Devil's Fork (40 page)

“
I’m guessing he’s planning
to meet with his handlers.”

“
Precisely. We figured out
that he is here in Tokyo and is planning to meet his handlers on
Monday. He took a suite at a hotel. We think there is a chance he
might ask not to go back to South Korea. Given Jiyeon’s kidnapping,
he might feel too exposed. He might try to go to China. We need you
to go to his hotel room and make sure he never sees the light of
day again. Here is the hotel and room number.” Mr. Park placed a
folded piece of paper on the table in front of 2135. “You can
decide how to execute this operation. When you are done, come back
straight to Seoul using these plane tickets. Once in Seoul, make
your way to the compound in which you were trained before being
sent over. We will debrief you there and let you readjust and rest
before heading back into society.”

Officer 2135 looked at the piece of paper in
front of him. In one motion, he grabbed it, stood up, and said,
“Yes, sir.”

* * *

Officer 2135 was almost at the hotel written
on the piece of paper Mr. Park had given him. It was on a busy
street. He walked through a crowd of children in uniforms on their
way to school. 2135 walked into the lobby of the building. The
doorman nodded and opened the door for him.

On his way over, he bought a hat and a red
tennis bag. In his training he was taught to bring distracting
objects if he needed to walk by a crowd. When people see someone
wearing a hat and holding a tennis bag, they focus on the
interesting objects rather than facial features or other details
about the person. If the police question the crowd later, most
people would only be able to say that they saw a tennis player. If
asked what the person looked like, most would have difficulty
producing anything. 2135 remembered thinking in training how humans
are still so similar to animals. Something as simple as a tennis
bag can be enough of a distraction. Now as 2135 walked through the
hotel lobby, he could feel it working. He noticed anytime someone
looked at him passing by, his or her eyes immediately went back
towards his tennis bag. Few were looking into his eyes.

Officer 2135 headed towards the elevators.
The elevator door was open and 2135 walked inside alone. He pushed
the button for Sung-Ho’s floor. The elevator was silent as it
ascended.

2135 knew what he was going to do. He had
decided to use an old self-defense trick, often taught to women who
had to walk home alone at night. He was going to use it to attack,
however. He pulled out a house key he had in his pocket. He placed
the key in his hand so that the blade of the key, or the part that
went into a lock, protruded out of his fingers. When he made a fist
with his right hand, the jagged edge of the blade stuck straight
out, parallel to his wrist. It looked like a spike sticking out of
his fist. 2135 had learned in training that if he were to punch an
assailant with the blade of the key sticking out, the key would cut
into the attacker and cause an enormous amount of pain and damage.
It was vital for him to learn this technique because in North
Korea, civilians were not allowed to own guns or large knives. If
he were ever even seen with a gun or a knife, he could be flagged
and arrested. This key technique provided him with a weapon if he
had ever needed to use one. During his fifteen years in North
Korea, he had never used it.

When the elevator doors
opened on the 30
^th
floor, 2135 walked out with his right hand, and
the protruding key, in his pocket. He followed the meandering dark
carpeted hallway. He passed door after door looking for Sung-Ho’s
suite. Finally he stopped. He had found the door. He pulled his
right hand out of his pocket. A swift glance left and right showed
that the hallway was empty.

He gave two gentle knocks in order not to
scare anyone. Immediately after knocking he covered the peephole
with his left hand, so that if Sung-Ho looked through he would not
see 2135, and would likely assume that either his peephole was
broken or someone was standing extremely close to it. 2135 heard
footsteps inside the apartment walk heavily towards the door. They
stopped on the other side. 2135 heard the bolt unlock and then the
door slowly opened.

2135 first looked at the kid standing at the
door. He was not tall and did not have any distinctive features. He
wore glasses and had a gold watch on his hand.

Before Sung-Ho could say anything, 2135
stepped forward and threw his fist at Sung-Ho’s cheek with his
right hand. Sung-Ho seemed to fly backwards five or six feet. 2135
briskly stepped in and closed the door behind him, bolting it shut.
He slowly walked towards the mole.

Sung-Ho was in shock. The key had penetrated
his cheek, creating a hole and punching out a tooth on the other
side. He was bleeding on the floor, motionless, in a daze, and
unable to speak.

2135 took out the item of last resort
Command gave illegals: a pill. He bent down and grabbed Sung-Ho’s
hair. With his other hand he started shoving the pill into
Sung-Ho’s mouth.

“
Don’t be afraid. You will
soon see everyone you killed.”

Sung-Ho looked up at 2135 wide eyed. The
horrors he had committed until now had been abstractions. His
rewards had been real. The sudden reversal illuminated through his
eyes.

Within seconds, Sung-Ho’s body became limp.
2135 stood up and looked around the suite. In front of the couch
there was a very large TV hanging on the wall. Having lived in
North Korea for fifteen years, 2135 believed he was going through a
Rip Van Winkle effect. He had never seen as large and as flat a TV
as that which hung on Sung-Ho’s wall. On a table there were several
watches, each a different shape and a different brand. Next to them
were several newly bought shirts and ties. A pile of cash about
three inches high completed the ensemble.

Officer 2135 walked back towards the
entrance. He unbolted the door, opened it, and looked once more
into the hallway. It was still clear. He closed the door behind
him. He walked towards the elevators, realizing he had just
completed his final mission.

