Proving Ground

Chapter 5

The last three hairpin turns were almost his undoing. He was hot and his chest was tight with anger as the car finally slowed to a stop, and he wanted nothing more than to hit somebody. The drive had taken almost an hour by his calculations, and it wasn't difficult to figure out where they were. Having lived here his entire life, he was quite familiar with the ridge lines that rose up between the outer neighborhoods of the city and the valley, so being forced to wear a hood over his head had served no purpose other than to piss him off. If Sadik thought it would intimidate him, he was wrong. Max was roaring through him now, and Deeks had no inclination to hold him back. He tore the stifling sack off his head, and stepped out as soon as Baldo opened the car door, shoving the heavy hood into the man's chest with enough force to knock him backwards. As he pushed the hair off his sweaty forehead he breathed in deeply, grateful for the soft breeze that cooled the heated skin at base of his neck.

Sadik walked past him without saying a word, expecting them all to follow, but he remained where he was, taking in his surroundings. He'd guessed this Yavuz guy had money, but this estate spoke of deep pocket wealth, the kind you didn't expect from someone who had ripped off a military convoy. Either he was leveraged up to his eyeballs, or there was something else in play here besides making a buck. The grounds were surrounded by a tall concrete wall that sported security cameras and razor wire. The estate was heavily fortified and would be damn difficult to breach. He hoped things didn't come to that as he turned back to watch a wrought iron security gate slowly roll closed behind the car. The hint of chorine hung in the air so he assumed there was a pool. With a house like this there was always a pool. Through a row of blossoming white dogwoods, he could just see a tennis court on a terrace down below. The distinctive plop of a tennis ball told him someone was playing.

"This is not a sightseeing tour. Mr. Yavuz is waiting," Sadik said loudly from the top of a curved concrete stairway.

He trotted up the wide steps to the columned entrance of the huge house designed to mimic a Tuscan villa. A fiery orange bougainvillea just beginning to bloom, capped the portico. Fuentes stood by the door, its curving ironwork beautiful and probably strong enough to withstand a frontal assault. As he stepped inside the cool entry hall, he caught a whiff of mint and maybe oregano, which made it seem more like a home instead of a fortress. He followed Sadik down the wide hall and slowed as they entered a massive living room crowded with brocaded couches filled with large, colorful pillows covered in textiles woven with motifs of flowers and animals. There was a fireplace at each end, both elaborately carved out of honey colored wood that glowed from the light spilling in from the floor to ceiling windows that looked out unto a wide terrace. It was a breathtaking room. It made him think of Hetty, and he briefly let his mind wander, wondering how she was.

Sadik left him alone, and Fuentes and Baldo had disappeared, but he had no doubt he was being watched. He went ahead and took the opportunity to look around a bit, trying to get a handle on the man he would be dealing with. He wandered over to a long console table of dark wood inlaid with ivory and mother-of-pearl that nestled against the near wall. Hanging above it was a large bronze shield engraved with vines and what he thought looked like Arabic calligraphy. Four antique silver daggers were mounted on either side. Two ancient looking bronze helmets probably worn in some long ago battle stood on either end of the table as if guarding the framed photographs between them. The photos featured people from several generations, some old sepia prints obviously taken in Turkey. The one that caught his eye looked to be a recent photo of a beautiful young girl with long, dark brown hair who didn't appear to be more than sixteen. He picked it up. It was a candid shot of a girl wearing a flowing white caftan. She was laughing, her hand covering her mouth as if she were embarrassed.

"My father loves that picture," a soft, musical voice said from behind him.

He was startled, having not heard her come into the room. He set the photo down and turned to look at her. She was barefoot, wearing jeans and a colorfully embroidered white cotton tunic. She was even more beautiful in person.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to poke my nose in where it doesn't belong," he said, offering her a soft smile.

"Please don't worry about it," she replied, smiling warmly in return.

"The picture doesn't do you justice, by the way."

"Really? Thanks," she said shyly. "I'm Emiri."

"Beautiful name. I'm Max."

"I assume you're here to see my father," She said. "Are you a business associate?"

"To be determined," he replied, cocking his head.

"Actually, you don't look like a business man at all," she replied, watching him with a curious look on her face.

"The leather jacket and hoodie give me away?" He asked softly. "Or was it the jeans?"

"No tie," she replied, smiling back.

"Not a big fan of those."

"I like your look. Business suits are boring," she said as she picked up one of the old photographs. "This was my great grandfather. Back then the men in Turkey weren't afraid to wear colorful clothes with lots of patterns."

"Or baggy pants," he said, grinning so she would know he was teasing.

She laughed and set the framed photo back down on the table. When she looked back up at him she looked sad.

