CHAPTER 7

The Big Rock

Eytan felt a bottomless hole open up in his stomach. While hunting down war criminals around the globe, he hadn’t realized just how old and fragile Eli had become. At his age, Eli certainly had to be experiencing some health problems. Eytan wondered if he had turned a blind eye, if he had been too afraid to face the reality of losing a close friend yet again. Nonetheless, a man with his past couldn’t keep his head buried in the sand for long. In his heart, Eytan knew the dreaded phone call would come sooner or later.

“Our own death is nothing,” he said to himself over and over. “It’s the death of others that is unbearable.”

“Calm down, Rose. What’s going on with your father?”

The young woman took a deep breath.

“Dad called us from Tel Aviv. He gave Steve his flight number and his arrival time for Boston. Steve left to pick him up at the airport, but Dad never got off the plane. Steve went to the airline desk, and the staff checked the passenger list. Dad wasn’t on it. I was so mad. I thought some new top-secret situation had come up, and he hadn’t even bothered to tell me he wasn’t coming. I tried calling him several times but just got his voice mail. And then, ten minutes ago, I got a call from his cell phone.

“And?” asked Eytan. He could hear Rose choking back the tears.

“It wasn’t him on the line. It was a man who claimed to be holding him hostage. He asked me to give you a phone number and have you call it, or else he’d take Dad out. I don’t understand why they didn’t call you directly, since they have his phone.”

“My number isn’t saved on Eli’s phone,” Eytan told her as he pulled out a pen. “All right, I’ve got something to write with.”

Rose dictated the phone number, which Eytan scribbled on the back of an envelope lying on the coffee table.

“Can you tell me anything about the call or the caller? Any detail that might help?”

“No… Well, maybe. I don’t know if this is important, but the person was very polite.”

“I’ll call him immediately. Please, try not to worry. If someone kidnapped your dad in hopes of getting in contact with me, then you have nothing to fear for now.”

“Eytan, I’m scared,” the young woman whispered. “I’ve come to terms with the risks both of you face, and I’ve even managed to put them out of my mind for the most part. But now…”

“Rose, do you trust me?”

“More than anyone.”

“I’m going to bring him home unharmed. I promise. Do you hear me?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll get back to you as soon as I learn something. Just take care of yourself. I’ll take care of everything else.”

Eytan called the number. The abnormally long sequence corresponded with an encrypted communication system. It meant that Eytan had no means of tracing the call. After a few rings, with each tone more unusual than the last, Eytan heard a smooth, deep voice on the other end.

“Mr. Morg, thank you for returning our call so promptly.”

“Considering the way you worded your request, how could I refuse? What do you want?”

“I see you’re skipping the formalities and getting straight to the point. I’m happy to oblige, as I am also pressed for time. You’ll be going to Prague, Mr. Morg. Make sure you get there by tomorrow afternoon. Call this number at five thirty, local time.”

“Then what?”

“Then we’ll reveal the location of our meeting, where we will discuss Mr. Karman’s fate and the terms of the agreement that we wish to make with you. Do you accept the plan?”

“Do I have a choice?”

“You have free will, Mr. Morg. You can accept my offer or decline it. You’re welcome to turn your back on your loved ones and your responsibilities and go your merry way. Of course, you can consider this option only by liberating yourself from the useless things that, in reality, keep you from reaching your full potential: your emotions and, more important, your principles. So basically, if you want total control, you’ll have to renounce what you are.” Eytan didn’t have to see the man to visualize the little smirk on his face. “We know you well enough to assume you won’t embrace such an attitude.”

One more narcissist who enjoyed deluding himself with the sound of his own voice. Eytan was unfazed. He refrained from saying anything. Before the silence could sink in, his phone partner started up again.

“Agent Morg, we want you to be at the top of your game.”

“In that case, I’m afraid I’ll be letting you down,” Eytan retorted tersely.

“Even if you feel weakened by your recent injuries, we would never make the mistake of underestimating you. Before you ask the question, I can assure you that Mr. Karman is doing wonderfully and that I am seeing to it that he is treated with utmost respect.”

“Don’t expect me to thank you or even take your word for it,” Eytan replied. He was getting angry and knew he had to watch what he said even more carefully.

“I’d never ask as much.”

“How did you know about my injuries?”

“Ah, you must realize by now that our influence extends well beyond the simple realm of pharmaceuticals.”

Eytan laughed. Of course. He had known all along. “So you’re a member of the Consortium.”

“We’ll discuss this later. Tomorrow. Five thirty. Prague.”

“Prague? I’m not going anywhere until I have proof that he’s alive.”

“Understood. I’ll hand the phone over to Mr. Karman. He’s sitting right next to me.”

“Eli?”

“Yes, Eytan. Rest assured, I’m doing fine.”

Eytan felt momentarily relieved at the sound of his friend’s husky voice.

The phone exchanged hands again.

“There you go. You wanted proof. You have it. Ah, I almost forgot. Don’t bother contacting Mossad or even informing them of the situation. If you do, the consequences will be dire,” the man concluded before hanging up.

Eytan looked at the phone. In a few minutes, he would call Rose to tell her that he would bring her father back safe and sound, even if it meant setting the whole world ablaze. Then he’d call Captain O’Barr and ask for an emergency passage, which would cost him a pretty penny. That was the price of living as a recluse. But money meant nothing to Eytan, especially not today. Last, in order to obtain the necessary materials, he would have to activate his network on the continent, which he had built over the course of many missions.

Up to this point, the Kidon operative had led his missions the same way he had led the rest of his life. Alone. Relationships were luxuries with too high a price for someone whose existence was basically one long series of near-death experiences. Love was professional negligence. Yes, Eli was one of the few people—perhaps the only person—with whom he had deep and long-lasting bonds. And never before had he caused his friend’s safety to be jeopardized.

Now Eytan clung to one reassuring thought. Sure, the Consortium was holding Eli hostage, but he also had a bargaining chip. Back at the BCI facility, Eytan had decided against killing off Elena. And at this moment, he was very pleased with himself for letting her live.