Into The Shadows

by Michael Brady

  “Agreed. I will update the Director right away. What are your plans, Michael?”

  “I’m calling Leslie. Maybe she can give us insight where he might be. I’ll be in touch when I can, Doug.”

  “Let me call her, Michael. You focus on Tony.”

  Michael dialed Tony.

  “Tony, I’ve got two dead bodies at 66 Rockwell Place apartments here in Brooklyn. The apartment is 1912. Five Ebola vials are here. One is missing. Recommend you get a hazmat team here right away and some detectives at the crime scene. I will leave the door unlocked. How fast until you can get a team here?”

  “What the hell are you doing there, Michael?”

  “I’ll explain later. How fast can you get your people here?”

  “They should be there in fifteen minutes. Are you planning to stay until they arrive?”

  “No. Unless you can get someone here within ten minutes.”

  “Okay. I’ll have a patrol car from Brooklyn there in minutes to secure the site.”

  Michael waited for the officer to arrive. As soon as he entered the apartment, Michael gave the officer instructions on where to find the bodies. The vials were on the kitchen counter, and Michael explained the blood was not to be touched until Hazmat arrived. He then quickly departed the apartment complex through the garage on the lower level.

  INR Headquarters, State Department, Washington, D.C. – November 17, 2:52 PM

  Leslie and her team scoured through intelligence reports. They could find nothing linking Foday to anyone in the New York region, except for Jesse Sane. Utilizing all metadata collection techniques, nothing turned up. Foday was operating in New York like a ghost and no indicators existed on where to search next. It would take a random police officer or gate attendant at one of hundreds of metro stations to spot Foday, if at all. Then her phone rang.

  “Leslie, it’s Doug from DO.”

  “Hey, Doug. We are finding nothing to connect Foday with anyone other than Jesse Sane. I feel like it will take dumb luck to find him.”

  “You may be right. Listen, I am here on a conference call with Michael and Tony at NYPD Intel. We have a couple of questions for you.”

  “Leslie, earlier today we found Jesse Sane dead in his apartment. If Foday did it, do you think he will return sometime this evening after conducting reconnaissance? Or do you think he’ll attempt to find a new location?” asked Tony.

  “I think he’ll return. He has no reason to think we are onto him. He assumes we found the maps in the Black River, but he is betting on anonymity due to the size of the city. Unless he thinks he’s been spotted, he will follow the plan.”

  “Why do you believe that? Would it make more sense to go to another city? Say D.C., Boston, or Philadelphia?”

  “It is certainly possible, Tony. An attack inside New York would have enormous propaganda value for Islamic State. He has a plan, and nothing indicates he would deviate from that now. Unfortunately, we have no psychological profile on him now, and I know of no other agency tracking him. So, we must assume he will stick with his original plan.”

  “Leslie, it’s Michael. If Foday has injected himself with the infected blood within the last twelve to eighteen hours, how long will it be before he can spread the virus?”

  “Research suggests it could be immediate. If he shares bodily fluids with anyone, it might transfer. I am not aware of any conclusive evidence to indicate otherwise. If he did recently infect himself, it could take several days before he shows visible symptoms such as coughing or sneezing.”

  “Thanks, Leslie. We really appreciate your thoughts on this. We will be in touch if we have any more questions,” said Doug.

  Michael, Doug, and Tony remained on the line.

  “Tony, how would you feel if I went back to the apartment and waited for Foday? I know it would screw up the crime scene, but we have no leads,” said Michael.

  “You mean just sit there and wait?”

  “Yes. If he returns, we can end this at the apartment away from public scrutiny.”

  “And if he doesn’t, Michael?” asked Doug.

  “Then the NYPD will have to catch up with him. The more he goes out the more likely someone spots him.”

  “Michael, I’m not opposed, but the Chief will have to be informed. Screwing up the crime scene complicates things for the lawyers. There are going to be questions among the officers there now,” said Tony.

  “We need to keep this from as many people as we can, Doug. The fewer people know, the better. How about if NYPD hangs back from the complex? We keep everything as is---door attendants, security, etc. This should give Foday a sense of normalcy when, or if, he returns. What do you think Tony?”

  “It’s going to be a hard sell, Michael, but I can probably convince the Chief. Doug, can we get support from the Director on this too?”

  “I will be going to his office immediately after we are done. Why don’t we schedule another conference call in thirty minutes to get everyone on board?”

  The three men concluded their conference call. Within an hour, the Mayor and Chief of Police of New York City approved the contentious plan. Both men quietly hoped their police force would find and capture Foday. Crime scene investigators, with whatever evidence they were able to collect, including the bodies, left the apartment complex. Michael Brennan would soon arrive in the apartment and wait for his chance to strike.

  Apartment 1912, 66 Rockwell Complex, New York – November 17, 9:20 PM

  Michael sat alone in the empty apartment. He remained alert in the nearly pitch-black room with some light penetrating the blinds. Jesse Sane clearly enjoyed his solitude after spending daylight hours sleeping to prepare for his evening duties. Bored, Michael continued thinking if he and Doug made the right decision. Waiting patiently was something Michael learned to do over the years, but his intelligence then was more clear and highly predictable. Not knowing Foday’s whereabouts irritated the professional spy. However, he knew he had few options.

