Part 6 (1/2)
”They're compensating for moving too quickly in picking him up,” Lancer said. ”They should have put surveillance on him.”
”They were eager to help. Today, our people in Dar es Salaam set up a satellite link in the interview room. Since the original complaint involves U.S. property, Tanzanian officials have invited us to ask Salelee questions. They think he could be ready to talk. Craig, are they set?”
An a.n.a.lyst talking on a landline nodded.
”Bob, as you know, Craig is fluent in Kiswahili. Ask your questions, and he'll repeat them to the police in Dar es Salaam.”
”Fine,” Lancer said, ”but I don't expect much. Besides, when you're aggressive, a prisoner will most likely give you bulls.h.i.+t intelligence.”
Within minutes a clear satellite link was activated. In a stark room, a number of men stood around a seated figure whose hands and ankles were bound to the chair. Salelee's face was a stew of swollen cuts that forced his eyes shut. His body sagged with exhaustion.
For nearly forty minutes, the local police questioned Salelee.
There was the drone of Kiswahili with Craig translating quickly and softly. Watching and listening, Lancer noticed two landline phones on the table in the room in Dar es Salaam; one in use that was connected to Craig's line, and a second one not in use.
Lancer thought of strategy, mulling it over as the questioning went on.
”What is your interest in the emba.s.sy, Salelee?”
”I told you it is painting. I am a poor painter working hard to support my wife and children. I had learned the Americans want to paint the building. I was sizing up the job to offer--”
”Tell us the truth.”
”I am.”
”We know you are with the Lions.”
”No, I attended a meeting, that is it.”
”Do not lie to us, Salelee, you're a leader.”
”No, I am a poor painter from Msasani. I have a family--”
Lancer waved Weller over, pointed at the screen and asked about the second phone in the room.
”Can we call into the room and make that phone ring?”
Weller whispered to Craig, who checked his computer, then nodded.
”Call in,” Lancer said. ”When it's answered, explain who we are, then tell the man to say aloud for Salelee's benefit, 'hold everything, something has happened.'”
Craig dialed and within ten seconds the line rang.
On the screen one of the interrogators moved to answer in Kiswahili, and Craig spoke Lancer's words. The man in the room repeated them aloud in Kiswahili.
”Now tell him to say to Salelee that police have arrested the others and they're revealing everything about the plan. You, Salelee, are implicated. They fear you have exposed them already.”
The man came back to the phone.
”Tell him to say 'This is bad for you, Salelee, very bad. Your friends have moved quickly to implicate you. You'll suffer the most.'”
Salelee's head bowed.
”Tell the man on the line to keep the line open. Tell Salelee now is the time to save himself. We will send people to his house to get his wife and children, for their safety, because the others think Salelee's betrayed them.”
A moment pa.s.sed before Salelee began nodding.
”He says, 'I will give you some information on a different plan, but you must protect my family,'” Craig translated.
Lancer crossed his arms and stepped closer to the screen.
”Tell Salelee to tell them now, for the safety of his family.”
The Tanzanian cop repeated the words.
”He says, 'First, let me talk to my wife on the telephone.'”
The Tanzanian cops, on the earlier advice of the Americans, had already placed Salelee's wife in custody in another office within the building where she sat now with two police officers. The cops with Salelee telephoned her, allowing Salelee to hear her plea for him to cooperate for the sake of their children.
Salelee was prepared to cooperate.
”What was he really doing at the emba.s.sy?” Lancer wanted to know. The Tanzanian police asked him.
”The Lions wanted information to target it for a bombing operation on the Independence Day as declared by the Lions.”
”That is not the full plan, what is the operation?”
”It is a separate operation.”
”What is it?” Lancer asked Craig, who conveyed the question.
”An attack,” Salelee said.
”How do the Lions know of this attack?”
”We have a small role.”
”What is that role?”
”We pa.s.sed coded e-mails, spam, lottery announcements and appeals for large cash transfers. Information relating to the operation is hidden in a few of the millions of spam we send out around the world.”
”What is the nature of the operation?”
”An attack.”
”An attack against the United States?”