Bahadur’s driver dropped them off in the black of night. Bahadur led with Anita following closely behind him. Jack brought up the rear with Kathy in the middle. Their passing left no sound, only shifting tracks in the thick dust. Jack knew Kathy was only a few yards in front of him, yet he couldn’t see her. He could separate her fragrance from the strong smell of dust and wondered how in the hell Bahadur could see where he was going. Jack could see the lights of Birganj, and Bahadur was keeping them on their right.

At one point he led them up a short flight of cement steps. At the top Bahadur raised his hand and then dropped it down toward the ground. Anita dropped on one knee and reached back to Kathy to pass on Bahadur’s warning. Bahadur listened intently. The night was quiet with no moon or wind.

Anita couldn’t see anything beyond Bahadur’s crouching silhouette, but she could hear faint sounds of footsteps shuffling along in the deep dust. The shuffling sounds came closer. Anita could tell they were coming directly toward them. Suddenly she heard Bahadur say something in a low voice. The shuffling stopped. Bahadur reached back, took Anita’s arm, and they both stood up. Jack heard a faint laugh from the darkness, and the footsteps faded away into the night.

Bahadur, leaning close to Anita’s ear, said, “Smugglers. No problem.” She passed on the word to Kathy who passed it back.

About an hour later, Jack felt a gravel road under his feet. Bahadur turned around and said, “Welcome to Nepal. See, nothing to it. We have a half-mile to go to the Land Rover. If a vehicle comes, get off the road to the right and take cover.”

No car came and ten minutes later they were in the Land Rover. A mile farther up the road, the driver pulled into an opening in the bush and stopped in a clearing twenty yards off the road.

Bahadur leaned over the front seat and said, “We’ll spend the night here and get an early start in the morning. It really isn’t wise traveling these roads at night. If it’s not the Maoists causing trouble, it’s the government patrols suspicious of cars traveling in the jungle at night.”

Looking at Jack, Bahadur said, “Your party can sleep in the tent we will put up. Air mattresses and sleeping bags are in the back. The driver and I will stay in the Rover. Here, use this mosquito repellent as well as the nets. Malaria is back, you know.”

Bahadur had the tent pitched in the middle of the clearing only about 30 feet from the Rover. Jack had no sooner rolled out the air mattresses and bags when Kathy dropped down and was almost instantly asleep. After the light in the Rover went out, Jack nudged Anita and quietly said, “You might think I’m either paranoid or crazy or both, but I’m getting a very uneasy feeling.”

She whispered, “Me, too.”

“I know I’m not as experienced as you and Bahadur about border crossings, but that just seemed far too easy and Bahadur either had things fixed or he is very good. I don’t understand Hindi, or whatever he spoke out there in the border area to those smugglers, but the exchange sounded to me to be very friendly. And why would a man who runs a tourist business on a river be so good at crossing this border? Why would he need to?”

Anita was silent for a moment and then replied, “I’ve been worried about what he said as well. He knows I don’t understand Nepalese, but I know some Urdu. Bahadur said something like ‘don’t worry, it’s me.’ Then the other group laughed quietly and went on their way. I am not a novice at border crossing and that one we just did was phony. The only reason a man like Bahadur would be so familiar with crossing this border illegally is because he’s involved in running drugs from Kathmandu into India, or he’s part of something very illegal, like working with the Maoists or some other illegal group or both.

“Kathy told me Kathmandu is a trans-shipment point for drugs going to India on their way to western markets. Insurgency and terrorism eat money, and drug running can supply that need. I’m afraid I trusted an old friend too much and told him too much. I think he’s been bought by the narco-terrorist crowd. The Maoists transport the drugs, most likely raw opium or heroin, through the countryside along the less frequented mountain and jungle trails. Al-Qaeda with its Muslim and Arab roots could not recruit the devout Buddhist and Hindu Nepalese. Not even the Maoists would touch them. Most likely Bahadur is the middle man. He takes the drugs from the Maoists and works with al-Qaeda to move them into India. I bet we will see the hand of al-Qaeda at the river camp. They would have to monitor the flow of drugs and coordinate shipments using Bahadur’s boats, Land Rovers and elephants.”

Jack said, “I should’ve spotted it sooner. New Land Rovers, expensive watch and rented bungalow. Sure! Most likely he owns it. How many bungalows have you seen in India with thick bars on the windows and steel plate on the outside doors and on one of the bedroom doors?”

“I’ve known Bahadur for seven years. The bottom line is Bahadur always lived as high as he could manage and always had money troubles. No way is he going to wile away his time running a poorly paying tourist camp on the river.”

“Okay. Sounds right on to me. I just don’t see how he can let us live. He must intend to kill us on the river.”

“Right now he is thinking how he can separate you from some of your money, and that may be the only reason we are still alive.”

From the maps she had studied in New Delhi, the overland trip looked like a three to five day trek. She thought, depending on when and how they managed their escape from Bahadur, they could make it in four days. They didn’t need him to guide them to Kathmandu. All they had to do was get on the east bank of the Trisuli and keep the river on their left all the way to the Mahesh Gola, a large gorge branching off to the east toward Kathmandu. As soon as they awakened in the morning, they would have a surprising tale for Kathy.

By the time sleep took over, Jack and Anita at least had a plan. There would be time in the morning to bring Kathy up to speed. Six months ago, Jack would’ve believed he and Anita were paranoid. Now, he believed Bahadur planned to kill them somewhere on the river tomorrow.

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

After midnight the town quieted. The clamor of the marketplace died out. The sounds of Indian music were one of the few sounds still maintaining a vigil over the bazaar. The discordant notes seemed strangely comforting to the Western ear. Kathy thought she couldn’t imagine a place so different from her home. She knew she’d never forget the vibrant marketplaces, the burning sun of the afternoon, the wonderful taste of the highly spiced curries, the mixture of opulence and abject poverty, and the fragrance of frangipani outside the windows of the bungalow.

Bahadur looked up from the spread of maps on the kitchen table and said, “Let me go over some essentials before we get started. Noise in the low flat land stretching between here and Birganj travels a long way. So no talking out there unless it is an emergency. If we get caught by some fluke, I may be able to talk us out of trouble. Remember, you are my friends and clients going for a trip on the rivers. A little bit of baksheesh can be very useful. Out here it’s not considered a bribe or anything illegal. It is merely a matter of sharing the wealth and letting business go on its course. Also, be careful of snakes. They love to sleep in the warm dust when the evening turns cool.”

