“No, sir. None of the agents in the organization knows who their contacts are. We all receive instructions either by phone or coded emails—mostly emails lately.”
“Did Agent Lypsick indicate that he knew of this being a fact during the interview?”
“Yes—not clearly mind you—but to me it was obvious that Agent Lypsick knew about Mossad and its inner workings.”
“Did you have any knowledge about this being the case prior to the interview?”
“Yes, sir, I did.” Greenstein turned his head with a jerk toward his client. He had no idea. “When we’re about to be interviewed or about to meet agents from other organizations, we are given information about the person we’re to meet.”
“And this was the case in this instance?”
“Yes, it was. I received a full set of information on Agent Lypsick during my stay in Australia, and I was told that Agent Lypsick would meet with me at some point in relation to an assignment that I had carried out in the past.”
“Were you given any more details about this meeting or about Agent Lypsick’s background?”
“No, not in detail. I didn’t even know which assignment it related to, but the information contained something about Agent Lypsick’s prior involvement with Mossad.”
“Thank you, Agent Meshullam. We’ll go over this a little later.” Billycan turned to Mark. “But for now I’d like to ask a few questions from you, Agent Gilford, would you mind?”
Knowing that every syllable of this meeting was going to be taken down as evidence somehow, thus far, Mark had remained mute. He shook his head. “No, I don’t mind, go ahead.”
“During the interview in question, do you recall asking Agent Meshullam anything in particular?”
Mark sat up straight. “Yes, I did. I was curious to know why he had not killed Ms. Kartz; given that he is a marksman of note and that he had the woman in his scope to shoot her in the head if he had opted to do so.”
“And did you obtain an answer to your question?”
“Yes, I did.”
Billycan returned his attention to Samuel. “What was your answer, Agent Meshullam?”
Greenstein couldn’t hold his annoyance back. “I suggest you do not answer the question, Agent Meshullam.”
Samuel threw him a dirty look. “I said that my contact suggested to “teach her a lesson she would never forget” because of her alleged treacherous deeds against Israel.”
“And did you know what these “alleged treacherous deeds” consisted of?”
“I don’t see the relevance,” Greenstein blurted. “What Agent Meshullam knew or did not know about Ms. Kartz’s deeds is irrelevant in this instance.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Greenstein, but I have to disagree. This knowledge goes directly to show intend and the extent to which Agent Meshullam carried his order in this instance.” Billycan looked at Samuel encouragingly. “Go ahead, Agent Meshullam, answer the question.”
Samuel nodded ever so slightly. “It was my understanding that Ms. Kartz had collaborated with Mr. Assor in sending faulty weapons to Israel.”
“And how did you come to this understanding, Agent Meshullam?”
“I was fed this information through my contact at Mossad, before I went to Vancouver to fulfil my assignment. And during the interview we speak of, Agent Lypsick confirmed to both Agent Gilford and me that “Mr. Sadir, for all these years, stayed quiet, merely feeding Mossad with information designed to demonstrate his neutrality, even his allegiance to Israel, such as persuading Mossad to kill and maiming two of their own” to quote his exact words.”
Mark shook his head and then chuckled. Billycan’s brow furrowed as he eyed the CSIS agent. “I can tell you right now,” Mark uttered, “that those are Lypsick’s precise words. That’s amazing!” He looked at Samuel, amused. “Do you by any chance learn the Torah by rote?” He shook his head again. “Amazing!”
Billycan let Mark go on because his confirmation of what Samuel had heard showed him as a trustworthy and utterly reliable witness—and that’s what he needed him to be. “Okay, Agent Gilford, I think everyone agrees that repeating someone’s exact words after as long an interval is quite amazing as you say. However, we’re not here to discuss the manner but the content of Agent Meshullam’s answer.” He nodded in Samuel’s direction. “So, let’s go back to what you just said; you said that Mr. Sadir (according to Agent Lypsick) had fed information to Mossad which was designed to apply blame onto Mr. Assor and Ms. Kartz in regards to sending faulty armaments to Israel, is that a fair summary of Agent Lypsick’s statement?”
