Compound Target

Contents

C H A P T E R 1

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C H A P T E R 1 

On a blustery January evening two friends, Thomas Mann and Don Palumbo, were watching the evening news at their farmhouse north of Toronto. They were silent as they watched Tom Ridge, the outgoing head of the U.S. Homeland Security Agency, make what they considered to be a very foolish statement.

Thomas, why do you think he’d say these things about their own security? Shouldn’t the U.S. Government, particularly this guy, be saying positive things instead of negative things?

I don’t get it either Don, but you know the whole department has had a history of security failures ever since they were formed. For a while, there was something on the news every night about a security breach at another seaport or airport. But for Tom Ridge to say he was surprised that they hadn’t been hit again doesn’t say much about his confidence in his own agency! You know they’ve missed guns at airport checkpoints, allowed people on their so-called watch list to enter the country and the like, so I guess I wouldn’t be surprised that he would say it privately to his staff, but on the evening news? It makes no sense at all!

Don noticed that during the rest of the news, Thomas just sat there with his elbows resting on the arms of the chair with his chin in his hands, saying nothing. He also noticed he had a scowl on his face.

When the news was over, as Thomas stood up, Don said, You OK? You look angry.

Thomas looked over at Don and pointed to the TV. I guess I’m getting just a bit sick and tired of U.S. officials whining about the persistence of the insurgency in Iraq! What the Christ did they expect?

Don, a little taken aback, watched as Thomas became animated and started waving his arms around as he spoke. There’s an old saying that if you don’t study history, you’re doomed to repeat the mistakes of the past. This is a perfect goddamm example! When the German’s invaded France at the start ofWorld War Two, they were surprised at the amount of damage the French Resistance movement caused behind their lines…train bombings, soldiers killed, and the like. Then, when the U.S. invaded Vietnam the same thing happened and normally placid villagers became deadly enemies. Even children were placing bombs to disrupt the U.S. war effort! These people were defending their homelands and were willing to pay any price to drive the invaders out. So, I ask you, is what’s happening today in Iraq, or Afghanistan for that matter, any different? Jesus, how stupid are these politicians? America has become so goddamm arrogant as the last remaining so-called superpower, as they like to call themselves, they think they can just march into a country, any country, and do anything they damn well please! Then they have the audacity to visit their so-called friends, like Russia for instance, and embarrass them by carping about human rights and democracy!

After his outburst, Thomas sat back down heavily and with a sigh, looked over at Don and said, Cripes, I’m sorry I got so worked up. I know you’re an American citizen and I’m sorry if I offended you, but I just think America needs to be bitch-slapped, if you know what I mean!

Smiling, Don said, Wow, I’ve never seen you so upset. I’ve been living here for a little over two years now and I gotta say, that was a first.

Thomas, looking embarrassed and a little sheepish said, I guess your question about me being angry really touched a nerve. Today is January 5th, and it’s the day my father and sister both died in a plane crash eight years ago, so I guess I’m a little sensitive right now.

Now Don felt a little embarrassed and said, "God, I had no idea! I’m sorry if I upset you.

Not saying anything, but waving him off, Thomas stood up and walked into the kitchen. In a few seconds Don followed him in, sat down and said, I know you think you’ve offended me, but you haven’t. In fact, I’m in complete agreement with your assessment of the U.S. Government and their miserable international policies, or lack of them. When you asked me to move up here to work for you in your antiques business a couple of years ago, I was happy to leave the country for a couple reasons. The first, as you know, was the systematic financial rape of Don Palumbo by my bitch ex-wife. She had me by the wallet, and still does for that matter, but your offer to keep a certain percentage of my income off the books was a lifesaver. I don’t know if I told you, but she’s been bad-mouthing me so much to my kids that now they hang up on me when I call. I was naive enough to think she wasn’t going to go for my throat, but her lawyer ended that fantasy in a hurry. Either my lawyer wasn’t sharp enough, or the judge was biased, but in the end I got screwed! Oh, and let’s keep in mind it was her affair that ended our marriage. The second reason I was glad to leave was that I was hoping I could make a better life for myself up here in Canada. I don’t like what the U.S. has become, with the liberal politicians allowing illegal immigrants to take over the country without firing a shot. Christ, they’re even giving them drivers licenses and free medical care, while the average American gets stuck with the bill. It just makes no goddamm sense! Shit, I play the lottery every week hoping I can win the jackpot and just disappear!

At that comment, Thomas stared at Don and said, Are you serious about that? You’d be willing to just vanish and leave your kids behind?

In a New York minute, Don replied. I’d be in South America, or wherever, so fast it’d make your head spin. I just want to go somewhere she can’t find me, and have a life again.

Thomas kept staring at Don, but said nothing.

Don, noticing the stare, spread his arms in a questioning manner and said, What?

I’ve got something I want to ask you about an operation I’ve been planning for a few years, but I’m struggling to decide just how much I need to tell you right now.