Listening to the briefing Anita gasped at the snake warning and said, “For the first time I’m having second thoughts. I hate snakes and have just recovered from a fight with a cottonmouth.”

Kathy laughed and said, “Bahadur, she may be afraid of them but she managed to cut the snake in half after it had bitten her twice.”

“Anita, you live up to your reputation. Remind me never to offend you.”

“Just get us safely to Kathmandu and back, and nothing you could ever do will offend me.”

“Last point before we get started. The only people out there at night in the border area between here and Nepal are either border patrols or smugglers. I’ll do my best to avoid both of them. Now, a last gear check. Are you all okay, with your boots especially?”

Jack said his boots were fine. He had purchased comfortable over-the-ankle hiking boots in New Delhi.

After trying on the boots they had bought in New Delhi, Kathy and Anita had doubts about the fit. Bahadur sent out for mountain hiking boots. When the selection of boots arrived, Anita and Kathy each picked a pair that felt much better than the ones they had.

Anita lamented the lack of a weapon. Bahadur shook his finger at her and reminded them people going on chartered river trips carry cameras, not weapons. They were all dressed in bush shirts, khaki shorts, hiking boots and Gurkha wide-brimmed hats. The rest of the items they would need were across the border at Bahadur’s camp. People carrying packs at night in the border area were doubly suspect. Any border patrol sergeant would have to search the packs and that could lead to delays and trouble.

“If there are no more questions, let’s get started.”

 
Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

After an early breakfast, Anita, Kathy and Jack boarded the flight to Patna, a midsized Indian city about a two-hour drive south of Raxaul Bazaar and the Nepalese border. Anita’s friend, Bahadur Thapa, had agreed to meet them in the central market area of Raxaul Bazaar at 6:00 p.m. When Anita offered more specific meeting arrangements, Bahadur told her he could find a beautiful woman like her in the town marketplace with his eyes closed.

After a quick lunch in Patna, Jack picked up their car for hire and started off to Raxaul Bazaar. The road was crowded with public carriers, the gaily painted straight body trucks are ubiquitous in India. After the first ten miles Jack grew confident about driving on the left side of the road and pulling out to pass heavily laden cargo trucks. It amused him to see Kathy’s reaction to being a passenger. He could tell she wanted to take over the driving. They pulled into Raxaul Bazaar an hour early, and to kill some time, they found a parking place outside a restaurant with an outdoor eating pavilion and settled down at a table with a good view of the main street. Anita, with the most time in third world countries reiterated her rules: “If something isn’t peeled or cooked, don’t touch it, and no water even in bottles. Your choices are cokes, hot tea or beer.”

All ordered a bowl of mulligatawny soup, Naan, and cokes all around with no ice.

Bahadur had told Anita to arrive with their gear as they might leave Raxaul Bazaar that night. By the time they finished their late afternoon snack, it was time to walk down to the market area. Meandering in and out among the numerous stalls and stopping occasionally to buy gifts for the folks back in the USA and some very attractive glass bangles for themselves, Anita and Kathy got caught up in the mystique of an Indian market town, enjoying themselves, and not anxious to leave the many faces of India for a long, hard overland trip.

Anita smelled Bahadur’s habitual Old Spice after-shave lotion and, without turning around in the crowd outside the bangle stall, said, “Hello Bahadur.”

“I see you’ve not lost your touch. Anitaji, I’ve never figured out how you do it. Is it possible memsahibs from Special Forces have a third eye in the back of their heads? Come, introduce me. Then we’ll go somewhere nearby to talk.”

Anita tapped Kathy on the shoulder and said, “Don’t be charmed by this rogue with a British accent. He’s not to be trusted around blonde women of dazzling beauty.”

After the introductions, Bahadur led them into a back room at a nearby restaurant. By the way the proprietor greeted Bahadur, it was clear they were either old friends or Bahadur was a special customer or both. Everyone decided on the local beer and gave in when Bahadur insisted on ordering what he referred to as a light pre-dinner snack. Jack heard the proprietor address Bahadur as Bahadurji and asked him what the “ji” sound meant. Bahadur chuckled and replied the “ji” in Sanskrit-based languages on the end of someone’s name conveys a special respect or honor, much like the English words madam or sir. In this case the owner is just recognizing a good customer.

After the beer and the deep-fried vegetable pakoras arrived and they were alone in the room, Bahadur looked at Anita and said, “Okay, my friend, what are you up to? No good, I’m sure.”

“It’s like this, Bahadur, we all need to get to Kathmandu without any record of our being there. We’ll stay less than a week and then leave, maybe the same way we came in. Can it be done?”

“Anitaji, you know any border can be crossed. It’s just a matter of risk, time, skill and money. I’ve the time and skill. You’ll have to provide the money and take most of the risk.”

Jack asked, “Just how risky is it, and what’ll happen to you if your role in helping us is discovered?”

“Let me answer the last part of your question first. If I displease the security authorities or the King, they will shut down my business and revoke my Nepalese citizenship. As part of avoiding jail time, they’d expect me to quietly leave the country and never tell anyone what happened.

“Now for the risk, a few years ago it would have been less. Now with random trouble from the Maoists, the borders are patrolled on both sides with more seriousness and more police and soldiers. Yet the border with India is long and large parts of it are very difficult to patrol. Getting across the border is one task. The more difficult task is getting all the way to Kathmandu and back without running into an army patrol or a Maoist check point.”

Jack continued probing. “You said the Nepalese authorities would close down your business. What would be the extent of your financial loss?”

“Hmm. I couldn’t sell the business. The King wouldn’t let me. My business doesn’t have a market value to anyone except me. I enjoy my life here and my business turns an average profit of about $35,000 per year. My overhead is high for a small business and eats into my profits. One year I made nearly $65,000. While the numbers are small for the Western commercial world, my profits are big money to retired Gurkhas.”

