Shot at Redemption

by Ken W. Smith

  “That’s why she makes a good spy,” Antonio said. “She can transform herself to play any role we need her to play. And considering she speaks seven languages, I do agree she’ll be a valuable team member.”

  “Now you’re admitting I was right to hire her?”

  “No, I’m saying you got lucky. We better change the subject. Here she comes.”

  Renee strolled across the patio turning the heads of male guests at the other tables. Her short, skin-tight silver dress displayed her toned, attractive legs. Black high-heels and designer Versaci sunglasses completed the look.

  “Look, those two young guys are pointing at you and taking photos with their phone,” Antonio said as she sat down. “They think you’re a celebrity.”

  Renee smiled. “I should provide a nice distraction for you when we meet with the Nasharif brothers. I hope I’ll have enough time to break away and search the house.”

  “With six bedrooms and three floors, you’ll have to move fast,” Jay said. “If they catch you in a private area, you’ll be in danger.”

  “I don’t plan to get caught. Are my microphone and camera working?”

  “Let’s do a test,” Jay said. “CJ, time for a sound and video check.”

  “Roger boss. I hear you loud and clear. But all I see is your ugly mug in the camera. Renee, can you move around so I can get a better view?”

  “How’s this?” she said as she turned toward the beach and ocean. A pair of bikini-clad women walked through the screen.

  “Ah, much better. Thank you.”

  “Great,” Jay said. “Let’s review the plan again before the waiter brings our lunch, then hit the road.”

  Two hours later, Jay pulled the Land Rover to the side of a narrow road overlooking the city of Tyre. In front of him, a sprawling stucco mansion surrounded by iron gates and security cameras. Antonio followed the Ferrari to the front entrance. Benoit and Moses pulled behind the red Ferrari in their black BMW sedan. Their job was to guard Antonio and smash the gate down to make a speedy escape if needed.

  The gate opened, and the two cars rolled through.

  “Here we go, everybody,” Jay said. “Madman, launch the microbots. Let’s try to get some eyes inside the mansion.”

  “Roger,” Kyle said on the headset. “I’ll control the bots.”

  Madman rolled down the backseat window and held his hand out. The mother bot flew out the window, followed by the two children bots. Kyle used voice commands to navigate the bots over the wall. He landed them behind a thick green hedgerow.

  Two men stepped out of the front door. Dressed in dark designer suits, they looked like a pair of European businessmen. Then, Jay noticed several burly security guards standing inside the front door.

  Antonio stepped out of the car as one of the men approached. He had a receding hairline of thick black hair. Specks of gray scattered through his well-groomed beard. “Welcome, Mr. Borracci. I’m Sammi Nasharif. It’s an honor to see you again.”

  Antonio greeted him with a handshake and a hug. “The pleasure is all mine. Driving this gem down here from Beirut was a true pleasure.”

  The second man opened the door for Renee. She swung her legs, catching Rajji’s attention. The two bodyguards in the front door stepped out to grab a glimpse. Jay thought he heard Arianna Grande’s name mentioned. Renee did strike a remarkable resemblance to the petite pop star.

  Renee played the part, flipping her long brown hair away from her face. She held her hand out for Rajji to help her out of the car.

  “Who is your lovely companion?” Sammi said to Antonio. “You must introduce her.”

  “This is Renee Giovanni. She’s the Director of Partnerships for Ferrari. She flew here from Italy to join me and meet our next dealer in Lebanon.”

  “Ciao,” Renee said, extending her hand to Sammi.

  He held her hand with both of his. “It’s a pleasure to meet you,” he said in Italian. “You traveled here from Italy?”

  “Sì, naturalmente,” Renee replied. “Sei famoso in fabbrica.”

  CJ looked at Jay, “What did she say?”

  “You are famous back at the factory.”

  “Before we let you test drive the new Portofino,” Antonio said. “We would like to show you a special video Renee produced. Is it possible to go inside the house? Unfortunately, the sun is too bright to view our iPad screen.”

  “Yes, of course,” Sammi said. “Ladies first.”

  Renee turned to walk up the stone steps but stubbed her toe, falling forward onto the stairs. She scraped her knee in the process and let out a loud swear in Italian. The two bodyguards rushed down to assist her.

