Chapter Twenty-nine

 

 

Brussels, Belgium

September 15, 1:30 p.m.

 

Justin held the phone in his hand. It felt as if it weighed a ton, and he seriously considered not answering it. He looked up at Carrie, who nudged him with a head nod. He sighed, then tapped the ‘Answer’ button and brought the phone to his ear, “Yes, sir, this is Justin.”

“Justin, what a pleasant surprise. How’re you doing, son?” McClain said in a warm fatherly tone.

“I’m doing well, now that I’ve got Carrie and the rest of the team.”

“Will you be all right?”

“I’m on my way to the hospital, sir. I hope they’ll patch me up and ship me home as soon as possible. And I’m looking forward to my next mission.”

McClain let out a low grunt. “Why don’t you tell me what happened, Justin?”

He gave McClain a brief narrative of what had taken place over the course of the last two days. Justin started with the ambush and ended when Carrie found him. He skipped over the details of his deal with Mossad, but informed his boss that Mossad was looking for a favor in exchange for their help. He highlighted the fact that Mossad’s asset had confirmed Prince bin Saud’s involvement in the terrorist attack against Canada. Justin also mentioned what he had learned from one of the gunman of Prince al-Farhan, about his attempt to eliminate both Justin and Carrie.

“It’s time we put an end to diplomatic games, sir,” Justin said at the end of his narrative, after he had answered several of McClain’s questions and points of clarification. “We need to start taking immediate serious action. Both princes need to be held responsible for dealing with terrorists, for trying to hide their treacherous activities and for orchestrating the ambush against me and Carrie. We can’t just fold our hands and do nothing, sir.”

McClain let out a long painful sigh. “It’s more complicated than that, Justin. This is a very complex issue.”

After a brief pause, Justin said, “I disagree. This is a pretty open-and-shut case. Both princes put the lives of your operatives in danger. Their acts cannot, must not, go unpunished.” His voice was quiet, yet firm.

“You’re right, Justin. We’ll take action, strong and resolute action. But the situation and the circumstances around this issue are not that clear-cut. It has already started to become a political nightmare, with much deeper consequences that you or I could have ever imagined.”

“What’s going on?”

“Prince al-Farhan has submitted a complaint directly and through the Saudi ambassador to both our Minister and Prime Minister. The prince is claiming you and Carrie threatened to use violence against him and his family.”

“What? That’s non-sense. That’s just bull—”

“Be that as it may, Justin, our political masters have to take these claims very seriously and carefully into account. They don’t want the situation to escalate into a diplomatic scandal and risk jeopardizing the relationship between the two countries.”

“I can’t believe this,” Justin said under his breath, trying to contain the rage simmering in his heart and spilling into his voice. “Our spineless politicians are willing to sell, betray their country for some dirty business deals, for the billions of dollars they’re making through the arms deal, right?”

“Justin, I understand your frustration, but I would be careful about rushing into erroneous judgments. As I mentioned earlier, our service hasn’t given up on you or this entire matter. But we need to put our rage aside, take our time to think logically and plan wisely our next steps.” McClain’s voice grew loud and turned bitter.

Justin bit his lip. He looked at Carrie, who offered him a sympathetic look. She nodded at him and mouthed, “He’s right.”

Justin closed his eyes. He clenched his fingers so tight around the phone he thought he might end up breaking it. He drew in a deep breath, but still held his tongue. He wanted to yell at McClain, to denounce the betrayal he was feeling at what he perceived as the politicians’ cowardice. It’s the light armored vehicles deal worth fifteen billion dollars. Our politicians will sell even their own mothers for such a mind-blowing amount. So the Saudi National Guard can crush all attempts of democracy from the Saudi people and keep the royal family’s absolute chokehold on power. He cursed in his mind, but said nothing out loud.

“Justin, while we’re figuring out our plan of action, you’ll be working in the HQ. There have been some negative developments around your operation in Sydney.” McClain’s voice had lost some of the initial callousness. “A new video is casting some doubts about your initial account. There’s significant fallout from your actions. Our internal review section is working to identifying what went wrong and how to avoid similar scenarios in the future.”

“Excuse me, sir, I don’t think I heard you. Did you really say ‘wrong’?” Justin tried not to sound too sarcastic in his remark.

Carrie shook her head, but Justin gave her an I-know-what-I’m-doing glance.

“Yes, you heard me right,” McClain said in a calm tone of voice. He had decided to brush off Justin’s remark. “We all make mistakes, and we should learn from them. Of course, it’s much better if we admit to our faults and shortcomings before they have become public and can cause major problems with our allies.”

