Blowback

“The Ottomans recognized the power of the Wahhabis and aligned themselves with them early on. That was how they were able to gain access to bin Laden and create al-Qaeda. It is a relationship of religion and politics-a match made in Paradise. The Wahhabis provided the spiritual justification for revolution and the establishment of a single Islamic state while the Ottomans provided the know-how and ability to run it efficiently. The one thing the Wahhabis recognize is that while they may have had a similar social agenda, the Taliban were defeated because they had no idea how to maintain the sovereignty of their country. That is something the Ottomans have more than proven they are capable of.”

Harvath’s head was reeling. “Without knowing how they are inoculating the Sunni, how the hell can we stop them?”

“You can’t,” said a voice from the other end of the room.

The Aga Khan recognized the voice immediately. “Akrep, “He said as the color drained from his face.

SEVENTY-EIGHT

Watching the man as he crossed the room, Harvath now realized that the helicopter he had heard belonged neither to Claudia Mueller nor to the Aga Khan but to someone else who apparently had business at Château Aiglemont.

“I was right,” said Harvath as one of Ozan Kalachka’s two bodyguards stripped him of his weapons. “Everything does have its price with you, even friendship.”

“This isn’t about friendship,” replied Kalachka.

“I’m also willing to bet that this isn’t about your nephew either.”

Kalachka smiled. “Nephew? I don’t have any nephew.”

Harvath had underestimated the man yet again.

“I needed to find Tokay, and I knew you would lead me right to him,” said Kalachka.

“Why me? Why not Alomari?”

“Assassins have their place in this world, but he lacked your investigative skills. He also lacked the proper motivation. Not only is your entire country at risk, but someone you bore a serious grudge against was involved as well.”

“Rayburn.”

“Exactly. It all came together to form the perfect combination. I knew no matter what, you would find Emir Tokay for me.”

“But then why did you send Alomari to kill me?”

“I didn’t. In fact, when Alomari missed getting to Tokay before his kidnapping, I terminated his employment. Had he done his job, I never would have needed your services.”

“He found us in London, though.”

“He found you because he tortured the information about Dr. Alcott out of my colleague, Gökhan Celik. By going after Ms. Alcott and Emir Tokay, Alomari was trying to get himself back into my good graces.”

“Well, now that you’ve found Tokay, what do you intend to do with him?”

Kalachka looked at Harvath and smiled. “I’ve already done it. He’s dead.”

Without his radio, there was no way Harvath could contact Schroeder and verify whether or not he’d found Tokay, much less if he’d found the man alive. Glancing at his Kobold, Harvath realized that if Schroeder’s part of the operation had gone according to plan, he and Gösser would have already gotten to Tokay and moved him outside.

“So now that the last scientist has been silenced, you can set your sights on starting your own personal revolution, is that it?”

“It has already started, “He said, pointing to the television set behind the Aga Khan’s desk.

Harvath turned and saw scenes of small groups of young men throwing stones and bottles at Saudi police. It looked like a scene from Gaza or the West Bank. “That? That’s your revolution? Those are just kids.”

“And they’re just the beginning. They think the U.S. has convinced the Saudi monarchy to round up all their spiritual leaders and put them on trial. Those kids, as you put it, are going to cause so much trouble on the streets of Riyadh that the Saudi Monarchy will have no choice but to come to the table and meet with the Wahhabi leadership. They will beg the Wahhabis to put an end to the rioting. That’s when the real revolution will be ignited.”

Harvath looked at him. “Then what, you’ll have your Wahhabis bump off the leading members of the Royal Family? Is that how you’re going to start it?”

“Quite the opposite, actually. Killing the most prominent members of the Saudi Royal Family wouldn’t cause outrage in the streets; in fact, people would be dancing for joy. Instead, the Royal Family is going to kill the top members of the Wahhabi leadership. I think that will prove much more effective.”

Saudi Arabia was a religious powder keg, and Kalachka was playing with a terrifying book of matches. Killing the Wahhabi leadership would send much of the country into a furor. Even a hint that the Royal Family had something to do with the killings would guarantee rioting the likes of which the Middle East and the world had never seen. “That’s it then,” said Harvath. “You’ve wrapped up all your loose ends.”

“Not exactly,” said Kalachka as he withdrew a pistol. “There’s one last thing I have to do. “Pointing it at the Aga Khan, he pulled the trigger.