Camel Club 05 - Hell's Corner

by David Baldacci

  Adelphia introduced them and Stone showed his badge to the man. Turkekul studied the credentials and then closed the door and motioned them to take seats on the white couch in the main room of the apartment. As Stone looked around he was intrigued by the piles of books and typewritten pages scattered everywhere. From some of the titles he was able to read it became clear that Turkekul was a man of diverse intellectual interests who was versed in at least four languages.

  “From what Adelphia told me you’re not staying here, but rather at Georgetown.”

  “I also maintain a flat here. Just in case. One can never be too careful,” said Turkekul.

  “I’ll never argue with that.”

  He offered them hot tea. Adelphia accepted. Stone declined. Turkekul fetched the tea and settled across from them.

  “Adelphia has told me some of the situation, and she let me make the decision to meet with you. For that I thank her.” Turkekul’s voice was firm, commanding. He was obviously used to lecturing. Stone tried to diagnose the underlying accent and inflection to determine the man’s origins. Though normally quite adept at that, he came away with no definitive answer.

  “Why do you thank her?” asked Stone. “From the way she told it, you didn’t want to meet at all.”

  “Then you misunderstood her. I thought it better to clear the air now, instead of having what you call the loose threads.”

  “You knew the park was under video surveillance,” said Stone. “And also where the cameras were arrayed?”

  Adelphia clenched her teacup a bit more tightly while Turkekul finished a sip of his drink before setting the cup down and carefully wiping his mouth with a handkerchief pulled from his sweater pocket.

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You kept your back to them. You stooped over, your face pointing down. I remember that. That maneuver threw off my estimate of your height. And you were pretending to read the plaque on the statue, to give you some reason to not look toward the bank of cameras.” He glanced at Adelphia. “Did you tell him where the cameras were located?”

  Before she could answer Turkekul said, “You are mostly correct. However, I was not pretending to read the plaque. I did in fact read it. The German von Steuben has long been of historical interest to me.”

  “Why?”

  “My maternal grandfather was German. He was also in the military.”

  “German and in the military?”

  “The Third Reich, yes. But with a twist.”

  “What twist?”

  “He was a Jew.”

  Stone said nothing.

  “And he was a spy. They discovered his real identity in 1944. They didn’t bother sending him to a concentration camp to join his fellow Jews. They simply executed him on the bombed-out streets of Berlin. The incensed and war-weary crowd of Germans tore his body apart, I was told. It was indeed tragic. A few more months and the war in Europe would be over.”

  “He died a hero,” added Adelphia, though she was looking at Stone.

  “Adelphia told me you were meeting with her at the park that night, only she never showed up. She also told me that you have interests outside of academia.”

  “That is true.”

  “What are those interests?”

  “I cannot see how they have relevance to what you seek.”

  “I’d like to be the judge of that.”

  “I can see that.”

  “But we can start with what you saw that night in the park.”

  Turkekul spoke in great detail for the next ten minutes as he patiently laid out what he had observed. “I was past the Decatur House when I heard the guns commence firing,” he added.

  “And what did you do?”

  “What any sensible person would have done. I ran in the other direction.”

  “So you could tell from where the gunfire was coming?”

  “Yes and no. Yes in that I saw the bullets ripping through the trees in the park. Thus I assumed that the origin was coming from H Street or thereabouts. I did not stop to look and gauge exactly the shots’ origins. I have some nerve, but not enough to stand pat when guns are firing.”

  “And the woman who left the park about the same time you did?”

  “I saw her once. She too was running across the street.”

  Stone glanced at Adelphia. “So what were you two planning to meet about?”

  “If we refuse to tell you, I suppose you will turn us in,” said Turkekul.

  “No.”

  Turkekul looked surprised. “Why not?”

  “Because Adelphia is an old friend of mine. She’s helped me in the past. She kept secrets about me to herself. I don’t betray my friends.”

  “Even though, as I understand it, you now work for your government.”

  “I don’t betray my friends,” Stone said again.

  “An admirable trait,” opined Turkekul. He remained silent for a few seconds, his index finger tapping absently on the arm of the chair.

  Finally he sat forward. “I have been given a mission, Agent Stone. A very difficult one. One that no one else has been able to accomplish.”

  “Which is?”

  “To help us find Osama bin Laden.”

  The voice did not belong to Fuat Turkekul.

  Stone turned to see Sir James McElroy stroll into the room.

  CHAPTER 25

  MCELROY SAT DOWN across from Stone.

  Stone said, “It’s comforting to see that you still lie as well as ever.”

  “A necessary skill in our line of work, as you well know.”

  “So how big a lie was it?”

  “I have known about Fuat here for some time now. We actually worked with the Americans to bring this whole mission up to snuff.”

  “I can tell you that your keeping me in the dark forced me to waste an incredible amount of time, but then you already know that.”

  “Without seeming to make excuses, Oliver, I also have a higher authority to answer to.”

  “And they wanted to keep the truth from me?”

  “Yes. However, I decided to bring this charade to an end for two reasons. One, it wasn’t fair to you. And second, it’s inefficient.”

  Stone looked at Adelphia. “I take it he asked you to come to me?”

