Chapter 24 – Yuri
The first text message, that the plate had left Russia and not in the hands of who she wanted, had bothered her. Yuri preferred excellence. She nearly demanded excellence. The text she had just received was much more to her liking. The ex-KGB agent had the plate and was on his way to Cairo. Yuri was just a few blocks away from the university and the professor who would have the ability to translate the plate.
Yuri was a loner; she had been since she was very young– back when she was Stephanie Baker. Her short blond hair kept her young looking even though she was nearly forty now. She could have passed for her late twenties. She was an American, but nobody really knew that. She almost forgot what country she was born as a citizen. Her parents were “attachés” at many embassies as she grew up. She later learned that this meant her dad was CIA and her mother a marine officer.
Yuri was born in Germany, moved at young age to Japan, then to the states for a few years. Before she was 15 years old she had lived in France, Germany, Amsterdam, Moscow, Pakistan and Japan. At age fifteen, her crucial period, she lived in Hong Kong. By this time she spoke seven languages. She was also well versed in the use of firearms and self-defense. Her parents had trained her how to survive because that is what they knew. Her parents were patriots. She was on her way to learning that also.
Then, shortly after her fifteenth birthday her parents took a diplomatic trip to Beirut. She heard the news on the Armed Forces Network before anyone made it to the house to tell her in person. Two American diplomats had been killed in Beirut by a car bomb. There were suspects, but it was clearly a terrorist act.
Yuri grabbed the stash of cash she knew her parents kept and the passports her mother had. She left the base before anyone got a chance to speak with her. The US government still classifies Stephanie as missing in Hong Kong and presumed dead. For all practical purposes, that part of her life was dead. She had a necklace with a non-descript key with the initials DMW on it that her mother gave her and that was it. But she didn’t let that part completely die until she found those responsible for the death of her parents and invented some imaginative torture techniques. They were not necessarily new, but Yuri had never seen torture before and dreamed up the most imaginative thing she could think of at the time. There were still unanswered questions concerning her parent’s deaths, but those that she felt were guilty had been judged and punished.
She had no loyalty to any country and the only family she had really ever known was dead. Her allegiance from that time forward was survival and then to making enough money to thrive. She developed a network of operatives and connections that kept her in the loop but distanced her enough from any real activity that she had gained a reputation but was nearly untraceable. By her early thirties she was independently wealthy and could walk away and never work again in her life. Instead she decided to dedicate her life to arms deals.
To the rest of the world she was an evil arms deal maker that provided many of the top terrorist organizations with weapons and bombs. She knew that many of the weapons she brokered ended up killing innocent people–a causality of war in her mind. She made deals when she primarily was able to pit one terrorist organization against another where they would kill each other. It was brilliant, calculated and effective. It was her last revenge on behalf of her family. Her personal restitution for the other ills she had personally committed over the years since her last happy year as a child.
But even this was getting old. She was in the process of leaving this work behind and settling somewhere in Europe to live out her life, maybe even date and marry if the right guy came along. Then a phone call changed her retirement plans. The person, he called himself “Captain”, had a simple favor. Her answer was “no” until the rough voice on the other end of the phone said, “But Stephanie, I was hoping we could do business like I used to with your father.”
The Captain knew her name and was somehow a connection to her childhood. She had no choice but to accept the simple job. Yuri tried everything she could to find the source of the invitation but had been unsuccessful. Her task was simple, get a bronze plate out of Russia that had ancient writings on it. Then take it to a professor in Egypt and have him fully translate the plate. Once translated, kill the professor and give the translation and the plate to a third party. It was that simple. Her pay was hefty, over seven figures plus all expenses. However, the cream on the coffee was meeting the voice on the other end of the line. That was the piece of the deal that she was most interested in. First, how had someone figured out who she was? Second, did this person really know her father and what could she learn about him?
Yuri knew that there was more to this than the simple task of stealing a plate from Russia and translating it. However, that was her task and she knew how to get that done. She would have to figure out why this person wanted her specifically later. For now, she would use her network of former KGB acquaintances that could get the plate out of Russia and bring it to Cairo.
So far there had been some obvious disappointments and a few more unnecessary deaths that didn’t really help get the job done. Yuri knew that her contacts in the former KGB would be rougher than needed, but it was her only real option for getting that deep into a country that was still riddled with bureaucracy.
Now though, the plate was in the hand of her contact and the KGB member would be in Cairo tomorrow to meet one of Yuri’s associates. The next few days would need to be played very carefully to ensure all of the conditions of the agreement were met.
She started with a text, “Steve, tell RM I will have something very unique in the morning and will be looking for bidders.”
Chapter 25 – Plane to France
Jim was relieved to have gotten the whole safety lesson from Jenny when he got it. However, after letting it soak in he began to wonder if this might be more danger than he had anticipated. For Jim, he wasn’t sure if he cared that much. His family was gone and he hadn’t done much but sulk over his loss over the last year. He went on a date or two in the last months, but those seemed empty to him. Risking his life, if he was even really doing that, didn’t bother him that much. Having a side benefit of helping his country wasn’t too bad either.
