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Double Blindside
Double Blindside
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Double Blindside

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“It’s complicated,” McCarter said.

When Phoenix Force had landed at the American base at Incirlik, it was more than apparent that a terrorist attack on the massive base would have a debilitating effect on the American presence in the country. Apart from the military hardware, there were some 5,000 U.S. personnel and family members stationed at Incirlik. Not to be overlooked was the stockpiled nuclear ordnance, there in case the unthinkable happened and American bombers needed to be launched. The commitment to the protection of U.S. interests and the readiness of the American military had been and still was a matter of much debate.

It didn’t take a stretch of the imagination to visualize the damage even a small nuclear device could do. Substantial American and other lives lost. And millions of dollars of equipment destroyed. A big victory for Özgürlük.

“It is complicated indeed,” Asker agreed. “Which is partly why I have asked Agent Berna Kartal to join us. Her association with your people has placed her at the forefront of this matter. I am sure she will be able to assist you greatly.”

“Any help we can get,” McCarter said, “will be welcome.”

“Berna Kartal is a very experienced agent.”

“Always handy to have experience,” Manning said. “If it’s the right kind, of course.”

“Please do not concern yourself with that,” someone said from behind the seated Phoenix Force operatives. “My experience is extensive.”

Phoenix Force turned in unison and saw the young woman who had stepped into Asker’s office. She was five foot eight. With her dark hair held back from her face, her high cheekbones and generous mouth only added to her natural beauty. Her eyes scanned across the Phoenix trio, searching and curious; there was an intelligence there that told them this young woman was not making a casual statement about her abilities. She wore all black, shirt and pants, and had a holstered Glock 9 mm pistol on her right hip. As she moved into the office to take a chair beside Asker’s desk, a faint smile edged her full lips.

“Do I pass?” she said.

“Not judging,” Encizo said graciously. “Just appreciating.” The Cuban’s easy manner was at its most disarming.

Kartal smiled and placed the folder she was carrying on the desk.

“I’m sure Senior Agent Asker has expressed our condolences over the deaths of your colleagues,” she said. Her English was good, with barely an accent. “May I add mine? I knew both of those men, especially Makerson. He was an extremely capable agent.”

McCarter nodded. “You shared your information?”

“Yes. We both felt there was something to be concerned about involving Özgürlük. Although we had gathered data, it was… I believe you would say…all up in the air?”

“Difficult to make sense of?” James suggested.

“Exactly. Many individuals and messages. But nothing any more solid than that.” Kartal leaned forward and opened the file, turning pages. “I take it you have all read the information?”

“Yes,” McCarter said. “Our own people looked into the background and used their own system to dig deeper.”

He slipped out the file Kurtzman had prepared and placed it beside Kartal’s. She spent a little time going through it, comparing the information with her own, and nodding as she read the data.

“It is extremely extensive. How did you get all this?”

“By using the best facilities around,” McCarter said. “Let’s just say if it’s out there, our people will find it. I can’t say any more than that.”

“Much of what is in here tallies with what Makerson and I had suspected.”

“It seems we are already in your debt,” Asker said.

“No point scoring,” Encizo said. “All we want is to put a stop to whatever Özgürlük may have planned.”

“Do you have any suggestions?” Kartal asked.

“As you know, two of our team have gone directly to London,” McCarter said. “They’re going to take a look at the lead you offered there. See what they can come up with. In the meantime we need to run down your intelligence here, Agent Kartal.”

“Please, my name is Berna. Agent Asker will tell you I am not very strong when it comes to formalities.”

Asker managed a strained smile. “That is very true. Agent Kartal, it seems, is more at home with your casual American ways.”

“Fine by us,” McCarter said.

He quickly offered their cover names and sensed that Kartal seemed more relaxed with that.

“Please make use of Agent Kartal’s office,” Asker told them. “I am sure you have much to discuss. I am not being inhospitable, but my position means I must divide my time between the many other agents in the department. We have other problems to deal with.”

“No need to apologize,” McCarter said. “We’ll keep you updated.”

