Payback (41 page)

‘Exactly,’ Richter agreed. ‘The question is what do
we
do now?’

‘I don’t think there’s anything we can do, unless you’d like to make a contribution towards the ransom,’ Watkinson said. ‘I’ve already signalled
Vauxhall Cross requesting instructions, but they’ll probably just tell me to keep a watching brief. The consul will no doubt tell the Dubai government that we’ll provide all the help
and assistance possible, but in reality there’s sod-all we can do. This is
their
problem, and they’re going to have to solve it.’

‘I’ve got two questions,’ Richter said thoughtfully. ‘First, is there any way of hitting the suite they’re occupying before the ransom payment’s made?
It’s a hypothetical question.’

‘The answer is not easily, and it would be
very
ill-advised. The Americans have let Hussein see everything they’ve done so far. They’ve mounted explosive charges on the
doors and there are no other ways into the suite. They’re armed with pistols but they know they’re facing the death penalty if they’re captured, so if it comes to a fire-fight,
they’ll just trigger the nuke.’

‘OK. The second question is what happens after they leave the suite. These guys are stuck in the hotel with the weapon at the moment, but how are they going to keep the threat believable
once they get the money and walk?’

‘They’ll set the weapon on a four-hour timer before they leave the building. The delay will allow them to transmit the abort code once they’re well clear of UAE
airspace.’

‘That’s interesting.’

‘Why?’

‘Well, if they’re telling the truth, which I wouldn’t put any money on, that means there
is
an abort code. What’s interesting is that most nuclear weapons
don’t have one. They usually rely on an external signal and an explosive charge to blow up the warhead once it’s been launched, but before it actually hits the target.’

‘But this weapon was specially designed by the KGB for terrorist use,’ Watkinson replied. ‘It was intended to be concealed and then blown up on a timer, so a code to stop the
detonation does make sense.’

Burj Al-Arab Hotel, Dubai

Since Hussein had relayed the Americans’ demands to his superiors, the telephones in the suite they occupied had remained silent. But in the middle of the afternoon
one began ringing, and O’Hagan got up to answer it. Or, to be exact, he picked up the cordless handset, took it across to Hussein, pressed the ‘answer’ button and held it to his
ear.

The voice at the other end spoke Arabic, with only a brief message to convey and one question to ask.

‘They’ve agreed to your demands,’ Hussein translated, ‘and are hoping that everything will be completed no later than ten tomorrow morning. They would like to deliver the
heavier items like bullion and cash this afternoon and I said that wouldn’t be a problem. The financial instruments will take longer to prepare.’

‘Good. I thought they’d see sense.’ O’Hagan replaced the handset, picked up his mobile and called Roy Sutter’s cellphone.

‘We have a go,’ he explained. ‘Get to the plane within the hour, and expect to stay there until we finally leave, so take along everything you’re going to need. The first
consignment should arrive this afternoon, and it’ll be the heavy stuff, so check the weight distribution and make sure it goes in the right place. We should be with you by late morning
tomorrow.’

‘We’re on our way,’ Sutter replied.

‘Now, I’m sure we’re dealing with honest and upright citizens here,’ O’Hagan announced to the other three men, with a slight smirk, ‘but we don’t relax.
I don’t see how they can get to us, and the weapon is still the ace card, but we stay alert.’

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

Watkinson received another call just as Richter and Jackson were deciding what to do about lunch. He left the lounge to answer it, and came back a few minutes later.
‘The government’s imposed a total news blackout. They intend to pay the ransom, then forget it happened, and make absolutely sure nothing like it can ever happen again.’

‘So we just walk away and forget about it?’ Jackson asked.

‘Spot on,’ he said with a sigh. ‘Those are my direct orders. Her Majesty’s Government’s representatives are instructed to support and assist the local authorities
in whatever way they may be requested, but are to take absolutely no action unless and until specifically directed. If you contact Langley, Carole, I think you’ll find the Company will tell
you pretty much the same.’

Richter said nothing, just gazed out of the window towards the Burj Al-Arab.

‘And maybe you’d better talk to your secret squirrel outfit, Paul.’

‘Yes, I will. I’ve got a couple of calls to make first.’

