The Brit burned a CD containing all of the information they had pertaining to al-Qaeda operations in America. He also burned a copy of the CD and gave it to Hans after handwriting on it the date and that it was given to the Americans. He told Hans to send it someplace for safe keeping. Hans looked at him rather funny and the Brit responded, “At some point this is going to all blow up. We are going to need to know what we told to whom when the hammer falls. Right now, the rest of the world hasn’t decided to throw out the Rules of Engagement and open back up the wholesale slaughter counter. No offense, but the last time we did that was against your people and there is a lot of fallout happening from it even today.”
Hans nodded, knowing it was the truth. There had been a lot of soft-life educated-type people writing articles about the Allied bombing campaign which exterminated entire German cities. A lot of party members back home still carried some resentment about it, but oddly not as many as Hans would have expected, and far fewer than in the countries which had actually carried out the bombings.
“You honestly believe there will be another international war crimes trial over this and we will be sitting in defendant’s chairs?”
“No. I think you and I will either manage to disappear or we will both be sitting at ground zero when the leaders of this decide to tie off loose ends. Give this to someone who will keep it in a safe place and let it surface if we happen to be tied off.”
With that, the Brit left and endured a four-hour bus ride one way to meet his contact. People from civilized countries tend to hate buses and use them only when they have to. As bad as the buses are in those countries, they look like a shiny new Mercedes compared to the bus the Brit was riding on. Thank God the windows opened. No air conditioning, the bus was packed, and some people had animals with them.
He arrived at yet another IT center: one cluster of shiny new modern buildings surrounded by squalor. He found a place on the street that wasn’t too crowded and opened up a disposable cell phone to call his contact.
“Hello.”
“I have some information for you. Can we meet?” “Where?”
“I just got off the bus.”
“Oh. I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
The contact arrived right on time. The Brit handed him the CD.
“What’s this?”
“All we currently have on al-Qaeda in the U.S. Don’t ask for more or where it came from as I cannot say.”
“Understood.”
The man put the CD in his shoulder bag then asked, “What’s the bird’s-eye view?”
“Email traffic to and from al-Qaeda members. Attack plans for both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Sears Tower.”
The Brit watched his contact’s eyes widen involuntarily, then asked, “Enough for an arrest?”
“If you don’t have to divulge your source and go through the court system. More than enough to get a warrant and search for legal evidence. Doubt you will find it, though. Most of these operatives seem to use libraries and Internet cafés to communicate.”
“That has been the problem, but right now we have to go through due process.”
“Well, if you can arrange for a covert flight in and out, I know some people who could snatch some of these operatives for you, interrogate them off U.S. Soil. Then you will never hear from them again.”
“I don’t have the clearance to authorize it yet. Should be coming, though. We shall see what the high-IQ boys think of this stuff and what they are willing to risk on it.”
“There’s my return bus. Good hunting.” “And to you.”
The Brit climbed aboard for another hot, sweaty and smelly four-hour bus ride back to headquarters. He made a mental note when he got back to go to one of the apartments and take a shower.
***********************
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