"Missing the old ways?" He asked.

"Just the clothes," was all she said, frowning before she smiled. "Are you coming to work here?"

"I don't think so," he replied. "But, I'll know more after I meet with your father."

"Would you like something to drink?" she asked. "He might be awhile. He's in his office yelling at someone on the phone."

"I'm good, thanks. Does he do that a lot? Yell, I mean," He asked. "Want to be prepared if I'm gonna get yelled at."

"No. No. He's usually very soft spoken," she said, frowning. "But he's been on the phone a lot lately, and they aren't very pleasant conversations from what I can understand."

"What do you mean?"

"He was speaking Turkish, and I don't know the language all that well," she replied. "I was born in Istanbul, but I've lived here most of my life. We went back for a year when I was twelve. I didn't like it there. My father didn't…it was a bad time."

She withdrew into herself, and he wondered what might have happened there.

"What about your mother? Did she like it?" He asked, trying to bring her out of her melancholy.

"She died there."

She spoke the words as if they had no power, but her face gave her away. She quickly controlled her emotions, lifting her chin defiantly as if she were in a battle.

"I'm sorry, Emiri."

"It changed my father," she said, but suddenly realized she might be saying too much and covered her mouth like she had in the photograph.

"You were only twelve. It must have been hard for you," Max said gently.

"Yeah…still is."

"Emiri? You should not be talking to this man," Sadik called out, hurrying in from a door at the far end of the room. "It is not proper."

"He's nice," she said, lifting her chin again and standing up straighter the closer he got.

There was definitely some friction between them. He could feel it. She didn't like him. Sadik shot him a withering glare, which caused him to smile, and that did nothing for the man's attitude.

"You are not to speak to her again," Sadik ordered. "Do you understand me, Gentry?"

"I can talk to anyone I want," Emiri stubbornly insisted.

Sadik reached out and gripped her arm tightly, and Max saw her flinch. "Let go of her. Now."

He didn't say it very loud, but the implied threat behind the words was hard to miss. Sadik stared at him, his dark brow furrowed with anger and irritation, but his grip on her arm loosened. Emiri pushed his hand away, and took a step back from the confrontation. She looked briefly up at Max, and then turned and hurried across the room, pulling open a sliding door and slipping out onto the terrace. He watched her until she disappeared down a stone staircase.

"Was that a threat, Gentry?" Sadik said.

"When I threaten you, you'll know it," Max said.

"She is his daughter," Sadik said. "If you touch her, Mr. Yavuz will kill you."

"She's just a kid, and we were just talking," Max said, suddenly pissed over what he was implying.

"Is there a problem, gentlemen?" A mellow voice called out.

"You must send this man away, Berat," Sadik quickly said. "He is arrogant and impertinent. I found him talking to Emiri. That cannot be tolerated."

"This is not Istanbul, Ari," the man said sharply. "Emiri is a teenager. She was being gracious to a guest she found in her own home."

"You're daughter's very nice, Mr. Yavuz," Max said softly.

"And knows nothing about my business affairs," he replied.

"We weren't talking business, we were talking about how Turks used to dress in the old days," Max said easily, pointing at the old photographs. "She thinks today's business suits are boring."

"She does have quite a fashion sense," Yavuz replied with a smile. "My credit card bills vouch for that. Now, lets go talk some business."

Yavuz was not physically impressive, but there was an air of authority about him. He looked to be in his fifties, showing a tinge of gray at his temples and at the edges of his beard. He led them past the kitchen, where Deeks again caught a hint of oregano and mint. Down a short flight of stairs they came to a set of strong looking metal doors, and Sadik stepped forward and swiped a card to allow them entrance. Once inside, the door closed and locked behind them. Ahead was a similar entrance that was guarded by two men standing rigidly attentive. This door had a different security protocol, and Deeks began to really wonder who the hell this guy was. With this level of security, he sure as hell wasn't your average businessman or hijacker.

"Search him," Yavuz ordered. "Thoroughly."

Deeks spread his arms to comply, but instead he was grabbed by the two guards and slammed face first into the wall. He was stripped of his jacket and hoodie, and they shoved his tee shirt up high, he guessed to make sure he wasn't wearing a wire, even though that was old school these days. When one of the guards got a little too touchy-feely around his privates, Max got pissed.

"What the fuck?"

Pushing back from the wall, he swung around and slugged the man, knocking him to the floor. Before he could make another move, two guns were pointed at him, so he stopped, standing his ground and ready for whatever came next.

"Are you hiding something, Max?" Sadik asked with a slight smile.

"My privates are private," he shot back.

