Rogue Asset (Book 3 of the Wade Hanna Series) (17 page)

“Is there anything I can do to help?”

“No, just radio me when you’re in position tomorrow.”

“Will do.”

Leo ended the conversation with advice. “Get some rest tonight. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

Wade said, “I’ll try,” before hanging up.

Wade returned from a light dinner at a local restaurant not far from the hotel. He checked his ID, weapons, ammunition, and radio and went over his calculations of the dock area for the third time before he went to bed.

Instead of memorizing his distance measurements he decided to code them in a scribble script he learned at the Agency. The scribble would come in handy if he were captured or killed. He just wanted to be sure he gave Leo accurate distances and didn’t want to depend on his memory especially if he was under fire.

The scribbled coded notes looked like Canadian phone numbers of old girlfriends running up and down and across the page in random order. The gibberish wouldn’t make sense to anyone even if they were familiar with the code or read in reverse order.

He folded rumpled papers along the crease in his wallet. They looked like Canadian.

Wade’s rest that night was minimal. He twisted and turned with intermediate flashes of surreal nightmares and sweat. At one point he thought he was coming down with a fever. The restless night woke Wade every hour. He found himself standing next to his bed wide awake an hour before the 4:00 a.m. alarm went off. He didn’t have a memory of getting out of bed.

After performing his short morning exercise routine, he showered and dressed. He chose the stairs to enter the hotel lobby and went directly to the all-night hotel restaurant.

His dirty blue-gray coveralls caught the eye of a waiter he knew. The waiter nodded with a smile as he approached. Wade wondered how badly he stood out as the only guest sitting in the large dining room. With no one else around to see him except the waiter, Wade smiled back.

The all-night restaurant provided travelers and guests with seating and service options throughout the night. Wade ordered his usual breakfast of hot cereal, roll, and coffee. The waiter looked at Wade’s tattered worker outfit but was too polite to say anything. Wade anticipated his thoughts and decided to preempt any idle kitchen speculation about his unconventional dress.

“I’m going fishing today.”

The waiter seemed relieved. “Tangier has some of the best fishing waters in North Africa.”

“That’s what I hear. I’m going to test that claim. Perhaps I will bring back some fish back for the kitchen to prepare for me.”

“We would be delighted to prepare your fish for you.”

“I’m going to be out all day. Can you have the kitchen prepare two chicken sandwiches for me to take with me?”

“But, of course, Mr. Hess. Is there anything else I can get you?”

“I want to bring my container of water as well. You can’t trust the water they carry on those fishing boats.”

“That’s a very smart idea, Mr. Hess. I will get you some bottled water.”

Wade packed the food and water in the plain black satchel Angéle had given him and set out for the docks. He took the bus to attract less attention.

Getting off a stop before his final destination Wade took a route now familiar to see if he was being tailed. He got to the dock area only lit by green and amber streetlights that carried a halo because of incoming fog.

He passed the same idle forklift and ran his hand over the tire picking up a smear of grease from the side of the truck. He put dabs on his face and neck to complete his make-up role as a dockworker.

The window at the rear of the building was still open just as he left it the day before. Inspecting with a small flashlight cupped in his hand told him nothing seemed out of place. He checked the hinge to the window and for the small strands of plant materials he left strategically placed. If the window had moved, the hinge would have separated, and the light leafy material would have dropped to the ground telling Wade the window had been tampered with.

Now familiar with his route, Wade’s transition from the window to the stairs was quiet and seamless. He quickly noticed many of the pallets had changed positions since yesterday’s stevedoring activities. Stopping behind one pallet beside the stairs that hadn’t moved he greeted it like an old friend.

Wade quickly ascended the stairs and settled into his observation position. To keep the noise down, he decided to hide everything he brought except the binoculars. The stacks of machine parts lining his newly created corridor provided an assortment of holes to hide his items.

Keeping the binoculars around his neck and radio transmitter in his left pocket Wade inserted the magazine into his 9 mm semiautomatic and pulled the first round into the chamber. His weapon found a place in a well-hidden covered cylinder cavity just a couple of feet away. He could reach the pistol more quickly from that position than if he had it in his coveralls. The pistol was well covered and might even avoid detection even if he was discovered.

Wade made a quick survey of the dock area outside his window before making his first radio contact.

“Dock 1 to Base. Do you read?”

“Base to Dock 1, I copy. Are you in position?”

“Affirmative.”

Chapter 17

The morning fog started to lift with glimpses of a rising sun. It was difficult to see past the dock to the harbor and beyond. The
Hariba
remained invisible to Wade sitting anchored somewhere in the thick fog just outside the rock wall to the harbor. The
Akai Maru
was still docked in Position 1 in front of him. No unloading activity was occurring at this time. The dock building was still closed and quiet.

“Dock 1 to Base, over.”

“Base copy. What do you see?”

“Not much. Fog still covering everything. The
Akai Maru
still in Position 1. No unloading activity in progress. Over.”

“Can you see the Hariba?”

“Not right now. Too much fog. Over.”

“Copy. Any unfamiliar personnel on the dock? Over.”

