Part 18 (1/2)
”In that case,” I said, 'let's do a drive-past. We need to get a look at the blocks. Somebody bring a video camera.
”Better not go dressed like this.” Whinger pointed at his DPMs.
”Good point, Whinge.”
A quartermaster figure produced sets of thin grey overalls which smelt of mothb.a.l.l.s, and soon we were rolling northwards in two cars: my seW Ivan (who had a camera), Anna and the driver in one, Whinger, Sasha and the Wolf-man in the second.
”Tell him we don't want to get too close,” I warned Anna.
”What d'you call too close?”
”Nothing under a couple of hundred metres, anyway.
By now it was fully light, and rush-hour traffic was pouring down the main arteries into the city centre. Heading outwards, we could move freely, and it was only five minutes or so before Ivan said something, pointing ahead and to the right.
”Those are the buildings,” Anna translated.
”The target's in the left-hand one, as we're looking.”
Two slender blocks rose out of a wasteland. They were made of pale-grey concrete, relieved by small square panels of sky blue ranged along the balcony-fronts on each of the sixteen floors. At ground level the entrances were imposing: on the end of each building was a grandiose porch with square pillars, under which cars could drive, and marble facings round the doors. Either side of the doorway into what we'd named Block A stood a guard in grey fatigues armed with a sub-machine gun.
Round the base of the buildings some attempt had been made to establish a garden or park: there were patches of gra.s.s and a few saplings had been planted, but further out much of the area was still bare earth, no doubt awaiting development. On the approach road leading to Block A numerous cars were parked end-on at forty-five degrees to the kerb, including a high proportion of Mercedes, BMWs and Audis.
The road to Block B came in from the far side and had far less transport sitting on it.
I glanced at Ivan and saw that he was already filming.
”Ask him to get close-up footage of the roof-line,” I said and in response to Anna's request he tilted the camera upwards.
”Just to confirm,” I said.
”The target's in this near block.”
”Correct.”
”And the apartment's facing this way?”
”Correct again.”
”In fact we can see the windows now.”
”Yes. The fifth floor down from the top.”
I was looking for sniper vantage points, and immediately saw one: a third high-rise block of the same model, but with green panels rather than blue, maybe 200 metres away on our left.
”Can we drive back down the far side of Block B over there, behind it?”
”Not very well.” Anna pointed.
”You see that long wall?
Behind that's a railway line and marshalling yards. There's no road in that area.”
”What about those roofs just over the wall?”
”Those are railway offices.”
”OK.”.
A kilo metre or so beyond the site we made a U-turn and came back for a second pa.s.s. Again I concentrated, fixing details in my mind. The run confirmed my earlier impression that a direct daylight approach from ground level would have been disastrous: there was no cover close to Block A's entrance, and a gun-battle would have led to many casualties.
Back in the Omon briefing room we found architectural drawings of Blocks A and B awaiting us. As Whinger and I went into a huddle over them, mugs of sweet black tea beside us, we had no difficulty coming up with a plan.
”When we were ready, I signalled to Ivan, and we began an informal presentation.
”I don't know if they want to make notes,” I said to Anna, 'but maybe you'd suggest it.”
Wolf-face let fly a few more disparaging remarks, but the others ignored him, and Ivan produced a notebook and pencil.
”Right,” I said.
”First thing, the a.s.sault should go down at night, after last light. If the Mafia meeting's due to start at 2100, I suggest 2130.”
I had to take it slowly, phrase by phrase, letting Anna translate in between. For a few exchanges the delays irritated me: then I realised that they were useful, as they gave everyone time to take in what I was saying.
”Next, there will be three a.s.sault parties, designated Red, Blue and Black. Red and Blue will enter Block B and cross on to the roof of Block A by ladder, as outlined. Red will deploy on the roof of Block A and prepare to abseil down the outside of the building. Blue will enter the building via the fire exit on the roof here then descend the fire stairs and position themselves to a.s.sault the apartment from the corridor.
”Black will deploy on the ground by vehicle. Their job will be to drive up to the front of Block A and secure the building by capturing or shooting the two guards we saw. Timing will be critical. They'll need to reach the door at the moment the a.s.saults on the flat go in not before.
”If possible, we'll position sniper commentators in Block C the green block. From there they'll be able to observe the windows of the target flat and report movements. When everyone's deployed, we'll use EMOE to blow the door and at least one window from both sides of the flat and simultaneously.
The actions and timings of all three teams will be coordinated by radio.
”I'll be the leader of Red team.
”Whinger here will lead Blue team. Red and Blue will each consist of the leader and three men. Black team will be commanded by an officer nominated by Ivan. For com ms purposes, the snipers will be designated Green.”
Ivan asked Anna a couple of questions in Russian, and she gave him answers herself Then she said, ”He is afraid control will be difficult because of the language.”
”I've thought of that. If we can have you at the command centre, there'll be no problem. You'll be able to translate and pa.s.s things on. The only English commands your colleagues need to understand will be the two I'll use at the end: ”Stand by, stand by” and ”Go! Go! Go!”
Anna immediately translated these. '”Stand by” is Orus.h.i.+ye k boyu,” she said.
”That means literally ”weapons ready”. Go is posh ii. Easy!”
Ivan smiled briefly as he nodded his agreement.
I went on to emphasise that Whinger and I were not in the business of killing Russian citizens, whether Mafiosi or otherwise. All we would do was get the a.s.sault teams into position and blow the door and windows: it would be up to the Russians to clear the flat. Again, there was a murmur of agreement. I could see that Wolf-face was still ticking with irritation.