Rogue Asset (Book 3 of the Wade Hanna Series) (18 page)

“Base to Dock 1. Copy.”

“The bridge man is running down the stairs to the lower deck. He’s headed for the hold. The cloud of yellow dust is still coming out. He’s yelling down the hold.”

“Base to Dock 1. Copy. What’s he doing now?”

“Dock 1. He’s backed away from the dust cloud coughing. Abid is climbing out of the hole. He and the bridge man are talking. They’re now walking up the outer stairs to the bridge. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. Copy.”

A few minutes passed. Four men were meeting in the warehouse, and there seemed to be a lot of tension in their conversation. Wade waited until there was some change in the action.

“Dock 1 to Base. Abid and the bridge man are listening to Captain Mustafa, who still seems agitated. Whatever the problem is it requires a long-winded discussion between them. The captain is now picking up the radiophone and making a call while the other men are standing around waiting. If looks could only kill!”

“Base to Dock 1. Copy.”

Mustafa put down the phone from the heated call.

“Dock 1 to Base.”

“Base, go ahead.”

“Abid now seems to have his shorts in a bunch. These boys are not happy playing together. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1. I think Mabuto’s men are demanding to do the arms inspection before they unload cargo tomorrow. My guess is Mabuto is probably calling those shots. I wouldn’t be surprised if Mustafa’s call were to Sikes. My men are tracking Sikes’ calls. I should hear from them soon. Let me know if Mabuto’s men start going down into the hold. Over.”

Twenty minutes of elevated tension, aggressive gestures and loud voices continued between Mustafa’s men and Mabuto’s men.

“Dock 1 to Base. The captain has given Abib an instruction. He’s leaving the bridge with Mabuto’s men. Abid just motioned for two of Mabuto’s men to follow him. They’re all going down the outside stairs. They are headed toward the hatch that goes into the hold. Over.”

“Base to Dock 1 – Can you extract? Over.”

Leo’s question caught Wade off guard. “Dock 1 to Base. You mean extract from my position here, now?”

“Base to Dock 1. I mean right now. Use the same route you came in. Go out past the parking circle and turn right. There is a small park. My man is in a blue car and will pick you up in 20 minutes. Over.”

“Dock 1. Affirmative. Extraction in progress now. Over.”

Chapter 18

Wade’s extraction went without a problem although he remained confused by the sudden change in orders. A dark blue car was parked at the curb, and the driver leaned over and said through the open passenger window, “Mr. Hess, I’m Mr. Leopold’s driver.”

Wade quickly checked both directions before he got in. The driver was a dark haired man with a strong Middle Eastern accent. Wade pegged him as being Turkish or a combination of French and Moroccan decent. He introduced himself.

“Hello, my name is Jesse.”

They had shaken hands before Wade replied, “Nice to meet you Jesse but do you know what the hell is going on?”

“I only know what I am told sir. I’m taking you to a warehouse about 8 kilometers from here.”

“That’s great, another warehouse.”

“Yes, I believe this may be the place that some exchange is taking place but I am not sure. My instructions are to get you there as quickly and safely as possible. I am to let you out three blocks before the warehouse on the west side of the street. I am so sorry I can’t bring you to the front door. Please accept my apologies.”

“That’s okay, we all have orders. Are there any other instructions?”

“Yes, there is a side entrance to the warehouse. I am told that the door is closed, but the lock has been adjusted so you can enter. You are to go up the inside stairs to the upper deck. You are to go to the middle of the aisle until you find a group of crates. There you will find the equipment you might need. There will be a radio, food, and other things.”

Wade carefully weighed Jesse’s instructions. They were straightforward enough but his he still didn’t know why he was moved. He wondered what else Jesse knew about the assignment.

“I already have a radio and receiver on me.”

Jesse replied as he glanced back and forth between the road and Wade.

“That may be true, monsieur, but I think the radio inside may be more powerful than the one you have. How do you say in English, it is set at a different frequency? I am told your position must remain concealed at all times. After you are settled, you are to call Mr. Leopold on the radio provided. Have my instructions been clear to you?”

“Yeah, I’m assuming I can ask whoever is on the other side of that radio additional questions when I get there.”

“That is my understanding as well, sir.”

There was a pause while Wade digested the instructions. It was Jesse who asked the next question. “Have you been enjoying your time in Tangier?”

“Yes, a very nice place. Are you from here?”

“No sir, I am from Istanbul. Sir, we are approaching the warehouse in good time. Mr. Leopold will be pleased.”

“Jesse, I’d like to ask you to do something for me.”

