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  “Yes, but I’m okay. Your man on the other hand ...”

  “He’s dead?”

  “I’m sorry, Javin.”

  He cursed out loud, then said, “Where are you?”

  “Inside Le Richemond, across from the Brunswick park.”

  “Alone?”

  “Yes, I have Wissam with me, but not sure where he is at the moment.”

  “All right. Let’s meet at the President Wilson Hotel. It’s north on Quai Wilson.”

  “Yes, I know where it is.”

  “Fifteen minutes.”

  “You got it.”

  “Take care, Claudia, and be safe.”

  “Yes, you too, Javin.”

  She had barely put the phone away, when her other phone rang. “Wissam,” Claudia said. “Where are you?”

  “Near Pont des Bergues,” he said, referring to the bridge two blocks south of the Ritz Carlton Hotel de la Paix. “I heard the gunshots. You all right?”

  “Yes, and you?”

  “I’m okay. What will happen to me?”

  Claudia shook her head. “You’re bulletproof?”

  “Kind of.”

  “No, you’re not. And don’t even start to act like you are.”

  A moment of pause, then Wissam said, “What happened, Claudia?”

  “Our targets are here. Their guards noticed me and fired a few rounds. They killed one of Javin’s men.”

  “What?”

  “Yes, I tried to cover him, but ...”

  “I’m sorry, Claudia.”

  She sighed. “Yes, so be extra careful, okay?”

  “I will. Where are we meeting?”

  “I talked to Javin. President Wilson Hotel in fifteen. You know where it is?”

  “I’ll find it.”

  “It’s just north on Quai Wilson.”

  “Okay. Do we need transport?”

  “No. Javin should have it.”

  “All right. See you there.”

  “Okay.”

  Claudia pocketed her phone, then glanced through the windows. No gunmen in sight, but she had no illusions that the chase was over. The security detail was not going to give up until they had caught or killed both Claudia and Javin.

  She walked through the lobby and continued toward the back of the hotel. When she came to the glass door, she studied the alley outside. A couple of delivery trucks; and three men, who looked like the service crew, were chatting among themselves and smoking near the trucks. No gunmen or anyone looking suspicious.

  Claudia pushed open the door and hurried through Rue de Fosse-Vert. She reached Rue Docteur-Alfred-Vincent and glanced around the corner. Then she dashed along the Emmanuel Episcopal Church building across the street. Her boots thumped on the narrow cobblestoned path along the church’s age-darkened gray walls, which were water-stained black in places.

  She scaled the locked black gate when she came to the next street, Rue de Monthoux, then zipped to her left. Claudia continued her zigzagging as she advanced toward the rendezvous with Javin.

  About ten minutes later, she was at the intersection of Rue Jean-Jaquet and Rue Jan-Antoine-Gautier. Claudia glanced at the nine-story President Wilson Hotel across the street. A few white-and-yellow taxis along with other vehicles were parked to the side and in front of the hotel. She stood next to a blue van parked about fifty yards away from the hotel’s entrance and began to look for Javin.

  Her attentive eyes caught a glimpse of him zipping alongside the hotel on a black-and-red motorbike. Javin was wearing a helmet, but the visor was up. Claudia waved at him, but he had already seen her and was pulling up. He slowed down, then stopped for just a beat, and Claudia climbed onto the backseat. “Good to see you, Javin.” She held on to him.

  Javin smiled. “Glad you’re back.” He rolled down the throttle.

  The motorbike arrowed down the street. “Where’s Wissam?” he asked when they reached Quai Wilson and rounded the corner, coming onto the other side of the hotel.

  “He should be here at any moment.” Claudia looked around. “There, he’s right there.” She pointed to their left as she noticed Wissam walking toward them on the sidewalk.

  Javin zipped through traffic, then stopped next to Wissam. “Meet us at Chemin de Pesay 16, 1212 Lancy. It’s by the stadium.”

  “16, Chemin de Pesay. Got it.”

  “One hour.”

  “Will be there.”

