Massive Attack (A Guy Niava Thriller Book 1) by Dana Arama (diy ebook reader TXT) 📕

way, this new situation has made it easier for us,” Linda said. Even though she had joined the team just shortly before I went to take a catnap, she was already up to speed. In response to what she had said, I looked at her doubtfully, and so she explained: “Firstly, we know that it is the real Yassin, and secondly, we know for sure that he and the others in the room are starting to feel sick.”

“We took all that into account before, even when we weren’t sure it was the real Yassin. That is why we haven’t broken into the room yet.” I shook my head. “What you don’t know is that I received an order to pack up and to stop bothering the VIP guest, the honorable Mr. Yassin Graham. Even though I know that this man, without a doubt, is dealing in terrorist activities, I am continuing my investigation against him and at the same time trying to hold back the political pressure he is somehow able to exert.”

“Listen,” said one of the tacticians, who was leaning over the map of the hotel showing the suite floor. “In principle, it is best to sit it out and do nothing. If we wait patiently, whoever is in the room will die, and the last ones in, the doctor and his captor, will remain alive by the time we break in.”

“That is not possible.” I shook my head again. “It goes against the opinion of the experts at the White House. I think that his body is not going to deter anyone. You…” I corrected myself, “I mean we, we need Yassin Graham alive, to answer all our questions. Otherwise how can we know what his plans are for this attack? When? And what scope? Partners in crime who need to be stopped?” I explained to them.

And Linda added, “To wait is the worst plan. We can’t afford to allow Yassin to die, because a dead Yassin may be more dangerous than an alive Yassin.”

I turned to the tactician and asked, “What other options did you think of?”

“To break in through the windows. We already have snipers waiting on the roof opposite the building.”

“That is almost an impossible shot,” I noted. I didn’t add that it was so impossible that they would have to shoot over and over again, because it was known that there were multiple hostile elements and one had to make sure that they weren’t shooting anyone innocent.

“Yes…” Linda said. “That is a desperate step and is only suitable if they have a specific person in their sights to take out immediately.”

“Can I suggest another way, a little less ‘Rambo’ and a little more ‘insurance company boredom’?” Laura asked.

The officer in charge of the breaking-in said, “Of course.”

“They’re on the top floor. We can go up on the roof, drill a few microscopic holes and pipe in an anesthesia gas.”

The break-in team looked at one another and then at me and at Linda, who said, “By the look on your face, there is a serious ‘but’.”

“By the time we finish, the wife and son will die.”

Her face hardened as she answered, “And in the diplomatic incident that will ensue we can blame Israel. We should think of another alternative and fast.”

The officer moved the map and took out his tablet. He uploaded a picture of the hotel’s rooftop. “Wait a minute. Don’t give up so quickly. Maybe microscopic holes into such a large space are not such a good idea under the circumstances, but the idea in itself is very good. All we need to do is to find a larger opening. Like, for instance…” He enlarged the picture on the screen and Linda focused on what seemed like a chimney.”

“A chimney?” she asked doubtfully. “How come they have a chimney?”

“They have four chimneys in this suite. As a matter of fact, there are air ducts in every bathroom and toilet and there are four of those.”

“Are the airways too small for a person to pass inside?”

“They are too small for that, but large enough to throw a hand grenade. The only thing we need to do is to stop the ventilation for a short while and we can do that with a short cut in the electricity,” he said.

“I am afraid it is not so simple. We need to hit them surgically and specifically. Now that we know that the doctor is inside and that he is involved, neutralizing is not an option anymore. We need him alive and we can’t jeopardize innocent civilians. We already know about four innocent people there: The wife and the son, the newly kidnapped doctor and the previously kidnapped boy, Jonathan Niava. We need to control our break-in and quickly take over.”

***

The new situation now involving a kidnapped doctor had turned Yassin from a known dignitary to a common terrorist. It turned the uncertain situation to a much more valid operation. The state of affairs gave me a sort of complacent feeling. I knew what needed to be done and even if it was going to be difficult, it was much better than just sitting around waiting for the decision to fold, or for a piece of information that may help us out, or not. At long last I knew for certain where the situation was headed.

The officer in charge of the break-in team was my key man for this operation and was called ‘Major Key’ by his men. He entered the room and announced, “This new situation demands more valid intelligence.”

I put on a smile of self-confidence. “That is a task for the technical team,” I answered.

“Who is directly under you? I need them to penetrate more points in order to insert more bugging devices and electro-optical devices into the room.”

I gave permission, Major Key gave the instructions, and his men implemented them. A long few minutes of tension passed until a new, more vivid picture of the situation in the room came through and it was