Enemy Among Us-A Jordan Wright Thriller (28 page)
Read Enemy Among Us-A Jordan Wright Thriller Online
Authors: Randy Reardon
INDEPENDENCE MALL
Kate monitored the special police frequency assigned to the team coordinating the funerals, since Jordan wanted to be aware of the status of the funerals at the Basilica.
“They just loaded the caskets into the hearses. The families are hugging one another and everyone else is heading to their cars with the respective processions. They both should be moving through the city in the next five to ten minutes.”
“Okay, let’s see if Mustafa and the children make any move. Smart move for you, Kate, to get the frequency for the funeral processions, so we don’t have to keep calling for updates.” Jordan appreciated Kate’s logistical mind. She made a great partner and even in moments like these, he wondered if they would ever have a chance to see if they could be compatible partners in a different sort of relationship.
He continued to study the van, waiting for any movement.
“The side door just opened on the van!” William’s voice came over the radio. “It looks like the kids are getting out.”
The van Jordan and Kate watched, side door opened as well. The kids bailed out and walked to the curb and into the Mall. The last one was Aziz and when he reached the others, they gathered around him, obviously looking to him for instructions.
The engine of the van started and the backup lamps flashed for a second, with the indication the transmission was put into gear.
Jordan grabbed the radio. “William our van is leaving. What’s your status?”
“Looks like ours is going, also. What’s your call?”
“I want to keep tabs on the kids. You and I’ll stay here and Kate will continue the surveillance on Mustafa. Let’s give these kids some space. They haven’t done anything — yet.”
The van began to pull away from the curb. Jordan jumped out of the car. As he did he turned to Kate.
“Follow him, but nothing else. If a situation develops, call me or call for backup. He’s too dangerous for you to try to take him down by yourself. Got it!”
Kate grabbed the door our of Jordan’s hand. “I got it!” she said in a tone that told Jordan his “little-girling” comment was not appreciated.
Jordan made his way across the street and into the Mall. He found a bench about twenty-five feet from where the children had gathered with Aziz. It was an ideal observation post and, with the pedestrian traffic, he didn’t stand out.
“Okay, Aziz, show me what you and the kids are up to.” He whispered to himself.
In the distance, he could hear the muted sirens of the traffic control police who escorted the funerals. Jordan no longer believed the timing of the activities was just coincidence with the funeral for the two police officers. Mustafa was using it to his benefit. Jordan was sure something would be happen soon.
“Jordan.” The radio bud crackled to life in his ear, William calling his name. “I think I have a visual on the third group. I can’t be absolutely sure, but I think they are in the next block, standing outside the Constitution Center.”
“Keep me posted. My group is standing right inside the Mall. I think they are waiting on something or someone.”
“Right, I’m getting the same picture here with this group.”
“If something is going to happen,” Jordan whispered, “it’s going to happen soon. You see anything, you let me know.”
“Sure will, partner.”
Kate stayed about two blocks behind Mustafa’s van. As best she could tell, he was headed back to his house. As Mustafa crossed over Walnut Street, another van turned in from the side street and pulled in behind. Kate couldn’t be sure, but her guess was it was another one of the original vans. Two blocks later, when the two vans crossed Spruce Street, they were joined by what Kate assumed to be the third van. It was almost an exact repeat of their routes from the morning. As they continued along Third Street, it became obvious they were in a caravan to Mustafa’s house. Kate spoke into her radio. “Jordan, they seem to be going back to the house. Anything happening there?”
“No. They’re still standing in their groups. It doesn’t seem as if they’re going to come together. If this is the mission, it looks like they each have a specific role to play. Kate — be careful”
There was no response. Jordan knew he had pushed it with her. He never told William or even Max to be cautious. He had to be careful, but he knew why he did it. Kate meant more to him than he wanted to admit.
As they turned onto the street where Mustafa’s house was located, Kate pulled back. Stan and Max were moving in place to back her up. She parked at the corner, a block away from Mustafa’s. She had a visual of his house and, with the help of a pair of 10X50 Leupold tactical binoculars, could see all three men in the yard as they walked into the house.