  Javin nodded, then throttled up the motorbike. It roared through Quai Wilson and continued north.

  Chapter Thirty-five

  Chemin de Pesay 16

  Geneva, Switzerland

  The apartment was small and Spartanly furnished, but functional. Javin had turned the dining room into the operational headquarters. Papers covered most of the table, and in the center, there was a large map of Geneva. A large whiteboard with drawings and numbers was hanging over the window and blocking it.

  Mila was hunched over the table and tapping on a particular spot. Muath, who was sitting across from her, just shrugged and shook his head. Claudia did not recognize the man standing to the right, between Mila and Muath. He had a tan complexion, dark brown eyes, and long wavy hair. He gave Claudia a curious glance as she entered the hall.

  Mila also looked up. She smiled at Claudia, then said, “You made it.”

  “Yeah. How are you?”

  “Pretty good, but I hear you had a rough time.”

  Claudia shrugged. “Not as bad as the Saudis.”

  “Claudia, so good to see you.” Muath walked toward her and gave her a tight embrace. “I thought you’d be gone for a long time.”

  “I waited for the rescue team, but it didn’t come.” Claudia laughed.

  “Yeah, my hands were kind of tied,” Javin said in a low voice. “This entire deal.” He pointed at the table, then at the whiteboard.

  “Well, now we can all get back at it, right?” Claudia said.

  “Sure, but I need some coffee first. Who else wants some?” Javin walked to the kitchen.

  “I’ll have a cup,” Muath said.

  “Black for me,” Mila said.

  “Claudia?”

  “Black, thanks.”

  She walked to the dining room and glanced at the dark-skinned man. “I don’t think we’ve met, have we?”

  “No, we haven’t. I would have remembered you.” He stood up and gave her a bright smile.

  “I’m Claudia, Javin’s CIS partner.”

  “Yes, he has talked a lot about you. My name’s Qassim Mokri. Pasdaran.”

  Claudia nodded. “Quds Force?”

  Qassim nodded.

  “What brings you to this op?” Claudia asked.

  Javin had explained to her the deal he had reached with Commander Bakhtiar, but she wanted to know more specifics, especially from Qassim’s viewpoint.

  “Javin and us, I mean my agency, we have the same goal, at least in this operation.”

  “Getting the targets alive?” Claudia said.

  “Yes, and that has caused quite the disagreement.” Mila pointed at the map, then at a couple of reports on the side of the table next to her. “Given the situation, especially after the latest gun battle at the park, getting them alive will be practically impossible.”

  “We’ll find a way,” Javin said from the kitchen.

  “Yes, but at what cost?” Qassim said. “We’ve already lost one man.”

  Javin did not reply right away. He started the coffeemaker, then walked to the dining room. “We must get close enough and in such a way as to make any resistance efforts futile.”

  “Force them to surrender?” Qassim asked.

  “Yes.”

  “But how? That’s the main complication.”

  Javin walked around the table, then gestured toward the map. “We know the conference is out of the question. Heightened security and too many witnesses. Plus, Martin’s expecting us, and everyone’s prepared.”

  “Yes, we know that much already,” Qassim said in a voice with a clear
tone of impatience.

  Javin said, “Sure, you do, but I’m bringing Claudia up to speed.” He nodded toward her. “As we’ve discussed, we’ll make our move when the convoy is on the way to the airport.” Javin moved his finger further up to the northwest. “They’ll drive up Avenue Trembley or take Route de Ferney. Most likely, they’ll take the second one, the best road and with less traffic.”

  “And if they don’t?” Qassim asked.

  “Then we’ll regroup and move to the other one, if necessary. We’ll know exactly how and when they’re coming, as we’ll have trackers in Martin’s and the minister’s vehicles.”

  “We will?” Claudia said.

  “Yes, I’ve arranged for that. Local assets.”

  Claudia nodded. She remembered Javin mentioning the assistance of the Geneva police, but he had not specified their role this early in the operation.

  Javin continued, “Once we have the confirmation of the route, we’ll arrange for the accident. Qassim, you have your men ready?”

