The Dreadful Patriot: A Thrilling Conspiracy Novel (Techno thriller, Mystery & Suspense Book 3)

by Charles Z David

  They rushed through airport security and passport control, reached the gate and boarded the flight. Once the aircraft doors closed and the plane left the gate and taxied to the take-off position Sam and Ruby relaxed. Soon after they were airborne they were offered drinks by the male cabin attendant that served the business class and both asked for neat whiskey. The snotty French attendant said "Wheeskee is coming up" and they had to restrain themselves from laughing. They had their drinks and told the cabin attendant not to disturb them for food and wake them up before landing. He seemed offended as if he had cooked them a gourmet meal himself, but left them alone after muttering something about uncivilized passengers under his nose.

  ***

  Ruby and Sam had to wait for a few hours before getting a flight from Paris back to Israel but the time passed quickly on a couple of very comfortable recliner chairs. They landed in Tel-Aviv less than 24 hours after getting the thumb-drive from Josh Levin and took a taxi straight to Mossad headquarters. On the way they heard something on the radio about a new crisis between the US and Israel but they couldn't figure out what exactly was happening. Sam switched on his Israeli cell phone and saw the headline news about -Israel was caught spying on the US and stealing classified technology. The taxi driver started swearing quietly at the stupid Mossad heads that never seemed to learn anything. Sam looked at Ruby and told the taxi driver that he had changed his mind and asked him to take them to his apartment that was in the center of Tel-Aviv.

  After they left the taxi and entered Sam's third floor apartment he called Segan's office. Segan's secretary, Yardena, answered the phone and when she heard Sam's voice she said that Segan was at a meeting and couldn't take any calls. Sam tried to inquire when he would be available and Yardena who really liked Sam whispered that he was summoned to an urgent meeting by internal security affairs. Sam thanked her and said that he would be coming in with Ruby but Yardena cut him short and said that he should wait for Segan's call before coming in. Sam replied that he would be available at his apartment and Yardena promised to pass the information to Segan.

  Two hours later there was a knock on the apartment door. Sam looked through the peephole and saw a very nervous Segan waiting impatiently for the door to open. Sam unlocked the door and Segan rushed in, closed the door behind him and locked it. He spoke in a hushed tone "The shit has hit the fan. The Americans have arrested Josh Levin and within a few hours he confessed that he had passed classified information to Israeli agents. You were lucky to get out of the United States or else you would have also been arrested. Apparently Dr. Levin's office had been bugged by the FBI and everything that took place there was recorded. When the eavesdroppers heard about your meeting with Dr. Levin they alerted the police, but as there were no visual images, only audio, they didn't know your identities. Josh held out long enough for you two to be on your way from Paris to Tel-Aviv so you were not caught red-handed."

  Sam and Ruby just looked at him, not believing their luck in getting away. "So what do we do now?"

  Segan thought for a moment and said "Destroy the thumb drive, format your laptop and never admit to any wrongdoing. If you are interrogated by internal security affairs, as you surely will be, deny everything. Just say that you were on vacation in Boston. I warned you that if caught you would be on your own so this little meeting has never taken place." As he headed toward the door he added "Well, this is the end of the career of three good patriots – yours and mine. We would be lucky to avoid a prison sentence. Fortunately, we know too much about Mossad operations so they would never hand us over to the Americans. Also, I hope that the Americans would like to downplay this whole affair and have it disappear quietly. Let's pray that this affair is treated as if it had never happened."

  As soon as he left, Sam said "Perhaps we should go to Shimony and confess everything. After all we acted on direct orders from the Deputy Director and what we did was certainly for the good of Israel." Ruby was skeptical if that would change their predicament but agreed.

  ***

  The meeting with Shimony was not a simple matter. First, he refused outright to see them but after some reconsideration felt that after their long and loyal service to Mossad they deserved to be heard. He summoned the legal advisor of Mossad to hear their account and brief him on the legal implications. After hearing their story he asked them to leave the office and wait outside while he discussed the matter with the councilor. The legal advisor said that they would have to be protected from the wrath of the Americans but there was no way they could continue to work for any government office in Israel. Shimony called Sam and Ruby back and told them to turn in their employee IDs and never set foot again in Mossad headquarters. They would receive severance payments but would never again work for the Israeli government. Just as they were about to leave the office, the councilor asked them about the thumb drive with the information. Reluctantly Sam pulled it out of his pocket and handed it over saying that this was the original and no copies existed.

  ***

  After Ruby and Sam were dismissed Shimony told the legal advisor to stay in his office for another moment. The councilor knew what Mossad head wanted and said that Segan would have to go with a laconic public announcement that he retired from his job for personal reasons. He said that Segan would probably start his own security firm but Shimony said that whatever he did he would not be able to remain in Israel. The councilor said the government would have to assure the Americans that this was a rogue operation that was not sanctioned or authorized by Mossad and that the PM was unaware of this. Shimony doubted that this would placate the Americans but the councilor assured him that they did not want to have the breach of their security publicized. He added that as long as the thumb drive was returned quietly, and the technology safely retained, the Americans would probably be satisfied with a secret reprimand. Naturally, Segan, Sam or Ruby should never enter the US if they wanted to avoid prosecution and imprisonment.

