"That's just what I needed.", Sarah Says when she comes out of the
bathroom wearing a clean shirt and shorts. She and Macgyver rented an
apartment for the night in Shkoder.
"I've been thinking.", Macgyver says and he turns towards her. "What's in it for Kleitz? I mean. Surely he doesn't bomb places without some kind of reward. There must be one.".
"Do we have to talk about this now?", Sarah evades the question and walks to the bed, "I want to get some sleep first.". After she separated the beds, she slips under the blanket and switches of the lights, leaving Macgyver sitting at the table in the dark.
"Yes, we have to discuss this now! Sleep later.", Macgyver says and switches the lights back on, "If you want me to help you with this, we've gotta talk.". Sarah moans and gets out of bed. She ignores Macgyver and walks straight to the mini-bar to fetch a drink.
"You want some?", she asks waving a coke above her head, without looking at him.
"Stop playing around.", Macgyver says a little aggravated. "Do you want my help? Yes or no?". Sarah looks at him, her expression looks tired. She slowly walks to the table and takes a seat in front of him.
"Kleitz is planning an attack in Kosovo. He wants the situation to re- escalate so Kfor is forced to leaving the local population unprotected. I've traced him to a house in Kukes, close to the Kosovar-Albanian border. They've already all weapons they need to attack a couple of villages near Prizren.".
"If he has a house in Kukes, than what was he doing in the mine? That's a bit out of the way.".
"Asiz had closed an arms deal here in Shkoder. The weapons were delivered in the mine and he was there to collect them. Kleitz probably didn't want them delivered at the house, out of fear that his plan would leak.". Sarah says.
"What does Kleitz gain after this attack? He doesn't ask for a ransom or anything. And now I've met him, it's hard to belief that he has any religious motives."., Macgyver asks a little puzzled.
"Religion has left him a long time ago. He receives money from rich Saudis to continue his terrorist campaign. And Esteem. He's a highly respected man in some parts of the Middle East.". Sarah says. She stares at the table and rolls her can of cook through her hands. "The problem is, after his conversion to Islam, it brought him into contact with several religious networks. He knows he needs his wealthy contacts in order to safeguard his luxurious lifestyle.".
"So in order to protect that, he goes out killing people?".
"We're talking about millions of dollars a year. A lot of it ends up straight in his own pocket. The other part he uses for his campaigns. Killing masses of people over the last fifteen years.".
"Did anyone before you tried to stop this guy?", Macgyver asks in disbelief.
"The Cairo attack caused fourteen westerners their lives. That's when governments worldwide added him to the wanted list. Before Cairo... Before this, nobody really cared. Who did he kill? Civilians in Malaysia, the Philippines or Jordan. Mainly poor refugees, people without a name in the international game we play.", Sarah sighs.
"What will you do when you get him?".
"I have to bring him to justice.".
"In what way? Hand him over to the proper authorities or kill him?", Macgyver asks.
"Either way.", Sarah says bland.
"Now you see, that's where I draw the line. I'm not going on a hunting party to shoot someone". Macgyver says firmly and he gets out of his chair. "Or help someone accomplish that.", he adds.
"I don't have to kill hem.", she stresses, "But I do have to stop him. If I bring him in, I'll accomplish the same. What do you think of me? That I go out, hunt him down and shoot him?", Sarah says annoyed, "That's exactly what he's been doing to people for the past fifteen years.".
"I didn't mean to put it like that.", Macgyver says defensively, "I was just surprised by the way you shot Asiz and not showing any regret afterwards. Hey, you just killed a man and I'm not allowed to even think something about it.".
"That's where we differ Macgyver.", Sarah says quietly, while see pushes her chair slowly away from the table, "You see. I can understand it's sometimes better to kill someone, than to let him go. I'm talking about people who don't respect life and randomly take the ones they encounter. I know you don't agree with me, but don't you dare accusing me of executions.". Sarah says sad.
"I didn't mean to put it so harsh. Sorry.", Macgyver says apologetic. "Which country wants him for trial?".
"Israel.".
"You work for the Israeli government?", Macgyver asks cautiously.
"No. Consider me a freelancer. Besides you haven't told me either what kind of work you do mister 'open-this-can-so-I-can-blow-the-door-to- pieces'.".
"I help people out.", he smiles, "That's all I do.".
"So, this means you will help me?".
"On the condition we bring Kleitz to justice, yes.".
