The Puppetmasters

  “I’m damn well going to figure out a way.”

  Now Fields was exasperated. “Just wonderful! You haven’t thought that far ahead!” he said with much sarcasm.

  “Leave that detail to me. I’ll figure it out.”

  “Do you even have any friends here who are helping you?” The consequences of a negative response were not lost on Fields. His eyes widened at the thought, and he didn’t even wait for Rashid to answer. “Oh my God! We’re all going to die!”

  “Don’t get ahead of yourself Fields! Everything’s under control. I am not without resources. Yes, I have friends. They’re just not physically present at this time.”

  “Fine! I guess since we haven’t made much progress towards a departure time, we have nothing to lose. What do we do first?”

  “I’m going to arrange for a dinner for you, Kendall, and the Shazeb family … and me, of course. It will be two nights hence.”

  “Why? How will that help us?”

  Rashid was impatient. “If you’d let me finish,” he spat out through clenched teeth.”

  “You will tell Shazeb how frustrating it all has been, but that you and Saaqib have isolated two viruses and detected several malware strings or whatever computer maladies you can think of. Saaqib will beam and naturally take credit. He will never admit that he wasn’t watching you at all times. You must let President Shazeb see how clever you are that it has all been cleaned up and removed. But then tell him that his systems are not operating at an optimum level, and he needs to upgrade his mainframes.”

  He paused and made sure Fields was listening. “Here’s the critical part. You then tell him that the current system is being stressed and could lose functionality at any time. Today, start dropping hints of this to Saaqib.”

  “Won’t that piss President Shazeb off?”

  Rashid nodded. “Exactly! That’s what we’re going for. Between you, Kendall, his sons, and a lot of drinking, we are going to push him over the edge.”

  “God help me!”

  “God help all of us!”

  Just then Saaqib strode in and, catching sight of Rashid and Fields in conversation, grinned and remarked, “You two plotting the overthrow of the country?”

  Rashid got up slowly, laughed, and went to Saaqib, giving him a brotherly hug. “Oh, Saaqib, how I’ve missed you these past few days!”

  “Few days? We haven’t spent any time together in weeks. Have you spent all of that time with the American woman?” Saaqib winked.

  Rashid felt sick at the inference but buried it. He gave Saaqib’s arm a light punch. “You old dog! Leave it to you to blame the females.”

  Saaqib was pleased at the reference to his coarse reputation. Rashid continued, “Where have you been, or should I ask if you have a new conquest?”

  “Rashid, I am a married man, devoted to my wife.”

  “But?”

  Saaqib was perturbed at the probe and chose to view it as good-natured banter. It abruptly entered his mind that Rashid might be wondering how long Fields was left alone. He ushered Rashid from the room and out of the hearing of Paul Fields. “I, uh, I haven’t been gone long, you know. I would never leave this man alone with our systems unprotected like this.”

  Rashid nodded good-naturedly and assured him that he had only just arrived.

  “Ahhh! So, you were looking for me?”

  Rashid raised his eyebrows, “Who else would I be looking for?”

  Saaqib laughed nervously. “Of course.”

  Rashid continued smoothly. “I’m planning a celebratory dinner for two nights from now. Let’s get the whole family—children included—and the Orion people.”

  Saaqib nodded. “Great! A party. What’s the occasion?”

  “I’ve just missed all of you and the children.”

  “And why do we need to include the Orion people?”

  “Well, it’s just Paul Fields and Kendall Radcliffe. I have spent a lot of time with Kendall in the past couple weeks. She is sad that she is not home. She misses her mother and friends. I have come to really like her, and I think you would like her too.” Rashid poked Saaqib in the chest, his eyes twinkling. Rashid was quite alarmed and even nauseous at the debauched look that could be seen in Saaqib’s eyes.

  “Really, me?”

  “Yes, she has your wit. I think you two would hit it off great! So, how about it? Are you on for the party?

  Saaqib was positively salivating. “Absolutely! We’ll all be there. Do you need my help?”

