Enemy Among Us-A Jordan Wright Thriller (8 page)

“In a few minutes, we will be bringing your child to you,” one of the Doctors said, addressing the group. “These children have no recollection of their true parents. We removed them at about the time you first came to the compound. They have been raised in a separate facility and were recently brought to your old dorm complex. They have been raised in the belief they would be meeting their parents. That is what will happen today. From their standpoint, you are their parents. Some of them are aware of your absence and have been told you have been working with the government and were not in a position to have them with you. Today is a reunion, in their minds. Please avoid any indication this is your first time to know of them. We don’t and they don’t have expectation you have much information in regards to them and their lives so far.”

Mustafa returned to the stage. “The rest of the day we will spend here at the Park. We suggest you take the time to move away from this area and the three of you spend time getting to know one another. It’s not the time for many questions. Focus on the family being back together. Have fun with them. Start building your bond, because it will be critical, going forward that you become a family and can be viewed by others as a family.”

More memories had returned to Akmed —

A knock at the door brought Akmed back to the present and the room to which the FBI had taken him.

Chapter Eleven

Jordan, Max and Stan attempted to plot their strategy in the den of the safe house.

“Since we don’t know the time frame, we really need to push him hard,” Jordan offered.

“Yes, but we’re on US soil, so it does tie our hands,” Stan said, shrugging his shoulders.

“How motivated is he? Let’s take a step back,” Max interjected, as she rose from her chair. “He shows up and starts telling us this story. We quickly move him out of Philly and down here to this safe house. The guy hasn’t uttered a word since. I think we’ve got to figure out if he is real or not. As much as what he has said so far is our worse nightmare, he hasn’t really given any details. How do we know he isn’t some nutcase that’s taking us for a ride?”

“Or sent in to distract us, while the real incident unfolds,” Stan added.

“That’s why I think we have to go hard. I’m not talking about harming the guy. I just don’t think we have time for the niceties. We need to get more information and we need to get it fast,” Jordan insisted, beginning to get frustrated.

“You’ve got a point. I think we first need to find out if he’s the real deal,” Stan agreed. “But, if he’s not, then we’ve got to believe he’s been trained well enough to take us on a wild goose chase. He could tie us up in some big knots before we realize we’re headed in the opposite direction of where we should be.”

“Are any of the surveillance teams in place in Philly, yet?” Max wondered aloud.

“They took up their positions about ninety minutes ago; but, they haven’t reported anything, nor have they visually identified the boy,” Stan noted as he paced about the room. “We’ve got people on the street watching for…”

“Maybe we’re making this harder than it needs to be,” Jordan interrupted. “Let’s assume this guy is on the up and up. He has bought into the American dream and is turning his back on this mission and what’s left of his family. Let’s play to that. I’ll go up and talk to him, see if a new face brings out any new information, or at least if his story’s consistent. Where are the notes from the earlier sessions?”

“I’ve got them right here,” Stan said, handing Jordan a copy of the transcript. “There’s not a lot there. As soon as they understood what he was talking about and how it aligned with your lecture, they got on the phone to DC and moved him here. He didn’t say much on the ride down.”

“Give me a few minutes to look this over; and, then, I want to have a crack at him.”

“Okay, but I want Max with you,” Stan ordered.

Jordan gave him his patented “Are you for real?” look. “I think I can handle it.”

“No doubt you can, but I think one-on–one with you might put him in a position where he thinks he’s about to get tortured. With Max there, I think it might give him the comfort it’s just a conversation and not going to turn into something else.”

Jordan chuckled. “If he only knew.”

“Yeah, but he doesn’t,” Stan shot back.

Max just looked at them both. “I know how to control myself.” Max, in the past, had led some of the toughest interrogations of suspected terrorists ever conducted. Her methods, including both mental and physical distress, were case studies taught by both the CIA and FBI. She’d conducted seminars with Mossad and MI6. She was a legend and proof a woman could be just as intimidating as a man, when it came to getting information.

“All right, here’s what I want to do. There’s a great little sandwich shop a few miles down the road that does the best cheese steak outside of Philly. Get three of them. If he’s really been in Philly for as long as he says he has been, he’s got to be partial to a good Philly cheese steak”

“We’ll go in with the sandwiches and some Coca-Colas and just have a nice conversation. We’ll see how he responds and if we can get anything more out of him. But, if by the time the sandwiches are done, we aren’t any further along, we’ll move to something a little more difficult.”

Stan looked at them both.

“I think it will work,” Max added supportively.

“Okay. It’s your show, boy,” Stan acknowledged.

“While we’re waiting for the sandwiches, can I grab a shower and change of clothes?”

“Sure. You can go upstairs. You have a room at the end of the hall that has its own bath.”

“How about you Max? Going to freshen up?” Jordan asked.

“I showered on the plane.”

For the first time, Jordan noticed she was wearing a different outfit than what she’d worn when she came to the villa. He also realized she did look refreshed but, she always looked ready to enter the boardroom, even when they had been on missions for several days.

“You didn’t tell me the plane had a shower. You mean I could have cleaned up before we landed?”

“You never asked,” Max responded with a sheepish grin.