He would have lots of hours to contemplate this during his long flight to France.
Jim had traveled to Europe a few times. He was not an executive at his company, but was high enough in the finance department to be afforded the privilege of flying business class, at least on international flights. Now he was in first class. He had to act as though it were second nature to him. Jenny sat in the chair next to him. Each chair fully reclined. There were multiple choices for meals and a more personalized selection of entertainment. Jim knew he could get used to this. His company had an office near Paris, so he actually knew a little bit about the city.
Frank sat in the back of the plane with a few others. He was not happy. Frank didn’t like traveling coach on an overseas flight but this was too important to let out of his sight.
Jenny closed her eyes and considered the sting she was a part of. She knew this would catapult her career. She could choose a supervisory role if she wanted. But she liked the adventure of field work. Perhaps she would run a small sting herself or join Trevor in his next operation. Her aspirations for adventure would likely make the latter more interesting.
In this operation though, Jim and her would flush out arms dealers by dealing in “acquired goods”. This would establish the criminal’s method of operation. Then a second team would contact that criminal for an arms deal. The trap would be set and they would penetrate the operation as much as possible before making arrests and hopefully slow the flow of weapons to Hamas, Al Qaeda and other terrorists’ organizations around the world. Jim was supposed to be a fictitious character, but Jenny didn’t mind Jim as a real person. She knew that he would soon have to go back to his life–but she was growing attached to him for now.
Frank contemplated the plan also. He had been involved in a few st
ings before. This one was going exactly as he had planned it. His mind went back to an earlier operation, operation contra-connection. It had been interrupted when a key agent was reassigned. Once the agent was reassigned, he only saw him a couple of more times. Frank was determined that this time there would be no interruptions in the operation.
Chapter 26 – The Cold War Russian Air
The dig sight kept expanding. There were buildings discovered and a few artifacts found here and there. It was less than would be found at a typical dig of this size but every piece was still an adventure. It was northern Russia and it was getting cold. However, the cooling Russian air did not deter Professor Thomas. The air just reminded him how tough the cold war had been the last few years. He was now in the midst of what President Reagan called the “Evil Empire”. At this location it did not seem so evil to him. He was a brilliant man though, and he understood that not too many miles away the Kremlin ruled the entire eastern bloc countries and the USSR with an iron fist.
His academic drive kept him focused on the task at hand. He had requested a number of books and papers from colleagues around the world so that he could try to interpret this strange language found on the bronze plate. In waiting however, he did not sit idle. He had busily participated in the dig. He kept hoping more plates would be found.
On an appointed schedule every week Professor Thomas would report to the US State Department on his personal health and general information about his work. This was part of the agreement that had been struck to allow him to participate.
Every word delivered was carefully crafted and messaged so it passed the approval of the People’s Party of Russia. Professor Thomas gave the remarks as instructed, in a very monotone voice. It was a very controlled message–enough to show that Professor
Thomas was well and was really doing Archeology and simple enough as to not reveal any real facts.
The US State Department protested on the dryness. “You must tell us more or we may need to pull him out.”
That, however, was merely a game. Agent Thomas had devised a code that was used in the Contra-Connection operation. He used that code to communicate with the CIA who always sat quietly in the room with the US State Department. Professor Thomas was able to influence the message. Certain key words were used to decode a message from the text. It was a simple algorithm that could be changed every week so as to not make it easily tracked by anyone. There were about a half dozen combinations. His old team helped interpret the message, which within the first few weeks were more to say he was fine, it was an archeological dig and then to provide assistance to his other project.
Influencing the message so that it included his code seemed like a fun distraction. He played the role of an eccentric professor that just had to have his fingers in everything to be kept happy. Keeping the codes straight helped keep his mind keep fresh in the cold weather. Then giving the message was like a kid sneaking a cookie form the jar and avoiding getting caught. He knew he left crumbs every time, but knew that these crumbs would be hard for even the most careful skeptic within the Soviet Union intelligence agency to pick up on.
Professor Thomas was engaged in this project. He felt safe for now.
Chapter 27 – The “Chunnel”
Sir Arthur knew that he would either fly from Heathrow or take the train under the channel. He had considered numerous alternatives–Gatwick Airport, boat or any number of the other airports nearby - but each had their disadvantage. He did not take time to pack any clothes or even go back to his house. He took a small brief case that he kept in his office with a few papers, a book and an old college t-shirt from his drawer. Arthur just took as much cash as he could from his local bank and then converted it to Euros. He didn’t make a final decision between the airport and the channel until he had finished at the bank.
