One Came Back

By Joe Smiga

The third book from Behind the Lies is somewhat different from the first two books in the series. In the first two books, there is constant motion heading toward terrible destruction. In the third, there is a shift to introduce human feelings along with events to show how the characters, who are dealing with their pasts, achieve their next destructive goals, while still dealing with being human.

In this book, I introduce two main characters; one had been in all three books of the series. His companion is new to the book. They are full of passion and emotions that we tend to experience in our everyday lives. It is an experience of rebuilding lives after tragedies, deep loss, revenge, and manipulation by governments, thrilling action, and human beings overcoming diversity, each trying their best to survive. It is my final book in this series. I hope that you enjoy it as it has some reality based on my own life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Apr 2, 2013
• ISBN: 9781483612225

Joe Smiga

About the Author Joe Smiga’s first book was published in May 2009 by Xlibris. On October 19, 2009, the New Hampshire Union Leader, New Hampshire’s statewide newspaper, printed a glowing review of Behind the Lies, saying it was worthy of Tom Clancy. Since then, Joe has published seven additional books with Xlibris because of the quality of their work. This year, Joe is publishing his ninth book, Iran’s Shocking Reversal. This novel opens up the imaginative possibilities of developing a better world. This is book tells the story of a major change in the Middle East. Joe loves to tell stories, especially one with hope for the future. He also tells stories of what really happens in the real world. Joe has a naval military background and close to forty-five years of sales and marketing engineered products. Iran’s Shocking Reversal will blow your mind.

Book preview

Prologue

June 2013

In the lower level of the mosque, Hamid’s angry figure is towering over Imam Adel and the senior mullah who are bound to chairs.

I want to know why you ordered Azim to kill Kamil and me. We did everything you asked for. Four of the five missions were successful, and the one failure was because of a loose wire. Why?

The senior mullah says, We are not responsible for Azim’s actions. You cannot blame us for what he did.

You are telling me a dying man lied to me. You want me to believe that?

Adel is perspiring from fear. Sweat is pouring down his face.

Hamid looks to Adel. Is he telling the truth?

Quivering, Adel says, Yes, we had no reason to kill you. He must have been very jealous of your success.

Really, you want me to believe that bullshit?

Hamid places duct tape on Adel’s mouth. Then Hamid turns to the mullah. Now it is your turn to suffer. After watching how I get you to tell me what I want to know, I believe Adel will be willing to tell me everything.

*     *     *

Hamid wakes; his body is soaking from sweat. This is the third night he has had the same nightmare.

Chapter One

Hamid’s Escape

Sunday morning, Hamid books a first-class seat on Air Canada leaving Montreal. His destination is the Grand Cayman Island. The flight has one stop in Miami, Florida, without a plane change.

Hamid tries his best to hide his anxiety while he nervously walks around the airport and waits for the boarding call. It’s been less than ten hours since he crossed the American border back into Canada. He must exit as quickly as possible before the American authorities find him. When he hears the boarding call for his flight, he moves toward the gate. Hamid is constantly vigilant and trying to stay inconspicuous, not to be recognized or remembered. Realistically, he doubts he will have a problem; however, with everything that has happened, his instincts tell him not to take chances.

Boarding the A300 aircraft, he moves into first class and takes his assigned window seat. His body begins to relax, and then he remembers that he cannot let down his guard until the plane’s destination is reached.

The plane takes off on time, and he feels a little better. The stewardess inquires if he would like something to drink, and he asks for coffee with a little milk.

A meal is served to first-class passengers. He gladly accepts it. Who knows when the next one will be?

It is a three-hour flight. He is too uptight up to sleep. His mind is constantly reviewing the destruction they created and Kamil’s death. Hamid hopes there will be no authorities waiting for the plane in Miami.

After he exits the plane, Hamid decides to use his Iranian passport. Dentz Aydin will no longer exist, and he will dispose of the Turkish passport. However, he needs to find a source to obtain another passport without raising too much attention.

Hamid realizes he can never regain his life in Iran. My parents and siblings and I will never have the relationship we deserve, he thinks. It is safer for all of us if they no longer hear from me. He wonders if Kamil’s family saw the police pictures of him on television.

The flight to the Grand Cayman Island was a spur-of-the-moment decision. His arrival on the island was decided because that would put him close to his finances. It will take time to access where he can safely reside and where he will ultimately move to. These feelings fuel the rage he has boiling inside of him. What will become of the rest of my life?

He tries to distract his thoughts by reading a book purchased at the airport. It doesn’t work.