"Not here," Yavuz said quietly, nodding to the guard with the gun.

The man pistol whipped before he could get his arm up, and he sagged back against the wall and then slid to the floor as his vision went gray. A solid kick in the stomach took the air from his lungs. As he lay on the floor trying to get his breath back, every part of his body was thoroughly searched. Even his shoes and socks were removed. All of his clothes were examined as well, making him wonder once again what kind of operation this really was.

"When you are dressed, Sadik will bring you inside," Yavuz said, and walked away.

He was yanked to his feet, and saw the man enter a passcode and go through the door, closing it behind him.

"Fight me or my men again and you will not survive," Sadik said in his face.

"You sure about that?" Max said, as he smoothed down his tee shirt.

"Do you need another lesson?"

"Never was very good in school," he replied. "But I'm smart enough to know I wouldn't have made it this far if your boss wasn't interested in what I can offer."

He saw a shift in the man's eyes and he relaxed ever so slightly, pointing at the guard beside him.

"If this asshole tries to hit me again, I'll break his fuckin' arm," Max said. "You want to meet my contact, then show some fuckin' respect, or I walk and you can find your own damn arms dealer."

"Bring him in, Ari," Yavuz's voice ordered from a speaker on the wall.

"The boss likes to watch, yeah?" Max said in a whisper. "Must keep you on your toes."

"Put on your pants and leave everything else," Sadik ordered.

As he pulled on his jeans, he went over everything that had happened. This meeting wasn't what he'd expected at all, and Yavuz wasn't either. The guards looked to have had military training, and Sadik reminded him of a spook. Yavuz was the one he couldn't figure out. He seemed gentle one minute, talking reasonably about his teenage daughter, and then coldly having the guard pistol-whip him. They definitely needed to get more intel on this guy. It was going to be difficult to take this operation down, especially if they were able to hold up in this place. He doubted the missiles were being kept on the estate, but he couldn't discount the idea. The security was certainly tight enough, but the exposure in a residential neighborhood would make it highly unlikely.

"Move it," the guard said and tried to take his arm.

In an instant, Max grabbed his hand and twisted it up behind his back. Before anyone could interfere, he kneed him between the legs and rammed his head into the wall. The man dropped like rock and lay still. When he turned, Sadik and the other guard had their weapons trained on him, and Max raised his hands in surrender.

"I warned him," Max said.

"Enough. All of you," Yavuz voice commanded. "Sadik. Bring him inside. Now."

Max was shoved toward the door, which opened as they approached. Two more guards awaited him inside, their guns already out and pointed at him.

"I'm unarmed," Max said with a cocky grin. "What are you afraid of?"

Yavuz sat behind an ultra modern desk watching. The room was cool and dim, nothing like the main living room of the house. Here there was no sign of anything personal or from another era. There were no windows and the far end of the room looked like a mini version of the Ops center. Two large screens showed views from an array of security cameras that seemingly covered every room in the house and overlooked the grounds from every angle.

"You live up to your reputation, Mr. Gentry," Yavuz said, motioning to the guards to put away their weapons.

"Call me Max."

"You're a warrior, Mr. Gentry," he replied. "I admire that, although you are an undisciplined one."

"In my business you live by your wits and your fists or you die," he replied. "A gun don't hurt either."

"You play the ruffian, but I sense there is more behind that mask," he said smoothly. "You're intelligent, I think. Much more intelligent than you allow anyone to see."

"It pays to keep some things hidden," he said. "Gives you an edge. But looking around, I'd say you already know that."

"We all keep secrets," he said. "I watched you talking with my daughter. You're a paradox to me, Mr. Gentry. With her you exhibited simple human kindness. In the hall outside, you were a tough street fighter with an explosive temper. Which one is the real you, I wonder."

"I was wondering the same thing about you," Max replied. "Why would a loving father allow a man like Sadik to put a hand on his daughter? You saw him do it, right?"

Sadik started toward him, but Yavuz held up his hand and he stopped.

"My daughter is of no concern of yours, Mr. Gentry," He said in a flat voice. "I am curious though. Do you really care, or are you just testing me?"

"Both," he admitted.

"Whether I pass your test makes no difference. What interests me is why you care about what Sadik did. Tell me why you defended her?"

Deeks wasn't sure he wanted to give him the real answer. Adding his own childhood into the mess that was Max Gentry brought the opposite sides of himself closer. But, this guy didn't know Max was an alias. If he shared the trauma of his childhood, the two might find a connection, or Yavuz might just see it as a weakness he could exploit. He decided to play it out and see what happened.

"Mr. Gentry?" The man prompted.