  Adelphia nodded. “But I’ve wanted to for a long time. I miss our chats. Our friendship.”

  Stone looked back at McElroy. “Are you here simply to say you’re sorry and pat me on the head, or do you intend to fill me in? And is Chapman aware of this?”

  McElroy blew his nose into his handkerchief and shook his head. He had on the same blue blazer but a fresh shirt and pants. His face was pinched and the eyes evidenced the physical pain he was suffering. “No, she’s not.”

  “All right,” Stone said warily.

  “To get back to your first query. We decided to tell you because you might’ve figured it out on your own. I know how tenacious you can be. It was the most extraordinarily unfortunate timing that Fuat was in the park when it happened.”

  “And you see no connection?” Stone asked.

  “Actually, I wish I did. It would at least make some sense out of what so far is inexplicable.”

  “You’re sure about that?”

  “That Fuat was not the target? Reasonably sure. The mission has hardly begun. And Fuat is not in the front lines. It would be counterintuitive to expect a man to be hunting Osama bin Laden from the United States. It’s merely in the planning stages, a delicate operation between several like-minded countries, but it does involve a fresh approach with new assets on the ground, hence the need for secrecy. Adelphia represents one such entity. My interests are self-evident.”

  “And what are your interests, Mr. Turkekul?” Stone gazed at the other man.

  Turkekul said, “After the end of World War II my German mother left for Turkey where she met my father. I don’t believe he knew of her ethnicity. The war destroyed the official records of millions of people. I only found out when I was an adult
. I was born in Turkey, just outside of Constantinople. But I grew up in Pakistan, although for a time my family lived in Afghanistan. I am a Muslim like my father but I despise the people behind 9/11. They have taken the concept of jihad and twisted it into something ugly and indefensible in furtherance of their own hatred for others.”

  “Fuat is our ace in the hole, as it were,” said McElroy. “He has intimate contacts not only within the Muslim community but also in the area of the world where we believe our quarry to be.”

  “The mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan?” replied Stone.

  Turkekul smiled. “You will not get the man with a Predator drone strike. He is too cunning for that. And perhaps he is in those mountains, and perhaps not.”

  “And it was decided to deploy you now and not before?” asked Stone.

  Turkekul was about to say something in response when McElroy broke in. “Not something that we need to go into, Oliver. Just take my word on that.”

  “All right, but if you are so well-connected, Mr. Turkekul, there are those who would suspect you may be of help to the West. They may have attempted a preemptive strike.”

  “Machine guns and bombs and they missed poor Fuat standing out in the open? Hardly credible,” said McElroy.

  “I don’t disagree. But the Yemen group taking responsibility?”

  “In my eyes equally incredible, but the Yanks, I have to admit, see it differently.”

  “Why a meeting in Lafayette Park?”

  McElroy glanced at Adelphia, who said, “No one expects you to go to so conspicuous a place to conduct a clandestine rendezvous.”

  “Dark alleys and darker pubs,” chimed in McElroy with a fake shudder. “Like in the cinema. Rubbish, actually. That’s where all the coppers are looking for the spies between pints.”

  “Why didn’t you show up that night, Adelphia?” Stone asked again.

  “It was called off by my superiors. I was not given a reason. I knew that when I did not appear by a certain time Fuat would leave by prearrangement.” Adelphia added, “Do they know the source of the bomb?”

  “No, not yet.”

  “Was it a suicide bomber?” asked Turkekul. “That is their preferred choice of attack, other than an IED. I know of this group in Yemen. They stick to that playbook religiously.”

  Stone eyed McElroy, who made a slight shake of the head. Stone shifted in his seat. “It’s an ongoing investigation.”

  “Will you have to report this contact to your superiors?” Turkekul said.

  McElroy cleared his throat. “Oliver, I cannot officially tell you what to do. But I would ask that you think about that question carefully. A report at this juncture, even a censored one, could well lead to the termination of this mission before it’s ever had a chance to succeed.” McElroy bowed his head and seemed to be waiting for an answer.

  Stone didn’t deliberate for long. He turned to Turkekul. “I’ll say nothing, for now. However, despite what you’ve said, if it becomes apparent that you were the target I would assume you would want to know that?”

  Turkekul said, “You assume correctly. And I thank you for that.”

  “I’ll fill Chapman in.”

  “Actually, she needn’t know,” McElroy said quickly.

  Stone shook his head. “I don’t keep things from my partner. I know, she knows.”

  McElroy looked indecisive. “I’ll leave it up to you, then.”

  Stone rose from the couch. “One last question. Adelphia. How was the communication made between you two as to the location?”

  “I left a message up on the main notice board in the middle of Georgetown campus,” said Adelphia. “It was in a code that Fuat and I worked out.”

  “The same code we used to use when we both were at the park?”

  “Very close to it,” she admitted.

  “Don’t trust secure electronic communications?” asked Stone.

  “There are no such things, my friend,” said Turkekul. “Several of my colleagues have found that out to their great detriment.”

  McElroy added, “The insecurity of electronic systems has forced us all back in some ways to the old spy dodges. A bit less efficient, but we all get to use our ingenuity instead of relying on machines to do it for us. I actually like it a lot better. But then I’m an old Cold War relic.”

