I Minus 72 (10 page)

“Yes, sir?” Sam asked from the doorway.

“You’d better study these maps. I’m going to
rely on you to keep all this straight.” Sam thought Grant looked
really frustrated and knew she’d better make sure she was up to
speed. It was obvious that Grant wasn’t going to remember all the
names.

“Yes, sir. Most of it I think I already
know, but I’ll study them.” She responded, smiling slightly.

Grant liked that slight smile she had. He’d
noticed it before. “Okay, thanks. I also need maps the way it used
to be so I can plan our travel. If I have to use the modern maps,
I’ll never find where I want ta go. I’ll figure out the plan using
the old maps and you’ll have to show me how that relates to the new
ones.” He then turned to the briefer and said, “Thanks, John.
Appreciate your time and patience.”

“No sweat, sir.” The briefer left.

Sam, bending over a desktop PC said, “Grant,
I’m bringing up the pre-Soviet collapse maps now. You can just
scroll through them to get at each country.”

“What ever happened to the pull down maps we
used to have?” Grant asked, his eyebrows knotted together. “They
were big and easy to read and worked like window shades.” Then,
looking down at the personal computer on Sam’s desk, he said, “I’ll
never be able to find anything on that small screen.”

Sam chuckled, “I haven’t
seen one of those pull down maps since I was in sixth grade. We had
some tactical maps in combat, but even there we used PCs for
planning. We even had touch screen panels in the field.
Today
everything’s
computerized. But, for you, we might have better luck
projecting the PC images on a large screen. Why don’t I see if I
can set that up?”

Grant felt like an idiot. An old idiot.
“Sure, let’s give it a try. Where’d you find those maps
online?”

“They were produced by the CIA,” Sam said
matter-of-factly.

“You have access to the CIA computer
system?” Grant exclaimed in a surprised voice, his eyebrows tightly
knotted again.

“In a way, sir. The CIA has an internal
intelligence file-sharing protocol that we have access to via
ARPANET.”

“ARPANET? What’s that?” Grant asked.

“DARPA is the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency. They developed a backbone network allowing
computer users to access other’s files. Part of that technology has
been commercialized and is being used by civilian companies and
individuals. That part is the Internet. But part remains only
within Department of Defense and a subset of that is for the
intelligence community. It provides a secure way to access other
computer systems. Every user has to be registered and has a user
profile allowing them to access certain systems and certain files
within that system. It’s all based on clearance level and need to
know.”

“And you can just log on and get to their
files, right?”

“Not
all
their files, just those that fit
my profile. As part of DIA, I do have access to nearly all
background files, just not anything that deals directly with
sources, agents or operations. A lot of what the CIA has in their
files is demographic data on countries. It’s not really classified,
but provides background info for mission planners. I was briefed
and got a profile established when they first decided to bring you
back. They thought it would provide another useful resource for us
to use.”

“That’s great. I never knew that even
existed. Sure glad to have you on board. How’re you coming on the
visas?” Grant asked.

Sam looked at his and shook her head. “Can’t
do them until you tell me where we’re going. We’d better start
planning the trip. I presume you want me to make sure we’re not
overheard or interrupted while we talk?”

“Yeah. I don’t want anyone to know where
we’re really going. Get visas for everywhere. That way they won’t
be entirely sure where we are at any one point in time. Okay, let’s
get what equipment we need and go back to the SCIF.”

“Should take me no more than ten minutes to
check out a projector. Be right back, then we can leave.”

Grant said seriously, “Good. I expect Garcia
or Barry to pop their head in at any minute and I don’t want to be
here to explain what we’re doing.” He then went down the hall to
get some of that Navy coffee while Sam went looking for a
projector.

Sam was able to quickly find a projector and
within fifteen minutes they were leaving the Pentagon parking lot
heading towards Key Bridge.