"My father was a dick," he finally said. "A real asshole who got off on beating up on my mama. Never have been able to watch a man rough up a woman after that. Pisses me off and makes me question if they're really a man at all."

He saw the man clinch his jaw tightly as he spoke, but he couldn't read his expression, so he had no idea what his response would be.

"You were a young boy when this took place?" Yavuz asked, and he nodded. "What did you do?

"Tried to stop the sonofabitch," he replied.

"And did he stop?"

"Not until I shot 'im," Max said.

The man's eyes flared wide at the comment, but it was Sadik who spoke. "What kind of a man kills his own father, Berat? This man has no honor."

"But you weren't a man when this happened were you?" Yavuz asked quietly, surprising Deeks.

"I was eleven."

"Did your mother survive?"

"Yeah…she did."

"Mine didn't."

"Sorry to hear that," Deeks said, no longer in touch with Max.

"Berat! This man is nothing but a filthy con man," Sadik spit out. "He is beneath contempt."

"Get out, Ari," Yavuz said. "All of you out. Now!"

"I will not leave you unprotected," Sadik fumed.

"Mr. Gentry is an intelligent man, Ari," Yavuz said. "He will not hurt me. Besides, I am armed and he is not. Now go."

When the room was clear, Yavuz stood up and walked over to the security monitors to watch the outside hall. Sadik was violently kicking the semi-conscious guard he'd rammed into the wall.

"He is loyal. Old school as you call it," he said quietly. "He will kill you in the end, if you aren't careful."

"I'm always careful," Max replied as he came to stand beside him.

"You would be wise to be careful of us both," he said quietly. "Sadik is family."

Deeks swallowed down the sudden taste of adrenaline as Yavuz turned his attention to the view of the pool. Emiri sat alone on the edge with her feet in the water.

"She looks just like her mother," he said softly.

"She's beautiful."

"Is there a woman in your life, Max?"

"Yeah, there is," seeing no reason to lie.

"And you would do anything to protect her, wouldn't you?"

"Yes I would."

"And if someone were to end her life, you would seek revenge for her death? Yes?"

"I would hunt them down and end them without mercy."

"Then we understand each other," Yavuz said, and turned to face him. "I am in possession of six Tomahawk missiles that I need to get out of the country. I can't have them traced back to me. Can the man you know do this?"

"Absolutely. He's an arms dealer who works out of Rome," Max said, adrenaline making his heart race. "Where are these missiles going?"

"We will discuss the details at our next meeting," he replied, turning to continue watching his daughter. "And the name of this arms dealer?"

"Lorenzo Benedetto," Max said slowly. "He's an arrogant sonofabitch, but he has the track record to back it up. When did you want to meet him?"

"Sadik will let you know," he said, sounding distracted. "He will provide you with a phone that cannot be traced."

"Okay," Max said. "I'll wait to hear from you then."

"You have not asked about money," Yavuz said, looking over at him with narrow eyes. "That surprises me and makes me a little suspicious."

"I'll let you know after the meeting," he replied, having not thought of it at all. "I take twenty-five percent of Benedetto's fee, and when we come to an agreement, I'll ask for twenty-five percent of that total fee from you."

"You'll take twenty and be happy with it," he said coldly.

"All right. Deal."

"Go now. Someone will drive you wherever you want."

Deeks wanted to ask about the death of his wife, but realized he would be pushing his luck, so he walked away. Just as he reached the door, Yavuz spoke again.

"Sadik will be punished for hurting my daughter."

"Of course."

He walked out into the hall to find Fuentes and Baldo waiting. He followed them out and past the kitchen. When they reached the front door, Sadik was waiting, glowering at him. He didn't say a thing, simply handed him a burn phone and stalked off.

"He don't like you, dude," Baldo whispered.

"That fucker don't like nobody," he replied, reverting to the hard-ass street thug they thought he was.

He was anxious to leave and hurried down the stairs where Fuentes waited in the car. Before he got in, he rounded on Baldo and demanded his gun and his phone.

"You get those when we drop you off," Fuentes said. "Now get in the fuckin' car or walk back."

He was pissed, but got in the back and stared up at the palatial home. A feeling of sadness and danger hung in the air as Fuentes drove out of the gate and down the winding road into the city below. They did not blindfold him or put a hood over his head this time, so he had achieved some level of trust, but he knew that could well be temporary.

He had found a connection with Berat Yavuz. He did understand him as far as that went, and hadn't lied when he said he would track down anyone who harmed Kensi. He had already done that, and felt no remorse. Although he was sympathetic to the loss Yavuz had suffered, using a Tomahawk missile to exact revenge was a little over the top, even slightly deranged. And he had six of them.

