The Zul Enigma

by J M Leitch

  Greg grunted down the phone.

  ‘Did he confess?’

  ‘No, not at all. He denied it to the last.’

  ‘So where’s your proof?’

  ‘The computer logs and CCTV recordings prove Dr Maiz had the opportunity.’

  ‘The opportunity maybe, but do they prove he sent the messages?’

  ‘He was the only person to have access…’

  ‘Unless someone else managed to…’

  ‘Greg, you know that hypothesis was thrown out. He “spoofed” the messages himself.’

  ‘How?’

  ‘Okay, so he said he didn’t know how. But he lied.’

  ‘What about Zul? The videos?’

  ‘Dr Maiz has the make-up and acting skills to film himself playing out the part of “Zul”.’

  ‘That’s stretching it a bit, isn’t it Bob?’

  ‘We did a voice analysis check.’

  ‘I’d like to see the report.’

  ‘I’ll getta copy to you.’

  ‘And the baby?’

  ‘I already told you, our people checked the records. There’s nothing there.’

  Greg gave a little cough. ‘This does not sit well with me. It appears you have no hard evidence at all. It’s all circumstantial.’

  ‘Just let me finish Greg, will you? We gave Dr Maiz a choice. Either he commits himself into a psychiatric institution or we’ll arrest him and this afternoon heagreed to check himself into hospital. This is a great breakthrough. It means that although he’s not yet admitting to inventing “Zul”, he’s no longer denying his mental state is in question. We had one of our doctors give him a preliminary psychological assessment. I just got the report.’

  ‘And…’

  ‘It’s possible Dr Maiz is suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder brought on by his wife’s death. However, neither Paranoid Schizophrenia nor Dissociative Identity Disorder can be ruled out.’

  ‘Heavens!’

  ‘He’s elected to go to a hospital in Madrid. Near his family. He’s leaving for Spain tomorrow afternoon.’

  ‘Well, I’ll need to talk to him first. There are some formalities we have to complete. I can leave for Europe early and meet him in Vienna on Sunday or Monday.’

  ‘That won’t be possible Greg.’

  ‘But he’s my Director of OOSA. We need to discuss how we’re going to handle his sojourn in Madrid.’

  ‘Even if we sent him to Vienna, you wouldn’t get any sense out of him.’

  ‘He must have some grip on reality. Why else would you let him choose what you’re going to do with him?’

  ‘Greg, I…’

  ‘Bob, I need to speak to him. Face to face. He’s worked for me for over four years. We’re very close. I want to see with my own eyes exactly how sick he’s become since he’s been with you.’

  ‘Are you accusing us of…’

  ‘I’m not accusing you of anything. I’m simply saying you need to fly him to Vienna. Come on Bob, he’ll want to say some goodbyes and collect his things.’

  ‘His personal effects can be shipped.’

  ‘For heavens’ sakes have a heart. Vienna’s been his home for nearly five years. He has an apartment there, his office. It’s where he has his last memories of his wife. If you’re so concerned about his mental health, you have to take him there first.’

  ‘It’ll overly complicate matters for us.’

  ‘But what you’re proposing is inhumane! If Carlos is to have any hope of recovery, he needs closure on his past.’

  ‘It’s an expense and a security risk we don’t need to…’

  ‘You’re telling me he’s ill – how can a sick man be a security risk? And let’s not forget, Carlos is still Director of OOSA and will remain so until I deem fit to terminate the appointment. I strongly advise you grant my request.’

  ‘How can we Greg? There are real security issues here.’

  ‘I’ll authorise restricted entry to UNO City for your agency people on condition they are accompanied one for one and at all times by our security personnel. Naturally, they will not be allowed past our reception area.’

  ‘Greg…’

  ‘To continue, I know there are occasions when misunderstandings occur down the line, so in the interest of clarity I look forward to receiving your official confirmation of these arrangements immediately.’

  ‘You really need to rethink your demands, Greg. They are not appropriate.’

  ‘I categorically disagree. They are most appropriate and I insist on them.’

