by J E Higgins
She couldn’t believe her ears. What she was being told sickened her. “Why then am I alive?” she questioned. Her eyes darted from side to side in a state of disbelief.
“Oh, that would have done me no good at all,” Valikov chuckled gleefully, highly impressed with himself. “You see, many in the world’s intelligence community know Sauwa Catcher. She has no history of working with Arab or Islamic governments or Arab radical groups. You are now known as the assassin of that Iranian military advisor in Bosnia a few years ago. He was also a high-ranking officer in the Qoms forces in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. It is highly unlikely you would be employed by or would be inclined to work with any group that would have close links to Iran such as the Palestinians do. It is also known to certain intelligence services and other groups that you are frequently employed by me for such missions. If you were among the dead, it would likely spark questions and raise suspicions that might lead back to my door. I can’t have that. Besides, you are still quite valuable as an operative. You have no record of actually ever having been in Cyprus so there is nothing that easily connects you to any of this. I would think your demise would be a waste when I have further use for your talents.”
“What about Tarkov, your old friend? You set him up,” she scowled.
Valikov allowed his face to drop from arrogant satisfaction to one of slight disappointment. “That was lamentable. I will grieve for him. However, business is business and in the end, I helped him complete his mission and he, in turn, helped me achieve my goal. So, I lived up to my end honorably and didn’t betray him completely.”
Sauwa was speechless, she couldn’t find the words to express the anger she was feeling. She didn’t have time to before she found herself being scooped up by Olga who speared her out of the room. She was directed down the hall back to her room where she was instructed to shower and dress in more appropriate attire. Olga shut the door behind her leaving the South African alone to digest what she had just learned. She sank onto her bed feeling the air in her lungs as she inhaled and exhaled. Not knowing what else to do, she dropped her face into her pillow as she screamed into it. Her feelings of anger and helplessness hitting her all at once.
34
Istanbul gleamed brightly under the aura of colored lights, as Valikov’s limousine negotiated the narrow roadways that had carried travelers for centuries. After having zigzagged through the maze-like system, the vehicle came to a stop along the edge of the Bosporus Strait, the narrow opening of water that links the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara and into the Mediterranean. Valikov exited the car, not waiting for his chauffeur to open the door for him.
He was out walking toward the front of the car. Sauwa had already exited the passenger side and was looking at the area. She had been brought on this trip to serve as his personal protection. As he walked past her, she fell in behind him. Though she hated the man, she was well aware of what he held over her, making her the ideal bodyguard.
They entered a neat little restaurant that was small but possessed the elegance of a high-class establishment that catered only to the wealthiest. He was dressed in a tailored grey suit, while she was clad in a pair of jeans, a blue collared shirt, that was unbuttoned at the top, and a brown leather jacket that draped down to her thighs.
By the way they entered, she figured her boss had not only been to this place before, but he had been there many times. She started to head toward the far end the bar where she would look the least out of place and have the best field of vision. She didn’t understand why Valikov had not mentioned they were coming to such an upscale establishment and allow her to dress for the occasion.
He stopped her and waved for her to continue following him ─ a stark departure from his normal routine. Puzzled, she followed him past the main room filled with well-dressed people enjoying their meals with a view of the river outside. None of the staff stopped them as they crossed to a door leading to a back room.
Passing through the doorway, they continued down a hallway past several doors that she could only assume led to private serving rooms for guests who wished to enjoy their seclusion. Two men, who looked to be of the same ethnic lineage as Carzona guarded the door. Without a single word, one of the men opened the door, and they both moved to the side to allow passage.
Inside, they found a small dark-skinned woman, dressed in a black tailored pantsuit, sitting at a large circular table. She was elegant in the way she sat with her legs crossed while she leaned back in her chair. One hand was supporting her chin while the other held a long crystal glass containing what appeared to be Champaign. “Ah, Mr. Valikov, so good to see you.” Her accent was of a posh English flavor with hints of some other country added in.
“I have looked forward to this meeting, Senora Lorenza,” Valikov said, trying to sound every bit as sophisticated as she. “I would like to present my associate.” He turned and waved his arms in Sauwa’s direction. “This is Ms. Sauwa Catcher, one of my operatives, and formerly of the South African intelligence service.”
Senora Lorenza studied Sauwa as if determining if she were an asset to eventually utilize for herself or a potential female rival. She returned her gaze to the Russian. “Might I also introduce an associate of mine, Mr. Kennson Rhys?” With that introduction, a man emerged from the curtains behind the elegant woman. Sauwa recognized him instantly as the man she had squared off with at the woodpile on the beach in Cyprus. By the shocked and angered look on his face, he had made the same connection. Neither one moved as their eyes fixed coldly on each other in the same predatory manner as the day they had met in the gun battle.
“Mr. Rhys is formerly of the New Zealand army where he served with the elite Special Air Service unit. Now, he serves as a commander in my father’s private army,” Lorenza explained.
With pleasantries and introductions concluded, Valikov dropped into a chair next to Sauwa as they commenced discussing the details of their new business arrangement. The whole time, Sauwa and Rhys glared at each other from their corners. Both were ready to move on the other with the slightest provocation. The meeting concluded with both leaders paying respects to one another as Valikov rose to his feet and started out the door.
