Hi-Tech Hijack (22 page)

“How am I going to do that if you’re not going to let me out?” asked Reuben with a sarcastic smirk.

“We have no interest in keeping you here more than we need to. The security measures and other arrangements of keeping you here are quite costly, and we don’t need to draw it out a single day longer than what is necessary.”

“Next thing you’ll be telling me you’re deducting the costs from my three million,” said Reuben bitterly.

“Reuben, no good will come of this cynical attitude,” said Isabella in a matronly tone.

“Ok, then who’s going to determine when you will have gotten all the information you need from us? What’s to stop you from asking for more and more?”

“That’s why we’re all professionals here. I find it hard to believe you’ll try to trick us and withhold information. If you do, I trust we’ll spot it,” said Isabella.

Reuben thought in silence for a minute and then said, “I’ll have to talk to Eddie about this. Without him none of this is going to work.” There was a tone of acceptance to his voice, and Isabella smiled calmly and said, “Right after we complete the deal between us, we’ll let you see Eddie.”

“I want to talk to my wife. There’s no way she and everyone else in Israel will hear nothing from us for two months.”

“Obviously. We’ll just have to figure out what you’re going to tell them.”

“I’m sure you’ve thought of that by now.”

“Mickey had a general idea, but we need to discuss it.”

“I want every copy of the video recordings you showed me.”

“That won’t be a problem either. In fact, it’ll serve our interest just as much as it would yours to destroy every copy since no one is meant to know we pressured you in any way.”

“You mean blackmailed us.”

“Let’s not go there again, Reuben. We must make an effort to make the next two months as pleasant as possible all round.”

The conversation progressed to Alfonso’s full contentment. Yesterday’s traumatic conversation with Mickey had made its impact on Reuben. He understood very well just how strong of a hold they had on him and as expected could not resist the temptation of receiving such a significant amount of money in such a short time. Eddie was a much harder nut to crack, but after things with Reuben were going to be settled, he too would realize he had no choice but to cooperate. After all, even the information Reuben was about to give them was enough to cause Ebocell-Tech to lose its exclusivity over the unique data it had accumulated in its two years of existence. Eddie will not be able to stop Reuben from divulging information and choosing not to cooperate would cause him to lose the company without benefiting from the bonus Alfonso promised.

Another coffee pot was brought to the table, and Isabella apologized and left the room. The cook entered the room and handed Alfonso a telephone. It was an urgent call he had to take, and he moved to an adjacent room and talked quietly in Spanish. Reuben was left on his own for a few minutes, sucking on his cigar and blowing smoke rings into the air. Then Isabella returned carrying a briefcase.

“I brought the papers we discussed. I suggest you take the time to go over them quietly before we discuss them.” Alfonso who had also returned to the room in the meantime offered to stay and help Reuben understand everything, but Reuben preferred to go over it once by himself.

“We’ll be back in fifteen minutes,” said Alfonso, and the two exited the room leaving Reuben in the seating area. He could hear the sounds of dishes being washed in the kitchen. He wasn’t left completely alone.

Reuben had a hard time concentrating on reading the documents. While reading he tried to convince himself things were indeed as Alfonso and Isabella described them, but his common sense said otherwise.

Kidnapping scientists and hijacking their lab isn’t a normal business strategy. The kidnappers would have to have a very special interest in order to make such a move, and they would have to be sure they were immune from any lawsuits to do it. Is it possible that a country is behind all this?
Wondered Reuben.

The whole thing was more like something the Mossad or CIA would do, or some other intelligence service—an organization that can manipulate the law with someone high up in the hierarchy authorizing such actions. On the other hand, organizations like that wouldn’t have to resort to such extreme measures when they could simply purchase the knowledge they required. Who was it who needed the data so desperately as to pull off an operation like this?

He tried to focus on the papers in front of him, but more and more questions bothered him.

How does Mickey fit in to all of this?
He wondered. He was someone who turned out to be such a con artist devoid of any inhibition or the slightest hint of a moral compass, who would go to any means to get his goals. He thought back to his conversation with Mickey when he told him about their accidental scientific breakthrough and the decision to silence it, but he immediately pushed the memory away. He didn’t even want to entertain the notion that whoever was interested in their company was really after the potential of global destruction.

