Emerald

by Garner Scott Odell

  During breakfast, the Bernstein confessional floodgates opened. David told her of his exploits with every girl he had been out with since they parted. He was trying to prove something it seemed, but she did not interrupt and never mentioned a single person she had dated. However, she was certain she never would, after hearing all David had to tell. He was totally wrapped up in himself these days. Moreover, he questioned the motives for everything she did or said, so communication between them only really worked when it stayed on the subject of work. She felt a little sorry for him.

  CHAPTER 28

  Tel Aviv - - - Ein Hod - - - Munich

  When David and Miriam returned to Tel Aviv with the Beinschmidt files, Levi immediately turned them over to Malcolm in the Research Department to analysis and send him a report as soon as possible. He was especially interested in their analysis of the Munich Police photos to see if Research could identify Hans in any of them. .

  “Good work you two. I take it that the file collection went off as we planned.

  “It was easier that we anticipated,” Miriam replied”, Chief Beinschmidt turned out to be lecherous enough that I was able to handle him like a charm.”

  David laughed. “And you certainly turned on those charms.”

  “Well, Research has the files now and I have asked them to process the material as quickly as possible, however they are rather overloaded at the moment. Malcolm assured me that they would get on them as soon as they can. Meanwhile, you two have earned a few days off. Why don’t you take it easy and I will call you in when the files are finished. If you leave town, don’t go too far away, and pay attention to your cell phones.”

  “Levi, may I talk to you in private, please?”

  “Ok, Ok, I can take a hint! David responded as he headed out the door.

  Levi’s response to the disappearing man was, “And keep that cell phone on, David,” was lost in ethereal space between his office and the hallway to the stairs.

  Shaking his head and rolling his eyes, Levi turned to Miriam. “Ok, you’ve got privacy now, what is it?”

  “I’m going up to visit my brother in Ein Hod, and I need to use an Office car, please.”

  “How is Jacob? So, is he still making pots in that artist Kibbutz?

  “He is just fine, Levi. Thank you for asking, and in fact I hear he is in the process of preparing for an exhibition of his pottery in the Chagall Artist’s House in Haifa. Since his wife Sara teaches full time, he asked me if I could help him mount the exhibit. I should be gone only a couple of days, and, yes, I’ll keep in touch. You have Jacob’s number in my personal file, I presume.”

  “As long as I can get in touch with you fairly quickly. Just ask Mirtha to give you a requisition for a vehicle from the Office pool, and have a good time - - - and give my best to your brother. I tried my best to get him to join our work here, you know.”

  “Yes, I know, Levi, and that is the reason he won’t set foot in Tel Aviv. Sara says he’s afraid of what you will talk him into the next time. Miriam grinned, kissed the grizzled Marionette on his cheek, and bounded out the office door.

  As Miriam drove the Ford Bronco through the Tel Aviv suburbs, a light drizzle began to dot the windshield. Turning on the windshield wipers she thought, I hope this doesn’t keep up all weekend. Turning North onto Coastal Highway #2 she was glad that she had gotten away from the city as early as she did. She relaxed and the miles seemed to pass by quickly, in spite of the rain. Just past Herzliyya, a golden light began to break through the gray sky and the rain stopped. The sun came out fully and bounced off the next road sign announcing the city limits of Netanya. Driving on the city by-pass Miriam couldn’t help remembering the weekend she and David spent in that small beach front hotel just after they finished their training. Surprisingly, she felt a nostalgic tug, but quickly pushed it aside, and kept her mind on the road ahead. Keeping to the speed limit, she was surprised at how many cars flew by her in a flash. Before she knew it, she was driving by one of her favorite places in all of Israel, the ancient city of Caesarea. As a teen-ager she spent a summer on a dig there sponsored by Hebrew University, and could, almost by heart recite the history of the area, pounded into her young head by Professor Hertzell.

