THE SPANISH REVENGE (Craig Page series) Read Online Free PDF Page A

was experienced and good, Musa was confident that Craig would never stop Musa’s Spanish Revenge. “Craig Page, you’re about to suffer your most serious defeat,” Musa said aloud.
    Musa’s operation had been carefully and precisely planned. Nothing could go wrong. Still, with Craig likely to be involved, Musa wanted one final check.
    He picked up the phone on the battered wooden desk next to the Beretta and summoned Omar.
    His deputy appeared a minute later. “Yes, Ahmed.”
    “I told you not to call me that. There is no more Ahmed. Only Musa Ben Abdil.”
    “I’m sorry. Old habits die hard, my friend.”
    “I can understand that.” It was an old habit. He and Omar had grown up together as close boyhood friends in adjacent buildings in Chichy-sous Bois, a suburban slum outside of Paris, populated by Muslims whose families, like their parents, came from Algeria and Morocco.
    “I want to go over the details one more time,” Musa said. “Before they leave tomorrow. Bring Kemal, Ibrahami, and Yasir over here.”
    “Right away.”
    Waiting for them to arrive, Musa, stroking his neatly trimmed beard, paced on the terracotta floor stained by the blood of a traitorwhom he shot last week, going over the operation in his mind. He had brilliantly conceived it. Now the implementation had to be flawless.
    The three of them entered behind Omar. Kemal, who had grown up with Musa and Omar, a lifelong friend, though not as close as Omar, now looked hesitant and fearful. Not Ibrahami and Yasir. The Somali and the Algerian, both of whom Musa met in Clichy during the ’05 riots, stood tall, looking eager. Ready for what lay ahead in the next two days.
    Nobody sat. They all stood around Musa’s desk.
    “Yasir,” Musa said. “In the morning, you’ll fly to Paris. Stay with friends in Clichy whom you can trust and don’t tell them why you’re there. Then Friday morning, from eight a.m. on, you’ll be in the area of Paris near the pont de l’Alma. Walk around. Stop in brasseries until I call. You have the number of CNN?”
    “Committed to memory,” Yasir said.
    Musa reached into his desk drawer, pulled out a micro CD player and handed it to Yasir. “All you have to do is hold it up to the phone and press the play button.”
    “I understand.”
    Musa turned to Kemal and Ibrahami. “Tomorrow morning, the two of you will fly to Madrid. You’ll pick up the bomb and remote from the locker in the train station. Tomorrow evening at eight, deliver the note to the Spanish Defense Ministry. Then drive to Seville. I want you both in place early Friday morning when the Spanish school vacation begins. Then …”
    Kemal interrupted. “Is it wise to provide advance notice of the attack? Won’t that increase the chances of our being stopped?”
    Musa couldn’t believe Kemal was questioning him on an operational matter. The success of an organization like the Spanish Revenge depended on tight discipline and the chain of command.
    “I shouldn’t have to explain it,” Musa said slowly, as if he were speaking to a child. “Giving advance notice shows our strength to the world. We’re telling the Spanish government that they can’t stopus even if they know what we’ve planned. We’ll gain greater respect. And will be able to raise funds more easily for future operations.”
    Kemal persisted, “But…”
    Musa cut him off. “I said we’re doing it that way. Now let’s look at the map of Southern Spain. You can take it with you, but I want to focus on the spot for the attack. I selected it myself after visiting the area.”
    The five of them moved up close to Musa’s desk, their eyes on the map. Musa pointed to a red “X” along train tracks running from Madrid to Seville. “This is it.”
    He glanced at Ibrahami, who was nodding. Kemal had his lips pursed together. Mouth drawn tight.
    “I expect you to escape,” Musa continued. “But remember, under any circumstances you can’t let them take you prisoner. Craig Page