by Lynda Filler
“Let’s move on.”
At that exact moment, the Turk entered the room.
“Sorry, I’m late. I took the tunnel to get here, but then I stopped at a hotel—I’m very good at finding back entrances and subterfuge! And then changed taxis twice. I’m certain I wasn’t followed.” He looked around and acknowledged Himanish, Luke, Zach, Rachel, David, Samaar, and said hi to RB, who was pulled up on-screen in Seattle.
“What smells so good?”
“I will introduce you to Maggs later. She’s our Michelin-trained chef and is currently the major-domo in Samaar’s household in France. She’s busy mastering Turkish cooking. Help yourself to coffee or food.”
“Ah, a Turk never says no to food.”
“And besides, you’re still a growing boy!” The team never missed an opportunity to tease one of their own, and today it was the Turk.
“Let’s see where we stand. Yunus. Do you have any news?”
“First. Sude is doing well. She will get out tomorrow, and we will have protection at our home. 24-hour security and rehab. We’re still cautious about the press. They seem to have lost interest in the wedding—it’s old news now. They’re all over Turkey’s latest political issue, something to do with Cyprus. So that could be a good thing for us.”
“That’s great news about Sude! Anything else from your team?”
“Yes. As a matter of fact, this is rather urgent.”
Everyone stopped what they were doing.
“Should I call Samaar back? She’s gone to get Alice settled.”
“No, we will fill her in when she returns. First, my team leader Cruz had a tail today. She took a break for a walk along the waterfront. Let me continue before you ask any questions. A man sat down beside her on a bench at the ocean, not far from our office. He presented himself as a tourist. He had an Istanbul brochure on his lap and spoke perfect English, but his shoes were well-worn cheap Turkish runners.”
“Sloppy,” Zach added.
“Yes. And second, Cruz ran into an old friend from college—accidentally or on purpose, she’s not sure. They stopped for a drink. Cruz used the opportunity to assess her surroundings. She still felt she was being followed, although she’d done a good job of getting away from the man at the pier. So, she made her excuses to leave her male friend, and then took a series of evasive measures before we connected.”
The team was assessing this new development while the Turk continued.
“Cruz is good. She’s well trained and went in several different directions before coming to meet me. She didn’t return to our office or her home. We also notified my group of a possible breach and sent them out, also advising them to take proper measures before returning to their homes. They know what to do when we feel our operation may have been compromised. So far, they’ve checked in and noticed nothing unusual. Then Cruz met me in Taksim. She’s certain she wasn’t followed to Taksim.”
No one spoke.
“Did she recognize anyone, or did she hear them speak, accents? Do you have anything we can use?”
“The guy at the pier could have been harmless. We don’t know for sure. I’ve not given up on that yet. Cruz managed to capture a photo without him realizing it. She will run it through our profiling now. Cruz also took discreet photos so she can compare the people from the pier to those at the bar—in case she missed anything. She checked into a property in Taksim for the night instead of going back to her apartment.”
“Anything else?”
“Yes.” He looked somewhat concerned.
Everyone waited.
“This photo, the man she knew and ran into, is Sude’s Iranian friend from college, Abdul.”
43
“Amir, I told you. Luke said no Facetime!” Alice smiled through her frustration. They chatted on Messenger.
“But you can send me a photo of Grandpa in the kitchen making my favorite Chicken Chelow Kabab! I miss helping him with the saffron rice!” She wanted to visit with Amir. But she had promised she would keep her online time short. He would just have to understand. He gave her the silent treatment. There were parts of her life she would never reveal. She had promised her mother.
“Write me an email and tell me what I missed at school.”
“When will you be home, Alice?”
The longing in his text delighted her.
“I don’t know. I will tell you as soon as we are on our way. In the meantime, go to Ji Jutsu and practice. I have a partner here, and I’ve been working out. You don’t want me to beat you again, do you?”
“Very funny, Alice. I’m taller and stronger!”
“But I’m smarter and sneakier!”
“True.”
Each waited for the other to shut down. Finally, Alice sent a friendly emoji and signed off.
She closed her computer and pulled up Amir’s photo on her phone. His eyes made her smile. Now she understood all that adult stuff about attraction. When she spoke with Amir, she felt kind of silly and girly all at the same time. He made her feel like they had known each other forever.
“Alice. Magg’s wants you to critique her latest Turkish dish.”
Samaar smiled at the young woman who looked longingly at a photo on her phone. Where was Samaar at Alice’s age? Well, she did have a relatively happy childhood before her parents sent her to the UK for the balance of her education. The beginning of the end, really. She liked the mental challenges, but the girls made fun of her tawny skin and Israeli accent. They were mean. Bullies. But all that led to her determination to succeed at academics and to be in top-notch physical form.
By the time she hit University, she would have to admit she was aloof. She no longer tried to fit in. Samaar didn’t want to explain her life or give the pedigree of her family history. She preferred the gym, the labs, and the library. She never even dated. What was the point? Her intention was always to return to Israel and work there. Maybe teach history or political science.