"Thank you Macgyver", Sarah says relieved. She gets up and walks to her bed. "I'm really going to bed now.". She abruptly pulls the blanket over her and buries her head under the pillow. Macgyver looks compassionately at the small bulb in the bed. "May be I should go home and leave it like this. It's her assignment.". He walks to the window and thinks back at their encounter in the mine. "She probably can handle it all right, but a little help never hurt anyone. I'll have to retake my vacation another time.". He walks to his bed and lies down on it. "How to stop this Kleitz?", he thinks intrigued,
Next morning Sarah has left to buy some breakfast, leaving Macgyver is alone in the room reading papers she gave him. "Strange.", he thinks, "He managed to stay out of the hands of law enforcers for the past few years. Even though he's wanted in almost every state.". He looks up from his reading when the phone rings and put aside his papers.
"Macgyver.".
"Macgyver? It's Pete.".
"Hi Pete.".
"Listen. I've ran Kleitz' name through our computer as you requested.".
"Great, and did you cross check for a connection with Israel?.".
"Yes, but I didn't find anything.".
"Odd.", Macgyver says surprised, "Are you sure?".
"Yes. I even double checked it since you asked about this connection specifically. We couldn't find anything. Why is it important?".
"Someone here claims Israel wants him extradited to put him on trial.".
"Listen Mac. He's not even wanted in Israel, are you sure about a connection?".
"Not anymore.", Macgyver sighs, "Any other links you've found?".
"I did find a failed arms deal he was involved in. He advised a Saudi company about a deal on Cyprus last year.".
"Cyprus?", Macgyver says intrigued, "Isn't that where all Arab states do business with Israel, pretending they don't?".
"Eh, yeah... I guess.", Pete says startled, "But there's more. Kleitz didn't buy the weapons. He shot the sellers during the deal and took the cargo to a port in Qatar.".
"I think I know enough Pete. Thank you.".
"What? Did I miss anything?", Pete asks surprised.
"Not something you'd mind to miss. Listen, could you do me another favor? I want you to check a name for me.".
"Sure no problem. Who's name?".
"I'm not sure yet.", Macgyver says reserved looking at Sarah's backpack under her bed, "I'll let you know when I've found out.".
"All right Macgyver. By the way are you still on vacation or did you get involved into something?".
"What do you think Pete? Off course I ran into something. I'll keep you informed. Thanks.".
"We'll keep our eyes open for this Kleitz. Take care.".
"He's not wanted in Israel.", Macgyver thinks, holding the phone in his lap. "I can imagine. They probably made a fortune, supplying him with equipment.". He puts aside the phone and walks to Sarah's stuff. "The men he shot in Cyprus where probably Israeli's. They don't want him to testify. Than everybody knows about the deals they made. And now he's betrayed them, they probably want him dead.". He lifts her backpack from under the bed and puts it on the table. "Who are you Sarah and what are you carrying with you?". He takes out some cloths and a toiletry bag. The toiletry bag contains a nail clipper, dental floss and some other items for personal hygiene. He opens a little jar containing a white substance. "Creme.", he says out loud as he smells the substance. He meticulously goes through her things, but doesn't find anything suspicious. "Think Macgyver,", he encourages himself. "What do you know about her? One: she's a lady, two: she's Israeli, probably an agent...". He sighs and puts the things back in the backpack and places it under the bed again. When he walks back to the table he sees the garbage bin. "I could send her fingerprints to the lab at the Phoenix Foundation.", he thinks while he takes out a can of coke from the bin. He throws it back. "That will take a long time to do. If her prints are even known in our system.".
The door opens and Sarah walks in with a big smile.
"Look what I found.", she says in triumph, holding up a bag of croissants. "These are very hard to find here.".
"Wow...Sarah?", Macgyver says uncomfortable. "You've outdone yourself.". He decides not to confront her with Pete's information. "I might scare her off. First I have to find out her identity.".
"You've thought of a plan yet?", Sarah asks.
"What?", Macgyver says a little absent.
"How to get Kleitz off course", she replies, "You didn't forget you've promised me help, right?".
"No. I didn't.". Macgyver takes a croissant and sits at the table. "I think he went back tot the house in Kukes assuming we're dead.".
"He could be still in the house in Kukes or he's started already to move all the weapons into Kosovo.".
"My bet is he's taken the last option.", Macgyver says, "He knows you've seen him and might fear you've revealed the location to...., to whoever you're working for.".
"Good thinking. The thing is, I didn't tell nobody.".
"But Kleitz doesn't know that for sure. Since I assume he knows what he's doing, he won't take that chance.". Macgyver takes his jacket from the chair and pulls a map out of it. He unfolds it on the table in front of him and switches the light on.