  Caesarea was believed to have been built on the ruins of an ancient tower, known as Straton’s Tower that was probably an early agricultural storehouse for the King of Sidon. Later, since it was on the coast, a shipbuilding industry flourished during the Hasmonean kingdom. Straton’s Tower remained a Jewish city for two generations, until the Roman conquest of 63 BCE when the Romans declared it an autonomous city.

  The pagan city underwent vast changes under Herod the Great, who renamed it Caesarea in honor of the emperor, Caesar. In 22 BCE Herod began construction of a deep sea harbor and built storerooms, markets, wide roads, baths, temples to Rome and Augustus, and imposing public buildings. Every five years the city hosted major sports competitions, gladiator games, and theatrical productions.

  Caesarea also flourished during the Byzantine period. In the 3rd century, the Jewish sages exempted the city from Jewish commandments, as by this time the majority of the inhabitants were non-Jewish. The city was then chiefly a commercial centre relying on trade.

  The French king, Louis IX, ordered the construction of high walls, the ruins of which she could just make out as she drove by, and a deep moat. However strong the walls were, they could not keep out the Egyptian sultan Baybars, who ordered his troops to scale the walls in several places simultaneously, enabling them to penetrate the city.

  Then for years, Caesarea lay in ruins until the settlement of Qisarya was established in the 19th century by Muslim immigrants from Bosnia who built a small fishing village on the ruins of the Crusader fortress on the coast. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War it was conquered by Jewish forces

  With the establishment of Israel, the Rothschild family made an agreement to transfer most of their vast land holdings in this area to the new state. In his will, Edmond James de Rothschild stipulated that this foundation would further education, arts and culture, and welfare in Israel. As she continued along the Coastal Highway, she could just make out the Rothschild estate nestled on a tree-covered hill to her right. She remembered visiting that wonderful estate, as a thank-you, by Baron Rothschild, once during her dig. It was during that party she realized that there were some people that lived in a very different world than her own.

  Leaving her university memories behind she began to watch for the turn off to Highway #70. At the stop sign on route #4, she waited until a large semi-truck lumbered by probably on its way to one of the large cities down south. Turning left Miriam accelerated to just above the speed limit and tried to relax, but she was keyed up about seeing her brother and his family. Before she knew it the sign with brightly painted flowers and handsomely lettered Ein Hod flashed by and she slowed for the right turn on the narrow macadam road into her brother’s kibbutz.

  The sides of the road were spread with a glorious blanket of with flowers in all colors of the rainbow. What a welcome, she thought. This little village was nettled on a hill covered with cypress trees and flowers - - - flowers everywhere!

  Parking on a paved area labeled Tourists and Busses, on the outskirts of the village she got out of the Bronco and a gentle, fresh wind from the Mediterranean blew across her face. She turned towards the sea, leaned against the warm hood of the bronco and breathed the magical air deeply several times before walking up the rough stone path into the village. Several villagers nodded to her without saying a word. Had it been that long since she had walked these steps up to her brother’s house? Was she already a forgotten family member or even just another tourist here to wander from gallery to gallery looking for something on sale? Up a short alley behind the amphitheater, she entered a stone arched structure with a long tile sign that read She knew the sign translated into English was “Golden hands & Black Coffee” and because her brother painted that sign he free coffee any time he wanted it. As she ente
red the small building, a shout of “MIRIAM,” came from behind the small bar, “Where in the world have you been? It’s been ages since you graced our fair community.”

  “Avi, It’s good to see you. How is Baraq?”

  “I am fat and sassy and my bolt of lightning is running around loose somewhere, I don’t know, but you can be sure he will flash in here as soon as he hears that you are back in town. Are you going to be here long? Isn’t it time you settled down and got pregnant like the rest of us cows.”

  Sitting at the bar Miriam giggled. “No, my leash is only as long as a couple of days, and I haven’t found anyone worthy of my fabled loins, since you ask. How about pouring me one of those hideous beers you and Baraq make out in the back alley somewhere.”

  Avi got a dark bottle out of the cooler, popped the top, and as she handed it to Miriam, she laughed and said, “You can be so cutting when you haven’t had any loving for a long time.”

