Chapter 11: We always find the way
"In times of uncertainty there is a special breed of warrior ready to answer our Nation's call. A common man with uncommon desire to succeed."
United States Navy Seal Code
Steve explains briefly, what happened the days before, and finally says, "This only has begun... We have a serious problem..."
Concern returns to Tom's face, who asks finally "Is this about Miranda?"
New York.
Once Steve has explained to them everything that happened, from the explosion of the SUV, until this morning gunfight, Danny asks nervous "You're saying you've been attacked? Are you hurt?"
"Well..." Steve tries to reply without worrying Danny "a little bit. He shot me in the thigh. At first, we feared the bullet had hit the femoral artery, but fortunately, it had not. Don't worry, I'm fine." He speaks quickly.
"But why do you say we have one major problem?" Tom asks restless. "Is about Miranda?"
"Look, Tom. What happened confirms my suspicion this is about revenge and Yahdad is behind all this. We have known Lieutenant Michaels has been in a romantic relationship with him for more than eight years. I'm sure, when she sent us information about the house in Haifa, was setting an ambush. This is revenge Tom, for the shooting in Jerusalem and the death of that kid."
"Okay" Tom exhales "What's next?"
"We can do two things: we eliminate the menace by arresting her, but without prior notice. Or use her in our favor" Steve's mind is traveling a thousand miles per hour.
"What do you mean?" Danny asks.
"I'm meaning that we don't show we suspect about her, and give her some fake information so she gives to Yahdad. Thus, the man will not be aware of our next movements".
All three are thoughtful for a minute, and Steve continues, "this leads me to tell you something, Tom. After the explosion, when it confirmed my suspicions about Michaels, I had to make a decision that may bring me some trouble".
"What decision?" Tom asks.
"Michaels is not alone in this, Tom. Someone is helping her. Therefore, we have to be very careful about the people who we trust, and at this point, I can only think of my team in Hawaii for that task. So I involved them. Obviously you know now, Danny knows the whole thing, but I have my people in Hawaii researching about Yahdad and doing all the work of intelligence that Michaels should be doing. This, as you know, could lead me to a court-martial for speaking with civilians about an active operation of the Navy".
Steve's words are making Danny nervous, who rises from his chair but says nothing.
"Don't worry about that. I have your back to 100%. You'll officially have my permission for such actions. What's next?" Tom replies.
"Captain Grover is trying to get the name of the owner of the bank accounts to which Yahdad has transferred $ 10 million in recent months. If we know the name, we know who is helping Michaels and Yahdad. He also sent us the locations of the facilities of Yahdad's company in Israel. I have reasons to believe Miranda is been held in one of them" Steve takes a little breath. "Danny..."
"Tell me buddy" he hurries to answer.
"I need you to contact Jerry. Ask him to hack security cameras in both Yahdad's offices in Tel Aviv and Haifa, we have to do this to check all his movements. I need to know where's Yahdad at this time and I have to know it now. Tani confirmed that he arrived to Tel Aviv previous day of Miranda's kidnapping and there is no information that he's gone. So he's still in the country." Steve says urgently.
"Okay buddy. What more do you need?"
"Tom, please I need you coordinate with Admiral Green so we have access to satellite and thermal images of all Yahdad's facilities in Israel. I don't need to tell you that we must reduce to a minimum the number of people who are aware of the whole thing" Steve explains "For sure, at this moment, who ordered the shooting already knows we're alive and we killed his three men."
"When are you going back to Washington Tom?"
"We leave in an hour. I'll take detective Williams with me on the Air Force One, to let him work with Admiral Green. I guess the best to handle a cover is continue planning your funeral" Tom is eager to help, but Danny is not very convinced. "What makes you think we can trust Green?"
"When we arrived to Tel Aviv and met agent McCallister, I had my doubts about him, but Green called me and gave me his personal guarantee that he would do everything possible so we could move safely. Exactly the opposite of Michaels. I don't think Green is involved" Steve seems more sure than he really is. But they are where they are, and there's no reason to waste time regretting.
