Shadow Conflict

by Shadow Conflict (epub)

  ‘On first contact, we establish a perimeter. I want it airtight – no one and nothing gets in or out without our knowledge. Is anyone unclear about what I’ve just said?’

  He was met with a dozen voices responding as one. ‘No, sir!’

  * * *

  With Yasin briefed, Anya turned her attention to Alex.

  ‘You will control electronic surveillance at the site of the exchange,’ she said, pointing to a mark on the Berlin street map laid out on the table. ‘This residential parking area is two blocks away, and that should be far enough back to be outside their perimeter.’

  ‘How can you be so sure?’ Alex asked.

  ‘Cain will have limited manpower. He will be using trusted men, not Agency field teams who might talk or ask questions. Anyway, he wants me, and his attention will be focussed on that goal. For both reasons, his perimeter will be tight.’

  ‘Doesn’t leave a lot of room for you to get out, in that case,’ he remarked, searching for an explanation that would allay his fears.

  ‘Let me worry about that,’ she said dismissively. ‘With luck I can cause enough confusion to help us get away, but the longer we delay the more chance we have of being intercepted. So if I tell you to go, leave with or without me. Don’t wait.’

  ‘I thought soldiers never left a man behind?’

  ‘You are not a soldier, and I am not a man,’ Anya pointed out.

  Alex folded his arms, clearly unhappy. ‘Fine. But for the record, I don’t like this.’

  ‘Neither do I. But it’s the best we have.’

  * * *

  Hawkins glanced at his team. A dozen trained killers, well armed and well prepared, all of them forged in the heat of war, about to pit themselves against an enemy the likes of which they’d never encountered before. He had no doubt that some of them would be dead before the day was out. The only question was how many lives Anya would take with her when she fell.

  ‘Everything you’ve just heard is the official line,’ he said, bringing the first part of his briefing to a close. ‘But this next part’s for me.’

  Their eyes were fixed on him, keen to hear what he’d say next. Most of them held Hawkins in the highest regard, a few were openly intimidated by him, but all were watching their leader in rapt attention.

  ‘The enemy we will face today is one of the most highly trained operatives the Agency ever fielded,’ he began. ‘She is resourceful, experienced, ruthless and utterly without mercy. Make no mistake, the second you underestimate this woman, you’re as good as dead. So believe me when I say we have a difficult day ahead, and not all of you are going to see the end of it.’

  A few nervous glances were exchanged as his words sank in. Good, he wanted them on edge. He wanted them to respect their enemy.

  Only then would they be able to help him kill her.

  * * *

  Leaning on the table with her head down, Anya sighed, gathering her thoughts before speaking again. When she looked up, her expression was different. Softer, less sure of herself, almost vulnerable. This wasn’t something she was used to doing, and it showed.

  ‘Neither of you are soldiers,’ she said. ‘I have asked you to do things that I have no right to ask of anyone. I want you to understand that neither of you owe me anything, so if you are here only out of guilt or obligation, I release you from it. You can walk away now and I will think no worse of you.’

  She was watching them closely, waiting for a response, needing to hear it from them. Neither Alex nor Yasin said a word.

  * * *

  ‘If any of you still expect this exchange to pass smoothly and peacefully, then you’re going to have a real bad day,’ Hawkins barked. ‘Anya will do everything in her considerable power to fuck this up for us. She will try to play games with us, lure us in, catch us off guard, and wait until we’re at our weakest and most vulnerable. Then she will strike, and she will show no mercy.

  ‘But she will not succeed,’ he continued, his voice rising with growing power and conviction. ‘She will fail in her mission, because we are stronger than her. We hold all the advantages: we have the only two people she’s willing to risk her life for, and that will be her downfall. We will overcome every obstacle she throws in our path, we will counter every strategy, we will defeat every plan. We will exhaust her options, shut down every means of escape until we have the bitch backed into a corner. Then she’ll be ours.’

  Hawkins could feel the fire rising with every word he spoke, the growing confidence in their victory. They were ready. He knew it.