"Now. Kleitz' house is here in Kukes.", and he makes a circular movement with his fingers on the map. "How many routes are there to Kosovo from here?".
"Numerous.", Sarah sighs, "There's one official one through the Morines border post, but there are various illegal routes used by smugglers and poachers.".
"So he could be anywhere in an area of 30 square miles.", Macgyver concludes a little disappointed.
"I'd say he has to take the official route. If we assume he's trying to pass the border with a truckload of weapons, he can't go through here.", and Sarah points at an area on the map close to the border.
"Dead Valley.", Macgyver smiles, "Interesting name.".
"It's a limestone valley. Very few people, extremely bare and easy to get lost. More important it's close to impossible to get a 4-wheel drive through it, let alone a small truck.".
"Okay, we'll have to go to Morines than.".
"And than what?".
"We could notify the border police. They could stop him.".
"Better not. He's probably paid them off to let him through. Contacting the border would alarm Kleitz we're still alive.".
"Than we must go ourselves and hope we can stop him in Kosovo.".
"Why there?", Sarah asks, "Better here in Albania, before things get messy.".
"If we get him across the border, we have a bigger chance of getting him arrested than here. Who else does he has in his pocket apart from the border control officers?".
"Either way. We must leave as soon as possible. Our only advantage is that the road from here to Kukes is far better, than the one they're taken. Plus we travel as light as possible. With a bit of luck they're stuck somewhere.". Sarah takes out her bag pack and starts repacking it. Macgyver looks at the map and examines the White Drin river, which runs from Albania into Southern Kosovo. Not very far, but enough to cross the border. "I wonder.", Macgyver thinks.
"Before we leave for Kukes, we should do some shopping.", Macgyver says, "We'll need a lot of spare parts and I don't expect to find a lot of shops where we're going.".
"Okay. We could go down town. You have an idea of what we need?".
Yeah and I wrote some things down. It's better when we split. We'll be much faster that way.".
"Fine. Tell me what you want me to get.", Sarah says.
"Here's a list. Make sure you get it all.".
"Five rolls of duct tape?", Sarah gazes at the long list.
"Believe me when I say we'll need them.".
"What will you go after?".
"A car. One that can stand the region.", Macgyver says, "I'll have to check out some places.".
"I've been thinking.", Macgyver says and he turns towards her. "What's in it for Kleitz? I mean. Surely he doesn't bomb places without some kind of reward. There must be one.".
"Do we have to talk about this now?", Sarah evades the question and walks to the bed, "I want to get some sleep first.". After she separated the beds, she slips under the blanket and switches of the lights, leaving Macgyver sitting at the table in the dark.
"Yes, we have to discuss this now! Sleep later.", Macgyver says and switches the lights back on, "If you want me to help you with this, we've gotta talk.". Sarah moans and gets out of bed. She ignores Macgyver and walks straight to the mini-bar to fetch a drink.
"You want some?", she asks waving a coke above her head, without looking at him.
"Stop playing around.", Macgyver says a little aggravated. "Do you want my help? Yes or no?". Sarah looks at him, her expression looks tired. She slowly walks to the table and takes a seat in front of him.
"Kleitz is planning an attack in Kosovo. He wants the situation to re- escalate so Kfor is forced to leaving the local population unprotected. I've traced him to a house in Kukes, close to the Kosovar-Albanian border. They've already all weapons they need to attack a couple of villages near Prizren.".
"If he has a house in Kukes, than what was he doing in the mine? That's a bit out of the way.".
"Asiz had closed an arms deal here in Shkoder. The weapons were delivered in the mine and he was there to collect them. Kleitz probably didn't want them delivered at the house, out of fear that his plan would leak.". Sarah says.
"What does Kleitz gain after this attack? He doesn't ask for a ransom or anything. And now I've met him, it's hard to belief that he has any religious motives."., Macgyver asks a little puzzled.
"Religion has left him a long time ago. He receives money from rich Saudis to continue his terrorist campaign. And Esteem. He's a highly respected man in some parts of the Middle East.". Sarah says. She stares at the table and rolls her can of cook through her hands. "The problem is, after his conversion to Islam, it brought him into contact with several religious networks. He knows he needs his wealthy contacts in order to safeguard his luxurious lifestyle.".
"So in order to protect that, he goes out killing people?".
"We're talking about millions of dollars a year. A lot of it ends up straight in his own pocket. The other part he uses for his campaigns. Killing masses of people over the last fifteen years.".