"One last thing. I need to get in touch with the FBI in Israel. Can you find out who is McCallister boss and send me his number to call him? I want to ask him to locate vehicles Yahdad can be using and install them with a GPS device to have them monitored".
"You got it!" Danny answers. "We will keep you informed".
"Tom" Steve says, "I'm sure Miranda is fine. Revenge is not finished. At this time Yahdad knows that I'm alive. So Miranda is the only advantage he has. I don't think he'll hurt her."
"Thank you Steve. I want you to know... I mean… I know what you're risking for helping me, and I won't ever forget it", Tom says with infinite gratitude.
Steve replies, "Don't worry, 'Once teammates, always teammates', right? I'm here for you, buddy".
"Hooyah! Be safe Steve!" Tom says as farewell.
"Always. We'll be in touch," Steve says Tom goodbye. Danny presses the speakerphone and rises from his chair to say goodbye to Steve "Hey... Take care Steven".
"I'll do it brother, also stay safe and take care of your 'six'. Remember we don't know who we can trust. And Danno..." Steve pauses "enjoy your flight on the Air Force One" he says sarcastically "You'll have something new to tell Gracie and Charlie".
"I'll do it, buddy" says and presses the button to end the call.
Washington DC
"Lieutenant Michaels" Jenny answers the phone, worried. She didn't identify the number, but she knows it's the code of Israel.
"Hello beautiful!" she hears the male voice.
"Itzhak. Finally! Are you okay? I have not heard from you in several days" Jenny sighs and feel a whirlwind in her stomach.
"Yes, Jen, I'm fine. I'm upset because Frank Peterson's team let McGarrett to escape again. Already I'm getting tired of this bastard!" Itzhak sounds more than annoying.
"What happened? I ordered him to organize search groups" Jenny excuses herself.
"And they did. Four teams left at dawn. Two to the South, one to the East and the other towards the coast. They checked all the towns and villages. The last team was in Mikhmoret. It's a small town between Tel Aviv and Haifa. And they found them." Yahdad says exasperated.
"These are good news, did they killed them?" Jenny asks, hopeful.
"That's the point, those useless punks underestimated McGarrett again" Yahdad spits "they found them at a local store. He was with one of his SEALs, they were just two! The shop owner told police McGarrett killed two of them, practically alone, since his companion was wounded. The owner killed the third member of the team. The police came right away and they have three corpses in the morgue."
"How you know it was McGarrett?" "The shop owner described him perfectly when he spoke with the police: Tall, tan, strong chest, hazel eyes and short brown hair. In addition, on the edge of the sleeves of his t-shirt, a couple of colorful tattoos. He said they moved at the speed of lightning and escaped in a black car, but he couldn't tell the police what car was, neither saw the plates." Yahdad explains and asks "Did he call you?"
Jenny answers "No, I could try to call him, but I think the phone was damaged, because since they informed me that he survived the explosion, I tried to track down the software I installed on the satellite phone, but I have not succeeded."
"Okay. He's gonna need help, so he'll call you. Try to find out where they are. They have not been seen since the shooting, but I guess they won't be so foolish as to be near the site, they should have gone as far as they can".
"Okay. Be careful. I love you" she says supplicant.
"I'll do it. I love you too. Don't call me, I'll call you," answers deadpan and hangs up the phone.
Hadera
After ends the call with Danny, Steve is thoughtful. The sat phone is ringing again. He identifies the code for Honolulu, but doesn't know the number. It must be one of the prepaid phones.
"Hello?" answers with caution. "Steve... I'm Lou"
"Well, you started early my friend." How are you guys?" Steve warmly greets the captain.
