WASHINGTON DC: The Sadir Affair (The Puppets of Washington Book 1) (17 page)

“Is that why you bolted?” Mark asked.

“Of course, mate, I needed to distance myself from you and the prince and confirm somehow where these orders came from. But, here again, shifting the blame onto Mossad, would have proved to the terrorists that the Americans were ready to kill an Arab prince.”

Lypsick looked down at the floor.

The guy knew before we left Washington what Sadir was up to. He could have stopped us,
Mark thought.

Without ignoring what he saw in Mark’s eyes, which amounted to resentment toward the fearful rat, Samuel went on, “and hours before he was stopped and his deeds uncovered, I was told to come to Vancouver to eliminate Prince Khalid. Sadir’s goal this time was to have Israel blamed directly for the killing.”

“But that does not amount to defining him as an Islamic Radical,” Mark leaped in before Lypsick could.

“That’s because you don’t know how they work,” Samuel said.

Lypsick nodded. “Consider this, Agent Gilford, traitors merely rely on their masters to guide them or support them in their actions, but a radical, is just that; he will take matters in his own hands to demonstrate to the terrorist cell in the enemy country that he’s to be trusted to make decisions on his own.”

“And you think renting this apartment and making reservations to come here was part of a plan to spur a terrorist cell into action, right here, in Vancouver?” Mark could not bring himself to believe what his surmise implied.

“Absolutely,” Lypsick agreed with vehemence. “Sadir, for all these years, stayed quiet, merely feeding Mossad with information designed to demonstrate his neutrality, even his allegiance to Israel, while proving to his Islamic brothers what he was capable of doing, such as persuading Mossad to kill and maim two of their own.”

“He was Judah, Mark.” Saying this, Samuel snatched his jacket from the arm of the chair, got up and went to the bedroom. Mark and Lypsick stood up and followed him. “Don’t worry, I’m not hiding any weapons in my suitcases, mates. I just want to show you something... before the prince arrives.” He opened the case, slid his hand into one of the back pockets and pulled out a photograph of Talya. One of its corners was missing. He handed it to Mark, saying, “That’s the way she looked ten years ago. Life was our oyster then, as you say in America.”

“Good God!” Mark exclaimed. “She was gorgeous... I mean she is still beautiful, but…”

“She was, Mark.”

Lypsick looked over Mark’s elbow. “I’m going to get him…,” he groaned, walking out of the room.

Mark shouted after him. “How? How could you hope to get him to trial, Lypsick, now that we know he never gave direct orders to Samuel?”

“Gentlemen, please,” Samuel said, coming back to the living room. “The only one who could bring Sadir to trial is Mossad. The fact that I am here and that my assignment is to
bring her back to the fold
tells me that much.”

Mark stared at the Mossad man. “Was that the
suggestion
?”

“Yes, it was. I could not understand or see how that could be done at first, but then I met Rabbi Joshua in Fiji…”

“How does he come into this?” Lypsick asked, wide-eyed.

“He apparently is a Mossad liaison... But the point is that he told me that I should look upon Prince Khalid with a kind heart and not vengeance, which to me meant that Mossad is ready to enlist the prince’s assistance to apprehend Sadir, because they observed his kindness in protecting Talya for all these months.”

“How?” Mark repeated. “How would they intend to do that?”

Samuel pointed to the computer. “With this, I will soon be able to tell you. When my contact knows I have landed in Vancouver, and that you have made it clear to me that your goal is the same as mine, they will divulge their plan.”

“Do you still have Namlah Badawee in Ottawa?” Lypsick asked Mark suddenly.

“Yes…, but…”

“He’s an Arab,” Samuel interrupted, excited now.

“So? Why?” Mark asked.

“Because, mate, he’s another Arab and Mossad will not trust anyone they have not had a chance to observe for weeks prior to enlist their help, that’s why.”

Mark dropped into the chair and looked at Talya’s photo again. If Sadir had been standing in front of him at that moment, he would have killed him—literally.

Samuel was staring at the screen, incredulous. He could not imagine for one second, the Hebrew words were real. Both Mark and Lypsick were staring at the message, too, apparently uncomprehending.

אנא ראה את דודה של רווחה. המשפחה מחכה לה בוושינגטון. היא ננסה אותה שנינות בפלורידה. הדוד שלך הוא מחכה לה ללכת

(Please see to your aunt’s welfare. The family is waiting for her in Washington. She will then try her wit in Florida. Your uncle is waiting for her to go.)

“What does that mean?” Mark asked from over Samuel’s shoulder.

“In your language it means that I have to look after Talya. She is going to be arrested and tried in Florida. Sadir is waiting for her arrest.”

“There must be a mistake. Are you sure? You’re not trying to trick us, by any chance?”