Jack turned to Anita and said, “I think we can take the financial risk out the picture. If Bahadurji loses his business because he helped us, we can guarantee him a lump sum of new start money in the range of $250,000. I also think we can compensate him for helping us. How about a payment of $35,000, if he can get us in and out? I know he’d help you without any payment, but I think it would make me feel better if he’d honor us by accepting this money.”

Anita turned away from Jack and, with a look of concern, took Bahadur’s hand, “Before you refuse any kind of payment, let me give you some more information. We are after a man in Kathmandu who we believe has gone there to meet with his al-Qaeda contacts. This man is very dangerous. He is an Arab from Iraq living illegally in New Delhi as an importer/exporter. He has paid to have several people killed in the United States, including a congressman, a cabinet secretary, and three city mayors. He is very dangerous. His organization has attempted to kill thousands of Americans. Thanks to our help, the police and the FBI are rounding up some of his network. We’re not known by the police and are only taking the risks involved because our government bureaucracy doesn’t recognize some things and is too slow sometimes to take the necessary action to protect our country. And more personally, these people killed Jack’s father.

“The money my friend Jack is offering may be useful in paying some of your contacts to help in some way or to get you out of trouble after we leave. Without his money, nothing we are doing could be done. We’re all on the payroll. Because Jack trusts my judgment, he trusts you and wants you on the team. We have very little time for the niceties that should accompany an offer like this. Our trust is also shown by telling you all this. No one else outside this little group knows the story. I know it is safe with you.”

There was not a sound in the room aside from the sounds from the marketplace.

Bahadur shook his head and said, “Either you’re all crazy, or you’re the most courageous group I’ve ever met. Not only are you on the front lines fighting terrorism, but you’re in danger from your own and other governments. Unless I’m mistaken, that red line on Jack’s arm is the result of a recent knife wound. Did it happen in this quest?”

Anita put her hand on Jack’s arm and said, “Let me answer. Yes, Bahadur, his wound came from a very skilled user of a six-inch double-edged stiletto. Jack blocked his first thrust and killed him with a single palm heel strike to the sternum. The whole action took less than two or three seconds. This person was getting ready to place a large bomb in an American city. Any more questions?”

“No. I accept your offer and am honored you have come to me. Again, I would have helped you without payment, but I don’t mind being on the payroll of such people. Now let me tell you my preliminary thoughts, but first let’s have another round.”

Bahadur said, “Anita, you are a special case. You are as good as anyone in this business. But it is a difficult trip. We have a long way to go, and in Nepal unusual things race over these jungles and mountains. The people are bored, and anything like a western woman or two on the river and trails will get picked up and be ahead of us on the trail, giving Nepalese patrols and Maoists an interesting target. They are also bored. You know how unexciting it can be to sit day after day and night after night in a checkpoint or ambush. We’ll all incur a greater risk by giving people something to talk about. Also, you should be aware you may have no way to leave Nepal except by walking down the Trisuli River Gorge. That’s the tour guide in me talking. On the other hand, I see no real reason why both you ladies cannot make this trip. It will look much less sinister than a group of armed men traveling alone.

“Now for some serious planning. Our time is short. We leave just after midnight tonight. I’ve rented a little bungalow in town, and when we finish our drinks, I’ll take you there. We’ll need a few items. I’ll send my man for them while we are talking. All in all I believe you’ll find yourselves fairly well outfitted. Okay. Shall we go to my bungalow?”

Jack nodded and 20 minutes later, they turned into the driveway of Bahadur’s bungalow on the outskirts of town. From the outdoor sleeping area on the roof, Bahadur pointed out the lights of Birganj across the border in Nepal. He told them if they separated crossing the border to keep the lights of Birganj on their right. The point they were headed for was a gravel road in the jungle just west of Birganj. His number one man would be waiting for them in a tan Land Rover.

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

Bernadette O’Brien showed up at the Oberoi the next day. She checked into her room and left a message with her room number for Kathy Grayson. Kathy called Jack, and thirty minutes later he got in touch with Bernadette, who quickly showered and hurried down to the lobby to meet him.

“Mr. Brandon, what a surprise. I was just talking about you in Dublin. What happened to the young lady I was told to meet?”

“The young lady is here, but since I’m here I wanted to talk to you. Shall we take a little walk or are you starving after your journey?”

“No. And I could do with a little starvation, but I’m very jet lagged. As soon as we finish I’m going to take a short nap. And thank you for the nice room. I must say the Brandon touch shows. You’re a lot like your father. The physical resemblance is remarkable. Some years ago your father and I were very close. I’d have married him in a minute. But he thought his work was too dangerous for him to have a family. But enough of that,” and she took his arm and walked down toward the golf course. As they walked, Jack told her what they had learned about Fahad.

“I am over here ostensibly to buy an import/export firm to go with my father’s collection of small businesses. You and everyone else helping us has been hired on a contract basis by a company called Southeastern Development Inc. This company exists only on paper with no real physical assets. Anyone over here from the Brandon group is working for the same company.

“To get back to the story, we’re searching for a particular importer/exporter we want to put out of business and get him arrested, if we can gather enough evidence. We think we’ve found him. His name is Abdul Ali Fahad, and he owns a small import/export business in Defense Colony here in New Delhi. We think he’s involved in smuggling Tibetan artifacts through Nepal to India and then off to foreign collectors or dealers. We suspect he may also be involved in drug running but have no proof. I believe without a doubt this man is involved with al-Qaeda and supported the people who killed my father. We learned this man travels regularly to Kathmandu and will be there within the next two weeks. We want you to help us figure out the flow of illegal and legal artifacts from Nepal to India. I know you are very familiar with things Nepalese. If you don’t have an email capability with you, I’ll get you a notebook and cell phone with our special communications capability. Your flight to Kathmandu leaves at 9:00 tomorrow morning. The reservations are already made.”

Bernadette stared at Jack. “Aren’t you taking a bloody lot for granted?”

“Only if you don’t agree to go. Otherwise, I have made your life easier. Oh, by the way I have also made hotel accommodations for you and hired a car. In case you are wondering, I have not ordered your first lunch in your Kathmandu hotel. I thought you might like to do that yourself.”

“Mr. Brandon, as you Americans say, you are a piece of work. Do you really expect me to agree to all this?”

