Monster (13 page)

“How long have you known the Colonel?”

“Nearly two years. Where we were and with what we were doing it was a lifetime.”

“Did he suddenly spring up out of thin air?”

“Not exactly, but I know why you asked that in such a way. He has surprised you at an inopportune moment?”

“More than once,” Reskova admitted. “The big sneaky prick.”

Rasheed laughed. “Yes, it is very disconcerting.”

“Where did he run into you?”

“He was scouting my city of Naseria ahead of the armored columns at the beginning of the war. We were all terrified because the local arm of Saddam’s secret police were holding many of our children as hostages against our continued cooperation because so many of us simply wanted to flee. They had taken my little girl while I was trying to find a way out of the city.”

“As I searched for an unguarded way out of the city, alternately using my bicycle, and running around on foot, the Colonel came out of nowhere. In seconds, I was tied up and gagged. Except for his size, he could have passed for a native of the region.”

“When he had gestured me to silence he asked if I would be willing to talk. I showed my willingness and he removed the gag. The Colonel told me he needed information to save lives. I led him back to my house. By then, my wife Ansa had been beaten and my daughter Suraya taken away. I could not speak. I held Ansa in my arms trying to comfort her. The Colonel asked me what had happened. I explained the secret police were taking hostages.”

“He asked me if I could show him where they were holding the hostages. I told him yes and made my wife as comfortable as possible while he stored his pack in my house. Although I was very unnerved the Colonel made me concentrate on what I was to do. I led him carefully through the city. There were at least twelve guards at the police station where they held the hostages. The Colonel then motioned for me to wait across the street out of sight. He walked right up to the two guards holding AK47 rifles at the entrance.”

“While holding his hands above his head, he talked to them for a moment. He told them he had seen an American column. The two guards glanced at each other and then they were dead. He motioned me over, gave me a rifle, and we dragged the bodies out of sight.”

“All without drawing attention?” Reskova interrupted in disbelief.

“Remember, the streets were empty. People were hiding in their homes.”

“Please, go on.”

“I was to guard the entrance. The Colonel vowed he would come out with the children, explaining it was imperative I kept our escape path clear. Many times, after he left me, I did almost abandon my station to try and help him. Shots and screams rang out inside the station constantly over the time he was gone, driving me insane with worry. I nearly jumped out of my skin when he reached around me to grab hold of my rifle, preventing me from shooting him by mistake.”

“It was then I noticed the silence and the sobs of children. They were all there, hushed to silence by this giant who had rescued them. The Colonel helped me herd the frightened children to my home. There were nearly fifty of them, including my Suraya. The children were hidden from then on until the Americans came. I was the Colonel’s man after that. When they forced him to return to America he brought us with him. The others in our group now hold positions within the Coalition government and military. My family and I have been in protective custody ever since coming to America.”

“You probably could have been high placed in the government yourself. Did you ever think of staying?”

“Many times. I had made too many enemies. There had been attempts to blow up my family on at least three occasions by the Al Queda dupes still terrorizing my country.”

“Will you be going back when things finally stabilize?”

Rasheed smiled as he shook his head no. “I am an American who was born in another land but did not get to become one formally until the Colonel brought us back with him. For well over a year I met many of your young soldiers who came to our country to fight against terrorism. I was honored to help them against this terrorist virus trying to wipe out all who stand against these cowards - jackals who hide behind women and children claiming to represent Islam.”

“It must have been quite a surprise seeing our moronic media downplaying all we were doing over there.”

“We could not believe they were speaking of the same country. If America had not liberated Iraq and drawn the perverts of Islam there in battle, America would have been subjected to this terrorist plague in the streets of your own cities. Iraqis now have the chance to build and become allies of America. The Middle East will change and so will Islam, if the American media stop siding with the terrorist scum.”

“On a lighter note, Kay.” Reskova leaned closer to the former Iraqi, after glancing towards where McDaniels had exited the restaurant to call Aginson. “Do you have any tips on avoiding Cold’s little surprises?”

“I have a few, Boss, but as you know, he is very proficient at it.” Rasheed chuckled. “It is good to watch for Colonel McDaniels everywhere but where he is expected. I have seen you watching the entrance for his return. If you truly suspect he will… how do you say…ah… screw around with your head, look for him to come from another direction.”

They both looked around the restaurant. “Thanks, maybe I’ll teach him…”

“Teach me what, Boss?” McDaniels asked, as he leaned down over her shoulder.

“Son of a bitch!” Reskova jumped, and Rasheed whipped back around in his seat. Reskova could see Rasheed had been taken by surprise too.

“Dog of an infidel! You are my friend no longer,” Rasheed said, shaking his finger at McDaniels, who had sat down. McDaniels innocently folded his hands in front of him on the table. “You have made me look foolish in front of the Boss. I will curse you for…”

“Careful,” McDaniels cut him off. “I will tell Ansa on you.”

Reskova saw a genuine look of horror come over Rasheed’s face as McDaniels began to laugh at his friend’s expression.

“That is not funny, Cold,” Rasheed protested. “Ansa would probably disembowel me in my sleep if you asked her to.”

Rasheed turned to Reskova. “I am very sorry, Boss. Cold has contaminated my family. They do his bidding while ignoring my wishes. I must abstain from helping you to gain the upper hand on this dog. The coward will surely tell on me.”

“You weren’t doing too well helping anyway,” McDaniels pointed out.

“I had just started to explain the intricacies of your depraved mental state. Actually, the Boss found a sure fire way to keep you in line. I bet you did not sneak up on anyone in prison, dog.”

“You’re right. She did, didn’t she. Hey, what do you mean depraved mental state?”

“I’ll answer that,” Reskova said, waving her hand as if wanting to be called on in a classroom.

