Lupa, looking back at the corner, could have answered Archer’s second question. There was no doubt it was not an accident. There was also no doubt it was a miss.
Archer climbed to the top of the hill in the Garden. Sitting on a bench, he pushed the project out of his thoughts, and focused on the surroundings. The hill was crowned with several thorny bushes fighting for space among the rocks. In the distance he could see the higher buildings in the newer parts of the city. He knew the direction of the Temple Mount and thought he caught a glimpse of the Dome. He located the West gate on the map but couldn’t find it east of his position. Chad wished he had a pair of binoculars.
Sitting on one of the benches, he was struck with the conflicting images and feelings of Israel. The barren hill in a garden for instance. The peace and repose of a place separated from but in the middle of mainstream city bustle.
Chad reflected on the people in the park. His attention turned to a man in his forties, helping a woman in her seventies or eighties up the hill. They came slowly. She could have lived through this country’s fight for independence and their fight to maintain it. What changes had she seen?
Three young boys ran up the hill and joined the man. A man and his three sons. How ironic. A woman and her heritage. Is this what Chad owed to the world? Find the tablets held sacred by half the world? Find them and share them?
An hour had passed. He stood and walked down the hill. Back to forensic history he told himself. So, the scrolls were real. There must have been a stone, the locator stone, in the cavity behind the marker stone that he had held. Where did it go? Who has it?
Could the numbers on the back of the stone match whatever is on the location stone? What did Lipman mean the words were different? Chad knew he needed to talk with Elsha Lipman some more. Could he find out where the man lived? Could Boyer help? The rabbi, Avi, last name unknown would know.
The burner phone rang again.
“Yes?” Chad answered.
The rabbi was whispering. “You did this. Archer, you are responsible. Lipman has collapsed at work. My information says he gasped for breath, his lips turned blue. They have poisoned him. Throw this burner away now. Destroy it. Never contact me again.”
“Who poisoned him?” Chad asked, whispering as well. He was talking into a dead phone.
Chapter 51
“What is the nearest hospital?” Archer asked the cab driver.
“Shaare Zedek Medical Center,” was the concerned answer. “Are you hurt?”
“No. My friend was. Hurry please.”
The taxi pulled into traffic. Chad was thankful again at how widely English was spoken. Gaige had told Chad that fifty percent of Israelis claim Hebrew as their native language and eighteen percent claim Arabic. However the cross knowledge of languages was impressive. Ninety percent of Israelis understand Hebrew and sixty percent understand Arabic. In addition, most Israelis have at least the basic understanding of English and communications for Americans are not difficult. The social media, music, and exposure to other cultures has provided a superior command of English by anyone under thirty-five.
What an education this trip has been, Chad acknowledged.
The taxi ride was only ten minutes. Chad formed a plan by the time they reached the hospital. He overpaid the driver in appreciation of his speed.
A brief stop in the gift shop provided Chad with the things he needed - a bag, some rattling metal trinkets, and change. Leaving the store, he dropped his wallet in the bag as well.
At the reception desk, he verified that there was an Elsha Lipman at this hospital. He learned that Elsha had been moved to the third floor, in serious condition. He was told he wouldn’t be allowed to see the patient. He held up the bag and told her that he was a colleague and their supervisor asked him to bring Lipman’s personal effects. Chad said he needed to give them to Lipman’s wife. To demonstrate it, Chad pulled out his wallet from the bag, showed it a second and dropped it back into the bag.
On the third floor, there was a security desk just outside the elevators. Chad went through his act once more and was told to take a seat in the waiting area. Chad needed to find out what room Lipman was in. ‘Serious condition’ didn’t sound like he was going to die. Twenty feet of hallway led to double doors. He stepped through them and stopped suddenly. Just beyond the waiting area were a dozen soldiers. Most carried semi-automatics.
