The Janus Reprisal

10

Dattar slid out of the SUV onto the dock’s parking lot. He heard the creaking of metal and wood as the buoys rocked from side to side. The air smelled like engine oil and rotting fish, and one of the sodium lights on the dock fizzed in response to a failing ballast. Dattar stared at the light for a moment, thinking about the mass of electrical power that ran through even such a small device.

“The captain’s been paid. He knows to stay on the bridge and not look below,” Rajiid said.

“And the coolers?”

“Already on the airplane. I have a sample here, as well.”

One of his lieutenants, a man without a history or background known to the authorities, was transporting the coolers via a previously arranged private jet. Dattar wished that he could fly in quick and easy comfort to his destination, but the risk was far too high. He stepped off the planks onto a waiting boat that was to take him to the freighter. The man at the wheel never looked his way. Rajiid untied the ropes that kept the craft in place, tossing them onto the deck before climbing on board. The engine engaged and the cruiser began a slow turn away from the dock.

Dattar felt the muscles in his neck relax as they headed out to sea. He’d contact Khalil from the freighter and impress upon the man the need for quick action, especially regarding the additional assignment. The cargo ship loomed over them when they pulled alongside. Dattar crawled up the metal ladder, stepping over onto the deck. He looked back at the boat and saw the wheel man preparing to return to the dock. The man’s head was lowered, so he didn’t see Rajiid pointing a gun at him. There was the sound of a compressed bullet, and the man crumpled. Rajiid shoved the gun in his waistband and reached down to grab the body. He hauled it to the boat’s side and threw it overboard. Rajiid stepped across to the ladder, releasing the ropes that bound the boat to the larger ship. He used his foot to push the smaller craft free, and it began a slow turn away.

A crew member materialized out of the dark to Dattar’s left, and he motioned both Dattar and Rajiid to follow. He led them to a large cabin. A small table was bolted to the floor in the middle of the room, and a steel lamp swung on a chain above it. On the far wall was a bunk, and to the left a long counter held a telephone and a computer with a monitor. A desk lamp bathed the area in light. Rajiid picked up the phone and dialed a number. When the man on the other end answered, he handed the phone to Dattar.

“Smith is alive. Why?” Dattar said without preamble.

He heard the man on the other side breathing heavily into the receiver. “You shouldn’t be calling me.”

“I paid quite a bit of money to ensure that Smith would die. I’m told that it was the CIA who shot my men. Is this true?”

“Yes, but I’ll make up for that. Smith works out of Fort Detrick in Maryland. I’ve already arranged to take him out once he arrives Stateside.”

“How did they manage to get a man in place? That was part of the payment, to ensure that the agency was crippled.”

“There’s a new head of the European division. Don’t worry, she’s temporary, and I’ll handle it as well.”

“You’d better. The coolers arrive in six hours. In twenty-four we go live. I expect no more mistakes.”

“There won’t be.”

“Did you run the test?”

“That will happen in the next two hours. We’re not using the actual weapon, but even this less potent version should give an idea of the viability. I’ll let you know if it’s successful.”

“You do that.” Dattar hung up.

He heard the freighter groan to life as the turbines began to churn. Rajiid sat down at the computer and logged on. Dattar sat at the table and watched the e-mail program light up.

“Any news?” he said.

Rajiid nodded. “A message from Khalil. He received ours regarding Smith, and he wants to know how hard a target he may be.” Rajiid gazed at Dattar, who was taking slow breaths in order to calm himself.

“Tell Khalil that Smith is best handled at a distance, with a gunshot to the head. He becomes more dangerous the closer you get. Also, warn him that Smith is a microbiologist. Khalil should neither eat nor drink anything in the man’s presence. He’s a coward and will attempt to poison him, as he did me.”

Rajiid typed the response into the computer. After a moment a pinging sound indicated that another message had been received. Rajiid opened the link and read out loud.

“He wants to know how much more he will be paid, and when.” Rajiid shot Dattar a look full of worry. “Should I tell him that he must wait? Stall him while we work on unfreezing the accounts?”

Dattar shook his head. “No. No one must know about the freeze order. Besides, I consider the problem to be temporary. Ask him first if the American is dead.”

Rajiid typed, waited, and the responding ping came quickly.

“He says the American just returned to the United States. He is waiting for the precise moment to do the deed to ensure that there are no witnesses. He says not to worry about the American and to tell him when he will receive the deposit for Smith.” Dattar hesitated. He weighed the cost of doubling up on Smith, but his US contact had already failed once. Better have two aiming at the same target than one that continued to fail. “Tell Khalil that he will be paid the same amount for Smith as the others, but his deposit may be delayed due to the fact that I can’t access my accounts from this computer.”

Rajiid looked doubtful. “He might not believe that.”

“Tell him!” Dattar snapped. Rajiid turned to the keypad and typed for a moment. At the return ping he peered at the screen.

“He says that his focus is currently on the American, but planning the attack on Smith will begin immediately and may take some hours. He hopes that you will have access to the money soon,” Rajiid shot Dattar a look of warning, “and assures you that Smith is no match for him. He will die.”

Dattar smiled. “Yes, that’s right. Smith was the recipient of some good luck back at the hotel. His luck will run thin now that Khalil is after him.”

“No one beats Khalil,” Rajiid said.

Dattar nodded. It was true.