  “No, as a matter of fact. Kendall is apparently quite a good cook and has been wanting to bake something in the palace kitchen. She’s planning the menu with the palace chef.

  “Saaqib clapped his hands together. “Well, this should be interesting! Count me in, brother!”

  Rashid was quite pleased with the exchange. He knew right where to find the younger brother, Ahmad. Rashid had been avoiding him. Ahmad was quite intelligent and with little thought would figure out what was going on with his ferret-like senses.

  As usual, Ahmad was in the nearby barracks browbeating some new recruits. He was demonstrating the proper stance for hand-to-hand combat and encouraging the men to be quite physical with each other. Rashid was furious. He could see that a couple of the men were hurt. They were feigning enthusiasm but hung back from the crowd. He was glad he was interrupting.

  Ahmad was pleased to see Rashid. He greeted him and said, “Come look, brother, at the new recruits. Do you think they’ll give me a challenge?”

  “No way! If I know you, you’ll have them in shape by sundown!”

  “Ha! You know it!”

  Ahmad barked an order at the young recruits for vigorous courtyard exercise under his second-in-command and walked a few steps away with Rashid.

  “What is it, my brother? I haven’t seen you here in days.”

  “You and Saaqib! I didn’t know you were that interested in my boring daily duties as ordered by your father.”

  “Not interested in the least. Better you than me, taking orders from the old man. Just wait until I’m in charge.”

  “Whoa there, Ahmad. You’re getting ahead of yourself. Saaqib is older. Maybe he will be the chosen successor.”

  Ahmad shoved Rashid playfully but none too lightly either. There was a scheming gleam in his eyes. “Not if I have anything to say about it.” He looked as if he knew something that no one else did.

  Rashid wasn’t sure he should recognize it out loud. “Eh?”

  “Well, I’m just saying that you never know what might happen. Anyway, whose side are you on?”

  “Ahmad, I love both my brothers equally! You have been my friends since childhood. Please don’t ask me to choose.”

  “Fair enough, Rashid, but one day you just might have to choose.” His eyes narrowed as he focused on Rashid. He lowered his voice, and Rashid stepped closer to hear. “And I know you’ll choose wisely.”

  “Oh, Ahmad, don’t talk of such unpleasantness. I have news!”

  With that segue, Rashid explained the plans for dinner. Ahmad wasn’t about to miss anything his brother and father might also be involved in. The younger brother readily agreed to the dinner plans. After a few more jokes, Rashid excused himself, citing the need to speak to the president and then the kitchen staff. Ahmad sent him on his way, laughing at the menial tasks Rashid often undertook.

  Rather than feel sorry for Rashid, Ahmad instead was very glad that he was the actual son of President Shazeb. Yes, Ahmad was quite fond of Rashid and even preferred him over the older brother, Saaqib. But Ahmad knew that Rashid would never be president. He was not part of the Shazeb birth lineage. All that stood in Ahmad’s way was his older brother. Ahmad constantly looked for ways he could undermine his older sibling. He just kept watching and waiting, biding his time until the moment arrived. He wasn’t sure what he would do, but he would be ready and seize the opportunity.

  Ahmad had done everything he could to point out to his father how emotionally immature and unstable Saaq
ib was. Of course, all of it was true, but Ahmad fit under those labels as well. Ahmad was just better at hiding it. He could see how angry his father got when he heard of Saaqib’s latest exploit. The two brothers were actually very similar in intellectual capacity. But Ahmad was wiser … only to the extent that he rarely got caught. Saaqib didn’t even try to hide his brutal and sexually sadistic proclivities from his father. Ahmad, on the other hand, always considered the time and place … and most importantly, the audience. He knew how to play to those present. If the father was in attendance, Ahmad was on his best behavior … showing just enough viciousness tinged with civility and wisdom to earn his father’s respect.

