The Cyprus Coverup
Page 8
Moshe shook his head. “No, I haven’t been part of any crews. We tracked the last two shipments. They were destined for the Iraqi Army, but were rerouted before they reached Mosul.”
“Rerouted to where?”
“We don’t know. Thus, the need to have someone onboard at all times. So that we can prove our allegations, and so that the prince will have no defense.”
Eli nodded. “Yes, Moshe’s right. Until now, Prince Al Khater has used all sorts of excuses. Jihadists looting the cargo. Corrupt Iraqi Army commanders selling off weapons. Shipments lost or delivered to the wrong recipients. We’re hoping it will be different this time.”
“Yes, me too,” Justin said. “We’ll need some time to go over the file and consider this plan. I need to run it by my boss and get his authorization.”
“You do so, Justin. I don’t want to pressure you, but there isn’t much time. Nasser will talk to Prince Al Khater tomorrow or the next day at the latest. At that time, we need to have a definite answer, since we’re putting forward the drivers’ names.”
“Either way, I’ll get you an answer as soon as I can.”
Eli drew in a deep breath. “Well, that was a friendly chat. See, Justin, we can get along pretty well.”
That’s when you’re not trying to stab me in the back, Justin wanted to say. But he bit his tongue. “Of course we can, Eli. When we run a joint op, we can definitely make things work.”
“Well, Moshe and I are going to do a bit of touring. I’ve promised my wife a couple of Barolo wine bottles and pecorino cheese.” Eli pushed his chair back and stood up.
They shook hands, and Eli and Moshe left the restaurant.
Justin slid the folder toward Carrie. “Well, what do you think?”
Carrie shook her head. “Not here.”
Justin smiled. “You’re the paranoid one now?”
“Yes, we didn’t pick this place or the time to meet. And we have no idea who those people are.” She tipped her head toward the nearest patrons.
“Agreed.”
Carrie scooped up the last of her gelato. “Ready to go?”
“Yes, but I want a cup of coffee to go.”
“In that case, I’ll have one as well.”
Five minutes later, Justin and Carrie were sitting on a stone bench near the northern corner of Piazza Navona, across from the Fontana del Nettuno. The air was fresh and cool, and weak sunrays struggled to deliver a certain amount of warmth. Justin sipped his large coffee cup, then said, “So, what do you think?”
“The biggest problem I have with this plan is that there isn’t anything for me to do. I mean, I can’t be one of the drivers or otherwise be smuggled in with the cargo.”
“I’m afraid that wouldn’t be possible. If the prince is paying close and personal attention to all the details, the weapons compartments will be sealed and locked.”
“Yes, and you’ll have no backup, in case things go sideways.”
Justin nodded. “Moshe will be a part of the team, but we have no idea who the rest of the drivers are.”
“But we know for sure they won’t be just drivers. People transporting illegal weapons for a Gulf prince?” She cocked her head. “They have to be pros.”
“Mercenaries?”
“Yes. Guns for hire, the worst kind. And we’re not sure about this Moshe character.”
Justin shrugged. “Eli seemed to like him and was confident of Moshe’s abilities. And Mossad wouldn’t throw one of their own to the wolves.”
“Right, unless they’re trying to get rid of him.”
Justin peered at Carrie. “You really think that?”
Carrie shrugged. “Well, we’ve seen other agencies do that. It’s a great way of cleaning your hands of a troublemaking agent. Just going through some scenarios, the pros and the cons.”
“And there are more cons than pros so far.”
Carrie held the cup with both her gloved hands and brought it to her mouth. “Let’s see what we can do to balance the scales, shall we?”
Chapter Seventeen
February 12
Hotel Toscana
Rome, Italy
Eli did not take well to Justin’s request for additional team members. “Two is the maximum we should do, and even that number could make the prince suspicious. Three, that might ring the alarm bells,” he said.
“That may be true, but it will greatly increase our chances of coming out of this alive.”
