Free THE SPANISH REVENGE (Craig Page series) by Allan Topol

permitting the cameras to capture both at the same time or to zoom in on either one. Behind the cameras were scores of wires and cables. Marie, with her ubiquitous clipboard, raised her hand. At exactly 8:30 she lowered it.
    Jean Claude began his segment on the Spanish train bombing with a grisly film of the wreckage—inside the train and on the ground. “This is not for the squeamish,” he said, as the film depicted the maimed and the dead. Bleeding bodies. Severed limbs accompanied by screams of the victims.
    When it was over, Jean Claude said, “We are fortunate to have with us this evening Craig Page, the EU Director of Counterterrorism who is responsible for thwarting attacks like this.”
    Thanks, Jean Claude.
    “Welcome to CNN, Craig. Would you like to make an opening statement?”
    “I want to say that the Spanish government and all of the EU nations will be doing everything they can to find the perpetrators of this horrific attack and to bring them to justice. At the same time, we will be moving aggressively to prevent future attacks.”
    “Do you know which group is responsible?”
    Craig was ready for this question.
    “I can’t share our confidential information with you. However, we are pursuing some very active leads.”
    “Have you ever heard of an organization called The Spanish Revenge?”
    Craig wondered what the hell Jean Claude was talking about. Better tread carefully, he thought.
    “Again, I can’t share information with you.”
    “Then let me share something with you and our viewers.”
    Jean Claude raised his hand, signaling Marie, who was standing near a technician. They focused the camera on Craig while an audio tape began playing. “This is Musa Ben Abdil …” The voice was garbled, but understandable.
    Craig looked calm, but inside he was seething.
    “Our group, The Spanish Revenge, is responsible for the Spanish train bombing. Our objective is to resume the war between Muslims and Christians in Europe.”
    Craig was furious at Marie and Jean Claude. How could they have blindsided him? They should have given him the opportunity to hear the tape before the interview. And they had withheld critical information from law enforcement officials.
    Jean Claude was smirking. Craig wanted to strangle him.
    Jean Claude asked, “What can you tell us about the group called The Spanish Revenge?”
    “As I said, I’m not at liberty to discuss our ongoing investigation.”
    “Do you believe that this Spanish train bombing is a prelude to a larger war between Muslims and Christians in Europe as the tape says?”
    “I do not think so. The vast majority of Muslims living in Europe are peaceful law-abiding citizens.”
    “But unlike other immigrant groups, they haven’t integrated into the mainstream society. Have they?”
    “Your question is outside my area of expertise in combating terrorism.”
    “That’s an easy answer, but isn’t there a blurred line between riots in an Islamic area of a European city and an act of terror?”
    Of course, Jean Claude was right, but Craig didn’t want to admit it.
    “Can we return to the train bombing?”
    “Sure.” Jean Claude was smirking again. Craig was ready for another blast. “What can you tell us about Chinese involvement in the Spanish train bombing?”
    Again Craig had to be careful. “I have no information to suggest Chinese government involvement.”
    “Will you confirm that the bomb wasn’t an IED, an improvised explosive device, but instead a sophisticated state-of-the-art Chinese bomb activated by remote control?”
    How the hell does he know that? Alvarez? Had to be. What’s Alvarez’s game? To make me look bad.
    “It is true,” Craig said, “that the bomb was manufactured in China. That doesn’t establish Chinese government involvement. The bomb could have been obtained from a country with which China has a military supply agreement.”
    “Was the individual who activated the bomb Chinese? Or an Arab?”
    “We’re still