"Did anyone before you tried to stop this guy?", Macgyver asks in disbelief.
"The Cairo attack caused fourteen westerners their lives. That's when governments worldwide added him to the wanted list. Before Cairo... Before this, nobody really cared. Who did he kill? Civilians in Malaysia, the Philippines or Jordan. Mainly poor refugees, people without a name in the international game we play.", Sarah sighs.
"What will you do when you get him?".
"I have to bring him to justice.".
"In what way? Hand him over to the proper authorities or kill him?", Macgyver asks.
"Either way.", Sarah says bland.
"Now you see, that's where I draw the line. I'm not going on a hunting party to shoot someone". Macgyver says firmly and he gets out of his chair. "Or help someone accomplish that.", he adds.
"I don't have to kill hem.", she stresses, "But I do have to stop him. If I bring him in, I'll accomplish the same. What do you think of me? That I go out, hunt him down and shoot him?", Sarah says annoyed, "That's exactly what he's been doing to people for the past fifteen years.".
"I didn't mean to put it like that.", Macgyver says defensively, "I was just surprised by the way you shot Asiz and not showing any regret afterwards. Hey, you just killed a man and I'm not allowed to even think something about it.".
"That's where we differ Macgyver.", Sarah says quietly, while see pushes her chair slowly away from the table, "You see. I can understand it's sometimes better to kill someone, than to let him go. I'm talking about people who don't respect life and randomly take the ones they encounter. I know you don't agree with me, but don't you dare accusing me of executions.". Sarah says sad.
"I didn't mean to put it so harsh. Sorry.", Macgyver says apologetic. "Which country wants him for trial?".
"Israel.".
"You work for the Israeli government?", Macgyver asks cautiously.
"No. Consider me a freelancer. Besides you haven't told me either what kind of work you do mister 'open-this-can-so-I-can-blow-the-door-to- pieces'.".
"I help people out.", he smiles, "That's all I do.".
"So, this means you will help me?".
"On the condition we bring Kleitz to justice, yes.".
"Thank you Macgyver", Sarah says relieved. She gets up and walks to her bed. "I'm really going to bed now.". She abruptly pulls the blanket over her and buries her head under the pillow. Macgyver looks compassionately at the small bulb in the bed. "May be I should go home and leave it like this. It's her assignment.". He walks to the window and thinks back at their encounter in the mine. "She probably can handle it all right, but a little help never hurt anyone. I'll have to retake my vacation another time.". He walks to his bed and lies down on it. "How to stop this Kleitz?", he thinks intrigued,
Next morning Sarah has left to buy some breakfast, leaving Macgyver is alone in the room reading papers she gave him. "Strange.", he thinks, "He managed to stay out of the hands of law enforcers for the past few years. Even though he's wanted in almost every state.". He looks up from his reading when the phone rings and put aside his papers.
"Macgyver.".
"Macgyver? It's Pete.".
"Hi Pete.".
"Listen. I've ran Kleitz' name through our computer as you requested.".
"Great, and did you cross check for a connection with Israel?.".
"Yes, but I didn't find anything.".
"Odd.", Macgyver says surprised, "Are you sure?".
"Yes. I even double checked it since you asked about this connection specifically. We couldn't find anything. Why is it important?".
"Someone here claims Israel wants him extradited to put him on trial.".
"Listen Mac. He's not even wanted in Israel, are you sure about a connection?".
"Not anymore.", Macgyver sighs, "Any other links you've found?".
"I did find a failed arms deal he was involved in. He advised a Saudi company about a deal on Cyprus last year.".
"Cyprus?", Macgyver says intrigued, "Isn't that where all Arab states do business with Israel, pretending they don't?".
"Eh, yeah... I guess.", Pete says startled, "But there's more. Kleitz didn't buy the weapons. He shot the sellers during the deal and took the cargo to a port in Qatar.".
"I think I know enough Pete. Thank you.".
"What? Did I miss anything?", Pete asks surprised.
"Not something you'd mind to miss. Listen, could you do me another favor? I want you to check a name for me.".
"Sure no problem. Who's name?".
"I'm not sure yet.", Macgyver says reserved looking at Sarah's backpack under her bed, "I'll let you know when I've found out.".
"All right Macgyver. By the way are you still on vacation or did you get involved into something?".
"What do you think Pete? Off course I ran into something. I'll keep you informed. Thanks.".
"We'll keep our eyes open for this Kleitz. Take care.".
