good buddy Mr Norris will be with us when his ego calms down and the tyre smoke clears,’ the instructor said. ‘But I’ll introduce myself first. I’m Mr Adams, but I’d prefer it if you call me James.’
3. CARGO
Until late 2010, the Islamic Department of Justice (IDoJ) was regarded as one of many obscure militant Islamic groups mainly known for posting anti-American and anti-Israeli material on the Internet.
This changed in October 2011, when IDoJ kidnapped two wealthy American executives attending a conference in Cairo. Sophisticated techniques used during the abduction suggested IDoJ members had received Special Forces-style training.
After a video was released showing the beheading of one kidnappee, the family of the other victim defied US Government wishes and paid a ransom of several million dollars. It is now believed that this money has been used to fund further terrorist activity.
Nothing more was heard from IDoJ until March 2012 when a woman was arrested in Paris while conducting a cyber-attack on the French train-signalling system. She had proven links to IDoJ and further investigation revealed a credible plot that might have resulted in the hijacking and deliberate collision of two high-speed passenger trains.
This threat to a prestigious European target elevated IDoJ to a top priority for global intelligence agencies. However, the suspect arrested in France gave little away under interrogation and the rest of the organisation slipped back under the radar.
The next sign of IDoJ activity was picked up when the group attempted to hire a large cargo aircraft from the Kyrgyzstan-based smuggling outfit known as the Aramov Clan. Fortunately, this organisation has been under the effective control of US intelligence for some months, and we are now presented with a unique opportunity to infiltrate and destroy the IDoJ terror group.
Extracted from a CIA anti-terrorist briefing, given to the United States President, October 2012.
Ryan had been chosen to deal with Tracy’s capture because he was strong enough to handle her physically, but would look less suspicious than some adult goon as he moved her around the airport.
He’d role-played at the Kremlin, with TFU agent Amy Collins acting as Tracy. Ryan’s first job was to freak the pilot out with the picture and nasty mental images of what might happen to her family, but after this Tracy had to play the part of an untroubled pilot preparing for a routine flight, so Ryan moderated his voice and started acting nicer.
After taking Tracy’s mobile phone, Ryan stood close by while she used a disabled toilet. She had to go to the pilots’ lounge to file her flight plan, and Ryan watched her through a glass door as she checked weather data and used a PC to log her flight plan.
‘You’ve got a missed call,’ Ryan said, when Tracy came back into the corridor. ‘Atlanta HQ. You need to act normal.’
Tracy nodded as she took her cheapo Android phone off Ryan. Even on a routine trip, a flight plan requires complex calculations on fuelling, weather and cargo weight. Major airlines like Globespan require pilots to e-mail flight plans to headquarters as soon as they’re filed and Tracy worried that her nervous state had led to an error.
But the Globespan employee was calling about a crew problem. ‘Phil Perry ate some bad crabmeat at his hotel and he’s doubled over,’ the woman explained. ‘Luckily the local crewing agency has dug someone up. He’s an Indian named Elbaz and he should be with you shortly.’
Until now, Tracy had drawn comfort from the assumption that she’d be sharing her ordeal with a familiar co-pilot. ‘Is Elbaz security-cleared for flights into the USA?’ she stuttered.
‘Full clearance,’ Atlanta confirmed. ‘He’s already on airport property and he has your number if he can’t find you.’
‘Great,’ Tracy said, trying to hide her nerves. ‘Is that it?’
‘All good to go, Tracy. Fly safe.’
Tracy looked at Ryan as she handed back her phone. ‘Do you know about Elbaz?’
Ryan nodded. ‘He’s working with us.’
‘Is Phil Perry OK?’
Ryan only knew a few details of IDoJ’s plan, but they were a ruthless bunch with no reason to keep the co-pilot alive after pointing a gun at his head and ordering him to call in sick.
‘I’m sure Phil will be fine if he behaves himself,’ Ryan lied. ‘We’ll head to your plane now. There should be plenty of spare time when we get there, I’ll see if they’ll let you call your husband.’
Tracy nodded as they walked side by side, crossing the little terminal in less than a minute.