Hard Case VII - Red Waves (John Harding Series Book 7) (30 page)

“It will,” Jean stated with surety while trailing Rachel and Deke up the stairs.

Nick called Sergeant Dickerson of the Pacific Grove PD. “Hey Neil. Rachel said you called. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine, Nick. I heard a mosque in Salinas was hit with a lot of casualties.”

“That’s a shame. I suppose the authorities and terrorists from the sand are all out there calling it a hate crime, right?”

“Yep. You have the dialogue down pat. Will there be any explanation for the hit?”

“Eventually, I’m sure all the details about why and who will appear. Is there anything locally you wanted to talk with me about? I have a high tolerance for bad things happening to the undocumented Jawas.”

“Jawas? Oh… you’re nicknaming the Middle Eastern refugees from Star Wars. Cute. . It does have something to do with the Salinas mosque but not in any way having to do with what happened. There are already rumors the basement below the mosque was being used as an armory for illegal weapons. We have a weird one here in Pacific Grove. The neighbors are complaining about a house on their block being used as a prayer meeting place called a masjid - I think that’s what the owner said it was when I sent a patrol car to check it out. After the attacks all over people don’t want to wait until their block explodes into a war zone.”

I don’t blame them
. “How can I help? We’ve had enough incidents around the country to finally upset the general populace as our goofy leaders import people hell bent on changing our way of life or killing us. I’ve given up trying to figure it out.”

“Agreed. I know you speak the lingo, Nick. I was refused a court order to look into this closer with wiretaps and surveillance. They’re singing the Islamophobia song in the media. The neighbors aren’t backing off.”

“You’re afraid the neighbors might see too much one day and go investigate themselves, huh? Then you’ll have the war zone nobody wants but can’t figure out what else to do.”

“Exactly. Do you have any ideas?”

“Text me the address. I’ll get my partner John in on it. He can infiltrate the supposed masjid. Maybe it’s what they claim it is. You do understand my caution about unintended consequences, don’t you? The last time we had a Kader/Fontaine near disaster there were some casualties. It seemed you were a bit put off with the results.”

“I know. It took me a while to remember what you do. The underbelly of what Omar Fontaine was involved in keeps appearing incrementally in the media and on official bulletins. I know Fontaine didn’t die of mysterious causes. Those bodies found in the Carmel Valley area near the summer camp where Jean and Sonny were spending some time threw me for a loop. When we were asked to check the motel they were staying at here in Pacific Grove we found pictures all over of Emily Waterson. After doing a more thorough investigation into the two dead men, I’m assuming they were there to kidnap Emily. If the unintended consequences keep little girls like Emily safe, then I better step up and shut up when I get what I ask for… sometimes before I even know I need to ask for something. Can I assume you had to intervene in the Waterson kidnapping?”

“I didn’t know you were asked in on it. I’m working on the case out of professional courtesy, asked to take a look by you if that’s okay. It would smooth over some edges with law officers wondering why I’m checking in to it.”

“Consider it done. I’ll backdate a request and send you a copy. You believe they weren’t doing it for a ransom then?”

“Nope. I need to take care of some important business on the terrorist front. We have to go on an ocean voyage. The cover is a book signing aboard the Starlight of the Seas. I was going to leave Deke with Joe Montenegro, but maybe you could look after him instead. I’ll go with John and Cala to look in on our Pacific Grove masjid right away though before I leave. The person behind the kidnapping can wait until I verify the name. Emily’s parents have been informed she’s a target, right?”

“Of course. They believe it has to do with a Chinese contract that fell through. I’d love to watch Deke for you. Plus, I get to hear firsthand about this thing involving the Starlight when you fetch Deke afterwards.”

“You do know though not to even mention the name Starlight from this moment on, don’t you, Neil?”

“Absolutely.” Neil mimicked Nick’s one word retort perfectly.