"Fine, we're fine. I have information for you. I'm sending the locations of the Yahdad's company facilities in Israel. His headquarters are in Tel Aviv. But most of their shipments arrive to the port of Haifa, so he has a small office near the port and a warehouse. Jerry has hacked both places security cameras. Programmed it to receive directly on your computer the images obtained, but we have already detected the presence of the suspect. He's at the office of Haifa".
"Excellent, Lou. Great job!" Steve says excited, finally they have eyes on Yahdad. "Do you have the information about the vehicles?"
"Yes, Sir. Also I'm sending three vehicle plates and models. Two SUVs and a Mercedes," Lou says. "About the two professors from Penn. We found a curious thing. One of them died of pancreatic cancer six weeks ago, at his home in Philadelphia. The other one had a car accident last weekend, he and his family went on vacation to Florida when they were hit by a truck. There were no survivors".
Maybe Yahdad didn't want loose ends" Steve says "thanks Lou. I'll call you back"
"Okay buddy, see you" Lou says goodbye and hangs.
"Anders" Steve called the expert in technology, while rises and enters the room "Lou Grover just send information". Anders type and opens files that Lou has sent.
"I have the locations of Yahdad's offices. A building in the center of Tel Aviv and a small office with a warehouse in the port of Haifa." Anders says.
"I have to talk to Danny in a couple of hours, we'll give him the location so they can focus on satellite and we can obtain the thermal images in both places," Steve says.
"I'm also getting images from security cameras. Grover sent some stills of Yahdad entering the offices in Haifa." Anders displays images on the screen.
"Okay" Steve is thoughtful for two minutes. They need shake off Michaels and deflect the mercenaries, because once they reach thermal imaging, they must move fast. He has the hunch that Miranda should be held in any of the facilities of Yahdad's company, so any place far from Tel Aviv and Haifa will serve.
If he wants to cheat Michaels, he must get a prepaid phone and make the call. Lynx sits on the edge of the bed beside him and asks, "What are you thinking?"
"I have an idea," he says without cutting the thread of his thoughts "we should get another phone to attract the attention of Michaels and her men to be able to move freely. We'll have to ask Asaf for help". Steve leaves the apartment and headed Asaf's door. Knocks a few times until Asaf opens. "Hello boy! How can I help?"
"I have a plan, but I need your help," Steve says, Asaf makes a sign motivating him to talk, "I need you to buy a prepaid phone" says and gives him some money.
"Of course, boy. I'll go in a minute". Steve goes back to the apartment to complete the plan. Twenty minutes later, Asaf knocks on the door and gives the phone case in a paper bag, sealed with tape. "What do you have in mind?" he asks while he gets into the apartment.
"Anders, please put a map of the country on the screen" Steve asks out loud. Everyone gathers at the computer. "We need to create a false track and give it to Michaels."
They study the map for a while. "I want her triangulate this phone's location." After debating for a while, he has taken his decision.
"We'll be back in a couple of hours" he says and asks Asaf to go with him. They both go down to the parking lot, get into the VAN and take to the streets. The rest of the team remains in the apartment.
Fifty minutes after they arrive at their destination. "Nazareth?" Asaf asks. 'Yes. I'll call Michaels, but I guess she will be ready to triangulate the call. I'm going to divert her attention toward Jerusalem. That will give us time to move with certain freedom" Steve explains.
He gets out of the car an gets into Bus Central Station, with his head covered with a cap, using glasses, and tries to avoid security cameras. Approaches the counter of a bus line and buy seven tickets to Jerusalem. Two minutes later goes back to the VAN to make the call.
"Lieutenant Michaels" Jenny answers at the first tone.
"Lieutenant, this is Steve McGarrett" he says with expressionless voice.
"Commander! We were worried! I've been trying to call you, but you don't answer the satellite phone. What happened? From where are you calling?" Steve can hear her pressing the keys on her computer. He can almost hear her thinking, while she tries to triangulate the signal. "We knew that the SUV exploded, but police found only a body" she says.