  “Yes, they’ll have the van ready. They’ll disable the lead SUV, forcing the security guards into the other three vehicles.”

  “After that, Mila, it’s your turn to block the road. Here or here.” He tapped the map at two different locations near the airport.

  Mila nodded. “Andrei is working on securing the cement truck and the material.”

  “Perfect.” Javin walked to the whiteboard and placed a large checkmark next to the number two on a list of five items. “So, first, the accident. Second, Andrei’s detour. Now that the convoy’s slowing down and going through the single lane, Mila, Claudia, Qassim, and I will spring the trap.” He tapped with the marker next to number three. “The explosion to stall them, followed by the barrage to pin them down, and next the smoke to draw them out.”

  “If everything goes perfectly, which we know it will not,” Qassim said in a thoughtful tone.

  “You’re right, and we’ll adapt the plan as necessary. But remember, we’re trying very hard, extremely hard not to kill any of the CIS team.” He said the words in a firm, unyielding tone.

  Qassim shook his head. “Grab the targets alive. Kill no one in the process. Can we make this op any harder?”

  Javin grinned. “Sure we can. How about no one gets wounded?”

  Mila shifted in her seat. “Javin, I know they’re your fellow agents, but casualties will be inevitable. You know they’re not going to hand over your boss and the minister without a fierce fight.”

  “I’m fully aware of that, Mila, and that’s why I’m reminding everyone.” He walked to the kitchen, where the coffeemaker was gurgling, signaling that coffee was ready. He filled two cups and placed them in front of Mila and Claudia. Then he went back to the kitchen for his and Muath’s coffees. After returning to the whiteboard, he said, “I’m not saying we can’t fire and kill to save our lives. But make every effort you can to keep the casualty count down.”

  Mila gave Javin a small nod.

  Qassim just shrugged.

  “Any more questions on this?” Javin asked.

  Hearing nothing for a long moment, he marked number three on the list as checked, then returned to the table. “We take Martin and the minister and make our way across the border to France.” He tapped the map and a location marked by a red X. “Before the Swiss police figure out what happened, we’ll be beyond their reach.”

  Qassim said, “Good thing you mentioned the police. How do they fit in all of this?” He waved his hand toward the map and the board.

  “Can you be more specific?” Javin said.

  “Sure. Will the police force escort the CIS convoy?”

  “I don’t think so,” Javin said. “They did not when the convoy arrived at the hotel.”

  “Yes, but that was before the shooting.” He tipped his head toward Claudia. “The Canadians might want police protection, and an extra measure of security.”

  Javin nodded. “You could be right. I’ll talk to one of my contacts in the Geneva police.”

  “And what will he do?” Qassim asked.

  “He’ll make sure the right people are sent as part of the escort, and they’ll stay out of the way.”

  “And if they don’t?”

  Javin sighed.

  Before he could speak, Mila jumped in, “Then we’ll handle them. Qassim, our fight isn’t with the Geneva police or the CIS operatives. This is a surgical intervention: get in, take out what’s needed, and get out, causing the minimum amount of damage.”

  Qassim nodded. “Yes, yes, I understand all of that. I’m asking about the situation when things don’t go as planned. We all know that’s going to happen.” He looked around the room.

  Muath and Claudia offered small nods.

  Javin said, “But of course. No plan is perfect, and we can’t plan for all scenarios. As in the case of the agency’s teams, we’re going to respond accordingly to their reactions. And as Mila said, surgically. Very precisely.”

  He let the last words hang in the air for a long moment. Then he said, “Once we’re in France, we’ll split up, each going our own way. By that time, we’ll have what we came for: the targets.”

  “And what do you intend to do with them?” Qassim asked in a cold, sharp voice.

  Javin held Qassim’s gaze for a brief moment. “That’s beyond the scope of this op. But if we can get all the pieces working, we’ll carry out this assignment successfully.” He stood up and placed two checkmarks next to the last words on the list: Targets acquired and Departure. “Any questions?”