  He recalled a time in 2004 where he awaited the arrival of an asset in India who claimed to have information on Usama Bin Laden’s location in the tribal region of Waziristan, Pakistan. The mountainous region, often believed to be the location of Usama Bin Laden after his escape from the Battle of Tora Bora, seemed the likely location according to most experts in the Intelligence Community. While in Mumbai, he waited for twelve hours in an upscale hotel for a meeting that never took place. His asset never showed, and Michael learned a short while later that Al Qaeda operatives learned of his betrayal and ordered his execution.

  There were a handful of unmarked sedans filled with members of the NYPD counterterrorism unit near the apartment. Hazmat teams were also nearby. NYPD did not add additional resources for fear of alerting Foday. Everything had to look just like it did the past few days. Then the moment Michael awaited for had finally arrived.

  The sound of the key entering the door meant one thing. Foday was returning to the apartment. He opened the door slowly and turned on the lights. The apartment appeared as it did earlier in the day and so he took two steps inside. Foday left the door ajar. He was ready for anything, and his careful observation of the apartment did not settle his nerves. After all, he was operating in unfamiliar territory on foreign soil.

  Michael sprung to attention from behind the counter with his pistol in his left hand. Foday instantly reacted and fled to the hallway racing toward the stairwell as Michael pursued him. Foday slammed the stairwell door open, and began rapidly descending the stairs. He continued to evade Michael all the way to the garage level of the complex.

  Foday exited the stairwell and knew his pursuer was only a few seconds behind him. He felt the dash across the open and lighted parking complex was pointless. He knew the man he saw on the Black River was probably a professional and expert sharpshooter. Turning to his left, he decided to confront the stranger as he came through th
e door. He stood along the wall and prepared to strike.

  Michael made his last turn down the stairs. In front of him, the only door leading to the garage remained closed. He lifted his right leg and violently kicked it open. Peering his head around the corner, he saw no signs of Foday. Nevertheless, Michael decided to quickly enter the garage and continue his pursuit. As he passed through the entrance, he felt the powerful blow on his left arm followed by a strike to the forehead. Momentarily weakened, Michael regained his footing and landed a powerful punch to Foday’s chest.

  For the next several minutes, the two men engaged in hand-to-hand combat inside the garage complex. Neither man gained an advantage until Michael finally postured his body behind Foday and placed him into a chokehold. His strength overwhelmed Foday who attempted furiously to escape Michael’s clutch. Foday’s elbow punches landed more infrequently, and after several minutes, his resistance began to fade. Michael continued to strangle Foday’s neck until the men reached the concrete floor. He continued to hold Foday until he was sure the man was dead.

  Michael let go and stood up. Foday’s lifeless eyes stared at him.

  “Tony, it’s over. Foday is dead. Bring your people into the garage.”

  A few minutes later, without any sirens, flashing lights or public spectacle, the New York Police Department and its biological hazard team arrived. They quickly placed Foday’s body in the ambulance and sped off to an undisclosed location to examine the body. Michael would join them for observation for several weeks to ensure no signs of the virus existed.

  The time spent in the hospital allowed Michael to reflect on his recent mission and thank those who supported him. It also offered him an opportunity to speak with Laura and make plans for dinner. During his mission, he could not wait until he saw her again. Her beautiful smile, long black hair, and warm personality captured his attention even during the most dangerous times throughout the operation. In just a few days, he and his new love would be in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. where dinner would finally come at last.

  Acknowledgements

  To those I had the honor and privilege to serve with, thank you for your selfless service to our great nation and the sacrifices you endure to keep us safe. To my parents, thank you for being great role models and always being there when I needed you. To my late wife, Sharon, thank you for being an incredibly loving mother and showing me what true courage is. Rest in peace.

  To my children, Sarah, Shane, and Sean, live life to the fullest and never stop dreaming. To my publishing team, Barbara, Carol, and Marc, thank you for your expertise, patience and support and for giving an unknown author an opportunity to share a story. Finally, thank you to my current love, best friend and partner, Laura. Your faithful support means everything.

  Author Bio

  Lieutenant Colonel Michael Brady, USA, (RET), earned his MS in Strategic Intelligence from the National Intelligence University in Washington, D.C. in 2003. His classified thesis focused on the current and emerging issues confronting China and Taiwan and Taiwan’s ability to retain sovereignty into the future. He was published in the Military Intelligence Professional Bulletin (MIPB) in July 2000 where he focused on the critical tasks an intelligence officer must perform to excel and be an integral member of a combat team. He has performed a wide variety of tactical and strategic intelligence functions including long-range surveillance, interrogation, intelligence analysis, collection management, emergency operations, and intelligence production. He served as the Director, Presidential Emergency Operations Center in the White House from January 2001 until July 2002 under President George W. Bush.

  LTC Brady is a 1990 graduate of The Citadel, Marine Corps Command and General Staff College, Joint Forces Staff College, US Army Airborne School and US Army Ranger School.

  His areas of expertise and research include threats to the homeland, intelligence collection systems and programs, intelligence analysis, and intelligence support to national policy making.

  Michael currently lives in Charleston, SC and teaches graduate and undergraduate courses at The Citadel. He also lectures at FSU, a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina. Michael spends most of his free time in Jacksonville, Florida. He is also the proud father of three children - Sarah, Shane, and Sean.

  Michael Brady can be found on:

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