“Yes, it is. But there was something else that struck me as relevant at the time. Agent Lypsick was clearly aware of what Mr. Sadir was doing “for years,” as he said, and that raised a question to my mind: why didn’t Agent Lypsick advise someone of the fact when he became aware of what was happening?”
Billycan chuckled and stretched to the back of the chair. “I think I should have you take this seat at the head of the table, Agent Meshullam. You hit the nail on the head. Thank you.”
Greenstein was livid. He looked as if he was sitting on a pincushion. “Are you accusing Agent Lypsick of treachery, not to say treason? Because, if you are, you’ll have the CIA to answer to, I can assure you they won’t take this lying down.”
“I think you should calm down, Mr. Greenstein,” Billycan said. “I’m not accusing anyone of anything at this time, but if I were, I would certainly have some questions to ask of Agent Lypsick. Why, indeed, didn’t he make the CIA aware of his suspicions? Maybe you could answer that question, Mr. Greenstein, since you are very well acquainted with Agent Lypsick yourself, I believe.”
“I am not acquainted, as you call it, with Agent Lypsick. He only retained my services when Agent Meshullam returned to Sydney and I only met the man once when we were introduced.”
“If that’s the case, Mr. Greenstein, who’s instructing you in this case—Agent Lypsick or Agent Meshullam?”
Greenstein’s face paled. He knew either way he was now losing the battle. “Hum…, Agent Meshullam is, of course.”
Samuel lost his cool when he heard the answer. He literally shoved the chair beneath him brutally, stood up shouting, “LIAR!” and walked out of the room.
“Mark. Go after him,” Billycan ordered. “And bring him back!”
Mark was out the door before the US Attorney had finished pronouncing the last words of his sentence.
Greenstein was about to get up as well when Billycan stopped him. “I wouldn’t leave just yet, if I were you.” Greenstein sat down, reluctantly. “Thank you.” Billycan then leaned against the back of the chair again. “So, let’s get back to my question; who’s instructing you in this matter?”
“Off the record…?”
“Of course. Do you see anyone recording anything?” Billycan turned his head from side to side. Greenstein looked down. “All right then—I’m listening.”
“I was retained by Agent Lypsick. I believe he’s appointed me because I’ve practiced on both continents. He is instructing me, but leaves most decisions to Agent Meshullam.”
“Thank you. Could you tell me if Agent Lypsick has made any statement to you designed to coerce Agent Meshullam into giving a false or distorted testimony on the stand?”
Greenstein looked at Billycan for a long moment before answering. “I wouldn’t use the words “coerce” and “false testimony” in the same sentence, Mr. Billycan. But there were instances, I noticed, when Agent Lypsick insisted in my persuading Agent Meshullam in saying things that were not in his initial statement.”
“I see. Well, I suggest that, from now on, you ignore these sorts of instructions from Agent Lypsick. If you were to continue, it could have dire consequences for you personally, as you know.”
Samuel was already in front of the elevator when Mark joined him. “What’s the matter with you? We all know the guy is a liar. You’ve demonstrated that already. So why did you have to yell it at his head?”
/> “Do you have any idea what Lypsick is capable of?”
“I think I’ve got a fair idea, yes.”
“Well then, mate, you tell me how you and all this legal mumbo-jumbo is going to help Talya?”
“Is that what this is all about? They’re still after Talya?”
“Not they, Mark, Lypsick is. If she makes it to the stand, she’s good as dead. Lypsick has got her in his scope. He knows she is fully aware of what he’s been doing. And Sadir is, too. That’s why he’s not talking. If he did, he might as well order a funeral for his entire family while he waits to be executed.”
Mark could only stare. He was out of words. He was shaking when he finally uttered, “Did you tell Billycan?”
Samuel nodded, pressing the elevator button again. “Yes, I did last night... I’ve got to get to her, Mark. Lypsick is out there, and I’m the only one who could stop him.”
“No, you don’t!” Mark shoved the Mossad agent away from the open elevator door. “She’s under protection. He won’t get to her, I promise you. But, you, you’ve got to let Billycan dispose of Lypsick the proper way, so we won’t have to chase him for ever or hide from him anymore.”