  “Go, Kyle,” Jay said.

  Kyle maneuvered the bots through the front door of the villa. He flew them into a stark foyer with marble floors and stucco walls. He took a sharp right into a large parlor and parked the microbots behind a plush, leather couch.

  “Is the wifi hotspot activated on the bots?” Jay said.

  “Yes, Chief, we have access to the internet.”

  “Perfect.”

  Renee and Antonio followed the two bodyguards into the parlor.

  “I will get my first aid kit,” one of the bodyguards said.

  “That will not be necessary,” Renee said. “Can you show me a ladies’ room? Then, I’ll be able to clean myself up.”

  “Follow me, please.” The bodyguard led her through the foyer and down a staircase to a lower level. “You may use the bath in our guest suite. Take your time and come up the stairs when you’re ready.”

  “Thank you so much,” Renee said. “You were so sweet to help me.” She stepped on her tippy toes and kissed the large man on the cheek. His skin turned a bright red.

  Renee shut the door to the guest suite and locked the door behind her.

  “Okay, I’m in,” she said to Jay in her microphone. “Are the bots inside?”

  “Yes,” Jay said. “I’m sending them upstairs to see if there are any more guards.”

  “Good. I’ll activate my electronic device scanner. But, first, I want to make sure there aren’t any cameras or listening devices in here.”

  Renee pulled out her cell phone and started talking in rapid-fire Italian. As she walked around the room, her phone sent a signal to Jay’s laptop.

  “There’s a hidden camera above the closet door,” Jay told her.

  She pulled a small travel-size can of hairspray from her purse. Then, she stood with her back in front of the camera and sprayed her hairspray towards the camera port.

  “Perfect shot,” Jay said. “Now, see if you have access to the wifi system.”

  Renee grabbed her pocketbook and went into the bathroom. She pulled out an iPad Mini and clicked on an icon for a gaming app.

  “Okay, I can see he has several laptops, a desktop, and a dozen iPads connected to the wifi,” Kyle said. “He also has a Dropbox online storage account. I can insert a file into the online cloud accounts and copy the data onto Renee’s iPad. But, unfortunately, there are too many files to upload them all to our server.”

  “Hurry,” Jay said. “We don’t want the guards getting suspicious.”

  As if on cue, someone banged on the door to the guest suite.

  “I’ll be right out,” Renee yelled. “Just a minute, please.”

  “Kyle, is the download done yet?” Jay asked. “She needs to get out of there.”

  “I know, Jay. It’s almost done.”

  “Ms. Giovanni, our housekeeper, has bandages for your knee,” the guard said. “Please let her in.”

  Before Renee could reply, she heard the door open. She stuffed the iPad into her pocketbook, then opened the door, took the towels, and said, “Grazie.”

  Renee pulled the iPad out of her pocketbook. The files included hundreds of documents and image files. Everything related to Sammi’s car dealerships. She was ready to put the iPad away when she noticed an unmarked folder. She clicked on the icon and found dozens of links to a private YouTube directory da
ting back to 2006. A knot grew in Renee’s stomach. She clicked on one of the links and found it was password protected. Renee tried the TyreBT06 account name as a password. It worked.

  The file appeared to be a security video of an apartment building in Tyre. One second the building was peaceful and quiet. Then a loud explosion, and the screen filled with smoke and debris. The loud sound startled Renee, and she almost dropped the iPad. When the smoke cleared, the building was a pile of rubble.

  The second video featured an Al Jazeera news reporter. Dozens of people sifted through the rubble, looking for survivors. Renee heard the sounds of women crying in the background. Workers struggled to pull concrete and cement blocks off the pile. Then, in the background, Renee listened to another sound. Dozens of young Lebanese men chanting ‘Death to America’ in Arabic. The reporter explained they were Hezbollah soldiers vowing revenge.

  Renee struggled to hold back tears. As a soldier, she passed by dozens of similar bombed-out buildings during the war. But to see the tragic impact on the innocent victims was heart-wrenching.

