Chapter 79
As soon as court was adjourned for the day, Billycan rushed out of the courthouse and into his car at kerbside. Marcel was waiting for him in the backseat. “How did it go with Prince Khalid?”
Billycan groaned. “The man keeps his aces up his sleeve alright. He’s been talking to the CIA Director…” Marcel raised an eyebrow. “Yes, you heard me. Prince Khalid obtained confirmation from the Director himself that Sadir had no business meddling in Mossad’s affairs—such as being informed of Meshullam’s movements—in a region that was not in his purview.”
“And where was he working primarily?”
“In West Africa!”
“Good God!”
“Yes! You said it. Not only do we have proof that Sadir was interfering in Mossad’s business, but we now have evidence of his direct involvement in the CIA’s operations in West Africa. Agent Gilford has a tape recording of an interview he and Prince Khalid had with Sadir in Vancouver.”
Marcel’s mouth dropped. “Why didn’t the prince let us have this information before the trial, do you think?”
“I can think of only one reason; protecting Samuel and Talya. He knew that if anyone interested in less than their well-being would get hold of that info, they would be in danger no matter where they were.”
“And since they’re under protective custody now, so to speak, he felt free to release this information, is that it?”
Billycan looked out the window and realized that they were going in the opposite direction to where he intended to go. “Carl, I’m sorry, but I’d like you to drive us to Mr. Van Dams’s office...”
“No problem, sir,” Carl replied. “We should be there in ten minutes, given the traffic.”
“That’s alright, no need to rush. We’re not due in court until morning now.”
Carl chortled and returned his eyes from the rear-view mirror to the road.
Billycan returned to looking out the car window. “Glenda was right when she said these guys play their cards close to their chests.” He paused. “By the way, did Glenda make her flight back to Miami?”
“Yes she did, and she phoned saying she was going to look into the second trawler’s incident right away and if she found out anything before Gilford is on the stand, she’ll inform us straight away.”
Billycan nodded.
“And why are we going to see Van Dams now?” Marcel asked. “We haven’t been notified that they’ve got Verduccio yet.”
“Because we’ve got to find out if Sadir had any connection whatsoever with the FBI. I have no doubt of it now, but I want Van Dams to confirm it, even if I have to put him on the stand to do it.”
“Does Van Dams know we’re coming?”
“No, Marcel, he doesn’t. And I don’t want him to be prepared for this meeting. I want to look in his face and see for myself if he’s lying.”
“Lying about what?” Marcel looked surprised.
“Come on, Marcel. Do you really think the man was ignorant of the fact that Sadir was working primarily in West Africa or that he had knowledge of the plot to assassinate Prince Abdullah while making him the scapegoat for the CIA’s failed operation? And if you recall, Van Dams didn’t provide us with all the communications Agent Peterson intercepted between Sadir and Lypsick. What’s more—a question that’s been nagging at me ever since we introduced the two IM communications we have on file—why on earth didn’t Van Dams arrest Lypsick when he learned of the plot between him and Sadir?”
Marcel shook his head. “You’re right, and I think he must have known about the West African operation, but all the same, I don’t think he was aware that Sadir had intercepted messages or even meddled in Mossad’s affairs before Agent Peterson showed him the two damning messages.”
“Yes, you’re probably right, but that doesn’t excuse the fact that he didn’t arrest Lypsick when he had the chance.” Billycan paused. “And with these cagy characters I prefer to have confirmation of anything I may advance in court before I do. In fact, he should have told us about Sadir’s functions before I heard it from one of our witnesses.”
When Marcel and Billycan arrived at their destination, they saw Van Dams come out of the building as they were about to enter it. A shot rang out and Van Dams fell to the ground in a heap.
“Call 9.1.1., NOW!” Billycan shouted to Marcel. He was already dialling. “Hang in there, Dietrich. Hang in there, my friend,” the US Attorney said to the dying man.
“Lyp... sick...” was Van Dams’s last word.
Billycan pressed his hand to the bleeding chest for a few seconds until he felt the heart stop beating.
The sirens blared, announcing the arrival of police and ambulance fracturing the silence that surrounded the front of the large building—a solitary centurion towering over the body of one of its occupants. The few people that rushed to assist the injured fellow, and Billycan in turn, were possibly agents who alerted their colleagues and friends inside. It was not until afterward that the US Attorney realized any one of these men and women could have been the shooter.
“Get me out of here,” Billycan blurted, getting up, taking a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiping Van Dams’s blood off his hands. He grabbed hold of Marcel’s arm for support.
“Yes, sir. Carl is pulling out of the garage right now... He’ll be here in a minute.”
“Okay…” Billycan’s face paled. He felt unwell. He wanted to sit down.
Within minutes, the police had the crime scene cordoned off and the EMTs were attending to the U.S. Attorney.
“My name is Frank,” the young man said to Billycan as he helped him to sit down on the back seat of the U.S.D.A.’s vehicle. “You’ve suffered a shock, and I think it’d be a good idea if we took you to the hospital and have a look at you.”
Billycan abhorred hospitals. “No, absolutely not.” He pulled his legs from the curb and settled in the seat. “I may have suffered a shock but I am not going to no hospital. I’m going home!” He looked up at Marcel. “We’ll drive you home, too; it’s on the way.” Then he shot a glance to Carl. “Let’s go,” he told him and slammed the car door in the EMT’s face.
As the car drove away, the officer, who was standing by the body, asked his colleague, “Do you know who that was?”
“No idea. Why didn’t you stop him? He witnessed the incident.”
“And he’ll make a very good witness, too,” he replied, still looking after the car going through the intersection.
“What you mean?”
“That was the US Attorney himself—Mr. Lucien Billycan!”
“I’d never have recognized him. You sure it was him?”
“As sure as I’m talking to you.” He looked back at his partner. “Anyway, let’s see what we can do about getting some info before the detectives arrive...”