“One more thing: find and rent or buy a large bungalow in Kathmandu with a walled compound and as few neighbors as possible. Rent or buy it in your own name for a business you might start. Make the deal within five days from now with immediate occupancy, with no repairs that can’t be completed in two days. You’ll find sufficient funds have been deposited into your account in Barkley’s.

“Lastly, this whole investigation was started by my father. I believe the people this importer sees in Kathmandu had a hand in his death. Otherwise I wouldn’t be asking so much of you. Now, please tell me you’ll help us. I’ll not ask you to do anything illegal, and I’m sure you know the legalities of working in Nepal better than I do.”

“Put that way, yes, of course, I’ll help you. You really know how to impress a poor Irish girl. I’ll do it, partially because you have intrigued me, and I owe a lot to your father. Let’s go back to the hotel. Give me the notebook, a compatible cell phone and a short brief on your email system. Then I’m going to take a nap. That is, if it’s part of your plan for me? I’ll be on the plane tomorrow morning.”

Jack gave her a hug and said, “I’ll see you in Kathmandu. I’ve always wanted to say something exotic like that.”

Two days later Jack received an email from Bernadette reporting she had rented a bungalow on the western edge of Kathmandu. The bungalow had an acre walled compound with as much privacy as is possible in Kathmandu, plus five bedrooms, a fairly modern kitchen and large living and dining area described by Bernadette as “eclectically furnished.” The owner, who owns several rental properties, was especially proud of the deep well that had never failed to produce. Bernadette said the price was exorbitant and she had to sign an annual lease. She also mentioned one of the rumors among the foreigners in Kathmandu is the King may soon cut off cell calls in and out of Kathmandu.

Jack’s return email thanked her and told her the lease was fine. He added that as many as five people could be staying at the bungalow. He also asked her to get in touch with Arjun Singh, a detective from New Delhi who was helping them. He told her to use Kathy’s name and give him a check for the equivalent of 5,000 US dollars. Tell Mr. Singh to report to you until we arrive and get him to provide some real security for the compound. We will be five or six days later than we planned. Jack told her Arjun would be staying in the Soaltee Hotel.

Jack kept the suites at the Oberoi. He told the desk they would be touring for a while, maybe as much as a week or ten days. He was willing to settle the bill for their current stay now, but not to let the suites go because they were coming back. The hotel management immediately gave him a bill for the suites to date and said they would definitely hold them for such a good customer.

 

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

After breakfast the next morning Jack took Kathy and Anita by the arm and said, “Come on, tourists. It’s time for our golf game. Tee time is in 30 minutes.”

Once they had rented clubs and were at the first tee, Jack asked if they had played much golf. Anita replied she had played some but not recently. Kathy said she had played a little at UNC. Jack said not to worry and hit a drive 250 yards straight down the fairway. Kathy looked at Jack with smile and said, “A natural born sandbagger. No duffer has a swing like that.”

Kathy’s drive rolled almost even with Jack’s and Anita’s passed them both. Jack said, “Come on, you two. Come clean. You’ve both played this game.” Anita told him she once had a significant other who played on the nationwide tour, and he’d taught her to play. Kathy ‘fessed up’ that she’d been a member of the women’s golf team at UNC. After nine holes Jack was at even par and the two women were tied at plus one. Jack said, “Let’s take care of our caddies and sit at an isolated table for lunch, where we can discuss a plan to deal with Fahad.”

After they were seated, Jack started by saying Hassan’s success sounded too easy, but his gut told him Hassan was telling the truth and there is nothing wrong about being lucky. Finding Fahad in a week, rather than taking several weeks, was more than he had hoped for. Now they had to move the action to Kathmandu. Jack asked Kathy to ask her detective, Arjun Singh, to go to Kathmandu as soon as possible. And before Arjun Singh left for Kathmandu with a few of his people, he needed to get some good photos of Mr. Abdul Ali Fahad.

Kathy then reminded Jack that the Nepalese government was more than a little paranoid. Some years ago, a member of the royal family had used an automatic weapon to kill the King and a large portion of the royal family, including himself. That incident, along with the sensitivity of the security forces over the terrorist acts of the insurgent Maoist group, had the police and army primed to shoot first and ask questions later. Kathy finished by saying Kathmandu is easier to get into than out of.

Jack said, “I assume Yuri sent my picture and name to Fahad in New Delhi, who probably forwarded them to al-Qaeda members in Kathmandu. Al-Qaeda must have the capability of checking flight manifests and hotel listings. Al-Qaeda shouldn’t know we are even in India, but you can never be sure. Luck is not always on the good guy’s side. If they know about us, they’ll have taken the element of surprise from us. They also have better area knowledge and have our little group out-numbered and out-gunned. Those are deadly advantages.

“A second scenario is we could be suspected of being involved in some illegal action and the police get a description of three white Westerners. Kathmandu is not a big place. Most whites are either tourists or officials with some economic project or diplomatic mission. Not too large a number of people for the police to screen for suspects.

“In the U.S., we could leave the area immediately for any number of places by car, airlines, private plane, bus or train. Only three roads go out of Kathmandu. One goes to Birganj on the border with India. One goes west to Pokhara, the next large valley. Another goes to Kodari on the border with Tibet, and nowhere we want to go. The roads can be closely monitored. Scheduled passenger flights are a non-starter, and the use of private planes is out.”

Jack ended his discussion of options and asked them, “So where does that leave us if the police have even a marginal description?”

Anita said, “That leaves us sitting in jail, in hiding or escaping on foot.”

“Right,” said Kathy, “but no jail for me. Hiding for a couple of weeks or longer in Nepal is not a real possibility for us. And I’m not sure we can cope with a long walk south to India and an illegal border crossing.”

“How long would it take us to walk out?”

Anita said, “I figure roughly somewhere between five and seven days if we make no mistakes, if no opposition and if we know the route.”

“Are you suggesting we walk in as well as out? Holy Hell!”

“Give the cop a gold star. A few years before I left the Special Forces, I served in an operation with a SAS senior non-commissioned officer.”

Jack nodded and said, “In Marine Recon we learned SAS stands for Special Air Service, the British Special Forces unit, an extremely effective outfit, with highly trained and highly motivated troops as good as or better than our own Special Forces, but much smaller. They are sort of the definition of elite troops. So how does this retired noncom fit in?”