Perhaps
, Reuben tried to convince himself,
Eddie and I aren’t the only ones this has happened to, and since these things are settled in an elegant way and everyone wins, no one hears of it. After all, we’re not going to tell anyone what happened either.
The contract laid in front of him specified the transaction of him and Eddie voluntarily selling their company-owned information to the buyers, after which each one of them would receive a total of three million dollars to be deposited in accounts under their names in a Swiss bank. There was no mention of the lab being stolen. On the contrary, the contract specified Eddie and Reuben will help the buyers operate their own lab that they had set up with the funds they had invested on their own site, as well as recommending the purchasing of any necessary additional equipment. The contract also released Eddie and Reuben of all responsibilities as to any future uses the data may be put to. It specified the location of signing as Zurich. Supposedly a completely normal transaction between a willing buyer and seller.

Reuben could think of nothing else but those three million dollars that would be waiting for him in two months’ time. It stopped him from focusing and thinking reasonably. His life’s dream had always been to be rich, and now he was possibly only months away from realizing it. That was his reason for joining Eddie in the first place. When he got out of the army, he made it his goal to get rich quickly, which was why he got into the hi-tech industry. It didn’t matter to him that much what field he was going to be in as long as his mathematical and statistic capabilities were expressed. Now with the final goal in such close reach, the scientific achievements and business success he dreamed of with Eddie meant nothing. He could reach his goal without the long, arduous road. He would have to spend a few difficult months in this comfortable prison, but the rosy future would surely wipe its memory in no time. He could even use the timeout to bounce back from Ronit’s cheating on him with Eddie and get over her completely. Otherwise, their failing relationship could have dragged on for several more years, but knowing she betrayed him like that ended all hope he may have had of ever reaching a better understanding with her. He found some small comfort in the fact that while he was held there she wouldn’t be able to cheat, at least not with Eddie.

Fifteen minutes have been long gone, but Reuben had no sense of the passing time. He kept drifting off into thoughts and going back to the documents time and again. Meanwhile, Alfonso and Isabella were in their room waiting patiently.

“I’m sure he’ll sign,” said Isabella.

“Yes, I think the greed is messing with his mind. Otherwise, how could he possibly be so stupid as to believe we’re actually going to let him out alive?”

“Don’t try to find any sense in this, Alfonso. It’s human nature. He’s helpless and powerless. The only thing he can control is the ability to dream and hope, and since we’ve thrown him a three-million-dollar bone, he’s holding on to it like a drowning man to a lifeboat. Even if it makes no sense, he wants to believe it’ll lead him to safety.”

“You and your psychology,” said Alfonso, smiling contently at his wife.

“We’ll just have to wait and see how the other one takes it.”

“Eddie seems to me like a harder nut to crack, but once he gets proof of Reuben’s cooperation, he too will understand he cannot play games with us.”

“The commanders are demanding my report on every progress. I promised I would call as soon as we have a breakthrough with the first one.”

“They need to let us work in peace.”

“We’re not going to get any peace from them, Isabella. They told me this morning the drone deal has been signed. They’ll have them in a few weeks. That’ll be the easiest way to spread the disease. We must develop the Ebola’s ability to survive in air and not lose its strength when it reaches the ground for at least several hours.”

“I’m sure we’ll get there, Alfonso.”

“And keep in mind in the meantime, we have to show no interest in the electromagnet. They can’t know we know about it or they might figure out our true motives. Only after we complete the cracking of the genetic markers, we’ll force them to give us the precise details of the electromagnetic radiation. As we agreed, that has to do more with physics so it’ll be my responsibility.”

“I haven’t forgotten, Alfonso. It’s been almost an hour; let’s get back to the dining room.”

They left their room and returned to the dining room.

“Well Reuben, you’ve had plenty of time to go over everything.”

“I have.”

“And I understand you’re ready to sign.”

