Wilco- Lone Wolf 22

by Geoff Wolak

  ‘The cartels have lost out to us in recent weeks and months, and they behave like children. Their attacks on the border will achieve nothing, yet they think they should at least try and strike back at us. You might see a car bomb or two in California. The police there need to be vigilant.’

  The next journalist asked, ‘Should our citizens return to Cancun?’

  ‘I would say yes, the Mexicans need the money to pay for their police, not least because some of their officers are actually awake and on duty more than an hour a day.’

  Looks were exchanged, smiles hidden, eyebrows raised.

  ‘Major, do you think the Mexican Government is doing enough?’

  ‘There will always be a drugs trade, and the blame cannot be put on America. The Mexicans need to sort out their own problems through education and jobs, and a change of attitude amongst the populace. In many countries of the world the cartels would not be tolerated by the general populace.

  ‘Take a look at Panama. The people there had suffered for many years with drug trafficking, but now have a collective attitude against the gangs and people traffickers. Mexico could learn from Panama.’

  ‘Major, what’s happening on the ground in Kosovo?’

  ‘My men are in Kosovo, along with American Wolves, and the teams are recording attacks against civilians by both sides. At the moment … it’s fair to say that both sides are as bad as each other, and that neither side could claim the moral high ground.’

  ‘Major, does Iraq support al-Qa’eda?’

  ‘No, never. Saddam Hussein runs a tight ship and won’t allow any dissident or terrorist groups on his soil, he would shoot them.’

  ‘Who does support al-Qa’eda?’ she slipped in.

  ‘Money for al-Qa’eda does not come from any known government, but rather it comes from rich benefactors in the Gulf area, religious extremists. Al-Qa’eda was set-up by the Saudis and your CIA, to fight the Russians in Afghanistan. When Russia withdrew from Afghanistan the members of al-Qa’eda had nothing to do, so instead of getting a day job they turned to terrorism, radical Islamic rhetoric used.’

  ‘Major, what’s the Iranian involvement with al-Qa’eda, and were al-Qa’eda men on the ship Evanco II?’

  ‘The Iranians hate al-Qa’eda, since it was a Saudi organisation, and it has caused problems on the Iranian border. Al-Qa’eda gets no support from the Iranians whatsoever, they hate each other. As for the ship’s crew, we have intel that suggests an al-Qa’eda team was on board, yes.’

  ‘So there is a link to the Middle East, Major?’

  ‘If I pay a South African mercenary to shoot you, is there a link to South Africa? No. Does al-Qa’eda want to strike at you – yes. Are they in contact with cartels? We have no evidence of that, but we do have evidence that Lone Wolf al-Qa’eda teams were hired by the FBI mob.

  ‘Keep in mind that al-Qa’eda has no foreign government backing them, they’re a loose bunch of individuals that often bicker amongst themselves.’

  ‘Major, do you see a military solution to the cartels?’

  ‘No, definitely not, since they would just hide in the population and wait till an army left the streets. It’s a job for the CIA and DEA, when the DEA agents can be trusted that is.’

  ‘You don’t think the DEA can be trusted?’

  ‘DEA agents rub shoulders with drug dealers, large piles of cash on offer. Anyone would be tempted, and a few were tempted.’

  ‘Major, would soldiers on the border stop the drugs trade?’

  ‘No, definitely not. Only a small portion of the drugs are carried across your border. Most comes by plane or ship, or in a truck at an official border crossing.’

  ‘Major, what’s your view on our military assistance budget to Central America, and the war on drugs?’

  I had to wonder if this guy was a plant. ‘A complete and utter waste of money, destined to be stashed away in some Swiss bank. American taxpayers’ money should not be spent on champagne, drugs and hookers.’

  ‘Major, what’s the answer to controlling the gangs in Central America?’

  ‘The new CIA narco team is your best bet, so let them take the gloves off and do the job – with my team’s assistance. We already have ideas and plans on the table, and those plans involve finding a few people, sitting them down with a nice cup of tea – then shooting the bastards.’

  They laughed, some eyebrows raised.

  ‘Major, what do you mean by take the gloves off?’