  “Yes, I’ve got one,” Mila said. “Following along the lines of our Iranian friend, once we’re in France and you have what you want, we need to make sure this doesn’t come back to us.”

  “It won’t.”

  “Yes, but we need more than just your word, Javin,” Qassim said.

  Javin shrugged. “You’ll have more than my word. You’ll see by my actions. Once we have the targets, and we’ve crossed the border, you’ll be free to go. Of course, from that point on, it’s up to you not to get caught.” He stressed the word “not” more than necessary.

  “And your boss and the politician, they’ll never say a word about what took place?” Qassim asked.

  “Right,” Javin said.

  “I doubt that.”

  Javin shrugged again. “I’ll make sure it doesn’t happen. But you can decide whatever you want, to believe or to doubt.”

  Mila leaned over the table and closer to Javin. “I trust you, Javin, otherwise, I wouldn’t be here, by your side. These people, Martin and the minister, they can’t be discussing what happened and how they were caught.”

  “They won’t do that.”

  Qassim gave Javin a hesitant nod. “All right, Javin. My concern still remains that you will get what you want, and the rest of us ... we’ll be hunted down, blamed for the ambush.”

  Javin shook his head. “I won’t let that happen. Once I have my confessions, I’ll clear up the story with my agency and the political masters.”

  Mila gave Javin an intense gaze. “Javin, you really believe you’ll return to CIS after taking down your boss and the big boss?”

  Javin did not reply right away. He let out a deep sigh, then said, “I have to believe that, Mila. These men, they killed the dearest woman in my life, tried to kill me, and still are threatening to destroy me. I have to believe something good will come out of all this ... this evil they’ve caused and are still causing.” He shrugged, then shook his head. “But even if that doesn’t happen, and I never go back to my agency, at least I won’t have to live with the guilt and the regret of not doing something that needed to be done.”

  Mila nodded and gave Javin a soft glance.

  Qassim also nodded. “I’d do the same if I were in your place. If they went after my family, they’d pay with their lives.”

  “And they might end up doing that, if there’s no other way. But I hope there is.”

  Qassim shook his head, but said nothing.

/>   Mila also gave Javin a headshake. “I’m afraid there isn’t, Javin. This is the end of the story for them and for you. And it won’t be pretty. In fact, it will be very messy. What do you call it, yes? The day of reckoning.”

  Javin nodded slowly. As much as he disliked it, Mila had spoken the truth. He might want to avoid a bloodied end to his service with the CIS, but that end had become unavoidable. Javin had gone too far down the path of no return.

  Chapter Thirty-six

  Chemin de Pesay 16

  Geneva, Switzerland

  The team spent most of the evening going over their assigned tasks as part of the operation. While the Global Counterterrorism Summit was going to continue throughout the entire day tomorrow, Javin wanted to make sure everything was in place before noon. He was not sure if Martin, the minister, or both were staying throughout the entire conference. The minister particularly was known to leave before the end of many informal summits.

  Around midnight, Javin and Claudia decided to get some fresh air. They walked outside the three-story gray apartment complex and glanced at the heavy traffic zooming through the five lanes of Route de Saint-Julien. There was a small café still open across the street. They found a seat near the back exit, close to the kitchen, and ordered cappuccinos. While waiting for their drinks, Claudia leaned across the table, then whispered to Javin, “I got a couple of questions.”

  Javin smiled. “Only a couple?”

  Claudia returned the smile. “Just the warm-up.”

  She glanced around. The closest patrons were two tables away, out of earshot of Claudia and Javin, especially if they spoke in low whispers. “I’ll start with a common theme, which you heard from Mila, but especially Qassim. It’s clear they have some trust issues.”

  “They do, and it’s a shared feeling. I’ve worked with Mila before, and she’s solid. Has never betrayed me.” He shrugged, then a moment later added, “Although there’s always a first time, but I don’t think it’ll happen.”

  “And Qassim?”

  “Completely different story. He has a dark past. Along with Hejazi, they’re wanted across Europe by many intel services.”