“I didn’t ask you, Boss.” McDaniels held up a hand in a stopping gesture while looking at Rasheed.

“Do not look at me, infidel,” Rasheed said calmly. “I cannot forgive this blatant disregard for my position with our task force.”

“You’re getting pretty good at this bureaucratic crapola, Kay. You sound as if you’ve been in congress for a couple of terms.”

Rasheed grinned. “Yes, I am very much improved in my skills as an agent of government.”

“How the hell do you do that materialization shit in a crowded restaurant?” Reskova asked, annoyance plain in her tone.

“It’s not rocket science. I just moved quickly and quietly.”

“Yes, it is just so - like a sneaking dog,” Rasheed added.

Reskova laughed. “I could have one of those microchips installed under his skin and then program a little remote alarm to go off whenever Cold comes within twenty feet.”

“Yeah, that’ll happen. You’re picking up the tab for this meal, right Boss?” McDaniels asked.

“I’ll get it. Did Aginson okay your interrogation plan?”

“Not exactly. Aginson says he’ll have to run it by someone a few steps up the ladder. He likes it though. He even said he’d have people looking into a spot where we can have our discussion in case we get the okay.”

“When do we meet up?”

“I am to call in at ten o’clock. If Aginson gets the okay, he’ll give me directions to the place where we will conduct the interrogation. The Syrian I picked out as the leader will be our test case.”

“Do you want to call it a night or go get a beer?” Reskova asked, surprising McDaniels and Rasheed. “I’d like to hear more about your adventures together.”

“Sorry, Boss, I do not drink,” Rasheed answered.

“Besides, it’s classified,” McDaniels added with a knowing look toward Rasheed. “Kay probably told you more than he should have already.”

“I have a top secret clearance.”

“Then you won’t need the two of us to access the information.”

“Fine, whatever.” Reskova features reflected her irritation. She stood up and left a five-dollar bill on the table. “Do we have adjoining rooms, Kay?”

“Yes, Boss, I will show you the way.” Rasheed handed her a room keycard.

“That wasn’t a tip you just put on the table was it, cheapskate?” McDaniels asked.

“Our dinners only came to forty dollars.” Reskova looked at the check.

McDaniels put a ten-dollar bill on the table and handed Reskova her five. “I’ll get the tip, Diamond Jim.”

“When you’re more familiar with expense accounts, you won’t be tossing around your money so freely.”

“Who is this Diamond Jim?” Rasheed asked.

“I’ll explain it on the way to the room. I want to make sure the boss doesn’t try to walk out without paying.” McDaniels grinned at Reskova who gave him a single finger salute.

Chapter 10

Interrogation

“Oh man, this place reeks,” Reskova stated.

McDaniels offered her an open oval tin with a coffee colored pasty substance inside. “Here, put a dab of this inside each nostril.”

“What is it?” Reskova asked, taking a small amount on the tip of her pinky finger.

“Camphor,” McDaniels answered. “Kay and I already put ours in before we left the hotel. “It will help a lot and keep you from gagging.”

The three stood inside a slaughterhouse chosen by Aginson for their needs. Although empty, the large cement room was damp. Doors leading into other areas of the huge complex were located on each of the three other walls. The door across from the entrance they had walked through opened. A man of medium build with hardhat and white coveralls on entered the room.

“Hi, I’m Jud Cantrell, the shift supervisor. If you’ll follow me, I’ll show you to the place I was told has what you’ll need.”

“You’re not interested in what we’re doing here?” McDaniels asked, as he shook the man’s hand.

“It’s Homeland Security.” Cantrell shook hands with Reskova and Rasheed. “That’s all I need to know.”

Cantrell led them to a room where table and chairs had been placed in front of a butchering station. “Here’s the meeting room. C’mon, and I’ll show you the porkers.”

Cantrell exited the room. He led the way down the passage. The muffled noise of animals could be heard before Cantrell opened another door. Even the camphor could do little as the stench was overpowering. A roiling mass of large pigs, squealed in distress, penned inside an area where they huddled in their own waste.

“Oh my God,” Reskova yelped plaintively.

McDaniels and Rasheed examined the stand near the entrance with half a dozen cutting utensils laid out on the surface.

“This will do very well,” Rasheed announced.

McDaniels took Reskova’s arm. He urged her out of the room, followed by the two other men.

“If that’s all, I have to meet up with your friends,” Cantrell said, walking back toward the entrance. “Make yourselves comfortable in the meeting room.”

“I don’t know if I can do this,” Reskova gasped.

“Easy, Boss,” McDaniels soothed. “You’ll be in the other room with us. You won’t have to follow me and Kay over to the pen.”

“I will if I’m to do my job,” Reskova murmured, drawing a shaky hand over her face.

“I will remain in the pen area until our Syrian friend gets seated,” Rasheed said. “Did I overdo the uniform, Cold?”

McDaniels looked him over carefully. Rasheed wore the khaki uniform of a Major with two rows of Iraqi medal ribbons. He also wore a black beret with rank designation. “I think you should have went with the beard, Kay, but the uniform is perfect.”

“As I explained, my friend, if he spotted the beard our ruse would be over. Besides, I have a nice beard shadow, see?”

Rasheed’s face darkened, and the scowl he assumed had both McDaniels and Reskova nodding approval.

“Very nice,” McDaniels agreed. “Come over outside the door after we get the Syrian settled.”

Rasheed snapped to attention with a jaunty British salute. McDaniels gave him a push toward the room housing the pigpen. McDaniels set up the video and sound equipment they had brought in with them. Reskova helped him test the visuals and sound. McDaniels looked at the set up equipment doubtfully, and then at Reskova.