The Last Man (46 page)

When she got to Ashan she said, “Nadeem, I am sorry to hear of your difficulties. One of the things I would like to clear up today is your situation.”

“It’s a travesty,” Durrani announced passionately.

Kennedy looked at the Judas to her left. She had had ample time on the plane to review the entire Rickman affair and analyze the various motives of Rickman and Durrani. As for Rickman, she had a few guesses about why he’d decided to become a traitor, but Durrani was clear-cut. He wanted Taj’s job and he wanted Ashan and every other moderate out of his way. He would use Rickman’s information to bolster his status and within a year or two he would be running the ISI and all of its clandestine operations.

Taj stepped forward with a pained expression on his face. “Director Kennedy, I must caution you. Nadeem is only here as a favor from our president to yours. He no longer works at the ISI and has no official capacity here today.”

“Yes, I find it all rather interesting. I think your intelligence agency may have been played the same way as mine was, but we will discuss that later.”

“Yes,” Taj said, not having a clue what Kennedy meant. “Please sit.” Taj directed her to a massive leather couch that could seat six adults. It was centered on the fireplace, with couches that ran perpendicular off each end. Durrani and Ashan sat on the couch to the right and Nassir and Nash sat on the other couch.

Taj asked Kennedy if she’d like some tea. She declined and withdrew a briefing folder, signaling to everyone that this was all about business.

“This problem with your embassy,” Taj winced, “is very bad for our relations.”

“I agree,” Kennedy offered quickly.

“Then you should hand those four men over,” Durrani said, as if it was the only option.

Kennedy ignored Durrani and directed her remarks at General Taj. “I don’t like this strife between our two countries, but something is afoot here, and until we figure out what is going on, those four men will be afforded the safety of the sovereign territory of the United States of America.”

Durrani laughed at the preposterous claim.

“General,” Kennedy said, turning to Durrani, “surely you don’t dispute the fact that the American Embassy is sovereign U.S. territory?”

“No, but I don’t think the clerics will acknowledge you the same fact.”

“Then why don’t you explain it to them rather than use your political affairs officers to whip them into a frenzy?”

Durrani kept his cool. “I’m sorry, Director Kennedy, but you are misinformed.”

“I don’t think so, General, but you and I will agree to disagree, as we usually do.” Kennedy opened her file and pulled out a series of photos. Like a card dealer, she tossed three sets on the table, one in front of Durrani and Ashan, the second in front of Taj, and the third in front of Nash and Nassir.

“You are all familiar with the abduction, interrogation, and murder of one of my men last week in Afghanistan?” They all nodded and Kennedy said, “A second attempt was made on the life of another one of my people. This was the episode in which twenty-one police officers were killed. It turned out they had been ordered to attack my men by General Qayem, who has since disappeared.” Kennedy pointed at the photos. “These two men, one of them was killed in the attack and the other we are unable to locate. Do any of you recognize either of them?”

No one answered, so Kennedy said, “According to Afghan intelligence, these two men are ISI assets.”

“What are you trying to imply?” Durrani asked angrily.

“I’m not trying to imply anything. I’m just trying to get some answers. Please, by all means show these photos around and see if any of your assets have gone rogue on you.”

“This is preposterous,” Durrani said. “You are merely trying to distract us from the fact that despite being our supposed ally you hold four Pakistani citizens whom you have recruited to spy against us in your embassy.”

“I’m not arguing that point, General, I’m just trying to find out who launched a coordinated attack against my Clandestine Service last week.”

Durrani threw his hands up in frustration while Taj said, “I’m sorry, Director Kennedy, but we have no knowledge of what you are talking about.”

“Maybe . . . maybe not. I have another interesting piece of information for you.” Kennedy retrieved the copies of Special Agent Wilson’s affidavits with Herr Obrecht. She doled out three sets of copies and said, “Have any of you heard of the Swiss bank Sparkasse Schaffhausen?”

Ashan’s face lit up. “That’s the bank where I supposedly have a million dollars deposited courtesy of your government.”

“I thought I’d heard that. Well, apparently this same bank has accounts for the now deceased Mr. Rickman, and another one of my key people, even though I know for a fact that my people never opened any accounts at this bank, or should say I know Mr. Rapp never opened an account at this bank, but I can’t say the same for Mr. Rickman.”