Samuel hung his head. He was spent. He no longer knew how to fight. “All right, if you think she’ll be okay for the next few hours. But as soon as we’re done here, I’ve got to see her, Mark. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“And you will. Let’s get back in there, because the sooner we do, the sooner we’ll be done.”
Chapter 71
Van Dams was pacing the length of his office. He couldn’t come to terms with the fact that Lypsick was nowhere to be found. Since the CIA’s mandate didn’t authorize the agency to operate in the States, he had surrendered the search to the FBI. Yielding the control of any ops to the Bureau always bothered him. To say that the Deputy Director had an innate dislike of the Bureau would perhaps be an exaggeration. Nevertheless, he didn’t like the idea of letting these troublesome special agents loose in the countryside. He had seen how they bungled the investigation of the Marianne incident and how they made a mess of tailing Ms. Kartz from Jacksonville to Detroit, even going through the property of an old teacher in Atlanta, looking for car keys without a warrant, and manhandling her friend—a lawyer to boot. No, he definitely didn’t like having the FBI involved again. Basically, he couldn’t trust them.
Van Dams’s contact at the Bureau had told him Lypsick was a visible entity—people couldn’t help but notice his scarred face—and they would find the man in no time. Yet, Billycan was well into the trial now, his star witnesses were soon to take the stand, and the FBI had not been able to locate Lypsick. Both Ms. Kartz and Agent Meshullam were in danger. From the first days of the trial, Billycan had shown that Sadir was indeed guilty of feeding information to Mossad. This ultimately led them to believe that both individuals had conspired to provide faulty weapons to Israel. The US Attorney had also shown that Sadir had ordered the tampering of the SUV that Ishmael was driving at the time of the accident. However, Agent Meshullam, once on the stand, would demonstrate that Agent Lypsick had persuaded him to kill Agent Assor. What wasn’t clear yet was whether Agent Meshullam had taken upon himself to maim Ms. Kartz or if that was a suggestion made by Mossad. Until now, the Mossad agent had maintained that it had been his agency’s decision. Yet the facts pointed in either direction.
When it came to Ms. Kartz’s statement, or her testimony on the stand, it would certainly show the extent of the CIA’s involvement in the affair—whether authorized or not—and would inevitably implicate Lypsick and himself in a big way.
Van Dams stopped his pacing in front of his desk. He picked up the phone and called his friend at CSIS—Fred Gibson. He needed his help.
Fred answered at first ring. “Fred Gibson here.”
“Van Dams, Fred. Have you got a minute?”
“Let me see.” Fred smiled to himself. “Your type of minutes can stretch into an hour—and that I haven’t got. What’s up?”
“Do you know what’s going on down here?”
The abruptness of Van Dams’s speech gave Fred pause. “Yeah, Agent Gilford has kept me up to date. Why?”
“So you know Lypsick has disappeared?”
“That too, yes. Again, what’s up, Dietrich?”
“You should know—if you’ve been kept up to date as you say—Ms Kartz and Agent Meshullam are Lypsick’s next targets if Billycan is right. And since the Bureau can’t seem to locate the guy, I need your help to protect both witnesses.”
“How long since the FBI has taken over the search?”
“Four days now, and frigging nothing from them. I want these two protected, Fred. If I could do anything, I would, but my hands are tied when it comes to such ops as you know.”
“Yeah...” Fred had to let that sink in for a minute. “Mark Gilford is with both of them—as far as I know—and he knows Lypsick, which is always a plus with Mark.”
“True, but Meshullam is the one worrying me. He’d kill Lypsick in the blink of an eye. He’s totally out of control at the moment from what I’ve heard. And I don’t want a blood bath at this juncture...”
“Yes, but I’ve to ask, Dietrich, Why the hell didn’t you arrest Lypsick as soon as you had knowledge of his collaboration with Sadir? Those I.M. communications Mark mentioned—you must have known Lypsick was fomenting trouble…”
“Because, it was too late, Fred. The CIA could only rein Lypsick in—we couldn’t arrest him openly without divulging and admitting that the agency had tried to subdue all parties concerned with the West African operation.”
“That’s what I thought, but you must see that since you didn’t arrest Lypsick when you should have, it puts you in an untenable situation—not to say lethal.”
