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Zachary Blake and the communications teams awaited contact and instructions from Al-Baklavi’s terrorist network. The call finally came, and Parsons’ principal hostage negotiator engaged in a brief conversation, uttering only three words: “understood,” “understood,” and “understood.”
The call was recorded. After the caller terminated the connection, a tape of the call was played for all operatives.
“We demand ten million US dollars, in fifty-dollar bills, with non-consecutive serial numbers, in unmarked, older currency. We have tested this, and the money will fit into five large duffle bags. If we discover a marked bill or a tracking device of any kind, the woman and child will be executed. We also demand the release of the follow five ISIS prisoners of war, currently residing in Guantanamo Bay.”
The caller provided the names of five terrorists currently imprisoned in Cuba and told the operative that he had seventy-two hours to comply or the hostages would be executed. Parsons shuddered. If Al-Baklavi was serious about the Guantanamo releases, this made him more dangerous—he became a terrorist hostage-taker rather than a kidnapper. Money would not be his sole motivation. Since Parsons Security was a private team—the government was unaware of its efforts and negotiations—it had no power to release or even try to arrange for the release of Al-Baklavi’s comrades. This was an off-book, unsanctioned negotiation. If the government knew Parsons was in Syria, negotiating with a member of ISIS, the government would shut them down. The United States does not officially negotiate with terrorists.
Blake or the Parsons negotiator would have to have further discussions with the kidnappers. Someone had to talk them out of the Guantanamo release demands because these negotiators lacked the ability to meet their demands. Zachary Blake worked up a strategy and presented it to Parsons, who was so surprised at its plausibility and Blake’s audacity, he granted Blake permission to deliver the message.
Twenty-four hours later, Blake took the terrorist’s follow-up call.
“You have forty-eight hours left. Do you have progress to report?”
“I am sorry to report that I do not. We have problems on both fronts,” Zack began.
“Continue.”
“Our negotiating team is made up of high net worth friends of the Izady family. We do not represent the government. The government did not sanction our visit and is not aware of our presence in Syria. As such, we have no power to release hostages currently imprisoned by the United States government.
“As you know, the United States’ official position is that it does not negotiate with terrorists. If you force us to contact the government to ask them to release the prisoners, they will recall our negotiators and take over the operation. This will turn the situation into a dangerous hostage rescue, rather than a peaceful financial transaction, which I am more than willing to complete if given more time.”
“More time?”
“Ten million dollars is a great deal of money. Converting such a high dollar amount into fifty-dollar bills takes time. Furthermore, I am having trouble raising the whole ten million. Would you entertain less money?”
The caller paused. “How much less?” he inquired.
Yes! The amount is random, and the abduction was not planned.
“We can provide two point five million in twenty-four hours.”
“Unacceptable!” The caller roared. “You keep our brothers and pay us a quarter of the amount we demanded? I will terminate the woman and child on national television!”
“Wait,” Zack urged, wondering if he’d carried the ruse too far. “I can get you more money; I just need more time.”
“How much more money and how much more time?”
“Five million in seventy-two hours?”
“Time may be negotiable—price is not. Ten million dollars in seventy-two hours.”
“I believe in complete honesty,” Zack lied. “I’m not sure we can meet your demands.”
The caller paused again. Someone was yelling in the background. “Time or money?”
“Time for certain. Money is possible, but it is difficult to obtain that amount in fifty-dollar bills here in Syria. I may need either more time or less money. And one more thing I must tell you.”
“What is it?”
“The child has a medical condition and needs her medication.” Zack glanced at Parsons and smiled.
“I thought you believed in complete honesty.”
“I do. That is why I am telling you this. If the child does not get her medicine and dies, the father will not pay the ransom.”
“Then we kill the mother, too.”
“Neither parent will care. Without their precious daughter, both are dead anyway.”
“I will call tomorrow for progress. We can discuss medicine, but I warn you. Patience is running thin.”
“I will do my best—that’s all I can do, okay?”
No answer.
“Are you there?”
No answer.
“He’s gone.” Zack hung up the telephone.
“Nice job, Blake. You bought us an extra twenty-four hours and a whole lot of internal strife on their side. That is crucial.”
“I sense desperation. I believe there is room for further negotiation if we can demonstrate progress on the money.”
“What do you have in mind?”
“When he calls tomorrow, I will express frustration—maybe I can’t raise enough money. Maybe I can’t obtain enough fifties. I’m not sure. I want to frustrate him, perhaps make him even more desperate.”
“But not desperate enough to kill the woman and child,” Graham warned.
“Of course not,” Zack sighed. “I floated five million and seventy-two hours. Do you honestly think he would kill them and pass on that kind of money in three days?”
“True, I suppose, but you are assuming rational thought from irrational savages.”
“No, I am assuming these guys took these hostages for a reason. And the reason is m-o-n-e-y. No way they are leaving these negotiations with this kind of money on the table.”
“I’m inclined to agree with Mr. Blake,” Parsons acknowledged. “Let’s hope there is more progress tomorrow. In the meantime, we can fine-tune the rescue operation. Precision and practice, gentlemen, are the words of the day.”
***
The tent entrance opened, and the woman called Rima eased in. To the delight of both mother and daughter, Hana was in Rima’s arms. Rima held Hana out to Canan, and the jubilant mother completely forgot her captive status. She took and hugged the child, holding on for dear life and savoring the reunion. As things calmed, Canan sat on the dirt floor with Hana on her lap. She faced the woman.
“From the bottom of my heart, thank you for bringing me my daughter. When I met that huge, evil man, I didn’t know what to think. I am positive you had a hand in protecting her, and I am very grateful.”
“All praise is due Allah. I did nothing. They are trying to collect a ransom for you. I persuaded them they could negotiate whether you were separate or together.”
“You talked sense into the senseless. That is an accomplishment. Thank you so much!”
“Listen to me. A woman has very little power here. Kidnapping a woman and her small child . . . ” she faltered. “This should not be who we are, but I have no say. Do you understand?” She walked to the tent’s entrance and stuck her head out the slit for a moment.
“What is it?” Canan wondered.
“Nothing.” Rima brought her head back into the tent and turned to Canan. “I don’t want anyone to hear me or mistake my intentions. I cannot help you.”
“But if you don’t agree . . .”
“I cannot act. These men will kill me if they believe I’m an infidel. I cannot risk this.”
“I understand.”
“Be patient. A negotiating team is here. They are negotiating.”
“Negotiating team? Who?”
“I don’t know. All I know is they are American.”
“Is my husband with them?”
“I do not think so.”
“Good. He would trade himself for us or do something stupid.”
“Because he loves you.”
“Because he loves us. He cannot be involved. Who is handling the negotiation? Who is offering money? How much?” Canan wondered. Where is this money coming from?
“I don’t know anything, pretty one. This is dangerous. I must leave. Please do nothing to anger these men. They will take the child.”
“I will behave.”
“By the grace of Allah.” The woman turned and exited the tent.