  McElroy walked Stone out. “I’m sorry it had to be done this way. I would have preferred otherwise, Oliver. It wasn’t fair to you.”

  “Life is rarely fair.”

  “I understand the investigation proceeds slowly.”

  “If at all.”

  “It has to make sense, somehow. If it doesn’t, much of what I believe in life goes up in smoke.”

  “Can I expect any more surprises along these lines?”

  “I hope not. As for Chapman?”

  “I’m going to tell her. And you won’t convince me otherwise.”

  “You’re probably right.”

  “Take care, Sir James.”

  “Oliver, watch your back.” He paused and added, “And your front too.”

  “You know something I don’t?”

  “No, but the old relic’s antennae are tingling something fierce.”

  “One more time,” said Stone. “Are you withholding anything else from me?”

  “Good luck, Oliver. And please take my advice.”

  CHAPTER 26

  “SO WHAT DID YOU LEARN?” Chapman asked Stone when he returned to Lafayette Park.

  Stone led her off to the side and away from the other investigators in the park. He told her everything that had happened, including her boss’s appearance and Fuat Turkekul’s mission.

  “Good God,” she exclaimed. “I can’t believe it.”

  “What, the underlying facts, or that you weren’t in the loop?”

  “Both, I guess.” Her gaze was downcast, her look one of lost confidence.

  Realizing what she was thinking, Stone said, “McElroy plays things very close to the vest. And he compartmentalizes. And he withholds when he deems it necessary. I expect you know that.”

  “I do, it’s just…”

  He gripped her arm. “Don’t let this destroy the faith you have in yourself. That will help no one, least of all you. Keeping you in the dark is not a reflection on your ability. It’s just the way it is. We’ve all had to suffer through that.”

  She looked up, drew a breath and her resolve seemed to stiffen. “You’re right.” She put a hand on his shoulder. “I do appreciate you telling me, though.” She removed her hand. “Did he ask you to do that?”

  “Do you want the truth?”

  “Yes, please,” she said firmly. “It would be refreshing, actually.”

  “Initially he didn’t want you to know. But when I told him I don’t keep things from my partner he agreed with my decision to tell you.”

  Chapman studied him closely, evidently trying to determine if he were telling the truth. “Good, enough said on the subject.”

  “So where were you this morning?” asked Stone.

  She looked sheepish. “I was actually having a lie-in. I’ve had about two hours’ sleep in the last forty-eight, and the jet lag really kicked in. I was a bit knackered. And I didn’t think I could manage to be much help when I could barely stay awake.”

  Stone glanced over and saw Agent Garchik striding toward them. “Maybe he’ll have some answers.”

  They met him at the barriers and followed Garchik back to ground zero. The ATF agent’s expression was both curious and concerned.

  “You have some developments?” prompted Stone.

  Garchik nodded as he stared down at the crater. “You could say that. Those pieces of leather we found came from a Wilson basketball.”

  “A basketball!” exclaimed Chapman.

  “You’re sure it was involved in the explosion?” Stone asked.

  “I can’t think of another reason why bits of a basketball would be in Lafayette Park. And the scorch marks showed they were quite nea
r the blast seat. You could say right on top of it.”

  They all looked down at the hole.

  “Your conclusion?” Stone asked.

  “I think the bomb could very well have been in the basketball and the ball was placed inside the root ball of the maple. That location would tally with the debris field and other indicators we found.”

  “A bomb in a basketball?” said Chapman.

  “It would work,” said Garchik. “And it’s been done before by a few people, all dead now. Cut it open, put the bomb inside, reseal it, pump it up so that if anyone held it, it would feel legit. I wouldn’t advise dribbling the sucker, though.”

  “How was it detonated?” asked Stone.

  “Remotely would be my best guess, right now. Not a timer.”

  Stone said, “But we have information that the bomb dogs had patrolled the site the night of the bombing. Wouldn’t they have sensed it? You said they couldn’t be fooled by anything.”

  “They can’t. But they do have limits.”

  “What exactly are those limits?” asked Chapman.

  “Typical scent radius for the dogs is about three feet in all directions aboveground. And they can sniff out explosives buried up to roughly the same distance belowground.” Garchik pointed at the crater. “This hole before the bomb went off was over four feet deep and well over eight feet across.”

  “But uncovered,” Stone pointed out.

  “Yeah, but the root ball was huge. Six feet wide by over three feet high.”

  Stone realized something. “And there was yellow warning tape up cordoning off this area. So the dogs might not have gotten within ten feet of it.”

  “That’s right,” said Garchik. “So whether the bomb was here when they made their pass or not, chances are good they wouldn’t have detected it unless their handlers took them past the tape and let them climb right on top of the root ball. Which I sort of doubt was the case.”

  Stone’s gaze immediately swung toward the White House. “Then we need to talk to the people who installed it as soon as possible. But first we need to look at the video.”

  “Video?” said Chapman.

  “The video feed will show when that tree went in and who did it. It will also show if anyone went back in there afterward. And what they had with them. Like a bag big enough to place a basketball in.”