  Bob chuckled down the phone, ‘I’m not sure you have the authority.’

  ‘That’s where you’re wrong Bob. You will bring Carlos to Vienna.’

  ‘You’re not putting your position on the line, are you? Not for a wacko?’

  ‘Not at all. But I would like to remind you about my stance on the Russia issue and how vastly your views and mine are at odds, to put it mildly.’

  ‘You mean…’

  ‘Just a tick Bob, please, I haven’t quite finished. It’s looking more and more likely you’ll need my assistance in negotiations between Russia and NATO, which sad to say, is looking rather vulnerable right now. Its demise would leave your nation very exposed.’

  ‘I don’t…’

  ‘But considering your country has persistently refused to settle its UN dues, which have not been paid in full for over ten years and now total, if I’m not wrong, nearly two billion dollars which, off the top of my head, equates to ninety per cent of the total we’re owed by all member nations, I’m not sure how seriously you imagine I can consider any requests you may make for assistance in the future.’

  ‘But…’

  ‘You may also do well to remember I have excellent contacts in the international press and although I’m sure I won’t need to call on them, I’d like to remind you that you gentlemen are not the only ones with access to very talented spin doctors.’

  ‘You’re serious, aren’t you?’

  ‘You can bet your life I am.’

  CHAPTER 15

  ‘Morning, Carlos. Sleep well?’ Mary asked, and Carlos mumbled something unintelligible as he took his usual place at the dining table.

  Scott had turned up at midday, as promised, the day before and Carlos told him he’d commit himself to the hospital in Madrid. An hour or so later, the White House psychiatric doctor arrived to conduct his examination, after which Carlos ate a late lunch and spent all afternoon and evening in his room staring at the snow covered garden from his armchair, sipping at his whisky and not thinking about his predicament at all. There was no point. He had no idea how long it would take before they’d move him out of the house and what’s more, he didn’t care. And he didn’t care what would happen to him at the hospital either.

  He helped himself to coffee and a dash of milk.

  ‘I’ve got good news for you. You’re leaving this afternoon.’

  Carlos peered up at Mary through puffy bloodshot eyes, visible evidence of sleepless nights and too much booze. ‘Madrid?’

  ‘Yes, with a night in Vienna first. The Secretary-General wants to see you.’

  He grunted and took a sip of coffee.

  ‘The other good news is that finally our communication problem’s been fixed.’

  ‘Well that is a surprise,’ he said pulling a face.

  She ignored his sarcasm. ‘So you can call your secretary after breakfast and ask her to pack up what you want from your office. You’ll be in Vienna tomorrow afternoon.’

  Immediately he got back to his room Carlos set up his iTab and tried to log in to the UN system via the safe house’s private network using his RFId tag, but although he could connect to the local network, access to the system was denied. ‘Jesus, Greg,’ he muttered to himself, realising his tag had been deactivated and he slung it back into his briefcase. Still cursing, he e-mailed Corrinne with the safe house holovideo address from his personal account and asked her to instigate a call to him as soon as she could.


  In less than five minutes the safe house computer beeped and Carlos punched at the keyboard to accept a holovideo from Corrinne.

  ‘Carlos! Finally!’ Corrinne was sitting at the conference table in his office looking delighted to see him and the relief in her voice was sincere albeit short-lived, since scarcely three seconds passed before she started scolding him, ‘I’ve been worried sick about you.’

  Carlos tried to smile. ‘How’s the preparations for the Session?’

  ‘Willem’s doing a good job, but it’s been tough without you.’

  ‘I can see that… you’re working on a Saturday.’

  ‘And will be here a lot longer before I’m done. You need to come back Carlos. You look terrible. You’ve lost weight. Where are you?’

  ‘In DC. A guest of the President.’

  ‘The White House?’

  ‘Hardly… they’ve been investigating me.’

  Corrinne pursed her lips. ‘I knew something was wrong when those people came sniffing around last Tuesday asking questions about your psychological state.’

  ‘It’s been a nightmare. National Intelligence threatened to arrest me.’

  ‘What for?’