“Yes, I just want to clarify something about my bank account in Zurich. What guarantees do I have that you don’t change your minds and withdraw the money?”

“The account has been opened in your name according to your passport number. You’ll be given the account number along with a signed and sealed envelope with your password and instructions for any telephone queries you might have, and only you will open it and make use of it when you wish to do so.”

“And if you’re not satisfied with my cooperation? What if I don’t perform to your liking?”

“I would rather not think of that possibility, Reuben, but in that case I’m afraid we would never be able to let you go,” said Alfonso, and a hint of impatience infiltrated his voice. The petrified look in Reuben’s eyes alerted Alfonso to his slip of the tongue, and he quickly put on a friendly smile and added, “But forget about that possibility. We have no interest of keeping you here more than we need to transfer the information, and keep in mind, we’ve defined two months as the final deadline. It’s up to you how long it takes, and it can certainly be shorter. In any case, the three million is yours, and we can’t get it back even if you are unable to use it.”

“How much did you pay Mickey to pull this dirty stunt?” asked Reuben as he grabbed the pen and started signing his initials.

“I wish you wouldn’t go there again, Reuben. We’re starting afresh today. As for Mickey, he’s entered as a partner in the new company with substantial shares thanks to his contribution to the merger.”

“The merger,” said Reuben bitterly. “I will never forgive him for what he’s done to me.”

“I’m sure some day you’ll thank him for freeing you from Ebocell-Tech, from Eddie, and from your wife,” said Isabella in a caring voice. “With the money his stunt got you, you’ll build a new, happier life.”

“I hope you’re right.” Reuben sighed, signing the last page and handing the pen to Alfonso, who quickly added his signatures to the contract. Then he gave Reuben one copy of the contract.

“Hold on to that just in case.”

“I’m in your hands for better or worse, for as long as we’re here. By the way, I have a request.”

“Yes, Rueben?” asked Alfonso, trying to sound as empathetic as possible.

“Our luggage. I’d like to have our suitcases and laptops.”

“They must have been left at the Zurich airport.”

“Yes, and there’s a receipt in the wallet that you confiscated with my clothes.”

“No problem, Reuben. With your passports and the receipt I’ll make sure it gets here as quickly as possible.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re quite welcome. Still Reuben, you keep a copy of the contract with you, and when the arrangements are complete, I’ll give you the bank statements as well,” said Alfonso. He called the chef in and said, “Please bring us the champagne from the fridge and three glasses.”

“Right away, sir.”

A minute later they touched glasses. Reuben had signed and sealed his fate, for better or for worse.

The arson of Ebocell-Tech at Be’er Ya’acov happened on Saturday night after all the equipment had been packed and moved to the airport under Tzipi’s supervision.

Early Sunday morning Tzipi informed Shlomo, the company’s financial manager, about the fire.

“You can come to our offices here in Herzliya, and we can handle all the necessary arrangements together. Mickey is in Europe, and you can use his office.”

Shlomo, in complete shock, hurried to Herzliya. Tzipi greeted him with a stern expression, told one of the secretaries to make him a cup of coffee, and showed him to one of the office rooms.

“I think it’ll be a good idea to tell the employees there’s been some delay, and that they shouldn’t come to Ness Ziona this morning. In fact, why not just tell them to take a week off with payment of course until everything’s cleared out?”

“Yes, that’s a good idea,” agreed Shlomo. He had a long talk with Leonid, Luda, and Sasha. “We have to try and reach Eddie and Reuben in Switzerland before their flight to Japan takes off,” he said to Tzipi.

“I tried earlier, their cell phones are off.”

“We need to keep trying. Get one of the secretaries to call every fifteen minutes. We need to reach them before they get on the plane and bring them back here as soon as possible.”

“I’m not sure that’ll be the best thing. To my understanding this conference is extremely important, whereas here in Israel, there’s not much good they can do for at least a week. There’s the insurance and police and all sorts of things to deal with. Their time is too valuable for that.”

“Eddie is the CEO and Rueben is the CTO. They have to know about this.” Shlomo who was usually so calm and collected started to get irritated. Tzipi’s bossiness got on his nerves way back when they were in negotiations about Mickey’s investment. Now it was like she enjoyed dominating over the crisis and wasn’t even bothered by what had happened.