*     *     *

As the flight lands in Miami, thoughts of working with Kamil for nearly four years begin to work on his emotions. He senses his eyes filling with tears. Kamil was so naïve and enthusiastic about doing the bidding of the mullahs. For Allah, Kamil would say. Where is he now? Who knows what will happen with his body? He wonders why Azim was instructed to kill Kamil and himself. His dying words were He was told to clean up loose ends. One thing is certain: he will get the revenge he holds in his heart.

The layover in Miami is forty minutes. Some passengers leave the plane, and replacement boarders hurry on.

The next leg of the flight will be one hour. Hamid is anxious for the flight to end.

*     *     *

There are three islands in the Cayman group—Grand Cayman, Little Cayman, and Cayman Brac. Hamid needs to view all three to see if they are a good match for him to remain on the islands.

*     *     *

As he departs the Air Canada jet, the first-class stewardess asks Hamid if he will be staying for business or pleasure. Hamid replies, I’m on vacation. He doesn’t want her to remember him by saying something unusual.

She gives him a pleasant smile and wishes him a good adventure.

Getting through security and immigration takes him over an hour. His passport is checked and returned to him without any questions.

Now to find living quarters for a least two weeks, thinks Hamid.

*     *     *

Hamid spends time at the tourist information desk, trying to decide which hotel to pick. After some time, he asks the clerk to call the Comfort Suites on Seven Beach.

The pretty clerk confirms there is a suite available. She tells him she needs a name, arrival time, and departure date to make the reservation.

With the accommodations taken care of, he lifts his carry-on and heads outside to obtain a taxi. The sun is shining, and it lifts his spirits somewhat.

He flags down the first cab he sees.

*     *     *

As the driver heads toward the hotel, he asks, Is this your first time to the island?

Yes, I’ve heard so much about it and wanted to see it for myself.

Do you have family coming later to meet you?

No, I’m doing this trip alone because I want to write a book and include the island in it.

So you are a famous author?

I would like to be someday. Right now this will be my first book.

The driver makes a turn into the parking lot of the Comfort Suites. Let me give you my card. Maybe I can help you get to know the island.

Hamid takes the card and smiles as he sees this is not the type of card he would expect from the taxi company. I’ll keep that in mind. Right now I’ve come a long way from the west coast, and I need to get some rest. He gives the driver the twenty-dollar fare and a sizeable tip.

*     *     *

The door of the cab opens as a bellman is preparing to take his luggage, inviting him inside to register.

Chapter Two

Late Sunday Afternoon

Entering the suite, Hamid drops his bag on the couch in the living room and opens the sliding door to obtain some air. The temperature outside is at least ninety degrees. The room is stuffy and smells dusty. Stepping out onto the balcony, he takes time to refresh. He knows he must get some rest in order to begin thinking clearly and making plans for his future. He is tired of running on adrenaline.

Walking back into the living room, he checks out the accommodations. He opens windows to circulate the inside air with the ocean breeze that is blowing. There are two bedrooms: one has a king-size bed and the other has two twin beds. The kitchen has accommodations for preparing your own meals. Good, this will help me stay out of the limelight some of the time. Hamid removes his carry-on from the couch and empties its contents into the drawers in the larger bedroom. Hamid stretches out on the bed and smiles. This is more comfortable than anywhere I’ve stayed in the last two years. He closes his eyes momentarily and falls asleep.

*     *     *

At four in the afternoon on Sunday, Allison McDonald, CIA director, is sitting in her office. She is frustrated that one of the terrorists escaped into Canada and flew to Grand Cayman Island. He could be anywhere by now, and it is pointless to try and send out a team to search for him. Allison knows it would be useless because they don’t even know his real name, nor do they have a good composite to identify him by. She places the file inside of the safe located behind her desk. After locking the safe, Allison stands and decides it is time to spend the rest of her time at home like a normal person. Who’s to say what is normal? she thinks.

Before heading toward her door, Allison looks up at the ceiling and asks, Why, God, what do they have against us? Tomorrow she will call Ariel Wattenberg at Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv. She wants to run all of this by him. Allison closes her door, and her security force follows her down to the garage.

*     *     *

Hamid wakes up startled. He hadn’t planned on falling asleep. This shows him how exhausted he is. He looks at his watch and sees it is nearly six o’clock. Hamid decides to have dinner in the dining room, which has an early serving at six-thirty.

*     *     *

Hamid signs the dinner check, including his suite number. He leaves the veranda and decides to walk along the beach before heading back to his room. Over dinner, he planned to contact his bank here on the island to obtain a debit card in his name and deposit some of the cash he is carrying into the account. He doesn’t want to be walking around with all the cash. The sun is starting to set, and the view is very picturesque. He realizes that he hasn’t taken any time to appreciate such natural beauty since the planning began in Iran to make the trip to the States. A half hour later, he begins walking back to his suite.