Chad picked up an English magazine and took a seat, listening and watching. One soldier was in charge. He wore a handgun. The insignia on his shoulder was three leaves. He was giving orders, pointing, and looking at everyone without a uniform as an enemy. He was slender but solid and trim. His hair was gray and short but not buzzed. He was clean-shaven. His light gray eyes moved constantly. When he pointed to the hall doors, Chad noticed a scar on his hand. Was that from action? He definitely looked like a badass.
Chad rose and walked past the nurse station to the restroom. Looking down the hall, Chad saw two guards by one of the rooms.
Chad’s intuition said they were there because of Lipman, but he wasn’t sure. He returned to his seat. Leaning close to a woman next to him, he asked, “Why are they here?”
“Protection?” she answered his question with a question. You’re not helping, thought Chad.
“Who? Someone important?”
The woman nodded toward another woman standing in the corner with two teenagers. “They spoke with her.”
“Who is she?” he asked.
The woman shrugged and rolled her eyes. Chad remembered Lipman had two children. He needed to verify the woman was Lipman’s wife.
Chad looked up the hospital number on his phone. He stepped into the hall and dialed the hospital, asking for serious care.
Trying to imitate a Russian accent, he said, “I am a cousin of Elsha Lipman. In Latvia. I am told my aunt, his wife, is there. She does not have a cell phone. Can you page her or ask her to take this call?”
“We don’t usually let someone take calls.”
“Please it will just be for a minute.”
“I will make an exception, this once.”
“Is it true he has been poisoned and will die?”
The nurse hesitated.
“Please tell me how bad it is. It may be hard for his wife to tell me. We need to know if we should fly there. It is very expensive.”
“He was not poisoned. He was exposed to some unknown substance in his laboratory. He is stable. We don’t know anything more than that. I will get his wife.”
“Thank you.”
Chad watched through the slits in the glass doors as the nurse spoke with the woman who was pointed out to him. He now knew the soldiers were there for Lipman. And, he knew Lipman’s room. He hung up and left the hospital.
Chapter 52
Archer tried to call the rabbi with the burner phone, but there was no answer.
It appeared that the military was at the hospital for Lipman’s protection. Protection of an asset. Unless they tried to assassinate Lipman and made a mess of it. In that case, the special detachment in the hospital might be there to finish the job.
In either case, they were there fast. Were they monitoring Lipman? Did they know of the meeting earlier? Was he now under surveillance, too, along with Lipman?
Chad decided to make use of his last afternoon in Jerusalem and visit the Temple Mount. He absorbed himself in reading the history of the Temple Mount from the booklets he purchased at the site. The military presence and wariness of the soldiers and visitors was noticeable. However, what surprised Chad was that the Muslims at the Mosque and Jews at the Wall, had a peacefulness about them. It was as if the spiritual level reached in their respective prayers lifted them above the conflicts and tribulations of their human and worldly beings. He found it infectious and, though he was not religious, he felt a surge of a spiritual energy.
Returning to the hotel about five o’clock, Chad felt less concerned with the project and the symbols and the numbers. He did feel a greater co
ncern for Elsha Lipman. Calling the hospital to find out Lipman’s status, he got nowhere. The nurse told him Lipman was now on the fourth floor, no longer in serious condition and no longer under restricted visitation.
Chad booted his laptop and Googled the IDF officer’s insignia. The senior officer was an aluf mishne, a full colonel. That was some top brass for a mere scientist. His previous paranoia returned. Was Lipman being watched? Electronically monitored? Instinctively, Chad’s eyes locked on his room phone and then they wandered over the room as if bugs or cameras would be immediately visible.
What to do? He could look into the numbers on the stone, he could pack, or he could visit Lipman at the hospital. He chose the last option. Being honest, he wanted a chance to ask more questions. He didn’t know if he could even get past the military guard.
Reception reminded him that visiting hours were over at eight o’clock.
Chad was surprised there was only one soldier stationed in the waiting room. He looked down the hall and none of the rooms were guarded. What did that mean? Further protection was not needed? Or had the area been cleared to finish the assassination?