“Of course, Shlomo, you’re absolutely right,” said Tzipi. “Of course we have to let them know. All I’m saying is that, other than giving them the information, there isn’t much they can do for the next few days, so it might be better for them to go ahead with the conference.”

“Why don’t we let them decide?”

Tzipi immediately instructed a secretary to try and reach Eddie and Reuben every fifteen minutes. What Shlomo did not know was that Tzipi had already contacted the phone company the night before, given them Eddie’s ID number as if she were calling on his behalf, and asked that the cell phone he was using be blocked.

Tzipi and Shlomo started calling the insurance company, the police, appraisers, and anyone who had some connection with handling the fire damage. Shlomo contacted their accountants for the list of all the equipment and items the company had to make a claim to the insurance company. All day long the two of them were busy with calls and visits to the sight at Be’er Ya’acov. It looked like the fire had destroyed absolutely everything. Here and there were some fragments of broken glass, pieces of test tubes and measuring cups, and some dead mice, but that was all.

Exhausted from the traumatic day and the nerve-racking wait for a call from Eddie, Shlomo said they should talk to Eddie’s parents or Ronit to see if they’ve heard from them.

“I wouldn’t worry them. You’d have to explain why you’re calling and tell them about the fire. Let’s wait ’til morning. Maybe we’ll reach them in Japan by then. I spoke to Mickey, and he thinks that’s what we should do.”

Shlomo had to agree that made sense and reminded himself that Mickey was now a major partner in the company and his opinion should be taken into account. They decided to wait ’til morning.

The next day, it became clear there was no way of contacting Eddie and Reuben. The hotel they were meant to stay at said they had been moved to a different hotel, but couldn’t say which one. Shlomo tried to remember the names of the people they intended to meet at the conference, but his involvement in that aspect of the company was minimal. During the two months since joining the company, he had been almost entirely preoccupied with stabilizing the company’s finances and handling the tedious negotiations regarding Mickey’s investment, which he found extremely frustrating. Mickey easily manipulated Reuben into positions Shlomo was profoundly unhappy with. At times it looked to him like the sessions were like a show Reuben and Mickey were putting on, like they were pretending to negotiate so that Shlomo could report back to Eddie in hospital. Being new to the company, there wasn’t much he could do about it. He doubted whether he should tell Eddie whom he already sensed was a man of honesty and integrity. But he dropped the idea in the last minute.

What if I’m wrong?
Shlomo thought to himself.
What if there’s nothing going on? Then I’ll have ruined the company, destroyed its only potential investment, and broke up Reuben and Eddie’s friendship
.

By Monday night, they still had not made any contact with Eddie and Reuben. After going back and forth all night, Shlomo decided to call Ronit without informing Tzipi. The only time he had met Ronit was when they signed the partnership agreement with Mickey—on that surreal occasion by Eddie’s hospital bed. Shlomo had worked for the company for one month before Eddie was hospitalized, and during that time they were in complete agreement about pretty much everything, which was more than could be said about Eddie and Reuben’s relationship. Chubby Shlomo, with his sense of humor and the ability to make fun of himself, helped ease the strain and stress between the two partners, who were overburdened with concerns about the company’s financial state. Now, as he looked up Ronit’s phone number, he was unsure how he should start the conversation without causing her too much unnecessary alarm.

“Good morning, Ronit. This is Shlomo, Ebocell-Tech’s financial manager.”

“Morning, Shlomo. How are you?”

“I’m fine, thank you.” He was uncertain as to how he should proceed. “Uh, I hope you’re not still mad at me about that joke I made about you with the cookies.”

“What are you talking about?” asked Ronit, and Shlomo reminded her of the board meeting at the hospital.

“Don’t be silly,” she said, laughing. “Don’t tell me that’s why you’ve called?”

“It isn’t, actually. I was just wondering whether you’ve heard from Reuben since they left.”

“I haven’t,” said Ronit with a hint of concern in her voice. “Why? Haven’t you talked to them?”