*     *     *

Early the next morning, Allison McDonald asks her secretary to call Mossad headquarters in Tel Aviv to speak with Ariel Wattenberg.

When Ariel is on the line, he says, I received a message that you called previously. I’m sorry I was unable to return your call.

No problem. Actually I’m glad you didn’t return my call while you were probably away from the office. Do you have some time? I need to discuss a very interesting incident.

Right now I’m about to head into a meeting. Let me call you back in, say, about an hour.

Thank you, I’ll wait for your call.

*     *     *

At nine in the morning, Hamid is standing outside of the bank that his funds are deposited in. He patiently waits for someone to open the doors. The front door is unlocked, and there are five individuals waiting outside to enter the bank. Hamid walks over to the information desk and asks to meet with a bank officer. The receptionist tells him someone will be with him momentarily. She asks if he would like coffee. He declines and takes a seat.

Hamid’s wait is only five minutes. A young man approaches and invites him into his office. Hamid is impressed that the employees of the bank are all dressed in colorful outfits. This is totally different from banks in Iran.

The young man directs Hamid to a seat in front of his desk. What may I do for you, sir?

Hamid hands him the account number. The young man brings it up on his monitor. Hamid can tell the officer is impressed with the balance by the look on his face. May I see some kind of identification, please? Hamid passes over his passport.

Do you wish to withdraw some funds?

No, on the contrary. I find I must obtain a new debit card, and I’m hoping I can be issued one promptly. I also wish to place some funds into the card’s account.

That is simple enough. We can provide you with a debit card today. How much money do you wish to place on the card?

Let’s do nine thousand American dollars.

The bank officer is impressed. First, I will need an address where you live to place on the card account. I assume you are here for a vacation, and this isn’t your regular residence.

Use the address on the passport.

The bank officer asks Hamid to excuse his presence and says he will return shortly.

Within half an hour, Hamid is leaving the bank with a new debit card. He is satisfied all of his funds are secure, and he’s not worried about mail being sent to his address as he signed up for electronic statements. He also doesn’t plan to use this card once he leaves the Cayman Islands and decides where he will set up his base residence. Hamid doesn’t expect to use the balance but will withdraw the cash before his departure.

*     *     *

An hour and a half later than promised, Ariel calls Allison. I apologize. Our meeting went longer than I thought it would.

No need. I understand how that happens. I want to tell you about an incident that happened this past weekend that you may be able to help us with. Allison gives him the details.

Ariel doesn’t respond quickly, and Allison wonders if they lost the phone connection. Is this person of interest, as you call him, a member of the terrorist team that your country has been dealing with?

Allison smiles. The sly old fox saw right through what she was saying. Yes, we believe he is.

So what do you wish from the Mossad? Are you expecting him to return to Iran, as that is where you think he came from?

Ariel, right now, I don’t know what to think. I suspect there was a turn of events in the hotel rooms in New Jersey. Someone turned on someone else. We haven’t worked it out yet. We are waiting for lab reports.

Yes, but what is your gut telling you?

Allison smiles some more. My gut is telling me that one got away, and that is all I can truly declare.

Allison, you wouldn’t be calling me because one member of a terrorist team escaped?

Allison sits back in her chair. There is a pause before she continues. You are correct. We are concerned that the hard-liners in Iran caused this problem, and we want to find out who they are and attempt to eliminate it.

That is a major undertaking, my friend. What do you want me to do?

You told me you had insertions into their mosques before this all came about. Are they still in place?

Maybe!

I will take that as a yes. I’ve given you the name of the individual who registered in the room. We believe it is the same person. I told you no one of that name left the plane at Grand Cayman. I want to find out who he is, and we will take it from there.

Allison, this will not be easy, so give us some time, and I will get back to you.

Ariel, that is all I can ask. That is more than what we currently have to work on.

Both parties hang up. Ariel sits back in his chair and thinks, I believe this project is going to be very interesting.

Chapter Three

Scouting the Island

After leaving the bank, Hamid does some shopping for clothes that are more appropriate for the weather on the island. Finished, he hails a cab to return to the hotel. After changing clothes, he heads to the reservation desk.

The reservation desk explains to Hamid where the nearest moped rental agency is. The clerk says it isn’t far and he could walk it if he chose to. The rental agency fee would be twenty-five dollars a day in US currency. It would include a tank of gas and a helmet plus the required permit to drive on the island as a visitor. First he must show a valid driver’s license. Hamid is warned to make sure he drives on the left side of the road, which is probably different from what he may be used to in his country.

Hamid has never driven a moped or a motorcycle before. This will be a new experience. The top speed is