“He didn’t say. But we agreed that I would set up a meeting between you two.” Jackson rubbed his temples. “Look, I realize that this is highly unorthodox, but I’m going to need you to work with UAE intelligence on this. I’ve already spoken to Waleed. I trust him. As much as I can trust anyone in this line of work. I’m loaning you out to him while we clean house at Dubai Station.”
Chase nodded. “Understood. Whatever you need.”
“Once we scrub a few agents clean and make sure they are not compromised, I’ll send you someone to provide backup. But for now, do not speak to any Agency personnel about what you are doing in Dubai. Understood?”
“Yes.”
“If you need help, I’ll authorize contract assistance for you. But not agents.”
“No problem. What will I be working on with Waleed?”
“Our asset in the Dubai financial district has some data we need. I can’t send any of my people now, because I can’t be sure whom to trust. In three days, you need to make contact with him and get something from him.”
“Get what?”
“It’ll be a memory stick, or an external hard drive. Something like that. We need it. It will allow us to monitor transactional data within the bitcoin-backed currency network.”
“Why do we need to wait three days?”
“Because we need the exchange to start operating for us to get our information. Our source created a program that…” He made a face like he was trying to figure out how to explain it. “It’s like this. Say there was a hole in one of your backyard gas grill propane lines, right? You could spray some soapy water around the lines and see if any of the bubbles are moving around. That would show you where the problem was. But it would only work if the gas was flowing. Same situation here. The program we have to identify where any illegitimate activity is coming from needs the funds to be flowing. The exchange opens in forty-eight hours. So three days from now, we agreed to get the first delivery of data. I need you to get me that ASAP once he makes the handoff.”
Chase nodded. “Okay.”
Jackson took out a phone from his pocket and handed it to Chase. “Use this. It’s encrypted, and it only has one number on it. Mine. I’ll text you with information as I get it. Please do the same. If you have sensitive updates, tell me that we need to meet and I’ll arrange for you to be picked up.”
“Alright. How do I get in touch with the source in the Dubai financial district?”
“Waleed knows. He’ll help you with that. The other thing I need you to do is to meet up with Ahmad Gorji’s assistant. Try to develop either him or Gorji himself as an Agency asset. Find out why he wanted to meet with you. Then report back to me.”
“Okay.”
“That’s all for now. Like I said, I’ll try to send you an agent to back you up in a few days.”
“No problem.”
“Alright. Grab your bag. We’ll fly to Dubai right now. There will be a car for you when we get there.” Elliot stood. “This is your first time working with the Emiratis, right?”
“In this capacity, yes.”
“Well, prepare yourself. They are what you and I would refer to as high rollers.”
The US Air Force turboprop flew from Al Dhafra Air Base to Minhad Air Base in less than twenty minutes. Chase wondered why they couldn’t have taken the ninety-minute car ride, but he wasn’t complaining. Minhad, like Al Dhafra, was officially UAE property. Unofficially, there was a heavy international military presence at both locations.
A well-polished black Lexus sedan waited for him on the runway as he and Elliot departed the aircraft. Nicer than the reception he typically got. In Iraq he had been picked up by a ’93 Toyota with no air conditioning. Elliot said goodbye and walked toward an unmarked white van. The side door slid open, and he disappeared inside.
Chase looked at the Lexus. He was going to like working for the Emirates.
The driver looked Arabic, although Chase doubted that he was Emirati. They imported their help here in Dubai. The man spoke in thickly accented English. “Good evening, Mr. Manning. Please, I take your baggage.”
Chase handed the man his black duffle bag. The driver looked around as if he was expecting more. Seeing none, he cast Chase an odd look and held the rear door open for him. Moments later, they were racing along Dubai’s main highway.
The driver didn’t speak during the entire thirty minutes it took them to get to their destination. It would have been a boring drive except for the view. At first, Chase could see nothing but the enormous reddish-brown sand dunes of the desert. Then the dark outline of the Dubai skyscrapers appeared through the haze of the sky. The magnificent cityscape went on as far as the eye could see, crowned by the tallest building in the world, the Burj Khalifa.
The setting sun’s reflection lit up the Burj Khalifa like a torch. The giant structure towered over the rest of the city’s skyscrapers. And these were buildings that would have otherwise been considered enormous. It was not the first time Chase had been to Dubai. But it didn’t matter. He couldn’t help but marvel at the Burj Khalifa each time he saw it.
As they drove inside the city limits, Chase’s view switched to the modern monorail-style train system, luxury cars, and bright city lights. They passed enormous four-level shopping malls and plush high-end restaurants. Many of the hotels had palm trees covering their rooftop pools and bars.
When the car stopped at an intersection, Chase watched the cross-section of people walking the streets. It was a mix of European tourists, international businessmen, lower-class workers (mostly from India), and the local elite. Groups of Arab women adorned in black flowing robes walked into street-front shops. Most of the Arab men were dressed in bright white robes, with a variety of head garb. Everyone was sweating in the desert heat.
It was almost dark by the time Chase arrived at the hotel. As they pulled around the long driveway, he saw a glimpse of the beach behind the hotel. A thin rim of the setting orange sun peeked above the ocean. Chase saw a group of bikini-clad women sipping cocktails at the poolside bar. Definitely not Iraq.
His Lexus came to a stop and Chase stepped out into the hot, moist air. Neat rows of imported palm trees towered overhead. He thanked the driver and threw his bag over his shoulder. He then walked toward the hotel entrance, past a row of luxury cars parked on the red-and-white brick driveway.
Bentley. Maserati. Lamborghini. Ferrari. Porsche. Chase was drooling on the inside. He liked cars. He owned a Ford Mustang. It was a few years old, but it was what he could afford. The Mustang was nice. It was like dating a pretty girl. But these cars were supermodels. Out of his league.
His polo shirt and khakis began to feel inadequate. But it was all he had.
He looked up at the name inscribed on the hotel. The Four Seasons Dubai. Chase entered the large glass revolving doors and felt a soothing cool air cover his face and arms. A sweet floral scent filled the air, and an artificial waterfall cascaded down ahead of him. Across the way, a man wearing a tuxedo played Rachmaninoff on a Steinway grand piano.
The lobby was filled with wealthy-looking patrons. Chase’s eyes followed a group of Western women in stiletto heels, black dresses, and expensive jewelry. They were escorting several Emirati men in the traditional white robes and headscarves, wrapped with black headbands. Part of him wondered if they were pros. Supposedly the prostitution industry was in full swing here.
An Indian woman wearing a hotel name tag appeared in front of him. She spoke with a British accent. “Mr. Chase Manning?” She had a brilliant white smile.
“Yes?”
“Right this way, sir. Mr. Waleed Hajjar has asked me to take any luggage that you might have and show you to the Hendricks Bar as soon as you arrive. If you would please follow me.”