  The only difference between the two sons was shrewdness. Ahmad was clever and Saaqib wasn’t. To make matters worse, Saaqib wasn’t intuitive enough to recognize what his brother was doing. He was too busy brutalizing women, playing with the country’s data systems, and feeling more important because he was older and in charge of the infrastructure, the very heart and soul of Afghanistan. He made the erroneous, if not naïve, assumption that the mantle of leadership would fall to him naturally because of birth order. He was caught up with self-importance and exploited the none-too-little power that was afforded him in his position.

  It was only a matter of time before a decisive event fractured this family for good.

  Rashid didn’t want to be far away when this happened. He wasn’t sure how it would come about, but he had no doubt that it would … and very soon. The fires of hatred, ambition, and lust for power had been stoked. The only remaining component was the metaphorical spark. Rashid planned to provide that during the dinner, with Kendall’s help.

  Lastly, he went in search of President Shazeb. Rashid found him on the phone, where he had just been told that this latest crop of poppies looked to be the largest harvest ever. He motioned for Rashid to enter and close the door. Shazeb continued his phone conversation … ordering the raw material, a brownish-black gum that had been bundled into bricks, to be delivered to the morphine refinery outside of Jalalabad some ninety miles to the east. He was informed that the sap was still being collected and milked from the poppies. The deliveries were being made to the refinery on a rotating basis and would continue for the next week.

  The first kilos of manufactured heroin would soon be ready for transportation through Pakistan via Khyber Pass to the southeast of Karachi on the Arabian Sea. The transshipment arrangements had been made, and the appropriate local officials in Pakistan and along the Indus River bribed. A cargo ship was now on its way to the rendezvous point at Port Qasim outside of Karachi and would arrive in three days.

  Transshipping through Port Qasim, where the opium was loaded onto the cargo ship, was always the trickiest to negotiate. This time, Shazeb readily agreed to the local demands. He thought he was quite generous, given the profits he would soon be enjoying. But he made it clear to the Port Authority official that this was a one-time “gift,” because at the moment he had other pressing business to attend to; but that if this unreasonably high demand was made on future Port business, there would not be a good outcome. Shazeb’s partners and middlemen were well aware of his penchant for violence and retribution. They would not press their luck next time.

  The president was in a great mood. Business was going well and his sons were not at each other’s throats. He owed much of the good will to Rashid. He kept the peace between the sons and enlightened the father on a routine basis.

  Shazeb looked at Rashid appreciatively. “Ah, my son, Rashid. How is my blessed son today?”

  Rashid explained that he was organizing a dinner, and Shazeb heartily approved. Given the tens of millions of dollars he was about to reap from his current harvest of poppies, he was ready to celebrate. He didn’t even mind that the Orion people were being included. It was high time he browbeat Fields on the state of Afghanistan’s computer infrastructure and that perceived issue of unknown eyes and ears having access to Afghanistan confidential business. He understood when explained about Kendall’s homesickness and anxiety, and even managed to find a spark of guilt at being the source of her current predicament. He thought it would be very interesting and entertaining to have Kendall work with the kitchen staff to prepare the meal.

  He even thought that perhaps Kendall could be persuaded to stay on permanently. She would make a perfect third wife for him, having lost his first wife to the great fire that also took Rashid’s family. Shazeb had quickly remarried a young woman who promptly provided him with two girls. But he had not been blessed with any more sons. He reasoned that Kendall might be able to produce sons. He wasn’t so sure that either of his grown sons were the men he intended them to be. Shazeb shuddered at the thought of either Saaqib or Ahmad leading the nation once he was gone. He figured that Kendall’s surprise presence on the Orion plane was providential. She was a gift to him, and he would acknowledge that gift wholeheartedly. He knew he would have to deal with an angry wife, but she would fall in line … just like the rest of Shazeb’s family once he issued an important edict.

  He sent Rashid away with his blessing to prepare an evening that would be memorable to all in attendance. Rashid headed to the family’s quarters and felt a slight unease at what lay before him in the next few days. The more he pondered the future, the more nauseous he became.