“This noncom is unique because he was a Gurkha soldier who acquired British citizenship but decided to settle in Nepal after his discharge. For a while he was an advisor with the Nepalese Army Air Service. His service with the British and the Nepalese made him a favorite of the now-deceased King who gave him a small land grant in the Terrai or the southern jungle area in Nepal south of the Mahabarat Mountain Range and just south of the confluence of the Kali Gandeki and Trisuli Rivers. These rivers join to form the Narayani River. Now, he makes a living conducting photo shoots in the jungle and boat tours on the rivers.”

Jack interrupted, “He sounds like just who we need!”

“Well, I haven’t been in touch with him in the last year. I have his business phone number and, if you agree, I can call him and set up a meeting. A small Indian town called Raxaul Bazaar, just across the border from the Nepali border town of Birganj, is the starting point for the road to Kathmandu. If my friend, Bahadur Thapa, agrees, we could be in Raxaul Bazaar tomorrow afternoon.”

“Do you think he can get us in and out of Kathmandu?”

“It depends upon how he reacts, but I hope he would be willing to get us into Kathmandu by riverboat and on foot without an official border crossing. Once we know the way, we can walk out of Kathmandu if we have to.”

“He’s your friend, but it seems to me you are asking him to risk a lot by helping you. Why would he do that?”

“For starters, he thinks I saved his life, and after he retired, I gave him a little money to help get his business started. Also, he once asked me to marry him. Even though I said no, I’ve a standing invitation to come at any time. I’m sure he’ll talk to us in Raxaul Bazaar, and I believe he’ll agree to help us. But I’d feel better if you would guarantee to bail him out financially if he has to leave Nepal.”

“That’s easy. Money is the least of our worries. Make the call, and let’s get ready for our trip to where?”

“Raxaul Bazaar. I guess you noticed I did some map work last night.”

 Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

Later in the afternoon when Anita and Jack came back from exploring, Kathy suggested they go for a walk on the nearly deserted golf course. Kathy gave them a briefing on Hassan’s meeting with Abdul Ali Fahad at his import/export office. Kathy was ecstatic over the young man’s performance. He had met all of her interview objectives. Fahad was from Iraq. Not only did Hassan immediately recognize his Arabic as being Iraqi, Fahad himself told Hassan he was an Iraqi who had fled Iraq for political reasons. He also learned Fahad traveled to France and the U.K. three or four times a year and to Kathmandu quite often. In fact, he was going to Kathmandu in two weeks for a ten-day-plus visit. Hassan had also arranged a follow-on meeting after Fahad returned. Kathy had instructed Hassan to stay away from anyone he knew or thought might be part of the Brandon group. He was also to avoid Westerners and Americans in particular, to continue with his interview list, and to pray at a local mosque on a daily basis.

Kathy told Jack, she had made arrangements to meet with Hassan when Fahad returned from Kathmandu. She wanted to bring Hassan up to date on what they may learn in Kathmandu before his dinner meeting with Fahad. After their dinner meeting, Kathy told Hassan he could plan on returning to Amman.

Jack listened carefully to Kathy’s briefing and said, “What’s your gut telling you? Go into your briefing style narration.”

Kathy thought for a moment and said, “I believe Fahad is our man. I believe he meets with his contacts outside of India. The police and intelligence service here are too good to allow a Muslim Arab on a work permit visa to meet with other Muslims who may be on their list of suspected persons. He has no need to take a risk with Kathmandu so close.

“I’m willing to bet, he’ll meet with his al-Qaeda contacts in Nepal the week after next. Nepal is always in some degree of turmoil with the police and security forces concentrating on internal security. Muslims are not their problem. The problem is an internal Communist Maoist group called the Pushpa Kamal Dahal or Prahanda, a group of radical anti-government terrorists or revolutionaries, depending on where you sit. Even with all the civil unrest, visas to Nepal are easily obtained.

“The Nepalese government is constantly trying to expand its tourism. They will not single us out, unless we cause some kind of trouble that makes the country look bad to prospective tourists and investors. I know from my CIA colleagues Nepal is a very difficult place to move around freely. The one road to India from Kathmandu is subject to road blocks. Air travel is limited and very controlled.

“The next valley over to the west is connected to Kathmandu by a road built by the Chinese years ago. I’ve been told the first wheel to come into the Pokhara Valley came in on the bottom of a DC-3 vintage aircraft. The other main road leads from Kathmandu to the Tibetan border. It’s also a road built by the Chinese. For at least a few centuries Nepal has served as a buffer state between China and India. It has taken advantage of this geo-political fact and carefully steered its foreign policy to avoid becoming linked too closely to either country. As a result, its relationship with India has been strained by India’s fear of China expansion and its expectation this Hindu/Buddhist nation on its northern border with similar religious and culture ties belongs in India’s orbit. Nepal is often said to be an Asian Switzerland without the internal greed of its European political model. Okay! Briefing is over.”

“Kathy, I’d never guess you were once on the path of becoming a South Asian scholar,” Jack said with a smile and a wink.

“Thank you very much, Mr. Brandon. Be careful or I won’t throw any more pearls from my years of study in front of an ungrateful audience.”

Jack said, “Not to worry, dear Kathy. I’m always grateful to attractive and sexy women, even those who are single and nearly always shoeless. Now, forgive my smart remarks and let me offer you a drink at the poolside bar.”

 

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

The following morning Hassan started on his first series of calls upon the import/export firms Kathy had listed for him. He was saving the call on Abdul Ali Fahad’s firm until last. The proprietor of the first firm he called on was interested in talking about selling his business and was willing to provide some data on his business over the last three years. The second importer/exporter wasn’t even polite. He said he wouldn’t even consider selling his family business to a foreigner, especially a Muslim. Hassan’s driver took him next to Defense Colony, a southern housing section of New Delhi. The car stopped in front of C-432. Hassan got out and rang the bell on the cement pillar anchoring the driveway gate.