  ‘In the past, various CIA managers and directors have been cautious about breaking rules and laws in the fight against the cartels. That’s like boxing with one hand tied behind your back.

  ‘The cartels were ready to poison millions of Americans, sink your aircraft carriers and shoot down airliners. Enough pissing about, it’s time you got tough with them, and Congress needs to support that.

  ‘An undercover CIA agent needs to be as bad as the people around him, and to do that he may have to rape and kill to maintain his cover.

  ‘Unfortunately, such actions are forbidden by your laws, so you have very little penetration of the cartels, and could never infiltrate someone like the Lobos Cartel. That would take years, and many tattoos on a man’s body. By not having such deep cover agents you risk massive loss of life in the future.

  ‘The Israelis would do it differently, and their deep cover agents would kill children and eat them to maintain their cover, and that saves lives and prevents terror attacks. Your nice laws and your civilised society is making it impossible for you to protect your citizens.’

  ‘Major, what’s the solution to that problem?’

  ‘You need an amnesty package for your deep cover agents, so that they’re not prosecuted for playing a role like an actor on a stage. If someone wants to test your agent’s loyalty by having him shoot a rival gang member, then your agent needs to do that without hesitation – not worry about the police back here.

  ‘I’ve seen hesitation in your CIA directors, and criticism of some of our undercover agents, but we got the results and we stopped the attacks. Will your Congress weigh up a few broken rules against a million dead Americans? An amnesty package is needed, and needed soon.’

  ‘Major, would you break the rules and laws?’ It was a cheeky question.

  ‘I would, when necessary. If it’s my career at stake verses a carrier sunk, four thousand sailors dead, I’ll throw away my career and sit in prison, no need to see which way the weighing scales tip. I can count.’

  ‘That’s all for now, thank you,’ the man said as he led me out.

  Back in the Oval Office the President began, smiling, ‘We liked it. You’re a sneaky shit, Major.’

  ‘Thank you, sir,’ I mocked.

  ‘Do the CIA hold back?’ the Vice President asked,

  ‘Fuck yes,’ I told him. ‘Always looking worried, always cautious. Israelis would have dealt with the cartels by now.’

  ‘I’ll look at this amnesty thing,’ the President offered. ‘But how would it work?’

  ‘In two parts, sir. One, you give a deep cover agent permission to break any law he likes, within reason, knowing that sat back here in an independent lawyer’s office is his amnesty, but that it comes with a review of what he did, why, and what the results were. If he raped and killed without clear justification he goes to prison, but if he kills for good reason and it nets a result then he gets his amnesty, or part of it.’

  ‘Should be straight forwards enough,’ the President noted. ‘We already have deals like that, and drug gang members who turn state’s evidence get such deals.’

  ‘CIA are afraid of Congress, and they need to be more aggressive, or … or I do it my way and they don’t need to be.’

  ‘Your way?’

  ‘I can recruit Mexicans, sir, arrange payment and training with no track back.’

  ‘That would be better, yes,’ they all agreed.

  I was soon on my way to a hotel, the Four Seasons, but I figured that my Secret Service detail would get
me in and past any silly questions. I rode with my mask on, a bit of a giveaway to any sharp-eyed assassin hanging about on the cold Washington streets.

  At the hotel, many people on the pavement, I was shouted to and waved at as they ushered me in, and now the weapons manufacturers would know who I was going to chat to. I was not sure that the weapons boys had a role here, but I figured I was not on their Christmas card list yet.

  I was led up, the Royal Family being guarded by more Secret Service men than the President, the only foreign dignitaries to warrant the protection of the unit. I was ushered into a waiting room, my mask taken off, tea and coffee offered by male Saudi helpers. I practised my Arabic on them, pleasing them.

  I saw the knife just in time, a kick to the groin as I knocked the knife away, a second kick to the face as shouts went up, Secret Service men rushing in, guns ready, my assailant grabbed, the knife grabbed. And the pain in my spine was about to knock me out.

  Several senior Saudi officials stepped in, most annoyed at the disturbance, a Saudi waiter explaining my assailant, soon threats levelled at my assailant’s life.