  ‘God willing, she will not live to see another sunrise,’ he finished, scanning their determined faces. ‘Anyone got a problem with that?’

  For the second time, the dozen warriors spoke as one. ‘No, sir!’

  * * *

  ‘There are not many people in this world I can call friends,’ Anya said. ‘But the two of you are amongst them. Knowing the risks, I must ask whether you’re prepared to go through with this.’

  ‘You know I’m in,’ Alex said. ‘If nothing else, I deserve to meet the guys I got pepper-sprayed for.’

  Yasin drew himself up to his full if modest height. ‘I said before that you owed me a debt for saving your life in Pakistan,’ he said, then shook his head slowly. ‘I was wrong. You saved me from something worse – a life with no meaning, slowly dying every day. For that, I am yours. I will do whatever you ask, for as long as you ask it.’

  Silence descended on the room. Alex suspected Anya didn’t trust herself to speak. She was human after all.

  ‘Shit, did you rehearse that one?’ he asked Yasin, surprised and a little jealous of his eloquence. ‘Kind of puts mine to shame.’

  Yasin beamed with confidence. ‘Your words were simple, Alex. Just like your mind.’

  Even Anya smiled a little, the tension suddenly broken. She rolled up the map. ‘Then we go,’ she said, the matter settled. ‘Get your things. We leave in five minutes.’

  ‘Wait a second,’ Alex said as Anya knelt beside the holdall full of weapons. ‘Did you really call me a friend? I need to write this down.’

  ‘That can change very easily, Alex,’ she replied, with mock seriousness. ‘Come on, let’s finish this.’

  Chapter 53

  Islamabad, Pakistan

  It was early evening when the three-car convoy rolled out of the ISI’s headquarters, bound for the US embassy compound across town. On board were Executive Director Khalid, a cadre of his closest advisors, a heavy security contingent, and Vizur Qalat.

  Khalid had insisted that Qalat accompany them, partly because his sage advice had been instrumental in Khalid’s decision, and partly because he had come to trust Qalat implicitly when it came to dealing with the CIA.

  Qalat sat upright as he watched the busy roadways of central Islamabad slide by outside his window. The sun was already close to the horizon, casting long shadows across the ground, but the sultry heat of the afternoon persisted. Only the car’s powerful air conditioning kept the temperature down, though Qalat could nonetheless feel tiny beads of sweat trickling down his back.

  ‘Something on your mind, Vizur?’

  Blinking, he noticed Director Khalid watching him with interest. ‘Many things,’ Qalat answered vaguely.

  Reaching into his jacket pocket, Khalid produced a pack of cigarettes. ‘I’d feel better hearing you thoughts,’ he said, lighting up and taking a draw.

  He was nervous, Qalat knew, even if he was trying to hide it. Khalid had largely given up cigarettes, only bringing them out during times of stress or difficulty. He disliked the Americans already, and sensed there was more to this meeting than a simple exchange of information.

  He was looking for reassurance.

  ‘I feel like this could be a historic day for our country,’ Qalat said, mustering an appropriate level of gravitas for his lie. ‘My gut tells me the Americans have learned they can’t push us around and work behind our backs. If this is our chance to make them treat us as equals, I hope we pr
ove worthy of the task.’

  Khalid stifled a cough as he pondered Qalat’s words.

  ‘If it is indeed as you say, history may remember both our names,’ he remarked. ‘There will be many opportunities for men like us.’

  Qalat forced a knowing smile. Amid the doubts and fears, Khalid’s mind was alive with thoughts of the prestige and influence a diplomatic victory could buy him. Already director of the ISI, it wouldn’t be hard to see him parlaying that influence into a career in the higher echelons of government.

  ‘We will hear what the Americans have to offer,’ Khalid went on, blowing acrid tobacco smoke into the car’s interior. ‘Then I will decide if it is good enough.’

