Enemy Among Us-A Jordan Wright Thriller (12 page)

Max walked over to the window and knocked, getting William’s attention. She gestured for him to bring Akmed back inside. It was time to get started on round two.

Chapter Eighteen

SOUTH PHILLY

They had kept a watch on the store and Benny all day from the apartment across the street and it seemed nothing had taken place other than ordinary business. Frank Evans had arrived from D. C. on Max’s orders and had taken charge of the team. Frank was a logistical expert who could bust through red tape and get an operation up and running in record time. They had gotten the report back about Benny and the man was as clean as they come. He seemed to be nothing more than an employee and, at this juncture, nothing pointed to him being involved in the plot.

The phone rang and one of the agents picked it up. “Okay, thanks, why don’t you change and head back here? You can come in through the back. We’re in 2-B.” Agent John Lutz a solidly built man with a face that made him look twenty-five years younger than he was, turned to Frank. “That was Miguel at the school. He’s posing as the substitute janitor. He said Aziz just left the school and is traveling alone. He is headed in this direction.”

“Do we have anyone with him?” Frank moved toward the window and looked down the street.

“Yes, we have an agent, keeping about a block back. We aren’t sure how extensive this network is in the neighborhood and if they have their own watchers. So, our guy’s playing it low key. He’ll probably only communicate if the boy changes direction or something happens.”

“Good. That’s playing it smart. The boy’s our only link right now, so we can’t spook him or anyone who might be watching him.” Frank turned and spoke louder to address the half dozen agents in the apartment. “Listen up. We’ve got a strong indication this boy is a member of a cell, which is close to being activated, if it hasn’t already. We lose him, we’re back at square one. We’ve got to be smart and diligent. Let’s not overplay our hand. At this point, I would rather error on the side of caution, versus sticking our necks out in haste and losing the only asset we have. The interrogation of the father is continuing; but, so far, we have high confidence in every thing he has told us. Jordan is enroute here and should arrive by six o’clock. Let’s just keep doing our best.” There were affirmative nods around the room, as everyone returned to his work.

About fifteen minutes later, Aziz appeared, walking down the street. He’d headed straight home.

“Let’s look alive. Subject is heading toward the building,” the agent at the window turned and announced. “Our guy is about a block and a half back, with no signals.” The signal was to have his coat zipped and a hat on his head if Aziz had been contacted during the trip or had anyone else following him. “I’ll let you know if he goes to the store or directly to the apartment.”

At that moment, the door opened and the agent who had been the janitor walked in. Miguel Scott looked more like a janitor than a Federal agent. Slightly balding and of thin build the overalls he now wore, seemed to fit him better than the suits he typically wore. Several of the agents acknowledged him. “Regular day at school nothing out of the ordinary. If anything, the kid is kind of a loner.”

“He’s headed to the apartment.” Came the report from the agent following Aziz.

Chapter Nineteen

For Aziz, the end of school bell couldn’t ring fast enough. He didn’t really like school, and it wasn’t the work; he carried a high grade point average and was in several honors classes. But, he loathed the social aspects. None of his cousins attended his school, and they were his friends and the people he wanted to do things with every day. There were few fellow students he could tolerate, other than his lab partner in physics. Jared was smart and wasn’t caught up in all the drama that seemed to be what the other student’s lives evolved around. Aziz hated the numerous cliques and the sense that you had to belong to one. He didn’t want to be a jock, though he knew from pick up games in the neighborhood that he could play better than most of the varsity players.

Thinking about that brought him back to his parents. He’d been thinking all day about his father. Where could his father have gone and what was he up to that would make him leave. Aziz was confused. He knew the death of his mother had been hard on his father, as it had been on him. He had Uncle Mustafa to help him and they had grown closer after his mother’s death. His father had his store.

Aziz crossed the last street before their apartment. He really hoped his father had returned. Aziz wasn’t sure where to go first. Should he go up to the apartment, like he normally would, and drop his books off? And then go down to see his father and Benny? Or, should he go straight into the store, to see his father? He wasn’t sure what he should do. As he got in front of the store, he decided the best thing to do would be to keep to his normal routine. He went to the door of the apartment and grabbed his key from his book bag.

Entering, everything seemed the same as it had been when he left that morning. He headed down the hall to his room and noticed the door to his father’s room was still closed. He went to his room and dropped off his bag. He went back to the door at his father’s room and slowly opened it. Fearing the worst, his father might have been in there and not able to call for help. Aziz looked around and walked to the other side of the bed, but his father was not there. He backed out and closed the door.