“No, we haven’t been able to reach them. Apparently the cell phone they took isn’t working, they changed hotels, and we still haven’t been able to talk to them.”

“That’s odd. Someone from Mickey’s office called last night, and said they had called to say their phone isn’t working and that everything’s fine.”

“Are you sure?! Do you remember who that was?”

“I haven’t talked to her. She left a message on my voice mail.”

“That’s weird. I’m here at Mickey’s office right now, and no one’s told me anything about that.”

“You’re not in the new offices in Ness Ziona?” asked Ronit.

“Um, no.” Shlomo stuttered for a moment and was forced to tell Ronit about the fire.

A terrible silence fell on both ends of the line.

“That’s awful,” said Ronit finally, with a sigh. “Will the insurance cover the damages? What are the employees doing?”

“I hope it will, even if not completely. One of the first things I did when I joined was check the company’s insurance policy, which was minimal for thrifty reasons, obviously. And thankfully I expanded it to cover fire damages. As for the employees, we told them about what happened and gave them a week’s paid vacation.”

“We have to track Reuben and Eddie down and let them know!”

“I’ll see who here left you that message. This all seems a bit strange, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does. Call me back as soon as you know anything?”

“Absolutely, Ronit.”

Shlomo asked the secretaries if there had been word from Eddie and Reuben.

“No,” said one, “but Tzipi asked me to call Dr. Nevo and Reuben’s parents and tell them they called and said everything was ok.”

“What did you do that for?!” a surprised Shlomo asked Tzipi, who had just entered the office all smiley and fresh.

“Morning everyone!” she said and turned to Shlomo. “Do what?”

“Had someone call the families and say Reuben and Eddie phoned.”

“Because that way I could check to see if they had talked to them and keep the wife and parents calm at the same time.”

Shlomo didn’t know how to respond to Tzipi’s confidant comeback with its certain logic. Then after making sure no one was listening, he called Ronit.

“So I take it Eddie’s parents haven’t heard from him either.”

“Apparently not.”

“I don’t know. Something doesn’t smell right,” said Ronit. Shlomo and Ronit agreed to keep each other posted on any developments.

During lunch at the hospital, Ronit called her older brother Nir, whom she loved and admired. Three years older and married to her friend, Shlomit, from med school, her brother was an important figure at the Israeli General Security Agency, the Shabak. He knew anyone and everyone. Even now, at his desk job, he still kept a strict fitness regimen and athletic physique.

“What do you think, Nir?”

“When you get home tonight, first thing you do is send me the conference details, the hotels they were meant to stay at, and their flight information. You know what? Give me the number of the cell phone they took with them, too. I’ll run some tests and see what I can find out.”

The next morning, on the fourth day since Eddie and Reuben’s departure, Ronit got a call from Nir. “I couldn’t track them, but I have some information that isn’t so good.”

“You think something’s happened to them . . .” said Ronit, panicked.

“No, no,” he quickly calmed her down. “I haven’t got any information on that. What I do have is this: the cell phone company got an order to block their phone to international calls on Saturday night.”

“How is that possible?” asked Ronit, shocked.

“Someone named Tzipi made the call. She had all of Ebocell-Tech’s information.”

“That’s Mickey’s assistant!” cried Ronit.

“Wait, there’s more: they never made it to their hotel in Japan. The hotel had a cancellation on Sunday at noon, local time. That’s before they could have possibly gotten there.”

“I can’t believe this,” she said, sighing. “What do we do?”

“I’ve contacted some friends at the Mossad and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to see if they can track them in Japan,” said Nir. “Can you think of any other leads?”

“What about their flight from Switzerland?”

“You’re right. I’ll look into that and call if I have any news. Are you going to work?”

“Yes,” she said lethargically.

“Why don’t you check and see if Eddie’s parents have heard anything?”

“You think it’s a good idea to worry them?”

“Ok, let’s hold off on that. Anyway, cheer up, sis. I’m sure this is all just some sort of misunderstanding and everything will turn out fine.”

“I hope you’re right.”