Interdiction - W.Addison Gast (great novels TXT) 📗

nodded to Danny that he had told the third marine to stay in the cafeteria and obtain the security video.
“Nice work Dan. That was quick thinking “
“Crimminy DJ if these two nerds compromised our meeting, I want to get them keel hauled and to the guillotine. There is no excuse to disrespect national security just in order to get the favor of these people on The Washington Post. “
“How do you know it was the Post?”
“They have a reputation of working our cafeteria.”
“Working”?
“Yeah, its public area once you pass the building security so they hang there and get chummy with our people. Most of the people in this department are aware what they are looking for and avoid the creeps but every once in awhile, they find a way to start a conversation and subsequent relationship with anyone that goes there for lunch or coffee.”
The two individuals arrived at the door of the bubble escorted by the two marines entered, sat down and looked down at their hands. Then their shoes, anyplace except directly at the steel grey piercing eyes of Lieutenant General Tom Jacobs.
“This morning, less than two hours ago, we had a meeting in here and discussed a very sensitive operation. We also watched the execution of that same operation. This was not a black ops, cover clandestine gangland killing of citizens. It was special operation that eradicated a very potential threat to the lives of our people in not only Pakistan but Afghanistan as well. Within ten minutes of the conclusion of that meeting, the Vice President got a call from a very high profile Senator asking what we were doing killing people in India. One of our allied countries in the war on terrorism.”
I’m going to ask each of you a direct question and I want a direct, honest answer. We’ll start on my right. Since you left this meeting this morning have you spoken with anyone not employed or working in this department?
“Penny?”
“Negative General. DJ,Dan and myself have been in a meeting since we adjourned.”
“I guess that answer takes care of you two gentlemen and Lady. Nodding at DJ and Danny.
“Mr. Symington. You were here recording the meeting for our logs. Your answer Sir.
“Negative General. I have remained in this room working on the audio system since we adjourned. The marine guard can attest to that fact.”
“Very well. Ms. Lipnisky. Your answer please.”
The girl turned red and was almost in tears. Emotionally she was about to erupt.
“General, I have worked in this department for over six months and I love my job. I would never, ever disclose anything that would disgrace my father who worked here and retired or my country.”
“I have a feeling that was a partial confession to what I am about to hear. Ms. Lipnisky. Please continue.”
She was now in tears, streaming down her cheeks and her mascara was running to the corners of her mouth. The young man next to her in the pink striped Geoffrey Bean shirt with an ear ring in his left ear and peroxide hair was now also blushing red and very uncomfortable.
“I went to the cafeteria with Andrew after we left here Sir. I was hungry and had not had time for breakfast. When we entered the cafeteria………”
“STOP! JESUS! “Shouted pink shirt.
“A person can not even talk to friends in a public place without being scrutinized as a possible spy if you work for this organization. I did nothing wrong. The person I was talking to is an aide to a very high placed Senator. Both he and the Senator will be very offended if and when they hear of this inquisition you are putting me thru……”
“Did you mention the use of this weapon in your friendly little chat over coffee with your friend Andrew? Answer the question now or so help me I’ll come from behind this desk or perhaps right over the top at you and get the information in a way that will really give you something to discuss with the Senator. Did you?
Pink shirt stood and threw his security badge on the table and shouted that he quit and started to head for the door.
He had to pass DJ to get to the door. That was his Waterloo. As he approached, DJ who had on his utility steel toed field boots suddenly stood and in doing so, stepped on pink shirt’s foot in the isle. Pink shirt screamed and then uttered a “O GOD, YOU ARE A BEAST!” at DJ as he grabbed him by the back of the neck and the seat of his pants which could easily have been by his balls from behind and marched him to the door. As DJ turned him around for the marine guard to handcuff him pink shirt cleared his throat and was about to spit in DJ’s face. With a move that was only a blur to those in the room watching, DJ moved his head slightly back and then directly forward into the nose of pink shirt. The blood splattered clear over to the conference table and onto the burgundy colored briefing tablet.
The marine guard then took the screaming bleeding ex-analyst down the hall and then to the security retention cell.
“As for you young lady….” The General was addressing
the girl, Ms. Lipnisky. “I would select the people that I have coffee with in the future more carefully. You will need to spend some time with our security people but I believe you may be able to continue your work here if you provide these gentlemen with the proper answers about yours and Andrew’s conversation with that Senatorial aide.”
The girl was led from the room-not handcuffed as her coffee mate – but firmly escorted.
