When he jumped down off the table, he had to hold on for several moments while he collected himself and regulated his breathing. When he looked up, the gauze knot was visible, but not obvious.
He was in luck. Phase three had been accomplished but he had paid a price. His arm was throbbing and his face burned where the salty sweat had run down through the still-healing network of cuts and blisters. Anytime now, someone was going to realize that the guard had not returned on schedule and would come looking for him.
Bogner unlocked the door, made certain the corridor was clear, moved to the cell adjacent to his, unlocked the door, went in, and locked the door behind him. He had guessed right. The cell was empty. Now it was all up to to Fahid. He was banking on the NIMF colonel reasoning that no man who had just escaped would promptly lock himself in the next cell.
Bogner didn’t have to wait long. Soon there were voices. He could hear them shuffling up the hall, laughing. When they stopped, he knew they were close. He heard the key being inserted into the lock, the sound of the door being opened, and finally the surprised expressions of men who realized there was no one in the room.
“Get Lieutenant Illah!” Bogner heard one of the men shout in Arabic.
Lieutenant Kashic Illah stood at attention while Fahid remained seated on the only chair in the room that had been Bogner’s cell up until an hour earlier. If someone had asked the young officer, he would have admitted astonishment at his colonel’s lack of outrage to the news Bogner had escaped.
It seemed almost as if Fahid had expected it.
Now, at Fahid’s request, he prepared to repeat his report for a second time. As he began he managed to steal an uneasy glance at both Jahin and the two guards standing near the door to the cell.
“Corporal Mafraqi has been assigned duties here in the confinement area for the past several months,” Illah stated.
“Currently there are only three detainees—”
“I am well aware of how many men are currently confined to this section. Lieutenant,” Fahid grunted.
“Proceed with your report.”
There was less confidence in Illah’s voice when he began again.
“I have checked with the kitchen personnel and they inform me Corporal Mafraqi came for the food service cart at the usual time and began his rounds. I am also told that it usually took him thirty to forty minutes to complete his rounds. When he failed to return in the usual amount of time, I was informed and sent Corporals Riyadh and Fujairah to check on his whereabouts. When they opened the door to the American’s cell, they found him missing.
“Corporal Fujairah reported the missing prisoner and I ordered a thorough search of the building and grounds. As I indicated to Major Jahin when I reported the incident to him, we have completed our search both in and around the confinement area and there is no sign of either the prisoner or Corporal Mafraqi.”
Fahid looked quickly at Jahin as he stood up.
“And you are quite certain. Lieutenant, that the prisoner escaped?”
“So far we have not been able to locate him,” Illah admitted.
Fahid’s expression revealed sardonic amusement with the young lieutenant’s assessment of the situation.
“Tell me, Lieutenant, do you consider yourself to be a good officer, both thorough and observant?”
Illah hesitated before he answered.
“I do, sir,” he finally said.
“If that’s the case, look up. Lieutenant Illah, and tell me what you see.”
The young officer quickly scanned the ceiling of the room, and failed to notice that the vent covering was being held up by the strips of gauze interlaced in the grate’s openings.
“I do not understand,” he said.
“Give me your side arm. Lieutenant.”
Illah handed Fahid his Mk 2 and watched while his colonel aimed the weapon at the ceiling and squeezed off three rounds. The sound of the shots reverberated around the cinder-block walls of the room.
“Now, Lieutenant, I think, if you will inspect the ventilation system, you will find your prisoner.”
Illah instructed one of the guards to get up on the table and remove the vent. When the man did, Mafraqi’s boot was visible.
“And there, Lieutenant, I believe is your—” Fahid’s words caught in his throat as Mafraqi’s body was lowered first to the table and finally to the floor. Finally he said, “Our American is more clever than I gave him credit for being.”
Fahid continued to study the body.
“Still, it is only a matter of time. But now that you are able to get a better look at Corporal Mafraqi’s body, Lieutenant, what else are you able to observe?”
Illah hesitated. He was well aware that another careless observation was likely to raise his colonel’s are. “I–I,” he stammered, “I am not certain what the colonel means.”
Fahid took the toe of his boot and nudged the dead man’s head, and it rolled easily to the side.
“Corporal Mafraqi’s neck is broken. Lieutenant-an indication that while we already know the prisoner is hampered by a bullet wound in the left arm, he is still quite capable of administering a lethal blow. Secondly, you will notice that your guard is no longer wearing his aux pack and his side arm. That tells you that the American is now armed with the same weapons you have at your disposal. The advantage you once had is now lost — he will be twice as dangerous as before-and twice as difficult to recapture.” Fahid ordered one of the guards to search the dead man.
The guard rolled Mafraqi over on his back and rummaged through his pockets.
“I find nothing, sir,” the guard reported.
“From that we can assume our American friend also has Corporal Mafraqi’s keys, can we not, Lieutenant?” Fahid said.
Illah remained silent, chastising himself for his lack of attention to detail.
Fahid stepped around the body until he was standing only inches from the young officer.
“And now. Lieutenant, I believe I have not only found the body of one of the two men that only moments ago you were ready to assure me was not on the grounds, I have also made it quite clear what you are up against. Now… do you think you can find the American or should I assign the task to another officer?”
Illah was humiliated. Not only had Fahid discredited him and made a fool of him in front of his immediate superior officer. Major Jahin, but he had been belittled in front of two of his guards as well. He squared his shoulders and looked blankly back at Fahid.
“We will find him, sir,” he said.
Fahid backed away.
“I would caution you, Lieutenant.
You are not dealing with one of the nomadic and unschooled Kurds against which you appear to have enjoyed so much success. You are dealing with a professional killer, handpicked by the Unites States government to disrupt our mission here in Ammash. You cannot be too careful.
Is that understood. Lieutenant?”
Fahid started for the door and stopped. He looked back at Illah.
“A little advice. Lieutenant.
When you find the American, shoot him. Dead men are incapable of giving you further grief.
Have I made myself clear?”
“Quite clear, Colonel, quite clear.”
“Then find him. Lieutenant, and kill him. I will expect your report within the hour.”
It was less than thirty minutes later that Captain Call Mahmand, Fahid’s public relations officer, stood in front of his colonel’s desk while Fahid briefed him. “In our little chess game with the world. Captain, it is time for us to move another pawn,” Fahid said.
“You will inform your sources that the man accused of assassinating General Sahh Baddour has signed a confession admitting his duplicity in the plot. You will also inform your sources that Mr. Bogner has managed to escape and in the process has killed his Northern Iraqi Military Force guard.” Fahid thought for a moment before he added, “Perhaps it should also be noted that now General Ishad Fahid, Commander in Chief of the NIMF, has given instructions that the prisoner is to be shot on sight.”