“Certainly, Mr. Hess.”

“I’d like you to drive past the warehouse entrance on the main street like you are driving now. I’m going to get in the back seat. I want to see the building from the front before you drop me off. You won’t need to slow down as we drive past.”

There was a pause as Jesse contemplated Wade’s request, “You have asked me to do something irregular, Mr. Hess. I hope I will not get into trouble with Mr. Leopold.”

“It will be fine with Mr. Leopold. I know him well.”

To Jesse’s surprise when he looked over Wade had already rolled into the back seat.

“Don’t slow down, just let me know when we are approaching the building.” Wade remained on the floor of the back peering just above the window frame.

“Mr. Hess, we are coming up to the building. It is the dark gray concrete building on your right side.”

“I see it. Remember Jesse, don’t change your speed.”

“Of course not, Mr. Hess.”

As they passed the building, Wade got a good look at the building and the area surrounding it. It was locked up and dark inside. There were no vehicles in the parking lot or immediate area around the building. Wade felt more comfortable approaching from the rear where he couldn’t see the area they just passed. An overhead streetlight lit most of the parking lot. There were lots of plantings and a hedge around the perimeter. The warehouse looked like an abandoned distribution warehouse. The neighborhood seemed quiet. The streets were lined with similar commercial buildings all of which seemed closed and locked for the night. Wade seemed satisfied and instructed Jesse.

“Okay, Jesse. You did a good job. Take a left at the next corner and turn back on the next street. Go back several blocks then approach the original location you were going to drop me off.”

“Yes, sir. Mr. Hess, I must tell you that what we just did was very exciting for me. It was like I was part of an espionage operation.”

“You were, Jesse and you did a great job.”

When Jesse pulled up to the drop location, Wade reached over the front seat and shook Jesse’s hand.

“I hope to see you again.”

“The pleasure would be all mine.”

Wade quietly slipped out the rear of the car and made his way over to high shrubs. Jesse pulled out and drove off at a normal speed. Wade waited looking for movement or sound. His pistol with a silencer was in hand at the ready as he moved along a line of shrubs that divided the area between buildings. Everything was dark except for a small sliver of moonlight and the edge of streetlights provided the only light for the area.

Wade noticed a small light coming from a building to his right. With bent knees, he held the shrub line and slowly moved toward the light. The light was a single bulb that someone had left on over a doorway to another building.

His destination was further to his left and he didn’t feel this small light on his back would be a problem. He continued his line tightly against the shrubbery being careful not to make a rustling sound as he touched the small green leaves of the brush.

He approached the side entrance of the steel distribution warehouse as instructed. The size of the warehouse seemed immense for a simple money exchange. The side entry door stood below a metal staircase. Wade remembered he was supposed to enter on the ground level and use the interior stairs to the upper level.

Wade made the mental note that the outer stairs could provide an alternative exit if he had to use them. Wade tried turning the exterior handle. It wouldn’t move. Seeing evidence of some tape around the latch he could tell the lock had been tampered with. He fiddled with the mechanism and saw something had been wedged between the latch and metal doorframe. He pried and twisted until the door separated from the frame and quietly opened.

He immediately crouched upon passing through the doorframe. The vastness of black space around him was unnerving. He had to wait near the door until his eyes adjusted. Outlines of pallets piled high with castings, racks of flat steel and pipe came into focus first.

A long line of narrow windows near the roofline let in just enough light to see outline shapes of metal lying around. He was obviously in a metals processing or storage facility.

Similarities between this warehouse and the dock facility soon became obvious as he heard the cracks, groans and squeaks of the building breathing.

Unlike his previous location this warehouse wouldn’t be bustling with workers tomorrow or anytime soon. This concrete expanse felt like the inside of a tomb that had been deserted of humankind for years. Its only inhabitants now were bars, I-beams, and plates of cold, hard steel.

Wade proceeded up the interior stairs taking extra caution to remain absolutely quiet. The echo of a slightly misplaced footstep would disclose his position. He was determined not to be the source of sound waves that would quickly fill each crevice of this expanse. Unlike its former location with outer walls of corrugated steel, this warehouse was concrete. The air was dead and the silence deafening.

His eyes focused on the many shapes of steel emerging from the dim light. He imagined he was wearing night goggles. Rows of angle iron, racks of I-beams and pipe left over from a hasty departure were all around probably due to financial reasons.

Large coils of wire defined the edge of spaces on the floor. Pallets of wire-wrapped machine parts destined for some iron foundry laid along one aisle to his right. Wade followed Jesse’s directions along the defined isle. He proceeded to the center row of pallets that would soon define his new resting place.