  A pair of young men carried what looked to be a teenage girl out of the rubble. Her face was bloody, but she appeared to be alive. The reporter stopped the men and asked who the girl was.

  A familiar but younger face appeared in the camera. It was Rajji. He was crying.

  “The bomb struck our family’s apartment. We were preparing for my daughter’s wedding tomorrow morning. The women were together with the bride, but this girl is the only survivor we have found so far.”

  “Was she the bride?”

  “No. She’s the daughter of my cousin visiting from Beirut.”

  “What’s your niece’s name?”

  “Kathleen,” The man said. “Kathleen Amejian. The Americans did this. They sell the bombs to the Zionists who use them to kill our women and children. They must pay.”

  Renee almost fainted. Sammi and Rajji were Kathleen Amejian’s uncles. They had the motive to want to kill more Americans. Renee sent the link to Jay and put her iPad away when she saw another document.

  The file name said Tyre Blind Trust, and it benefited the survivors of the bombing. It listed a local attorney as executor and four trustees: Sammi, Rajji, Kathleen, and Mohammed al-Mujadin.

  Chapter 43

  Southern Lebanon

  Jay watched Sammi jog down the front stairs and onto the driveway. He swept his hands across the Ferrari’s shiny red paint job. Rajji followed but in a more reserved manner. He was the negotiator. He knew Rajji couldn’t act excited like his brother and still demand a better deal from Ferrari. Antonio and Renee followed. Antonio appeared happy, but Renee seemed stressed. She glanced towards him from the driveway, but she wouldn’t say anything on the radio. It must be serious. Jay sensed she needed to talk but now wasn’t the time. It was time for the test drive.

  “Okay, so here’s the plan,” Renee said to the brothers. “Ferrari requires a factory representative to be in the car at all times. Since you both want to drive, I’ll sit in the back. Antonio will ride with our associates. Please obey the speed limits and traffic regulations. I know you will want to test the power, but we don’t want you to get a ticket from your policia.”

  “It is not a problem,” Sammi said. “The policia, as you say, know us very well. We sell them their patrol cars.”

  “Very good, but please drive safely. We need to return the car to Beirut. Oh, one other thing. We want to take photos with you and the car. We will use it as part of your new dealer promotions. Is there a picturesque spot in your city? Perhaps by the ocean?”

  “We can go to the Hippodrome,” Rajji said. “They are ancient Roman ruins. Very popular tourist location by the ocean.”

  “Perfect,” Renee said. “It is late afternoon. The sunlight will be perfect by the time we arrive there.”

  Rajji opened the passenger door and helped Renee get in the cramped back seat. Antonio handed the keys to Sammi and sat down in the passenger seat of the BMW. Benoit backed out of the driveway so Sammi could exit. Then followed the red sports car.

  Jay waited to retrieve the microbots, then joined the procession.

  * * *

  Sammi weaved the Ferrari through the narrow streets of the Christian district. The deep sounds of the powerful engine echoing off the walls of the ancient stucco homes. When he reached the ocean, he turned left onto the wide two-lane boulevard wrapped around the peninsula. They zipped by the toney resort hotels, designer clothing stores, and western-style restaurants.

  “We can stop at the Tyre lighthouse if you wish?” Sammi said. “Or we can show you our other dealerships?”

  “Let’s keep driving,” Renee said. “Your city is lovely.”

  “We opened our first Renault dealership ten years ago,” Sammi said. Now we own five dealerships and a chain of gas stations. The economy is strong without war. We hope peace continues so prosperity can thrive.”

  “That depends on the Jews,” Rajji said, turning towards Renee. “They need to respect our borders.”

  Jay heard a different tone in Rajji’s voice. The Afghans spoke the same way about outsiders. A chill ran down his spine.

  “Well, I’m not sure what the Israelis will do,” Renee said. “I’m sure they want peace too.”

  Jay had a feeling something was going to happen, and it wasn’t good.

  “Benoit, stay close to the Ferrari,” Jay said. “And keep an eye out for chase cars. I’m going ahead to scout the Hippodrome.”

  Sammi continued his tour of the city, pointing out local landmarks.

  “Turn here, Sammi,” Rajji said. “Go by the tower.”