  He finally arrived at the kitchen, one of his favorite rooms in the palace. It was bright and warm and smelled of fresh naan and a gentle, simmering, and fragrant lamb and vegetables for the evening meal. He vowed to put his anxieties aside and focus on the day’s events. The Head Chef, Taheem, was very happy to see him and greeted him like a son. They bantered back and forth for a few minutes as Rashid inquired after his wife and children. Then he explained the purpose of his visit.

  Normally, the fastidious Taheem didn’t let anyone interfere in the preparations of the meal. He knew how diabolical the Shazeb men were. Without the slightest provocation they would cut a member of the household staff down. Taheem had never given them a reason to. Instead, he had gone out of his way to cook succulent meals for the family and special treats for the children. His yema dessert was their favorite.

  Rashid explained that he would speak with Kendall and find out what ingredients were needed from the market. Taheem and his staff would go to the Kabul market the next day. But Rashid made it very clear this was a celebration, and that there should be several selections of wine for dinner. Even the older children would be allowed to have a glass.

  They discussed the seating arrangements and theme.

  Finally, an exhausted but triumphant Rashid went in search of Kendall. Of course, he knew where she was. He had left her alone now for three hours while he ran around locating people and arranging the upcoming evening affair. Given her state of mind the last time he left her alone for a couple hours, he was wondering in what emotional state he would find her this time. Well, either way, he knew that as soon as he explained the gravity of the next few days and the demands that would be placed on her for the dinner event and beyond, she could make things very difficult for him … for all of them. Did he know her as well as he thought, he asked himself? Yes, and that’s precisely why he was nervous about facing her now.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  MOSSAD DIRECTOR ZIMMERMAN SAT AT his desk at home that evening, pondering his next move. He was steeling himself for the story he was about to recite. Lying was a part of his business, and he accepted that. But it took its toll. One had to be on the highest alert to keep track of the false information being imparted. Further, if he spoke with an associate of the first recipient of lies, he had better remember what was said, or his fabrications—and by association, his character—would be called into question. Within the international intelligence community, though, lying and deceit was not surprising and actually was quite necessary. Still, a measure of loyalty and integrity was expected among “friends.”

  In this instance, Zimmerman had known his CIA “friend” for over ten years. He considered her a
worthy counterpart. They had worked together on many investigations and had jointly solved several of the most high-profile cases that had them traveling together and spending a great deal of time pursuing the same elusive suspects.

  He sighed as he picked up his phone. This time it couldn’t be helped. He had to deceive his “friend” and even possibly make a fool of her. It was in Israel’s best interest. But it would surely cost him the friendship. There would be no going back. The days of old would be gone. They would no longer share information and insight once the full details came out. Zimmerman would be despised as a traitor to the intelligence community, and he would have trouble seeking favors in the future. He was not in the least naïve. He knew that this would be his last assignment. He would need to move on from leading this team. All of the good will he had so carefully cultivated would be gone in a flash.

  But he perked up at the thought that he might even be named to a ministerial position within the popular Israeli party currently in power. If this mission was as successful as he dared hope, nothing would be out of reach for him. He could name his price … and position, for he would be held in the highest esteem. Even his counterparts around the world would be in awe of his success and daring.

  He was startled out of his reverie by the beeping of the phone line. He drew a deep breath and made the call.

  “Candace Lawrence,” a cool voice intoned over the line.

  “Good morning, Candace, this is Ben. How the hell are you?”

  Candace sat up in her chair. She detected an ever-so-slight edge of nervousness in Ben’s voice. Since she had never heard this from him before in all their years of working together, her senses were immediately on high alert. She hit the record button that would save the conversation permanently to the archives. This was hardly ever done, but something told her this would be an appropriate time.

  She cleared her throat and tried to sound nonchalant. She was a master at the art of appearing composed when she was actually anything but. She shook an errant wavy black tendril from her eye and continued. “Oh, I’m fine. As a matter of fact, I’m having a little down time at the moment and am planning on taking a much-needed vacation in the next couple weeks.”