Eli shook his head. He stood up from the couch and walked to the small window. Justin’s suite had a small sitting area with a couple of couches and a small coffee table. Carrie had brought in a chair from her room across the hall. She was sitting next to Justin, facing Eli and Moshe.
Justin said, “If this is similar to the last delivery, there will be at least seven trucks. That’s at least twelve other men, not counting security. The report mentioned three Toyota SUVs, which can bring the number up to twenty-four. Two against twenty-four; I don’t like those odds.”
Eli turned around and stood with his back against the wall. “Justin, this is an intel gathering operation. You’re not going there to start a war.”
“Great observation, Eli. You know how things are on the ground. Shootings happen. If one of them suspects something, or if we run into rival groups, our chances of survival are very slim.”
Eli shook his head.
Moshe leaned forward in his seat and said, “I think they have a point, Eli. Even if we were to attempt an escape, that would be very difficult. We need more backup.”
“I can press Nasser for a third name, but that would be the most I can do. In previous deliveries, the prince’s aides have picked and vetted almost all the drivers. Very few of them go for a second time. Getting three names accepted would be a small victory.”
“And we’ll still have the drones?”
“Drone, singular. We’ll have a drone following the convoy. And two SUVs on the ground, in case of an emergency. But, as we’ve discussed, there shouldn’t be any.”
Justin shrugged. “Again, Eli, emergencies—”
“I know, Justin, emergencies happen. But in this operation, we can’t afford them. At least not ones we’ve caused. We need the utmost secrecy. The goal is not to stop the delivery, but to connect the dots on how this traffic takes place. Secure the evidence, the witnesses, tie the players to one another. Then, and only then, we can put an end to the prince and his dirty business.”
Justin shook his head. “You don’t need to explain that, Eli. It’s pretty clear.”
“But I do need to explain.” Eli walked toward Justin. “Our previous experience has taught me that sometimes we fall into misunderstandings.”
“We do?” Justin arched an eyebrow. “I can’t be held responsible for reacting to a situation developing on the ground.”
“Right, but don’t be the one to instigate the situation, okay? This is an impossible mission the way it is. Let’s make it easier, if we can. You and Moshe and the third man—if there is to be a third man—go in, collect intel, and call the SUVs when it’s exfil time. Then, we’ll let the other teams handle what actually happens with the evidence and the prince.”
Justin nodded. “Sure, we’ll do it that way.” His voice expressed his irritation, even though he tried to keep his tone neutral and his frustration curbed.
Eli either did not notice or chose to ignore it. “I’m glad we agree on that.”
Carrie said, “About the third man, we have a trusted contact in southern Syria. He knows people, routes, has everything that’s needed for this op.”
Eli held her eyes for a moment. “Do I know him?”
“I don’t think so,” Justin said. “Hussein Ali Mansour Ebrahimi, but he goes by Ali Mansour.”
“And you trust him?”
“With my life, our lives.” He gestured toward Carrie and Moshe.
“Does he have solid credentials to hold up to the vetting by the prince’s minions?”
“He does—well, h
e will. The ECS will prepare the paperwork and his cover story, along with mine, peppered with the right information, locations, and people to confirm every single detail. Just like they’ll do with my documents. I’m assuming Moshe’s papers are in order.”
“They will be soon,” Moshe said with a nod.
Eli nodded and sat on the couch. He reached for his coffee cup and took a long sip. “All right, I’ll submit these three names to Nasser once you have Flavio’s authorization. Is he going to approve this operation?”
“I haven’t talked to him yet. I want to have a complete picture of what I’m asking for, and to have the answers to his questions.”
“Sure, good plan. You have any questions for me?”
“I’ve got one,” Carrie said. “You talked about other teams dealing with the prince and what’s discovered in this operation. Can you clarify that?”
“Clarify how?” Eli frowned.
“How will the intel be used, and by whom?”
“Isn’t it obvious?”
“No, not really.”
