“Mr. President …” the ambassador stopped when he saw Merrick tilt his head in a disapproving manner. He seemed to know he’d spoken too soon.
“Or I will remove our troops and put you on our Christmas card list,” Merrick said in a low controlled voice.
The ambassador said nothing “Go Mr. Ciller. Go tell the Prime Minister about our meeting here.”
Ciller got to his feet. He seemed to question whether to shake Merrick’s hand, then decided not to. As he backed away from the President, he seemed appropriately shaken up.
Merrick raised his eyebrows. “It’s time to get creative, Mr. Ambassador.”
The ambassador nodded and appeared to understand what the President was suggesting.
“Yes, Mr. President.”
When the ambassador turned to leave, he kept nodding, with an expression of comprehension on his face. Merrick was glad to see that because he had no idea what he himself meant by the comment. He’d only hoped Mr. Ciller was frightened enough to translate effectively.
• • •
Matt allowed the Iron Mountain team to interrogate Semir Jetake, which he knew would do nothing but buy him time to strategize. Buck Martin and two of his commandos had Semir handcuffed and on his knees in a subservient position, while they grilled him for information. Matt and Tommy stood twenty yards away and watched the proceedings with disgusted expressions while Jennifer Steele and Luke Fletcher checked their cell phones for messages.
“He really thinks that guy is gonna squeal on his terrorist buddies?” Tommy asked.
Matt grimaced as Buck backhanded Semir’s face. “He’s stuck in his ways. Nothing I say is going to change his mind.”
“Well, someone better,” Tommy said. “Or that kid’s gonna get killed for nothing.”
The two of them watched Buck spit into Semir’s face.
Matt shook his head. “He’s making it worse. We need to shake these guys before they start using loudspeakers to announce their intentions.”
Tommy waved his hand at the soldiers surrounding Buck. “You gonna pick a fight with those guys?”
Matt was outnumbered, but he couldn’t just stand there and watch them murder the young Kurd just because Buck’s team had immunity. He looked around at the faces of Buck’s men and realized who they were. They’d all joined the service for the right reasons and Matt hoped those reasons still lurked beneath the surface.
He approached the interrogation and briskly yanked Semir to his feet. “Let me take a crack at this,” he said.
“Do your best, Agent McColm,” Buck sneered.
Matt pulled Semir away from the circle, dragging him into the nearby woods and shoving him up against a tree. With a menacing expression he whispered, “You have a question you haven’t asked yet.”
Blood trickled down the side of Semir’s face while his eyes roamed wildly.
Matt showed him clenched teeth and gripped the kid’s shirt with both hands. He pulled Semir close, inches from his face. In a threatening hush, he murmured, “Don’t you want to speak with an attorney?”
Semir seemed disoriented. He simply shook his head, appearing leery of Matt’s intention.
Matt would’ve rolled his eyes if he didn’t have to look so intimidating.
“Semir,” Matt whispered, “I’m trying to help you here. If you ask for an attorney I can take you away from this maniac.”
The young soldier took rapid breaths and looked into Matt’s eyes as if the answer might be right there for him.
“This is not a trick question, Semir. If you want I’ll give you back to the old man and let him finish you off. Otherwise, you ask me for an attorney and I’ll take you into custody. You get to live. Maybe even see your two little boys again.” Matt lowered his head and winked.
Semir swallowed hard. He looked over at Buck and watched the guy standing there with his thick arms crossed, examining every move. With the slightest of voices, he said, “Yes.”
“Yes, what?”
He looked back and forth between Buck and Matt as if gauging his options. He was clearly under duress and not thinking properly.
He managed to whisper, “I would like an attorney.”
Matt jumped back and slapped his hands together in disgust. “Shit.”
“What?” Buck asked.
Matt looked over at the group with rage on his face, then pointed to Semir. “Tell them what you just said.”
Sweat saturated the boy’s temple as he danced in place, his hands still tight behind his back. “I would like an attorney?” he asked with complete uncertainty.
Buck placed his hands on his hips and glared at Matt. “Oh really? That just came to him?”
“Hey,” Matt said, grabbing Semir by the back of his shirt and heading down a path toward their car. “He’s got rights. I’ll take him in and get a statement.”
“Hold it,” Buck barked.
Matt didn’t hesitate. He threw Semir to the ground, then marched over to Buck, sensing the machine guns coming into a ready position around him.
“I trained at Fort Bragg,” Matt said looking around at the commandos, letting them know he’s one of them. Special Forces. A brotherhood that didn’t wash off even after you were discharged. Then he took in Buck’s glare. He gestured toward Semir on his knees. “He’s coming with us. We’re going to question him using the techniques allowed under the Constitution.” He looked around again at the soldiers. “You remember the Constitution, right? Remember that oath you all took to defend it? Because I remember it. It was our creed. So if you’re going to shoot me go ahead. I’m not afraid of dying. Just try living the rest of your lives with cold-blooded murder on your conscience.”
Buck looked around and saw his team loosen their grips on their weapons. It was subtle, but it was there. They weren’t about to kill one of their own. Not over this.
Matt nodded to the rest of his team and watched them fall in behind him.
“I’m taking my suspect into custody,” Matt said. He eyed the soldiers surrounding their leader. “You guys follow him,” Matt said as he pulled Semir down the path. “He’ll get you killed before sundown.”
Chapter 7
It was late afternoon by the time the team arrived at the county sheriff’s office. The complex was a one story block building with a gravel parking lot and a flagpole jutting out from a circle of red bricks. You had to pass Old Glory on the way into the building which made Matt smile, reminding him of the entrance to the Baltimore field office. Except this was no FBI building. This was merely a small satellite office to the main sheriff’s office in Globe. Twelve hundred square feet of block walls and linoleum flooring. They didn’t even have a receptionist to answer phones.
Steele, Tommy and Luke entered first while Matt kept a grip on Semir’s arm. Luke opened the single jail cell and Matt shoved Semir into the empty space before turning to see Julie Bracco by herself, cleaning sandwich crumbs from the vacant receptionist’s desk.
“What are you doing here?” Matt asked.
Julie rolled her eyes and gestured toward the closed door to the inner office. “Guess who’s back playing sheriff?”
“Are you kidding me?” Matt said. He noticed the frustration in Julie’s eyes and wanted to retract his comment the second it left his mouth.
“Listen,” Julie crumbled up the sandwich wrapper with more muscle than necessary, “do you really think he’s going to sit at home nursing a wounded shoulder while a terrorist is out there trying to kill him?”
She turned to throw the wrapper in the garbage and Matt followed. He wedged himself in front of her and held her arms to face him. She was a rock. Her body trembled in his grasp, but she kept her composure. Matt crouched down to be at eye level. “Jule,” he said with his most professional face, “we’ll get this done just like we always do. Understand?”
Julie’s face tightened. It seemed to be the same fight she’d always contended with as an FBI agent’s wife-be brave, but not naive.