***

They hooked the projector up to a PC in the
outer offices of the SCIF and displayed the maps on a blank wall.
This area was less secure than the actual lead-lined SCIF and they
were able to obtain access to the internet. After spending several
hours pouring over maps and mentally comparing the list of names
and locations he had gotten from Koslowski, Grant had the trip
planned. They left the SCIF and went upstairs to the apartment. Sam
went into her bedroom to freshen up.

Sam had been gone for less than fifteen
minutes when Grant spread out a pile of papers on the dining room
table and called, “Sam, can you come in here, please?”

“Yes?” She said, coming into the dining
area.

Without looking up, Grant said, “Okay,
here’s where we’re going.” With that he laid out the trip.

After explaining where they would be going,
he said, “I don’t know how long this is going to take, so only book
the first flight over, leaving the return open. We’ll rent a car
and drive to most places and just book flights at the last minute
where we have greater distances. That leaves fewer records of where
we’ve been and it’ll be nearly impossible to predict where we’ll
be.”

With raised eyebrows and her hands on her
hips, she asked, “What’ll we tell the DNI?”

Grant smiled. “Just the overview. I’ll tell
him that most of the places we’ll have to go will come from the
information received from each person I’m able to contact. So, at
this time, I just don’t know where all we’ll be. He’ll understand
that. Did you apply for visas for all the countries?”

“I did, but haven’t gotten the passports
back, yet. Takes a little while to get them to all the embassies.
But, citing needs of the government, I asked to expedite the
process, so they’re messengering them between each of the
facilities. I expect them back to us tomorrow or the next day.”

Grant looked surprised. “Great work. But,
I’d really like to get going, so if we don’t get ‘em tomorrow, see
if someone can shake ‘em loose. In the meantime, I’ll call General
Wheeler and the DNI and fill them in on the overview.”

Grant sat down on the living room sofa in
front of the secure phone on the coffee table and dialed General
Wheeler. When the General was on the line Grant leaned back
comfortably and said, “General, just wanted to let you know that
I’m heading back to Poland to follow up on the information I’ve
gotten by going through the files. There are a number of people I
need to see in person and I expect them to lead me to others. So
I’ll be leaving within the next couple of days and will be back in
about a week.”

“Okay Colonel. Thanks for letting me know.
I’ll run interference from this end, but you need to fill in the
DNI before you go.”

“Thanks, General. I’m calling him next.”
Grant said, hanging up.

Grant leaned forward again and dialed the
DNI’s secure line, knowing it would transfer to his car line if he
wasn’t in the office. Barry, in his car heading to a luncheon with
the President-elect and the soon-to-be First Lady, punched the
speakerphone button on the second ring. “Barry.”

“Sir, this is Grant Thurmond. I’m calling to
update you on where we are. I am . . .”

The DNI interrupted. “Thurmond, I hope
you’re making progress. We’re well into the plans for the
inauguration and I need to know that the President-elect is going
to be safe. We’re taking extreme precautions, but I don’t need to
tell you what a disaster it would be if an attempt were made on his
life. Even if it were unsuccessful it would be embarrassing.” The
DNI sounded deadly serious.

Grant matched his tone, “I know, sir. As I
was saying, I’m heading to Europe to follow up on some leads I’ve
uncovered in the files. I’ll be gone about a week and will call you
immediately upon my return.”

“Keep it to a week unless
you’re really on to something. If you do uncover something we need
to know, get to a US Embassy or Attaché office and use their secure
communications line to brief me. Don’t wait ‘til you get back.
Understand? Oh,
by the way, where’re you
flying
into?”

“Yes sir. Got it. I’ll let you know
immediately if I find something vital. I’m flying into Warsaw. I’ll
stay there for a couple of days. I have a room at the Hilton
downtown.”

“Okay. And if you need
anything on this end, I’ll make it happen. Just let me know. And
don’t forget to call me
immediately
if you find anything,” the DNI said adamantly and
hung up.

“Yes, sir. See you when I get back.” Grant
said to a dead phone. But he was satisfied he’d put the DNI on
hold, at least for now.

