Volga
Basra on 11-27
Karbalah by
PRECAUTIONS VX
MB

Rodgers picked up the phone and dialed a number quickly. He hit speakerphone so we all could hear.

“2112” was the reply when the line was answered.

“Bart, Bill here. I need to know if there was a ship named Volga in the port of Basra on the 27th of last month.”

“Wait one.” There was a pause. You could hear the clicking of a keyboard in the background. "The Volgograd, a Russian flagged freighter, docked on the 27th, departed on the 29th.” came over the speaker.

“What was it carrying,” Rodgers asked.

“Offloaded medical supplies, motor oil and other lubricants. You need the rest of the manifest?”

“No, and thanks.” Rodgers hung up. “They got it in,” he said with a hint of reservation.

“Got what in,” I asked. He pointed at one line of the note.

PRECAUTIONS VX.

“Precautions fifteen. Too bad he didn’t say what fifteen things to be cautious about,” I said.

“That’s not fifteen. In roman numerals fifteen is XV. That’s warning about VX.”

“So what’s VX?”