Esther's Sling (19 page)

“All right. We are creating a small fleet of aerial tankers that will operate out of Dubai. You are more than smart enough to figure out how this will work. We need refueling capacity and this is how we will do it.”

Levy reached out with his left hand and patted Margolis on his right shoulder. It was at the same time paternal and condescending. “Now I understand. That is what I needed to know. Thank you.” He retrieved his arm and leaned back in his cheap folding chair. “How does El Al fit in with this?”

“We are using them as well to buy Ilyushin 76 cargo planes. We are converting them to fuel tankers.”

“How many will you have in the end?”

“I don’t know yet. That depends on a lot of things: money, timing, our ability to acquire without raising suspicion.”

“Okay. Okay” Levy raised up his right hand, its fingers extended and palm down. He motioned his hand in a way that indicated to Margolis that he should stop. “This is good. I can call off my men. Are you buying more companies?”

“No. I am done with the private company side of this. I have what I need in place now.”

“Okay. What about funding? I know you have a source. Is it enough?”

“Is any amount of money ever enough?”

“Look, Amit. I don’t need to know how you are being funded, but I offer this sincerely:
If you need some funds, I have access to accounts that are hidden away in Swiss and Russian banks. I can help.” Levy felt better. What Amit told him made sense and he knew from years of experience that when the pieces fit together in a way that created a logical story, then the truth had been revealed.

“I appreciate that, sir. As you hinted at earlier, though, what I really need are some qualified people to assist in key operations. I now have a cargo carrier to run.”

“Yes you do.” Levy was happy again. He smiled and then suddenly snapped his finger. “Oh, I almost forgot. Your lady friend in Dubai … what’s her name?”

“Kara Livingston.”

“Yes, that’s it. She works for Emirati intelligence.”

Amit lowered his head and laughed. It was a mask. He was very angry with himself. “Thank you for the notification.”

“Emirati Intelligence is not happy with us right now. You need to be very careful.”

“Tell me about it. The assassination of the Hamas guy is still a hot topic there. I have had to spend half my time cursing the Jews while I am there.” Amit smiled.

Director Levy did not smile. This was a very raw issue for him. The assassination of Mahmoud Al-Mabhouh in Dubai on January 19, 2010, by a Mossad kidon team had succeeded, but became an international embarrassment for Israel when the local police were able to use hotel videotape to trace the assassination team members. Their use of fake British, Irish, French and Australian passports had enraged each country. For Amichai Levy, the result had been a trip to Jerusalem to be chewed out by the prime minister for half an hour. Levy’s pride was still wounded a year later.

“How is your cover?” Levy was concerned that anyone, especially UAE intelligence agents, checking on the background of Gennady Masrov would learn enough to believe the man was for real.

“I had the full backstop put in place. I am not concerned.”

“It must be working since you haven’t been arrested yet. If the Emiratis even suspect you are Mossad, they will arrest you, rough you up and then publicly deport you. They are itching for a public win over us.”

“I understand that. I think we always face that risk.”

“True enough. If you need anything to support your cover, let me know. It will happen.”

“Thank you.”

“Like I have been saying, we are both better off if we communicate.”

Amit’s thoughts returned to the attractive British expatriate. “She is a direct agent?”

“The Livingston woman? No. No. She just feeds information to them. That’s all. My point is that you … uh, maybe I should say Mister Masrov … you need to realize that your activities are on their radar.”

“I had assumed as much, but I must admit I did not suspect Kara.”

“Never forget, Amit – women. Women are our Achilles’ heel. It will always be so. Now, you promise to keep me informed of key developments I need to know?”

“Yes, I will keep you informed. Key things only. Is that fair?”

“Nothing is fair, Amit. But I can work with what you propose. Now, we have to discuss current events and how they might affect Olympus.”

“Current events?”

“The Arab Spring. Mubarak was ousted yesterday.”

Margolis contemplated what he just heard. He had spent the day on airplanes, first from Dubai to Zurich and then Zurich to Tel Aviv. He had been exhausted and slept most of the time. When he got home late the prior night, Enya was waiting. What was on her mind had nothing to do with the news. She had a bottle of wine waiting and was wearing a very sexy dress with nothing else. She could not wait to get Amit into bed. “Mubarak has left Egypt?”

“No, but he was effectively removed from office yesterday. I have barely slept this week.”

“Tunisian revolution. Now Egypt. Where does this end?” Amit pondered.

“Exactly the right question
. I told the prime minister that I think Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia are at risk. This needs to be in the contingency planning for Olympus.”

“Yes. I agree. What about UAE?”

“I am not worried about UAE or the other Gulf States. Of course, rioting has been underway in Yemen, but that pseudo-country is in a tug of war for its soul.”

“God help us if Saudi Arabia falls. Who will run Egypt now?”

“Our analysis is that the Muslim Brotherhood is the only institution ready to govern other than the military. Maybe we get lucky and the military just takes over, but I have doubts about that. Imagine, the head of Mossad rooting for the Egyptian military.” Levy shook his head. “Funny.”

“This could make it impossible to launch the attack depending on what happens in Syria, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.”

“I understand. Here is the deal. You will keep me informed of the key Olympus plans and I will keep you informed with the best intel on the Arab Spring.”

“What about Iran? Any chance of revolt?”

“Always a chance. And we will be glad to help, but I am not optimistic. Vevak is too proactive at eliminating the smartest opposition leaders. After the demise of Mubarak, I doubt that the Iranian Regime will be caught off guard.”

“The UAE?”