  ***

  Chapter 8

  Two Years earlier, Berlin, Germany

  A few months after the great fiasco in the US, Segan established a security firm. Its main office was located in Berlin and there were branches in Madrid and London. He mainly employed former soldiers that had served in Special Forces units in the UK, US, Germany, France and Russia, as well as Israel. Most of them had been dishonorably discharged and forced to leave the service of their country and often even their country. Segan didn't care about the exact circumstances of their compulsory retirement and was satisfied with their willingness, in some cases almost desperation, to do anything for the right price. The main service he provided was personal security, namely bodyguards, but his employees were often used as enforcers and debt collectors. A few of his select customers contracted his firm for "special functions" that was a euphemism for removal of competitors and elimination of competition. These tasks were usually handled by Russian ex-KGB (or FSB) commandos or "soldiers of fortune", and sadly, their victims were "unfortunates", no witticism intended. He preferred to employ ex-Mossad or Israel Security Agency (ex-ISA) personnel for the more delicate contracts that involved finesse and subtlety rather than brute force. As a true Israeli patriot he had only one rule – never accept a contract that was against the interests of Israel.

  ***

  One day Segan received a phone call from a man with an upper-class British tone of voice who identified himself as Alan Ross and asked for a private meeting. Segan recognized the accent and after looking at his schedule said that he would be in London at the end of the week. However, Ross said that he was already in Berlin and would be glad to discuss a large contract over dinner that evening. Segan said he already had a dinner appointment but could make himself available after dinner and suggested that they meet at Allan's breakfast and wine bar. Alan Ross laughed when he heard the name of the place but then saw that it was highly recommended by TripAdvisor and agreed to meet there at 9:30 pm. Alan said that he would recognize Segan, which already rang an alarm bell for the e
xperienced ex-Mossad man, but he made no comment on that.

  Before the meeting Segan asked his secretary to look up if there was any information on the web about Alan Ross. A few minutes later she said that it was a common name and she couldn't be sure which one was the contact. Segan shrugged and said that in any case this was probably not the man's real name. As was his habit whenever he was about to meet a stranger he was escorted by his two most trusted employees, Ruby and Sam who were now working for his firm. According to their standard modus operandi they entered the wine bar 30 minutes before Segan and took a corner table that overlooked the crowded room. They ordered coffee and cake and settled down to watch the patrons. They also checked both the Damen and Herren restrooms and when they were sure that no ambush had been set up they sent a short text message to Segan in Hebrew that all was clear. Segan walked in and took a table across the room from his two agents. Shortly afterwards a middle-aged man wearing an expensive looking suit with a striped silk tie, and even more expensive hand-made leather shoes, approached Segan's table and introduced himself as Alan Ross.

  After going through the usual niceties they got down to business.

  Ross said "You realize, of course, that Alan Ross is just the name I have adopted for this meeting. I used to work for British Intelligence, MI6 actually, and am now a consultant at large".

  Segan asked "I figured that out, but who are you serving as a consultant?"

  Ross gave a vague answer "I am merely a messenger sent on a mission that would be lucrative for all involved, as well as in line with your main interests".

  Segan asked "How lucrative?" and when he heard the eight figure sum he nodded but enquired again "Who exactly is your employer?"

  Once more Ross avoided a direct answer, saying "Please, first listen to the description of the mission and then decide if you really want to know about the employer". Segan's curiosity was reflected in his eyes, so Ross continued "The target is the Iranian nuclear program. My employer believes that if this program is obliterated the world would be a better place, safer for the Middle East and everywhere else. The public annihilation of this reprehensible effort of the Islamic regime to obtain an atomic bomb would bring about its downfall. This will enable the peace-loving, liberal forces in Iran to gain power, install a true democracy and exterminate the Mullah's regime and their supporters".

  Segan swallowed twice and took a deep breath before responding "The progressive countries in the free-world have been trying to do this for years. How do you expect me, with my small firm, to succeed where the CIA, Mossad and British Intelligence have failed? They had innumerable funds, support of the international community and backing from the most powerful countries on Earth".

  Ross just smiled and said "It is all a matter of timing. This is like Judo – you use the strength of your opponent to throw him to ground. When he comes charging at you all you have to do is use his own momentum to bring him down. After the nuclear deal the opposition in Iran is ready to make its move. All that is needed is the trigger, the match to ignite the fuse, the sign that the regime is vulnerable and ready to be toppled down".

  Segan was unconvinced "How do we light the fuse when we don't even know that there is a fuse?"

  Alan Ross bent over and whispered in Segan's ear for a few minutes. Then he rose from the table and said that he would let Segan sleep on it for a few nights and would call him the following week when he was in Berlin again.

  ***

  After Alan Ross left, Segan signaled to Sam and Ruby to join him at his table and gave them a brief summary of the intriguing conversation. Sam's immediate reaction was that something didn't seem right with the questionable mission that Ross had proposed. Ruby was even more skeptical and suggested that they should not even consider the project. She said that she thought it was some kind of test and not a genuine proposal, perhaps even some "sting operation". However, Segan was blinded by the eight figure sum that had been discussed and said that he would not reject the idea outright and was determined to meet with Ross again to hear his specific plan of action.