Something about the tone of his voice caused Watkinson to stare at him. ‘You’re not planning any kind of freelance operation, I hope? That would be a
really
bad
idea.’

‘Me?’ Richter raised an eyebrow. ‘Perish the thought. But what about the practicalities? Can the government raise the ransom in time?’

‘That won’t be a problem. They’ll just draw the bullion and gemstones from their own safety deposits. The cash, bearer bonds and other stuff they’ll borrow from the
principal banks. They’ll probably have it in place by mid-morning and, with any luck, this whole thing could be over by lunchtime tomorrow.’

Dubai International Airport

Dubai Airport has two terminals, with a third approaching completion. The biggest and busiest is Sheikh Rashid Terminal, also known as Concourse One, which handles most of
the commercial traffic. Terminal Two caters mainly for regional, charter and executive flights, and the Gulfstream was parked on a small hardstanding adjacent to it.

When Sutter and Haig arrived, they were escorted straight out to the aircraft; clearly instructions had been given to ensure they weren’t delayed. Haig started the Honeywell APU to haul
down the cabin temperature, then stowed away their drinks and food, while Sutter rang O’Hagan’s mobile to let him know they were in place.

And then there was nothing they could do but wait.

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

Once they’d finished lunch, Jackson contacted the British Embassy in Manama using her cellphone, but there were no messages or instructions for her from Langley.

Richter’s call to Hammersmith was short and inconclusive. His section had received no tasking from anyone involved in the situation in Dubai so, as far as Richard Simpson was concerned,
there was nothing for Richter to do.

‘I don’t like this any more than you do,’ Simpson complained, ‘and if I had my way I wouldn’t even talk to these bastards. I’d empty the building, call up a
couple of helicopter gunships and strafe the top floors of the hotel. No warning, no negotiation. With any luck, that would kill everybody inside the suite and not give them time to detonate the
weapon. All it would need would be a touch of paint and a few new carpets.’ Clearly, Richter realized, Simpson had never seen the interior decor and furnishings of the Burj Al-Arab.
‘And even if the weapon did blow, I’d still have three big ones left in the kitty to rebuild it. But it isn’t my hotel, and it isn’t my problem. Or yours, either. Let the
Dubai authorities sort this out themselves. This isn’t a good time for any kind of cowboy action from you.’

‘Oddly enough, the local Six rep told me very much the same thing.’

‘So you shouldn’t have any trouble understanding the message, should you? Just watch what happens tomorrow, and keep me informed.’

‘Anything new from your people?’ Jackson asked him as he finished the call.

Richter shook his head. ‘Pretty much the same as the message we got from Watkinson. They’re probably right, of course, but it really goes against the grain to let these bastards walk
away with three billion dollars.’

‘But there really isn’t any alternative, is there? Neither of us has any official standing here in Dubai, and even if we had, what
could
we do? The government has already
agreed to pay them, so we’d get no help from the police or anyone else. There are four armed terrorists sitting in an inaccessible suite at the top of the tallest hotel in Dubai, and guarding
a primed tactical nuclear weapon. How the hell could we even get inside the building, far less do anything to take these guys down? Our best plan is to just do what everyone’s telling us,
which is to walk away, pretend nothing’s happening, and enjoy the rest of our time here.’ Jackson paused and eyed Richter closely. ‘But you’re not going to do that, are you?
I can read it in your eyes.’

Richter grinned. ‘I don’t know,’ he replied. ‘You’re quite right. There
is
nothing we can do, but something about this still niggles me.’

‘You mean apart from the three billion dollars’ ransom?’

‘Yes. I can’t put my finger on it, but I have the distinct feeling that there’s another component, some other dimension that we’re missing.’

‘I don’t agree. To me, this just looks like a really big extortion job.’

‘Maybe.’ Richter still didn’t sound even slightly convinced. He reached for his coffee cup, then stopped and again stared through the window towards the elegantly stunning
white offshore hotel. ‘Christ,’ he muttered. ‘Could that be it?’

‘What?’

‘Listen, we still don’t know who these people really are, do we?’

Jackson shook her head. ‘We know they’re American, or at least able to pass as Americans, but that’s all. We’ll probably never know their identities, unless one of them
does something stupid when he spends his share of the ransom and gets picked up that way. At least we know what they want.’

