Enemy of Mine

going to slap a bumper sticker on his luggage saying, “I’m out to kill someone.”

Need more information on what those boys are doing.

When his update was complete, I said, “Okay, both you and Brett have vehicles staged in the rental lot. Spots thirty-five and forty-six. Keys are in the ignition. We’re staged out front and can trigger, but you need to hurry.”

“Roger all. Moving.”

“Put your phone in surveillance mode. I want to know what’s going on.”

Taskforce cell phones worked like every other phone in the world, but had the ability to do group conversations, like a conference call, something that I’d been missing for the initial surveillance of Lucas in Dubai. The problem was it ran the battery down that much quicker. If we had to go dismounted, away from the car chargers, we’d only get about two hours before we lost all comms. I hoped that would be enough. I could feel the endgame coming. Which was good, because Brett and Decoy had been conducting a two-man follow for days. Sooner or later, Lucas would pick them up. If he hadn’t already.

I had both Jennifer and Knuckles with me in the small pay lot right out front of the baggage claim exit. I would have liked to use them constructively, but couldn’t see how, since Lucas would spot them. At least we could see everyone who left. My bet was Lucas would flag a cab, and the make and model would be crucial to relay to Decoy and Brett for the follow. I told Jennifer to keep eyes on and dialed Kurt on my Taskforce phone.

“Sir, we’re set, ready to go. Lucas has paid some interest on the two State guys. Can you find out what they’re up to? They have a classified dip-pouch with them. I’m wondering if that’s the target. If Lucas plans on nabbing the information they’re bringing to embarrass the U.S. or maybe sell it. I need to know what’s in the pouch.”

I expected some delay, some further questions. All I got was, “They have a dip-pouch?”

I could almost hear the wheels turning in Kurt’s head. “Yeah. A Halliburton case with the orange cover.”

There was another pause, then, “Holy shit. Pull off Lucas. Get on the State guys. Get some protection on them.”

“What? I can’t do that. I’m already positioned to trigger Lucas. The couriers were met by diplomatic folks to transfer the pouch. I have no idea where they are, and I can’t get through security at the airport with any speed. If I break down the trigger to find them, I’ll lose Lucas. What’s up?”

“The pouch contains diamonds. A shitload of diamonds for a covert transfer to the Palestinian Authority. This isn’t about the peace conference. It’s a fucking robbery.”

Jennifer’s comment in Dubai came full force: He’s pure evil. I find it hard to believe he’d do something that was morally just if no money were involved.

“Sir, I can’t get to the diamonds, but I’m on Lucas. I’ve got him.”

“Pike, he’s got a plan. Being on him may not be enough.”

“Call the State guys. Get them to stay in the airport until I can resolve this.”

“Working that now, but I doubt I can get their cell numbers soon enough. The best I’ll be able to do is warn them, but they’re going to leave the airport.”

Jesus. Jennifer was right. There had to be money involved. No way would Lucas have prevented the assassination of the envoy for any greater good. Should’ve dug. The connection had been staring me in the face.

Jennifer tapped my arm, and I saw Lucas exit the airport, moving to a beat-up Ford instead of a taxi. Great. He has help too.

“Sir, Lucas is on the move. I’ll call you when I can.”

“Pike, so you know, I didn’t get Omega for Qatar. I didn’t even try. I sent Blaine on my own authority.”

“And?”

“And I’m giving you Omega. If you can’t capture Lucas, kill him. If it comes down to it-if it goes bad-you followed orders. My orders. You thought the Council had approved. But I’d rather you didn’t get compromised.”

Wow. Talk about pressure. “Roger all. Gotta go. But you’d better get the president ready for some drama in Doha. Either from Lucas or from me.”

I put the phone in surveillance mode and passed the make and model of Lucas’s vehicle, getting a confirmation from Brett and Decoy that they were set. Knuckles asked, “What was that all about?”

“Kurt thinks those guys are carrying diamonds worth a shit-ton of cash, and Lucas is trying to take it.”

Jennifer said, “What? This all happened over money? He’s just trying to rob the U.S.?”

“Yeah, apparently.”

Her jaw clenched, and she squeezed the steering wheel so hard her knuckles turned white. I pretended not to notice, feeling the same way.

I said, “Get out into traffic. He’s far enough ahead that we can leave, and I don’t want to be forced to play catch up if we’re needed.”

We started shadowing the pathetic little two-man surveillance effort, monitoring the radio traffic between Decoy and Brett. We reached a roundabout, and Brett came on.

“My heat state just jumped. I was forced to get directly behind him or lose him, and he pulled the visor mirror down. He’s looking at me now. I need to pull off.”

Decoy said, “I got him. I’m at your seven o’clock. Let him go.”

I could feel the surveillance breaking down. With Brett burned, Decoy had about two turns before he’d have to pull off too. Especially if Lucas was actively looking. I said nothing, letting them use their own judgment.

We continued down the Corniche, getting a play-by-play from Decoy, with Brett shadowing one road over. They made the roundabout next to the Sheraton and continued west. I looked at my map and saw they were paralleling the diplomatic quarter. Here we go.

I cut in to the net. “Keep your eyes out. Keep him in sight. He’s next to the diplomatic quarter. This will be it.”

A minute later, Decoy came on. “We got a problem. I’m still on the car, but there’s only one man in it. The driver.”

77

You sure? Lucas is foxtrot now?” I couldn’t believe we’d missed someone exiting the vehicle.

“Yeah. I was a couple of cars back, slowed down by the roundabout, and when I caught back up, he was gone. I didn’t see him dismount, but he’s no longer in the vehicle.”

Dammit. “Break off, break off. Circle the block. Pick him back up. Go north into the diplomatic quarter. He’s probably trying to intercept the dip-pouch.”

“Pike, our embassy is hell and gone from here. The State guys aren’t hauling money to the Australian Embassy.”

“We don’t know what the hell those guys are doing. How they’re going to transfer the cash. Lucas does. Find him, now! We’ll take up the slack on the vehicle.”

Since Lucas was gone, we were fresh. The driver would have no idea who we were. Jennifer was already burning rubber to make up the ground, instinctively knowing what I would say and that we were in the game. I vectored Brett one road over and caught the Ford passing in front of us. Knuckles shouted, “There he is!” and Jennifer jerked the wheel, cutting off traffic to get behind him.

He said, “Whoa! Keep it steady. We’re still in a follow here. Don’t burn us.”

Jennifer looked at me for guidance, understanding the situation even before Knuckles. Already knowing what I was going to say.

“Brett, we’re headed north on Al Asmakh Street. Cut over to Grand Hammad and box him in. Get ready to take him down.”

Knuckles realized the problem a split second after he’d opened his mouth. “Okay, okay. I got the right side. Passenger side.”

This guy was the only anchor we had to Lucas, and we needed the information in his head. It would be quick and dirty.