  ***

  A week later Ross and Segan met again at the same place. Ross asked "What did you think about my proposal? Have you reached a decision?"

  Segan said "I need to know more about your plan".

  Alan Ross leaned back in his chair and his eyes seemed to stare into space for a moment. Then he sat straight up "The contract calls for the elimination of a number of Iranian key scientists and security personnel who play an important role in Iran's nuclear program. This will be done by your most experienced and trustworthy people, preferably former Mossad agents with field experience. They must not be caught alive, meaning that if there is a risk of them being captured they must be willing to sacrifice their lives. As you correctly reckon, this will do your home country a great service. I was led to believe that your ex-Mossad agents, like yourself, are Israeli patriots and willing to give their life to fight Israel's most bitter enemy. The people of Iran are not the enemy, the hateful Islamic regime and the Mullahs are. Once the regime is stripped of its nuclear weapon capability and is forced to give up the dream of becoming a nuclear power and dominate the region through intimidation, then the people will rise and overthrow the confining tyranny imposed by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. The IRG has manipulated the Mullahs and now controls the economy and strangles it. They have become so greedy that the leaders have bank accounts in Switzerland and the Cayman Islands. The common people know this but are afraid to say anything. Once the IRG is toppled this information will become common knowledge with bank statements as proof and the voice of the people will resonate throughout Iran and the world."

  Segan was shocked by the emotional outburst and began to doubt if Ross was indeed an Englishman and not an Iranian. He asked "You mentioned a large sum of money. I know that the Iranian opposition is pitiable and without outside financial support would have crumbled long ago. Where does the money come from?" Segan knew well the old axiom that was taught to all intelligence operators and police forces across the globe "follow the money trail".

  Ross looked a bit uncomfortable "I cannot say where the money for this operation comes from, but I can give you a brief review of the recent developments in the region and their roots. You can then draw conclusions at your own risk. You know, as all experts on the Middle East discern, that Iran regards itself as the leader of the true Islam while Saudi Arabia sees all the Shiites, and the Iranians in particular, as infidels and traitors. No love is lost between these two rivals. Periodically the tension between them erupts overtly. For example, when hundreds of Muslims, including several Iranian Shiites, were trampled to death in Mecca, Iran blamed the Saudi royal family. When a Shiite leader was executed by the Saudis, together with dozens of Sunni Al-Qaida terrorists, the Saudi embassy in Tehran was sacked, supposedly by crowds that gathered spontaneously. When Iran threatened to develop an atomic bomb the Saudis ran to Pakistan begging to purchase one of their nuclear bombs to counter Iran's threats. So you can guess who is funding the opposition groups in Iran. Unfortunately, there are several such groups that operate separately and each faction wants to lead the opposition resulting in an uncoordinated effort against the Mullahs. Only if the regime is perceived as ready to fall will they unite. That's why the operation is so important."

  Once again Segan was surprised at the flare-up of temper by the apparently cool man. He said "Do you sincerely believe that eliminating a number of nuclear scientists would be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back?"

  Alan Ross just nodded, before Segan said "Well, in view of the potential rewards for the financiers of this operation, and the risks involved to my people, I would have to add to the contract a clause that ensures a bonus for success. And I would need a list of targets and detailed information about them, particularly where and when they can be hit outside of Iran because my resources inside Iran are practically non-existent".

  Ross responded "The bonus is agreed in principle but we need
to agree on the size. I could add 25% to the original offer as a reward for toppling the regime and another 25% if my sponsor's closest group gains control. I'll prepare a list of vulnerable and worthy targets. I have to stipulate, just in case it wasn't obvious, that all the operations must not be traced to me or my group and certainly not to the source of our funding. No official announcement will be made..."

  Segan interrupted "The Iranians will suspect their natural enemies – what they call the Great Satan and the Little Satan – and who knows what their response would be."

  Ross continued "I was just about to say that your bonus would be doubled if the Lesser Satan could be blamed".

  Segan thought about this and said "Realistically this would be impossible. The Russians would not jeopardize the large market that has opened up after the nuclear deal. There are already advanced negotiations for the construction of two more nuclear power plants at the Bushehr site to be built by the Russians. These are multi-billion projects that will be signed by the Mullahs regime, while a democratic government would probably prefer French technology or even the American safer power plants".

  Ross shrugged and said "As long as we are not caught red-handed you can let the Iranians speculate and guess but leave no footprints or fingerprints."

  Segan said "Before we sign, well not literally of course, a contract for the job, I'll need to know how many people are to be eliminated and the schedule. I would prefer to carry out the job within less than one month because once we start the level of watchfulness would rise and the next targets will be harder to strike."

  Ross replied "This is a good point. I'll gather the background information and we'll set the schedule for the beginning of the operation and the timeframe for its completion. I suggest we meet in six months to conclude our deal. Meanwhile make sure that you use your most reliable and capable people for this operation."