And all of that, Brodie knew, had to be factored into the investigation of Harry Vance’s murder. And if—when—the murder was solved, this political and social tension would have consequences far beyond the murder itself.
After a block Kim led them to another side street, then down a curving road, mostly residential, then turned a corner at a café and stopped.
“There,” said Kim, pointing across the street at a five-story yellow concrete building, which was about twice the width of the adjacent apartment buildings.
“The Al Mahdi Islamic Center,” said Kim. “It’s not a mosque, per se, though they do have a prayer hall. It’s a hub for the Shi’ite Muslim community here. They have cultural events, charity drives, educational programs. That sort of thing.”
Brodie asked, “Do they have Bingo?”
“No. But it’s also suspected of being a center of recruitment and fundraising for Hezbollah military operations. See that?” He nodded at a parked gray van farther down the street. “That’s probably police surveillance. The police also have a mobile unit that circles about every half hour. This place is being watched, and they know they’re being watched. I would be surprised if they didn’t get raided soon.” He added, “This is privileged information, and not to be shared.”
Brodie asked, “Is there a particular reason you’re telling us about this place?”
Kim said, “You’re going to talk to Vance’s CID partner, Mark Jenkins, and if you’re lucky you’ll get a piece of the puzzle from him.” He looked at the building. “And this might be another piece. Keep it in mind.” He added, “It’s good to share.”
Brodie understood that Kim wanted whatever info they might get from Mark Jenkins, so he was giving something of value as prepayment. Kim,like many FBI Special Agents, had probably worked on a number of Joint Terrorism Task Forces—JTTFs—which in New York usually involved joint operations between the FBI and the NYPD. Kim was used to the give-and-take of working with other agencies, as well as the currency of favors that often existed in local law enforcement. That attitude generally sat well with Scott Brodie. But David Kim also seemed arrogant and thought he knew everything, which did not sit so well with Brodie, because Chief Warrant Officer Scott Brodie was the one who in fact knew everything.
Kim eyed the building as he continued, “Sometimes the way your target reacts after they know they are being surveilled is as valuable and interesting as what you might find behind the closed doors. And sometimes it’s not so much about who is coming and going, but whostopscoming and going once they know they’re being watched. But that only gets you so much. Like I said, expect a raid on this place in the next day or two.”
Well, thought Brodie, David Kim was sounding very confident in his conclusions. The fact that Harry Vance, a counterterrorism investigator, was murdered a few blocks away from what was possibly a nexus of recruitment and financing for Hezbollah definitely added some weight to Kim’s interpretation of the case. Then again, the German and the American counterterrorism people could be wrong about this place. They could actually be wrong about everything. Wouldn’t be the first time.
Brodie eyed the suspected surveillance van, which made him think about the suspected spy nest on the roof of the American embassy. He asked Kim, “Have you heard anything from our Comrades in Arms?” Meaning CIA.
Kim replied, “Not me. And I never will. Schröder might have a CIA contact, but maybe not. The BKA is roughly equivalent to the FBI, whereas the German equivalent to our CIA is the BND. Don’t ask me to pronounce what that stands for because I can’t. The CIA and the BND are undoubtedly in touch on this case, and you’ll notice neither outfit had a rep in the briefing room.”
Right. Civilian Intel officers believed they were deities among mortals and wouldn’t suffer the indignity of sitting through a tedious briefing. That was everyone else’s job.
They doubled back to Karl-Marx Straße and walked another block to the metro station, a boxy brick building that sat below elevated train tracks.Yellow lettering above the entrance said:BAHNHOF NEUKÖLLN. Another sign on the building showed the “S” logo for the S-Bahn system, and the name of the stop,BERLIN-NEUKÖLLN. An entrance for the underground U-Bahn station stood in front of the building.
Brodie spotted a tall metal pole topped with two security cameras pointed in opposite directions. These cameras must have been the source of the footage of Vance leaving the metro station.
Brodie looked again at the metro stop. Anyone seeing the surveillance footage in its entirety could easily determine which metro system Harry Vance had used. If he had exited the station doors, it meant he’d come here from the S-Bahn elevated train. If he was coming up the underground stairs, he had used the U-Bahn. In either case, that would be a clue as to where Vance had come from. Yet Captain Soliman and Chief Inspector Schröder had only shown them a still shot from after Vance exited, and neither man had mentioned this detail. Were they withholding information and clues? Did they regard their American guests as simply along for the ride, and not requiring or deserving of this level of detailed information? Brodie was looking forward to disabusing them of that notion.
Taylor, who must have been thinking the same thing, said, “Our German colleagues pretended they didn’t know which system Vance used, but it should be obvious from the security cameras.”
“What’s also obvious,” said Kim, “is that they are willfully withholding details. First the time of the gunshot, now this. Turf-protecting. And arrogance.”
Brodie said, “Which gives us good grounds to demand to see all of their surveillance footage and any witness testimony.” He said to Kim, “You say you’ve worked with Sharon Whitmore before. Will she be our ally on this?”
Kim nodded. “She’s a cautious person, but she won’t back down from a fight if she thinks she’s getting cut out of important Intel.”
“Good.”
“So, would you suggest we lodge a formal complaint today? Or catch them with their pants down at tomorrow’s meeting?”
Brodie replied, “The second option sounds more fun. And possibly more effective. My instincts tell me that the Germans are especially susceptible to embarrassment.”
Kim smiled. “As Churchill said, the Germans are either at your feet or at your throat.”
“Or asking to see your papers.”
Kim laughed.
Making fun of the Germans was easy sport, and great bonding. Brodie glanced at his partner, who wasn’t enjoying a laugh.
Taylor said, “You are both making a lot of assumptions about our hosts. A formal complaint is an overreaction.Iwill bring up these issues tomorrow. Tactfully.”
Brodie nodded. “Good idea.”