Sir Arthur opted for the train under the channel. The Chunnel seemed a much safer route for someone who might be followed. Safer or not, he would usually prefer the Eurostar route any day over dealing with the monstrosity of Heathrow. He dreaded the airport and the security. It was much easier to take the 31 mile track and switch trains to go to Paris. The lines were shorter, the people more relaxed and he could avoid the inevitable delays of Heathrow.
He was feeling somewhat confident as the train entered the tunnel under the channel. He was finally reading the morning times when about 8 miles into the tunnel itself the train stopped. There was a power surge issue that caused havoc in the entire tunnel. A nearly 20 minute trip through the tunnel was now slowly turning into what eventually would be about a 6 hour journey.
Every time the engineer felt that they would be allowed to move, it was delayed again. Amidst a train full of angry business people, tourists and several families with young children, Heathrow began to sound like a better option.
Mobile phones did not work here. Arrangements were made to radio in emergencies, but Sir Arthur felt that might be worse for him than just waiting out the ordeal.
He opted to just wait it out.
Chapter 28 – AN Evening in Paris
A car had been arranged to pick up Mr. Jim Smith (Conrad) and his companion Jenny. This was not a “company” car so Jim and Jenny would have to stay in character and not be free to talk about just any subject on the ride to the hotel. Jim had fun alluding to business deals without providing any details as they rode through the streets of Paris.
Arrangements were made to accommodate someone with the prestige of Jim Conrad. However, this was Paris and not the states so the charade would have some limitations. Jim Conrad did not have a usual place to stay in Paris or a usual meal that he ordered. Jim Conrad was known to have a château at the ocean so he did not have a need to stay in the city too often. Frank, however, had adjusted things appropriately and had made reservations at a luxurious hotel that overlooked the Eiffel Tower. Again, they were in one of the nicest suites in the hotel. Clothes were delivered shortly after they arrived. Jenny whispered quietly into Jim’s ear, “You know, as much as I have traveled around the world–I have never been to Paris, except for a layover at De Gaul.”
Jim had been a few times and had seen the tourist sights. It is a wonderful city with the streets architected in a star. It may be one of the largest concentrations of tourist sites anywhere in the world. Jim had only been to Paris a handful of times and ventured out to see a few of these sights on business trips. His wife would always ask him “How was Paris?” Jim always responded, “Conference rooms look about the same everywhere in the world.” He exaggerated slightly, but not by much. Every time he had gone to a tourist site he only thought of his wife and how he wished she were with him. One of his regrets was not ever taking his wife to Paris–it had always been a dream of hers to go.
Jim whispered back, “Jenny, let’s take a walk in the evening air and see some of the city.”
She pulled back a little, looked and frowned a bit. Leaning back to his ear she then whispered back, “Frank would never want to risk us going out. He would never allow it.”
“You are a spy, we can sneak out.” Jim tempted Jenny.
She did not have to think long. They quietly changed into more casual clothes, grabbed a handful of Euro’s and headed out the door. Jenny was careful to avoid the few agents that had been strategically placed around the hotel. There was the couple at the bar. She surmised they were with the company. Then there was the older gentleman in the lobby reading a London Times. He was also a likely company man. The final person, likely on loan from the local office or a French agency was the man hailing taxis in the front and side of the hotel. To most, these all seemed natural, but to Jenny it was clear what their roles were.
They sneaked out the side door behind the front desk that was intended for employees only and made their way onto the city streets of Paris. It was nearing dark and the city lights were coming alive. Jenny sighed a natural sigh of relief and said in a non-whisper, “Where to?”
It was the first time that Jim saw Jenny with what app
eared to be her guard down. “How about we go to the Eiffel Tower? It is close and you can’t come to Paris without seeing it.”
Chapter 29 – Dragos in Paris
Dragos was at a restaurant still stunned at the death of his close friend Bucky. He traveled to France by airplane with the one plate in his possession. Dragos was a little worried he might run into the Russian in the Bucharest airport, but that did not happen. Once in Paris, he checked into a hotel and found a place to eat.
Dragos was not a fan of French cuisine so he made his way to an American style restaurant chain. He ordered a hamburger and American fries. He preferred the more thick tasting German like foods that were more like his native Romanian dishes– something like ground seasoned sausage rolled in a thin layer of cabbage. But in a pinch, a hamburger and chips (fries) would do.
His impatience for the French–long dinners and a delight in the “experience” frustrated his sense of getting the job done and efficiency. This was exasperated by the lack of communication from the English professor. He had not heard from Sir Arthur yet and it was getting late. The distance from England was far shorter than from Romania. He was beginning to worry that his contact would not show. Even worse, he was concerned that the Russian might show up first. He had taken precautions like paying for the flight in cash. He also used an assumed name in the hotel and used cash in all the locations he went. This would buy him anonymity for a while, but he knew that could not last long. He carried the bag with the plate and plenty of cash with him at all times–never leaving it in the hotel just in case he needed a quick getaway.
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