Tybee Island Terror Plot
Excerpt

Chapter XI

Iron Hand and two agents stood on the pier next to Serious Business. He decided that he wasnt going to wait long for a court order to legally board this boat. The boat might yield valuable clues if it was the vessel that Abdul Rahman had chartered for scuba diving around Tybee Island. The boat seemed unoccupied but if a terrorist was hiding below deck he had to be considered armed and dangerous. Iron Hand positioned one agent at the head of the pier to watch and stop, if necessary, any civilian who came toward Serious Business while they searched the boat. There was no need to provoke a dispute with someone who claimed they owned the boat and questioned why law enforcement personnel were onboard.

As Iron Hand stood on Serious Business his mind flashed back to the message about Abdul going to Monterey Square to meet with the mysterious caller. He flipped open his cell phone cover and called the FBI agents staked out at Abduls apartment building.

Listen up men. Do not, repeat not, make any moves against Rahman as he travels to Monterey Square. Do not make any moves against any person that approaches him. This may be a dry run to determine if Abdul's telephone has been bugged. These Islamic terrorists may be smarter that we credit them. Stay well away from Rahman and maybe someone will show up and theyll lead us to the bomb. Our top priority is to learn where the bomb is hidden. Keep me informed when anyone shows up to meet Abdul. Do you copy?

Roger, Iron Hand.

Ahmad gritted his jaw as he ended the cell phone call. He thought that the telephone sounded hollow and different. This feeling was unsettling. Ahmad sensed that the American security forces may have identified Abdul and zeroed in on his phone line. There could be investigations being conducted behind the scene that Abdul wouldnt know about. Ahmad decided his best bet would be not to meet Abdul in Monterey Square but observe him from a safe distance and then follow him when he left. Ahmad would not take any unnecessary risks at this crucial point of the mission. Ahmad was happy his sensory defenses had kicked-in to ward off any chance encounter with the local police or FBI.

Ahmad turned his attention his attention to Bruslov. Sergei, you remain confident the bomb will function properly in twenty-four hours?

Yes, I have rechecked my calculations and all is in order. I estimate a blast effect of seven kilo-tons of TNT, more than enough to completely destroy the waterfront and three miles around ground zero.

Ahmad displayed a small smile as he digested this assessment from his nuclear technician. Bruslov was attempting to reassure Ahmad that he was totally dedicated to the mission. Bruslov guessed that Ahmad and Omar probably planned to draw the American security forces away from the warehouse in a diversionary confrontation. Some last noble shoot-out or stand off that would guarantee them martyrs glory within the Islamic Brotherhood.

As a way of testing his theory, Bruslov asked Ahmad,

What are your plans for evacuating the blast area? Bruslov watched Ahmads reaction to his question. He wanted to gauge the response because it would pertain to his own survival chances after the bomb was operational and the timing device was counting down.

Ahmad wasted no time with pleasantries, We will take our boat down the Florida Inter-Coastal waterway and, if Allah is willing, make our way to the Grand Bahama Islands. Bruslov nodded his approval playing the role of a loyal team member, willingly accepting Ahmads plan for their escape from ground zero. Bruslov had been in the warehouse so long his clothes, body and hair reeked of smelly machine oil, and all the musty odors of an old dirty shop. He longed for a clean hotel room, hot bath and a decent meal. Actually, the last thing that Bruslov planned was to go aboard the boat used to recover the bomb. In Bruslovs mind, there was no way the boat would be capable of out running the Coast Guard and certainly it was too big to blend into a harbor without being noticed by suspicious American security forces.

Bruslov walked up to Ahmad and said, I am now ready to start the count-down on the timing device. I need to know when you want the bomb to detonate? Ahmads face tightened as he said,

Set the bomb to explode at 12:00 midnight. If you start the count-down now we will have eleven hours and thirty minutes to clear the blast area. I want the bomb to explode at night because I believe that will cause even more panic. Ahmad stepped away from Bruslov and conferred with Omar and Majed. He then announced,

I must leave to meet my brother. Ill return in forty-five minutes.

Bruslov continued to hover around the bomb, stalling and pretending to be making last minute adjustments to the timer. Majed seemed interested in this process and closely watched what Bruslov was doing to the bomb. Bruslov had long stopped worrying about Majed and his nosey intrusions.

Food was ordered from a local fast food diner as had been their practice since occupying the warehouse. Always the same freadful meals: Mexican tamales and fried beans with spiced rice, served with soft drinks or tea. Ahmad had been gone for ten minutes driving alone to Monterey Square for his two oclock meeting with his brother.

With the timing device counting down the twelve hours until the detonation, Bruslov felt this was probably his last opportunity to escape. With Ahmad not present to complicate his departure, his chances of success were much higher. Bruslov said to Omar,

I need to use the toilet. This lunch isnt settling well with me. Bruslov had barely touched his Mexican food but made a show of tasting everything.