Fifteen minutes later, just as the men exited the house, she received a transmission that Max and Stan were on-scene, parked two blocks down on the opposite side of the house. Kate saw that the men wore work uniforms that read “City of Brotherly Love Cleaning Company,” Mustafa’s place of employment. Were they really headed to work, Kate wondered? It didn’t really make sense, to drop the kids off and go to their cleaning jobs. The men headed into the garage and brought out more boxes that they loaded into the vans.
Kate saw Mustafa suddenly turn and look across the street and his facial expression did not look happy. Kate turned the binoculars to see a plump black woman crossing the street. As the woman turned to look for traffic, Kate instantly recognized her.
“Oh shit!” She snarled under her breath. She said into the radio. “We may have a problem, guys.”
Commander Choufani stood at the height of the steps outside the Basilica. The Captain of the Honor Guard had just closed the rear door of the second hearse and they were marching back to the van that would carry them in the procession. Choufani turned and looked back inside. The Basilica was empty save for a black-cassocked Priest and several similarly attired Altar Servers, clearing the altar after the Mass.
Estimates were that almost five thousand people had attended the Service. The first procession had left almost ten minutes earlier and, by the radio traffic he heard, they were almost to Interstate Ninety-Five. Fifteen minutes later, they would enter Delaware County and would no longer be the direct responsibility of his team.
Choufani turned back just as the second procession began to leave. He stood at attention and saluted as the hearse pulled away. It was a sight that still took his breath away. There was nothing like the procession that followed a fallen officer. Almost as far as he could see down Ben Franklin Parkway was a line of police cars, all with their light bars in operation as they moved quietly forward. It was a tremendous tribute to the brotherhood shared amongst all law enforcement professionals, the turnout of fellow officers to bury one of their own. Choufani knew of no other profession, other than that of his brother fire-fighters, where complete strangers would come together, based solely on the bond of what they do for a job. He remained transfixed as he continued to watch them go by.
A slight tap on his arm brought him back to the reality of the day and his responsibilities.
“We’re wrapped up here Commander. Are you ready to head back to the office?” his Lieutenant asked.
“Yes, let’s go. I do want to see Father Breslin, before we depart, and thank him for all of his help. But, go ahead and signal dispatch we’re done and the other procession has left. Tell them we should be at our office in about twenty minutes.”
“Yes, sir,” and the Lieutenant grabbed his radio. “Dispatch, this is Command Four. Second procession in route to Bucks County and the Cathedral is clear. Commander is returning to the office with an ETA of twenty minutes. Over.”
“Roger that, Command Four. Show second procession in route. Cathedral is clear and Commander’s ETA to office twenty minutes. Dispatch Out.”
Choufani, the Lieutenant with him, re-entered the Basilica to find Father Breslin, both hoping this would be the last time for them to have to conduct a funeral for a fallen officer.
Jordan kept his eye on the group led by Aziz. As the sirens faded from the first procession, he heard the sounds of the escorts of the second cortege leaving the Basilica. They headed in a different direction from the first and Jordan remembered reading that the officers were being buried in opposite directions from the city.
Whenever he could, Jordan would focus on Aziz. He was impressed by how calm and focused the boy seemed to be. Maybe this was only a field trip. But, if that were the case, why were they still just standing in the same place? He picked up the newspaper, shielding his facial movements as he spoke into his transceiver.
“William. Anything happening with your team?”
“No, they’re just staying in the same place. I’m positioned so I can see both groups. Neither one has moved since we got here.”
“Yeah same thing here,” Jordan responded. “They must be waiting for some signal or a certain time. Can you tell? Do your leaders have radios?”
“Yep, they do. I’ve seen no adults around them and no one has approached them.”
“Okay, let’s see what happens,” Jordan said, groaning a little as he lowered the newspaper..
Jordan had noticed that while all the children seemed to have radios, they weren’t using them — not even to talk to one another. More than likely, their tasks were going to be independent of one another, with coordination being provided by Mustafa or another adult.
Suddenly Aziz straightened up and grabbed his radio.
“Jordan, my guys are getting a message,” William’s voice said into his ear.
“Mine, too.”
“They’re on the move!”
“Same happening here,” Jordan acknowledged, “so, let’s see where they go.”
Jordan watched as Aziz gathered his team and they started across the Mall. Halfway across, they broke into two teams. The one Aziz led continued to move directly across the Mall, while the other team turned and headed down the center of the Mall walkway. Jordan took a diagonal track intersecting the paths of the two groups so he could keep them both in view.