When he had called earlier for an appointment, the secretary answered. Hassan had exchanged Muslim greetings and said he had an interesting business opportunity for an import/export business owner. The secretary hadn’t hesitated to give him an 11:30 appointment. On the second ring of the doorbell, a middle-aged man came out to open the gate graciously and invite Hassan to come in. He identified himself as Mr. Fahad’s assistant and asked Hassan to rest for a few minutes in the waiting room while he informed the owner. A minute or two later the bearer brought in a cup of strong coffee on an inscribed silver tray. Hassan wasn’t sure but thought the artwork on the tray looked like Tantric Buddhism of the Mahayana branch. As Hassan was finishing his coffee, the secretary/assistant ushered him into Abdul Ali Fahad’s office. After exchanging courteous greetings, Fahad, speaking English, asked Hassan, “What brought you to India?”

Hassan answered in Arabic saying, “I’m a businessman in search of making some money. I’ve clients who pay me well to search out investments for them. So far Allah has been good to me, and I’ve been able to please my benefactors. Now, they’re interested in acquiring an import/export business under very flexible conditions. In one version they desire controlling interest but want to retain the original management with a generous monthly stipend and a percentage of the profits. I’ve just begun my search. Your firm is the third one I’ve visited. The last one I visited was very rude, saying he would not sell his family business to any Muslim. I see I’m among my own kind here. Are you at all interested in talking further?”

Fahad looked straight at Hassan for a few moments before he said in Arabic, “This is a country with a government that actively discriminates against Muslims. We must be careful or we run afoul of the Indian bureaucracy. My business depends on getting along with the powerful clerks who run the government. I need many permits and licenses as well as extensions of my visa.

“Yes, your clients are wise to consider retaining experienced management. It has taken me the better part of three years to try to understand the maze of doing business in India as a Muslim from the Arab world. To answer your question, surely I would be willing to talk some more., but I must warn you my business will be expensive to buy.”

“My clients, who are from Jordan, as I am, and from Lebanon, have been willing in the past to pay well for quality companies. Tell me, do you have good business contacts outside of India? My clients want a company with a history of doing business with Western nations. None of us agrees with what the Americans have done to Iraq and pray every day they will leave soon. Nevertheless, business is business, and we see nothing wrong about taking their money without their politics. Would you be willing to describe in general how you work the foreign market? For example, do you have to travel in person to customer countries, or do you have a loose sort of an arrangement with a number of people or companies who work on a commission basis?”

“In my business, I do both. I make trips to France and the U.K. three or four times a year. For special clients I will travel to Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait or the Arab Emirates. With fax and email capabilities I am in touch with my best customers at least monthly. Perhaps someday I can return to my home in Iraq. I had to leave there for political reasons before the Americans and their satellite countries invaded. My plan is to set up a subsidiary company somewhere in the region after the place settles down. Amman is one of the places I am considering. I already own a very small residence there. Perhaps I can call upon you the next time I visit.”

“That would be very kind of you. While I’m here and interviewing other firms, perhaps you could help me to avoid making the wrong recommendation to my clients. Is there a time in the next few weeks that we could meet again? It would honor me to take you to dinner at a place frequented by Muslims at a time of your convenience. Perhaps you could also direct me to a Mosque where it is safe for Muslims to pray?”

“Next week I’ve some free time, but the week after I must make a trip to Kathmandu. I’ll have to stay there for a week to ten days before returning here to prepare for a marketing trip to the West. Call me in three weeks. We can have dinner, and I’ll show you this land our ancestors conquered. Examples of our architecture are all over, a Muslim architecture bringing in millions of tourist dollars to a Hindu government. May Allah someday bring down his wrath on the infidels making money from our sacred buildings. You can pray in any local mosque. There will be no problems.”

“Mr. Fahad, it’s been a pleasure to find such a courteous person. It will bring pleasure to me to be your host. In the meantime I’ll contact my clients about our conversation. Could you have your assistant provide a prospectus on your company? We certainly don’t expect trade secrets or detailed business disclosures at this point, but anything you could give me to pass on to my clients would be helpful. You have been most helpful and encouraging. I must not take any more of your valuable time. Thank you.”

Fahad called for his assistant to give Mr. Hassan some brochures describing their products and activities. Hassan found his car waiting and went directly back to the Oberoi. After his talk with Abdul Ali Fahad, he needed to talk to Kathy Grayson, but very discreetly. He didn’t want anyone reporting to Fahad he was hanging out with an American, even a pretty one. Once in the hotel lobby, Hassan picked up a guest phone and called Kathy’s room. When no one answered he hung up and went out to the pool area. At the pool pavilion he could see a figure he thought was Kathy getting out of the pool and waited for her to sit at a small table near the pool. He joined her there and gave Kathy an articulate description of his meeting with Fahad. When he left with Kathy’s instructions, she thought this young man will go a long way. Peter Brandon certainly knew how to pick people.

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

A day and a half after Kathy sent the message asking Anita and Jack to come to New Delhi as soon as possible, Anita arrived from Dublin and some four hours later Jack came in from Jordan. Jack had booked two large suites and late the same afternoon, they met for drinks in his suite. Privately, he asked Kathy if she would move her belongings up to his room. She could keep her room to meet with her consultants, if she thought it necessary. Kathy smiled and asked Jack if he was bringing her out of the “closet.”

Kathy cautioned everyone to keep the talk on the business of buying a business. The Indian police and Intelligence Bureau were quite capable of bugging any hotel room. While a local TV show was playing a bit on the loud side, Kathy quietly briefed the new arrivals on her activities and plans. Jack looked at Anita and said, “I don’t know about you, but I’m impressed.”

Anita smiled and said, “Maybe we aren’t needed here. Kathy and her hired guys have the situation under control.”

Jack laughed and said, “Tomorrow when Hamid Hassan gets in, you can get them started on the program you’ve laid out. Tomorrow morning is a good time for us to get more familiar with the city. It’s also what tourists are expected to do. While we are touring, we can think some more about our end game.”

Anita said, “My suite is so great, I am quite happy to spend the next week right here. The counter-terrorism business has surely upgraded recently. If my old buds could see me now, they would all be polishing their resumes.”

The kid from Greensburg never forgot the years when she had no extra cash. From her perspective, with Jack’s generous pay, she was rich for the first time in her life.