The fourth floor was busy at six-thirty. Dinner trays were being collected. A new twelve-hour shift began. Nurses were making the rounds checking on their patients, administering meds, and taking readings. The waiting room was almost empty. It was dinner hour for the visitors as well. Many were at home. Chad wondered who might be in Lipman’s room.
The lone nurse sitting at the desk was leaning over a computer, absorbed in whatever she was reading.
“Elsha Lipman?” Chad asked.
“Without a glance at the red headed American in front of her, she responded, “Four one two.”
The halls led in three directions. A sign on the wall pointed Chad straight ahead. Four twelve was the last one on the left. As he approached, a patient emerged from the room. It wasn’t Lipman. The white-gowned patient pushed a walker in front of him. A woman was close behind, one hand on the man’s arm. Chad stepped aside and exchanged a smile with the woman.
He poked his head in the room. Lipman was lying on the far bed, tubes ran from an IV bottle into his arm. The bed was propped up slightly. An orderly was removing a dinner tray. Chad noticed half the food was gone. Another man sat next to the bed. There was a facial resemblance to Lipman. If this was a brother, he was in much better shape than the overweight patient.
The man stood as Chad approached. Chad extended his hand.
“Hi. Chad Archer. I’m a work associate. I was out of town today. Just heard.”
“Aaron. Elsha’s brother. I was just leaving. Thanks for coming. He’s asleep.”
“How’s he doing?”
“Well. He gave us a scare. They said his exposure was mild. Do you work at Weizmann?” The brother was processing what work associate meant.
“No. I’m a client of Weizmann’s. Elsha does work on my projects. Exposure to what?”
“They haven’t determined what it was. From what I learned, he opened a sample sent for analysis. A couple minutes after handling it, he collapsed.”
“Was anyone else affected?”
“No. It was not airborne, evidently. Poison by contact. The military quarantined the lab and took the sample away.”
“The military?”
“The Institute does work for them. Evidently they were on site and took charge.”
Chad thought that might explain their quick presence at the hospital earlier. Still. High-ranking officers just happened to be on site at Weizmann Institute? Was it their sample? The rabbi’s earlier phone call echoed in his head, creating more paranoid thoughts. But, they were gone now, he told himself. No guards. No security in the halls.
The brother turned and patted Elsha on the shoulder, gave a weak smile to Chad, and left.
Chad took the chair and waited, not sure if he should wake Lipman. It was an ideal time for conversation. No visitors and the roommate walking the halls.
Chad didn’t have to wake Lipman. The man stirred and opened his eyes. Lipman needed a few seconds to focus. Recognition came over him. Chad feared the reaction, but was surprised.
Lipman closed his eyes and said softly, “Dr. Archer.”
Chad didn’t know what to make of it. Drugs? The man in bed was much different from the nervous and frightened scientist he met in the Garden.
“I’m happy that you are okay. I was concerned.”
“I don’t think so. You’re a bully. You have questions. Ask.”
Chad swallowed, accepting the rebuke.
Lipman looked tired. Chad jumped to the most important question.
“What were the different words? Behind and Behind?”
Lipman’s eyes cleared. “One word was Behind. The other word means more like Back Of.”
“Like the back of a stone?”
“Yes.”
Chad pressed on.
“The tablets were taken up Mount Carmel,” he prompted. “Where did they go from there?”
Lipman closed his eyes again. He searched his memory for what he read.
“The acolyte saw it leave the mountain. A glowing and fiery departure.”
“Was it at the mountain or was he talking about it leaving a port at Haifa? What caused the glow? I don’t want to put words or thoughts in your mind. I am trying to picture what he could see at the foot of the mountain? Was there a trail where he waited, and then the tablets were taken down the path near him? Was it close or far away? What was the glow? The Ark is supposedly gold. Was it the Ark? Was there a reflection of the sun? Was it morning, noon, or sunset? Could it be a chariot? Or did he follow it to Haifa?”
