25. “The Hand” in Barcelona (3 pgs.)

ACT I - CHAPTER 25

"THE HAND" IN BARCELONA

Wednesday April 25, 2017

Barcelona Spain

“Hello, Boris.”

“Hello. I’m glad you’re okay after the attack at the stadium.”

“Thank you for warning me to get out.”

“Warn you? I didn’t warn you.”

“But how? I received a message from your number.”

“Let me see.” He frowned as he read. THE STADIUM WILL EXPLODE! GET OUT NOW!

“Someone hacked me. It was a warning,” Boris said, his tone heavy. He paused, then spoke slowly. “Someone is spying on us. My hackers can’t identify him. He contacts us anytime and does whatever he wants. Signs as ‘The Hand.’ My hackers are baffled. They’ve never seen anything like it. They say he’s a genius. He appears and disappears like a ghost, leaving no trace. He’s trying to earn our trust. In the KGB, we used that technique to infiltrate the enemy.”

“But if he saved my life, maybe he’s one of the good ones.”

“Don’t be naive, Alexandre.”

Boris scratched his head, wondering who it could be. He felt helpless. The Hand’s intelligence was superior to his.

“I won’t stop until I find who’s behind this,” Boris said. “Are you carrying the things I gave you?”

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“Yes. Why did you want to see me?” Alexandre asked.

“I think the pendrive contains a code for a military operation planned years ago for an attack like 9/11.”

“We already know that. What’s new?”

“I think it will be during the World Cup in Russia,” Boris said.

“What makes you think that?”

“Since the extremist attack in London, the Russian government assured the Global Football Organization, the GFO, that it would take every security measure for the next World Cup. But the GFO doesn’t see the need. They say such measures would ruin the event economically.”

“Do you trust the GFO?” Alexandre asked.

“As much as the Global Health Organization. Corruption has no borders. I think this links to the GFO-Gate case.”

“You mean the scandal years ago?”

“Yes. When Swiss authorities raided the hotel in Zurich after years of investigation. They found the bribes behind broadcast rights in the U.S. and Latin America. The GFO also bought votes to select World Cup hosts. I suspect Russia’s selection was rigged. Part of a larger plan. I hope I’m wrong.”

“I don’t follow.”

“When the GFO president resigned, I thought it was only about corruption in football. Now I think the GFO-Gate case was a cover. The goal was to replace the leadership with people needed to carry out a major attack at the World Cup.”

“An attack like the one in London?”

“Worse. Several bombs could explode simultaneously in different stadiums and cities while matches are broadcast live. Imagine the psychological impact.”

“It would be terrible, but is it worse than 9/11?”

“You know I study history.”

“Yes.”

“Rulers haven’t changed much since the Crusades. Something big is coming,” Boris said. “The only good thing about those times was the absence of nuclear bombs.”

“Are you suggesting a nuclear attack?” Alexandre asked, thinking, I hope we can publish Ronald’s book before the World Cup.

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“I didn’t say that, but it’s possible.”

“Do you have proof?”

“Informed speculation, yes. Conclusive evidence, no.”

“Why did you want to see me?” Alexandre asked, eager to change the subject, as if avoiding a nuclear Armageddon possibility could erase that probability.

“I want you to use this pen. It’s the barrel of a gun with a single .22 bullet. It could save your life.”

“Thank you. What will you do to find the pendrive?”

“It’s a needle in a haystack. The haystack is huge. My hackers and I are tracking Gambino. We think he knows something. He’s building a house in the mountains of New Zealand, but no one knows where.”
“Will you keep using the same phone?” Alexandre asked.

Boris felt a sting in his stomach.

“No. But I’ll sign as always: SIROB. When you get my message, follow this procedure. First, reply with one word: absolute. Clear?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll answer with natural,” Boris said.

“I understand.”

“You’ll finish with justice.”

“I won’t forget. Absolute. Natural. Justice,” Alexandre repeated.

“That’s it,” Boris nodded. They said goodbye.

A few meters away, Boris pulled the hacked SIM card from his phone and slipped it into his pocket. He smashed the phone against a lamppost until it shattered. Then he took a powerful magnet and ran it over the chip, burned it with his lighter, and crushed the remains between his fingers. He scattered the fragments into different trash bins.

He knew The Hand had hacked him, and humiliated him. For the first time in his life, Boris felt fear.

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