Levy was going to give a dismissive response because Amit had just asked about the country, but he understood the obsession. “Possible, but very unlikely. We know the Iranians are agitating Shiites in Bahrain, Qatar and the UAE. But if you had to pick one of the Gulf states that will survive this, the UAE is it. I think you chose wisely on location.”

“Not that I foresaw any of this happening.”

“I will deny what I am about to say, but the fact is none of us saw this happening, certainly not with this speed.” Levy stood up. “Don’t lose sleep over Saudi Arabia or Syria. The Saudis have spread the wealth effectively and the Alawites in Syria have an iron grip just like the Mullahs in Iran.” The director started to walk toward the door, his mind now on the future. “Still, it would be nice to see the Iranians lose their client state.”

Margolis stood and followed the head of Mossad toward the door. He was quiet.

Levy started to open the heavy blast door of the basement shelter and paused briefly. He turned and shook Amit’s hand. “I am proud of you Amit. You come see me once a month and we will catch up with each other.”

Margolis knew an order when he heard it. “I appreciate your support, sir.”

Levy walked into the hall to take the elevator up, deciding against using the stairwell in front of him. His knees were not cooperating with him on this Saturday morning.

After the one floor ride up, Levy stepped out of the elevator and Amit started to follow, but the director stopped him. “I have taken you away from your woman too long already. Enjoy the rest of this beautiful day with her.
Shabbat shalom.” Levy walked down the hall to his waiting SUV.

Amit continued up to his floor and walked quickly to his apartment. He found Enya on the computer. She had Google images open and on the screen Amit could see about 15 photographs, most of which were of Amichai Levy. As he walked up behind her, she turned to look at him.

“Why is the director of Mossad visiting you on a Saturday morning?”

“Enya, please.” Margolis thought about possible eavesdropping. He reached underneath her right armpit and raised her off her seat. “Come on.” He led her into the bathroom attached to his bedroom. It had no windows, which Enya hated. He turned on the water and a small radio he kept on the vanity. “You figured out who just visited me, please don’t ever discuss his name or that he was here. Not to anyone. Understand?”

“No, I don’t understand. We have dinner with a senior general, you travel all the time. This man,” she stabbed her hand into the air, “comes to visit you. Do you think I’m that stupid? You are Mossad, just as Nava told me you were when we first met.”

“Please, honey. You can’t say these things. This is dangerous. You don’t understand.” Margolis paused to catch his breath. “Is it not enough to know that I am advising the state? Is it not enough to accept what General Schechter told you?” His eyes were imploring the woman he loved. “Is it not enough that I am in love with you?” The words were coming out of Amit’s mouth for the first time. His timing was not good.

“Don’t change the subject, Amit. I don’t know who are. You have been lying to me.”

“Honey. Please understand me. I work on behalf of our nation. What I do is very sensitive. I can’t …”

“Stop lying to me,” Enya shouted.

Margolis raised his hands and gestured with his palms down, the motion urging her to calm down. “
Shhhh. Shhhh.”

“Don’t treat me like a child.”

Margolis knew this point would come. He pondered for an instant why he faced having to reveal secrets to two people in the span of a few minutes.
Have I angered God somehow?
“Okay. Calm down. What do you want to know?” He thought to himself that he should feel relief, but he only felt defeated at the moment. It was the same feeling he always had when he lost control.

“Are you Mossad?”

Amit looked at her and slowly nodded his head up and down. “Now, we can never discuss this again, okay?”

“Why didn’t you tell me this? We have been together for over a year now.”

“Please, honey. Don’t do this. This is dangerous. You should not know this. It just puts you in danger. I could lose my job because you know.”

“Well, blame that old man. He is the one who came here. I’m sure he violated all the rules doing that, didn’t he? And his eyes almost popped out of his head looking at my body.”

Margolis laughed. He didn’t want to, but he couldn’t help himself. “You can’t blame him for that.”

Enya Govenin rested her head against Amit’s left breast. “I just wish you had told me and that I didn’t have to figure it out.” Suddenly she snapped her head back and looked at Amit. “Just how long were you going to wait?”

“I don’t know honey. It is not good that you know. There are plenty of people who would kill me and harm you just because of what I do. Now you have to promise me that you will never, ever discuss this with anyone. I mean no one, Enya. Just stick with what you thought I was.”

“Do you kill people?”

“Honey, seriously? We can’t have this discussion.”

“We are having this discussion, Amit. Do you kill people for a living?”

“I cannot discuss what I do. But know that I don’t kill people. Before you ask, I have never killed anyone. This is not like the movies. I am not Daniel Craig.”

“Who?”

Amit immediately regretted throwing out the name. “You know, the new James Bond.”

“Oh.” Enya smiled. “You are as hot as he is.” She rubbed her hands across his chest and down his stomach. “Well, almost.”

“You are too much sometimes.” Amit grabbed her hands as they were making their way below his waist. He pulled them up to his mouth and kissed the top of each hand. “I can accept being almost as hot as Daniel Craig.” He chuckled. “But you must promise me, Enya. This is deadly serious. This is life and death and it could be my life if you are not careful. You understand what I am saying?”

“I do. Talk to no one. Ever.”

“Keep in mind that everything you do over a phone or on the Internet – and I mean everything – can be monitored and is probably being monitored now.”

“What? Why? How?”

“Because you are my girlfriend.”

“I don’t understand. If no one knows you are Mossad, what does me being your girlfriend have to do with anything?”

“Because, honey, I can guarantee that the Americans know who I am. That means they know who you are. That means they monitor you for information about me.”

“Wait. You are talking crazy talk. The Americans have a spy following me?”

“No. They …” He thought about the right way to proceed. “Do you know what the National Security Agency is?”