The Kabul Conspiracy: A Carmela Buenasuerte Case

By Jesse E. Corralez

The Kabul Conspiracy showcases Carmela and Shawn’s sleuthing skills as they take the limited information that their friends Nadia, Aouda, and Faris, who live in the Syrian Desert, gave them about the plot against President Banner and begin the process of identifying and finding the assassins. As the calendar races toward Mother’s Day weekend, Carmela and Shawn, as well as a crew of friends and local cops, search the city of Portland and the surrounding areas for the would-be killers.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trafford Publishing
• Release date: May 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9781490788784

Book preview

Chapter 1

On Thursday, April 15, 2011, Afghanistan president Hadi Karim had called a meeting of his National Assembly, a bicameral body composed of the House of the People and the House of Elders. They were all gathered in the presidential palace in Kabul. Hadi Karim did not waste or mince words.

"The president of the United States of America, Matthew Banner, wants to remove US troops from Afghanistan. A total withdrawal. We cannot allow that to happen. We must not!

"We have to keep them here in order to continue receiving their billions of dollars as well as the other billions in aid from other countries such as Japan, Britain, and Italy.

"The loss of income from the troops spending their pay in our stores, bazaars, and markets would be great. The loss from the black market of US goods even greater.

We must keep the American troops here. I have brought all of you here today to discuss this and to try and form some plan of action. You are all free to speak at will.

With that, President Hadi Karim gestured with a sweep of an arm to all before him.

Moments ticked by, and no one in the assembly spoke out. Finally, a hand went up from one of the seated members of the House of Elders.

You have a suggestion, Housyar? asked Hadi.

Yes, Mr. President. Perhaps we should consider a terrorist attack on the United States. It appears that they take that kind of thing very seriously and tend to react aggressively. It could be set up so that the Americans believe it was the Taliban or al-Qaeda responsible. Either way, that may cause them to keep their troops here to continue their fight against terror tactics and actions.

Yes, said Hadi. It might work and help squash the Taliban in their push to get the American troops out of Afghanistan.

It might work, depending on what the chosen target turns out to be. It would have to be something of high importance or value, said another Elder.

Humm, that is true, Awrang, Hadi said. Osama bin Laden sure hit a nerve by attacking the World Trade Center towers and their Pentagon building. Maybe we should do something to the so-called White House or one of their treasured monuments.

Awrang, whose name means intelligence, spoke up again. Why not cut off the head of the snake instead of just stepping on its tail? Their president, Matthew Banner, wants the troops out. He is the head of the snake.

A hushed murmur passed throughout the gathering, and then a deep silence followed. President Hadi Karim raised his right hand high, followed by his voice. Awrang, you and Housyar remain here. The rest of you may now leave. (Housyar means wise one.)

When all had cleared the meeting chamber, Hadi led the two remaining men into his private office and asked them to sit. He remained standing. How old are you, Awrang? he asked.

I am seventy-one, the man said.

And you? Hadi asked the other.

Come next October 10, I will be seventy-six, Housyar told him.

You are both well over myself in years, Hadi began. "I will ask your opinions and suggestions regarding what we face—that being the tremendous loss of foreign aid, especially from the United States of America. I am certain that they will continue to support us as long as we show them that we are fighting terrorists—that being the Taliban and al-Qaeda. But I am sure that the funds will be less than now and even less later as they, the Americans, lose interest. And they will … unless the fear of terrorism against their country is perpetuated.

"I, therefore, am in strong favor of doing just that by bifurcated means. As stated by Awrang, we cut off, stated, cut off the head of the snake and do so in the way that Housyar pointed out—a terrorist act upon a target of high importance and value and made to appear as being an act of the Taliban.

So, Hadi continued, "is this a wise course of action—the implementation of both your suggestions? I believe that it is. We kill two snakes with one stone. I have no doubt that the Americans will lash out viciously against the Taliban for the assassination of their president.

Not only will they then keep their troops here, surely they will also send more and more dollars to us to support their fight against terrorism. I want to hear your thoughts on whether we do it and, if so, how we should go about it.

