Don Pendleton - Double Blindside

Kartal took a moment to rejoin them.

“Not the best introduction to my country,” she said. “I apologize.”

“No need. Has it occurred to you, the way this attack came so quickly, that our presence is not so secret?” McCarter said.

Kartal nodded. “That is what concerns me most. How you have been identified so easily. This attack was no random incident.”

The wail of another siren reached them as a large black SUV nudged its way into view, police having to force the crowd back. It had the NIO symbol on the doors. When it stopped, Senior Agent Cem Asker climbed out and made his way to where Phoenix Force and Kartal stood. His face was grim.

“What happened here? This is not good,” he said as he faced them. “How could this have happened?”

“Easily answered,” Encizo said. “Someone was in the know about us being here. To the point where they even knew the vehicle we were in.”

“Doesn’t that suggest something to you, Agent Asker?” McCarter said tautly. “This was supposed to be a covert mission. How the hell did information get out so damn quickly?”

Anger flashed across the man’s face. “Are you saying there is a leak within the NIO?”

“I’m saying that it’s likely someone else knows we’re here. And I can tell you for sure it didn’t come from our organization.”

Asker bristled. For a moment McCarter thought the man was going lash out. His expression betrayed his thoughts. Then Asker stepped back physically and mentally. His face relaxed.

“Yes, you have a point, Mr. Coyle,” he acknowledged, using McCarter’s cover name. “A valid point. I apologize for my attitude. The situation is difficult. When I return to NIO I will initiate an investigation into how your being here has been compromised. I am glad none of you was injured in any way. May I say I am impressed at how you handled the situation? And you, Agent Kartal. You displayed your usual competence.” He inspected the damage to the NIO vehicle.

“The damage has affected the rear wheel, sir,” Kartal said. “It cannot be driven. This vehicle will need to be removed for repair.”

“You are certain of this?”

“Pushed the bodywork into the tire,” McCarter said, stepping in to back up Kartal. “Cut into the rubber.”

Asker peered at the damaged section of the NIO vehicle. His manner indicated he knew very little about the mechanics of them.

“Not going to get us very far,” James noted.

“New wheels?” Encizo suggested.

“I can arrange…” Asker said.

“No need,” McCarter said quickly. “We can deal with this ourselves.”

“You must allow me to help.”

“Agent Asker, you have your department to look after, as you told us earlier. We have this covered,” McCarter said. “We can organize a rental vehicle to get around in. Less noticeable than one of your official NIO cars. No offence, Agent Asker, but we try to work without too much fanfare. A vehicle with the NIO brand on it doesn’t help.”

Asker seemed ready to resist and for a moment McCarter felt the man was going to argue. He seemed to be having a problem controlling his emotions.

“Very well,” he said finally, his voice tight as he held himself under stress. “If you insist. My orders were to accommodate you, so I will. Agent Kartal will be able to help you to find a suitable vehicle.”

“Of course, sir. I am sure Mr. Coyle has made the right decision.”

A frown darkened Asker’s face before he regained his composure. He seemed to be having a troubled moment.

“Yes, well, of course. I will leave you to your new team. Please keep me informed of your progress,” Asker said to McCarter.

“Oh, you’ll be hearing from us,” McCarter said forcibly.

Asker went to speak to the attending Turkish police officers before returning to his own SUV and driving away.

“That was tense there for a moment,” Encizo said. “Asker got a little uptight.”

“That he did,” McCarter said.

He glanced across to where Kartal was checking the panel damage to their SUV. He noticed the way she had been watching Asker, and the tight set of her face suggested there was a lot going on inside her head.

“I hope I did right,” she said, crossing to join him.

“Just fine,” McCarter said. He couldn’t hold back a grin. “You catch on quick.”

“I believe I understand. You do not want any more vehicles from the NIO.”

“We leave the NIO, pick up a shortcut and that truck still found us,” James said.

“Too bloody easily for my liking,” McCarter said. “Found us like they knew exactly where we were.”

“Tracked us?” Encizo offered.

Kartal’s face paled as she became aware of the implications. “But we never stopped once after we left the department. Are you saying a device was planted at NIO?”

“Tell us different, Berna, and we’ll listen,” James said.

They waited until the tow trucks showed up to remove the two vehicles. The ambulance had arrived and was dealing with the casualties. By this time the crowd had had its fill of rubbernecking and most of them had moved on. One police cruiser remained.

An empty passing taxi had been flagged and Phoenix Force transferred its bags to the trunk. Kartal told the driver to wait. He didn’t mind as they were already on the clock.

McCarter strolled casually across to take a look at the damaged NIO vehicle as it was being hoisted onto the tow truck. He made a show of inspecting the damage, peering beneath the SUV.

Kartal had a final few words with the local cops before they climbed into their cruiser and drove off.

“I will have so much paperwork to complete,” Kartal said.

“Cops are the same wherever you go,” James said. “They have a thing for statements.”

“And when you get down to it,” McCarter said, “just don’t mention this.”

He opened his hand to show them the three-inch-square black box he had located under the SUV.

“A tracker,” James said.

“Sends out a signal to a locator unit,” Encizo said. “Tells them where you are.”

McCarter took it and turned it over. A red indicator light was blinking. He flicked a small plastic switch and the light shut off.

“Magnetic base,” he said. “Sticks to any metal surface. There will probably be a locator unit in that panel truck they towed away.”

“This was on the side of our fuel tank,” McCarter said.

Kartal’s expression revealed her thoughts. “You are saying this was placed at NIO?”

“Couldn’t have been anywhere else. The minute we drove out of the gate we never stopped moving,” James said. “Had to have been already in place.”

“Not your fault, love.” McCarter smiled. “But it tells me we have enemies closer than we thought.”

“You were with us, too,” James said. “In the same danger we were.”

“Part of the package,” Encizo said. “You are now officially on the hit list.”

“We should go,” Kartal said moments later. “It will be a little more peaceful at your hotel.”

“You think?” James said. “Let’s hope there isn’t a welcoming committee waiting there, as well.”

McCarter said, “Hold that thought.”

He took out his sat phone and called up Stony Man. When Price answered, he quickly brought her up to date with the current events.

Price listened in patient silence.

“And how long have you been in Turkey?” she said when he had finished.

“I know. Fast turnaround on this one.”

“You sure you’re all okay?”

“Fine, love, but I have a little job for you. Cancel our current hotel. Find us another and book us in.”

“You think the opposition might know where you were going to stay?”

“They found our car. So I’d rather not find out if they had our hotel under surveillance, as well.”