“No, Mark, I am not. Let me send the message to Mr. Gibson. He must have a translator in Ottawa.” Samuel turned to face Lypsick. “Even better, why don’t you translate it?” The CIA agent crossed his arms over his chest and looked at the floor. “I seem to remember something about you spending sometime in Israel. It is in your dossier, isn’t it?”

“When have you read my dossier?” Lypsick seemed offended.

“Not lately, but you had dealings with Mossad in the past, didn’t you? And the name stuck. So, please tell Agent Gilford what the message means—what it says in English—so he could confirm with Ottawa that I’m not lying or fabricating anything.”

Mark went to sit down on the sofa. He looked abashed. “I don’t need any confirmation, Samuel. I can understand what Mossad is doing.”

“And what would that be in your opinion?” Lypsick was defiant, scornful. He sneered, “Since when did you begin to understand what Mossad is doing?”

“Don’t be such a prick, Lypsick. Just read what it says.” Mark was on his feet again. He went toward the computer and pointed to the screen. “Read it, for heaven’s sakes,” he yelled. “Whichever way you want to interpret it, it tells you the same thing; Mossad is prepared to sacrifice Talya to the wolves, in order for them to clean their chicken coop.” He was furious. “And you know what’s worse, Lypsick? They’re absolutely right! Sadir will be waiting to testify at her trial, unless I get to him and make him pay.”

Samuel pushed the chair from under him brutally and stood up. “No, Mark, please!” His face was inches from Mark’s. “We would be killed. Please believe me. It’s no use fighting.”

“Don’t be such a defeatist, Samuel.” Mark put both hands on the Mossad agent’s shoulders and pushed him away from him roughly. “Mossad was clever enough to think I was going to react to such an order. And, they were very careful to tell me not to use any weapons in Vancouver. They knew—and that includes you, Lypsick—we were not going to find anything against Sadir in Vancouver. There’s no terrorist cell that’s even heard of the guy. But what they wanted was to have Talya arrested, and bring her down to Florida along with Sadir as a witness for the prosecution.”

“That’s the only way we could see Sadir in a courtroom, Mark…”

“Don’t give me that shit, Lypsick!” Mark stopped and took in a breath. “And, there is no way Khalid is going to let her go to Florida in handcuffs.”

“Nor will I,” Samuel said unexpectedly. “She cannot take that sort of risk. If she’s found guilty, there’s a needle waiting for her. She’ll face the death penalty.”

“And how do you propose we get Mr. Sadir to take her place then?” Lypsick barked. “Not even Mossad could find a solution to this problem. We all know he’s responsible—guilty as charged—if you like, but we have no evidence to that effect. Zero, zilch. Nothing.”

Samuel’s eyes had followed Lypsick’s pacing across the room. “But isn’t the CIA recording your conversations?”

It seemed Lypsick didn’t want to answer. Mark glared at him. “What are you thinking?” The CIA agent spun on his heels. “Well…? What are you waiting for? Answer the man!”

When he reached the terrace door, Lypsick finally replied, “Yes, we are, and we did record some of Sadir’s conversations, especially after Slimane’s death.”

“And what did that tell you?” Mark wanted to strangle the diminutive fellow with one hand.

“Not enough, Agent Gilford. Not enough. Not even his laptop revealed anything we could take to court. Mind you the forensic guys are not quite done with it yet.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“That’s your prerogative, Agent Gilford.” Lypsick was on the defensive now. “But why would I push Sadir to come here then? If I had found a shred of evidence in the intel we have in D.C. on the guy, I would not have bothered forcing him to come here. Now would I?”

Samuel sat down at the computer desk again and typed a few words in reply to the message.

Mark asked Lypsick, “What is he saying?” Both men were watching Samuel from behind him again.

“He is asking who has some information on his uncle... and... if the stranger is in Vancouver.”

“Good. Let’s see what they answer.”

“If they have anything, it won’t take long...” Samuel turned again to the two men towering over him. “Besides you bringing Sadir in front of the Florida courts as a material witness, which you could have done in the States, there must be a reason why Sadir came here and Mossad knows it, I’m sure of it. But they have not said anything to me so far, because that wasn’t part of my assignment.”

“So, you’re trying to get them to open up.” Mark said.

“Yes, mate. We’ll just have to wait.”

Within a few minutes they heard the little bell alert them there was a new message in the inbox.

את הנסיך שידעה את הדוד למשך תקופה ארוכה. הוא יעזור.

Samuel translated the words literally this time
.
“
The prince has known your uncle for a long time. He will help.
”

“Of course!” Mark slammed both fists on the back of Samuel’s chair.

Lypsick looked at the floor again; his arms still folded over his chest.

