by Lynda Filler
“Why is Istanbul building this huge mosque? It looks like construction is at a standstill.” Luke was always aware and curious about everything going on around him.
“If I remember my history, this particular area was Christian. Everywhere else in Istanbul, mosques dominate. Here it’s Christian churches. So, the President decided to build a Mosque as a sign that this is an Islamic society.” Samaar explained.
“I haven’t paid much attention to their day-to-day events. All I know is the country is suffering huge inflation due to the government’s determination to remain politically independent of the Middle East, Russia, and the USA.” Luke continued.
“Even though Turkey is part of NATO, there’s real friction there. In today’s world, unfortunately, you have to pick sides. Turkey is in a unique position, though, because Istanbul has part of the city on the Asian continent and the other half, on the European side. The country is trying to maintain the same political balance. They want to keep peace with their neighbors on all sides—not an easy thing to do. Remember, Istanbul, and all of Turkey is a secular nation, although the current administration would like to change that.” Luke stopped his lecture and checked a message on his phone.
“What do you mean by that, Luke?”
“Well, although the religion is Islam, they’ve always encouraged freedom of men and women, in education, health choices, jobs, and dress. The separation of religion from state affairs is one of the fault lines in Turkish society. The founder of modern Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, based the post-Ottoman republic on a strict separation between religion and state. However, the ruling party is leaning towards changing the constitution. Recent elections show the country is divided.
Iran, on the other hand, is ruled by the far-right religious clerics. The Middle East wants to bring Turkey into its doctrinal fold. But so far, the Iranians have not proven to the younger generation, that living in an Islamic, religion-regulated-society is the answer for current and future generations. On the contrary, doors around the world are slammed in Iranian faces because of their country’s politics and deadly approach to life.”
Luke listened to the pilot speaking with security forces on the roof.
Samaar spoke up. “The freedom of information on the internet, cell phones, has changed the world in all aspects, politics, knowledge, relationships.” Samaar stopped and smiled, waiting for Luke to turn around. But he was looking downward, concentrating on the armed military team that would greet their arrival.
“What’s wrong?”
“I hope nothing. But we shall see. I’m glad we left Alice and Maggs at the estate.”
As the helicopter landed, a team of special-ops men and women stood facing outwards from the aircraft while a familiar face came forward.
“Welcome to Turkey, Luke Raven!” A smiling Minister of the Interior pumped Luke’s hand.
“Thank you, Eram. We’ve spoken on many instances, but it’s nice to actually meet you.” Luke preferred not to introduce his team. Instead, there were nods from David and Samaar.
“My best snipers are here to ensure your safety, sir. Turkey is in your debt for the warning you gave us in 2016 of the impending coup d’états. Thank you again, on behalf of the President of Turkey.”
Samaar immediately fell into Middle Eastern mode by following the men at a discreet distance. She could take in her surroundings and assess the mood of the agents on the roof. David seemed relaxed and carried a large knapsack that contained any items he might need to follow a trail that was quickly turning cold. They both hoped their friends in Turkey would have some answers.
“I trust Tabak has provided for your comfort?”
“Yes, of course.” Luke could feel the question in his mind. The short, balding Minister in charge of security for the nation looked curiously at Raven. The mention of Tabak was a warning that whatever went on in this country, he was aware. The Minister wanted answers.
“I don’t mean to be offensive, Luke Raven, but why are you here?”
There was no way he would give up the relationship he had with the Turk. Especially now.
“We were a few hours away, working on a private project.” He hesitated. Marriage is a private project; it wasn’t a complete lie. “One of my staff saw the news wire. The Minister of Defense and his family were personal friends. We came to offer our assistance and condolences.”
“That’s very kind of you. But I assure you Turkey can take care of its own problems.” The man hesitated, then continued. “However, I understand that a man with your acumen might be able to access information that is outside diplomatic channels?” The Minister smiled, a tic in his left eye revealed he was saying something he felt was politically correct, but he was either desperate for help or worried about what the Raven Group might discover. The message was ambiguous.
Was the Minister frightened? But the next question formed in Luke’s mind. Was he part of the problem or the solution? Raven would keep his opinions to himself until he could access more information.
“I understand there are survivors, although the news services are not releasing their names.” Luke walked beside the Minister. Samaar quickly found herself pulled back into her role in the Mossad as Luci. But she played the doting assistant, a few steps closer to Luke, observant and silent. There was something off about this whole conversation.
“Come with me.” The Minister led the way.
Ten stories below, a tall Semitic man, and a petite muscular woman stood in the hospital security office.
“We are meeting our friends here. Mr. Luke Raven.”
“Yes, I understand. IDs, please.”
Zach pulled out his US passport. He owned several in various names. And represented countries Zach knew intimately. He could change his persona on demand and had the language skills, Arabic, Hebrew, and English to round out his various personas. Rachel followed suit. They were issued security passes and told to wait in one of the luxurious velvet couches that formed the lobby of this private facility in Taksim.
“Would you like tea while you wait, sir?”
Zach looked up from his cell phone. “No, we’re fine.”