Then one day, the British Intelligence service showed up. Her parents had been assassinated in Israel, and the UK wanted to interrogate her. It seemed her parents led a secret life. What Samaar didn’t know was that the Mossad was waiting for her at home with similar questions; only they were counting on her love of family coupled with a desire for revenge. Her life took a dangerous change in direction once she returned to the promised land.
And now she stood before her only child. She was worried yet proud of the way Alice handled herself in Sultanahmet today. Like every parent, Samaar wished she could lock Alice away in a room and protect her from all the pain and heartbreak she was sure to encounter in her life. But Alice didn’t seem affected at all. Samaar, the lethal ex-Mossad agent, knew that later Alice would crash. And Samaar would be there for Alice when that happened.
“Come, my love. We are waiting for you for dinner.”
44
Ankara, State Capital of the Republic of Turkey
“We tried a coup a few years ago. Look where it got us. Thousands have been imprisoned—without a trial. Communications were censored, and journalists were frightened to write anything negative about the government.”
“But the political climate is changing. If we’re patient, the President is going to be out in the next election. Look at what happened on the re-vote in Istanbul.”
The two senior politicians whispered their conversation while sipping tea and eating lunch.
“Aren’t you tired of waiting? It’s not just what he stands for, but the radical viewpoint. His politics are bringing us closer to a rift with our allies.” The young family man tried to persuade the man with greying hair and a hawkish nose. The elder statesman only had a few years left until he retired. He wasn’t keen to rock the boat or risk his life.
“I’m more concerned with the perception the world will have of our democratic country. This could spell disaster with NATO.”
“I totally agree. That’s the point. We have to be proactive. We can’t wait for the US to help us on our Syrian bor
der. They agreed, but so far, no action. We have to protect our home-land, or we will be overrun by these insane terrorists!”
“Shh. Keep it down. Watch what you say in public.”
“Look, we’ve been increasing our trade with our closest partners, Iran and Russia. The US treats us like country bumpkins. They’re really only interested in playing the bully. I say we have to formalize our relations with the Middle East, Russia, and even China.”
Both sat in silence.
“Have you taken any steps yet?”
“What do you mean?”
The grey-haired man lowered his voice.
“Well, I’ve been approached, so I assume you have too. But I’ve resisted any proposals at this point. I’m worried something drastic would put us in a difficult situation. I want to ride it out until my retirement. I know you’re in a different position.”
They sipped their tea, casually scouting the area, looking for anyone connected with the Turkish intelligence services. You never know who might be listening.
“You seem extra cautious today, what’s wrong?”
The younger politician laughed.
“You’re joking, right?”
“What do you mean?”
“The wedding crashers.”
The grey-haired guy put his fork down.
“I’ve lost my appetite. Did you have to remind me?” He spoke so low his lips hardly moved.
They stared at each other. He who speaks first loses.
“There’s an ongoing inquiry, right? We don’t know for sure that it was them.”
Before the young guy could respond, a message lit up on his cell phone.
He looked up at his co-worker, his face pale, his lips white.
“Those bastards.” He hissed the words. Spittle fell from his mouth. “They killed my fucking dog!”
45
At the Estate on the Asian side of Istanbul
The meeting continued after dinner.
“This has got to be one of the most intriguing countries in the world today.” Himanish prepared his presentation for the group.
“First, Erdoğan’s Islamist-aligned government is perceived by liberal wings of Turkish society to be infringing on the secular traditions established by the father of the modern Turkish state, Kemal Ataturk. And yet, when you walk the streets or visit the tourist areas, you don’t feel like you are in a place that wishes you’d convert to Islam or die! Nor are women frowned upon for dressing like they do in the West. It’s not anything like Saudi Arabia or Iran.”
Rachel added, “I spent time here after my service in the Middle East, and I don’t feel any change in the atmosphere, nor do I see any type of prejudice towards non-Muslim people. I don’t think it’s much different than the US Republicans vs. Democrats. Except the country acts less political.”
“Exactly. But Turkey, under this President’s leadership, is very nervous about the US. The ‘supposed’ partnership for the good of the West is forcing Turkey’s leader to walk a tight rope. Remember the coup attempt in 2016?”
“Yes, but it was over before it got started. I was impressed with the loyalty of the people who came out in force with their weapons on the streets of Istanbul to stop the military from taking over. Yes, there were casualties, but it could have been so much worse. Of course, a society where military service is mandatory for men does create a different level of macho confidence amongst its people. But this is a loyal, proud country.” Zach spoke to the group. He had strong opinions about the disrespect for military vets in his adopted country, the USA.
“Would Americans take up arms over an attempted coup of their current President? More than likely, they’d make popcorn, or order in a pizza and watch CNN Live like it was a sporting event.” No one laughed.
