Hell's Corner

CHAPTER 25

McElroy sat down across from Stone.

Stone said, “It’s comforting to see that you still lie as well as ever.”

“A necessary skill in our line of work, as you well know.”

“So how big a lie was it?”

“I have known about Fuat here for some time now. We actually worked with the Americans to bring this whole mission up to snuff.”

“I can tell you that your keeping me in the dark forced me to waste an incredible amount of time, but then you already know that.”

“Without seeming to make excuses, Oliver, I also have a higher authority to answer to.”

“And they wanted to keep the truth from me?”

“Yes. However, I decided to bring this charade to an end for two reasons. One, it wasn’t fair to you. And second, it’s inefficient.”

Stone looked at Adelphia. “I take it he asked you to come to me?”

Adelphia nodded. “But I’ve wanted to for a long time. I miss our chats. Our friendship.”

Stone looked back at McElroy. “Are you here simply to say you’re sorry and pat me on the head, or do you intend to fill me in? And is Chapman aware of this?”

McElroy blew his nose into his handkerchief and shook his head. He had on the same blue blazer but a fresh shirt and pants. His face was pinched and the eyes evidenced the physical pain he was suffering. “No, she’s not.”

“All right,” Stone said warily.

“To get back to your first query. We decided to tell you because you might’ve figured it out on your own. I know how tenacious you can be. It was the most extraordinarily unfortunate timing that Fuat was in the park when it happened.”

“And you see no connection?” Stone asked.

“Actually, I wish I did. It would at least make some sense out of what so far is inexplicable.”

“You’re sure about that?”

“That Fuat was not the target? Reasonably sure. The mission has hardly begun. And Fuat is not in the front lines. It would be counterintuitive to expect a man to be hunting Osama bin Laden from the United States. It’s merely in the planning stages, a delicate operation between several like-minded countries, but it does involve a fresh approach with new assets on the ground, hence the need for secrecy. Adelphia represents one such entity. My interests are self-evident.”

“And what are your interests, Mr. Turkekul?” Stone gazed at the other man.

Turkekul said, “After the end of World War II my German mother left for Turkey where she met my father. I don’t believe he knew of her ethnicity. The war destroyed the official records of millions of people. I only found out when I was an adult. I was born in Turkey, just outside of Constantinople. But I grew up in Pakistan, although for a time my family lived in Afghanistan. I am a Muslim like my father but I despise the people behind 9/11. They have taken the concept of jihad and twisted it into something ugly and indefensible in furtherance of their own hatred for others.”

“Fuat is our ace in the hole, as it were,” said McElroy. “He has intimate contacts not only within the Muslim community but also in the area of the world where we believe our quarry to be.”

“The mountains between Pakistan and Afghanistan?” replied Stone.

Turkekul smiled. “You will not get the man with a Predator drone strike. He is too cunning for that. And perhaps he is in those mountains, and perhaps not.”

“And it was decided to deploy you now and not before?” asked Stone.

Turkekul was about to say something in response when McElroy broke in. “Not something that we need to go into, Oliver. Just take my word on that.”

“All right, but if you are so well-connected, Mr. Turkekul, there are those who would suspect you may be of help to the West. They may have attempted a preemptive strike.”

“Machine guns and bombs and they missed poor Fuat standing out in the open? Hardly credible,” said McElroy.

“I don’t disagree. But the Yemen group taking responsibility?”

“In my eyes equally incredible, but the Yanks, I have to admit, see it differently.”

“Why a meeting in Lafayette Park?”

McElroy glanced at Adelphia, who said, “No one expects you to go to so conspicuous a place to conduct a clandestine rendezvous.”

“Dark alleys and darker pubs,” chimed in McElroy with a fake shudder. “Like in the cinema. Rubbish, actually. That’s where all the coppers are looking for the spies between pints.”

“Why didn’t you show up that night, Adelphia?” Stone asked again.

“It was called off by my superiors. I was not given a reason. I knew that when I did not appear by a certain time Fuat would leave by prearrangement.” Adelphia added, “Do they know the source of the bomb?”

“No, not yet.”

“Was it a suicide bomber?” asked Turkekul. “That is their preferred choice of attack, other than an IED. I know of this group in Yemen. They stick to that playbook religiously.”

Stone eyed McElroy, who made a slight shake of the head. Stone shifted in his seat. “It’s an ongoing investigation.”

“Will you have to report this contact to your superiors?” Turkekul said.

McElroy cleared his throat. “Oliver, I cannot officially tell you what to do. But I would ask that you think about that question carefully. A report at this juncture, even a censored one, could well lead to the termination of this mission before it’s ever had a chance to succeed.” McElroy bowed his head and seemed to be waiting for an answer.

Stone didn’t deliberate for long. He turned to Turkekul. “I’ll say nothing, for now. However, despite what you’ve said, if it becomes apparent that you were the target I would assume you would want to know that?”

Turkekul said, “You assume correctly. And I thank you for that.”

“I’ll fill Chapman in.”

“Actually, she needn’t know,” McElroy said quickly.

Stone shook his head. “I don’t keep things from my partner. I know, she knows.”

McElroy looked indecisive. “I’ll leave it up to you, then.”

Stone rose from the couch. “One last question. Adelphia. How was the communication made between you two as to the location?”

“I left a message up on the main notice board in the middle of Georgetown campus,” said Adelphia. “It was in a code that Fuat and I worked out.”

“The same code we used to use when we both were at the park?”

“Very close to it,” she admitted.

“Don’t trust secure electronic communications?” asked Stone.

“There are no such things, my friend,” said Turkekul. “Several of my colleagues have found that out to their great detriment.”

McElroy added, “The insecurity of electronic systems has forced us all back in some ways to the old spy dodges. A bit less efficient, but we all get to use our ingenuity instead of relying on machines to do it for us. I actually like it a lot better. But then I’m an old Cold War relic.”

McElroy walked Stone out. “I’m sorry it had to be done this way. I would have preferred otherwise, Oliver. It wasn’t fair to you.”

“Life is rarely fair.”

“I understand the investigation proceeds slowly.”

“If at all.”

“It has to make sense, somehow. If it doesn’t, much of what I believe in life goes up in smoke.”

“Can I expect any more surprises along these lines?”

“I hope not. As for Chapman?”

“I’m going to tell her. And you won’t convince me otherwise.”

“You’re probably right.”

“Take care, Sir James.”

“Oliver, watch your back.” He paused and added, “And your front too.”

“You know something I don’t?”

“No, but the old relic’s antennae are tingling something fierce.”

“One more time,” said Stone. “Are you withholding anything else from me?”

“Good luck, Oliver. And please take my advice.”