Rachel leaned into Zach. “How does everyone know we’re in the right place?”
“Welcome to the mysterious and intriguing, Istanbul. Did you notice the security leading up to the hospital?”
“Not really.”
“I’ve been in this country before. The intelligence and policing services love to dress their security in secular clothing. No sign of affiliation to law enforcement. That way, tourists have the perception that they are safer.”
But Rachel’s attention was focused on an alert received by the security desk. One man whispered to his co-worker and pointed towards the roof.
“RB hacked all the hospitals in the area, but this one is the only one that took in multiple serious emergency cases the other evening. Process of elimination.”
“Look, Zach, something is happening. The security is concerned. One guard pointed towards the roof.”
Zach was busy reading a text on his phone.
“It’s Luke. He’s arrived by helicopter on the roof. RB told him we’re here. We’re meeting on the 6th floor. Let’s go!”
15
Yunus walked the last two blocks to the hospital in Taksim. He had his own ways of avoiding detection. After last night’s horror, Yunus wasn’t taking any chances. He casually dropped into a store, bought some clothes, changed, added sunglasses and a cap, and exited the back door by the loading dock. He walked the alleyways until he was two blocks over, studying everything around him before he went into the employee entrance of the private hospital. Security was awaiting his arrival.
“How are the survivors doing?”
“We are sorry for your loss, sir. We think it’s best if you speak with their doctors.”
Yunus got off on the top floor. All thirty rooms had been cleared last night and kept for survivors and multiple teams of security. The waiting room looked like a
command post. Yunus nodded to the military, who glared at him their hands on their weapons until he took off his sunglasses. He was a celebrity, a young man from Istanbul who’d become an international star.
He noticed a man and woman in casual clothing being interrogated by the security at the elevator. As soon as he heard the voice, he rushed over tears brimming in his eyes.
“Zach!” Yunus put his hand out to shake, but Zach immediately pulled him in for a robust relentless embrace. Yunus’ body shook with emotion and unspent tears.
“Hey Yunus, we’re here to help.” Zach patted Yunus on the back. “There is nothing that could keep me away.”
Yunus sighed deeply and let go of his friend. Countless nights of conversations over campfires in undisclosed areas of the Middle East flashed through Yunus’ mind. His brown eyes were still wet, but he managed to smile through the sadness. Then he noticed Rachel.
“Ah, she’s with you?” The first smile of the day lit up Yunus’ face.
Zach and Rachel looked at each other and laughed.
“Yes, Rachel is with me. I also have another surprise for you.”
Yunus looked confused, but it was so good to have the support of his friend, Zach.
“So, this is the famous Turk.” A tall, sandy-haired nerdy looking guy with a beautiful exotic woman by his side, walked over to Yunus and shook his hand. “I’m Luke Raven, and this is Samaar. You might know her as Luci. And that’s David,” Luke pointed towards a man with intense combat-experience eyes, “Zach’s brother-in-arms. We’re here to do whatever it takes to find the bastards that killed your fiancée, families, and friends.”
“I don’t know what to say.”
“Hey, no need, this is what we do and who we are. Do we have a room where we can set up a command post?”
Yunus motioned to the head of security, explained their needs, and was immediately taken to a consulting room four doors down from the nurses’ station. The desk would be adequate for two people, and a sleek grey leather couch with matching chairs would work for meetings. He motioned to the security to bring more chairs.
Yunus couldn’t believe the support that stood in front of him.
“I don’t know how to express my gratitude.”
“No need.”
While Luke and the team opened their various knapsacks and briefcases, Samaar took out her surveillance devices and checked for bugs. “We’re good here.”
“Can you excuse me one moment I have to check on someone.”
“Of course.”
Yunus walked down the long antiseptic hall, his heart in his stomach. He felt personally responsible for the security breach, the deaths, and the condition of those who may or may not make it through the next couple of days. The doorway he chose to enter was blocked by two security experts. They both eyed Yunus critically, their hands ready to draw their weapons.
Yunus raised his hands and slowly removed his ID from his pocket. One looked down, pulled the card out of its holder, and checked his photo app to verify identity. He nodded to his partner, who opened the door to the suite.
An elderly woman in a black chador stood beside the bed. She was adjusting the pillow for the patient.
“Mom.”
“Yunus!” She pulled her son into her arms. Yunus began to sob.
“I’m so sorry, my son. I know you blame yourself, but it’s not your fault. This is the world we live in. Please, be strong, my love, we need you.”
Yunus wiped his eyes and looked down on his beautiful Sude. She looked so peaceful. The doctors had decided that if she was to have any chance at a good recovery, they must keep her still, quiet, and drugged.
“It killed me to stay away, but until we understand what is going on, I can’t risk Sude’s life.”
“Hush, now, aşkım. Sude would understand. Even if I don’t know everything that’s happening, I trust your judgment. Her operations were successful, but now we must wait.”