“What?” Mark looked down at him. “What’s wrong now? You organized tomorrow’s breakfast meeting between Sadir, the prince and me yourself, so what’s bugging you?”

“Even if we find evidence against Sadir, we still have to bring her in.” His voice was quiet, concerned.

Mark was about to grab him by the shoulders and shake him like a plum tree. Lypsick turned away from him and went to sit down. “The Florida police want her to stand trial, Agent Gilford. She’s got to face the music one way or the other.”

Samuel rose from his chair. “If we can prove Sadir was responsible for Talya getting shot or my killing Slimane, why do we have to bring her in front of the courts then?”

“Because those are two separate issues, Samuel.” Lypsick using the Mossad man’s first name for the first time since they met surprised Mark. “Ms Kartz killed a man and in the eyes of the Florida police, she’s got to be tried for that crime.”

“But didn’t you say that file was closed?”

“Yes, Agent Gilford, as far as the FBI was concerned, it was. But when the Florida police examined the river bed and found another stash of cocaine, they re-opened the case.”

“Do you have a warrant for her arrest then?”

“Not yet. Until we talk to her…”

Mark shook his head. “She won’t tell you anything about that—she didn’t know. Nor did I. And again, let me remind you that she knifed the man in self-defence.”

“Yes, that’s what you’ve said all along, but no one was there to verify the fact.”

“WRONG!” Mark yelled. “Aziz was there.”

“Ha, yes, Dr. Hendrix. But he’s hardly an impartial witness, is he?”

“Don’t you start playing both sides against the middle, Lypsick. I thought you wanted Sadir to pay for what he’s done—not drag Talya through the courts.”

Leaving Samuel to unpack, change, and asking him to join them at the Hyatt later, Mark and Lypsick decided to walk to their hotel. Mark wanted to burn off some of his annoyance and frustration.

“What are you going to do now?” Mark asked Lypsick.

“Honestly?”

“What else is there?”

“I don’t know, Mark. I’ve got to bring her in.”

“But you still don’t have a warrant, do you?”

“No, I don’t, and that’s only because I convinced the Deputy Director to let me talk to her first. As soon as she acknowledges being on that boat, I’ll have to ask the Vancouver police to arrest her, with the warrant that would have been then issued in Florida. After that, it’s just a matter of extraditing her back to the US.”

“You know she won’t lie, don’t you?”

“I know, Mark, and there again, the evidence we’ve got are circumstantial at best. We haven’t got the knife she used, and the bills of lading she recovered from the trawler only prove she was there.”

“And you will need me to corroborate her statement, won’t you?” Lypsick nodded. “Did you ask Gibson for my collaboration already?”

“Not yet.”

“Good, because you may not have to.”

“Why?” Lypsick turned his head to Mark. “The only reason I wouldn’t have to ask for your collaboration would be if you had something to do with Al Nadir’s death.”

“Exactly. You all assumed Talya killed Al Nadir, but she didn’t—I did!”

Lypsick stopped. “Who did she knife then?”

“We never got a chance to ask his name before I heaved him overboard.”

“But that changes everything...”

They resumed walking. “Maybe, maybe not,” Mark said. “But the point is that if you get her to trial, she’ll acknowledge knifing a man who was about to attack me.”

“I’ll have to see who this second guy was and how he fits into the picture. And the sequence of events as the Florida coppers described is all wrong then?”

“I don’t know what they said, but it’s all in my report.”

“Why didn’t you call the police at the time?” Lypsick asked.

“Simple. I didn’t want any of us to be arrested when we knew Slimane was on the run and we had nothing to show for our troubles. All we had were these bills of lading. And all they proved was that some crates had been shipped from Miami.”

“And those would have been evidence that you were looking for something on the trawler.”

“Same as they do now, yes.”

Only their footsteps resounded on the pavement. Both men seemed to be lost in thought.

“What about Sadir?” Mark asked, crossing an intersection.

“What about him?”

“You expected him to do something, didn’t you? He wouldn’t have come all this way for nothing. What did you really suspect?”

“The thing we don’t know is why he rented that apartment.” Lypsick paused. “We only presumed he wanted to come here to help Samuel eliminate both Ms Kartz and Prince Khalid.”

“But that doesn’t make sense.” Lypsick shot a glance at Mark. “Samuel didn’t need any
help
to do that. You saw him. If he was ordered to eliminate either of them, he would have done it without blinking.”

“I agree, as far as the prince is concerned, but not Ms Kartz.”

“There must be something else... When he said that he was suggested to come here and
bring back Talya to the fold,
there was no mention of eliminating Khalid.”

“Yes, but Sadir didn’t know that.”

They continued walking in silence until Mark said, “We’ve got to find out what the guy is up to and have him admit that he’s responsible for Slimane’s killing and Talya’s shooting.”

Lypsick nodded.