Don Pendleton - Double Blindside

“It would appear a little churlish to welcome you to Istanbul so casually,” he said. “You are not here to enjoy a vacation.”

McCarter said, “And we are not here to override your authority, either, Agent Asker. Our aim is to hopefully stop whatever is going on that might affect Turkish security.”

“And American interests, as well,” Asker said keenly. “Both countries are involved. And as NATO also has an interest in the matter, there is a further urgency.”

“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.”