“The presidency claimed the Turkish coup had the support of opposition leaders and the army high command. Turkey has a long history of coups, but Erdoğan’s Islamist-leaning government was believed to be in a stronger position than previous civilian administrations. The President’s position was solidified from a decade of economic success. He also inserted loyalist people into key parts of the state government and increasingly cracked down on suspected plotters.”
No one had much to add.
“But here’s the challenge. Recent events have destabilized Turkey, with Kurdish rebels fighting a new insurgency in the south-east of the country. The Syrian civil war has also spilled over into Turkey, with ISIL mounting a series of terror attacks killing hundreds across Turkey in the past couple of years.”
“And don’t forget the devaluation of the Lira last summer,” Rachel added. “No one received a twenty-percent increase in pay to compensate for inflation.”
Everyone sat in silence. Himanish was more sympathetic to the Turkish situation than the others. India also found itself on the verge of war with the challenging situation with Kashmir and Pakistan. The USA had Canada in the North and Mexico in the South. There was nothing to worry about on the north side, and Mexico was a buffer between the more impoverished Central American war-infested societies. The US didn’t have civil or societal warfare erupting in its cities or along its borders. Although there was an increase in gun violence in the last few years.
“Okay, we’ve got the big picture.” Luke summarized. “Turkey is dancing between the major world players. Technology is no longer the privilege of the West. The East, Middle East, and Asia are on top of everything we’ve developed, and they may even be ahead of us. For the societies of the future to survive, we need political stability, safety, and basic necessities for our citizens. Like it or not, Turkey needs to form an alliance with Iran and Russia. They’re already trade partners. And the longer the US is reluctant to ensure Turkey’s safe zone, this is precisely what is going to happen. We need to keep on digging.”
Samaar spoke up. “I don’t know about the rest of you, but I’m opening a bottle of chilled white wine. Anyone want to join me?”
“I’ll open the red.” Luke smiled at his woman. “You know how to lighten things up.”
“I do. All this political crap is not news to me. I come from Israel, a country in a constant state of warfare, political or on the ground. This is my playground. I know how to deal with terrorists and politicians—they are often one-in-the-same.” She smiled at how easily she fell back into agent Luci mode. Maybe retirement wasn’t such a great move for her, after all.
46
Himanish found a small end table away from the activity of the group, sipped on a glass of whiskey, and opened his computer. Fatimah came online immediately.
“What’s happening?”
“We’re still waiting. Our man in Iran has not turned up. We hope he’s in hiding and not captured. It could endanger our numerous operations in Iran.” She looked concerned but focused. She chewed on food just out of sight.
“What are you eating?”
“Buttered chicken and naan bread.”
“That’s cruel. I miss the good Indian food my mother makes. But I’ve got a Michelin chef in the kitchen here, so we always eat well.” Fatimah kept eating, refreshed another screen she had open, and nodded to Himanish. “Continue. I can eat and focus on work.”
“Alright. What’s up with the other operative you sent in to retrieve the video feed?”
“He sent a text. He stated ‘surmountable’ complications. Have patience. All we can do is wait until he finds the opportune time. As soon as I have something, I will text immediately.”
“Good.”
“Oh, I want to share something with you. MAGE received an email for customer support. It’s from a woman. She wants to know how to cash in her cryptocurrency. She has the codes and wants to turn it into USD. She is the recipient of the investment. It sounds rather urgent. I didn’t respond yet.”
“Did you trace the email?”
“Yes. It comes from Istanbul. That’s why I’m bringing it to your attention. I don’t know more than that. I will forward the email to you and let me know if the
re is anything further you want me to do.”
“Send me the email and the exact location. By the way, did she sign her name?”
“Yes. That’s why it’s so strange. The woman seems clueless. But she didn’t mention the source of the cryptocurrency. She only has hash codes which she was smart enough to not reveal, and of course, she has our company name.”
“Very interesting. I’ll handle it. Enjoy your dinner.”
Himanish signed off with Fatimah, and before he closed his messages, the contact information was already there.
He turned his attention to the Raven Group.
47
He closed his cell phone after a short conversation with the journalist in Ankara. She didn’t have any reliable information only that she had heard rumors of Iran meddling in Turkish affairs. He’d have to follow up with her later. He’d have plenty of time on his hands.
Abdul moved out of the Four Seasons and into his new home within hours of viewing the place.
His fridge was stocked with the necessities. Starbucks Reserve coffee was on the counter, and a French Press sat beside it. The bar contained top-drawer alcohol. It was a minor detail but something he reminded himself he loved about Turkey—it’s secularism. He unpacked his suitcase and laid out the things that required ironing. Crisp white shirts for business meetings, designer suits to make a polished impression. Conservative and elegant.
He hooked up his computer to the built-in sound system in the suite and turned on the sweet mellow jazz tunes of Cindy Dulfer. Then he poured a glass of wine, cut some brie and French bread, and took his private elevator to the top floor.
The view was astounding. The sun was beginning its descent. The lights across the ancient city sparkled with history, glamour, and romance. He adjusted the rooftop communication console connected it to his sound system below and relaxed on a comfortable couch.