Kartal led them from Asker’s office and through the busy department to her own office at the other end. It proved to be slightly larger than Asker’s, with a wide window overlooking the city. A ceiling fan provided a stream of cool air. On a cabinet against one wall a coffeemaker bubbled quietly. As Kartal slid behind her tidy desk she waved a hand at the machine.

“Help yourselves,” she said. “I cannot offer you traditionally made Turkish coffee because that has to be prepared by the cup and takes a long time. But the coffee in the machine there is quite acceptable.”

James smiled. “We have someone back home who brews coffee so strong it would leave a scorch mark on your desk.”

“Mine is strong but not that strong.”

James stepped up and poured cups for each of them, passing them around.

Taking one of the cups, Kartal watched with a faintly amused smile on her lips as they each tasted the brew. The reaction was interesting.

“Just remember not to drink too quickly,” Kartal said. “In Turkey we prefer the grounds to be quite coarse and they should be allowed to settle in your cup. Try not to swallow them.”

“Thanks for the advice,” James said.

McCarter and Encizo tried their own cups.

“Tell me the truth,” she said.

“Beats instant. I’ll give you that,” McCarter said.

Getting down to business, Kartal noted, “Makerson and the other agent had gathered background on Özgürlük that details their possible intentions. The information about the chance they are ready to actually use nuclear devices was uncovered shortly before their deaths. My own feelings are that finding that possibility triggered a reaction and pushed Özgürlük to murdering them.”

“You have no positive evidence as to who was responsible?” Encizo said.

Kartal glanced at him, her smooth brow furrowing.

“What Constantine suggests,” McCarter said, using Encizo’s cover name, “is that you have suspicions but not enough to move on.”

Kartal agreed. “We have nothing more than, as you say, suspicion. My feeling is Özgürlük is aware we are powerless at this time.”

“And?” Encizo said.

“And it makes me angry.”

“And…?”

“And it makes me determined to find a way to stop Özgürlük.”

“That wasn’t hard, was it?” Encizo said.

Kartal smiled. “Are you always so…so…?”

“Irritating?” McCarter said. “Not all the time.”

“Just most of the time,” James added.

The casual banter helped to break any strain over the meeting, and Kartal relaxed visibly. They spent the next couple of hours going over all the information they had, pooling everything. Kartal was not shy in sharing her own views. She was able to match anything Phoenix Force said.

“In the morning,” Kartal said, “we can formulate a plan of action. But now you must be ready to relax after your long journey. Have you somewhere to stay?”

McCarter nodded. “Accommodation has been reserved for us at a hotel in the city.”

“Give me a little while and I will drive you there.”

CHAPTER THREE (#ulink_1d9f8ede-e466-5e4f-ba93-750ab9672d59)

Thirty minutes later Phoenix Force had loaded their luggage into the rear of the large SUV Kartal had been assigned, and she rolled out of the NIO compound.

“It will only take us twenty minutes to reach your hotel,” she said. “You do realize where you stay is a very expensive place.”

James said, “Our organizer always makes sure we get the best.”

“So it seems.”

The streets were busy with traffic and the sidewalks congested. Kartal knew a shortcut to the hotel. It took them away from the main stream of traffic, allowing them a relaxing drive as she negotiated the city. She pointed out landmarks as she drove, showing sections of the old city and comparing it to the modern buildings. Istanbul struck Phoenix Force as a city of diverse contrasts.

“A beautiful city,” James noted.

“I love it,” Kartal said, unashamedly proud of it.

“Is it where you were born?” McCarter asked.

“Yes. I grew up here and spent my childhood in it. And now I am lucky to be working here.” She hesitated. “The city is in the stages of bringing in the modern without losing too much of our historical past. It creates difficulties as this is achieved.”

Kartal eventually eased off the main route and picked up the side roads she would be using. She plainly knew her way around Istanbul. It was a pleasant enough drive for Phoenix Force after their long flight from the U.S.

Pleasant, that is, until someone decided to use them as target practice.

The panel truck was old, the paintwork faded and the bodywork battered and rusting. It came roaring out of a side street and sped directly at the NIO vehicle. There was no mistaking the driver’s intention. He was using the truck as a guided missile—and the target was Phoenix Force and Kartal.

