Gary Ponzo - A Touch of Revenge

“Boy,” Merrick muttered. “It just gets better, doesn’t it?”

Fisk said, “The NSA tells me the Prime Minister has been on the phone to Ankara all morning. He’s planning something, it’s just hard to say what.”

Merrick leaned his head back and stared up at the white domed ceiling. So much information, yet so few answers.

“What else?” Merrick barked.

Lynn Harding’s voice returned. “We’re sending every available soldier, National Guard, and policeman to Payson and the Hoover Dam. We’ve considered evacuating the towns below dam, Bullhead City and Lake Havasu, but feel it’s too risky.”

“Too risky?”

“It’s too close to the deadline and it would cause a stampede which would create an unsettling amount of casualties. We’re better off finding the source and securing the dam.”

Merrick stayed back and closed his eyes. He imagined the consequences of a bomb destroying a large section of the population in Arizona and for the first time actually felt removing troops from Turkey wasn’t a bad idea.

“Anything else?” Merrick said.

“Isn’t that enough?” Fisk asked.

“That’s all we have so far, Sir,” Harding added.

“Okay,” Merrick said, sitting up and placing his index finger on a button on the speakerphone. “Keep me updated,” he said, then pushed a button to end the conversation.

Merrick gazed over at Fisk. “Well?”

Fisk finished scribbling notes, then looked up. “Why don’t we meet with Budarry and find out exactly what he’s up to.”

• • •

Kalinikov had to maintain patience. When he arrived in Payson last night, he’d had the good fortune of spotting the sheriff’s car parked in front of a bar and decided to tag it with one of his GPS devices. Then he went inside the bar to have a drink. There was no reason not to. He was a completely unknown figure. Besides, he might have met the sheriff himself and garnered valuable information. Instead, he’d met the sheriff’s cousin, whom he liked. The guy was genuine, nothing phony about him. He was too sharp to give up any information though.

Now, Kalinikov sat in the parking lot of a large shopping center and sipped cold coffee from a fancy cardboard cup. The GPS screen on his laptop showed the sheriff’s car still stationary at the sheriff’s office. He needed to wait and see where this led him. It was becoming more complicated, however. More Humvees kept rolling by and soldiers could be seen at every public place, asking people questions and surveying the landscape.

Kalinikov was almost too prepared. He’d been ready for a confrontation ever since he’d landed on American soil and he felt like the student who knew all the answers and couldn’t wait to be called upon.

Kalinikov thought about home and decided to dial a number on his phone.

“You were supposed to be home by now,” the soft female voice answered.

“I know. I’ve been delayed. Just one more meeting and I will be done.”

“And how long should this meeting take?” she asked, with some humor in her voice. He smiled and the thought of the two of them smiling together made the distance seem to dwindle.

“Tomorrow at the latest,” he said. “Are you finished packing yet?”

“What do you think?”

Now his smile broadened. She was late for everything and had he been the type who thrived on structure at home, it could have been a source of contention between them. But since his job required so much structure, he enjoyed the sloppy schedule once he was home.

“Soon, Love,” he said.

“Ta ta,” she said, then hung up.

Kalinikov put his phone away, then checked his computer screen. Someone was about to make a mistake. And he was going to take advantage.

President Merrick wiped his mouth with the White House napkin, then pushed back on his chair and crossed his legs. He sat at the lone round table in the State Dining Room just below a large portrait of Abraham Lincoln. He engaged Prime Minister Budarry with an authentic smile. Two of Budarry’s aides and Samuel Fisk were the only other guests at the table.

Fisk seemed to sense the impending conversation so he asked one of the aides a personal question about their function while overseas and both aides chimed in on the discussion.

Merrick took the opportunity to gain Budarry’s attention.

“So, Mr. Prime Minister,” Merrick said, “is the United States offering enough support to satisfy the Turkish people?”

Budarry appeared pleasantly surprised to hear Merrick’s comment. Up until then, he’d been sitting rigid and avoiding any conversation regarding politics.

Although theirs was the only table occupied, Budarry eyed the room carefully, then turned his head to speak with Merrick. “Mr. President, we are very grateful for your support. You have been an incredible source of perseverance.”

Merrick smiled and kept a peaceful demeanor. “May I be direct, Mr. Prime Minister?”

“Of course.”

Merrick tilted his head and measured his words. “May I ask how you intend to help alleviate our problems with Barzani and the KSF here in America?”

Budarry leaned toward the President with a gentle smile. “There is an old Turkish proverb which says, ‘A wise man remembers his friends at all times; a fool, only when he has need of them.’”

Merrick glanced at the grandfather clock against the far wall. He had less than five hours before his speech, and possibly a disaster which he might be able to avert. Budarry seemed to sense his concern and touched his arm.

“Mr. President, let me assure you what I’m about to have done will prove that Turkey is one of your greatest allies.”

Merrick raised his eyebrows. “Which means?”

“Which means, I have taken measures, a very risky one in particular, which may cause my nation great vulnerability. But I do it with the promise of continued support from the United States.”

Merrick sipped some of his iced tea and placed his glass down. Did Budarry think removing Turkish troops from Kurdistan was cause for great vulnerability? It was hard to read the Prime Minister and he didn’t want to make any mistakes. He nodded, then turned back to Budarry. “You have no more to offer than those words?”

“I need to be careful of what I speak because it may cause you to be culpable should my military tactic be unsuccessful.”

Merrick was no closer to understanding Budarry’s double talk but knew prying any further wasn’t going to get it done. He took another sip of iced tea and watched the Prime Minister drop his napkin on the table and stand. His two aides followed his lead. Merrick immediately got to his feet.

Budarry reached out his hand and Merrick gave him a firm handshake.

“I want to thank you for your hospitality,” Budarry said. “And please, Mr. President, just be sure to recall this conversation during your speech tonight. You should know by then what all of my mysterious words mean.”

As Merrick watched the Prime Minister leave, he sensed Fisk next to him.

“Well?” Fisk asked.

“He gave me nothing but his assurance Turkey is doing something to support us.”

“Shit,” Fisk muttered. “That and four bucks will get you a Frappuccino at Starbucks.”

Merrick stood there thinking of the weight of his decision to stand tall and act tough. Knowing he could be causing unnecessary deaths.

“Look at me,” Fisk said.

Merrick faced his childhood friend.

Fisk glared at him. “Whatever you think might happen after your speech tonight, it’s nothing compared to what’ll happen if you announce a troop reduction in Turkey. Terrorists around the globe will be picking up American tourists and holding them hostage until you agree to negotiate their safe return.”