Main Street

Mehrak travels to Houston using cruise control.  He doesn’t want any record of him being stopped by police heading to Houston.  After this is over he is planning to return to Iran.  He realizes things are going to get very hot around here and he’s not referring to the weather.

Three hours later he drives into the parking lot for his downtown hotel.  His plan is to relax the remainder of the day and tomorrow.  Sunday he will wander around downtown, hopefully without many individuals walking around.  He wants time to select a location where the buildings would accommodate RPGs being fired from the roofs.  His other criteria are there must be cross over traffic for his people on the ground to perform their tasks.  Third, there needs to be close exit availability for them to get away.

RPGs

Four days after the suspects met, Javid calls Mehrak and says, “We can obtain as many RPGs as we wish.  They are only a couple of years old and will cost $3,000 each.  Half of the amount must be paid when ordering, and the balance on delivery, which will take one week.”

Mehrak replies, “Good, tell whoever you are dealing with we will order two next month.  Javid do you have a place to store them until we need them?”

“Yes, I can arrange for them to be stored.”

“Since that is arranged I will plan to leave for Houston next weekend.  I will drive there.  After we hang up I will advise the others of your find and tell them I am leaving for Houston to scout what portion of Main Street is best suited for us.”

Both men hang up.

Next Day

The seven suspects are sitting around the living room in almost the same seats they did two weeks ago.  Mehrak smiles knowing how it seems to be human nature to keep picking what is familiar to you instead of trying new things.

When the men are settled and the chit-chat is over with about the trip to Houston Mehark begins the meeting.  “What did each team learn?”

Alborz spoke for himself and for Feroze.  “We found that there are enough overpasses the procession will travel under where we could use some RPGs. We know the car will be armored but roofs of armored cars are their weakest portions.”

“Sounds interesting,” replies Mehrak.

Gabr spoke for himself and for Babak.  “We felt we could arrange an accident on the highway to block the procession and attack the third vehicle from both sides with fifty caliber weapons.  We don’t feel bullet proof glass will hold up very long under fifty caliber bursts.  Then we take him out when the glass is down.”

Javid speaks for himself and for Ebrahim.  “We like the idea of blocking the procession but not on the highway.  We feel that is too vulnerable for us and leaves too much to chance.  We want to block the procession along Main Street in Houston.”

Mehrak looks around the room and pauses a moment before continuing, “I like the idea of using the RPGs if we can get two of them.  Causing the whole procession to be stuck

Houston

The three FBI agents following the three Iranian drivers didn’t need to be directly behind their cars because of the tracking technology.  It is close to one hundred fifty miles to Houston.  Knowing they wouldn’t lose the vehicles made their surveillance a little easier.  

Arriving in Houston, the agents learn the suspects checked into a Holiday Inn.  Because of the different departure times from the suspects neither of the other two agents arriving in Houston knew there were others doing the same thing. 

Each agent called Tom Johnston to inform him of where he was.  Tom has the address of the Holiday Inn Mehrak is located in.  It is the same location.  He advises his agents to give him some time to think this out and will call them back.  Tom directs the six agents traveling to Houston for backup to where the Holiday Inn is located.

Finding Three More

Three days later the agent tailing Mehrak calls Tom Johnston.  “Mehrak pulled into long term parking at the Austin airport.  Do you want me to follow him inside?”

“Yes, see what he does and if he purchases a ticket I want you to go to that airlines office and identify yourself to management.  We need to know where he is headed.”

Dave Harrigan quickly makes a second swing around the parking area so he can park in short term parking.  He gets out of his vehicle and he spots Mehrak heading into the terminal.  It will not be difficult to tail him.

Mehrak walks up to the Southwest terminal holding his carry-on bag in his left hand.  He purchases a one-way ticket to Houston. 

After he leaves, Dave follows Tom’s instructions and makes his way to the office of Southwest Airlines.