If the SUV had been stationary the impact would have been worse. Kartal managed to boost the power, her foot stamping hard on the gas, sending the SUV lurching forward as she caught sight of the approaching truck. The vehicle slammed into the rear quarter of the SUV instead of full-on. The impact spun the SUV in a half circle, window glass shattering and spraying inside the passenger compartment as the car rocked violently, wheels lifting off the road for seconds. The impact drove the lower section of the wheel well into the vehicle’s tire.

“Two inside,” she said loudly. “They are showing weapons.”

“Move,” McCarter ordered. “Everyone out. Fast!”

The rocking SUV began to settle. Phoenix Force exited as quickly as possible, clearing the immediate scene and pulling out their weapons.

Berna Kartal hit the ground running, immediately moving around the SUV, her Glock targeting the truck as she spotted movement behind the cracked windshield.

The truck’s passenger door was kicked, the metal protesting where it had been buckled from the impact. A dark figure pushed out through the gap, a subgun clutched in his hands. The guy dropped to a crouch as he cleared the panel truck, the muzzle of the weapon rising. He fired quickly—too quickly to acquire a solid target. His burst of autofire sent 9 mm slugs into the SUV. As the guy altered his stance he fired again and his second burst missed James by inches. The black Phoenix Force member twisted his lean body aside, swinging his own weapon on line, and put two 9 mm slugs into the shooter. They hit high, one punching into the chest area, the second catching the guy in the shoulder. He was turned around by the impact, slamming into the side of the truck, then bouncing off and falling.

McCarter saw the driver emerge from the opposite door, the SMG in his hands rising.

Kartal had already leveled her Glock, triggering a pair of fast shots that punched through the door window, throwing glass fragments into the guy’s face. He reacted, still coming, and Kartal fired again. Her shot came a second before both Encizo and James fired. The driver’s body jerked under the impact of multiple shots, blood staining his shirt as he fell back and slammed down hard on the road.

McCarter moved toward the stalled panel truck, angling his Hi-Power to line up on the windows. The interior was empty except for the scattered trash that littered the floor. “Clear,” he said.

James and Encizo checked the area, weapons held ready. “I think we’re good,” James confirmed.

The others relaxed.

“Nice shooting,” Encizo said to Kartal.

The young woman offered a fleeting smile. “Not my best. Took three shots.”

“You got a result,” McCarter said. “That’s the important part.”

Kartal gestured at James and Encizo. “With help. Thank you,” she said.

McCarter gestured for Kartal to take a look at the downed men. She stared at their faces, moved, then returned to take a closer inspection of one of them.

“This one is still alive. I will call for assistance. The dead one…you know, he looks familiar to me,” she said. “But I can’t be certain for the moment who he is. When we get identification, perhaps we can find out who did this.”

“Something is already telling me who,” McCarter said.

Kartal glanced at him, realization dawning.

“Özgürlük?”

“I don’t know anyone else in this town we might be in line to have upset.”

McCarter didn’t say a great deal more. He would hold his judgment until he had solid facts. Yet he did have the sneaking suspicion that Phoenix Force’s presence was already known to unfriendly forces. They had barely set foot on Turkish soil and were already under attack.

It did prove one thing to McCarter. The Özgürlük problem had, for him, just been pushed up the scale. If people were ready to kill them, the probability had just been made a reality.

The short ride to Phoenix Force’s hotel had suddenly become a protracted event.

Turkish police arrived in force and a crowd gathered. Before they showed up, Phoenix Force put away their weapons and offered no resistance when the cops did arrive. Kartal took charge, advising McCarter and company to stand down while she used her NIO status to manage the situation. Watching her, McCarter was especially impressed by her management skills. She dealt with the local cops, using her NIO credentials and her not inconsiderable talent for defusing matters.

“Medical help has been summoned,” Kartal said. “Recovery vehicles, as well.”

Phoenix Force stayed close to the NIO SUV. They remained passive, but every one of them scanned the crowd and watched for any follow-up to the attack. The volatile crowd surged back and forth, held back by armed Istanbul cops who had no problem using force to restrain anyone overstepping the line that had been invisibly drawn. It became noisy and at times there was a feeling of danger in the air.