“Why is that?” Durrani asked.

“Because he’s dead. I have no way to prove that he didn’t.” Kennedy turned her attention back to Taj, saying, “The point is, we think this bank has been used to make certain people at the CIA look corrupt when in fact they are not. This disinformation was passed on to the FBI in an effort to jump-start a criminal investigation against the CIA. Fortunately, other elements within the FBI believe this is part of the same plot that involved kidnapping Mr. Rickman and the attempted murder of Mr. Rapp. I find it more than a little strange that this is the same bank that Deputy General Ashan was supposedly storing his ill-gotten gains in.”

“I’ve never heard of this bank.” Taj said. “Have any of you?” The three deputies all shook their heads. “It is a rather strange coincidence. Why would someone want to frame Mr. Rickman, Mr. Rapp, and Ashan?”

“That’s a very good question, General.”

“Have you been able to talk to the bank?”

“No, we have not. I sent some people to Zurich late Friday, and they have had a very difficult time tracking down Herr Obrecht, the man whose name is listed on all three accounts.” Kennedy paused and then added, “There was one strange development, however.” She opened her file for the third time and pulled out more photos. “My people were parked in front of Herr Obrecht’s country villa when a car with four men pulled up. The details are a little sketchy, but a chase ensued and then a gunfight.” Kennedy tossed the photos of three dead men on the table. “A fourth man escaped and we were unable to track him down, but we have a good description of him. He had black hair, was dark skinned, with dark eyes, and he, well,” Kennedy pointed at the photos, “he looked like these three men.” Kennedy cocked her head to the side and asked, “What nationality would you say these men are, General Taj?”

The director general of the ISI scooped up the photos and stared at them while a layer of perspiration formed on his forehead. After several painful moments he cleared his throat and said, “They look Pakistani.”

“And why would they be in Switzerland trying to talk to Herr Obrecht? Did you send men to talk to Herr Obrecht?”

Taj was embarrassed beyond anything he had ever experienced. “If you will excuse me, Director Kennedy, I think we will need to continue this tomorrow. I need to speak in private with my deputies right now.”

“By all means, General. If you need me, I’ll be at the embassy.”

Chapter 57

Bahria Town, Pakistan

As Hurley had promised, the border crossing had been uneventful. The two dusty, dented late-model Toyota 4Runners made their way through the mountain pass and down the A1, through Peshawar, and into Islamabad in three hours and forty-seven minutes. Rapp drove the lead vehicle, with Kassar in the front passenger seat and Hurley and Dumond in back. Coleman and three of his men followed in the second vehicle. Everyone was dressed in local garb. They were traveling with several hundred thousand dollars in cash, and if they were stopped they weren’t going to try to get cute and claim they were working for an international aid organization. They were weapons merchants and they had plenty of samples to show any border agents or Army personnel who were interested.

As it turned out, they burned through just ten thousand dollars in cash, using Hurley’s contacts at the borders. After that, they moved unmolested with all of the trucks that were busy carrying supplies back and forth between Pakistan and Afghanistan. They arrived in the nation’s capital shortly after one in the afternoon. They had worked on the plan while in flight from Germany to Jalalabad. Coleman and Hurley had gotten into a heated argument with Rapp over the plan, but Rapp had held his ground. Trying to get the entire team past the guards and into Bahria Town would raise too much attention. Kassar was adamant that this would not work. Hurley said that was bullshit, and Kassar spent the better part of a half hour trying to prove the unprovable.

Rapp, never known for his patience, finally put an end to it. The best chance for success was for him to be smuggled into the compound in the back of Kassar’s Range Rover. The guards never searched his car. Wicker could take up a sniper position a half mile from the compound in the foothills just outside Bahria’s fence line. Dumond could run aerial with one of the minidrones and the rest of the team would have to roll as a Quick Reaction Force.

When they picked up Kassar’s truck in Humak, Hurley tried to state his case one more time. “Let me be the one who goes in.”

“Why?” As soon as Rapp asked the question he knew what Hurley would say.

“I’m going to be dead in six months.”