Next door to President Karim’s office was that of his secretary. He had been temporarily relocated while that office was being painted. Babur, the painter, was there since Hadi, Awrang, and Housyar first arrived in Hadi’s private office. Their voices were clearly heard through the slightly open adjoining office.

Babur listened intently and caught their conversation from start to finish. When Awrang and Housyar left Hadi’s office and their footsteps were no longer heard in the hallway, Babur quietly gathered up all his painting equipment and made his way out undetected.

After tossing about the pros and cons, Hadi, Awrang, and Housyar agreed on their course of action.

I want two men, and only two, to know of this, Hadi said. "Awrang, it will be up to you to find those two men. They must be able to assassinate. They must speak English and must have knowledge of the United States.

Housyar, you will arrange for whatever costs have to be covered for those men and make available to them all the American dollars they may need to carry out their mission. I will arrange for you to have access to our cash deposits here and our accounts elsewhere.

Housyar only nodded.

Awrang said, Mr. President, I know just the two men that we need. They are residents in Canada, in Vancouver, British Columbia.

Excellent! exclaimed Hadi Karim. We will meet again after you contact them.

That terminated their meeting.

Hadi Karim did not ask how and why Awrang knew the two men. Hadi was receiving $6.7 billion per month from the US, $5.8 billion from Japan, plus additional from Italy and other nations.

Chapter 2

As the rider came closer, Nadia was able to see clearly the flowing robes of the man astride the beautiful black Arabian stallion. She turned to her husband, who was occupied helping their drovers off-load the caravan camels. Aouda, she said, our dearest bandit friend is coming to pay a visit.

Aouda al Tayi, an aristocratic-looking six-foot-four Bedouin and son of Balaji, the encampment leader of the desert oasis where he and his caravan had stopped for a short rest, looked up from his chaise and gazed off in the direction that Nadia indicated. Yes, my desert flower, he said. That is definitely Faris. He is as his name implies—the Horseman. Look at him ride, Nadia.

When he entered the encampment, he slowed his mount to a trot and then into an elegant prance within a few yards from Aouda and Nadia. As-salaamu Alaikam [peace be with you], Faris said.

Wa-alaykum As-Salam [upon you be peace]. Marhaban [welcome], Aouda returned.

Thank you, my friend, Faris said to Aouda. To Nadia, he said, Ahlan wa sahlan [hello], Nadia. Sergeant, how are you?

I am well, thank you, Faris, Nadia said.

What brings you to my father’s camp alone? Aouda asked. You are never without your men.

I have something to discuss with you both and ask what should or can be done about it. We have to keep it to ourselves for now, Faris said to them in a serious and profound fashion.

Come. Aouda motioned to his friend and his wife. Let us go over to the oasis and sit beneath the palms. I will pick up a carpet on the way that we may sit upon.

Aouda, Faris quietly said as they walked away from the vicinity of the drovers. Do you have available a bottle of that excellent brandy you hoard? If so, roll it up in that carpet you pick up and bring it along. We will need to sample it, no doubt. So will Nadia. Three cups will help.

Aouda and Nadia stopped walking. Then Faris did also.

Faris, Aouda began, but he was interrupted by Nadia, who said, My husband, we well know that many, many Muslim men … and some women drink alcohol. They have been for centuries. Do you think that only you guys acquire a taste for fermented milk? Our women are not stupid. We just do not let our men know all that we do. I have my own stash of liquor, but I prefer vodka. However, so as not to appear difficult, I will partake of your brandy.

Both Aouda and Faris shot an over the reading glasses look. Faris said in feigned astonishment, She drinks alcohol!

I knew that, Aouda said.

Nadia gave them each one of those challenging looks that women come up with. Then they all laughed. All three had attended university in the United States.

Passing by the tent that was maintained at the encampment for his and Nadia’s use, Aouda ducked in and soon exited, carrying a rolled-up carpet under one arm. From one hand dangled a canteen and three cups from the other.