  Sammi turned to Rajji and said, “Is that necessary?”

  “It’s part of our history,” Rajji said. “She must know about our family tragedy.”

  Now Renee felt tingles down her spine. Did Rajji know something about Renee? Was her cover blown?”

  Sammi turned into the Muslim district down streets lined by apartment buildings. Many seemed new, built within the last ten years.

  “Pull over here,” Rajji said. “My turn to drive.”

  Renee looked behind her. She saw Benoit stop in the BMW. She wanted to get the iPad to him but didn’t know how to do it without Rajji witnessing the exchange.

  “Renee, come here,” Rajji said. “See this building. It sits on the site of my mother’s home.”

  “What happened?” Renee said.

  “Israel bombs destroyed it in 2006. Killed my mother and four sisters the night before my sister’s wedding. We defended our homes, fighting the Israelis in the streets. Held them off for thirty days until they retreated. Then we rebuilt our city. The Italians, Americans, British came back. They loaned us money to rebuild, then built their stores and sold their clothes. Brought back their western ways. But did they care about how we felt? About the family, we lost?”

  “I’m so sorry for your loss,” Renee said. “It must have been terrible.”

  “Did you ever lose family?”

  * * *

  Renee remembered her friend, partner, and lover. Yashim was a handsome Mossad agent from Tel Aviv. They met at the university and went through military training together. He was tall and athletic. As a member of the Israeli volleyball team, he traveled around the world. Renee traveled with him to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. It was the best two weeks of her life. Then the war broke out two years later. Hezbollah fired rockets into Northern Israel. The IDF fired back. A sergeant in the IDF, Yashim, led a squad into the village of Bint Jbeil. Ambushed by Hezbollah, he lost three soldiers in the first ten minutes of fighting. They fought bravely for three hours. When their ammunition ran out, they were overrun. Renee didn’t see Yashim’s body until Hezbollah returned it in a prisoner exchange at the end of the war.

  * * *

  As the memories returned, tears welled up in her eyes. She was grateful to be wearing oversized sunglasses to cover her tear-soaked cheeks.

  “Not the way you did,” Renee said. “I was lucky to
have a peaceful childhood in Italy.”

  Rajji stared at her for a long moment.

  Renee froze. Then, Rajji turned to walk back to the car, and Renee sighed in relief.

  * * *

  Jay parked the Land Rover across the street from the entrance to the Hippodrome.

  “Guys, let’s stretch our legs and check out the ruins. Let me know if you see anybody suspicious.”

  CJ and Madman exited the back seat and jogged across the street while Jay stepped out of the car and looked around. The neighborhood was quiet. He reached under the front seat to remove his handgun and place it in the holster under his arm. Then pulled on his light windbreaker and closed the door.

  The Hippodrome, a small coliseum, dated back to Roman times. A small section of the stone stadium sat next to an oval track. It reminded Jay of the movie Spartacus. He imagined gladiators fighting to the death in front of cheering fans. The area was flat and open, without many places to hide. With only one way in and out, it looked easy to secure.

  CJ and Madman returned from surveying the grounds. “All clear, Chief,” CJ said. “No signs of any trouble.”

  “Good. I’ll be happy when we get out of here.”

  “There’s a change in plans,” Antonio said on the radio. “Rajji is going to a different archeological site. The Egyptian port site. It’s about a kilometer from your location.”

  “Shit,” Jay said. “Okay, we’ll meet you there.”

  “Let’s go, guys. Change of plans.”

  * * *

  Rajji drove the Ferrari into the archeological site. He passed through the parking area then down a stone drive surrounded by ancient Roman foundations and pillars.

  Renee scanned the area for tourists and visitors but didn’t see anybody. In fact, it was eerily quiet. Antonio stayed close behind in the BMW, but there was no sign of Jay.

  Rajji parked the car in front of a line of ancient columns. In front of them was a spectacular view of the ocean.

  “I thought this was a better location for a photo,” Rajji said. “Unfortunately, the Hippodrome has no water view.”

  “It is beautiful,” Renee said. “Let’s get out and find the perfect angle. The sun is getting low in the sky. Antonio has my camera and tripod in the trunk of the BMW.”