“Yes, Mom. I’ve been calling every hour. They say they are ‘cautiously’ optimistic.” Yunus leaned down to kiss Sude. She looked so beautiful from the neck up, but below, she was wrapped in bandages and her body covered by a protective shell. No one could touch her below the neck except the medical staff.
“What else have they told you, Mom?” Yunus hesitated. “We are her family now. Her father and mother are dead.”
There was a discreet knock on the door. Yunus answered.
“Doctor.”
“Yes, I noticed you were here. I know you want more information, and due to the security of the situation, I understand nothing is to be entered in our computers for the time being.” The doctor nodded to Yunus’ mother and continued. “Your wife is young and in good health. She will recover with patience and time. The bullets entered on the left and will affect her mobility. But physical therapy will bring back full use of her body. The operations were successful, but.” He hesitated.
“What? What are you not telling me?”
“The shock caused her to hemorrhage. I’m sorry. You lost your child.”
Yunus was horrified.
“My child? No. That’s not possible. She would have told me she was pregnant!”
“I’m sorry, sir. Allow her to rest peacefully. Do you have any music that will help her regain her strength and calm her pain?” Yunus nodded, never taking his eyes off of his beloved, Sude.
The doctor quietly left the room.
Yunus looked at his mother. His sadness was replaced with anger and something dangerous she’d never witnessed before, revenge.
16
“RB sent us a link. He made notes and has given us locations as best as he can pinpoint. He says he’s working on a lead from something he listened to this morning.” Zach turned from his computer to motion to Luke and Samaar. “Check your net.”
Samaar moved into full agent mode. She’d almost forgotten what it meant to be actively searching for terrorists. Ever since they’d taken down the sex-trafficking network on the Silk Road, she, Maggs, and Alice had been enjoying their quiet lives in Paris. Intel and intrigue had been replaced by PTA meetings, and shopping on Avenue des Champs-Élysées.
“Luci. Do you think you remember how to do this stuff?” Zach winked at Luke. “I hear since your change of face in South Africa, you’ve become quite the Parisian. Rachel showed me a photo of you at Chanel during Fashion Week!”
The boys smirked.
“Okay, boys, have you had enough fun yet? And call me Samaar. Luci is retired now!”
“Yes, I heard you buried her on a rooftop while parkouring all over the City of Love!”
Samaar targeted Zach and threw a notepad like a Frisbee. Rachel intercepted it like a pro.
“Alright, you two, cut it out.” Luke was smiling. He missed the comradery of his team. Between missions could be boring.
“Check your comms. Tell me what you think. Zach takes the first one, it’s in Arabic. Samaar, check out the lead from Syria. David, you spent time in Iran and Iraq, correct?”
“Yes, and in Afghanistan. I understand some of the local dialects.”
“David, take the third link.”
“Rachel, what language are you most comfortable reading, apart from English?”
“Turkish, sir.”
“Turkish?”
“Yes, all my NGO work with the Yazidi women near the Turkish border and the Turkish volunteers allowed me to become very proficient. I actually speak seven languages.”
The collective group turned in Rachel’s direction. Samaar remembered Zach’s private conversation before they brought Rachel onto the team. Her personal story was particularly brutal. She was trained in Special Ops and sent to Afghanistan. But women were not supposed to be in combat in that particular region. The team was short a member, and the operations were at a critical phase, so Rachel offered to help. It turned into a nightmare. The atrocities committed by the Taliban and ISIS were well documented. Rachel had to be extra vigilant because if the enemy knew the Americans had a wom
an in the field, they would do anything to capture her. But the American military machine was not secure enough. The story of her rape and horrendous beating at the hands of a group of jihadis was legendary. She was left for dead and eventually found by a group of American SEALs. Zach told the team in utmost secrecy that each and every man involved in her abduction and violation were tracked down and eliminated.
They all turned when the door opened. Yunus hesitated, then walked in and closed the door.
“I have something to share with you. From the photos posted worldwide, it’s assumed Sude is dead. But my love is going to live.” Tears of joy rolled down his face.
“Yunus, that’s great news!” Luke stood and came across the room to shake his hand.
“We can’t let that information leave this room, not even in communications online. I don’t know if we were both targets or if Sude was caught in the crossfire.” He hesitated and then decided if he couldn’t trust these guys, who could he trust.
“You’re aware of my work with Firestorm. That’s how we’re connected. I’m sure he will help. And my team here in Istanbul is all over everything we’ve uncovered so far. But we don’t yet know why we were attacked. Was this a random terrorist attack, or were government officials of Turkey the target, or is it something related to my work. I don’t know if my cover is blown.”
“We sent an alert to Himanish also. Has anyone heard from Firestorm?” Luke looked towards David and Zach.
“He’s off the grid. RB sent the message.” David responded.
“He has an operation in Kuala Lumpur. I sent a coded communication also. The last 24 hours, I’ve been focused on my own team in Istanbul, digging through the net and the dark web.”
“I will check,” Samaar responded.
Samaar was typing while she listened to Yunus’ conversation.
“Firestorm will know it’s an emergency, and wherever he is, he’ll get back to us.” Luke nodded towards Zach.