They moved on to the oasis and settled under one of the dozen or so date palms. Aouda and Nadia were looking intently at Faris. He gestured toward the canteen and said, Pour, Aouda, then I will tell you a hair-raising story.

When all three cups were filled and had been sipped from, Faris began. "I have a cousin, Babur, who is a house painter in Kabul, Afghanistan. One day, he was painting the inside of an office in the presidential palace. It was the president’s secretary’s office and right next to his private office. The connecting door was slightly open.

Hadi Karim, the president, and two other men came into the office, and a conversation ensued. Babur went quiet and listened to what was said.

Faris raised the cup to his lips, drank, and then said nothing more.

Nadia and Aouda looked to each other questioningly. Aouda raised his eyebrows and shrugged his shoulders. Nadia slinked her eyes at him, turned to Faris, and in a forceful tone, said to him, So?

They are going to kill him, Faris said.

Who is going to kill who? asked Aouda.

The president of the United States! The president of Afghanistan is arranging an assassination. He wants to keep the American troops there, and the US president wants to take them out, Faris said in an excited rush.

And how do you know this? Aouda asked.

Weren’t you listening? I told you that my cousin, Babur, heard it all, Faris went on. They are going to send two men, who are now living in Canada in Vancouver, British Columbia, to do it.

When? asked an astonished Nadia.

Who are they? Aouda asked.

No date was set, and Babur heard no names, Faris said and threw his hands out and shrugged his shoulders.

After a few moments of silence and a sip or two of brandy by all, Nadia said, Faris, why do you tell us this?

Chapter 3

On Wednesday, April 21, 2011, President Hadi Karim, Awrang, and Housyar were once again gathered in the president’s private office. Babur, the house painter, was not around to take in the conversation this time.

You have made the arrangements? asked Hadi.

Yes, Mr. President, answered Awrang. I have contacted the two men in Canada, and they will do it and await further instructions from me.

Very good, said Hadi with a satisfied smile across his face. Then he nodded toward Housyar.

All is in place regarding the funding. I have arranged the transfer of one million dollars from our account in Switzerland to theirs in the Cayman Islands. Awrang obtained their account number from them and passed it on to me. He also informed them of the transfer and how much, Housyar said.

They will cover their expenses from that, Housyar threw in.

Excellent, Hadi said. Now we need to tell the two men. Who are they, Awrang?

They are Taliban, Atash and Jahanshah. Both were educated in America and speak fluent English. They live in Canada for their own reasons, Awrang said. They provide services for the Taliban as directed and ask no questions. I led them to believe that they will be acting on behalf of the Taliban, Mr. President.

Ah! Hadi replied. Good, good. Housyar, can the deposit to their account be traced back to us?

No, Mr. President. It cannot. As far as the two men will ever know, their mission and the money are derived from the Taliban, Housyar said.

Hadi nodded his approval. Will they be able to make their way to Washington—to the capital—to do it without being detained? It is a long way from where they are to where he is.

They won’t have to go to Washington, DC, Mr. President, said Awrang. "President Banner will be in Portland, Oregon, on May 8. It is a holiday—Mother’s Day. His parents live in Portland, and that city is five hours and thirty-seven minutes or 314 land miles from Vancouver, British Columbia. Both men have passports and will drive there. They will go a couple of days before the president gets there—probably Saturday, the seventh—and stay till the afternoon of Sunday.

The two men will check the possible routes from the international airport to the parents’ home. After they locate their address, they will plan on where they will strike and how to get it done. Probably with a high-power silenced rifle.

Humm, Hadi said, is that their plan then?

No, Mr. President. It is mine, Awrang said.

Have you checked on President Banner’s trip to Portland? Is he definitely going to be there? asked Hadi.

Oh, yes. We have a man in place in the White House. He is a clerk there, and he assures me that Mr. Banner will definitely fly to Portland that weekend, Awrang replied.

Very well then, Awrang. Contact the two men in Canada and go over your plan with them and give them the go-ahead.

Hadi made it quite clear that