“Again with the six months? It won’t work this time. I have a good handle on Kassar, and although you’re no slouch I’m a little better at this stuff than you are.”

“Bullshit.”

“And besides, what happens if you have one of your coughing fits while he’s talking to the guards? You’ll probably need a smoke . . . that would blow the whole thing.”

The old spook held up a pack of Nicorette gum. “Funny.”

“Look at you. You’re like a Boy Scout . . . prepared for everything.” Rapp grabbed his gun bag and tactical vest and transferred them from the Toyota to the back of Kassar’s truck.

“Why do you have to be so stubborn?” Hurley asked as a last effort.

“I think I got it from the dickhead who trained me.” Rapp checked one of the pockets on his vest and then slid it on, saying, “Listen, we don’t need to make this complicated. Irene has people watching Durrani. She’s going to text us updates and you are going to give me radio updates,” Rapp tapped his headset, “in case I’m in a spot where I can’t look at my phone. There are two bodyguards at the compound when Durrani’s not there. I can handle a couple of bodyguards who are bored out of their minds.”

“But why not put another person in the backseat?”

“It’s not worth the risk. They key is to get in without anyone knowing what’s going on. Then it’s easy.” Rapp could tell, Hurley was still not buying his plan. “Just keep an eye on Durrani. If he comes back with more than the usual number of men, then you guys might have to bust your way through the secondary gate. Otherwise, I’ve got it handled.” Rapp started to climb into the back of the Range Rover. “And remember, it’s just like you said the other day. We’re all dying.” Rapp pulled up the tailgate and then reached up and started to close the back hatch.

Hurley put his hand up and stopped him. “What if Kassar turns on you?”

“I’ll keep an eye on him.” Hurley still wouldn’t let go of the hatch. “Listen, I’m a big boy. I can handle myself.”

The three-car convoy rolled out with Kassar in the lead. When they reached the spot in the foothills where Wicker should deploy, Kassar called Coleman and let him know. The Range Rover continued while the other two trucks pulled over. Wicker jumped out of the last vehicle covered in camouflage netting and disappeared into the underbrush. Dumond grabbed a case from the back of the truck and popped the clasps. The small drone was about the size of a crow. Dumond unfolded the wings, snapping them into place, and then started the prop. The gray device hummed to life, and Dumond let it fly, releasing it as if it were a paper airplane. The UAV dipped a few feet and then steadily began to gain altitude. It was on a preset program to climb to 5,000 feet and circle. Dumond stowed the gear and they all climbed back into the truck and moved out.

Rapp was on his side, curled up facing the back of the truck. He had already warned Kassar that, with all due respect, if anything went wrong at either the main gate or Durrani’s private gate, Wicker would shoot him in the head. Rapp also showed him that the small drone would provide his phone with a bird’s-eye view of what was going on. Rapp had his pistol in one hand and the phone in the other and watched as they pulled up to the main gate.

The black SUV slowed and came to brief stop before rolling on. Rapp breathed a sigh of relief as they made it past the first obstacle. It took another two minutes to make it to Durrani’s private driveway. The guards waved Kassar through, making no attempt to search the vehicle.

“Show me the courtyard,” Rapp whispered to himself. On cue, Dumond zoomed in on the common area between the main house, the garage, and the two guesthouses. A gardener was tending to some plants but other than that no one was about. As the vehicle pulled into the garage, Rapp slid the phone into his vest pocket, gripped his gun with both hands, and started his five-second count. That was how much time he had given Kassar from the time he parked the car to open the back hatch. There was a click and the hatch popped up. Light spilled through the two-inch gap between the rear cargo cover and the tailgate. Rapp could see Kassar and then he heard a voice.

Kassar began talking to someone Rapp couldn’t see. After about ten seconds the conversation ended and Kassar lowered the tailgate. Rapp slid out of the vehicle but stayed in a crouch while Kassar closed things up. He then led him through the garage in the exact way he said he would. He opened a metal door at the other end and checked things out before continuing down a flight of stairs. Rapp was right behind him as Kassar punched a code into a door lock. Next they were in a long, well-lit tunnel and moving at a trot. They stopped at a second door and after punching in a code, moved up a flight of stairs. Kassar had Rapp wait on the landing until he could get rid of the nurse.