Aziz went into the kitchen and grabbed a soda out of the refrigerator. He walked over to the door to the back stairway, opened it and went down to the door that would open into the store. He turned the knob, but the door was locked. This was not a good sign. If his father had returned, he would have gone through this door from the garage. Aziz found it hard to believe his father would be working and hadn’t gone up to the apartment at some time during the day. Aziz walked back upstairs to get the key, returned and opened the door.

Benny was at the counter, helping a customer with some bolts and nuts. Aziz walked around, looking down the aisles. No sign of his father. He walked behind the counter, gave Benny a nod and walked into the back of the store. It was dark, indicating no one was back there working. So, Aziz continued to the makeshift office, but it too was dark. He turned around and headed back to the front of the store. Benny was just finishing with the customer.

“My father still hasn’t come back?”

“No, Aziz. I haven’t seen or heard from him. There have been several calls for him and I’ve taken messages; but, nothing out of the ordinary.”

“I’m worried and a little scared. This isn’t like him.”

“No, it’s not. But, your dad hasn’t been himself since your mother passed away. It hit him hard. Sometimes, people deal with their grief in different ways. Your father may just need time to himself, but he didn’t know how to tell you.”

“Maybe, but since I was gone, I don’t know how long he’s been gone. I would have thought he either would of told you more or left me a note.”

“I don’t know what to tell you, Aziz. I’m sure he is fine” At that moment the bell hung over the front door of the store rang out, announcing the arrival of a customer. Benny turned away from Aziz and headed to the front of the counter.

“I’m going to go upstairs,” Aziz called to Benny.

“Okay, Aziz. I’ll come see you after I close up. Let’s have dinner together.”

Aziz walked over to the door and headed up the stairs. What should he do?

Chapter Twenty

“I want to hear everyone’s assessments,” Frank called out as they finished replaying the conversation that had just taken place between Benny and Aziz.

“The kid’s worried.” Lutz called out. “The kid’s beside himself, but Benny doesn’t seem to be overly worried. Maybe he knows more than he’s telling.”

“If Aziz calls his uncle, that could cause a ripple effect, which we aren’t yet ready to deal with.” Philadelphia Police Detective Phil Johnson chimed in from behind his computer screen.

“I would concur. We need to contain this between these two. I think we’ve got to figure out how to keep this from spinning out of control.” Frank interjected with his hand covering his chin. His pose of deep thought and taking in of the conversation.

“We’ve got the father, could we have him call the son. Tell him he’s okay, but needed some time away and he’ll be back soon.” Lutz added.

Frank was taking it all in. “Are we absolutely sure there are no other taps in the store or apartment. I need complete assurance if we let the father contact the son, that the uncle won’t become aware and this whole thing blows up.”

“We scanned when we went in and picked up nothing. Everything was clean. I don’t think they would have anything sophisticated enough for us not to pick it up.” Lutz added.

“Okay, let me talk to Max and Stan.” The officers gave Frank a quizzical look as they went back to work at their stations. No one knew who he was talking about but, then again, until three hours ago, they had never heard of Frank, either.

Frank headed to the back bedroom of the apartment. He’d commandeered this space when he first arrived, knowing he and Jordan would need space away from the others to think and plan strategy. It also had windows overlooking the store and the apartment, so they were able to key a visual on what was happening outside. He placed the call to Stan, who asked Max to join the conversation.

“I think the best thing would be for the father to call the son. We can coach him on what to say to keep the kid calm.” Max was leaning over the desk talking into the conference phone.

“I agree we need to see if we can’t buy some more time before he alerts this uncle. Until we have a clearer idea of the bigger picture, I want more time to observe.” Stan looked at Max for support on what he’d just said.

“I agree with Stan.” Max nodded to Stan as she spoke.

“When can we have Akmed ready?” Frank replied. He was a person of action. Debating options for any length of time never seemed to make the options any better. To him, it was decide and do.

“I think you should do it when Benny goes up to the apartment,” Max jumped in.

“Frank, when do we think that will happen?” Max stood up from the desk and stretched her back.

“He said he would come up when he closed the store. Today, it’s five-thirty.”

“That gives us ninety minutes. We need to get cracking here. Let’s reconnect at five fifteen” Stan looked at his watch as he spoke.

Everyone concurred.

“Akmed is with William. I’ll go and get started with them.” Max turned to walk out of the room. The phones went silent as each person disconnected. Stan leaned back in his chair wondering how many more twists and turns they would have to navigate before this came to an end.

Frank walked out of the bedroom, back to the large living area, where the team was set up. “Listen, everyone. Here’s what’s going to happen in ninety minutes.”

Chapter Twenty-One