#24

Rubina was sitting at a table of an open roof cafe, 'OLD TOWN CAFE'. She was wearing glasses and had an earpiece in her left ear. A cup of coffee was kept before her.

She said, " Are you sure about the cafe? "

Erik was sitting on the driving seat of the car. He too had an earpiece in his ear.

He said, " The hotel manager had mentioned about this cafe in his statement. According to him Beck visits the cafe every Monday before his shift. "

A bike arrived near the cafe. The man was wearing the helmet and goggles. A woman was sitting behind him. He removed his helmet. He was Beck (in his early thirties). He had came there with his girlfriend, Lesley.

Rubina said, " He is here. "

They entered the cafe. They came at a table. Beck removed his goggles and kept it on the table. He pulled a chair for her and asked her to sit. She sat on the chair. He sat in front of her.

Erik asked, " Is he alone? "

" No, he has brought a cutie with her. Looks like he's dating the blonde. "

Beck asked, " What should I order for you? "

Lesley smiled.

" Anything that makes your mood. "

Rubina interrupted, " I can help you out in choosing the coffee. "

She was standing behind Lesley. She turned to her. Rubina pulled a chair and sat their table.

" Hi Beck. "

Beck got muddled to see her.

" Hi. Do I know you? "

" Don't you remember? Last night. "

" What? "

Lesley asked, " Beck, what she is saying? "

" I don't even know her. I have no idea what she is even saying. "

Rubina said, " Come on Beck, just tell her about us. "

Lesley said, " Fine. I am leaving. "

She stood up from her chair, took her phone and prepared to leave.

He said, " Lesley, where are you going? "

In an anger, she showed him a middle finger.

" Go to hell. "

She left the cafe.

He asked, " Why you did that? I don't know you. "

" But you know Perkins, right? "

" Perkins? "

Rubina dragged Beck to the rooftop of a building by holding his collar. Erik followed them to the roof. She punched Beck on his nose and then on his neck. She kicked his belly. Beck fell on the ground and gasped. He was bleeding from the nose. He swiftly put his finger under his nose and saw the blood on his finger. Rubina kept looking at him until he stood up. Erik stepped ahead.

" You should breakup with Lesley, Beck. You won't be spared this time. "

He took a photograph out of his coat and showed it to Beck.

Rubina said, " Remember him? Yes or No. "

Beck nodded.

" He had called me to keep an eye on the woman who was staying at the hotel. He paid me too. "

Erik asked, " Where did you disappear after she was murdered? "

" I just wanted to get rid from the matter. I didn't want to get involved in a police case. "

" Do you still have his contact number? "

" I have deleted his number from my call logs? "

Erik said, " Inspector Silvan had went through his call details. The number from which Perkins contacted him was immediately deactivated later that night. "

Beck said, " Truly speaking, I don't know anything else except his face. The last time when he called me to meet him he gave me a bag filled with cash and warned me against speaking about the same to anyone. "

She asked, " Where did he call you to meet him at? "

" It was a public toilet of a metro station. "

Rubina and Erik glanced at each other. She looked at Beck.

" Alright, you can go now. "

He nodded.

" Thank you. "

Beck went downstairs. He came out of the building only be taken aback by seeing Inspector Silvan and a fellow cop standing in front of him. Beck got his eye on the right hand of Silvan in which he was holding a handcuff. Silvan stepped towards him.

" Shall we go? "

Beck stretched both of his hands towards him. Silvan smiled and locked the cuffs around his wrist.

A telephone started ringing at the reception of 'FORTUNE TRAVELS', a travel agency based in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The receptionist, Crystal attends the call.

" Fortune Travels. How may I help you? "

Perkins was sitting at the edge of the bed in a room.

" Actually I just want enquire about some flight details. "

" Okay. "

" Could you please tell me any passenger flight available for Tokyo in October. "

" Let me check sir. Hold for a second. "

" Sure. "

Crystal went through the flight details in the computer.

She said, " Sir, are you listening? "

" Yes I am. "

" Let me tell you we have flights on three dates from Saint Petersburg to Tokyo in October. "

" Oh, can you message me the details. I'll discuss with my friends and then will call you back. "

" Sure sir. "

Perkins hung up the call.

Ar Raqqah, Syria: Tevray Morrisson's hands gripped the steering wheel as he navigated his car through the streets of Ar Raqqah. The buildings in the city stood half demolished. The road was eerily empty. He drove over the potholes and uneven pavements. He passed by a mosque from where three men were walking out. He slowed down at the road which was leading to an old small apartment. He parked his car in a makeshift parking lot where a wrecked motorbike was already there. He turned off the engine. He held the door knocker and knocked the door thrice. A couple of seconds later, the door was opened by Nasser (in his mid forties). Nasser had a full grown beard, a black mark on his forehead and used to wear a black cap.

Tevray greeted him, " Salaam. "

Nasser nodded his head.

" Salaam. "

Nasser carried his side bag. He locked the door from outside. A few moments later, Tevray was driving his car and Nasser was sitting on the passenger seat. He took out a keypad phone from his sidebag. He texted, 'ARRIVING' and sent the message. He kept the phone back in the sidebag. Tevray drove the car through the deserted road of the region.

The Islamic State Of United Frontiers (ISUF) training camp was spread over a large area on a rugged landscape. A number of members were being trained there to become militants and were timely reminded about their sole purpose. Tevray headed his way towards the camp.