  My heartbeat eased down, the melee lessened, and I was led in – my back twinging, not trusting any of these fuckers. I was shown to a seat, the King in his robes sat facing a half-circle of men, many in military uniform.

  A younger man in robes asked in English, ‘What just happened?’

  I replied in Arabic, ‘One of your waiters drew a knife and tried to kill me.’

  They exchanged knowing looks.

  The young man continued, ‘I am the King’s favoured son.’ The old man just observed as his son adjusted his robes. ‘The American President and the CIA requested we meet with you to discuss a threat against us, Major.’ He waited.

  ‘Cut the crap,’ I told him in Arabic, surprising him. ‘You already know what the threat is, and from who. I simply add detail and evidence.’

  The King almost grinned, a glance from his son.

  ‘So, Major, what do you know?’

  ‘That your flight to LAX airport was the real target of the Stinger missiles.’ They exchanged looks and whispers. I added, ‘The Stingers came from your own military bases, on the ship Evanco II, paid for and facilitated by your rich dissidents, supporters of al-Qa’eda, with the help of what is left of the FBI Deep State.

  ‘All the men we caught north of the border were Americans, white men, ex-military and CIA. As soon as your plane was stopped the missiles were abandoned, the job to kill you cancelled, no cartel attack on American airliners. The CIA have swapped bodies to hide the truth here.’

  ‘And will the truth get out?’

  ‘That is very unlikely.’

  ‘And you know who these dissidents are?’

  ‘Why don’t you speak your mind, or it will be embarrassing. You took this meeting with me because you can’t be seen to be dealing with them yourselves. You think I could … lend a hand.’

  He studied me, a glance at his military aides. ‘And could you, lend a hand?’

  ‘For a price, yes.’

  ‘They say that you are not interested in wealth…’

  ‘I’m not.’

  ‘Then the money would be used for…’

  ‘Men, equipment, bribes, evidence removal. Such operations are off-the-books, as we say. London and Washington knows, but cannot be seen to know.’

  He hid his grin. ‘The attack in Zurich…’

  ‘Would you like the men who bother you to meet a quiet passing, or a loud passing?’

  He glanced at his father. ‘Either, but I favour the loud passing. Unfortunately, it does not look good when our citizens are shot, or caught misbehaving.’

  ‘So … we do it quietly,’ I agreed. ‘For the most part.’

  ‘How much money?’

  ‘Up to you, I don’t need much. Five million would be more than enough.’

  ‘You work cheap, Major. We shall transfer fifty million.’

  ‘Give it to the President of Liberia for … religious development programmes and mosques.’

  He smiled, studying me. ‘I am pleased to say that my people’s assessment of you is spot on, Major. They fear and respect you.’ He stood, his aides standing, and I followed him up. ‘We shall speak again I hope.’

  I bowed. ‘If I live, Your Majesty.’

  ‘You are hard to kill, Major, so it seems that God is watching over you.’

  I was led out, soon flanked by very wary Secret Service agents. Outside, in the vans, I switched on my phone. A beep registered, so I called back the Deputy Chief as we sped through the streets, no idea where we were going. ‘It’s Wilco.’

  ‘What the fuck happened?’ came from an exasperated man.

  ‘A Saudi waiter pulled a knife on me.’

  ‘Jesus, he must have been well-paid or well-motivated. They’re going to let the Saudis extradite him home, so I’m thinking he won’t get a fair trial.’

  ‘He’ll need a new nose and some new balls, I kicked him.’

  ‘What happened with the King?’

  ‘His son did all the talking, and offered me a large sum to clean house for him.’

  ‘And will you?’

  ‘And will we..?’ I countered with.

  ‘I saw your speech, it started a loud debate here, already talk of increasing our narco team and budget, Delaney at the fore. Oh, he’ll meet you at your hotel.’

  ‘I have a hotel?’ I puzzled as they presumably drove to that hotel, only now thinking about Tiny.

  ‘Same as last one. Fresh shirt and shorts, socks. Your lady agent is there.’

  ‘Well, you’re spoiling me. Not as much as the Saudis though.’

  ‘How much money did they put on the table?’

  ‘They’ll donate fifty million to a charity I know, but I asked for five.’