“Negative. Dock is clear. Over.”

“Report back in one hour or sooner if activity levels change.”

“Confirmed, Dock 1, out.”

Within the hour, Wade heard the familiar sounds of squeaking wheels as the heavy front doors struggled to separate in their rusty steel channels. Workers in blue coveralls began coming in to start daily tasks. Some men were stirring on board the
Aki Maru
and the dock area was beginning its normal activity.

Wade watched the crew of the
Akai Maru
perform assigned tasks and concluding their cargo discharge as they were preparing the ship for departure. Onboard cranes lifted planking and hatch covers that were battened down with tarps.

Small equipment lying out on the deck was being stored in other parts of the ship. Cables, rope, and electrical lines running across the deck were being coiled. Wade’s Navy training allowed him to admire the efficiency and highly organized ritual being performed by the crew of the
Aki Maru
. He wondered if the crew of the
Hariba
would perform with the same precision.

As the morning sun lifted so did the fog. Wade pointed his binoculars out to the seawall and saw the outline of the anchored
Hariba
. He immediately radioed his sighting.

“Dock 1 to Base.”

“Base. Over.”

“I see
Hariba
. She is anchored but lowering ship stairs off her port side. There is a small vessel approaching the ship believed to be a water taxi. Over.”

“Base, copy. Keep me apprised.”

The taxi made a wide circle and approached the ship parallel to the stair landing.

“Dock 1 to Base. Over.”

“Base. Copy. What do you have?”

“The water taxi is tied off to
Hariba
stairs. A man in a captain’s hat is now on deck. It may be Captain Mustafa but he’s too far away to confirm. Over.”

“Base. Copy. I think he’s coming ashore to try to straighten out the customs mess. The port still hasn’t assigned him a docking space. Over.”

Wade followed the water taxi through his binoculars to a dock at the far end of a pier west of Wade’s position. According to Wade’s harbor map that building was the port administration and customs offices.

“Dock 1 to Base.”

“Base. Copy.”

“The passenger disembarked the taxi on the water level platform below the port administration building. When he turned his head into the sunlight, I got a good look and confirmed it is Captain Mustafa. He seems to have a head of steam. Over.”

“Base. Copy. All hell will break loose when he gets to customs, Over.”

Not much new activity occurred over the next couple of hours. The
Akai Maru
was under tug and the watchful eye of the maritime pilot when she pulled away from docking Position 1. The space she occupied remained vacant. There were no incoming calls from Base since Wade reported the
Akai Maru’s
departure.

Midmorning doldrums were broken by Wade’s regularly timed lookout reports, having a chicken sandwich and a few isometric exercises that kept his legs from getting stiff and cramped. Wade realized that while his assignment was waiting, Leo must have been dealing with ten other agents all calling him for instructions.

A half hour passed, and Wade finally saw movement at the Port Administration building. Captain Mustafa stood outside the building speaking with a gentleman in a suit. The captain held a folder with papers. He walked over to the edge of the pier looking out for his water taxi that was still minutes away. Mustafa shook hands with the customs agent and headed down the stairs to the water level platform. He looked over some of the papers and paced impatiently. As the taxi approached, Wade called in.

“Dock 1 to Base. I have Captain Mustafa on the lower platform of the administration pier holding some papers. Water taxi is picking him up. The bow of the taxi headed back to the
Hariba
.”

“Copy. He may have gotten the customs problem solved. We are waiting for a confirmation call from our inside man at customs. Over.”

Whatever Capitan Mustafa did, whom he threatened or paid off at customs, must have worked. The port’s pilot boat was now headed toward the
Hariba
. After the pilot had boarded, the ship’s anchor began slowly to withdraw from the mud on the sea bottom. The vessel started moving toward Wade under its power, would soon enter the inner-harbor, and be joined by a tug. Wade looked at his watch. It was now approaching 2:30 p.m. and Wade wondered if he was going to be here all night.

He reported to Leo not only
Hariba
’s progress but also all the other vessels’ movements around the harbor.
Hariba
was now at a stop a hundred years from the dock waiting for the tug to reposition. The red tugboat’s stack billowed with white smoke as its engine pushed
Hariba
into Position 1
.
Lines to the tug were released as the tug captain yelled to the pilot over the noise of the tug’s engines. Dock lines were secured, and
Hariba
rested in the perfect position for Wade to see everything including activity through the portholes.

“Dock 1 to Base.
Hariba
is docked at Position 1 right in front of me.”

“Base, copy. Confirm all movement of personnel on board and on the dock as they occur. Over.”

“Will do Dock 1. Over.”

Wade felt his 13-hour observation ordeal was now shifting into another gear.

The docking event brought Wade to a heightened sense of alertness. His observation position was now the same height as
Hariba’s
bridge. Except for a partial blocking of Wade’s vision from a metal awning overhang Wade could see directly into the ship’s wheelhouse.

His front row seat caused him to rethink being cautious as he realized the vision he had of the ship’s bridge also applied in the other direction. Wade took some comfort knowing the window glass remained filthy. He was glad he didn’t clean it. Wade called in for an update.