"Yes. That is agent McCallister", Steve says sadly "We got out of the vehicle before arriving to be able to surprise them, but it exploded shortly after".
"Where are you? I can send someone to help you very soon" Jenny says. Steve notice she's not typing anymore. It means that she has tracked the phone location.
"We are in Nazareth, needed where to hide, and one of the boys has a friend here. But we're tired of hiding and want to act. Since we have no new information on Yahdad, we return that you provided to us and we're going to look for his family in Jerusalem. It's possible that he is holding Miranda with any of them. We bought bus tickets and will go there." Steve speaks quickly to avoid Michaels make questions, he doesn't want she to know the departing bus time or the bus line.
"Very well, Commander. If you need any further information, please let me know. I'll notify Admiral Green", Jenny's voice sounds more relaxed.
"Thank you, Lieutenant. This will be our new contact number, as the satellite phone exploded with the vehicle," Steve continues. "We'll call you when we arrive" and ends the call. "Good" he turns to Asaf "This part is complete, now the journey to Jerusalem".
Washington DC
Jenny sighs deeply. She finally found McGarrett! He's a slippery guy. When Itzhak said McGarrett would call her, she didn't believe him. But he was obviously right. McGarrett called and just tell her his plans. She can't believe her good luck. It takes a while to track the phone's location, still continues in Bus Central Station in Nazareth.
For a moment thinks of sending Peterson's men there. But remembers that the Commander has not told her the bus departure time, so the men could arrive late. Instead, she believes it's better to follow the phone location and intercept the SEALs in Jerusalem. Lift the phone and dials a number. The man answered at the second tone.
"Sir, is Jenny Michaels. I have new information," she says upon hearing the voice on the other side of the line.
"Tell me Lieutenant. Do they know something?"
"Yes, Sir. I suppose Mr. Yahdad already has called you..." Jenny says tentatively.
"Yes. Already explained me the disaster of the shoot-out in Mikhmoret. What are we playing, Lieutenant?" He asks angry.
"We won't make more mistakes sir, McGarrett has called me a few minutes ago," Jenny replies.
"Did he? What did he say? Where are they?"
"They are in Nazareth, but they are about to board a bus towards Jerusalem, to look for Yahdad's family. McGarrett believes he's been holding Miranda there" Jenny explains.
"Have you confirmed it through tracking the phone?"
"Yes, Sir. Satellite phone blew up with the vehicle, but McGarrett bought a prepaid cellphone and I managed to triangulate the signal, I have it located. At the moment he is in the Bus Central Station in Nazareth".
"Excellent, we'll send the men there".
Jenny tries to convince him that her plan is better "Sir... If I can... I think it's better to send them to Jerusalem to intercept the team. We have the phone located. And when they arrive there we'll know, and we'll be ready."
"Okay, Lieutenant. We'll do it in your own way. But don't lose sight of them. I don't need to tell you how elusive can be Steve McGarrett"
"Yes, Sir. I'll keep you informed" Jenny hangs up the phone. She would like to call Itzhak and tell him that, finally, things start out well. But remembers that he said to not call him. Never mind! She'll tell him when he calls her. He'll be so happy to know that he can finally achieve his revenge!
The next call is for Peterson "Mr. Peterson" says when he answers, "we have located Commander McGarrett.
"Did you, seriously? Where is he?" he asks incredulously
"In Nazareth. It seems that they went there immediately after the blast and stayed with a friend of someone of the team. They'll now board a bus heading towards Jerusalem. I need you to have your men ready at the Bus Central Station in Jerusalem, to intercept them".
"Do you know at what time the bus departs?"
"No, but I have his phone tracked and I'm following it on the screen. Assuming that they're leaving on the next bus, they will be arriving in two hours and a half. I suggest that your men be there then, and don't move from there until they have been eliminated".
"We'll do so, Miss Michaels. I assure you that we'll do it this time." The man says simply and ends the call.
