Firestorm 4
Pepa closed the door of Don Lorenzo’s office quietly. He turned in his chair and met her eyes. She saw the pain in his eyes and wondered if she bore the same look.
“Pepa.” He said softly as he stood. He crossed the room in two strides and embraced the taller woman in a strong hug.
He grasped the sides of her head and stared into he face.
“How are you my daughter?”
Pepa closed her eyes and forced herself to swallow. It amazed her that only months ago Don Lorenzo had wanted her “perverted” head on a stick for pursuing his daughter. Now, he considered her one of his own.
“I’m surviving.” Pepa said.
“Aren’t we all?” he replied sadly.
“Comissario, where are we with the case?”
“Pepa-“
“Wait. Before you say anything I want you to know that I am working on this case, with or without your permission. I’d like to be working officially under the badge but if I must venture out alone I will.”
She caught her breath then continued...“Papa I am going to find them all. It’s the only thing left I can give her.”
Don Lorenzo smiled sadly.
“You know you have not changed, even since you were a girl. That fire used to anger me Pepa. It was something I never understood nor wanted to taint my daughter.”
“And now?”
“And now… I think it is the only thing that could help resurrect this station. This family. It’s still very risky.”
She nodded.
“Give me your badge Pepa.”
She looked at him in confusion and anger then unclipped the badge from her belt.
She tossed it on his desk. “I see… “ she began.
Don Lorenzo interrupted her.
“If you are going to do this you’re going to do it right… Chief Inspector Miranda.”
He extended his arm with the Chief Inspector’s shield. She placed the mourning band on it and clipped it to her belt.
“I won’t let you down.”
“I know you won’t. All I ask is that you keep me informed. No heroics Pepa. We do this by standards. I’ve lost one daughter, and I don’t need the other playing hero or trying to get her killed. I couldn’t bear it. Whatever resources you need they are yours.” He pointed to a box containing all the files pertinent to the case.
“Si Commisario.”
With that she exited the room with the box under her arm. She walked slowly towards the conference room.
When she arrived the entire station was waiting for her in a line. She stopped unsure of their intention.
Jose Luis stepped forward and took the box from her hands. “Chief Inspector Miranda.” He greeted her.
With that, the line snapped to attention and rendered her a salute out of respect.
She nodded at them in thanks and returned the gesture.
“Let’s go to work.” She said as they all filed in the room.
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Paco sat in a darkened room the only light from a small tabletop lamp. He was tired. After a cryptic phone call from an unknown person with directions to meet on an abandoned road outside of Madrid, 3-hour plane ride, and another 30-minute ride with a hood on his head he was beat.
The door to the room opened with a cliché creak. It was Agent Durante.
“Paco.”
“Lydia what the hell is going on? Where’s Silvia?”
“She’s resting.”
“Resting my ass I’m sure she’s ranting on getting the hell out of here.”
“That too.” Lydia said with a predatory smile.
“Lydia I can’t do this to my sister anymore. It’s killing her inside.”
“Paco as much as I hate to sound like a bitch…good. The more she hates, the better chance we have of annihilation. The ETA will be releasing a video in response to these attacks. They will claim responsibility, and mock the death of Silvia and the others.”
“The ETA will?” Paco questioned with sarcasm.
“Yes.” Lydia said with a grin. “And as long as the ETA is getting their moments of fame, they won’t care who the message came from. They will also respond. We have a direct source inside the ETA who claims that a separate attack is being formulated right now. Apparently they are trying to recreate the bombing of 2004 with some slight variations including but not limited to IED’s in marketplaces, hospitals and police stations. Sources reveal that the ETA sent out a broadcast to ETA members worldwide recalling them to the Basque for a final push. This is it Paco. This is what we’ve been fearing.”
“I see all that, but what the hell does it have to do Pepa and my men?”
“The ETA is all but set in their plans. Unfortunately they cannot complete their final weapons and explosive purchases without generous funding from your friends in the Mafia. They have made inquiries into the purchase of C4 and Semtex. There are also rumors that someone in the ETA has been recruited out of Afghanistan with direct knowledge of new remote detonation technology. We also have good intel that a cell from Chechnya has received a payment from ETA members housed in Kazakhstan and are planning on training small squad tactics and takeovers. Basically Paco they failed their mission to kill everyone at the wedding, so the Mafia has stopped payment and required a follow-up mission. If the ETA is successful they will get their money and a promise of partnership for future monetary endeavors. Without this funding their plans are at a standstill”
“And as long as Pepa and my men live to fight, the ETA attack remains on hold.”
“Exactly. And who better than those who have lost the most to strike back.”
“Why me Lydia? Why tell me anything?”
“Because Paco. Ernesto trusted you. Without your help in 2004 the casualty county would have been in the thousands. It is rare for someone like me to find someone as loyal and capable as you. When we find an ally we tend to latch on to them…like a leech if you will.”
“That sounds about right since you have sucked the life right out of me and my station.”
“How is your sister?”
“She’s finally dragged herself out of the bottle and is ready to work.”
“Good.” Lydia slid a folder to him. “Inside are directions and keys to a brand new operations center donated by my employers. Inside you will find state of the art equipment, communications devices, weapons, armor, you name it. Tell your men that with the aid of federal assistance and a grant from NATO this center is to be used to combat domestic terrorism in Spain and Western Europe. I will have several agents joining you under the guise that they are from the American FBI and Italian national police force. You will tell your men that such attacks on police will be handled as any other terrorist attack. There are documents inside citing ballistics tests and DNA checks linking the ETA to the Mafia. I trust your sister will make the appropriate connections and plan a sound retaliatory strike. Trust me Paco if this goes well, your men will have sufficient back up. Spetz Naz, U.S. Navy SEALS, GIS, UEBC and British SAS. We just cannot bring them into the fold yet. Any leak of Intel will set us back 10 years and will allow the ETA to escape. We’ll never have an opportunity like this again. 500 ETA members will be in Spain within the next three weeks and we will be waiting for them.”
Paco pinched the bridge of his nose. “Anything else.”
“Yes actually. This project is to be called Taskforce Firestorm. When you have dead-ended, which you will, call this number. Let the man who answers know what task force you are from. He will supply you with further instructions.”
“You are a cryptic crazy woman Lydia. Do you know that?”
“Of course I do. Come, lets check on the redhead shall we?”