Rhys could barely contain himself or his need to walk over and strangle the young woman now following her master out the door. He was thwarted by the single raising of Casein Lorenza’s arm as she halted him in his tracks. “Leave it alone Kennson, the war is over,” she said in a soft yet commanding voice he found hard to dismiss.
“We lost people in this fight!” he growled bitterly. “And, not just hired guns but our own people. That bitch is responsible. She personally killed Yadav, one of my best friends. I can’t let that go.”
“And yet, you will,” she said with the indifference of a woman indulging a man in his childish temper tantrum. “The war is over, and there is no further need to continue a pointless conflict. Yes, men have died, men who have served my family’s interests for quite some time. However, that is the nature of their profession and the risk they’re paid to take. Whether they are in the military fighting for the interests of the government or a private one serving the interests of private parties, they still fight solely for the benefit of those interests. It is now no longer in our interest to fight. Let it alone.”
“Why did you even have me come here tonight?” Rhys asked in utter exasperation.
Casein Lorenza smiled quaintly. “For the same reason Mr. Valikov brought his professional assassin. To send a quiet message to the other. After the grave inconvenience Valikov’s actions cost us, he wanted to make it clear we should not seek retribution later in our arrangement because he has people and the means to cause further inconveniences. Just as I had you here to remind Mr. Valikov that given his propensity toward such mercenary behavior as switching loyalties for a better offer, it is best we cause him to consider that we too can deal with such difficulties and betrayals in a similar way.”
Sauwa exited the limousine, a jubilant Valikov lead
ing the way. She ignored his incessant bragging and self-adulation as he walked along the street basking in the success of his new business venture.
She said nothing but decided there was an unmistakable need to keep watch for signs of trouble.
She had been brought here tonight to send a message to Valikov’s new client, and in doing so, came face to face with a man she knew as an enemy. A man she had seen up close, who was as cold and dangerous a killer as any she’d come across. A man who would make it his mission to finish her off one day.
Tonight, she had met, up close and personal, Kennson Rhys.
The Players
Andre Valikov—Black market arms dealer living in Cyprus; Former Russian soldier
Sauwa Catcher (alias Marisa Ramsey)—Manages arms deals with Valikov’s most volatile clients; Former covert operator the Aparthied; betrayed by a Bosnian soldier and handed over to Andre Valikov; loaned to Sergei Tarkov
Red Wolf—Backs up Sauwa on arms deals; Works for Andre Valikov
Ivan Gorev—Works for Andre Valikov; Former diplomat with the Russian foreign ministry, now working for Andre Valikov
Filipino President’s Team
Colonial Carzona—Works for Filipino president
Esmeralda Morayo (Rita)—Works with Colonial Carzona; Attorney, specializing in international trade, working for a prestigious law firm in Manilla.
Thorten Ridgeway—Head of investigation firm supplying Morayo with information on, arms dealer, Theo Kalopolis; Former MI-6 as spy master heading up the SIS’s office in Italy, then Greece
Sergei Tarkov—Hired by Carzona to lead a team trying to prevent an arms deal orchestrated by the powerful families against the Filipino president; Former Soviet “Special Forces” soldier now out of work due to the collapse of the Soviet Union.
Tarkov’s Team
Gino Sacchini—Recruited by Tarkov; Served with the Commando Raggrupamento Subacquei ed Incursori or COMSUBIN
Jacques De’vor—Recruited by Tarkov; With the Fusiliers Commandos de 1’Air, the French Air Commandos, Escadron de Protection et d’Intervention (EPI), a crack unit of commandos with the mission of attacking airfields
Vincenzo Gorzo—Recruited by Tarkov; Formerly with the San Marco Marines
James Musamba—Agent for the Southwest African People’s Organization (SWAPO)
“The System’s” Team
Kennson Rhys—Mercenary leader hired by “The System” to protect arms deal coming into Cyprus; Experienced soldier from the New Zealand Special Air Service
Khadga Yadav—Friend and recruit of Kennson Rhys; Former Gurka soldier
Iventi Mehendra—Friend and recruit of Kennson Rhys; Soldier
Jose Managua—Recruited by Kennsion Rhys; Handles tricky issues for the elites (The System) in the Philippines; former lawyer
Arms Dealers
Theo Kalopolis—Major arms trafficker working with the System
Yannis Prokopis—Second in command to Theo Kalopolis
Acknowledgments
To Rod, Gloria, Shannon, Bob, Suzi, and Arne for their time reading and editing, and to Shayne at Wicked Good Book Covers for the fantastic cover image.
My sincerest thanks.
About the Author
J.E. Higgins is a former soldier who spent twelve years in the US military, first as infantryman in the Marine Corps and then in the military police with the Army. He holds a B.A. in Government and a Masters in Intelligence; intelligence operations.
Cyprus Rage is his fourth book.
You can reach J.E. Higgins at his website: www.thehigginsreport.com where he publishes monthly papers on international political trends.