Mossad Headquarters

Sitting in Ariel’s office Yosef says, “I received what I expected.  He denied knowledge of what I told him.  He is good, his facial expression never let on he was lying.”

“If he never let on how do you know you have the right man?”

“I could read it in his eyes.   They gave him away.  That ever so slight shift in his eyes told me he wasn’t telling the truth.”

“Do you expect he will contact us?”

“Not immediately, he will make us wait a couple of weeks.  He will not want to appear anxious. 

When do you plan to let me in on what you want to use him for?”

“If he contacts us and you need to meet with him again I will brief you on how I am planning to use him.”

“I have other issues that need my attention,” say Yosef as he rises from his chair.

“Yosef, nice work, I knew you wouldn’t let me down.”

“Let’s see how all of this works out before you go patting me on the back.”

Ariel smiles as his senior agent closes the office door.

Dinner That Evening

When Edina arrives in the evening she is quite concerned.  Their previous relationship borders were to see each other on weekends.  Anoush crossed that line and she is worried about what is going on.

“What is wrong ?” she asks.   It is not a one sentence statement a great deal is being left unsaid.

 “Let’s talk and eat.  I’m having food delivered from our favorite oriental restaurant.  When it arrives, we can talk.”

He pours her some wine.  He probably needs it more than she does.  Edina gives him the I don’t buy it look.  “Are you seeing someone else?” she asks.

“Edina, get off your high horse of being hurt and listen to what I have to say.  I told you I love you and I don’t say those words freely.”

Meeting Anoush

At ten in the morning Anoush is working in the front yard clearing branches that were blown down by the heavy winds last night.  He enjoys the physical exercise working in the yard gives him.  He hears a car coming up the driveway.  He’s not expecting Edina so he is wondering who this person is.

A white four door sedan is slowly pulling onto the driveway.  Anoush heads towards the vehicle.

The driver turns off the engine.

“Who are you looking for, maybe I can help?”

“Are you Anoush Jalili?” 

“Yes, why do you ask?”

“Do you mind if I get out of the car?”  “Not at all, but you still haven’t answered my question.”

Anoush is trying to figure out where this is going.

“Since you know my name I think it is only fair that you tell me yours.”

“My name is Max.  Can we talk somewhere?”

“There is a picnic table with benches in the back, let’s go there.”

Both men sit facing each other without saying a word for a few moments.

Three Months Later

Yosef is sitting in front of Ariel Wattenberg’s desk.  “You think this character Anoush Jalili is the man we want?” Ariel asks.

“Our people have scoured Albania and checked out all of the passengers’ names we received from the airlines.  We broke it down to three and then out of the three he seems the most likely.”

“I want you to make contact with him.  You’ll need to do this in person.  Any other way and he might bolt.”

“I understand but what do you want me to discuss with him?”

 

“Tell him you are looking for someone to take on a special project.  Our firm did some inquiring into his talents and we feel he has the skills we are looking for.  Don’t spend a great deal of time with him.  Let his imagination work its own course.  Give him our black listed e-mail address to contact us when he has reached a decision.”