“I think it is you who’re making a mistake.”

“No, Justin, I’m not. But I will not make a decision until our IRS has completed their review. For which they need your testimony and all evidence you may possess about the operation in Sydney. I trust you will fully cooperate with your colleagues, so they can get to the truth. You of all people would not want to put a stain on our service’s record of joint operations, would you?”

“Of course not. I’ve given the service my blood, sir, and I will die for my country. I’ll work with the inquiry team to the best of my abilities. But for the record, I still maintain that this is a mistake and a wasteful use of our time, energy, and resources.”

“All right, Hall, your objection is noted. And dismissed.” Irritation was clear in McClain’s voice. He was reaching the end of his patience, and Justin knew that. Besides McClain’s tone, a clear trademark was the use of Justin’s last name, something McClain never did, unless he was extremely frustrated with Justin’s behavior. “As soon as you’re clear to fly, I expect you to return to Ottawa and report at the HQ. Are you clear to your order?”

Justin hesitated for a moment. His eyes focused on Carrie, who offered him a small nod. “Yes, I understand.”

“Good. I’m glad.” McClain’s stern voice was evidence of the opposite. “And no contact with Romanov, Mossad or any other agencies until the end of the inquiry.”

“All right,” Justin said in a cold low voice. “Anything else?”

“I’m expecting a full detailed report on all events that took place during the time you were incommunicado. ASAP.”

“You’ll have it, sir.”

“That’s all. Heal up fast . . . son.” McClain’s voice had regained some of its initial warmth.

“I hope so. Thank you.”

McClain disconnected the call.

Justin tapped the ‘End’ button, then clenched his fingers tight around Carrie’s phone. He stared at it for a long moment, then looked up at Carrie as he stretched out his hand.

Carrie said, “Well, that wasn’t too bad.” She leaned forward and picked up her phone.

Justin said nothing.

“And it’s good McClain doesn’t know you as well as I do.” She brought her face close to Justin’s.

“Why do you say that?”

“Because I know you have no intention of going back home. Not before you’ve settled accounts with both Saudi princes and have kept your end of the deal with Mossad.”

Justin held Carrie’s gaze but there was no trace of emotion on his face.

“Justin, tell me I’m wrong.”

“I don’t want to lie to you, Carrie.”

She cursed under her breath. “That’s why you ‘reluctantly agreed’ to McClain’s orders. You offered our boss enough objections as to not make him suspect your intentions. Otherwise, he may order our team to detain you and forcefully return you to Canada. But in this way, McClain is confident that he persuaded you, albeit with a bit of arm-twisting.”

Justin refrained from smiling, but Carrie was right. “I think you’re underestimating McClain.”

“Yes, and so are you. He has clued in to what I’m up to. I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s on the phone with someone from our team right now, ordering them to handcuff me to my hospital bed.”

Carrie looked through the window. “No, Sid’s not on the phone.”

Justin grinned. “Not yet.”

“If you tell me what you’re planning, it would be easier for me to create a distraction.”

“I wish I could. But I don’t want to get you involved. Well, more than you already are. When the IRS interrogates you, I don’t want you to have to lie. If you don’t know where I’m going and what I’m trying to do, you can tell them the truth, all the truth.”

Carrie shook her head. “Is there anything I can say or do to make you change your mind, Justin?”

He thought about it for a few moments.

Sid took a sharp turn, and the ambulance rattled. A couple of medicine bottles on one of the shelves tipped over, but did not break. Justin’s IV stand rolled toward the gurney and clanked against its metal rails.

Justin said, “Is Sid trying to kill us now?”

Carrie did not laugh at Justin’s attempt of a joke. “You’re dodging my question.”

“No, just thinking of an answer. I wish you could be on my side, as it would make things easier for me. But not for you. So, no, unfortunately, there’s nothing you can say or do to make me change my mind.”

Carrie sighed and closed her eyes. “All right. Once we’re at the hospital, I’ll take over guard duties. Whenever you’ll have to make your escape, I’ll . . . I’ll look the other way.” She said the last words in a low cautionary tone.

“Thanks, Carrie. I appreciate it.”

Carrie gave him a sorrowful nod. “I’m not sure this is the right thing, Justin. But it’s what you want. And it’s what you’ll get. I know you’d do the same if I were in your situation.”

“Of course, I would.”

Carrie sighed and sat back on her seat.