Lipman’s face was blank. “Does it matter?
It was obvious to Chad why it mattered, but he appreciated that sometimes he was a step ahead of others.
He explained, “If it came off the mountain and headed inland, the tablets could be hidden in Israel. That would make sense. If it left by boat, I have to look across the Mediterranean. Where would there be a safe place at that time?”
“H-m-m,” Lipman responded.
“Think about the words you saw on the scroll,” Chad prompted.
“I don’t know some of the words. It was my interpretation. My impression was the acolyte was still at the mountain. He wrote about the priest that came back. The priest was burned. I am not clear of what the mode of transportation was from the mountain. You might be right about Haifa. I thought at first the word he used was some type of ship. I’m sure a word for fire was used.
“Maybe that was what burned the priest?”
“Maybe. I only had one pass at the scrolls.”
Lipman’s eyes closed. That was enough for now. Chad said thank you, but Lipman was asleep.
On the way down in the elevator, Chad remembered another important set of questions. It was about the numbers on the stone. What did they refer to? Who came up with them? Was it more of those instructions from the angels in the story? Who were those angels? Was it just a story made up by the priests to claim some divine involvement that justified their action?
Arriving at the ground floor, he pushed the button for four. The elevator immediately took him directly up to the fourth floor. He walked toward the nurses’ station. Lipman’s roommate was halfway back down the hall. His woman companion was gone. A doctor emerged from Lipman’s room, glanced toward the roommate, and hurried in the opposite direction disappearing through the Exit door at the end of the hall. Chad caught a glimpse of a dark complexion, a kippa, a doctor’s coat, and a stethoscope.
The nurse was sitting at the computer this time. A second nurse and a doctor were behind her talking. Chad came even with the desk when suddenly alarms sounded. A loudspeaker calmly announced some emergency in Hebrew. Chad stopped. The two nurses and doctor reacted quickly. More nurses came running down the other halls. They all ran toward Lipman’s room. A light flashed over the door. The walker was pushed to the side. One nurse rushed a crash cart to the room. Chad trailed them and lo
oked in at the feverish activity around Lipman’s bed. Paddles were charged and applied to the man’s naked chest. Once. Twice. Once again.
Doctor’s were shaking their heads. Chad figured it out quickly. Someone posing as a doctor had just assassinated Lipman. He turned toward the elevators and hurriedly left the hospital.
Chapter 53
Chad processed information quickly. The nurse will remember someone asking for Lipman’s room number. The brother would remember the name of a red headed American. The woman companion of the roommate would add to the description. Cameras and security footage would give the authorities a picture. He was the last one to see Lipman. Who besides Chad saw the mysterious doctor? Was there a camera at the end of the hall? Did the walker returning to his room happen to look up? Could Chad convince the police that he saw someone? Why would he return to the fourth floor if he just killed Lipman? How was Lipman killed? How would he know how to do that?
He didn’t have answers. Even if he cleared himself, it would take hours if not days. How soon could they find him?
He directed the taxi to his hotel.
The rabbi was right. Someone silenced Lipman.
The rabbi. Chad tried the burner phone. It was dead at the other end. The rabbi destroyed his. He told me to destroy mine? Am I making a mistake holding onto it?
The rabbi. Chad had to warn him. He re-directed the taxi to the synagogue. He paid quickly and entered the building warily. There was a cleaning crew working. Chad looked through the rooms. There was a meeting in one room. He poked his head in. No rabbi. A man noticed Chad and left the room, stopping Chad as he walked away. A red headed non-Jew was out of place.
“Can I help you?”
“I was looking for the rabbi?”
“Rabbi who?” the man asked now suspicious of the vagueness. It had not occurred to Chad that perhaps the rabbi was not a rabbi, or perhaps he was not the only rabbi to attend this synagogue.
“Rabbi Avi.” Chad said watching the man’s face.
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