“Well, since Mossad is doing the lion’s share of planning and executing, it’s only fair to reap the benefits of the intel,” Eli said in a tone that barely contained his irritation. “So—”
Justin said, “Can I interrupt you there and refresh your memory about my role and Ali Mansour’s involvement?”
Eli folded his arms across his chest. “Justin, you came to me for help, correct? And you’re joining the party at the last moment. This convoy will roll out with or without you and Ali. I don’t think you’re in a position to demand the intel.”
“But isn’t this a joint op, Eli? Aren’t we all giving a hundred percent? Aren’t we, Carrie and myself, doing all we’re asked?”
Eli nodded. “Yes, and so now you are asked not to worry about the intel. If we get the evidence we’re looking for, the prince will be dealt with swiftly and properly. He won’t be fueling any more wars, in Syria, Iraq, or anywhere else.”
Justin was neither pleased nor convinced by Eli’s reply. However, considering Eli’s deep frown that had crumpled his face, he did not seem willing to offer any more explanation. So Justin did not press his point. I’m sure I’ll have the same opportunity to deal with Prince Al Khater as Mossad. Perhaps even better, considering what I know about the United Bank of Cyprus. Eli hasn’t mentioned it. Is it that he doesn’t know about UBC, or is he not willing to share?
“So, is everything clear now?” Eli’s voice rang with frustrated haste.
“One more question. How does Cyprus fit in with Prince Al Khater’s weapons deals?”
Eli frowned and sat back in his couch. “I’m not sure I follow.”
“Cyprus, the island of Cyprus. Does the prince use it as a base of operations?”
“I’m not aware of that. All we know is that this shipment is transited through Cyprus. Why, what do you know?” Eli’s voice expressed genuine interest.
“We’re still exploring an angle that may show more involvement from major Cypriot powerbrokers.”
“Can you be more specific?”
“No, not yet, but I’ll share all intel when we have it.”
“Yes, that would be good,” Eli said in a warm tone of voice.
His way of saying “thank you,” I guess, Justin thought. “Sure, no problem.”
“Anything else?”
Justin glanced at Carrie. “Carrie?”
“I’m good. Thanks, Eli. Moshe.”
Eli and Moshe stood up. “Waiting for your call, Justin.”
“I won’t let you wait for long, Eli.”
When they left, Justin locked the door. He glanced at Carrie. “So, are the scales somewhat balanced now?”
She shook her head. “Far from it. You’re going in like lambs in the middle of the wolf pack.”
Justin smiled. “You know that expression: ‘Throw me to the wolves, and I'll come back leading the pack’?”
Carrie shook her head and gave Justin a small frown. “This isn’t funny, and that doesn’t apply.”
Justin opened his mouth for a smart-aleck reply, but his phone rang. He recognized the tone he had assigned to Flavio’s office phone. Justin picked up the phone from the table and answered, “Yes, boss.”
“Hello, Justin. We may have found what happened to Reza.”
Chapter Eighteen
February 12
Hotel Toscana
Rome, Italy
Justin activated the speaker on his phone so Carrie could be a part of the conversation with their boss. “Yes, now it’s good. Go ahead, sir.”
“Yes, about Reza. One of our analysts tracked down an accident that happened yesterday in Istanbul, on Kennedy Avenue.”
“Is Reza okay?” Justin asked.
“Well, we don’t know yet. This was a small fender bender, not worthy of a major newspaper’s coverage. But what got the analyst’s attention was the fact that the owner of one of the vehicles disappeared right after the accident. He was reported to have run away from the site of the accident, while one of the passengers and then the other vehicle followed him. The small local newspaper called this a clear case of road rage.”
“So someone cornered Reza and tried to grab him?”
“Yes, if this incident involved Reza. The vehicle left behind was a black Ford Fiesta, a small rental from Avis in Ankara. We’re checking the name to see if that alias—assuming Reza didn’t use his real name—matches anyone in our records.”
