Chapter Five

 

 

Outside the Sariyer District Security Directorate

Istanbul, Turkey

 

Javin glanced through the windshield at the yellow three-story building hosting the district’s police station, or Security Directorate as the Turks called it. Orange and white pylons lined the narrow one-way street outside the station, in order to stop any potential car-bomber from driving near the building. A couple of security cameras were mounted on the walls above the main entrance, while two guards were standing next to the guard shack.

“Looks pretty quiet,” Claudia said from the front passenger seat.

Zeki Turan, the CIS local asset, nodded. He leaned forward from the backseat and said, “Things pick up around evening. But we should be good for the next hour or so.”

“Is everyone ready?” Javin asked.

Zeki nodded, then glanced at Tolga, the second asset, who was going to serve as the interpreter. “You good?”

“Yes, yes, I’m okay,” Tolga said in a wavering, nervous tone and pushed his black-framed glasses up onto the bridge of his nose.

Javin found Tolga’s eyes in the rearview mirror. “Are you sure? We can’t have you stumble through this once we’re inside.”

Tolga nodded. “I said I’m okay.” His voice grew firm. “I just . . . don’t like police stations.”

“Nobody does,” Javin said.

“And it’s okay to be nervous,” Claudia said. “It shoots adrenaline through your body. The trick is to control it and channel it toward the mission.”

Zeki said, “You’ll do fine.”

Tolga nodded. “I will. This isn’t my first op.”

No, but you’re acting like it is, Javin thought.

He gave Tolga a reassuring smile. “I’ll be with you at all times. And we’ve got Claudia and Zeki covering our backs.”

Tolga nodded again. “This will be a walk in the park.” His voice had regained some confidence.

Not really, but I’m glad you feel that way. Javin kept his thoughts to himself. “Good, let’s do this.”

He steered the white Renault Fluence sedan toward the station. The car was an old model, manufactured seven or eight years ago. It had bumps and scratches to lessen the chances of being stolen, and it blended well with other similar small cars in the city. But the sedan had bulletproof windows capable of withstanding small-caliber gunfire, a reinforced engine block, and run-flat tires.

As Javin came to the turn leading toward the station, he almost crashed into a silver Volkswagen Jetta speeding from the other direction. Its driver honked, then stepped on the brakes. They screeched and the Jetta stopped less than a couple of feet away from the Renault.

Javin frowned and cursed the careless driver.

Zeki glanced at the driver shaking his fist at Javin. “I think I know who they are,” he said in a low, worried tone. “They’re MIT.”

“What?” Claudia shouted.

“You’re sure they’re secret intel?” Javin asked.

“Absolutely. I recognize Ajaz, the driver.”

Javin glanced at Ajaz, who was gesturing for Javin to back up. “What are they doing here?” he asked in a voice full of frustration and put the car in reverse.

“They’re after the same thing we want: the USB drive,” Tolga said as his voice wavered.

“I thought MIT had given up, and this was solely a police investigation,” Javin said.

“Apparently, my source was wrong,” Zeki said. “Or things have changed since yesterday.”

Javin cursed the development.

The Jetta drove slowly toward the police station and parked right in front of the entrance. Ajaz stepped outside, followed by two other men. They were all dressed in grayish suits and openly displayed their shoulder-holstered pistols.

Claudia said, “No worries, Javin. We’ll take the drive with the intel from their hands.”

Tolga leaned forward. “Really? How? Even this police op is—was—very difficult.”

“Hey, pull yourself together,” Zeki told Tolga.

“We’ll figure out something,” Javin said. “For now, we’ll just observe.”

“Our mission is cancelled?” Tolga asked.

Javin had not thought it was necessary to point out the obvious. “Yes, we’ve aborted our original mission.”

Tolga drew in an easy breath.

Javin shook his head. The situation had become at least twice as difficult. The MIT’s presence had completely changed their operation’s dynamics. Of course, Javin and his team could attempt the flash drive heist after the secret agency’s team had left the police station. But would the drive still be in the vault? The MIT team had no other reason to come to this small, unimportant police station.

He sighed, unsure of the team’s next steps. Perhaps we should follow the operatives’ car. If we can’t have the drive, at least we’ll know its whereabouts.

“Javin, what’s the plan now?” Claudia asked. “Do we follow the MIT operatives, or do we go back to our initial operation?”

“After the MIT entered, we can’t go there too,” Tolga replied in a hasty tone.

Zeki nodded. “I agree, but for other reasons. The MIT will have taken the USB drive. That’s why they’re here.”

“Claudia, what do you think?” Javin asked.

“We go after the agents. If they don’t have the flash drive, then we’ll know where it is. But if they take it and disappear, we’ll have no clue as to the location.”

Javin nodded. “So we stay put until they come out.”

He drove further back, so their car would not draw any attention. They were still able to see the Jetta and the police station entrance.

“Should we take a closer look?” Zeki said. “In case one of the officers goes out the back.”

“Why would they do that?” Tolga asked.

Zeki shrugged. “I’m covering all bases.”

“Sure, go ahead,” Javin said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen, but it’s good to have a pair of eyes to monitor all their moves.”

Zeki nodded and stepped outside.

“I hate waiting,” Claudia said.

“Same here,” Javin said. “But this is the best we can do. We have visual on the car, and Zeki’s covering the back. Once we see movement, we’ll jump into action.”