Element 94

by Kleiner Jeffries

  “Okay, let’s move on. I’m curious Bill - whatever happened to Salaam over the years. Why was he never apprehended sooner? I mean, you knew his location, so why spare him? Why give him the opportunity?”

  “He just wasn’t engaged in any threatening activity. He never reconnected with known Al Qaeda elements, or any other known radical networks and organizations.”

  “Except Sayf Udeen”, Ben interjected.

  “Yes, precisely. But never with any suspected military wing. Sayf Udeen, while radical enough, was never, and I remind you still has never, been linked to any terrorist activity.”

  “Not any more.” Ben mouthed the words quietly, almost to himself.

  “I know your theories Ben”, Kelly continued, oblivious to the magnitude of what his analyst had just said, “and I share your sentiment. But keep this in mind - They still maintain the wide support of the Arab league, and supposedly keep the peace between the radical elements and the authoritarian regimes in the area. So basically, short of some definitive evidence to the contrary, they are immune – politics demands that…What did you just say?” Kelly reacted, albeit delayed, to Ben’s words as they finally registered.

  “We are not in front of a political body here Bill”

  “No, did you say ‘not anymore’ just before…when I was referring to Udeen and terrorist activity.”

  “I sure did.” A confident smirk appeared on Ben’s face as he punched into his keyboard; a name and face suddenly appeared on the screen.

  “You recognize him, Bill?”

  The man before them was not one easily forgotten – with a narrow face, olive complexion, and dark beady eyes. Before Kelly could answer, Ben chimed in with the name.

  “Hassan Azeez. Known high-ranking member of Sayf Udeen. Brought up in the Saudi Wahhabiist system back in the late 90s. Trained with the Taliban and Qaeda before getting fed up with being a two-bit player in their system. Apparently, found Allah and joined the seemingly more ‘peaceful’ Sayf Udeen clan.” Ben used his hands to signal invisible quotation marks in the air when he uttered the word ‘peaceful’. He now elaborated.

  “But keep in mind Udeen is anything but peaceful. This is a relative term, and has just been a supposition – and an incorrect one at that – to this point based on limited information.”

  “Get to the point, Ben” Kelly was ready for the crux of Ben’s diatribe, the piece de resistance so to speak.

  “Guess whose fingerprints were on that yacht we found out on Long Island?” After a second or two, when he got no immediate response, Ben added “Is that evidence hard enough for you?” It was understood Azeez had been positively identified by the forensics from the yacht.

  “Hard as a rock, Ben” Kelly responded, a genuine smile on his face now.

  “This just come in?”

  “Sure did.”

  “Who knows about this?” Kelly asked

  “You, me, and the STAT crime lab”

  “Good. I do think it’s time to put some names on that list over there” Kelly said, pointing to the empty half of the board just next to where they were seated. It was time to take a very close look at Sayf Udeen and Ra’ed Al Abbas. Kelly did not care what political booby traps might be in the way. Not with a high level member linked to C.J’s capture and the nuclear breach.

  “Now Ben, this Udeen link has me thinking - and bare with me now, but you know more about this organization than anyone we have. What can you tell me about their relationship with Bin-Laden?”

  “Huh?” Ben was taken aback by the fact that Kelly was focusing on an old rivalry that took place well over a decade earlier.

  “Why do you ask, Bill?”

  “Because I think it just might help make some sense of this whole Salaam business”

  “Okay, well, the relationship between the groups was…how should I put it… tenuous at best. They had a common enemy for sure. And that could bring together the most bitter of rivals. But there was never much trust, or coordination.”

  “What do you think Sayf Udeen’s connection was, if any, with nine-eleven?”

  “Bill, c’mon, they were vehemently opposed to it. Everyone in the intelligence community knew that. It’s partially what saved their ass in the aftermath. Few on the outside had ever even heard of the organization”

  “No Ben, really, what did they believe about the event. Not just the lip service they gave to the global community.”