Wade got into position hidden between some large pallets. He squeezed between two more pallets of machine parts further away from the center of the aisle to a small space that would become his observation post. He sat on an empty pallet, looked around, and saw the packages of goods Jesse had described waiting for his arrival.

Lying upright between two pallets of metal parts near him was a black case. Next to the case was a small dark green picnic cooler. Beside the cooler was a radio with an earpiece receiver. The radio was different from his last receiver. It looked like military issue. The camouflage green radio was larger than the radio transmitter in Wade’s pocket. In the light, he could barely see, he examined its buttons and switches but didn’t turn it on.

Wade carefully slid the upright black case from between the two pallets and laid it on the floor in front of him. Quietly, Wade swung the two toggle latches upward cupping his hand around them to insure they would not make a snapping sound.

The open case revealed a bolt action Swedish Husqvarna Vapenfabriks sniper’s rifle with a .308 caliber and a scope and a silencer. This happened to be one of Wade’s favorite rifles. The Swedish steel that went into making these Mauser action rifles was known as the best in the world. Wade wondered how Leo knew his preference. Or did he? Perhaps he and Leo just happened to share the same interest in this rifle. He would have to find out.

Wade opened the cooler to find not only a supply of water but also two sandwiches made on a fresh French baked roll. There was also some fruit and a fruit drink he liked. The cooler even contained napkins for the occasion. It was like someone was trying to make his dire surroundings seem like a picnic. Wade thought,
The only thing missing from this set-up is a checkered tablecloth and a beautiful woman.

Realizing he was more tired than hungry, Wade closed the cooler, assembled the rifle and put the case back in its hidden spot. Wade wondered if the rifle been sighted in and if so for what range. He would have to wait until daylight to find out. Mindful that concrete walls make for a sound chamber Wade plugged in the earpiece and turned on the radio receiver to low just to see if it was working and to hear the static.

He huddled down low behind his pallets and spoke in the lowest possible voice he could muster using his new call sign of Steel 1.

“Steel 1 to Base. Do you read? Over.”

“Base to Steel 1. Read you 4 by 4. Over.”

“Steel 1 to Base. I’m in position but have questions? Over.”

“Base to Steel 1. You always have questions. Fire away. Over”

“Steel 1 to Base. What the hell is this place and why am I here? Over.”

“Base to Steel 1. This is a former steel warehouse that went out of business almost two years ago. Sikes rented this building for the money transfer. It was the only building he found that Mabuto was willing to accept. Over.”

“Steel 1 to Base. When is the transaction supposed to take place? Over”

“Base to Steel 1. Sometime tomorrow after Mabuto’s men inspect the cargo. I don’t have an exact time. They only got a small area of the grain uncovered tonight and were not able to inspect the lower deck. They have gantry crew scheduled for a 6:00 a.m. arrival tomorrow. Mustafa doesn’t like it, but Mabuto’s men are staying onboard the ship. Expect activity at your location to start around 7:00 a.m. but that’s a guess. Over.”

“Steel 1 to Base. Is this rifle sighted in? Over.”

“Base to Steel 1. Of course, at 85-yards with zero windage and elevation. You’re in an indoor range. Over.”

“Steel to Base. I’m ok with site selection but would prefer a position 12-feet to my left. Not certain yet, too dark to see. Over.”

“Base to Steel. Wherever you want sweetheart, your call. Meeting will probably take place somewhere inside in an open area between the two rolling doors near the wide driveway. Over.”

“Steel to Base. I can’t get a good look at that now. Too dark. Will adjust position at first light. Over.”

“Base to Steel. Affirmative. Your selection. You have other friendlies with you in the building. Remain concealed and do not attempt to contact. Over.”

“Steel to Base, you’re kidding! There are other folks in this building with me?”

“Base to Steel. Affirmative. Change your radio call handle to ‘Steel 1’ from this location. Over.”

“Steel 1 to Base. Affirmation on both counts. By the way, thanks for the nice picnic. Over.”

“Base to Steel 1. You’re welcome. You might want to think about getting some shuteye. Keep your earpiece in and I will call you in two hours.”

“Steel 1 to Base. That’s a great idea. Over.”

Predawn sunlight slowly painted eerie silhouettes on the concrete walls of the warehouse. Between the undefined shapes, there was some relief from the total darkness of the night before. Wade was awake but stiff from a restless night in cramped quarters. He was just stretching his legs when his earpiece rang out.