  “How do you know it’s been a long time, girl?”

  “Tell me; tell me, quickly before your straight laced brother shows up.”

  After a long pull at the amber bottle, Miriam responded, “There’s nothing to tell, girl. I’ve decided to become a virgin and lead a life white as snow.”

  “Yeh, I bet! Anymore lies like that one and you’ll grow a tail and swing from the trees.”

  Before the friendly banter and laughter rose to a fever pitch, a tall, olive-skinned, good-looking man walked into the Café, grabbed Miriam in a great bear-hug, and lifted her off her feet.

  “My little sister. Bar hopping even before your come and say hello to your brother.”

  Almost unable to breathe in his crushing hug, she struggled, and finally responded, “Jacob, you know you won’t let anyone into your studio before four o’clock. The last time I tried that you threw a ball of clay at me.”

  Putting her down on the bar stool, he sat next to her as Avi placed a beer bottle in front of him.

  “Avi, what will Sara say when I come home smelling of a brewery before supper? But I guess I can celebrate my little sister’s visit with one of you infamous brews”

  Just then a bushy bearded, bear of a man came bounding into the café and walked up behind Miriam and threw his arms around her and in a deep bass voice asked, “Why are you sitting here with this wizen, string bean, when I am on the loose.”

  Jacob jabbed the huge man in the ribs and responded, “Your sure on the loose, that’s right, and be careful with my little sister or you’ll crush every one of her ribs.

  In another half-hour of friendly chatter and laughing, the small bar-café was filling up and Jacob and Miriam bid good-by and walked hand in hand out into the bright sunshine and along a stone path to the small stone house that she loved so well.

  “How long can you stay, little sister?

  “I’m not sure. Probably only a day or so.”

  “The Office’s still got you on a short leash still? Where are you off to next?”

  “Come on now, Jacob, you know better than to ask questions like that.”

  Jacob pushed open the small iron gate in the stone wall covered with ruby Bougainvillea. They walked up to path and as they entered the cottage a voice cried out from inside, “I thought you two would never get here. Jacob, you wash up, supper’s almost ready. Miriam, come her to my kitchen and give me a hand with my baba ghanouj. The two women hugged like long lost schoolchildren and scurried around the kitchen dancing and giggling.

  After supper and the table cleared, Jacob brought the unfinished second bottle of wine out to the stone patio behind the house and sank into an easy chair. Miriam and Arella soon joined him and as the evening grew quietly dark, they sipped the dusty wine with small talked until the chill chased them inside.

  As she lay on the saggy bed in the guest room, before she dropped of the edge of sleep, Miriam thought, I want this life! It is time to make a break!

  Back on King Saul Boulevard David and Miriam had settled into a calm platonic relationship being together while maintaining a polite civility. Levi had long ago guessed that the two had once been in love. However, the warm quality between them was missing. It did not really matter. Levi felt sure they were capable of pulling off the upcoming assignment because they had done so well in Munich.

  “When we confirmed that both Neuschondorf and Gottschlag came from the Klement Compound, in Buenos Aires, we resolved to penetrate it,” Levi began.

  “Excuse me Levi!” Miriam interjected. “David, do you remember that report Ringo sent us about the Klement Compound - - - you know, some time back?”

  “Yes, I remember reading that, but we never did any follow up on it. It was back when we were green; we’d never overlook that now, huh?”

  “As soon as we leave here, I’ll send a communiqué to Ringo.”

  “That’s good, Miriam,” Levi commented, “but you’re going to meet Ringo face to face in a few weeks. I am going to send you two down to Argentina to look into that group. Now we have to figure out who will go with you to Buenos Aries. Both of you will have full command over the operation, assigning each task. Check with Ringo though. I don’t know which of our agents runs the computer system there. Find out how many agents he can let us have. We’ll need at least eight. Remember there will be no discussion on the details of the operation itself.”