‘Are you quite sure about that?’ Richter asked. ‘Are you certain it’s just the money?’

‘What else could it be?’

Richter didn’t answer directly, but instead changed tack. ‘Has anything ever struck you as familiar about Dubai? Anything that reminds you of another city?’

Jackson gave him a puzzled stare. ‘I’m not that good at guessing games, Paul, so why don’t you just tell me what’s on your mind?

‘I’m thinking about the commercial centre, around Shaikh Zayed Road.’

‘And that means what, exactly?’

‘Maybe nothing, maybe everything. Excuse me, I’m going to make a phone call.’

‘Who are you calling?’

‘A man I know in Moscow,’ Richter replied, as he walked away.

Dubai International Airport

Sutter and Haig had been waiting in the Gulfstream for nearly an hour when a small convoy arrived, two police cars flanking a large armoured van.

Haig opened the cabin door as the vehicles came to a halt beside the aircraft. Alert for any tricks, the two Americans watched from opposite ends of the cabin as four men carried a
lot
of
steel boxes up the steps into the aircraft.

The moment the delivery was finished, Haig secured the Gulfstream’s outside door. None of the boxes was locked, and in minutes they were all open. Sutter did a rapid count, checking the
listed weight and purity of the bars of gold, silver and platinum they contained, then called O’Hagan again.

‘Seems like we’re in business,’ he declared. ‘I reckon we’ve got around one-fifty mil in bullion here. We’ll do random sampling now, and I’ll only call
you again if we hit a problem.’

Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai

Getting through to Moscow wasn’t easy, even using the number Richter obtained from Hammersmith. He kept getting either an engaged signal, which was at least
encouraging because it implied that there
was
a phone at the other end, or complete silence. But he persevered and eventually his call was answered.

‘Viktor?’ he began. ‘It’s Paul Richter.’

‘I don’t . . . Ah, yes, Paul. I had a feeling you might decide to call me. How can I help you?’

‘This line isn’t secure, General, so I must be circumspect. We understand that you lost something recently, a piece of military hardware. Do you recall the incident?’

‘Yes, of course. We immediately advised all interested parties, and I have every confidence that the missing equipment will be recovered soon.’

‘Actually, I think it’s already been found in Dubai.’

‘Dubai?’ There was a pause. ‘I didn’t know that. I will have to confer with our diplomats in the Emirates.’

‘They probably won’t know anything about it yet, because the device is being used as part of a negotiation. We’re trying hard to ensure that nothing happens that might
embarrass either the Dubai government – or the equipment’s manufacturer.’

‘You mean it’s not in your hands?’

‘Far from it. That’s why I’ve got some questions. First, does it incorporate a timer?’

‘Yes,’ Bykov replied. ‘Those devices all had timing circuits incorporated so they could be positioned and then activated later.’

‘My second question concerns the abort code. We are led to believe that once the timer was set the device couldn’t be deactivated without a special code. Is that correct?’

‘Yes. Each device had a unique abort code. Is that all you need to know?’

‘Just one other matter, General.’ Richter asked a final question, and Bykov replied immediately.

‘No, never. It was always kept separately. In fact, I have it here in my office.’

This was better than Richter had hoped. ‘Can you let me have it?’ he asked.

‘No, I’m afraid not,’ Bykov said. ‘For obvious reasons, it’s classified.’ He paused. ‘If it’s important, I can try to obtain permission to release
it to you. Would that be satisfactory?’

‘Yes, General, as long as it doesn’t take you too long. We’re on a deadline out here, and need that information by tomorrow morning.’

‘I see.’ Again Bykov paused. ‘Did you have any trouble getting through to me today?’ he asked, in an apparent non sequitur, then chuckled. ‘The Moscow telephone
system is perhaps not as efficient as it could be. Let me give you the number of my personal mobile.’

Richter took a small notebook and pen from his jacket pocket.

‘The number is seven three four, eight six nine, two six five eight,’ Bykov continued, ‘and obviously you have to prefix it with the Moscow dialling code. Please read it back
to me so I know you’ve copied it correctly.’