Chapter 35
As soon as Namlah Badawee reached his office, carrying his coffee, he sat down, punched the intercom button and waited until Gibson picked up the phone.
“I see you’ve made it,” Fred said. “Thanks for coming in early. Jimmy and I will be right over. Stay where you are.”
“I’ll be waiting,” Namlah answered, sipping on his coffee. He wondered what could be that urgent to be called so early in the day for a meeting. He shrugged, deposited the large latte on the side of the desk and opened the Meshullam file.
Gibson knocked on the lawyer’s open door.
“Come in, come in, Chief. Good morning. Have a seat. And you too, Jimmy,” Namlah invited.
“Okay,” Fred began, “Jimmy here gave me an idea, and I’d like you to hear him out.”
“Sure. What’s on your mind, Jimmy?”
“Well, sir, I’ve been thinking of all these people popping out of nowhere and suddenly going to Vancouver…”
Namlah held up a hand. “Sorry to interrupt you, but what “people” are you referring to?”
“There’s that Agent Meshullam, then there was Prince Khalid, and then I suspect Agent Sadir could also be on his way there.”
Namlah’s eyebrows shot up. “What would make you think Agent Sadir is going to Vancouver?”
“Well, sir, I’m thinking of the way he’s been removed, and why.”
“Okay, go on.”
“See, he’s the one who supposedly found Slimane’s location—when no one had any idea where the man was. Then, he is the one who sent Prince Khalid to Australia. I’m sure, though, the prince had the same thing in mind. I mean he probably wanted to avenge Ms Kartz’s attack at some point. He already wanted to do that ever since she was shot. Anyway…, then, as soon as we decided to bring Agent Meshullam back, Sadir gets nervous and tells everyone he’s going on holidays…”
It was Fred’s turn to look surprised. “How do you know that?”
“Well…, the message, sir…, it said that he’s taking a leave of absence…”
“So?”
Jimmy shook his head. “Don’t you see? If he’s the one who’s alerted Agent Meshullam that things were going south on him, he probably decided to get out before the CIA got the wind up.”
“But it’s the CIA who removed him…?”
“No, that’s not the way I see it. The CIA probably did in a way, yes, but all they really wanted to know is where he intended to go when he said he was taking a holiday.”
“And when did you figure out Sadir was going to Vancouver, or how did you come to that conclusion?” Namlah asked, stroking his moustache.
“Well, this is the thing, sir, I don’t know it for a fact, but since the CIA is onto Sadir for some time now and since they’re keeping tabs on Meshullam, they probably put Sadir where he would find Meshullam...”
“You mean they’re trying to force a confrontation?”
Jimmy nodded vigorously. “Yes, sir. That’s what I think. By my way of thinking, if Meshullam has been ordered back to Vancouver it’s not only to get Sadir between four eyes, but to protect Ms Kartz.”
“But why?” Fred blurted.
Namlah decided to answer that one. “Chief, if Mossad spared Ms Kartz once, they’re not coming back to finish the job. From what you said, Jimmy, and I would have a tendency to agree, Sadir is the target—not Ms Kartz.”
“You mean Mossad wants to get his hide?”
“Absolutely, Chief, if we go by Jimmy’s surmise. And I think we should.”
“And that thing you said the other day about the CIA trying to find proofs of Sadir’s involvement in Slimane’s death; is that what Mossad is afraid of?”
“Yes and no.” Namlah lost him. “What I mean is this; if Mossad got rid of Slimane is most likely because he took matters in his own hands when he sent faulty weapons to Israel...”
Fred said, “You mean the CIA was in on Slimane’s killing?”
“Yes.”
“But then why would they need proof, if they were in it together with Mossad?”
“Simple. They want proof against Sadir. Evidence that he knew where Slimane was, and organized his killing.”
“But isn’t Mossad the one who sent Meshullam to kill Slimane?”
“Yes, but, they only did when Sadir revealed his location.”
“Good God! Are you telling me Sadir was the one behind the faulty arms’ shipment?”
“I guess that’s what I’m saying,” Namlah concluded. “And for a Mossad man to be involved in arms shipment to Israel is one thing, but when Slimane allegedly began shipping faulty weapons, Mossad got angry. The only one who was liable to do that was an Islamic Radical. So, when they followed the lead back to its origin they found none other than Agent Sadir—a Muslim man.”