The Panther

CHAPTER TWENTY

The SCIF was off-limits to Yemenis, so Brenner left to meet the kitchen guy in the hallway.

I took the opportunity to ask Buck, “What are his qualifications for this job?”

Buck replied, “Paul is a Vietnam vet-two tours, one as a combat infantryman, one as a military policeman. He’s been decorated for bravery, and he has a B.S. in criminal justice. He’s also been to post-war Vietnam on a clandestine mission.” He added, “Forget that.”

“And how does all that qualify him for this mission?”

Buck seemed a little impatient with me and replied, “He understands police work, as you do, and what we’re doing here is basically looking for a fugitive from justice.” He added, “Also, Paul has been shot at, so if that happens here, he knows how to shoot back.”

“All right.” Basically, Paul Brenner was no more qualified for a Black Ops job than I was-but they weren’t bad qualifications. And I had one up on him-I had a target on my back. Who the hell put this together?

Kate said, “I think we have a good team so far.”

Buck replied to her, “I know we do. And when we apprehend this suspect, then you, as an FBI agent with arrest powers, and as a legal attache, will make the formal arrest in the name of the people and the government of the United States.”

Kate said, “I’m looking forward to that.”

Me, too. Then I’ll put a bullet in his head and save everyone a lot of trouble.

Brenner returned pushing a cart on which was tea, coffee, and fresh-baked muffins.

We helped ourselves, and Buck informed us, “Yemen is where mocha coffee originated.” He asked me, “How is that?”

“It was probably good last week.”

We were sitting again and Buck said, “I’ll outline some of what we’re thinking, but our fifth team member has a more detailed plan.”

Well, if this was a CIA plan-which it was-then it was probably over-planned, over-thought, and over-complicated. But I’d keep an open mind. My concern was that this plan might rely too much on Mr. and Mrs. Corey’s roles as red meat.

Buck began, “First, we’re positive that Bulus ibn al-Darwish is somewhere in Yemen. That’s why we’re here. What we don’t know is if he knows that John Corey and Kate Mayfield of Lion fame are also here. And third, we can’t be certain that The Panther would make an attempt on your lives if he knew that.” He added, “But we’ll make those assumptions, based on CIA information.”

Brenner said, “As for The Panther knowing you’re in Yemen, the names of all Americans coming through a port of entry are considered a saleable commodity-especially Americans traveling on a diplomatic passport. Those names go to the government, of course, and to the local police and the PSO. And as I told you, the PSO is infiltrated with Al Qaeda members and sympathizers, so Al Qaeda knowing you’re here is not a problem.”

Sounded like a problem to me. But I guess that was the whole idea.

Buck picked up the ball and continued, “We’re hoping and assuming that AQAP-Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula-is competent enough to identify the arriving John Corey and Katherine Mayfield Corey as people whom they’d like to kill.”

“God, I hope so.”

Even Kate laughed. I mean, as I said, you have to laugh.

Kate had a good question and asked, “Don’t you think Al Qaeda will suspect that this is a setup to lure The Panther into a trap?”

Buck reminded us, “You both have good cover and plausible reasons to be here. John has returned to continue with the Cole investigation. Kate has been assigned to our new Legal Affairs Office.” He added, “It’s not unusual to assign a husband and wife together when possible. Hopefully, Al Qaeda will not think much beyond that.”

Kate wasn’t sure and said, “It seems too pat.”

Buck got philosophical, or maybe metaphorical, and asked, “Does the panther or the lion know that the meat is a trap?” He answered his own rhetorical question and said, “I think he does on some instinctive level. Have you seen those wildlife documentaries where the big cat approaches the live bait-the tethered goat or lamb? He doesn’t charge at the animal. He stalks it and approaches with caution. But the important thing is that he goes for it. Every time. Why? Because he’s hungry and because he’s at the top of the food chain and he’s strong and confident.” Buck paused then said, “And then he’s trapped. Or dead.”

I asked, “What happened to the goat?”

Buck replied, “Who cares? Goats are expendable. But people are not.” He assured us, “You’ll always be covered. More importantly, you can both think for yourselves and defend yourselves. Goats and lambs can’t.”

I looked at my watch and asked, “Can we still make that flight?”

Buck took this as a joke, smiled, and didn’t reply.

Brenner said to Kate and me, “You’re both free to modify any final plan if you think it’s too risky.”

Goes without saying. Also, I had the thought that the CIA would in fact be okay with The Panther eating the goat if it meant getting The Panther. Paranoid? Maybe. But we’d already been lied to, and lies are like cockroaches-if you see one, there are more.

Buck continued, “Al Qaeda in Yemen, like us in Yemen, are small in numbers. They have perhaps four or five hundred hard-core members. But they also have thousands of sympathizers and active supporters, including, as I said, inside the PSO, and also inside the army, the police, and probably the government.”

I inquired, “How many sympathizers and supporters do we have in Yemen?”

“Two,” replied Buck. “The lady who runs the craft shop and the man who cuts my hair-and I’m not sure about him.”

Good one, Buck.

He continued, “But as I told you in New York, among the general population there is not an attitudinal animosity here against the West or Americans. But neither can we expect any help from the average citizen, except maybe from a Jew or Christian. Also, some tribes can be rented on a short-term lease with an unknown expiration date.”

