“Captain, how far out are those Coast Guard cutters? I don’t know how much longer our pilot is going to last out here.”
“Hang on, Murat,” replied Yusuf. “Let me check.”
><><><
P
OLICE
I
NTELLIGENCE
H
EADQUARTERS,
I
STANBUL
Yusuf switched to the Coast Guard frequency on the scrambled channel Bülent had set up for them. His friend had provided the impossible, a technical surveillance room in the Istanbul Police Intelligence Bureau Headquarters. It felt weird. He was concealing everything he was doing from the police, and yet he was surrounded by them. The room was actually used for storing obsolete communications equipment. Bülent had worked in this department years ago as a sergeant fresh out of the Academy. He had rigged the setup just that afternoon. Yusuf tuned the radio to transmit on the Coast Guard frequency and flipped the switch to turn on the microphone.
“Barbaros, this is Istanbul Coast Guard Command. What is your ETA to Kisirkaya?”
“Coast Guard Command? I don’t understand. Those orders were cancelled five minutes ago. We’re already moving back towards open water out of the storm’s path.”
Yusuf felt his stomach tighten.
“Sailor, this operation is still a go. I need you to turn around immediately.”
“Meteorology says the storm will begin abating in less than an hour. We weren’t told this was an emergency.”
“Listen, I apologize for the confusion, but you need to rendezvous with another Coast Guard cutter to provide backup in a boarding operation. Please confirm your ETA.”
Yusuf’s cell phone vibrated on the table. This was the third call in the last ten minutes. He picked it up to look at the screen. Again, it was a number he didn’t recognize it. He ignored it. The Coast Guard captain continued.
“Sir, this is all very irregular. I’m going to have to ask you to give me the operations passcode.”
“I provided that with the initial order.”
“I understand, sir. But, it was updated five minutes ago. I need you to confirm the new operations passcode.”
Yusuf’s heart skipped a beat. He looked back down at the telephone.
Three calls in the last few minutes, a new operations passcode in the middle of a shift. Is it coincidence?
“One minute, Sailor. The duty officer is providing clarification.”
He switched the microphone to mute, quickly pulled a different cell phone from his pocket and dialed his contact at Coast Guard Command. The man answered on the second ring.
“Captain, what in the hell is going on?”
The man’s voice was strained.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I called for the new operations passcode.”
“I can’t give it to you.”
“Why not?”
“Because I don’t know it. A colonel from the Police Intelligence Bureau stormed in here a few minutes ago and put us in a lockdown. They’re on to you.”
“Thanks for the warning, friend.”
He hung up the phone and terminated his connection on the Coast Guard frequency. There would be no cutter. They would have to board the vessel themselves, but the storm made boarding difficult if not impossible, especially if they were faced with armed resistance.
How much time do we have? Fifteen minutes? Half an hour?
A knock at the door answered his question
“Open up. This is the police.”
Yusuf tore his headphones off. He reached over and switched on the microphone to warn Murat, but before he could say a word, the door was kicked in, and he turned to see policemen streaming into the room weapons at the ready shouting,
“Hands in the air. Hands in the air.”
Yusuf raised his hands, turned and smiled.
“Relax, boys. I’m one of the good guys.”
“Put your weapon on the floor.”
“What’s going on here?”
“Weapon on the floor! Now!”
Yusuf unstrapped his belt and let it fall.
“Kick it towards us.”
He obeyed. A police inspector walked into the room followed by Hamid, his niece’s husband. Hamid was beaming. Yusuf’s eyes narrowed to slits. It was the inspector who spoke.
“Captain Demir? What a surprise.”
“I doubt it.”
“I thought you were in Counter Terrorism.”
“That’s right.”
“Then you’ll forgive my surprise at finding you holed up in a room used for storage in the Police Intelligence Bureau’s technical surveillance unit. I’m sure there is an explanation for this irregularity. The security logs have no record of you entering the building.”
“Inspector, if you don’t mind, we are prepping an operation.”
“I checked with your office in Ankara. They have no knowledge of any operation. Smells like you are going rogue again. It wouldn’t be the first time, would it?”
“We’re acting on an anonymous tip about a group of terrorists making an exchange. The information indicated that certain members of the Security Directorate might be involved. Apparently, they were right. My team has been dark since the tip was received, and yet you still found us.”
The inspector ignored Yusuf’s insinuation.
“I suppose you will say this explains why even your own office has no knowledge of the operation.”
“I don’t think I have to say anything else to you.”