  “Bill, they were really opposed to it. They are Islamic fundamentalists, and by default oppose our Western ideals. But Ra’ed was furious with Qaeda, I think because of the heat it generated on them, and because it cut into their legitimacy with their own people, who were mesmerized by Bin-Laden’s audacity and success. In the final analysis, Udeen suffered because of those attacks. They lost many followers, and it would not surprise me one bit if they had a hand in Qaeda’s ultimate demise. But if you’re having any doubts about their capabilities or intentions forget it. No one really knows them like I do, and believe me - they’re capable of much worse than Bin laden. I believed it then, and I believe that today.”

  “I wasn’t thinking that at all, Ben. In fact, I was just thinking the same thing”.

  “I’m glad you agree. So how does that help explain Salaam’s role in all this?”

  “It might explain how and why he allowed his unit to get caught in Afghanistan, why the men under his command seemed to become disenchanted with him, why he never reconnected with Taliban or Qaeda forces after his release. It could explain a lot of inconsistencies in that dossier we have compiled.”

  “How’s that?”

  “Well, let’s assume Salaam was never really Qaeda, but Udeen all along.”

  “I don’t think we can jump to that assumption. Salaam may have transferred allegiances after nine-eleven simply because Qaeda ceased to exist. In the present climate… today, if a radical desired to inflict some retribution on the West, what other alternatives do they have other than Udeen. There is just no other viable option for these fundamentalists to turn to for support. Why think otherwise?”

  “I understand that. Just bear with me here for a minute… Now most of us reflexively think these people all hate us, and that unites them under one umbrella. But perhaps they hate each other just as much. You yourself just implied that. So what if Salaam was a Sayf Udeen agent all along, and he connected with Qaeda prior to nine-eleven on Udeen’s behalf?”

  “What are you suggesting Bill?”

  “That Salaam was an Udeen spy all along - a terrorist agent who had infiltrated another rival terrorist organization. And when Afghanistan fell apart, and Qaeda was scattered across the globe, he might have figured his days as an undercover radical within Bin-Laden’s group were numbered, so why not give himself up. Hell, I would have if I were in his shoes. I mean, why would he want to get killed fighting for Qaeda. Otherwise, how did he get caught so readily in the immediate aftermath when most other senior members escaped? Remember, most of Qaeda’s top leadership was killed or captured long after Salaam was in custody.”

  “So you think Salaam purposefully engineered his way into U.S. custody to help us catch Al Qaeda. That’s a hell of a conspiracy theory Bill”, Ben said wryly

  “Is it? It may be a bit radical, but if my hunch is correct, then we ended up doing Udeen’s work for them. Think about it…We brought down their main rival, and allowed them to mushroom in the vacuum that was created after Bin-Laden’s demise. It would have been a brilliant, calculated move on Salaam’s part. The only risk to him was in Qaeda figuring this out. So he maintains his cover throughout his time at Gitmo, and then just lays low after his release. He doesn’t run back to Udeen right away because he doesn’t want scattered Qaeda remnants becoming suspicious. That would explain why we never linked Ra’ed with Salaam previously, and why he’s been able to evade Hermes and our scourge of radical Islamic elements post nine-eleven.”

  Ben sat and digested the information. After a few moments, he nodded in tacit agreement. />
  “It just might fit”, the analyst acknowledged. The hypothesis did offer an explanation for the numerous loose ends and inconsistencies that had previously plagued their analyses.

  “Okay, Ben. Anything else?”

  “No. I don’t think so”

  The meeting adjourned, and Kelly and Ben each went their separate ways. The young analyst had been one of Kelly’s key players in the investigation, and continued to impress. Kelly was glad to have the man’s clear, calculating perspective at his side. Much had been gained just bouncing ideas and theories with Ben. But then again, their really big break had yet to occur. They needed to get a bead on those three unconventionals, and fast. And they needed to know just what it was they were up against. It seemed as if the Columbia scientist, Dr. Koval, had made some strides. At least his people had intimated as much.

  As he entered his office, Kelly heard his operatives on the ground calling over the radio. The news from New York was not good.

  Leo turned the key and slowly opened the door. His life was over, that much was certain. What did a gunshot feel like? He wondered. He had heard it didn't hurt as much as one might think. He could try and raise a struggle, but it would be useless. He was no fighter, he was unarmed, and two seemingly professional assassins were holding pistols behind him.