The general came over to where Penny, DJ and Dan were standing getting ready to return to their desks and said;” I’m sure the Marine appreciated your assistance Lt. but I think the head butt was a little over-kill.”
“I don’t like being spit on general. The last person that tried that was a low life insurgent less than two days ago and he got the same treatment.”
The General smiled, turned and under his breath muttered how his mother didn’t need to worry about her son any longer out there in the real world among the bad guys.
DJ caught the General before he made it to his office and asked him; “Ok, so we found the leak from this room. What about the Senator? “
“I’ll take care of the Senator. I’m going to give him a call right now. If any of this gets to the Post or media, we’ll have both the Senator and his aide,-- the queen of the Senate staffers before the services committee with a heavy fine and possible request for resignation hanging over them.”
“Queen of the Senate staffers? So I wonder just how many conversations our Andrew and their guy had over pillow talk.”
“Security will find out. Right now I want you and your team to find those foreign exchange students in Texas before the cell makes contact with them. Go!” The General continued into his office.
“Penny, you got the names from Nagel during the transmission. Have you run them yet?”
“Nothing on the specific individuals yet DJ. We have a list of students with those last names and we are running them now. By the time you make your plans for getting to San Marcos Texas final, we’ll have everything on them including their sexual preference.”
“Go for it. I’m going to backtrack our gomers from that farm and then see if they set off in a direction we can pursue. Meanwhile, Danny,-Call that station chief in Kabul and see if his asset-- that was on the farm can tell us anything that will help locate this bunch of slippery idiots.”
“Dan, I saw you on your cell talking to someone in San Antonio. Did you get me a name?”
“Yes sir. Agent Charlene McBean is your contact and she gave me her cell plus email and said to call her at any time. “
“Do just that Dan and tell her to meet me at Lackland AFB whenever Big bird gets there. I’m going to my apartment and get some clean skivvies and will meet you back here. Better yet, I’ll head on out to Dulles and catch Big Bird. I’ll be at the Lackland or Randolph AFB BOQ for the next few days so Penny, please make me some reservations. –I’m out of here.”
It was getting to be the same drill. Hit the office for less than a day and be briefed on the progress and off again to wherever he might interdict this cell. The pace was getting faster and DJ was getting thinner. He had lost eleven pounds since last month.
“Penny, one last item.”
“Yes DJ?”
“Does Big Bird have a galley that can cook a steak?”
“ I think so sir. However, most of the meals are in flight type and just warmed up onboard.”
“I know. Tell that flight Steward that I’m going to want a steak that isn’t just warmed up in a micro. Thanks in advance.”
On the way out of the building DJ stopped by Abdul’s desk where he was working with a group of other young analysts breaking a conversation in Farsi into English and tossed him the keys to his Beamer. “You are batchloring it again for a few days roommate. Got to go. I’ll call you. Don’t forget to feed the cat.”
A puzzled Abdul looked back at DJ from the group who also were all looking at the Lt.
“We don’t have a cat DJ.”
“Right”


Chapter 27
Outskirts of New Delhi in the Royal Entourage
Most of the trip from the farm was very quiet in the sedans carrying the remaining four Muhadeen warriors. They had learned of the attack on the wheat farm and the results from an operative that had just been outside the fence by the main road. His description was not at all believable but they could not make contact with anyone at the farm by satellite phone or radio so it was assumed that the farm and the supply location had been compromised. Ali Baba had slept most of the trip and Goat was reading his Koran. He knew that as soon as they reached the shores of the American infidel he would have to forget all thoughts of reading his beloved Koran. Their disguise as Saudi Oil royalty would be good enough to get them to Houston Texas but from there on they would have to look, talk and act like foreign exchange students becoming “Americanized” from their time in the United States. This meant Levis, tennis shoes and college emblems on sweatshirts and ball caps. The beautiful white thawbs would be discarded.
The three sedans pulled in off the road into a run down area of New Delhi that evidently once was a market center. A flood on the local river washed away most of the smaller adobe constructed huts and small buildings leaving only a large brick warehouse standing in the far rear of the complex. As the sedans approached the empty building, a very ferocious dog ran out to greet the cars barking loudly. It came to the end of a chain that was holding it and began barking louder and jumping in the air at the black sedan. Soon a small Indian in a blue turban came out of the building and restrained the dog and motioned for the drivers to come through the gate he has just opened. When all three sedans were inside, the Indian put the dog back in place on the outside and