Cripes Thomas, I’ve been working for you for what, over two years or so now, so surely you can’t be having that much trouble.

Looking away, then sighing as though he had made a decision, Thomas turned and went to the cupboard and said, Let me get both of us a cognac, I think we’re going to need it.

C H A P T E R 2 

After dropping some ice in the glasses, Thomas pulled a bottle of cognac out of the cupboard and poured two drinks. Handing a drink to Don, Thomas began pacing around the kitchen as if moving somehow stimulated his thinking. He was tall and had long legs, so he could cover a lot of the floor in a few steps. After pacing a few minutes and making a lot of turns at the doorways, he finally sat back down.

My friend, as you well know, my antiques business takes me all over the world. That was one reason I moved you here from Atlanta, so someone would always be here to answer the phones and faxes when I was gone. Your work has exceeded my every expectation, and that’s why I’ve been giving you more and more responsibility as we’ve moved forward together. I think I’ve been paying you well, most likely far more than you could’ve earned in your last job, but in my opinion you’ve earned every cent. You’re smart and innovative and many of our customers have made comments about how fair and honest you’ve been in your dealings with them. A number of them have told me how much they like the electronic catalog you made that they can access over the Internet. Due to your good business instincts, these customers always seem to come to us first, which benefits both of us in the long term. Besides all that, I consider you a good and trusted friend.

Nodding, Don said, Thomas, I hope you know I appreciate everything you’ve done for me over the past few years. When we met at that sale where I was selling some of my mother’s antiques, I was literally at the end of my rope. As you well know, my ex-wife had started her campaign to ruin me financially and I was selling the antiques to raise some cash.

I remember that day at the sale very well. When we were discussing various pieces of furniture that day, I was impressed by the depth of your knowledge, and that’s why I made the offer to you to join my little company.

Well, as I told you, my mother had a lifetime interest in antiques and I guess her enthusiasm rubbed off on me. As far as your company, you’re not giving yourself much credit! Your company is anything but little, at least in dollar turnover. That comment got a smile from Thomas. "In addition, you know I see the

invoices for the antiques you sell from time to time and all I can say about that is !"

wow!

"That’s true, but the business isn’t as big as it was when my whole family was involved, but that’s a story for another time. Let’s just say it’s big enough to keep us very busy and we’re certainly not poor. But let’s get down to brass tacks. Over three years ago, on one of my buying trips to Europe I was approached about smuggling something into Canada to hold for later use. The offer for the job was

ten million dollars, which was to be used to both finance the operation and fund my payment.

At the mention of the ten million, Thomas noticed Don’s eyebrows lift slightly.

Anyway, I agreed and the item was brought to the coast of Canada by ship with a drop off near Nova Scotia. After that, the client and I arranged a meeting in Montreal where I took delivery. When we met for the handoff, the client’s agent mentioned there was going to be an attack on America which would most likely result in increased security, and that’s why they wanted the materials brought into Canada at that particular time.

Don’s mouth literally dropped open and he started to say, "You mean, the client was…?

Cutting Don off in mid sentence, Thomas said, I know what you’re going to say, and I don’t know, since I’ve never spoken directlywith anyone in charge, just middlemen. It’s always a different person and except for that one meeting, all the conversations were made using throwaway cell phones, so your guess is as good as mine. My instructions are to deliver the package at a time of my choosing and leave…as if It’ll be that easy! Just last week I received the go signal buried in the text of a fax. The go signal simply means anytime from that day forward, I am cleared to move on this.

Don was just staring as Thomas continued, Look, if you haven’t figured it out yet, this job involves an attack in the U.S., and I know you’re an American citizen. If you’re reluctant to move forward with me, that’s OK, and we’ll simply go on with business as usual. What you do need to know, before you ask, is that the payoff for you will be huge, with your share being half the net of ten million. You also need to keep in mind when this is over, we’ll need to disappear forever. Both of us, and I mean forever, because if we’re caught, we’re either dead or in prison for life. My motivation for this isn’t the money, but simple revenge. Your motivation can be anything you want it to be, but I want retribution for my family!

Even though Don was puzzled about the comment regarding Thomas’ family, he sensed it wasn’t the time to ask questions about it. After a long stare, Don asked quietly, When do you need an answer?

Before the end of the month, my friend. By then I need to make a confirming phone call to start the wheels moving. Once I have your answer, I can plan the next steps.

Nodding that he understood, Don stood up and started to walk to his room, but stopped dead in his tracks, turned and started to say something. Thomas could see he was struggling with a question, but Don just made a small gesture of frustration and walked off.

C HAPTER 3 

As he lay in bed that night Thomas was wondering whether or not he had told Don enough to interest him, or had just scared him off. Better to be upfront about the risks, than minimize them and have himfind out later, he thought, as he tossed and turned.

Upstairs Don was also having trouble sleeping as his mind churned and churned over the information Thomas had given him.