CHAPTER 58

FRIDAY

Over the North Pacific Ocean

Tom leaned back and closed his eyes
comfortably in his seat. He was on a military plane making a
routine flight from South Korea, bringing a contingent of soldiers
home. They looked like they were sitting in the cargo bay of an old
ship. The soldiers shifted, trying to find the best way to sit on
the stiff seats. Some of them eyed Tom, who seemed to be the only
one sitting back in bliss. His feet were crossed on top of his big
bag of gear in front of him.

From the front of the plane, an Air Force
crewman walked towards the passengers. He was looking around,
searching for the one man not wearing a military uniform or
fatigues. He stopped in front of Tom and tapped him on the
shoulder. Tom opened his eyes and stared at the crewman.

“
You have a call, sir,” the
crewman said.

Tom unbuckled his seatbelt and rose slowly.
He followed the crewman to the front of the plane where he was
shown a phone. Tom picked it up.

“
Hello?”

“
Tom? It’s
Sara.”

“
Sara, how are
you?”

“
Good. I just needed to
tell you that Anderson wants to talk to you as soon as you land. I
hope you get to relax over the weekend.”

“
I’m sure I
will.”

“
I got your book for you. I
can bring it to you if you want.”

“
That would be nice. Thank
you, Sara.”

“
Anyway, Tom, the reason I
called is to update you. This phone is secure so I can give you
some news. The documents you found and scanned are very valuable.
We met with the FBI and helped them freeze several bank accounts
belonging to Room 39. The FBI also got in touch with some of their
counterparts in the Caribbean and Europe who raided the offices of
the companies Room 39 owned there. Anderson and the Director have
been calling the foreign offices of governments around the world to
tell them about the worldwide drug smuggling operation. Some of
them have already acted. The Australians said they had been
watching another ship off their coast flying a Tuvalu flag and
their SAS raided it already. Can you believe it?”

“
I think the Aussies found
a new national pastime.”

“
Maybe. But on board that
ship they found a lot of drugs, a North Korean crew, and more
documents about Room 39. The US Coast Guard has also mobilized
after spotting a ship they suspect to be North Korean not far from
Hawaii. I think they might raid it soon. In short every government
around the world is looking through banks, companies, and ships to
break any remnants of Room 39.”

“
Has there been any word of
the facility in the news?”

“
Not directly. As you know
the charges you placed detonated. There was a news report about a
small earthquake in North Korea. But there was no nuclear blast, so
we did exactly what we wanted.”

“
How about those hackers.
What happened to them?”

“
We don’t know. That guy we
told you about, NATPAC or Lo Min, just disappeared. But listen to
this Tom. I was just watching BBC World News and they reported that
Lo Jie, that Chinese general, has resigned from his post due to,
they say, an illness. China is cleaning house.”

“
So the Chinese leaders
want nothing to do with Room 39?”

“
No. We are hearing that
they are getting rid of all of the bureaucrats who were involved
with Lo Min, Lo Jie, and Room 39.”

“
Sounds good.”

“
Yeah, Tom, it was a good
mission. Anyway I’ll bring by that book and the rest of your mail
tomorrow. Have a good flight. I’m glad you are coming
back.”

“
Thanks, Sara.”

Tom hung up the phone. He noticed he was
standing next to a window so he stood for a moment and observed the
sky and the open ocean. The sun was bright and was touching
everything below.

As Tom stared, his thoughts ran back to
Jiyeon. He realized she was the first person to whom he felt
comfortable enough to tell his story. The story of his life he had
locked deep inside. He did not need to tell her. He did not need
anybody to know. But Tom felt when two souls spoke the same
language, they could share stories others would not understand.

Tom pulled out his phone to take a picture
of the clouds below. He noticed that he had received a message,
probably just before takeoff a few hours ago. He had not noticed it
until now. Tom opened the application and read the email. It was
from Anderson.

Tom, great work over there. Get some rest
but don’t get too comfortable. I have something else for you. Let’s
talk when you land. These next guys are a bit less friendly than
the people you just visited.

-JA

Tom smiled. He leaned forward again to look
back at the sun above.

EPILOGUE

INVESTIGATOR’S REPORT

Zurich, Switzerland

Lo Min has been spotted in and around the
area of Zurich, Switzerland. Few have spoken to him and fewer have
visited his home. Reports state that he passes his days walking
through the town and admiring its majestic stone buildings and the
winding streets. He has also been spotted enjoying boat rides on
Lake Zurich.

Reports indicate that if engaged in
conversation, he will declare the Swiss government system of
cantons superior to any other system in the world. Witnesses have
also seen Lo Min rant about the beauty of Lake Zurich. If asked
about where he had lived earlier in life, it is reported that he
tends to become silent, at times walking away from the
conversation.

Restaurants in Zurich have reported that a
small, sickly man on occasion arrives to eat alone. He asks to sit
so that his back faces a corner. He typically orders a strange type
of alcohol unknown to the barmen. When told that his drink is
unavailable, he swiftly orders Sambuca.

One witness has seen him driving into the
mountains. He reported that the license plate on his car had a
six-letter word on it. The witness had forgotten what the word was
at the time of report.

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