Ravi responded with more curses, again in Pashto.
Tracy grinned and told John, “Wow, I’m learningsomany new words today. I can’t wait until I’m back at the academy and can share them with my classmates.”
Just then, Gene and Oliver walked in. When they had gotten close to the warehouse, Linda had told them to stop and wait. She’d briefed them about the situation and the girls being rescued. Gene, of course, was greatly relieved that Amanda was okay. Then, after only a few minutes, Linda had told them they could continue and drive right up to the office, since Ravi and his men had now been arrested.
Amanda went over and told them how Tracy had created a diversion, setting off sprinkler heads, and how the Army guys had done an outstanding job, both rescuing them and then capturing Ravi and his men.
Oliver said, “Great! Sounds like things are under control. Talib and his other two men at the liquor store are being kept under surveillance by some of the men Lieutenant Saunders left behind. Candace doesn’t really need guarding any longer, although two men are there, still doing that. And Linda told us the van which left here is under surveillance. Let’s go check with Lieutenant Saunders for the latest on that.”
They looked over and could see the lieutenant was briefing Jesse about something. They walked over but before they could ask any questions, Jesse announced, “We have a problem. The van which left here with explosive devices has managed to lose the tail we had on them. Lieutenant Saunders just heard from his guys. They’re really sorry but, in staying back to avoid being noticed, they got snarled up in some traffic at two intersections. When they sped up on the road they thought the van had taken, they soon found they’d guessed wrong. They’re backtracking now and will try taking another road but, with the lead the van now has on them, they’re not sure they’ll catch up. There were several possible routes and they’ll only be guessing.”
John and Tracy joined them and heard the bad news. Tracy said, “Oliver, let’s ask Linda and Candy to go over to where these guys have been living and grab some of their personal things which you can use to track them. Remember how you and Millie helped search for those terrorists in Philadelphia? Using mattresses and blankets and stuff which Team Twenty-Two sent back from Afghanistan?”
Amanda said, “Good idea. I’ll be able to identify which items contain the scent from Dhanial and the other three guys who were here and left in the van. Then, Oliver can follow whatever energy signature he can get from those items.”
“Can Oliver do that from a helicopter?” asked Jesse. He was pretty sure he’d heard that finder witches could do that but wanted to make sure.
“Oh, yes,” replied Oliver, nodding his head. “Can you get one for us? It will probably take more than an hour for Linda and Candy to break into those two apartments, round up enough items and then bring the stuff out here. If the Army can get a helo out here by then, we can maybe find that van before they get wherever they’re going and blow up whatever their next target might be.”
Jesse said, “I’m sure when Linda calls back to Colonel Schermerhorn and explains our plan, he’ll manage getting some air support for us. Getting a helicopter here will definitely make a difference! Let’s hope that can happen quickly enough.”
Phone calls were made and those resulted in many more calls being made. But, twenty minutes later, Jesse got a call asking for information on where to land the Black Hawk helicopter which the Army was sending him and would arrive within the hour.
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Talib meanwhile had decided he was in trouble. When he didn’t hear from Ravi, he began making calls. After none of his calls to Ravi, Saeed or anyone else were answered, he realized the warehouse had to have been compromised. The two women must have been spies and until he could reach someone who could tell him differently, it was best to assume the worst. Instead of going out to the warehouse, he needed to go to his safe house instead.
He was worried about possible surveillance at his store, so he told Tabish and Musa they were locking up and leaving by way of the hidden exit which he had provided in anticipation that it might be needed someday. Once they had managed to leave and make their way to the safe house, making sure they weren’t followed, he placed a call to Mullah Ahmed Kahtar.
After hearing what Talib had to report, Kahtar said, “You were right not to go out to that warehouse yourself. Is there anyone you can contact who might be able to check on things for you?” He knew Talib had developed various sources during the years he’d been in Germany.
“I plan on calling a few people who might help me with that,” explained Talib. “But, if the authorities have gotten into my warehouse, they will have found the bombing devices. I’ll need to leave Germany using my other identity, as will Tabish and Musa who are with me.”
“Yes,” agreed Kahtar. “If you can get to our safe house in France, I can then arrange for your safe return back here. What about the other members of your group? Can they get out?”
Talib said, “We will have to see whether Dhanial manages to succeed with our target in Frankfurt. That’s probably the last opportunity anyone from my group will have here in Germany. If he contacts me after that, I’ll tell him to go to France. He knows the plan for that. We will have to see what develops.”
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Dhanial looked again at the most recent text message he’d received from Talib. Unlike the earlier ones, demanding he return to the warehouse, this one was warning him not to do that. He wasn’t sure whether to believe Talib that the authorities might have shown up there, arresting everyone and finding the rest of their explosives, but he wasn’t calling him to learn more. No, Talib was furious about his taking the initiative and not waiting longer before attacking their target in Frankfurt. It would be time enough to call Talibaftertheir attack. After theirsuccessfulattack. That would make what he’d done acceptable.
And, if indeed the authorities had found the warehouse, as Talib was now suggesting? He would escape with his men to France. Let others worry about Oliver Bessom and whatever other demons might be chasing Talib or, perhaps, have already found him.
But, just to be certain he was not being followed, he had the driver turn down a side street and pull over. Again. He’d done this earlier. He knew how to evade possible surveillance and they had plenty of time to reach their target.
Chapter Thirteen
Mar 19, 2020
When William Gostoff got the call from his supervisor in Berlin, he was skeptical. But, nonetheless, he quickly assembled his Leipzig anti-terrorist team and brought them out to the warehouse at the address he’d been given. Allegedly, some American tourists and their U.S. Army security guards had located where the WIJO group responsible for the recent bombing in Munich was storing their explosives. Really?
Well, okay, the tourists and their bodyguards were the entourage with Candace Axtell, who had recently been on the news after visiting in Munich and then at the embassy. Yeah, he knew who she was. Who didn’t? After all the publicity months earlier over her almost being beheaded by WIJO, the media the world over had made certain everyone knew who she was. Beautiful girl, important general’s niece, dramatic last-minute rescue, big embarrassment for WIJO, etc., etc. Sure.
His supervisor claimed there were some American task force members in this entourage and so this Intel needed to be acted upon immediately. The Americans were holding eight suspected terrorists at the warehouse but others from the group were at large and another bombing attack might be happening in the next few hours. Hence, time was of the essence and it was his responsibility to get all this sorted out. Right away. Wonderful. These Americans stir up a hornet’s nest and now he’s the one who would probably be getting stung.
On arrival at the warehouse, he asked for Linda Rayburn as soon as he entered the office. That was the name his supervisor gave him for the person on the American task force who had called this in. Her call had been to someone in the U.S. of course. That had led to his supervisor being pressured from whatever authorities in the German government those Americans had influenced. Since these were Americans, his question was in English, a language he fortunately was fluent in.
A young man stepped forward and said, “Ms. Rayburn will be here shortly.”
