Book Two
Don Brown
HOSTAGE
ZONDERVAN
HOSTAGE
Copyright (c) 2005 by Don Brown
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, non-transferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Zondervan.
Mobipocket Edition April 2009 ISBN: 978-0-310-53913-1
Requests for information should be addressed to:
Zondervan, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49530
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Brown, Don, 1960 -
Hostage / Don Brown.
p. cm. -- (The Navy justice series ; bk. 2)
ISBN-13: 978-0-310-25934-3 (pbk.)
ISBN-10: 0-310-25934-7 (pbk.)
1. United States. Navy -- Fiction. 2. Courts-martial and courts of inquiry --
Fiction. I. Title.
PS3602.R6947H67 2005
813'.6 -- dc22 2005015807
All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version (r).NIV(r) Copyright (c) 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means -- electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or any other -- except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher.
07 08 09 10 11 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4
This book is lovingly dedicated to my wife of twenty years,
Rhonda W. Brown.
May the Lord bless her and keep her, may the Lord
make his face shine upon her, and give her peace,
this day, and forevermore.
With much love, this Ninth Day of August,
in the Year of our Lord, two thousand and five.
HOSTAGE
Also by Don Brown
Treason (Navy Justice Series, Book 1)
Defi ance (Navy Justice Series, Book 2)
Contents
TITLE PAGE
COPYRIGHT PAGE
CHAPTER 1
In the hills near the Dean E. Smith Center South Campus, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Dean E. Smith Center South Campus, University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, North Carolina UNC Versus Duke: Halftime
CHAPTER 2
Office of the Commanding Officer Navy Trial Command Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
CHAPTER 3
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert 250 miles southeast of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
CHAPTER 4
Navy JAG Appellate Government Command Washington Navy Yard Washington, D.C.
CHAPTER 5
800 feet above USS Harry S. Truman 32 degrees 22 minutes west longitude 35 degrees 18 minutes north latitude 327 nautical miles WSW Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal North Atlantic Ocean
CHAPTER 6
Main plaza entrance United States Supreme Court Building Maryland Avenue Washington, D.C.
CHAPTER 7
River entrance The Pentagon Arlington, Virginia
CHAPTER 8
Main gallery United States Supreme Court Maryland Avenue Washington, D.C.
CHAPTER 9
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert
CHAPTER 10
Officer's Club Washington Navy Yard Washington, D.C.
CHAPTER 11
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert
CHAPTER 12
Execution chamber United States Disciplinary Barracks U.S. Army Base Fort Leavenworth, Kansas 2330 hours
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert
CHAPTER 13
Point Cires, Morocco Southern shore of the Strait of Gibraltar 1700 hours
CHAPTER 14
Port Mahon, Minorca Balearic Islands Western Mediterranean 2100 hours
Radio Communications Center USS Harry S. Truman Western Mediterranean
CHAPTER 15
Officer's Country (Officer's berthing area) USS Harry S. Truman Western Mediterranean
FIRST ENDORSEMENT
Radio Communications Center USS Harry S. Truman Western Mediterranean
U.S. Navy helicopter Special Mission 448 52 nautical miles ESE of USS Harry S. Truman Altitude 500 feet Western Mediterranean
Radio communications center USS Harry S. Truman Western Mediterranean
U.S. Navy helicopter Special Mission 448 54 nautical miles ESE of USS Harry S. Truman Altitude 300 feet Western Mediterranean
CHAPTER 16
United Flight 392 Altitude 31,000 feet Somewhere over northeastern Arizona
CHAPTER 17
Radio communications center USS Harry S. Truman Western Mediterranean
Room 442 Hilton Wilmington Riverside 301 North Water Street Wilmington, North Carolina
U.S. Navy helicopter Special Mission 448 58 nautical miles ESE of USS Harry S. Truman Altitude 50 feet Western Mediterranean
Radio communications center USS Harry S. Truman Western Mediterranean
CHAPTER 18
Outside Hilton Wilmington Riverside 301 North Water Street Wilmington, North Carolina
Room 442 Hilton Wilmington Riverside 301 North Water Street Wilmington, North Carolina
CHAPTER 19
251 Andropov Ulitza Krugloye Mogilev region Republic of Belarus
Outside St. Mary's Catholic Church 412 Ann Street Wilmington, North Carolina
251 Andropov Ulitza Krugloye Mogilev Region Republic of Belarus
CHAPTER 20
Charles E. Lindberg Field San Diego International Airport San Diego, California
Oakdale Cemetery 520 North 15th Street Wilmington, North Carolina
Navy Trial Service Office Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
Oakdale Cemetery 520 North 15th Street Wilmington, North Carolina
CHAPTER 21
Squadron briefing room Viper Squadron USS Harry S. Truman Central Mediterranean
Navy Exchange 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
Oakdale Cemetery 520 North 15th Street Wilmington, North Carolina
Squadron briefing room Viper Squadron USS Harry S. Truman Central Mediterranean
CHAPTER 22
Westbound Interstate 20 Lauderdale County, Mississippi Mile marker 10
CHAPTER 23
Navy Trial Service Office Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert
301 North Water Street Hilton Wilmington Riverside Wilmington, North Carolina
Received of: LT Diane Colcernian, $320.00 for Rental of Chrysler LeBaron. To Be Returned in Five Days.