* * *

Gus and Nick waited at the ready for John and Cala to emerge from the masjid. They were escorted out by two thugs. They had them on audio and video the entire time with transmitters hidden in Cala’s modest accouterments for prayer. John played the whole scene perfectly, letting the men know the Salinas masjid was no more and they sought a new place of worship. One thing became clear after only minutes, the place was not a masjid. John did not divulge his Ebi Zarin identity. It wasn’t necessary. The men supposedly running the Islamic masjid catering to those who wished to worship told John he would have to find another place. Because of the need to strictly gather information, John accepted the rebuff with quiet acceptance while the humble Cala bugged the room. The man claiming to be running a holy place of prayer was filmed on video from a cam in Cala’s outfit. John collected a DNA sample when the man threw away a coffee cup while talking with John and Cala. Nick sent everything over to Neil by courier, and copies of the fingerprints with video to Denny Strobert. Neil fast tracked the lab results. Denny made a call back immediately.

“This is big, Nick! Good Lord. The guy is Mohammed Al Sirani. He was number two in Al Qaeda of Europe. We thought him dead in a missile strike. Can you get him for us? This must have to do with their West Coast presence to decoy forces as far from the East Coast and Middle East as they can.”

“Understood. Rules of engagement besides Sirani?”

“I’d like all of them dead. I’m not sure how we can play this to steer the Company out of the mix to avoid a congressional inquiry, but we need Sirani. I’ll collect him if you can get the prick.”

Nick smiled. “I’ll think of something. If it doesn’t work out, I’ll call my US Marshal contacts for cover.”

“We’ll come get you if things take a wrong turn, Nick.”

“Good to know, Denny. Send a note to Paul so he can duck and cover if appropriate.”

“Will do. Thanks. Call me for collection, my friend.”

“Absolutely.” Nick disconnected. He called John. “You uncovered the rock Mohammed Al Sirani has been hiding under, John. We’ll get Payaso and go collect Sirani and forward him to Denny Strobert. The rest will be remaining in the area.”

“Al Sirani? I didn’t recognize him with the short hair and no beard. I saw him from afar in Syria once. I have Cleaner on. She didn’t like the way we were treated at the masjid and wants to know about whether we’ll need her.”

“I will be making a scene but it will be on site. The bodies will be remaining in the masjid. Tell Cleaner she’s welcome to come along and observe the scene. It never hurts to have an extra pair of eyes on an alternate reality we wish to sell to the cops.”

“Understood. When do you want to do it, Muerto?”

“Tonight. I’ll get Payaso to monitor the bug Cala installed. If they remain in the masjid for the evening we’ll make another Isis/Al Qaeda statement.”

“The Unholy Trio?”

Nick chuckled hearing the hidden plea in John’s voice.
We must have been surpassed by cat videos again.
“Not this time, Kabong. I’ll make it up to you when we go on the cruise. The Unholy Trio will be at the front of a ‘Ride of the Valkyries’ kill mission. No cat video ever made or will be made can top our coming adventure.”

“Yes! I will talk with you later, Muerto. I’ll prepare for this evening.” John disconnected with Cala yelping with delight about going with them.

That girl will make us the Unholy Quatro pretty soon.

Chapter Eleven

Kill Missions

“Nick?”

“I have confirmation. It’s bad. An assistant director of the CIA ordered the problem fixed. Lose everything I gave you and everything in your head you know about it, my friend. The man is Mohammed Al Sirani, a big name in Al Qaeda of Europe come possibly on an Isis mission. Thanks for pointing this out. In the meantime tell the neighbors you’re doing what you can to check the place out.”

“Understood. Can I help in any way?”

“I don’t think so, Neil. I will call you when the business is taken care of. It will be done soon with a credible scene you’ll like.”

“I’ll wait for your call.”

After Neil disconnected Nick returned to his writing with Deke lying by his feet. Rachel and Jean would be coming home in a short time from shopping for cruise clothes. Jean confirmed Sonny’s joining them on the cruise through Phil and Clarice Salvatore. Not having figured the Salvatores would ever consent, Phil surprised Nick with a call allowing Sonny to go. He knew their frame of mind. They were okay parents, but with only one agenda to satisfy, their own. Nick figured the trip coincided with a Phil and Clarice con job they were thankful Sonny wouldn’t discover. Nick glanced over at the sleeping Quinn who had not stirred during his phone conversations before diving into his plot again.