  ‘They say I threatened their security.’

  ‘But you’re UN. You have immunity.’

  ‘You think they care about that?’

  Corrinne’s hand shot up to cover her mouth. ‘Of course… they could say you’re an illegal enemy combatant. You wouldn’t even be protected by the Geneva Convention. They could hold you forever.’

  ‘¡Exacto! It’s America. They can do what they like.’

  ‘So are they going to arrest you?’

  ‘No. They’re making me check into a mental hospital in Madrid.’

  ‘What?’ she gasped.

  ‘The past week’s been horrible. When I left Vienna I was so sure about Zul. I would bet my life on him. But now? He hasn’t contacted me and I’ve had so much time here to think. Everyone says I’m depressed. Maybe I am. Maybe it’s more serious… something that makes me imagine things.’ He saw the look on Corrinne’s face as she shook her head. ‘Well that’s what they’re saying. Maybe it is true. Honestly Corrinne, I don’t know any more. And everyone’s betrayed me. I don’t know who to trust or what to believe. All I know is right now I feel like I am going crazy.’

  ‘Carlos, I…’ her voice cracked and she couldn’t finish the sentence.

  Carlos was surprised. Even though they’d worked together well at the beginning, he had never warmed to Corrinne. Their personalities clashed and although he couldn’t deny she was excellent at her job, sometimes he was close to despising her for that overbearing attitude and what he considered to be sanctimonious devotion to OOSA. He thought her cold and unyielding. She was Austrian for God’s sake. So he was shocked to glimpse this soft side he’d never seen before. She really did care. He felt a pang of remorse. He shouldn’t have got so irritable with her in the past. After all, she’d only been trying to do her job.

  ‘Are you coming back here?’ she’d regained control and her voice was strong again.

  ‘Sí. Tomorrow. They take me to the penthouse first. Then I meet Greg at the office in the afternoon.’

  ‘How long are you staying?’

  ‘One night.

  ‘I was planning on coming in tomorrow, so I’ll get to see you before you go. Then what?’

  ‘I fly to Madrid Monday morning and they take me to Hospital Psiquiátrico.’

  ‘How long for?’

  ‘I have no idea. Depends what’s wrong.’

  ‘At least you’ll be near your family.’

  ‘If they’ll let them visit.’

  ‘Oh Carlos…’ she looked as if she was groping to find the right words, ‘… I know that sometimes we’ve rubbed each other up the wrong way…’

  ‘Sometimes?’

  ‘Carlos! But I do admire what you’ve done here. The changes? And all that new technology? I know I was against it, but things do work so much better. I just want you to know that. I don’t know what I’d do without holovideo now,’ and she laughed her characterisic tight-lipped laugh.

  ‘Muchas graçias señora,’ he said. ‘And hey – I haven’t been the perfect boss. I get moody with you when you’re just trying to do your job. I’m sorry. Truth is I don’t know what I’d done without you.’

  ‘I just can’t believe all this,’ the tears Corrinne had been trying to fight back overflowed and rolled down her cheeks. ‘I never imagined… not this…’

  ‘Corrinne. Don’t. You make me cry too.’

  She blew her nose and sniffed. ‘Should I arrange something? A farewell lunch?’

  ‘Oh Jesus! I have no heart to celebrate. You know Greg deactivated my tag? Imagine how I’ll feel tomorrow coming in wearing a visitor’s pass?’

  ‘It might help if you talk to people. Tell them it’s all been blown out of proportion – that it’s all a big mistake – that you’re the victim here.’

  ‘Is that what you think?’

  ‘Yes, I do.’

  Loyal Corrinne.

  ‘And you mustn’t lose touch,’ she continued. ‘If there’s ever anything I can do… now or in the future…’

  Carlos knew her concern was real and her offer sincere. It was unexpected and because of that all the more touching. ‘Graçias, I won’t forget.’

  ‘Now what about your things?’ her voice was business-like once again. ‘Send me a list for the office and I’ll prepare everything today. We’ll have another virtual meeting later to sort out any queries. What time’s good for you?’