“What about the other car?” Carrie asked.
“The report identified it only as a large vehicle—SUV or van, I suppose.”
“And what happened to the Ford?”
“Not sure. Towed away, I assume, since it was left in the public road. The police were involved, at least initially. We’re having someone follow up.”
Carrie said, “Well, this is a good start. If Reza was able to escape, then perhaps we’ll hear from him soon.”
“I could give him a call, from a burner phone, of course,” Justin said.
“Yes, do that. Now, how did it go with Mossad?”
Justin briefed Flavio about the recent discussion with Eli and Moshe. Flavio listened patiently, interrupting only a couple of times, requesting clarifications. At the end, he said, “Well, what are your thoughts, folks?”
Carrie looked at Justin.
He said, “Go ahead, Carrie.”
“Well, sir, I find this op extremely risky compared to the potential benefits. If we’re agreeing to hand over all intel to Mossad, then this op may not bring us closer to taking down the prince.”
“Mossad has promised to deal with him, right?”
“Yes, they did, but without giving specifications. ‘Dealing’ could mean anything Mossad wants it to mean. And in terms of time, when will they settle the account with the prince?”
“I see what you mean, Carrie. Justin, what do you think?”
“I agree about the risks, sir. And Carrie’s assessment of the benefits is accurate. In any case, I think we should go through with the operation. We’ll be gathering the same intel as Mossad. If they don’t act swiftly, as they promised, then we’ll take care of the prince.”
“A firm deadline?” Flavio asked in a reflective tone.
“Right—ten days to two weeks after it has been proved the prince is channeling weapons to terrorists. If Mossad doesn’t take action, we’ll take matters into our own hands.”
A short pause, then Flavio said, “I’ll take this matter under consideration and let you know of my decision. By tomorrow noon, at the latest.”
“Thank you, sir,” Justin said.
“If new updates come in about Reza or the accident, I’ll let you know.”
“Okay. We’re still on with the plan to return to Vienna?”
“Yes, if there are no more Mossad meetings, you can head home.”
“We’ll do so.”
“All right; see you soon, Justin. Carrie.”
“Bye, boss,” Carrie said.
“Do you think that’s Reza?” Carrie asked.
“If it’s Reza, I hope he outran the folks chasing him.”
“If that’s the case, he would have called you by now.”
“Maybe, maybe not, depending on his situation. If I was running for my life, that would be the last thing on my mind.”
“So, should we call him?”
Justin shrugged. “I don’t know. What if the phone ringing compromises his position?”
“True. So we don’t call?”
“Maybe later. We’ll give him another twelve hours or so.” He stood up and glanced out the windows. The sun was setting slowly and the evening twilight was moving in. “Do you want to go out for a walk?”
“Of course—how often do we get to come to Rome and have a free evening?”
“Well, technically, it’s not free, since we’re waiting for a Mossad update.”
“Yes, and we’ve already paid for the rooms. It would be a sin to let them go to waste.”
Justin smiled at her, then shook his head.
“What?” Carrie said.
“Oh, nothing.”
“C’mon, Justin. I know you, and I know that look. Tell me.”
“It’s nothing. Really.”
Carrie stood up. “Well, then it’s not a big deal to tell me.”
“I . . . I just thought about the last time you and I were here, not on business.”
Carrie nodded. “Long time ago, when we were still a couple.”
“Yeah.” Justin glanced deep into her eyes. “And it wasn’t that long ago.”
“You’ll bring Karolin to Rome one of these days and have a romantic getaway with her. I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“Of course she will. Who doesn’t like Rome?”
“Hannibal didn’t. The Goths, the Visigoths, —the list goes on and on.”
“You know what I mean.”
“Yes, and I know what you mean to Karolin. How’s she doing?”
“I . . . I don’t know. I haven’t talked to her today.”
“Well, let’s fix that.” Carrie picked up the phone and handed it to Justin. “I’ll leave you two lovebirds to it.” She smiled.