  Chapter 54

  Not only had Felix provided Anya with weapons and equipment, he’d also been able to secure a Volkswagen Transporter van. It was waiting for them in the parking area outside their apartment, the keys secured to the underside of the driver’s wheel arch.

  In short order they had loaded their gear, secured Lauren in the back, with Alex covering her, and were on their way. Barely 30 minutes stood between them and their meeting with Cain.

  ‘What are their names?’ Lauren asked suddenly.

  Anya glanced at her in the rear mirror. ‘What do you mean?’

  ‘The people you’re doing this for,’ the young woman explained. ‘You said my father was holding your friends prisoner. I wanted to know their names.’

  ‘Why?’

  ‘You’re risking your life – and mine – to get them back. I think I at least deserve to know who they are.’

  Anya didn’t say anything for a few seconds, and Lauren began to wonder if she was refusing to answer. ‘The first is called Keira Frost.’

  ‘What’s she like?’

  ‘She used to be a technical specialist with the CIA, then she went rogue like myself.’

  Lauren chuckled then shook her head. ‘You’ve told me what she does. I asked what she’s like – as a person.’

  Anya gave her an annoyed look, but nonetheless conceded. ‘She is young, stubborn, quick to anger and slow to forgive. She acts first and thinks later, and never backs down – even when she should. She tried to kill me once.’

  Lauren raised an eyebrow. ‘Sounds charming.’

  ‘I was not so different when I was young,’ Anya said.

  ‘Hard to imagine you ever being young,’ Lauren fired back. ‘What about the second one?’

  Anya seemed to tense up at this question. ‘His name is Drake.’

  It was clear she had no desire to say more, and Lauren was quick to pick up on it. ‘I get it. This Drake… he means something to you, right? He must be something pretty special if you’re willing to risk four lives for him.’

  ‘That’s enough,’ Anya snapped.

  Lauren glared back at her fearlessly. ‘What are you going to do? Kill me?’

  ‘I won’t kill you, Lauren. But I will have you gagged and blindfolded. Is that what you want?’

  It was clear that this was no idle threat. Lauren leaned back against the side of the compartment. ‘What I want is for this to be over.’

  ‘It will be soon,’ Anya said.

  * * *

  US embassy – Islamabad, Pakistan

  Station Chief Hayden Quinn was in his office when his desk phone rang. He pounced on it immediately. ‘Quinn.’

  ‘Gate security, sir,’ one of the guards outside reported. ‘They’re here.’

  Quinn could feel his throat growing dry. The time had come. The meeting he’d never imagined possible was about to begin. The Pakistani ISI delegation was waiting for him.

  ‘Good, let them through.’

  ‘We haven’t processed them through security, sir,’ the man replied.

  ‘No security checks,’ Quinn said firmly. ‘They’re here under a diplomatic banner. That’s how they’ll be treated.’

  ‘Sir, this is against protocol—’

  ‘It’s on my authority, son,’ Quinn cut in. ‘I’m station chief, and I’m telling you to let them through. I’ll be down to meet them right now.’

  A pause, then a reluctant, ‘Yes, sir.’

  Quinn grabbed his jacket and shrugged into it, taking a couple of deep breaths.

  Hurrying downstairs, he was just in time to meet the Pakistani delegation as they emerged from their silver Mercedes SUVs. A cursory glance was enough to tell him most of the major players in the ISI were here, including Director Khalid himself, flanked by heavy-set security men.

  ‘Director Khalid,’ Quinn began, approaching him with his hand outstretched. ‘I’m Hayden Quinn, the station chief here.’

  His first impression of Khalid was that he was both shorter and fatter than expected, his belt and shirt struggling to contain a protruding stomach. He also looked older than his intelligence dossier photos had suggested, his wide face deeply lined, his scalp showing through thinning hair.

  ‘Mr Quinn,’ Khalid said, gripping his hand like a vice rather than shaking it.

  ‘I’m pleased you accepted our invitation,’ Quinn went on, undeterred. ‘It’s my hope this represents the first step towards better cooperation between our agencies.’