He was under no illusions about the man. Yavuz was intelligent, and could be empathetic, but he was also calculating, a control freak and seriously unpredictable, and that made him dangerous. Sadik would come at him straight on, but not Yavuz. How he might react at any given moment was an unknown. He was on a mission to avenge his dead wife, and he would annihilate anyone who got in his way or who betrayed him. They would have to tread carefully around him, and he had no idea what to expect when Benjamin Teague was introduced as the arms dealer Lorenzo Benedetto. He was also an unknown. The arrogance he had shown toward him earlier wouldn't play well with Yavuz or Sadik.

"Sonofabitch," He said softly.

"Where to, Max?" Fuentes asked.

"Drop me at the Farmers Market. I'm hungry."

No way he was letting these guys know where he was staying. He could lose himself in the Farmers Market, and make sure he wasn't being followed. When he picked up his truck later at the pool hall, he could call to arrange a meeting somewhere with the team. Mosley had no idea where he was since they'd shut off his phone, and he intended to keep it that way until he could digest all the information he'd just gotten, and discuss it with team. This was no longer a simple hijacking for monetary gain, this had the makings of a terrorist attack, although not in this country. Whatever Yavuz was planning and wherever the attack was launched, if American weapons were used it would be a nightmare for international relations. If those missiles were part of a terrorist attack on foreign soil it would damage the country's standing with a host of allies, and lead to the real possibility of retaliation.

"Hey. We're here," Fuentes said loudly, jarring him out of his thoughts.

They parked by the Fairfax entrance to the market, and Baldo handed over his weapon and phone. He wasn't friends with either one of these men. They were hard-core criminals, but if he didn't warn them and something happened, their blood would be on his hands.

"I don't know how deep into this you two are, but watch yourself," he warned. "When this is over those guys won't leave any loose ends. You get what I'm sayin'?"

"We can take care of ourselves," Fuentes said, but Baldo shot him a look that made him think they'd already talked about it.

"It's a righteous warning and the only one I'm gonna give," Max said. "Be survivors, man."

He shoved his weapon behind his back and got out of the car, watching until they drove out of sight. He'd told them he was hungry, but nothing could be further from the truth. His stomach was in turmoil as he made his way into the bustle of the market. He was desperate to share what he knew. Mosley had to let the team in on this. They were the best NCIS had and the best was going to be needed on this one. The more he thought about it, the more urgent his need to talk with Callen and Sam, and especially Kensi. The Farmers Market would be an ideal meeting place, so he wove through the crowds, heading for the Coffee Corner. He'd been going there since he was a patrolman, and had made friends with the owner. She loved Kensi and would have no problem letting him use her phone, and he could use a hefty shot of caffeine. As busy as the place was he managed to push his way to the counter and wave to Lilian. She quickly made her way over, and without hesitation handed him her phone when he told her he was trying to reach Kensi. A few minutes later he had a latte in hand, sitting down at an empty table to make his call.

"Who's this?" Kensi asked tentatively.

"It's me, Fern," he said.

"Where are you? And who's phone are you using?"

"Farmers Market. Lilian at the Coffee Corner let me borrow hers," he said as he scanned the crowds. "I need to meet. I have so much critical information I think my head's gonna explode."

"Are you okay? You sound…different."

He didn't reply, his eyes briefly focusing on a man clocking him from the shadows. He had been one of the guards inside Yavuz's office. Deeks laughed and let his eyes slide away from the man, not wanting him to realize he'd been made.

"Deeks? What's going on?"

"I'm being tracked," he whispered.

"You mean by someone other than us and Mosley?"

"Yeah, Kens. That's what I'm saying," he snapped. "I've got three different phones to keep straight and now I've got three trackers on me as well, and I'm being tailed. I'm just the life of this crazy, fuckin' party."

"Okay, baby. Okay," she replied gently. "Can you lose him?"

"Not until I find the tracker they put on me," he said, feeling Max itching to take control and confront the guy.

"Deeks…"

"Gotta go."

He hadn't meant to cut her off, but he needed to concentrate. The tracker was either on his clothes or his shoes. He shouldn't be surprised, but it sure as hell pissed him off. A plan began to take shape, and he stood up, keeping watch on the guy out of the corner of his eye. He threw the remains of his latte in the trash and walked back to the counter and thanked Lilian for the use of the phone. Then he described the man following him and told her to call security, telling her he saw the man steal from the shop next door. It only took a few minutes for a couple of off duty cops to show up. Lilian pointed out the supposed thief as Max Gentry turned and melted into the crowd, smiling to himself. Raucous shouts echoed off the surrounding stalls as a chase began, reassuring him that his tail was way too busy to follow.