  “Okay, Levi. Can you explain exactly what we are to do there?” she asked.

  “You and David are going to help me develop a plan. All I am at liberty to say now is we will get inside their compound so we can plant bugs all over and hear everything that goes on there. Talk about bugging a place! This will be the granddaddy of them all.

  “How will we get inside, Levi” David inquired.

  “That’s the primary problem we have to overcome, David, the goal that you will be free to modify after we see the layout and fully understand the obstacles.”

  David was still seeing no way this assignment would work out.

  Levi continued. “We must make all that goes on in that compound transparent. We have looked on from afar long enough. Now we need to find out what preparations are being made there for this anti-Jewish movement we keep hearing about in Germany. We think that compound may just be the planning base for the rise in Nazi furor in Europe. Why did four people show up in Munich a few years ago? Why did one leave then return from Geneva? Why do they have a full training field in their compound? How many are they training, and for what? All questions that need answering. Most importantly, our sadistic slasher, Hans, came directly from there, many years ago and he’s still out doing evil and we can’t catch him!” Levi’s voice had elevated as he talked. “How is he evading capture? What did they teach him that he could become so invisible to us? When we answer these questions we can put a stop to the killing of civilians and our agents!”

  Levi rose from his chair, filled with adrenalin and rage. “As for Hans, Servette has come up with nothing in Geneva. Interpol has come up with nothing, and for sure, Beinschmidt isn’t cooperating in Munich - - - at least with anything that he will share - - - the bastard! Therefore, the burden rests with us to capture the creep who is murdering our people. We believe Hans has some kind of special protection because of his connection with the Klement Compound and his rise in Buenos Aires as a wealthy and philanthropic businessman. But is that all there is to him? There are many questions to be answered and I’m sure they will lead to even more, but we will explore those, too. We’re going to get that son of a bitch. We have to become as sneaky as he is. We must get inside and stay inside with our bugs until this mystery is cleared up and the Nazi compound is put out of commission.”

  David and Miriam looked at each other, then at him. Neither had seen Levi so worked up. Suddenly he began wheezing and coughing.

  “We’re with you, Levi.” David stood up and put his hand on Levi’s shoulder. “Are you all right?”

  Miriam also rose from the couch. “Levi, we will do our best. Can we resume tomorrow? I have to get a lot of inform
ation from the Buenos Aries hub so we can come up with a working plan.”

  Levi recovered. “Of course. I have some things to go over, too. I will see you both tomorrow.” He walked over and slumped heavily into his desk chair.

  David and Miriam walked out heading towards the computer lab. “I feel the same as Levi. I’m ready to carve that bastard up the way he carves up his victims ever since he shot me!”

  “That’s understandable, David, but we have to find him first. Maybe the compound is providing some kind of protection for him. Now I see why we’ve been assigned to this mission!”

  “I don’t see how we’re ever going to get inside - - - I’m so damned angry!”

  “Maybe just drop a bomb and be done with it. You think we could really get away with that, David?”

  “Could we make it look like an accident? I don’t know, Miriam, I’m too mad to think straight.”

  Hans’ research on David Bernstein led nowhere. He discovered David’s age was thirty-five, his residence listed only as Tel Aviv, but no street information, and the university he was attending, but nothing more. He must be deep undercover, Hans concluded. He couldn’t decide if David was a double agent or if Bruno was. Solving this dilemma filled the majority of his time thinking, investigating, spying on the Chief. He would get to the bottom of things with him while he was still in Munich. It would eventually lead him to David. Just a few more months, then he’d get his emerald. Maybe then, he’d go to Australia, marry Miriam, and retire in luxury for the rest of his life, if he could just hold on that long.

  For Hans, boredom was the most punishing thing he could endure. It only lead to deeper research on the Mossad and its operations. He had decided they were definitely the Jewish equivalent of the Nazi SS. He had researched them, too and learned enough about how both organizations operated so that he was awed that he had never been close to capture. It must be my lucky emerald that has kept me safe, he concluded.