Brenner said to us, “The sheiks who are tribal chieftains are mostly clients of the Saudi government, and our arrangements and payments to the tribes go through the Saudi royal family. The Saudis are our allies and they’ve been helpful-except when they’re not.”

Buck reminded us, “As I said in New York in answer to Kate’s question, the tribes do not like Al Qaeda, and the feeling is mutual. However, a few tribes have now and then accepted Al Qaeda money-or Al Qaeda favors-so we can’t always trust them.”

I observed, “It sounds like the tribes are part of the plan.”

Buck replied, “They have to be. They control most of the countryside.”

Kate asked, “Does that mean we’re going into the tribal lands?”

Brenner replied, “That’s the plan.” He explained, “The cities and towns are where the government security forces are strongest, and we don’t want any interference from them, and we don’t want to get into a shooting match with Al Qaeda in a complicated urban setting.” He further explained, “In the hinterlands we have the advantage of tribal help, or at least tribal neutrality. Also we have the big advantage of Predator drones armed with Hellfire missiles.”

Right. I always knew this would play out in Indian Territory, but I asked, “How do we know The Panther will meet us on that turf?”

“We don’t,” Brenner replied, “but if he wants you, he’ll go where you are.”

“We’re in Sana’a,” I reminded him.

Brenner replied, “As I indicated, we’re not staying here.” He further informed us, “In a day or so, we’re traveling by road to Aden, and with luck we’ll run into trouble on the way.”

It seemed to me that Paul Brenner’s idea of good luck and my idea of good luck were not the same.

Buck let us know, “I’m not certain that The Panther himself would lead a frontal attack on our convoy, but it’s possible he would, and also possible that we can capture someone who knows where he is.”

Right. You bring the water, I’ll bring the board.

Buck continued, “Also, we don’t know if The Panther would like to kill you or capture you.” He said, unnecessarily, “Killing is easier, but capturing both of you would be a real coup for Al Qaeda and The Panther. A major humiliation for the U.S.”

“Not to mention a major inconvenience for me and Kate.” I observed, “I see you’ve thought this out, but I’m not hearing an operational plan that’s based on concrete information.”

Buck replied, “As I said, our fifth team member will provide that.”

“Okay.”

Buck also said, “It’s my understanding, Mr. Corey, that you’re not plan-oriented. That you shoot from the hip and make it up as you go. So you shouldn’t be too concerned about a detailed plan.” He added, “In fact, that’s one of the reasons you were invited to be here.”

“Right.” The other reason was the same reason that the turkey is invited to Thanksgiving dinner. I said, “I’m flexible.”

Kate, in a rare instance of agreeing with her husband, said, “John is very good at reading a situation and changing tactics on a dime.” She added, “But sometimes he bends the rules.”

That’s my girl.

Brenner and Buck made a mental note of that, and then Brenner continued, “We don’t want to run this operation from the embassy, which can cause problems. So Aden will be our operational base. From there, we’ll go where we think we have to go. Also, Aden is where Al Qaeda has many eyes and ears.” He looked at me and said, “You remember that, and it hasn’t changed much. Point is, if we’re at the Sheraton in Aden, The Panther will know it. Also, Aden is where you’re supposed to be for the Cole investigation.”

“Got it.”

So we spent the next ten minutes talking this out, and I was alert despite the lack of sleep. Maybe it was the mocha coffee. Maybe the subject matter. War and talk of war focuses your mind and body like nothing else can do except maybe sex.

It occurred to me that Buck and Brenner, via the CIA, knew something I didn’t know-like hard information from a radio or satellite phone intercept, or a paid informant, or a vigorously interrogated detainee-that indeed Al Qaeda already knew Kate and I were here, and that The Panther would strike.

It also occurred to me that the State Department’s application for our visa-before we even knew we were coming to Yemen-was the trigger that set Al Qaeda in motion, long before we landed at Sana’a Airport. In any case, whatever information the CIA had was not necessarily going to be shared with Mr. and Mrs. Corey at this time. And whatever information The Panther had would be shared with us at a time and place of his choosing.

Buck and Brenner wrapped it up and Buck said, “You must be exhausted. So I thank you for your attention.” He smiled and said, “I hope this was more interesting than my class in New York.”

I assured him it was, except for the info on khat.

Before we retired to our rooms, I said, “One thing that’s bugging me-Bulus ibn al-Darwish. We haven’t focused on him, and I’m trying to figure out why an American-born Muslim would defect from America. I mean, most defectors defect to America. Right? What’s motivating this guy? What’s his problem?”

Brenner replied, “I don’t know, and I’m not sure I care. But when we get him into an interrogation room, you can ask him.”

I replied, “At that point I don’t care either. But if we knew now why he turned against his country, and if we could get into his head a little, it might help us predict what he’ll do and what his strengths and weaknesses are.”

Buck informed us, “In fact, the CIA has a psychological profile on him that we’ll see shortly, and that might be helpful.”

“Good.” It takes crazy to know crazy. Not that I meant the CIA was crazy. Or did I?

Buck asked me, “Are you aware that the suspect’s parents are bringing suit in Federal court to have their son removed from the CIA kill list?”

“I am.”

Mr. Brenner said, “That’s one reason why we need to make every effort to take him alive.”

Actually, it was a good reason to whack him quickly, before some Federal judge intervened.

I looked at Brenner, who motioned toward the ceiling to remind me that we were being recorded. Then Paul Brenner made a cutting motion across his throat.

Great minds think alike. I was starting to like this guy.