  “Okay, this is it” he thought as he turned the knob. He caught a quick glimpse down the hall, hoping by some miracle someone would appear and save him. But the corridor was empty. This last vestige of hope was gone. He stepped through the door, closed his eyes, and waited for the end to come. A gunshot ripped through the air.

  "What are you saying!" Kelly yelled into the radio. His booming voice would be transmitted into the earpieces of the operatives on the ground.

  "Gunshots, we've got gunshots. We're going in"

  Totally dejected, Kelly felt ill, as if his stomach were turned upside down, as he mouthed his next sentence. "Let me know as soon as you find anything". What more could he say. Despite constant surveillance, it seemed as if the worst had occurred right under their noses. And just when it seemed the man had made some sort of breakthrough.

  The agency had been following Leo Koval for months. STAT needed another nuclear physicist, and Martin Lee, their current top man, was chomping at the bit for someone of Leo’s stature. While being evaluated for a top security clearance, the Sea Patrol disaster went down, accelerating the scientist’s role in the investigative efforts. The implications of the radioactive spill warranted immediate attention, and STAT was just not up to the task. Now, after all the precautions they had made, things were blowing up in their face. Who could have gotten to him? The agency had 24 hour surveillance on the scientist and still they couldn't protect him. It must have been someone on the inside, Kelly concluded. That was the only explanation. They had to get to Leo Koval, and fast.

  Leo's heart jumped at the noise. Was he still alive then? Was he hit? He couldn't feel a thing. He went numb. A hand shoved him to the floor, dragged him around a workbench. It was Nina.

  "It’s over", she yelled to the remaining terrorist. Nina had been hiding inside the lab and felled the African with a direct gunshot to the head as the door opened. She now brandished her gun while crouching behind the laboratory counter. She could see from around the corner of the workbench that Babukar was still breathing, a trickle of blood emanating from the .38 caliber hole in his forehead. His eyes were open and staring in her direction.

  “Babukar, who’s out there. Tell me!”

  But the stricken man could muster no reply as he slowly lapsed into unconsciousness. Nina poked her head over the counter, only to be rebuffed by a gunshot. The large man working with Babukar had them pinned in the room. There was no other way out of that room, but through the open doorway, which was now well covered by a fearless brute with a gun. They were trapped.

  "Nina, what is going on?" mumbled Leo.

  "Not now Leo", she commanded. "Just stay where you are".

  Nina poked the gun over the counter and began firing blindly but systematically, spraying lead across the room in front of them in a wide arc. When the shooting stopped, they waited in silence for what seemed to be an eternity to Leo, but in fact was less than twenty seconds. No bullets were fired back.

  "Lee…" A voice could be heard in the distance, one Leo did not recognize. “Lee…” It was getting louder now.

  "Yeah, here", Nina/Leah answered. Turning now to Leo, "it's okay, he's with us"

  “Who are you?" Leo whispered, still frazzled by the events of the past few minutes

  "Leo, I'm sorry. You'll find out soon enough"

  "Lee?" he said almost to himself.

  "Leah” the scientist/operative answered. “My name is Leah”.

  The CIA agent helped Leo up off the floor. The smell of gunpowder permeated the air. The odor was totally foreign to the physicist; he had never fired a gun in his life. Before him were two burly male figures.

  “Lee, you okay?” asked the taller of the two men.

  “Yeah, fine. One got away – did you see him?”

  “No, but we’ve got a team searching the place. We’ll get him.” Turning now to Leo “Doctor Koval, are you okay?"

  Leo was still too stunned to respond.

  "He's fine guys", Leah replied for him.

  Yeah, just fine, Leo thought. What had he gotten himself into?

  The agent continued to engage the scientist: "Doctor, gather your things. It's not safe for you here anymore."

  "What do you mean…Where do you propose I go?" Leo asked shaking his head. His voice was now steady, his confidence restored.

  "You'll find out soon enough"

  "Why do you people keep saying that!" Leo exclaimed. "Can I get some answers!" Turning now to Leah, more calmly, he restated his request "I think I'm entitled to some answers"

  "You sure are my dear Leo. We'll fill you in on the drive down"

  "Down where?"