“I know that, Fred, but I think our prime concern should be toward Ms Kartz and Agent Meshullam now—otherwise I can’t even think of the consequence we could be facing.”
“Okay, let me see what I can do from this end, but short of putting them both in a cell, I don’t have much to offer at this minute. They’re two of the most unstable people I know, but I’ll call you back in a half-an-hour, how’s that?”
“Thanks. I’ll be here.”
When Fred hung up the phone, he called Namlah Badawee to his office. The legal advisor was sitting in front of the Chief within minutes.
Fred explained the situation quickly and stopped. He looked at Badawee expectantly.
The latter caressed his moustache concertedly before he spoke. “I think you would do well to call on Prince Abdullah, and ask for his assistance in this matter.”
The uncomprehending surprise was painted on Fred’s face. “What can he do? He’s the last person I’d have thought could help. What are you thinking?”
“The Saudi Arabian Embassy is located in Washington, isn’t it?”
“Are you saying that I should ask the prince to provide asylum to two Jewish people? That’s insane!”
Namlah looked down. “Not only to two Jewish people, Chief, but to the two people Saudi Arabia may still be accused of ordering Sadir to organize their assassination. Saudi Arabia, I’m sure, would be only too delighted to cleanse itself of such false accusation.”
Fred had to think about that one. That was as twisted an idea as he would have expected from his legal advisor, but a good idea, come to think of it. “Okay, but wouldn’t that put the prince and Khalid at risk?”
“Not at all, Chief. As we have said on many occasions, these two are untouchables. This Lypsick person wouldn’t dare make a move against either of them, without risking the needle or worse, facing a Saudi court.”
“What if he engages someone else to eliminate both?”
“Think about it. What would that achieve? Nothing.”
“Alright then, let me think about this. I’ll let you know what my decision will be.”
Namlah nodded. “However, I think it would be a good idea if Mark would keep an eye on Khalid until this is over.�
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Fred opened his eyes wide. “But you’ve just said it’d be too risky for Lypsick to try anything against the prince. Are you changing your mind now?”
“No, Chief, not at all, but I prefer to remain on the side of caution.”
“Okay, Mr. Badawee, I hear you.”
Namlah got up and went out as quickly as he came in, leaving Fred in a quandary. Yet, he knew Badawee was right—it was probably the only way to protect Talya and Samuel.
Chapter 72
As the US Attorney for the District of Columbia, Billycan’s first duty was to serve the people—and the people demanded that justice be done. In this instance, he was prosecuting a federal case and he had enough evidence to add two more charges to Mr. Sadir’s warrants—those of felony murders on the persons of Mr. Al Nadir and Mr. Salaman Abib. It became soon clear that if he let go of the Marianne’s incident and did not, at least, introduce evidence of Sadir’s involvement, the people would not see justice done.
However, the law would not allow him to prosecute Muhammad Sadir for these two felonies during the current trial. Billycan would have to present the evidence and hope to influence the jury’s mind into seeing how far-reaching the CIA and FBI’s decisions had been. As for prosecuting Sadir, he would have to let the Florida DA deal with it later.
Aside from the judicial reasons, Billycan wanted, more than ever, to demonstrate to Lypsick—where ever the guy might be—that he would not be able to reach Sadir to eliminate him any time soon. He first contacted the Florida US Attorney and discussed the issue with him. Upon receiving his approval to use the evidence involving Sadir in the double murder—after lengthy legal arguments—Billycan then contacted the ADA in Jacksonville, Glenda Blake, and asked her to transfer the files to his office in DC. Billycan also wanted Glenda to help him during the trial in Washington and invited her to be second chair for that part of it. Glenda agreed to the deal and sent the case files to the US Attorney without as much difficulty as she had expected.
Alerted of Billycan’s latest addition of witnesses to the list, Simmons wanted to file motions to block the US Attorney’s move. However, Sadir had again objected to him making waves that would inevitably introduce doubt as to his guilt into the jury’s mind. He wanted to “remain under the law’s protection,” he said. That statement drove Simmons to think he should withdraw from assisting Sadir in his defence. “The man is mad,” he muttered to himself at the issue of their meeting.
WASHINGTON DC: The Sadir Affair (The Puppets of Washington Book 1) Page 29