  ‘And you’ll use it for what?’

  I glanced at my security detail. ‘I spoke to the cigar tube menace today, and he understands the need for plausible deniability, so he’ll chuck me some money as well, and then my friends in low places expand their operations, and I recruit more friends, and we chop up those we don’t like, local men recruited and trained.’

  ‘Was a time when that idea would have got us both adjoining cells. Now, today, no one gives a fuck – they all want vengeance. Not sure that the bloodlust is a good thing, but we came close to losing a lot of citizens this past year.’

  ‘I can do it quietly. Anyhow, let’s meet before I fly back, which is whenever you get me a military flight, I don’t even have a fucking passport, just the clothes I’m wearing.’

  ‘In the morning, because now I’m going to sleep in a real bed. My own.’

  At the hotel, I found that I was booked in, key handed to me. ‘Your sister is in the room, sir,’ the man said with a hint of a smirk.

  I was flanked all the way to the room. ‘Guys, I have no cash on me -’

  ‘It’s OK, and we’re not allowed to be looked after like that. Have a good rest, we know this place well, they’ll feed us, room provided. You need a doctor?’

  ‘Doctor? No, that report on the news about me was crap.’

  Inside, I found Tiny coming out the bathroom in her underwear. ‘Hello soldier, need a back rub?’

  ‘I do, yes.’ She got up on a chair and gave me a big hug as I fondled her small firm arse cheeks. ‘Did you fly over Mexican airspace?’

  ‘Transit via Miami, so no, but I saw it all on the news.’

  ‘Did you catch anyone?’

  ‘Pickpockets, no cartel men, but it was good to see Suzy and Tomsk, we had a big party, his son there.’

  ‘You go back down after this.’

  ‘I do?’

  ‘Yes, a few things in the pipeline. But that’s for later. Order some damn food, woman.’

  ‘OK. Boss.’

  ‘Senator here soon, same one. Don’t let him know I care about you, be frosty.’

  ‘I can do frosty.’ She put her fists on her hips and got into character. ‘Would it kill
you to call more often?’

  ‘Would it kill you to put some clothes on?’ I spun her around and smacked an arse cheek to a yelp.

  The food arrived just before my two guests, and Tiny made them coffee as they sat around the large round table that the room provided.

  ‘You well?’ Delaney knowingly asked.

  ‘Media report was shite,’ I told them as I ate.

  ‘You met with the Saudi monarch…’

  ‘He offered me fifty million to clean his house for him. I said yes.’

  ‘He can’t be seen to be doing for himself,’ Delaney noted. I nodded as I ate. ‘You know who?’

  ‘I have a list. Let’s just say it’s been on my mind a while, since Desert Sands.’

  ‘You won’t hit them inside Saudi?’

  ‘Probably not, no. But they like to whore it around Europe.’

  ‘They do,’ he agreed with a grin. ‘Will it be loud?’

  ‘He could not decide, but suggested it would be unseemly for Saudis to be targets.’

  ‘So a few accidents.’ He nodded. ‘We’ll push the CIA narco team.’

  ‘It all helps. And all sides want me to grow Carlos the Jackal and to assist Tomsk to remove the less savoury cartels. President has offered to misdirect money my way, but … I don’t need money, just time to get a few people chatting.’

  ‘Would you involve the Mexican Government?’

  ‘I considered it, but … unlikely. Hard to know who to trust.’

  ‘Very hard, in a place like Mexico.’ He studied me. ‘What first led you to the Stingers?’

  ‘GCHQ,’ I lied, but with a smile. ‘They have all the ships of the world, all the tracks, and their computer then matches sat phone hits to the ships tracks, a cross-match to known phones.’

  ‘They do seem to be on the ball,’ Delaney agreed. ‘NSA is rushing to catch up.’

  ‘In Tijuana,’ I explained, ‘they dropped a hint about the Stingers to lower ranks, and one of those lower ranks mentioned that to the wrong people and they shot him for it.’

  Tiny lifted her face. ‘That was cruel.’

  I shot her a look. ‘It was not planned that way, Lady Assassin.’

  They grinned at Tiny.

  Delaney asked, ‘Your naked man?’