  "Washington. You need to tell us what you found out about this specimen"

  "Us?"

  "Yes Leo, you're going to brief your government on what we need to know." She looked away from the scientist now, and contritely added "I'm sorry we got you into this, but you were the best man for the job. I am sorry, truly"

  Leo appreciated the sincerity in the CIA agent's voice.

  "Ni…I mean Leah". Gosh, that was weird, he thought, he had known this person by another name for so long. "Thank you"

  "Thank you?" Leah was puzzled, "for what?"

  "For saving my life" Leo looked at the agent, surprised to see a tear beginning to form in the corner of the steely woman's eye.

  Chapter 7

  The news had just been received, and Ra’ed was still fuming. He knew of this Leo Koval, this American Kafir, or infidel, who had been recruited to sift through the contaminated debris at sea. His scientist Abul had met the man before, had heard him speak at numerous meetings and prestigious conferences. If anyone could decipher the unique composition of their source of power, it was this man. He should have killed him when they had the chance. It was a lesson Ra’ed had learned long ago, and one he regretfully did not heed. He should have played it safe, eliminated the threat while the opportunity presented itself. Abul had urged him to let the man discover what he may, so as to make use of his analysis. This did not encourage Ra’ed, for it bespoke that even his chief scientist had not fully grasped the true nature of the unique material which had been discovered. And so he had allowed this scientist, Leo Koval, to stay alive so that they might make use of his findings.

  “Perhaps they might better understand the true nature of the radiation emitted” Abul had argued. This was, after all, the nature of why this substance was “invisible” to the American detection system. Ra’ed’s scientist was hoping Leo Koval might provide them with some answers to this piece of the puzzle. But now the plan had backfired. Waiting to dispose of the man had been a grave mistake, for they still knew how to harness the power contained within the great
discovery of theirs. One did not need to fully understand a power before wielding it. Ultimately, the analysis of this American scientist was not pivotal to weaponization; it would not stop the inevitable. Abul had assured him as much. In fact, a test device was not far off. And if this prototype were successful, and there was little doubt in Ra’ed’s mind that it would be, Sayf Udeen would be the 10th nuclear power on the planet - and the only autocracy - to wield such might. There would be no checks and balances on its use; he, Ra’ed Al-Abbas, would be the only person on the planet with sole authority to unleash the immense power trapped within the atom. And for Ra’ed, this was not some mere bargaining tool or deterrent. This was a legitimate weapon of war and terror. There would be no constraints, and he intended to show the world just that.

  But what to do about the American scientist? The man would be guarded most closely, and his work maintained highly classified. Would this man be able to make sense from the strange radioactivity of this material? After many months, his own team of scientists could still not detect the source in its purest form. But one never knew. For the first time, an element of uncertainty existed; the possibility of failure entered Ra’ed’s mind, if only for a fleeting moment. The solution to the dilemma, of course, was simple – they needed a working explosive, and soon. Abul had already worked out how to spread contamination over a rather large radius, the so-called dirty bomb. That in itself could indeed debilitate an urban center. But Ra’ed’s thoughts were far more grandiose. Debilitation was merely an appetizer – destruction was the real deal-maker. He needed the power to destroy before Leo Koval, Bill Kelly, the CIA and the United States were in a position to stop him. The threat of a dirty bomb would not drive the mighty United States to its knees. They would stand by their mantra of non-negotiation. It might wound his adversary, but he could ill afford anything short of a decisive measure. There must not be an opening for retaliation, lest Udeen fall the way Qaeda and countless others had in the past. Besides, if the Americans could get their detection system, that intricate network of spy satellites, drones, sea buoys and other elements of the radiodetection system, upgraded to pick up his weapon, all hope would be lost. Sayf Udeen would never again be able to smuggle material into the heart of the infidel. Building a nuclear device was one thing, delivering it another. Their weapon was invisible, for now; Salaam had proven that. And soon they would alert the Americans as to its existence, at a time and manner of Ra’ed’s choosing. But the timetable had to be accelerated. The threat must be posed while it could still elude the American sensors. And they needed an explosive-type device, one capable of sustaining a chain reaction. These were the keys to success.