Jordan walked out to the room and they could hear him head up the steps.

Once he was sure Jordan was out of earshot, Stan looked at Max. “How do you think he’s doing? Is he ready to jump back in?”

“Stan, I don’t know. When we first arrived at his villa, I thought it was a lost cause. He just looked like he could have cared less.

“Yeah, what’s that all about?” Stan shot into the conversation.

“I think it’s about atonement. It’s his way of dealing with all the ugly crap he’s had to deal with. It’s about finding that simple life away from all of this. It’s the only place I’ve ever seen him relax. I can’t explain it, Stan, but he looks like a different person there. William said he didn’t even know him when he first saw him. He thought it was the caretaker. Oh, by the way. I did get you another bottle of the olive oil.”

Stan nodded with a smile. He thought of the great meals his wife had made using the oil the last time Jordan had brought some back. He missed more than her cooking. He forced his mind back to the task at hand.

“But, is he ready. You haven’t convinced me yet that he is.”

“Sorry for getting side tracked. I thought he was going to tell me no and walk away. However, as I began to give him the details, I could sense he was becoming more engaged. His face changed. It was like he transformed back into the old Jordan, right in front of me. Stan, he got it. He realized it was everything he’d been talking about and no one would listen. Present company excluded,” Max quickly added when she noted the change in Stan’s facial expression. “We didn’t have to force him to come with us. He came on his own.”

“Okay, I get it,” Stan nodded. “But, if I start to see him cracking, I’m pulling him out.”

“That’s fair. It would have been great to give him more time, but these things don’t work that way and he knows it. I don’t think he would have come if he didn’t want to be in the game. Yes, he wants to prove the people wrong who told him he was full of shit. More important and why we have always admired Jordan, he wants to protect his country. He’ll be as good as he always has been.”

“I hope so. We need him more than ever, this time.”

“He’ll be there. He always steps up,” Max started to leave. “I’m going to unpack and then check on the food. We’ll start as soon as Jordan gets out of the shower.

After she’d changed into a more comfortable outfit of a long denim skirt and a long sleeve top, she headed back downstairs. She didn’t want her appearance to be a distraction to the man they would be talking to. She’d found, if she somewhat followed their traditions, they tended to be more receptive. She’d also removed some of her makeup. Not that she wore a lot or needed to wear any, but again she wanted the man to feel as comfortable as he possibly could with a woman asking him questions.

As she went by Jordan’s room, she knocked on the door. “I’ll be in the kitchen. I’ll wait for you there.”

“Okay, I’ll be there in about five,” was the reply.

She headed down the long u-shaped staircase. This was a beautiful home. Too bad its purpose was no longer to raise a family. She could have been quite comfortable here. She entered the kitchen and found the bag with the sandwiches had arrived and was waiting on the counter. She grabbed a tray and grabbed drinks out of the refrigerator.

Jordan walked into the kitchen, grabbing on of the sandwiches and putting it under his nose. “I will never get tired of the smell of a great steak.”

“How do you want to handle this?” Max inquired.

“I think we should use this first session to feel him out. Let’s try to get him comfortable with us, but I also want to try to validate whether he’s the real deal or not. When we’re done eating, let’s excuse ourselves to clean up and get more drinks and we can evaluate where we are.”

“Sounds good.”

They were at the door. “Are you ready?” Jordan inquired in a whisper.

Max nodded affirmatively.

“Let’s go meet Mr. Terrorist,” Jordan turned and knocked on the door.

Chapter Tweleve

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA

Aziz opened the door.

It wasn’t what he expected.

He wasn’t sure what to do.

The weekend had been spent with Uncle Mustafa and his cousins. They had been in Southern New Jersey at a camp. It had been intense. He remembered several years ago when they first started having these trips without their parents. At first, they had been fun. Away from Mom and Dad and with only Uncle Mustafa to watch over them, there had been a lot of time to create mischief. At times, he would be the ringleader and come up with the idea, but get the others to do the deed. If they got caught, he would be somewhere else and not punished. But, he would also make sure he spent time with those he’d sent who got caught, not only telling them he was sorry, but also to give advice on what they could do not to get caught next time.

In actuality, Uncle Mustafa had been aware of the role Aziz had played and was impressed with his natural abilities to lead others. It would come in handy as they further prepared for their mission. One afternoon, Mustafa pulled Aziz aside and they went for a walk together in the woods. Mustafa told Aziz about what he’d observed and how impressed he was with his leadership ability and his ways of convincing others to follow him. His uncle encouraged him to play a larger role with all of his cousins.

Looking around the apartment, he wasn’t sure what to do.

“Father? Are you here?” he called out.

He heard no reply. He put his pack down on the chair and hurriedly searched the entire apartment. He was aware of spouses who took their own lives after losing a wife or husband. He knew his parents cared about each other. They respected one another. He wasn’t sure how much they were in love but, in talking with his cousins, his parents seemed to be in more love with each other than some of his aunts and uncles.

He decided to go downstairs to the family’s store, to see if his father was at work. He doubted it but, it was the only other place he knew to check. Aziz headed down the backstairs of the apartment, which led directly into the store. As he got to the landing, he reached for the knob of the old beaten up door and found it locked.