“That’s your prerogative, Mr. Demir. Indeed, you have the right to remain silent. This is an arrest.”
Yusuf merely shrugged.
“On what charges?”
“You have the audacity to ask what the charges are, Captain? That takes a man with balls. But, that is how you built your reputation, isn’t it? By inspiring devotion with gutsy operations. You have used your popularity in the department to run roughshod over the law for years, ignoring protocol to win glory...”
“Inspector, are you here to arrest me or commend me for my leadership?”
“You’re a cocky son of a bitch.”
“What are the charges?” he asked again, with a calm that unnerved the inspector.
“It’s a long list, Captain. Aiding and abetting criminals sought by Interpol in contravention of international treaty, neglect of duty and abuse of power for conducting unauthorized operations and impersonating competent authorities, namely Coast Guard Command, and finally, conspiring with foreigners to overthrow the constitutional government of Turkey.”
“Those charges will never stick.”
“That’s for a court to decide.”
Yusuf knew it was hopeless.
“I suppose you’ll want to frisk me before you arrest me,” he said, turning his back on the policemen.
He placed his hands on the table and spread his legs. He addressed the room speaking directly into the microphone, hoping that Murat was hearing every word.
“By refusing to allow the Coast Guard to board this vessel, you are the ones who have aided and abetted criminals. I’m sure the court can be made to see that. Our job is to apprehend terrorists, even terrorists like these who have friends in the government. We bring them to justice, alive if possible, dead when that possibility no longer remains.”
Before he had finished speaking, two policemen had holstered their pistols. One handcuffed him while the other frisked him for weapons. When they were done, they spun him around. He was shocked to find Hamid directly in front of him. He was a big man and his face was contorted with that leering rage peculiar to metaphysical hypocrites on a soap box.
“You should have sought the commendation of Allah, instead you have been a flunky of the Republic and blasphemed the religion of the Prophet. You betray the ummah, scoff at the sharia and side with the infidel. You are a disgrace to the uniform and a traitor to our people”
Yusuf held his tongue and smiled, which infuriated the man even more.
“You think that because Leyla is my wife’s aunt you will be spared?”
Yusuf shrugged and said, “Funny, but the thought never crossed my mind. I didn’t rise to the rank of Captain because of friends in the government. I earned it.”
Hamid’s face grew red, but he ignored the jab and pointed to the policemen in the room.
“The servants of Allah in this country are tired of being trampled by those without faith. Allah is raising up a Golden Generation. We will bring back the golden era of the Ottoman throne, when faith made us prosperous, gave us peace and the strength to hold our heads high before our enemies. The blessing of Allah will rest on us when we obey His will and accept His law. It’s not too late even for you, Yusuf.”
“Hamid, maybe you could save the religious pep talk for your family visits while I’m in jail awaiting acquittal by the court.”
“You will roast in hell first.”
“No doubt you are right. My only consolation is that you and your friends will be the fuel for the fire.”
Hamid’s reaction was immediate. He landed a powerful open-hand blow to Yusuf’s left ear that knocked him off his feet. The inspector jumped between Hamid and Yusuf.
“Let’s not allow his provocations to upset us, Hamid. This is not personal.”
Hamid turned without a word and left the room. The inspector pointed to the floor where Yusuf was trying unsuccessfully to sit up because his hands were cuffed behind his back.
“Help him up.”
Two officers walked over and raised him to his feet. The inspector continued, “Captain Demir, you were entrusted with a sacred duty to serve the Turkish people. I’m disappointed that you have failed to perform it.”
Yusuf wanted to spit in the man’s face.
“Disappointing you, Inspector, is something I shall wear as a badge of honor. If I had known you were in league with these men, I would have used a larger net in this operation.”
CHAPTER
73
B
LACK
S
EA
C
OAST,
N
ORTH OF
I
STANBUL
Murat couldn’t believe his ears. The secrecy of their operation was blown and elements from within the government had taken the Captain into custody to protect Fatih Gülben’s men. He and his men were on their own now. Murat’s course was clear; the Captain couldn’t have been more obvious.
“Eagle Two, this is Eagle One. I’m sending the team down to board this vessel. I need you sitting about fifty yards off the starboard side and close enough to observe the deck. Our men will be pretty helpless in the air, so you will be providing cover.”
He switched channels on his headset so that he could communicate with the team in the back.
“Boys, we’ve got new orders from the Captain. We are going to have to board this vessel ourselves. This storm has gotten the Coast Guard’s panties wet, so they’ve decided not to join the party. I think the wind has died down enough for us to do it without them anyway.”