The Red Cell André Gallo (essential reading .txt) 📖

And why would they be following him? Whatever the answer, it did not augur well. He plunged ahead even faster in the fog.

Although he and his bodyguard had been on this road with Kazemi a few days before, their reconnaissance had been in daytime. The little there was to see no longer looked familiar. Yosemani also struggled to find his bearings in the fog. Rather than leave his car by the side of the road to take the hikers’ shortcut down to the beach, he had decided to drive past the lagoon to hide the car among the empty buildings of Fort Cronkhite and then go to meet up with Kazemi.

The Fort, they had learned during their survey of the area, was now only a tourist attraction, but once it had been part of the West Coast’s defensive system against a possible Japanese invasion force. Battery Townsley, on the other side of the Fort, had two 16-inch guns capable of firing one-ton shells a distance of over twenty-five miles. The three men had grinned at the primitive defenses. The American Marines would be greatly surprised if they ever decided to assault Iran’s coastline.

The car had followed him over the causeway past the lagoon. This was no longer a coincidence; the black SUV was definitely in pursuit. He turned off his lights and turned away from the fort’s visitor parking lot to enter a ghost town of empty military barracks.

Events had moved faster than anticipated. The beach pick up had been scheduled between 0630 and 0645. He looked at his watch. He had at least fifteen minutes to wait. Knowing there were no hiding places on the beach, he looked in his rear view mirror to confirm the SUV did not have a line of sight on him. He made a quick turn between two buildings and parked in back of one. Making sure he had his automatic weapon and the laser-signaling device, with which he would show his position to Kazemi, he left the Hummer and ran toward the building closest to the beach.

***

Steve had lost sight of the Hummer after he crossed the causeway. He glanced at the SUV’s GPS map. The narrow road did not go farther than Fort Cronkhite and dead-ended at Battery Townsley. He swung into the visitor’s parking lot and, not seeing the Hummer, drove along the empty streets separating the barracks. He decided to park across the road in front of the parking lot to block the general’s exit. He turned off his lights and called Al.

“Al,” he said, “the general’s playing hide and seek with me. Get the bird over here. Over.”

“You’ll have to give me a few minutes. I’ve been keeping track of the boat, which is now west of the bridge and turning north. He could be heading out to sea. Over.”

“Or he could be heading to Rodeo Beach, which is where I followed the Hummer. He’s somewhere between the beach and Fort Cronkhite. But I can’t find his car. If I could find the Hummer, then I’ll have my hands on the remote triggering device. Can you get Skylark 3 in the air? We may need it since the Coast Guard doesn’t seem to be around.”

“You freaking civilians don’t have a clue. Do you know it normally takes a crew of five people to operate one of these birds? Now you’re asking me to handle two by myself. America’s Got Talent, here I come!”

“Just tell me where the Hummer is. Out.”

Steve left the SUV blocking the entrance to the fort. Even if the general tried to break out, he would make enough racket to alert him, and he could call Al to put the bird on his tail. Wearing his night goggles and carrying his H&K417, he jogged down the road, making sure he stayed between the beach and the nearest building to the beach. Immediately regretting he had not also called Kella to determine her position, he headed toward the first barracks in a crouch but feeling very exposed.

He had not gone more than ten yards when he felt his transceiver vibrate. He kept on running until he reached a dry irrigation gully that crossed a field in front of the barracks.

“I got it!” Al said. “The Hummer is behind the fifth building from the right looking from the water. Second street from where you are; they all parallel the water. Over.”

“Thanks. Out.”

Staying hidden in the ditch, Steve quietly called Kella. “Our guy is somewhere in Fort Cronkhite. I’m between the parking lot and the barracks heading to the right. I’m looking for the Hummer where I expect to find the electronic trigger. That leaves you as his door to the beach. Remember, he’s probably got night goggles, too.”

***

Scanning the road leading back to the overlook with his binoculars from the second floor of the barracks, the general saw the SUV blocking the entrance but no movement. He had expected a team of at least four men. Now he wondered why they did not simply assault the building if they knew where he was. Once the Hummer was found, they would call for reinforcements and begin tightening the noose. He lifted his scan toward the beach to see if Kazemi’s boat was nearing: nothing. He resolved to not stay hidden long enough to be killed like a rat. He would keep moving.

Yosemani ran down the stairs and out a back door. Making his way from building to building, he directed his steps toward Battery Townsley. A gusty breeze was starting to lift the fog, and he remembered the road to the battery was devoid of cover. But he had taught his soldiers to excel at cover and concealment during the Iraq-Iran war, and he was confident he would find a way.

***

“Al,” Steve said on the transceiver, “I’ve got it, it’s in a briefcase. How do I turn it