AllFreeNovel
Share Us
The President was weary from a series of nonstop conferences with the Canadian Prime Minister in Ottawa, but he brightened like a streetlight.
"Thank God. That is good news. Were there any casualties?"
"Two SOF men were wounded, neither seriously, but three NUMA people were shot up pretty badly," reported Brogan.
"NUMA people were on the scene?"
"Dirk Pitt was responsible for tracking down the cruise ship. He and three others kept the hijackers from escaping along with their hostages."
"So he helped save his own father."
"He certainly deserves a major share of the credit."
The President rubbed his hands together happily. "It's al most noon, gentlemen. Why don't we celebrate with a bottle of wine over lunch, and you can give me a full report."
Secretary of State Douglas Oates, Alan Mercier, the President's National Security Adviser, and Julius Schiller also joined the group for lunch.
After dessert, Mercier passed around copies of the transcribed report from General Dodge.
The President toyed with his fork as he read the transcript. Then he looked up, a mixture of surprise and triumph on his face.
"Topiltzin!"
"He's in it up to his ears," said Brogan. "Topiltzin provided the Mexican terrorist crew and die vessel for the switch with the cruise ship."
"So he did conspire with his brother on the Lady Flamborough hijacking,"
the President said confidentially.
Nichols nodded. "The facts add up that way, but it won't be easy to prove."
"any idea as to the identity of the mastermind behind the operation?"
"We have a make," replied Brogan briefly. This is a condensed file on the man." He paused to hand the President another folder. "He did a remarkable job of disguising himself to look like the Captain of the ship during the capture, and then he changed to a mask. Later, Dirk Pitt met face to face with him during a truce before the fighting. The name he gave was Suleiman Aziz Ammar."
"Seems odd this Ammar got lax and dropped his name," mused Schiller.
"Must be an alias."
Brogan shook his head. "The name is real enough. We have a comprehensive packet on him. So does Interpel. Ammar must have figured Pitt was as good as dead, and had nothing to lose by identifying himself."
The President's eyes narrowed. "According to your file he's suspected of being directly or indirectly involved with over fifty murders of prominent government officials. Is this possible?"
"Suleiman Aziz Ammar is rated at the very top of his profession."
"A diehard terrorist."
"Assassin," Brogan corrected the President. "Ammar specializes only in political assassination. Cold-blooded as they come. Big on disguise and detailed planning. As the words of the song go, 'Nobody does it better." Half his hits were so clean they were written off as accidents.
He's a Muslim, but he's taken on jobs for the French and Germans and even the Israelis. Gets top dollar. He's amassed a considerable fortune for his successful operations in and around the Mediterranean."
"Was he captured?"
"No, sir," Brogan admitted. "He was not among the dead or wounded."
"The man escaped?" the President asked sharply.
"If he still lives, Ammar cannot get far," Brogan assured him. "Pitt he pumped at least three bullets into him. An extensive manhunt has been activated. There is no escape from the island. He should be found in a few hours."
