with intelligence contacts.”
“Who?” snapped Chris Collins.
“Come on Chris. I worked at the FBI. I have regular conversations. And Dan was in army intelligence. He knows people.”
The retired CIA director interrupted. “Mr. Collins, there are some things you don’t want to inquire about. Suffice it to say, you’re lucky your security chief and senior international executive are not starting from zero. We’ve talked to people who are at zero. Believe me, they don’t
have a clue what’s out there. Your team is demonstrating they do.”
“Yes, but …” Collins didn’t finish the sentence.
“Maybe this will help,” Don Klugo said. “It’s a quote on a plaque I keep framed in my office. ‘It often happens that I wake at night and begin to think of a serious problem and decide I must tell the Pope about it. Then I wake up completely and remember that I am the Pope.’ Pope John XXIII said that,” he added. “And the sooner you grasp your responsibility, the more lives you’ll be able to save.”
KIEV
Miklos passed the designated man at the designated time on the designated side of the street. That man would, in turn, send an innocuous one-word text to a friend in Paris who would forward it. Two people later, it would be read with a smile in the Kremlin. Andre Miklos calculated that the message would be received by the time he’d be enjoying dinner at Goodman, by reputation, one of the best steak houses in Kiev. Tonight he’d order his meat extra rare.
30
CHICAGO, IL
KENSINGTON ROYAL HEADQUARTERS, CHICAGO
Edward Shaw read Reilly’s entire document while sitting on his office couch. Reilly watched, looking for a raised eyebrow, a cocked eye, a frown, or a nod. But Shaw telegraphed nothing. Once finished, the chief executive started again from the beginning, this time making notes.
Ten minutes later, the KR founder lifted his head and sighed. “I grew up in the fifties. It wasn’t a perfect world then. Lord knows discrimination in the South was horrible, and even here in Chicago. When we watched the news, we would see what happened yesterday, or maybe a week ago. It took that long for film to get back to the networks. I remember The Camel News Caravan with John Cameron Swayze. It was a fifteen-minute nightly news roundup sponsored by cigarettes.” He laughed. “You can be assured there was no coverage of the health hazards of cigarettes. Now we have news—or is it noise?—24-7. Endless, and half the time mindless.
RED Hotel Page 17