CHAPTER 24
Aeroflot Flight 305 Descending from 5,000 feet 50 nautical miles east of Tel Aviv
Office of the Chief Wilmington Police Department 115 Red Cross Street Wilmington, North Carolina
CHAPTER 25
Westbound US 90 78 miles west of San Antonio, Texas Midmorning
Office of Lieutenant Commander Zack Brewer, JAGC, USN Navy Trial Service Office Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
CHAPTER 26
Flight Deck USS Harry S. Truman Eastern Mediterranean 204 miles SSE of Limassol, Cyprus
Jaffa Gate Western entrance Old City of Jerusalem
International Bridge spanning the Rio Grande Del Rio, Texas - Ciudad Acuna, Mexico United States - Mexico border
CHAPTER 27
Altitude 500 feet 15 nautical miles east of the Israeli coastline Eastern Mediterranean
International Bridge spanning the Rio Grande Del Rio, Texas - Ciudad Acuna, Mexico United States - Mexico border
Wailing Wall Old City of Jerusalem
CHAPTER 28
The Oval Office The White House Washington, D.C.
Syrian Desert Approximately 200 miles east of Damascus Near the Iraqi border
CHAPTER 29
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert
Syrian Desert Approximately 200 miles east of Damascus Near the Iraqi border
CHAPTER 30
Situation Room The White House Washington, D.C.
CHAPTER 31
Bikur Holim Hospital Jerusalem
Israeli cabinet meeting Emergency session Government building Jerusalem
Mount Helix La Mesa, California East San Diego County
City Morgue No. 3 East Jerusalem
CHAPTER 33
Situation Room The White House Washington, D.C.
CHAPTER 34
Near Villa de Cos Central Mexico
Villa de Cos -- 8 Acapulco -- 255
CHAPTER 35
Office of the Commanding Officer Navy Trial Service Office Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
CHAPTER 36
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert
CHAPTER 37
LCDR Zack Brewer's residence 4935 Mills Street La Mesa, California
CHAPTER 38
L'office de droit de Jean-Claude la Trec 56, rue Charles de Gaulle Paris
CHAPTER 39
LCDR Zack Brewer's residence 4935 Mills Street La Mesa, California
CHAPTER 40
United Nations Emergency Security Council meeting First Avenue and 46th Street New York, New York
Council of Ishmael headquarters Rub al-Khali Desert
CHAPTER 41
Israeli Cabinet meeting Emergency session Government building Jerusalem
CHAPTER 42
Municipal Cemetery No. 8 The West Bank Jerusalem
CHAPTER 43
Office of the Commanding Officer Navy Trial Service Office Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
CHAPTER 44
Office of Lieutenant Commander Zack Brewer, JAGC, USN Navy Trial Service Office Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California 1700 hours
L'office de droit de Jean-Claude la Trec 56, rue Charles De Gaulle Paris
LCDR Zack Brewer's residence 4935 Mills Street La Mesa, California
Eastbound California Highway 94 Approaching Lemon Grove Avenue exit East San Diego County
CHAPTER 45
8 East 4th Avenue Coronado Island Coronado, California
White House Signals Office Old executive office building One hour later
CHAPTER 46
LCDR Zack Brewer's Residence 4935 Mills Street La Mesa, California Midnight, PST
CHAPTER 47
Office of Lieutenant Commander Zack Brewer, JAGC, USN Navy Trial Service Office Building 73 32nd Street Naval Station San Diego, California
CHAPTER 48
USAF C-17 Globemaster III Special Mission 427218 Altitude 5,000 feet Eastern Mediterranean
CHAPTER 49
Room 204 King David Hotel Jerusalem Eight hours later
CHAPTER 50
Israeli District Court Courtroom 3 West Bank Division
Captain T. D. Norgaard, JAGC, USN Military Judge
CHAPTER 51
Restaurante Sol Elite Galivanes Port Mahon, Minorca Balearic Islands Western Mediterranean
CHAPTER 52
The Oval Office The White House Washington, D.C.
CHAPTER 53
Courtroom 3 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
CHAPTER 54
Horse caravan Mountainous terrain Location unknown
Mossad training facility Central Negev Desert
CHAPTER 55
Courtroom 3 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
The Oval Office The White House Washington, D.C.