"He's not wanted in Israel.", Macgyver thinks, holding the phone in his lap. "I can imagine. They probably made a fortune, supplying him with equipment.". He puts aside the phone and walks to Sarah's stuff. "The men he shot in Cyprus where probably Israeli's. They don't want him to testify. Than everybody knows about the deals they made. And now he's betrayed them, they probably want him dead.". He lifts her backpack from under the bed and puts it on the table. "Who are you Sarah and what are you carrying with you?". He takes out some cloths and a toiletry bag. The toiletry bag contains a nail clipper, dental floss and some other items for personal hygiene. He opens a little jar containing a white substance. "Creme.", he says out loud as he smells the substance. He meticulously goes through her things, but doesn't find anything suspicious. "Think Macgyver,", he encourages himself. "What do you know about her? One: she's a lady, two: she's Israeli, probably an agent...". He sighs and puts the things back in the backpack and places it under the bed again. When he walks back to the table he sees the garbage bin. "I could send her fingerprints to the lab at the Phoenix Foundation.", he thinks while he takes out a can of coke from the bin. He throws it back. "That will take a long time to do. If her prints are even known in our system.".
The door opens and Sarah walks in with a big smile.
"Look what I found.", she says in triumph, holding up a bag of croissants. "These are very hard to find here.".
"Wow...Sarah?", Macgyver says uncomfortable. "You've outdone yourself.". He decides not to confront her with Pete's information. "I might scare her off. First I have to find out her identity.".
"You've thought of a plan yet?", Sarah asks.
"What?", Macgyver says a little absent.
"How to get Kleitz off course", she replies, "You didn't forget you've promised me help, right?".
"No. I didn't.". Macgyver takes a croissant and sits at the table. "I think he went back tot the house in Kukes assuming we're dead.".
"He could be still in the house in Kukes or he's started already to move all the weapons into Kosovo.".
"My bet is he's taken the last option.", Macgyver says, "He knows you've seen him and might fear you've revealed the location to...., to whoever you're working for.".
"Good thinking. The thing is, I didn't tell nobody.".
"But Kleitz doesn't know that for sure. Since I assume he knows what he's doing, he won't take that chance.". Macgyver takes his jacket from the chair and pulls a map out of it. He unfolds it on the table in front of him and switches the light on.
"Now. Kleitz' house is here in Kukes.", and he makes a circular movement with his fingers on the map. "How many routes are there to Kosovo from here?".
"Numerous.", Sarah sighs, "There's one official one through the Morines border post, but there are various illegal routes used by smugglers and poachers.".
"So he could be anywhere in an area of 30 square miles.", Macgyver concludes a little disappointed.
"I'd say he has to take the official route. If we assume he's trying to pass the border with a truckload of weapons, he can't go through here.", and Sarah points at an area on the map close to the border.
"Dead Valley.", Macgyver smiles, "Interesting name.".
"It's a limestone valley. Very few people, extremely bare and easy to get lost. More important it's close to impossible to get a 4-wheel drive through it, let alone a small truck.".
"Okay, we'll have to go to Morines than.".
"And than what?".
"We could notify the border police. They could stop him.".
"Better not. He's probably paid them off to let him through. Contacting the border would alarm Kleitz we're still alive.".
"Than we must go ourselves and hope we can stop him in Kosovo.".
"Why there?", Sarah asks, "Better here in Albania, before things get messy.".
"If we get him across the border, we have a bigger chance of getting him arrested than here. Who else does he has in his pocket apart from the border control officers?".
"Either way. We must leave as soon as possible. Our only advantage is that the road from here to Kukes is far better, than the one they're taken. Plus we travel as light as possible. With a bit of luck they're stuck somewhere.". Sarah takes out her bag pack and starts repacking it. Macgyver looks at the map and examines the White Drin river, which runs from Albania into Southern Kosovo. Not very far, but enough to cross the border. "I wonder.", Macgyver thinks.
"Before we leave for Kukes, we should do some shopping.", Macgyver says, "We'll need a lot of spare parts and I don't expect to find a lot of shops where we're going.".
"Okay. We could go down town. You have an idea of what we need?".
Yeah and I wrote some things down. It's better when we split. We'll be much faster that way.".
"Fine. Tell me what you want me to get.", Sarah says.
"Here's a list. Make sure you get it all.".
"Five rolls of duct tape?", Sarah gazes at the long list.
"Believe me when I say we'll need them.".
"What will you go after?".
"A car. One that can stand the region.", Macgyver says, "I'll have to check out some places.".