“Dock 1 to Base. The crew is now active removing hatch covers and tying into on-shore power preparing for cargo discharge. Over.”

“Base. Copy. Is there any new activity on the dock? Over.”

“A stevedoring crew is assembling next to
Hariba
perhaps for night unloading. Over.”

“Base, copy. They may be trying to make up time but if they’re doing a night discharge they’ll be paying lots of overtime.”

“Dock 1. Copy. The dockworkers I see don’t include a gantry crew. Over.”

“Base. Let’s wait to see what happens. Over.”

Another hour passed, and the watchman started to close the warehouse doors. Wade would soon be locked in. He hoped his alternative exit remained intact.

“Dock 1 to Base. The warehouse doors are being shut. The workers on the dock I see have left. The ship’s crew and a small overtime crew are both working aboard the vessel. The outer hatch cover has been removed. They are setting up lighting over the hatch on the main deck using shore power. No sight of a gantry crew. Over.”

“Base. Keep me updated.”

Minutes passed before the activity on board changed. Wade reported. “Dock 1 to Base. The ship has just got company on the dock.”

“Base to Dock 1. Describe the new company.”

“Two men in suit jackets. No, wait, three men with suit jackets. They’re standing on the dock facing the ship about 25-feet apart. They are not approaching the gangplank. Two of these men are the same guys I eluded the other day.”

“Base to Dock 1. The coat men are Sikes’ guys. Over.”

The ship’s work lights hadn’t come on yet. Looking into the setting sun with the warehouse in the dark shade made it difficult for Wade to see everything in front of him.

He spanned the vista before him squinting to find definition in the back-lit images he saw. At this point, Wade gathered the provisions he had hidden among the equipment. He wanted his weapon at his side.

Things could start to get rough. Wade checked his pistol to be certain he had a full magazine and partially pulled back the receiver to be certain a round was in the chamber.

Wade returned to his slow scan of the entire area. When he got to the middle of Position 1 he saw a shadowy movement.

“Dock 1 to Base. I just saw movement on the stairs going under the dock at the middle of Position 1. I could only make out an outline of a figure in a dark tight suit, perhaps a wet suit with a hood. All below the level of the dock. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. Copy. The men under the pier are friendlies. What is the rest of the crew doing? Over.”

“Dock 1 to Base. They are down in the hold with first mate, Abid. The latch cover is open, and there is one high-intensity light shining down over the hold. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. Can you see what they’re doing in the cargo hold?”

“Dock 1 to Base. I think Abib is directing crewmembers on what he wants done, but I can’t see down in the hold itself. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. What are the men in the coats doing? Over.”

“Dock 1 to Base. They’re not doing anything except standing at parade rest as though waiting for a parade to pass or someone else to arrive. They look like they’re guarding the ship. They all seem armed. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. Can the coat men see the stairs going under the pier?”

“Dock 1 to Base. Negative. They are over 50-feet away.”

The activity in the ship remained concentrated at the bottom of the hold where Wade was unable to see. Wade suddenly noticed a cloud of yellow dust emerge from the hold. He immediately concluded grain was being stirred and reported the activity.

“Dock 1 to Base. I see a yellow dust cloud come up from the hold. It’s gathering around the light. I still can’t see what they’re doing in the hold. It’s likely to have something to do with the grain. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. They may be moving or bagging that grain to get it out of the way to have access to the lower deck. Over.”

“Dock 1 to Base. Why wouldn’t they just have the gantry crew do that?”

“Sikes or Mustafa don’t want to pay the overtime rates or have peering eyes on that lower cargo hold. Mabuto is also pushing them to hurry.”

“Dock 1 to Base. That would make sense from the sounds I hear, but I still can’t confirm. A fuel barge has come along port side the ship. Fuel lines are being brought across deck and being connected. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. According to the manifest supplied to customs they will be unloading 120 tons of grain. They can’t expect to unload that with this crew. There’s something else going on here. I think they may be making a passageway through the grain to access the lower floor. They will probably start unloading the grain tomorrow using the gantry to avoid the overtime cost. Over.”

“Dock 1 to Base. Hold on. Two men approaching ship from the east side parking lot. They’re walking towards the coat men. They look like Mabuto’s men. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. Can you describe new visitors? Over.”

“Dock 1 to Base. Two large black men well dressed in matching khaki outfits. Both are carrying under their outfits.”

There was a brief pause in Wade’s description before he continued. “The coat man farthest to my right is walking towards Mabuto’s men. The three men are now huddled talking. The other two coat men are remaining in their positions well back from the conference. The three men are walking back toward the ship’s gangplank. The other two coat men are coming over to meet or intercept.”

Wade paused again to see where the men were headed. He then continued his description.

“All four men have finished talking now. Coatman 1 is escorting Mabuto’s men up the gangplank. The other two coat men have gone back to prior positions. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1, copy that. Keep updates coming. Over.”

“Dock 1 to Base. The sun has gone down. I can see right into the bridge now. Three men are meeting on the bridge with the captain. Their discussion looks heated. The captain seems pissed. He’s sending another man out of the warehouse to get something or someone.”