Don Pendleton - Double Blindside

* * *

THE STONY MAN call came less than twenty minutes later, Price updating McCarter on their accommodation status.

“You’re booked in,” she said, offering McCarter the hotel details. “Unless your Turkish sparring partners have access to Stony Man, you should be clear.”

“Good,” McCarter said. “Efficient as ever. We’ll keep in touch.”

“Make sure you do.”

McCarter beckoned and they all piled into the taxi. He told Kartal the new address. She relayed this to the driver and they drove away from the scene.

“Can you find out where the wounded guy was taken?” McCarter asked. “In case we need to talk to him later.”

“Yes, I can do that. Do you believe he will give you anything useful?”

“It’s always worth a try,” McCarter said. “If you don’t ask questions, you won’t get answers.”

“A logical line of thought, boss,” James said in a tone reminiscent of Mr. Spock.

“Star Trek,” Kartal said lightly.

“Ah,” Encizo said, “the global reach of American culture.”

“How does it sound in Turkish?” James said.

“If you check your hotel TV, it could be showing.”

The hotel was large and close to the water. Part of a global chain, it was the sort of place that had lots of rooms and guests. The taxi pulled up to the entrance and the three Phoenix Force men hauled out their luggage and followed Kartal inside. She confirmed the rate and McCarter handed her the cash to pay.

“Perhaps I should call back later,” Kartal said once they’d checked in. “Allow you to settle. It will give me the chance to change into something a little less dramatic.”

She left them, picking up one of the taxis waiting outside.

“I don’t have any objections to the way she dresses,” Encizo said as they made their way to their rooms.

“This thing you have about women in uniform, carrying guns…” McCarter said. “I think we need to talk about it.”

They took the stairs to their floor, parting company as they located their individual rooms. Even in the comparative safety of the hotel, the Phoenix Force commandos made sure security was on their minds, each keeping a handgun close. They had agreed to meet up in the cafeteria after freshening up.

After a quick shower and a change into fresh clothing, McCarter used his sat phone to contact Stony Man again and spoke to Brognola.

“Hell of an introduction to Turkey,” the big Fed said.

“Not the first time we’ve had a warm welcome,” McCarter reminded him.

“So, what happened?” Brognola asked. “You got any suspects?”

McCarter laughed. “How about the NIO? They’re the only ones who knew we were here. As far as we’re aware.”

“They were supposed to be the only ones aware of your presence in Turkey. Big agency. But it’s not unknown to have leaks in large organizations. We should know about that. This Özgürlük deal is a Turkish phenomenon. Nationalistic fervor can turn up in surprising places. And so can prying eyes and ears.”

“That supposed to make me feel better?”

“Not really. Just aware.”

“Hal, I’m already aware we are in a tricky position here.”

“Just saying stay alert, David.”

“Concern noted.”

“Any doubts about your Turkish lady cop?”

“I think she was as surprised as we were when it happened. I’m just glad she’s on our side. She handles herself pretty well.”

“My suspicious nature warns me to remind you to keep watch until you’re one hundred and one percent sure.”

“Don’t worry, Mother, we will. You have any results from Gary and T.J. yet?”

“Still waiting.”

“Okay, talk to you if and when something happens,” McCarter said, knowing that sooner or later something would.

Sea of Marmara

“There is no easy way to tell you this,” Hakan Kaplan said. “Amal is dead. He was killed by the Americans when his team attempted to neutralize them. Salan was wounded and taken prisoner.”

Kaplan waited for Kadir Polat’s reaction and was surprised when the man failed to do or say anything.

Sitting at his desk on his cruiser, Polat shifted his gaze to look beyond the open window to the glittering sea. Sunlight danced across the waves. He saw nothing but emptiness. The death of his younger brother had affected him more than any outward sign might show.

Like a movie played in reverse, he saw the images that took Amal from manhood to his teen years, then beyond to when he was a child. Always at Kadir’s side. The tie between them had strengthened as they’d grown. Amal had always been the impulsive one. Always ready to take risks. His older brother had been forced to step in on many occasions to pull Amal out of dangerous situations. Amal’s recklessness was part of his character and no matter how many times he placed himself in danger he would do the same thing again and again.

* * *

WITH THEIR PARENTS having died while both Kadir and Amal were young, it had been the elder brother’s responsibility to look out for Amal. Being the heir to the Polat dynasty had made it easier. There were always advisers around, people to watch over the young brothers. As the years passed and Kadir assumed full control over the family businesses, he remained aware of his family responsibilities. Family was important in Turkey. Kadir never forgot that.

He’d spent time with Amal. He’d indulged the young man. He knew he’d taken that indulgence too far at times, but his love for his younger sibling had been too great. There were times he’d had to bail Amal out, rescue him from the escapades of youth. If it wasn’t the fast cars Amal drove, it was the young women he always seemed to hang on his arm. No matter how many times problems came along, Kadir had cleared the way for Amal.

It helped that as well as being ultrawealthy, Polat was a well-liked man. His power and influence had grown over the years and he’d used his position to get Amal out of his various scrapes. Living in such luxury as the Polat dynasty offered, Amal had grown into a good-looking, intelligent young man. But he’d never moved on from adolescence. He’d simply enjoyed the good life. The money. The trappings of wealth and the lack of responsibility.

With Kadir involved in the growing Özgürlük organization, Amal had found himself being pushed aside to a greater degree. Özgürlük had become Kadir Polat’s passion. His need to free Turkey from the grip of America and the base at Incirlik increasingly devoured his life. For the first time since childhood, Amal had felt himself being pushed into the shadows.

He’d realized that to regain his brother’s attention, Amal had to insert himself into Özgürlük. He might not have fully understood his brother’s politics but he quickly grasped that Kadir was becoming a national figure. The rallies and the constant meetings with important people appealed to Amal. He’d understood the meaning of celebrity. He’d joined in with Kadir’s new obsession. He met the people involved.

And he’d allowed himself to be caught up in the heady atmosphere of the crowds. The eager men who wanted to become part of Kadir’s army, the willing participants clamoring to use affirmative action on behalf of Özgürlük. He’d allied himself to the cause, finding this new experience liberating, and he’d understood Kadir’s anger when it was learned a team of Americans had been assigned to work with the NIO in an attempt to disrupt Özgürlük’s plans.

The Özgürlük inside man at the NIO had given out details of the arrival of the Americans, and Amal had put himself forward as part of the hit team preparing to strike at them.