He sat for a while with his arms crossed
over his chest thinking about what he needed to do in the next
couple of days to prepare for the trip. Wonder if I could get a gun
into Poland, he thought. He knew that if he declared it, the
airlines would carry it in the baggage compartment and let him
claim it when he arrived. He decided it would be too revealing
picking it up and then going through customs. He’d never be able to
explain why he had it. Why would a tourist traveling with his
female friend need a handgun? The only thing that would work was
for him to prove he was on official US business and show his
government passport. Even if they bought that, it would call too
much attention to himself. Better leave it at home. Probably have
to review those damn maps again, though.

***

Later that night, Riley called his contact
number and left a voice mail message: “Hey, it looks like this guy
Thurmond is heading to Europe. He’s gonna fly into Warsaw in the
next couple of days and stay at the Hilton. If I hear more, I’ll
let you know. Oh, and he said something about something happening
to the President-elect at his inauguration. He didn’t say what
exactly, but it sounded to me like someone was going to try to kill
him. He also said security was going to be really tight. Not sure
you care about that information, but you said tell you everything.”
Yes, it certainly was easy money. Just listen and leave a
message.

***

When Vladimir picked up the message he
couldn’t believe what he heard. How could they possibly know about
the inauguration? Well, it didn’t bother him much about how tight
security was going to be. He had a foolproof plan. But, this guy
Thurmond had to be the next person eliminated. He knew way too much
and was getting too close. He was already on the list to die, but
he had planned it for later, when it was more convenient. Well, at
least now he wouldn’t have to go all the way to the US to kill
him.

He’d head to Warsaw this afternoon and get
there before Thurmond did. He had some business to attend to there
anyway. Then he made a plan for finding Thurmond. Starting
tomorrow, he’d just sit in the lobby of the Hilton, close enough to
the registration desk to overhear everyone checking in. When he
heard the right name, he’d casually glance over to see what he
looked like. That way he could follow him and take him out when the
time was right. It would be great if he could meet up with him late
at night in a dark alley, but, well, that only happened in movies.
The man code named Vladimir chuckled at the thought.

I Minus 42

Warsaw

“Wow, the air quality here is worse than
D.C.,” Sam coughed, wrinkling her nose. “Smells like coal smoke.”
They stood just outside the hotel entrance while the bellman was
retrieving their luggage from the trunk of the taxi.

“Yeah,” Thurmond replied, “but it’s a lot
better than it used to be. Last time I was here you could barely
see the sun—not that I had a chance to see it very often. The whole
sky was a vast gray cloud of pollutants, so many factories spewing
out tons of junk into the atmosphere. Looks like they’re trying to
clean up their act a little bit. Still using coal-fired furnaces,
though. Let’s go check in.” Thurmond lowered his voice to just
above a whisper and leaned closer to Sam, “Uh, I’m not exactly sure
how to work this. We’re supposed to be traveling as a couple and
it’ll seem really odd for us to get two rooms.”

To Sam, he seemed embarrassed so she said,
“Don’t worry about sharing a room. Just make sure we get two beds.
And, I hope you brought pajamas,” Sam replied with a smile.

And I hope you forgot yours, Grant thought
and then smiled, hoping she couldn’t read his thoughts.

As they entered, he saw
there were a lot of people sitting in the chairs and sofas
scattered about the crowded lobby. So many, in fact, that as they
approached the registration counter,
he
didn’t notice one man sitting nearby
who
glanced up while pretending to read a newspaper. When Thurmond told
the desk clerk his name, the man looked again; this time giving him
a more thorough review, committing his appearance to memory. The
man noticed the girl, too. Good looking. He didn’t know who she
was, but she was obviously with Thurmond. She’d be easy to
remember. His mind went through his usual thought sequence . . .
another operative? . . . someone he should worry about?

Once Grant and Sam were in their room and
the bellman delivered their luggage, Grant suggested they go down
to the hotel restaurant for lunch.