“Were you told why it was being shut down?”
“I was told it’s because of what happened to Gabe and for my safety. But I think there’s more to it than that.”
“There’s a lot more to it,” interrupted the general. “DOJ and State are probably telling your boss out there it’s about safety. But the real reason the operation is being shut down is because the White House does not want it to become known the DPRK is working with the IRGC to build nuclear weapons and ICBMs.”
Jake was stunned. “Are we talking about the same case? I’m working a counterfeit goods violation and a kidnapping. My targets are Korean gangsters moving containers of illicit merchandise into the United States.”
“Yeah, I know,” Newman continued. “But what nobody bothered to tell you is Pyongyang and Tehran have found a way to skirt compliance with this new nuclear arms agreement by having the North Koreans build nuclear warheads and ICBMs for the ayatollahs.”
“How does that connect with the California Korean Mafia moving containers of knockoff jeans, watches, and cigarettes into the States?”
“Here’s the short form,” Newman said after a brief pause. “The Senate has to ratify the so-called International Agreement on Iranian Nuclear Research and Development in the next thirty days. If it becomes known North Korea is doing uranium and plutonium enrichment and ICBM R&D for Tehran to avoid detection by the International Atomic Energy Agency, the Senate will vote down the treaty.”
“But how do containers full of counterfeit goods and drugs play into the North Koreans building nuclear weapons for Iran?”
“The North Koreans oversold their own nuclear fuel enrichment and ICBM R&D capability — and Tehran bought Pyongyang’s BS. Now agents for the DPRK are scurrying all over the globe, buying up advanced centrifuge components, nuke warhead electromechanical technology, and high-tech industrial robotic machinery for building ICBMs.”
“But that stuff has to cost a whole lot more than they can raise with a few dozen containers of phony Rolex watches and the other stuff I’m seeing.”
“You’re right,” Newman replied. “That’s why there’s a flood of Supernotes here in the United States and all over Europe. The North Koreans are paying for all the illicit technology with counterfeit hundred-dollar bills.”
Jake pondered the information for a moment, then said quietly, “All the more reason why the right thing to do is keep this case going, not kill it.”
“This isn’t about right or wrong, Jake. It’s about institutional arrogance. The nuclear arms deal with Iran is the only diplomatic claim to fame this White House has left. If this treaty goes down the tubes, so does the president’s legacy as a great statesman.”
“So justice doesn’t matter. Gabe’s torture-murder doesn’t matter. And Iran cheating on a nuclear arms treaty doesn’t matter. All that matters is the ego of—”
“Stop, Jake. You’re preaching to the choir,” Newman interrupted. “Here’s something else that matters to me: not losing another of my Marines — meaning you.”
“Yes, sir.”
“At the meeting I just left, the Agency rep described how Gabe was brutally tortured before he was killed. Langley is convinced he was compromised by someone inside the operation.”
“That’s possible,” said Jake. “It could have been Cho Hee Sun, the guy they called Sonny. He was killed out here last week. But it could have also been Sonny’s brother in Hong Kong. There are a lot of different agencies playing in this sandbox — and way too many people with a ‘need-to-know’ who don’t know anything.”
“Well, here’s a little of what I know from the NSA rep on this damage assessment team: This fellow Park Soon Yong that you have contacted is the big gun for the DPRK. Park is in charge of disbursing counterfeit currency in the United States and buying the high-tech toys the North Koreans need to make good on their deal with the Iranians. He’s apparently waiting for a large shipment of cash — real or counterfeit, nobody seems to know — so he can purchase the items on Pyongyang’s shopping list and ship them back to North Korea. And finally, the Agency seems to think Park is somehow involved in Gabe’s murder. I hope you have someone to cover your six — because Gabe didn’t.”
“Many thanks for the intel, General. It’s good to know since I will apparently be off this case at midnight. You just gave me more straight scoop than I’ve gotten from the Bureau since this op began—”
“Oh yeah, since you mentioned the Bureau: do you have a fellow by the name of Hafner in the FBI office out there?”
“Yes, sir, he’s the ASAC. Why?”
“Well, he was on the secure video link for part of this damage assessment meeting. Hafner said you were being pulled off the case and sent back here for a psych eval. I took the opportunity to tell him that it would be a waste of money. Anybody who leaves the Corps to join the Bureau has to be certifiable.”
“Thanks, General,” said Jake with a smile. “I’ll continue to use you as a reference in my ongoing search for meaningful work. Please give my fond regards to Mrs. Newman.”
The sign-off was classic Newman: “Keep your head down, Jake. Call if you need a QRF. You mean a lot to me. Semper Fi, Marine.”
CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR
Jake finished backing the trailer up to the loading dock while waiting for Park to arrive. He shut down the diesel engine, pondering what he had learned from Peter Newman and wondering about the contents of the forty-foot container. If the general was right, the steel box held currency — real or counterfeit — to be used for buying centrifuges and other nuclear weapons components for the North Korean government. But if Jake understood Park correctly, the crime boss intended to use some or all of what was in the container to pay a three-million-dollar ransom.
It was a few minutes after three and Jake was surprised there was no one here to open the warehouse. Time seemed to be of the essence and he assumed Park and his minions would be on-scene when he arrived. Wondering if there had been a problem, Jake had begun to punch in Park’s number when he spotted the GMC Yukon turning the corner.
Park was driving, accompanied by the Green Hornet and Kato — the two-man security team Park considered to be most reliable. A rental box truck followed Park with three Asian men cramped in the front seat. Both vehicles turned into the alley entrance of the warehouse and Jake knew that in a matter of minutes the loading-dock door would be opened.
As the door slowly rose he spotted the six men through his side-view mirrors. They scrambled around, moving cargo inside the warehouse, making room for the contents of the container. He jumped down from the cab, approached Park, and asked, “Any word, sir?”
“Nothing yet, Jake. Please, let’s hurry.”
Jake pulled the one-page bill of lading from his back pocket and handed it to Park. In his other hand Jake gripped a long pair of bolt cutters. He and Park walked to the back of the shipping container and Jake grabbed the thin metal seal attached to the lock.
Jake examined the serial numbers on the seal and read them off to Park, who compared the numbers to those listed on the bill of lading.
Park said, “Not that I doubted you but the numbers match. Open it.”
Jake wanted to reinforce his integrity. “Mr. Park, I want to assure you no one has tampered with this container since it left Korea. As you can see, the seal is intact.”
Park nodded but was anxious to get the container unloaded. “Yes, I see that. Just get it open.”
Using the bolt cutters, Jake easily clipped the seal and opened the cumbersome steel doors to a container packed from floor to ceiling with… rolls of fabric!