Beit Aghion, Jerusalem
Five days after Assassinations
Six days to Announcement
‘Who are these people?’ Levitsky stared at Zeb and the sisters as they sat next to the ambassador.
‘They are with me,’ Alice Monash replied, not elaborating.
‘I understand, Ambassador, but what are they doing here? Yago,’ he looked for support from his leader, ‘This is an internal meeting. We have allowed Ms. Monash to sit in, but surely—’
Cantor’s jaw flexed as he glared at his minister. ‘That’s FBI Special Agent Tom Brown,’ he gestured at Zeb. ‘I met him earlier. He helped us in my discussion with Jaedon Haber. You know what that leader was threatening. The two ladies are the ambassador’s aides. We have far bigger problems—’
‘Yago,’ Levitsky interrupted. ‘I think this is highly unusual. We are discussing highly confidential state matters that not even the entire cabinet is privy to—’
He jumped when Cantor slammed his palm on the table. ‘Jessy, I am still the prime minister of Israel. I will decide who comes into my residence and who sits in my meetings.’
Levin cleared his throat in the awkward silence that followed. ‘Only the prime minister and Nadav know this. It is not something that will be disclosed to the public and should not be discussed outside this room. Brown and the two ladies took down Abdul Masih and Alam Qadir.’
Levitsky’s jaw dropped. His eyes bulged and he stared at Zeb, Beth and Meghan, hostility disappearing from his face. Jore Spiro looked on with a thin, enigmatic smile on his face, as if he knew who Zeb was.
He might know, Zeb thought. I met him several years back, on a mission when he was an active soldier.
‘You shot him?’ the minister for public security whispered.
‘The prime minister is right,’ Zeb replied noncommittally, ‘there are more important matters to discuss.’
‘How did Masih know which hotel to target?’ Cantor growled when Levitsky dropped the matter. ‘How did he assemble people so quickly? What story do we tell the people?’ A muscle in his jaw flexed. ‘You have seen what’s being discussed on social media. People are saying Mossad is behind the attack. I have a press conference in another hour. I need something to tell the people.’
‘About the hotel, it’s too early to say, Yago,’ Spiro answered. ‘The police are looking into the security camera footage. They are questioning everyone in the vicinity of the attack. IDF teams are canvasing the entire neighborhood.’
‘Was there a leak?’
‘That is a possibility—’
‘There was no leak.’ Heads swung toward Zeb at his emphatic reply. ‘I know what happened. Masih followed the ambassador’s vehicle. He put two and two together and made his plans.’
‘You know this for certain?’ There was a question in Levin’s eyes.
He’s wondering if I kept something from him.
‘I’m reasonably sure.’ He launched into a quick account of how he had felt after the ambassador had given her speech.
‘You didn’t spot anyone then?’
‘No. But it wouldn’t be hard for Masih to organize surveillance without being detected.’
‘We didn’t know he was here? Masih?’ Cantor asked Levitsky.
‘No, Yago.’
‘We had the same intel, Prime Minister,’ Levin backed up his ministerial colleague. ‘That Masih was in Gaza. As to your second question, it wouldn’t be difficult for him to get suicide bombers and gunmen.’
‘What about my third?’
The ramsad leaned back. What story to spin was a job for politicians.
‘Why don’t we tell the truth?’ Spiro suggested. ‘That EQB was behind these attacks.’
‘I can do that. But questions will arise about the previous attack. We haven’t made much progress, have we?’
‘No, Yago,’ Levitsky admitted.
‘Sir,’ Levin hunched forward, ‘If I can suggest?’
‘Go ahead.’
‘Why not claim the EQB is a suspect in the previous killings?’
Sounds of surprise echoed in the room.
‘Why would the EQB kill Palestinians, Avichai?’ the prime minister asked, puzzled.
‘To put us in the position we are in. We are questioning our own organizations, searching for traitors. We don’t know whom to trust within ourselves. Sir, there’s someone smart behind these killings. Someone very smart, who knows how to use social media to their advantage. Look what’s trending now. We know for sure that Mossad operatives weren’t involved in this latest attack, yet we are on the backfoot.’
‘You want us to play their game,’ Cantor nodded, understanding dawning in his eyes. ‘Nullify the misinformation they have sown. It will also buy us time.’
‘More importantly—’
‘Yes, Avichai.’ The prime minister managed a smile despite the gravity of the situation. ‘It will help us manage the coalition partners. EQB is a good target to blame. It will help President Baruti, too. He has long condemned EQB.’
‘Those killers are still out there, though,’ Shoshon reminded everyone. ‘The ones who killed the Palestinians.’
‘And they need to be found. I think they will be thrown off-guard by my statement, wondering what we are playing at … which is what Avichai wants.’ He glanced at his watch and rose, his cue for ending the meeting. ‘I have several calls to make. Presidents Morgan and Baruti, the British prime minister … Avichai, Alice, can you stay back? Agent Brown, you too, and the ladies.’
He clasped Zeb’s shoulder when the others had left the room. ‘Agent Brown, I cannot thank you enough—’
‘Stop right there, sir. No thanks are needed. We happened to be at the right time and place. That’s all.’
‘That’s not all. Avichai and Nadav briefed me on exactly what went down. You and the sisters,’ he looked at the twins warmly, ‘had the presence of mind…’ he trailed off when he sensed Zeb’s embarrassment. ‘I hope you know how grateful we are.’
Zeb nodded.
‘That other matter?’
‘Which one, sir?’
‘Finding who the Palestinians’ killers are and clearing Mossad.’
Zeb shot a look to Levin, who shook his head imperceptibly.
He hasn’t revealed my identity.
‘Sir, I’m with the FBI—’
The prime minister silenced him with a raised hand. He looked like he hadn’t slept in hours and had come off several crisis meetings. Despite that, there was a glint of humor in his eyes.
‘We can drop the pretense, Zeb Carter. Avichai said I had met you a while back. He also said I wouldn’t remember you. I didn’t, but when he said you had found his daughter’s killers … I did some checking of my own and made some calls.’
He sobered quickly. ‘Let me know if there is anything you need in your investigation. Avichai’s suggestion of blaming the EQB will buy us some time. But not for long. Journalists will ask questions. People up and down the country will, too, once heated emotions have cooled down.’
Zeb looked at him. Unassuming was a word commonly used when describing the prime minister. Shrewd and master strategist were others.
It struck Zeb like a lightning bolt as he stood there with Beth and Meghan beside him, Alice Monash next to Levin.
I know what these negotiations are about. I now know why the secrecy. Why Baruti and Cantor are playing it so close to their chests. Why even Clare didn’t tell us.
Cantor seemed to read his mind. ‘You know what’s at stake.’
‘I do, sir.’
‘What was that about?’ Levin whispered to Zeb as he walked them out. ‘You and the prime minister seemed to have a moment.’
‘I think I know how to draw the killers out.’
The ramsad stopped abruptly and grabbed Zeb’s sleeve. ‘How?’
‘We’ll arrange a welcome for them.’