  ‘I leave here at four.’

  ‘Let’s say 7:30 this evening my time, that’s 2:30 for you. And if there’s anything you can’t take tomorrow, I’ll airfreight it later. Will you be able to contact me? Once you’re in hospital?’

  ‘I don’t know.’

  ‘At least I’ll know where you are.’

  ‘Sí. And… Corrinne… thank you, thanks for everything.’

  ***

  The phone in Carlos’s room rang. It was Mary telling him that Drew was on his way up. Before he could protest she’d hung up.

  A few minutes later he heard a rap. Carlos had no intention of letting Drew in, but the knocking grew intense and then unbearable. He flung open the door. He was livid and Drew was taken aback by the hostile expression on his face. He looked so haggard it was pitiful. Drew took a stride forward to give him a hug.

  ‘Mate. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry.’

  Carlos stood there arms stiff at his sides. Then slowly his fingers curled up to make fists and he broke out of Drew’s clutches, arms flailing. He barged Drew out of the door making him trip over the rug in the hallway and his shoulder hit the wall with a thump as it broke his fall.

  Drew steadied himself. ‘Charlie boy, please…’

  ‘You… you bastard.’

  ‘I wanted to wish you a…’

  ‘What? A happy time in hospital? You fucked my wife, you fucked our friendship and you fucked me. Now go fuck yourself before I kill you.’

  ***

  Mary helped Drew on with his coat. ‘You weren’t up there long. How is he?’

  Drew struggled to put his arm in the sleeve. His shoulder was stiff where he’d fallen against the wall. ‘Not good. He looks like a broken man.’

  ‘He hardly talks any more. He’s very down.’

  ‘Any further down, he’d be dead and buried.’

  Mary shook her head. ‘All that waiting didn’t help. Too much time hanging about with nothing to do but think. We tried to amuse him but all he wants is to be left alone. He just sits in his armchair all day with his headphones on staring out of the window.’

  ‘Is he on medication?’ Drew asked.

  ‘No,’ Mary passed Drew his gloves, ‘perhaps it would be better if he was.’

  ***

  ‘Hi. Where are you?’

  ‘I arrived in Europe this morning.’

  ‘Listen. I just got back from
the house. He wouldn’t see me, wouldn’t even talk to me. But here’s the good news. Our friend with the ex-boyfriend troubles called. She just met his secretary who talked to the boss and they’re flying him in by private jet tomorrow morning.’

  ‘To the office?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That is good news.’

  ‘The boss will meet him there tomorrow afternoon.’

  ‘If it’s a private jet, they’ll fly out of the military base. I know someone there. Perhaps I can get the flight plan confirmed.’

  ‘You don’t leave anything to chance, do you?’

  ‘What else?’

  ‘Our friend will take the magazines to the office tomorrow and try to get in to see him. I doubt they’ll let her, but it’s worth a go.’

  ‘How committed do you think the big boss is to our cause?’

  ‘He’s the one that got them to bring him to the office. I’d say we can rely on him.’

  ‘Our friend – being on the spot like that – she could be a big help.’

  ‘Have you got a plan?’

  ‘After what you just told me, I think I have.’

  ‘Question. Why are you doing this?’

  ‘It’s hard to turn your back on old friends when they’re down. I’m shocked at what he’s got himself into and I want to put a stop to it before it gets worse.’

  ‘Well I’m bloody grateful you’re around to help. Let’s hope we can get him where he needs to be.’

  ‘Don’t worry. We will.’

  ***

  Carlos was picking at his lunch when she walked into the dining room. He heard the door open and looked up expecting Mary. But it wasn’t Mary. It was the Barbie Doll.

  ‘Hiya, Carlos. How are you doing today?’

  Her up-beat tone pumped up his adrenaline level.

  ‘How do you think,’ he said, dropping his knife and fork with a clatter and shoving his half empty plate to the centre of the table.

  Barbara’s mouth formed a silent circle as she sat down opposite him. ‘I thought you’d be excited. Going back to Madrid and all.’