  Khalid’s face was giving nothing away. ‘That depends on what you have to show us,’ he said, releasing Quinn’s hand. ‘I hope for both our sakes this was not a wasted trip.’

  Quinn took a step back, hoping he looked more confident than he felt. ‘Of course. We have a conference room waiting for us inside.’ He gestured towards the embassy building. ‘This way please, gentlemen.’

  * * *

  Berlin, Germany

  They were here. Pulling into a parking area, Anya shut down the engine, stepped out and surveyed their surroundings carefully. They were in an open space flanked by multistorey buildings facing onto the main road nearby. On the south side was a modern high-rise shopping and office complex, while to the north stood an older government building – according to Alex’s research, an urban planning office for the German government.

  To the west, their parking lot gave way to a grassy, tree-covered recreation area for the apartment blocks facing it. A small island of greenery in a sea of concrete.

  Satisfied their arrival hadn’t drawn undue attention, Anya moved around to the van’s rear door. Taking her holdall, she gestured for Lauren to come outside. Reluctantly the young woman complied, refusing Anya’s offer of assistance and jumping down lightly onto the uneven tarmac.

  Yasin jogged over to confer with Anya and Alex.

  ‘This is where we split up,’ Anya announced. ‘You each know what you have to do.’

  Neither of them was in any doubt now.

  ‘Check your radios.’

  Much like during the mission in Paris, they were wearing covert radio earpieces that allowed the team to communicate unobtrusively. Their effective range was limited to a hundred metres or so, but with luck that would be enough.

  Flicking the switch that powered up her unit, Anya turned away from them and spoke quietly. ‘Radio test. Check.’

  ‘Got it,’ Alex’s voice crackled in her ear.

  ‘I hear you too,’ Yasin said.

  Turning back to face them, she paused, trying to think of some parting words for them. She wasn’t used to doing such things, and struggled to find the right way to begin.

  ‘I trust you both to do this,’ she finally said. ‘Keep your wits about you, think slow and stay calm. I will take care of the rest.’

  Without warning, Yasin threw his arms around her. He said nothing, just held Anya tight. It was the only physical affection he’d shown in the entire time she’d known him, and it caught her so off guard that she dropped her holdall.

  At first Anya didn’t know how to react, but then she reached down and laid her hand on his head, running her fingers through his short, bristly hair. She vaguely remembered her mother doing something similar when she was frightened or upset, but it was quite alien to her, as were the feelings it evoked.

  At last Yasin step
ped away, though he avoided her gaze. ‘I must go now,’ he announced as if nothing had happened. ‘I need time to look around, find a good vantage point.’

  Anya nodded. ‘Go. Stay in contact over the radio.’

  ‘I’ll be seeing you soon, yeah?’ Alex said, watching her closely.

  ‘With luck,’ Anya replied, still refusing to commit.

  He seemed poised to say something more, but thought better of it, perhaps realizing that any further debate was futile. Instead he held out his hand, which Anya clasped tight for a few moments.

  He looked at Lauren. ‘However things play out today, I hope you come out of this all right, Lauren.’

  ‘And you,’ she said as she stared into his eyes, surprising both of them.

  The moment was broken when Anya spoke up. ‘Time to go,’ she said, picking up the holdall and gesturing for the young woman to head towards the main road. ‘Follow me, Lauren.’

  Glancing back over her shoulder at Alex, who seemed to be watching them with an expression of sadness and regret, Lauren did as instructed.

  ‘Where are we going?’

  ‘For a cup of coffee.’

  Chapter 55

  Cain’s advance teams had already established their command and control centre in a hotel room overlooking Potsdamer Platz in central Berlin. Walking into the room, the deputy director found himself confronted by a menagerie of laptops, secure radio comms units, satellite uplinks and surveillance equipment, with technicians bent over their hastily constructed work stations. It was just as well he’d mobilized assets all across the country the day before, otherwise they’d never have been ready in time.