As Thomas lay awake, he started to think about the course of events that had led him to this moment.

As he had told Don, the device components were already in Canada, but what he didn’t tell him was that they now rested safely beneath the floorboards of the barn, about 100 feet from the house. The very fact that the client had known about the upcoming 9/11 attacks in the United States, and the speculation about getting any such weapons into the North American continent after the attacks, indicated to Thomas that his suspicions about the identity of the client were correct.

What he hadn’t told Don was that in his former life, he had been an arms dealer. At least he was until his family was killed and he had to run for cover and assume a new identity. As an arms dealer he always acted as a middleman, arranging the buying and selling of weapons but never putting his hands on the actual product. In this case, for the ten million dollars dropped into his Swiss account, he had agreed to not only arrange to bring the components into Canada, but to store and deliver them as well. He was surprised that the package delivered to him in Montreal consisted of two rather small, but virtually identical metal boxes. They both seemed to be about a square foot in area, and appeared to have been welded shut. The man who handed them to him in Montreal told him not to open them under any circumstances, as the contents were mildly radioactive.

Of course for him, besides the money, which he didn’t really need, there was the prospect of the personal satisfaction the attack would bring. When he had first received the message from the client that there would be an attack on the United States in the near future, he remembered being somewhat puzzled. But after 9/11, Thomas was privately elated. After what America had done to his family, he was just a little short on compassion and very long on revenge. The middleman had gone on to say that what they were asking Thomas to bring into Canada would later provide a strong aftershock in the U.S., causing panic and consternation much like the aftershock of a major earthquake. The client wanted to wait for some indeterminate period of time after the first attack, then, when America was feeling snug and secure he would pull the trigger on the second surprise. Thomas, like most of his Canadian neighbors, acted shocked, at least publicly, by the turn of events on 9/11, but he wasn’t really shocked, since he had been expecting something.

C H A P T E R 4 

At some point Thomas finally fell asleep, as the next thing he heard was an annoying noise that was intruding on his dream. He was still struggling to comprehend what he was hearing as his mind tried to swim back to consciousness. He eventually could make out Don talking in a muffled voice, and realized the noise he had heard must have been the telephone.

Stretching and flexing his frame, he decided to stay in bed a bit longer and collect his thoughts about the conversation he had with Don the night before. Playing it over and over in his mind, he still wasn’t sure he had chosen his words carefully enough. He wondered if he had given Don too little, or maybe too much information. He also wondered if he should, at some point, tell Don his birth name, John Khoury. Probably not, he thought. Too dangerous!

Rolling out of bed, Thomas was still trying to remember his dream and was smiling as he climbed into the shower. Pushing the thoughts out of his head, he concentrated on showering, as he got ready to face Don.

Walking into the kitchen, he noticed Don leaning on the sink staring out the window. Thomas headed straight for the coffee pot and was pouring a cup when Don turned and blurted out, I’ll do it! I’m in!

Putting the cup down, Thomas turned around and stared at him as he said, Are you sure? Are you sure you took enough time to think about it?

Smiling, Don said, Does most of the night count as enough time?

Shaking his head, Thomas said, I didn’t sleep verywell either, truth be told.

Sitting at the kitchen table, Thomas gestured to Don to sit across from him and began outlining his plan. I never told you, but I was once an arms dealer, based in Switzerland. As a result, I still have a lot of contacts in the business and that’s what led to this latest job I told you about last night. I’ve been in possession of two bomb components for some time. I’ve been waiting years, in fact, for the go signal and as I said, it finally came.

You may, or may not know that I’ve been canoeing in Quetico Park in Ontario, and the adjacent Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northern Minnesota for years. I should say, I know you’re aware I go canoeing, but I don’t remember if I was ever specif Ic about where.

No, you never were, although I knew you drove or flew into Thunder Bay, so I suspected it was in that area.

I think you’ll agree it’s tough to be specif Ic when you’re talking about a million acres of wilderness. Anyway, I know the Border Patrol assets in that area are stretched painfully thin, and since many of the agents know me, I’m going to smuggle the bomb components across the U.S. border in that area, during a so-called camping trip. Problem is, we’ll need a few more people to pull this off. I plan to promote this trip as a well-earned vacation for some employees, so I need some more people to accompany us from the Canadian side of the border, as well as a guy on the U.S. side. I want to have two canoes full of people when we cross the border, with you and I in one, and two other people in the second canoe. I know two men who are old friends in the arms business and I think they’ll go for it since neither of them is a U.S. citizen. Another reason they may want to go is the arms business has been really lousy lately with the love-fest going on between a number of former enemies. As a result of that, they’ve put the clamps on selling and shipping a lot of weapons. My problem is, I don’t know a third person I could trust enough to ask.

Maybe I can help, Don said. "I know a guy, an old friend, who’s an ex-military type that I think needs money. His wife has been battling cancer, or was, and he told