CHAPTER
83
THE OPERATIONS ROOM WAS SMALL and the company selected to sit in on this particular mission few in number.
Potter, the APNSA.
Tucker, the DCI.
The new number two at CIA, who looked slightly gun-shy, since his two predecessors had been killed and permanently incapacitated, respectively.
The director of homeland security.
A ramrod-straight, white-haired three-star from the Pentagon.
And Blue Man.
On one wall was a mass of giant TV screens on which real-time SAT downloads were streaming across. The men sat in comfortable chairs around a rectangular table. Bottles of water sat in front of each of them. They could be getting ready to watch every NFL game being broadcast.
Or another type of contest from a half a world away.
Potter checked one of the digital clocks on the wall. “One hour away,” he said, and Tucker nodded.
“Everything in place?” asked the three-star.
“Everything’s in place,” replied Tucker. He had on a headset and was receiving communications from assets on the ground. This was hard to do in a place like Syria, but the United States had enough muscle to do just about anything just about anywhere.
He hit a button on the control console in front of his chair and one screen flicked to the sniper nest set up in an empty office building in downtown Damascus.
“It was fortunate that Ahmadi’s people never learned of the assassination attempt,” said Tucker. “In fifty-seven minutes he’s going to find himself in the crosshairs once more.”
“When does Reel arrive at the nest?” asked Potter.
“In ten minutes.”
“And Robie?”
“His spotter site is set up on the street opposite where Ahmadi will be getting out.”
“And their exit?” asked the director of homeland security.
“Planned and polished and we expect it to work,” said Tucker vaguely.
“But everything is a risk,” added Potter quickly. “Especially over there.”
The three-star nodded approvingly. “It takes balls to do what your people do. Sending two in with light weapons and no backup. We send our guys into tough situations, but they have a lot more firepower and resources. And we don’t leave people behind.”
“They’re the best we have,” said Blue Man, drawing hard stares from Tucker and Potter.
“I’m sure,” said the three-star. “Well, godspeed to them.”
“Godspeed,” mouthed Blue Man.
A voice spoke in Tucker’s ear. He turned to the others and said, “Robie has just communicated in. He’ll be in position in five minutes. Reel will be in the sniper’s nest in seven minutes. Everything looks good. Ahmadi will be leaving the government building right about now. He will be out of target for the next forty-eight minutes. Then they’ll have a two-minute window to—”
Tucker broke off speaking for a very understandable reason. On the TV screens, screaming people were suddenly running down the streets of Damascus. Guns were being fired into the air. Sirens were starting up.
“What the hell?” barked Potter.
Tucker was transfixed by what was happening on the screen.
Potter grabbed him by the shoulder. “What’s going on?”
Tucker spoke into his headset, demanding an explanation for the sudden chaos on the streets.
“They’re trying to find out. They don’t know yet.”
“Dial up Robie,” demanded Potter. “He’s right there.”
Tucker attempted to do so. “He’s not answering. He’s gone silent.”
“Reel, then. Get somebody, for God’s sake.”
“Look,” said the three-star.
Syrian security forces were hanging out the window of the room where the sniper’s nest was set up.
“How the hell did they get there so fast? Reel isn’t even there. She hasn’t fired a shot yet,” added the DHS director.
“The whole operation has been compromised,” said Tucker. “There’s been a breach somewhere.” He exchanged a glance with Potter. “This was not supposed to happen.”
“And Ahmadi got away? Again?” snapped the three-star.
“He was not supposed to get away,” Tucker muttered under his breath.
“For Christ’s sake,” said Potter. “Can’t we get anything right?”
“Hold on,” said Tucker. “Something’s coming through now.”
He listened to the voice in his ear. His expression went from stunned concern to absolute amazement.
“Copy that,” he said.
“What is it?” screamed Potter when Tucker didn’t say anything else.
Tucker turned to the others, his face white. “Ahmadi was just shot outside the government building, while he was getting into his car. He’s dead. It’s been confirmed through reliable sources.”
“Thank God for that,” said the three-star. “But I don’t understand. Did the mission change? The hit was supposed to be outside the hotel.”
“The mission didn’t change. Not on our end,” said Blue Man calmly.
The DHS director was staring at the Syrians swarming over the sniper’s nest. “What I don’t get is how they were onto the sniper’s nest so fast.” He turned to Tucker. “It’s almost like they knew the hit was coming.”
“A breach, like we said,” Tucker responded, still looking ghostly pale.
“But Reel and Robie must’ve known about it. That’s why they made the switch to the government building and did the hit there,” explained Potter quickly.
“But that doesn’t make sense,” said the three-star.
“Why not?” asked Tucker.
“You said Robie just reported in. He was getting into position as the spotter outside the hotel. And he also reported that Reel was expected to be in place in ten minutes. The hotel and government building are nowhere near each other. Why would he communicate to his own agency one thing and then do something else entirely? It was almost as though he didn’t trust—”
The three-star stopped talking and turned back to the screen, where the Syrian security forces were still screaming from the balcony of the sniper’s nest.
Then the three-star glanced back at Tucker with a suspicious look.
Tucker looked over at the DHS director and found his gaze boring into him as well.
Tucker started to say something and then stopped. All he could do was stare at the screens.
The three-star said, “But the kill was still made. Under the, um, unusual circumstances I’d say that was the finest hit I’ve ever, well, not seen.”
“Same for me,” said the DHS director.
“And me,” added Potter lamely, which drew a long glare from Tucker.
“Robie and Reel deserve this country’s thanks,” said the three-star firmly.
The DHS director added, “And we’ll see that they get it.”
“If they get out of Syria,” said the three-star darkly.
If they get out of Syria alive, thought Tucker.