SEAL Team Six Hunt the Scorpion(68)
“Why not, sir?”
“I’m surprised you don’t know this. It’s United States policy never to negotiate an exchange of money or prisoners with terrorists or kidnappers.”
Crocker leaned on the rail and clenched his teeth. “You’re fucking kidding me! I thought the policy was amended in 2002.”
“It was modified briefly but has reverted back. When I first heard about Holly and Brian’s disappearance, I contacted the State Department legal office to get a clarification. Officials there read me the policy. Quote: The United States Government will make no concessions to terrorists holding official or private U.S. citizens hostage. It will not pay ransom, release prisoners, change its policies, or agree to other acts that might encourage additional terrorism.”
“That’s bullshit, sir! After all Holly and I have done to serve our country!”
“Easy, Crocker.”
“Sir—”
“At the same time, I’m at liberty to use every appropriate resource to gain the safe return of American citizens held hostage by terrorists.”
“What does that mean?”
The ambassador stepped closer. “It means we’re doing everything in our power to get Holly and Brian back. It means we’re using all our assets and leaning hard on the NTC. It means we’ve got teams out looking for them now, risking their lives, gathering intelligence, leads.”
“Are you, sir?”
“I said I was. The only thing I’m not allowed to do is negotiate or make any concessions to terrorists.”
Crocker swallowed hard. “Okay.”
“The same policy applies to me, Crocker, in the event I’m kidnapped. It’s a risk all of us take when we choose to represent our country overseas. It’s in the best interests of our country.”
Crocker wasn’t sure about that, but he knew there was no point debating the policy now.
“Trust us, Crocker. We’ll get them back.”
Chapter Thirteen
No crowd ever waited at the gates of patience.
—Arab proverb
If the ambassador and Remington knew where Holly and Brian were being held, they weren’t telling Crocker. So he and his men spent the entire night searching the city on their own, stopping at roadblocks manned by local militiamen and showing them her photo, questioning the few men they saw on the streets. They even drove out to the refugee camp next to the Busetta naval base and spoke to the French soldiers stationed there, who in turn questioned some prisoners and local guards. Nobody seemed to know anything about the kidnappers or where Holly and Brian might be. Crocker also called the Canadians in Sirte, who were continuing their search of that city but hadn’t come across any clues, either.
He returned to the guesthouse at dawn, angry and exhausted. He paced the living room floor and screamed in the shower. Put in more calls to Remington, Volman, and Debray.
Then he got down on his knees and prayed for a suggestion, a lead, anything.
His body and head literally burned with frustration. The word “trust” kept bouncing around in his brain like a taunt. Crocker knew that when it came down to it, when the shit hit the fan, justice and patriotism fell away and the only people he could really trust were his wife and his men.
He was sitting down with a cup of coffee when Remington called. The CIA officer said, “The good news is that I just heard that Dr. Jabril and John Lasher are recovering nicely in Germany. The unfortunate part is that they’re not returning to Libya anytime soon.”
“Any news about Holly and Brian?”
“We’re working on that. Trust me.”
At the word “trust” he winced.
“Crocker,” Remington continued, “I’d like you to write up a report of what you’ve found so far, especially as it relates to Sebha. Include a detailed map of where we can find the UF6.”
It was almost impossible to concentrate. “Now, sir?”
“Today or tomorrow. Then we can wrap this up.”
He remembered the letter from Jabril that he still had in his pocket. “What about the trail of the UF6?”
“Once I receive your report, I’ll forward it to headquarters and make sure they send out a team to Sebha to move it to a safe location.”
Crocker said, “Aren’t you interested in why the Libyans were in possession of the UF6 in the first place, and why it was hidden in a tunnel in Sebha?”
“Most likely it was being used for their energy program.”
“Maybe not. And what about the presence of the Iranians right across the Niger border?”
“I don’t see what one thing has to do with the other.”
“The presence of UF6 indicates that Gaddafi was enriching uranium, which is exactly what Farhed Alizadeh has been trying to get his hands on.”