Just after breakfast Jack and Kathy departed on a tour of Old Delhi while Anita visited the thriving commercial and governmental center of New Delhi. Anita admired Kathy’s sandals and wanted to hit some shoe stores. Kathy had to get back to the hotel by 11:00 a.m. to meet Hamid Hassan. When Kathy returned to the hotel, she found a message from Hassan. He was waiting in the lobby and could meet her for lunch, if it was convenient. Kathy quickly dressed in what she called her dowdy costume for her first meeting with the young Muslim man. The costume included fully enclosed Western shoes she had wanted to throw out for the last year, purchased for some forgotten boring, must-attend occasion.

When Kathy walked into the lobby to find Mr. Hassan, she failed to spot him on her first run through. Finally, she decided to approach a young man in pressed white duck trousers, black loafers and a light pink, open-necked, buttoned-down, short-sleeve shirt.

“Excuse me, are you Mr. Hassan?”

“Yes I am. May I expect you are Ms. Grayson?”

“That’s me. But please call me Kathy. Somehow I have never felt like a ‘Ms. Grayson’. Where are you putting up?”

Hassan replied he had a nice room in the Ashoka Hotel.

Kathy took his room number and said, “The food here in the hotel is rather good but if you don’t mind, I prefer to eat out of the hotel. I’ll call for a car. My car is in the parking area, but I don’t want to search for a parking space downtown. My driving on the left side might scare you, so you’re lucky we will use a driver today.”

Kathy was also deliberately making it easy for any police or intelligence service surveillance. They like to be able to question drivers of any suspect, even though people involved in clandestine operations do not, as a rule, take along a driver.

Kathy asked the driver to take them to Karim’s restaurant. She had been tempted to go to a restaurant in Defense Colony, so both she and Hassan could familiarize themselves with the area, but even the remote chance their quarry could see them together was taking too much of a dumb risk.

Over lunch at a private table, Kathy told Hassan their interest in purchasing an import/export firm was secondary to finding a particular importer/exporter who they believe is using his business for illegal purposes. At this point they did not want the police of either India or the United States involved. Forcing this person out of business might accomplish their objectives. Kathy went on to tell him about the study their consultants had provided and said once back at the hotel she would give him a copy.

Tomorrow she wanted him to call on three firms to see if they were for sale as he had a wealthy client who was interested in buying an import/export business in New Delhi. One of these firms was owned by an individual of interest. This man, Abdul Ali Fahad, claimed to be from Jordan. Hassan’s assignment was to determine if Fahad was from Jordan. Secondly, did he have a chance to travel very much, as his client would be interested in acquiring his foreign business contacts along with the business? Thirdly, could Fahad meet with him again in ten days? Hassan could say he needed time to contact his client. It was possible his client may want Mr. Fahad to continue to run the business in return for a generous salary and a percentage of the profits. He should indicate his clients were Jordanian and Lebanese.

During the meeting, Kathy told Hassan he should make some anti-American comments, especially about the American presence in Iraq. Kathy also cautioned Hassan to be careful. This man was dangerous and had even more dangerous friends.

Over coffee Hassan asked a number of pointed but intelligent questions. Kathy answered them without going beyond her comfort level. This was Hassan’s first Brandon assignment and for Kathy, like all professionals, there was no instant trust. It had to be earned.

She thought Jack’s father had used good judgment in selecting Hassan. She asked Hassan about his relationship with Peter Brandon. Hassan told her his father had known Mr. Brandon for years, and he believed they had worked together a few times in the past. However, his father would never tell him about the nature of the work. When his father died, Mr. Brandon put Hassan through the University of Florida and provided him with a comfortable annual retainer. He considered Mr. Brandon to be a second father, and he was ready to do anything he could to help.

While he was talking, Kathy was looking him over. He was clean-shaven with a good haircut and very dark brown eyes. She liked what she heard and saw.

Just as Kathy was going to suggest they return to the hotel, the waiter informed them their driver was outside. Kathy paid the bill and they returned to the hotel, lost in their own thoughts. At the hotel, Kathy gave Hassan a copy of the consultant’s report, noting which three he should call on tomorrow and hurried up to her room to shed the dowdy dress for her bathing suit and robe and head back to the pool. Kathy’s idea of casual was cutoffs, a tank top, sandals and no socks. Anyone that wanted her would know where to look. Pleasure mixed with a little business was a winning formula.

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

For the last three days Kathy had driven around Old and New Delhi learning the traffic flow and driving time between several different points. She found Old Delhi to be a fascinating area, full of history and street markets where anything could be bought for the right price. Kathy’s major at the University of North Carolina was in South Asian and Middle Eastern history. She had written several papers during a year of post-graduate study on the clash between Hinduism and Islam. The history of the Red Fort in Old Delhi and its role in the Seapoy Mutiny of 1857, or the first large attempt at rebellion against the British Raj, aroused the scholar in her. She wanted to get this import/export business over with so she could devote some time to exploration along the ancient Grand Trunk Road.

She was busy every day checking out real estate prices and locations for bungalow-type buildings to house their import/export business if Jack bought one. On the fourth day she met again with the consulting firm she had hired. Much to her surprise and pleasure, the firm presented a very thorough rundown of the top 20 import/export firms with an emphasis on those established in the last five years. She thanked the firm and said she wanted a chance to study this excellent report and would be back in touch in the next few days.

Back in her hotel room, Kathy flopped on her bed and read the consultant’s report and emails from Jack and Anita saying they were coming. Jack’s email from Amman said Hassan had agreed to leave within two days for India. He was asked to contact Ms. Kathy Grayson at the Oberoi upon arrival. She would have further instructions for him.

Well, she thought, the pace is picking up and so was her appetite. She ordered a room service early dinner featuring tandoori chicken, saffron rice, an Indian bread called ‘naan’, cucumber raita and a dish of cheese and peas curry. Kathy mused, I am really enjoying myself. This is the best Indian food I have ever had. And talk about casual, I don’t think a pair of panty hose exists in this entire hotel. My feet love this place. I may never take off these sandals. Bata shoes, here I come. And you know working for Jack Brandon is not all bad. I wish he was here now. I really miss him.