Rachel and Jean returned with Sonny.

“Hello, Sir,” Sonny greeted Nick while petting Deke.

“We picked Sonny up on our way home,” Rachel explained. “Sonny’s going to allow Viper to win at knife throwing for a change. Once the placation deed ends with poor sport Jean winning, they plan to go over numerous cruise plots Jean thinks she can hide from me.”

“Sonny loses fair and square!” Jean let the cruise plots fall to the wayside but had no intention of not challenging Rachel’s take on the kids’ knife throwing contests. Tell her, Sonny.”

“I lose fair and square.” Sonny smiled as Jean stared at him, knowing he was pretending honesty with a hint of the contests indeed being rigged.

“You’ve won a couple and now you’re the champ?”

“C’mon, Jean. Some days I can tell when you’re mad at something. Maybe I concentrate on having a good time instead of winning. What’s wrong with that? When I win, you get so mad you won’t speak to me.”

Jean poked Sonny in the chest. “No more of that. From now on it’s straight on the up and up. I will stop speaking to you if I suspect you’re not trying.”

“Good call, Jean,” Nick said. “Stick to it. I will intercede in this if you break your promise. I love your competitiveness. It will serve you both well. When you lose at something, you need to rework your skills, not throw a tantrum.”

“Yeah… okay, Dad. Let’s go, Sissy.”

“Sissy?”

“Since you’re too much of a sissy to let me know when I’m out of line, I’m changing your code name from Cracker to Sissy.”

Sonny shook his head. “Of course you are. While we’re picking names again, I think we should change yours to Spoiled Brat.”

“I’ll second that,” Rachel said, waving her hand in the air.

“The parentals have joined our negotiations, Cracker. Time to get the knives out.”

Nick and Rachel watched the two run down for the patio knife range. Deke’s head popped to attention, checked the situation, and dropped down on his paws once again touching Nick’s shoe.

“You do know those two are plotting ways to unmask pirates on board ship, right Muerto?”

“Unfortunately yes, but I hope to have the infiltration problem dealt with before they ever come close to finding any. We still have a weak spot in the plan with the Starlight’s Captain. He won’t be thrilled with us using his ship for bait after we do uncover the plot and infiltrators. The woman married to my friend Clint Dostiene they call Cruella Deville is being assigned the job of making the Captain into an ally. If anyone can, she can.”

“How would any of this work for the pirates anyhow? Even with infiltrators, the Starlight will have other huge cruise ships on the same route pretty close by,” Rachel pointed out.

“Huh.” It was clear Nick did not know what Rachel meant. “You mean they travel in packs?”

“Not exactly. I was on a Caribbean cruise rather than one in the most dangerous place on earth. We many times saw cruise ships from other companies either ahead or behind us. Besides that what the hell are they going to use, grappling hooks with cutlasses between their teeth?”

Nick paused from writing a scene on the ocean liner he was developing into his next novel. He did have the answer to that question. He turned the computer screen toward Rachel with a YouTube video playing. “Watch this. A pilot craft needs to pluck a crew member off a cruiser in the same class as the Starlight. It paces the big ship, inching closer until it is running near the front lower access deck open to crew only.”

Rachel watched the maneuver with the man jumping aboard the smaller vessel as it came abreast of the huge liner’s front lower deck. “Crap! All the infiltrators have to do is hold the access deck which would have been easy with the armed bunch numbering thirty to forty. You’ve already said the security people aren’t even allowed to be armed.”

“On our cruise they will be. Our guys will be armed and making sure the boat they try to board the ship with will be blown out of the water. I will kill everyone on the bridge before it gets closer than half a mile. Our assault craft will then blow it to bits, along with the other two craft they’re supposedly assaulting the Starlight with. Before you ask, we got the job instead of the Navy because the pussies in Washington don’t believe in kill missions. We don’t operate under the same restraints. We’re counting on Paul for help if we unmask the enemy country behind this: Iran.”