Mossad training facility Central Negev Desert
Situation Room The White House Washington, D.C.
Syrian Desert 33 degrees 15 minutes north latitude 37 degrees 8 minutes east longitude
CHAPTER 56
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
CHAPTER 57
United States Naval Hospital Naples, Italy
Horse caravan Mountainous terrain Location unknown
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
Mountainous terrain Location unknown
NCIS Ballistics Laboratory U.S. Naval Station Naples, Italy
CHAPTER 59
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
CHAPTER 60
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
CHAPTER 61
Israeli District Court Prisoner Holding Cell No. 1 West Bank Division
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
CHAPTER 62
Attorneys' lounge Israeli District Court West Bank Division
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
CHAPTER 63
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division
CHAPTER 64
Attorneys' lounge Israeli District Court West Bank Division
Courtroom 4 Israeli District Court West Bank Division Four hours later
CHAPTER 65
King David Hotel Jerusalem
CHAPTER 66
The Lawn University of Virginia Charlottesville, Virginia
Western Union office Charlottesville, Virginia Two hours later
David Ben Gurion International Airport Tel Aviv, Israel Three days later 4:00 a.m. Jerusalem time
EPILOGUE
EXCERPT
Black Forest Cafe Near the Limmat River Zurich, Switzerland
Femme du Monde School of Modeling International Headquarters North American Division Madison Avenue, New York City
U.S. Naval Medical Center 620 John Paul Jones Circle Portsmouth, Virginia
About The Publisher
Share Your Thoughts
CHAPTER 1
In the hills near the Dean E. Smith Center
South Campus, University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Lying on his belly in the thick underbrush, the gunman peered through the powerful magnifying scope. It was about two hundred yards down the hill, he estimated, from his position to the main entrance of the brick arena.
Close enough for a shot. Far enough for an escape.
Students flocked like massive herds of sheep through the building's glass doors, their heads and faces grandly visible through the crosshairs of the scope.
Dozens of infidels sacrificed to Allah's glory in an instant. His heart raced at the thought. His breathing quickened. He caressed the cold trigger with his finger, waiting to squeeze it. Longing to purify the sinful American ground with spilled blood.
Whistling wind whipped through the tops of the Carolina pines. A surge of excitement, like an electrical shock, shot through his body.
My destiny is with Allah the Merciful, who controls the wind.
He pulled his trigger finger from the cold steel. His glorious destiny would depend on patience. For a bit longer.
The blood of the redhead and her companion would ensure his place in Islamic Glory. He would await their emergence. Allah would bring them from those doors at the anointed moment. And when they appeared in the crosshairs, he would execute Allah's vengeance and justice.
All praise to Allah! Blessed be the
prophet -- peace be upon him.
Dean E. Smith Center
South Campus, University of North Carolina
Chapel Hill, North Carolina
UNC Versus Duke: Halftime
Lieutenant Diane Colcernian tried in vain to protect her eardrums from the spontaneous, alternating chants of the boisterous crowd.
"TAAAAAR!"
"HEEEEEELS!"
"TAAAAAR!"
"HEEEEEELS!"
Diane's date, Lieutenant Zack Brewer, pumped his fists into the air, contributing to the baby-blue cacophony now reaching ear-splitting levels.
His excitement mimicked that of a kid under the Christmas tree, a beaming kid handsomely decked out in his "Carolina Blue" T-shirt with the interlocking NC on the front. Hers, a gift from Zack, was identical to his and to twenty thousand others in the Dean Dome.
He screamed with exhilaration when one of the Carolina players, a Rashad somebody, dunked the ball. She smiled, shaking her head in bemused disbelief.
"Let's just wear jeans and Carolina stuff," Zack had said earlier. "This is the Duke game. The fans will be so pumped up we'll never get spotted. I promise."
She believed him. After all, basketball wasn't that big of a deal when she was an undergraduate student at the University of Virginia.
Promises, promises.
They sat three rows behind the Carolina bench, so close to the court they could hear the famous Duke coach unleash a profanity-laced tirade, first at his players, then at the referees, and then, at halftime, at the crowd as he trotted off the court with his team. Zack, who had warned Diane earlier that the Duke coach was known for spewing such obscenities, not to mention appearing in tacky credit card commercials, cupped his hands and joined the thousands of UNC fans in a cascading chorus of boos aimed at the Blue Devils as they disappeared into the tunnel under the Dean Dome.
When the boos turned into a groundswell of applause, Diane sensed she was being watched. A man sitting behind them tapped her on the shoulder and pointed to the large electronic screen over center court.
There they were on the jumbo screen, displayed for everyone in the arena and anyone who happened to be watching on national television -- the image of her flaming red hair and Zack's cute dimple.
"So much for anonymity, Lieutenant," she said. Then, sheepishly, she smiled and waved at the camera. Another surge of applause followed.