After dinner Kathy picked up the consultant’s report again and was again pleased with the scope and detail in the report. She found a few firms resembling the profile she had discussed with Jack back in the cabin. The most interesting was a firm in C Block of Defense Colony, not too far from the consulting firm’s office. Established just over three years ago, it had one owner with a secretary and a live-in servant and no other apparent employees. The owner is a foreigner whose country of origin is Jordan. The firm’s tax records show very little actual business is conducted yet the firm has substantial currency holdings in Standard Chartered Bank. The owner, one Abdul Ali Fahad, travels fairly often to Europe and almost monthly to Nepal. Now what kind of a business profile is that? Kathy cocked her head and said to herself, it looks as if Fahad has set himself up in a cover business. This could be our guy, we need to concentrate on him until something better comes along.

If this man is our target, he’s probably very careful about his security and will immediately notice any overt inquiries about him or his business, so all our inquiries have to look as though they’re not directed specifically at him. I’ll direct our consultant firm to probe a number of other firms in this report. When our young Jordanian gets here tomorrow, he should be ready to call on three import/export firms the next day, one of which will be Fahad’s. He’ll say he has a client interested in buying an import/export firm in India. He should be able to tell immediately if Fahad is a Jordanian.

In the course of the meeting, our guy – what’s his name, oh yeah, Hamid Hassan, will use a questioning line that should not worry or alert Fahad. Hassan will have to be sure he notes Fahad’s reaction and willingness or lack of it to discuss the business. He can mention his client is willing to pay well for a small good firm. He should try also to set up another meeting, maybe a dinner in the next two weeks to smoke out Fahad’s availability and travel plans for the next few weeks. Events are going to move very quickly. Jack and Anita should get here too soon rather than too late.

We need to work out a few ideas about our use of Bernadette O’Brien. Bernadette is an expert on Tibetan artifacts and culture. A lot of Tibetan antiques come through Nepal into India on their way to Western dealers and museums. It seems she could make calls on selective import/export firms searching for Tibetan items. Fahad’s firm could be one of her stops. She could also check out the Nepalese end to see who is buying what in the line of Tibetan products as well as artifacts, including illegal ones.

Switching her musing back to the consultant firm, Kathy decided she could pick ten import/export companies from the work-up they gave her and have the consulting firm send each a query regarding their willingness to sell their business. Our friend Fahad would be on the list. The query letter will cause quite a commotion in the import/export world. Surely Fahad will hear about it and not feel he was being singled out for attention. His internal security alarm will not be triggered and, when our Jordanian calls on him, he might feel his firm is just one of many being solicited by a prospective buyer.

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan. 

After the activity of the past six weeks, it seemed all the energy had gone out of the cabin. Kathy was in India, and Anita was in Dublin to meet with Bernadette O’Brien for an 8:30 breakfast in the Tea Room at The Clarence. Only the date had to be included in the email. The other arrangements were fixed.

Jack was scheduled to leave tomorrow for Amman, Jordan, to contact Hamid Hassan, the young Jordanian his father had put through school and then hired to help with overseas investigations in the Arab world. According to Peter Brandon’s contact instructions, Jack sent an email arranging to meet Hassan. The meeting place and the time of the meeting at the Café Boulevard in the Intercontinental Hotel was always the same. Only the date had to be included in the email. Jack put Shadow in the best boarding kennel he could find and left for Amman.

Kathy’s first encoded email from New Delhi reported she used the Southeast Development Inc. letterhead arranged by Lee Jensen and an attention-getting retainer to hire a consulting firm in New Delhi to provide advice on the feasibility of establishing a small import/export business in New Delhi. Kathy told the consulting firm she expected to review dossiers on several firms within a week. Of special interest were new firms established within the last five years. Using the same credentials and a cash retainer, she hired the All India Detective Company, owned and operated by Arjun Singh.

She liked Arjun Singh on sight and quickly came to terms with him. He had a straightforward approach with close ties to the Delhi police. Singh employed 15 people full-time and could quickly expand this force with others he could call in. His investigators were former police or intelligence service officers, most of whom were highly experienced in the art of surveillance. Arjun’s English was excellent, and he was familiar with civil as well as criminal law. Although he was a Sikh, he was clean-shaven except for a rakish moustache. Looking into his startling blue eyes, Kathy decided a formidable and intelligent man lived in there. She told him to stand by, she would have some tasks for his agency in the next few days.

Anita arrived in the Tea Room of The Clarence in Dublin for breakfast before Bernadette O’Brien and was surprised to see an elegant, beautiful woman enter the restaurant. The woman fit the description, but Anita had expected a rather dowdy scholarly type with a taciturn demeanor. Instead, she confronted a very attractive, vivacious woman who couldn’t have been any older than her mid or late 40s. Spotting Anita’s recognition signal of a red book on the table, she walked up to her table and said, “How is Peter?”

Waiting until she was seated, Anita said, “Peter is dead. He was killed by a team of terrorists.”

Bernadette covered her face for a moment and said, “I loved that man. He told me his work was too dangerous for him to share his life with me. I never quite believed him. Tell me how it happened.”

After Anita told her about the attack on the house and the battle Peter, Shadow and the Nguyens had put up, Bernadette told her she had had a long-term special relationship with Peter and was deeply saddened by his death. She asked more about his last days, and Anita told her Peter’s son Jack had taken over his father’s work, and he needed her to help track down the people who had killed his father. Anita said she knew she was imposing on her on such short notice but it was important, and Jack believed she could play a unique role.

Before breakfast was over Bernadette and Anita were getting along like they had known each other for years. Fortunately for them, she was planning a trip to South Asia in the next few weeks and agreed to leave as soon as she could to start her trip in New Delhi.

Anita loved Ireland and was sorry she had to leave so soon. Bernadette jokingly told her all of Ireland wasn’t like The Clarence. Some places were better.

She asked Bernadette to contact Kathy Grayson at the Oberoi in New Delhi, and she would give her additional instructions.

As Anita was getting ready to send her email report to Jack and Kathy, she received an incoming mail signal. The message, from Kathy in New Delhi, said Jack and Anita should leave immediately for New Delhi. Anita emailed Kathy she was on the way.

Buy “Justice Beyond Law” on Amazon, as well as the rest of the Jack Brandon series and other books by Barry Kelly, a former CIA agent and adviser to President Reagan.