Jihad

CHAPTER 85

The message on Rubens’ secure BlackBerry consisted of two words: “Call me.”

Not unusual in the least, except that it had come from Debra Collins at the CIA. Collins almost never used the secure instant messaging system to contact Rubens.

Rubens went to one of the consoles at the back of the Art Room with a secure phone. To his surprise, Collins picked up right away.

“That was quick.” she said.

“I gathered it was important.”

“Lahore Two says the network’s target is Houston. Al-Qaeda has purchased somewhere over a hundred tons of commercial-grade explosives and can use them in the operation.”

Lahore Two was a CIA source in Pakistan who had an en-viable track record predicting al-Qaeda moves. While his identity was a secret to Rubens, the pattern of his revelations made it obvious he was a triple agent in the Pakistan intelligence service — probably a Pak “turned” by al-Qaeda and then turned again by the CIA. Rubens did not concern himself with the details; the source’s true allegiance would be to himself in any event.

“Nothing more specific?” asked Rubens.

“He’s promised a diagram or a map. I’ll have a copy sent to you as soon we get it. Assuming he carries through,” added Collins, her voice making it clear that the source didn’t always deliver on such promises. “They’ve been planning this for some time. No target date. Oil or energy is somehow involved. I gather that meshes with what you’ve already heard from Red Lion. I’ll send you a copy of the officer’s report, if you’d like.”

“I would. Do you see a link?”

“Don’t you?”

Rubens saw many; that was the problem. Raw intelligence was a Rorschach test, subject to the preconceived notions of the tester as well as the viewer.

“We’re of course passing this along to the National Security Council. I thought you’d appreciate knowing before they did,” added Collins. In effect, she was telling him that she would have to pass the information on to Bing — and more importantly, that she didn’t want Rubens blindsided by that.

Collins an ally? It hardly seemed believable. But perhaps Bing was moving against her as well.

“Thank you,” said Rubens. “I appreciate it.”