California Triangle: A Passionate Thriller About the Mossad, FBI and Iranian Revolutionary Guards (International Espionage Book 3)

by Uzi Eilam

  Deutsch hadn’t yet touched the pile of papers that had accumulated on his desk during the last few days. The relief he felt knowing that Ryan was being detained with no way to communicate with his operators was mixed with apprehension. Deutsch remembered what O’Connor had said at their last team meeting: the game ain’t over till it’s over. The suspicion of a mole in the institute had not yet dissipated, and Ryan’s disappearance from the stage didn’t eliminate the threat yet. Nor did it eliminate the fear that hadn’t yet been confirmed—that parts of Gideon’s research that hadn’t been given to the Israelis to protect were in the hands of the Iranians. Both the door that the institute opened for Ryan and the presence of a mole among us is my responsibility, and I can’t shirk it. Ryan may be out of the game, but what do we do about the source they have here? he thought.

  Half an hour later, Gideon was sitting in his office with him, looking at the piles of documents waiting for Deutsch’s attention. “I’m sure you know that Yoni filled me in. So what happens now?” Gideon asked, hoping to urge Deutsch to share any developments.

  “Ryan’s a thing of the past, but we still have the present and future to deal with.”

  “That’s exactly why I wanted to meet with you,” Gideon said. “I’m not familiar with all the misdeeds of the Revolutionary Guards, but I’d like you to tell me what to do and what not to do, at least in the areas that involve me.” Gideon was still thinking about Nurit and the pressure the anonymous calls were putting on her.

  “Let’s see where we are today,” Deutsch replied gloomily, “and then we can move on to dangerous developments that may occur in the future.”

  Gideon’s watched him expectantly. “The Iranian straw company from New York still hasn’t achieved its aim to recruit you as a researcher. The Revolutionary Guards won’t relent. And there’s another development you should know about: we received intelligence regarding classified parts of your project that are allegedly in the hands of the Revolutionary Guards.”

  “What? How? That’s impossible!” Gideon cried out. “We gave them a clean version that was taken care of in Israel, and you also went over it before I gave it to them!”

  “That’s right were the problem lies, Gideon,” Deutsch said sternly. “If parts of the original version have fallen into their hands, our efforts to produce a false version could go down the drain.”

  “But how did they get hold of it?” Gideon said passionately. “We maintain compartmentalization and use sophisticated codes to optimize the protection of the files.”

  “Perhaps try to recall where your laptop might have been when it wasn’t under your supervision, mainly before your trip to Israel. Is it possible you weren’t careful enough then?”

  Gideon remembered so many nights that he took the computer home when he wanted to continue cracking some hard theoretical nut. He had no doubt that neither the Goldmans nor Suzy were involved. “I can’t think of a moment that I left my laptop anywhere that a stranger could have stolen files from it,” he said confidently.

  “Sooner or later, we’ll know the answer to this riddle too,” Deutsch said. “In the meantime, we must assume that they know the file they paid so much for is a fake.”

  Gideon didn’t respond.

  “We have other snippets of intelligence regarding the activities the Revolutionary Guards’ agent or agents are focused on at Berkeley. I myself haven’t been updated, and I don’t think there’s anything obligating you.”

  Berkeley? Nurit’s there, and so are the people harassing her, Gideon thought anxiously. I have no idea what the heck’s going on here.

  Gideon had an idea. “Maybe it all still has to do with Ryan…”

  “Ryan no longer poses a threat, Gideon,” Deutsch said decisively. “Don’t bother yourself with that.”

  “Earlier, when I was sitting in my office going over all the crossroads I’d been through with him, I remembered that my assistants—well, one of them at least—knew we were connected, and I’m sure I never spoke to them about him. The only thing that they could have known about him was when we first met, after the seminar lecture was over.” Gideon wasn’t sure how to proceed.

  “And are you sure they knew the details of your meetings? About the proposal to continue your research?” Deutsch asked steadily.

  “I’m sure. There’s no way this was a wild guess by a curious doctoral student. At the institute, only you and I knew about my relationship with Ryan.” Gideon found it hard to slow down his speech. “Is it possible that you told them somehow, inadvertently?”

  “No, Gideon,” Deutsch replied in a low voice, “Bill and Bob haven’t heard a thing from me. I had no reason to tell them. The leak of the original study is most troubling. We must check it out thoroughly.”

  “I was thinking, Gerald, of looking into it myself,” Gideon said, sounding eager. “After all, this concerns me directly. Besides, I’m also close to the two of them, and I’m largely responsible for all their activities.”

  “Sure, go for it. See if you can find out what’s going on,” Deutsch said, exhaustion apparent on his face. “Is there anything else I can help you with?”

  “Well, I hesitate to put you out, but perhaps your acquaintances at the FBI could provide detailed information on my two assistants? All I know about them so far is what they’ve told me themselves,” he said frankly, “and that isn’t very much. I’ll confront them at some point, but there’s no point in beginning without background information.”

  “I can ask someone from the FBI to contact you. They know just what to do in these situations, and they’re fast.”

  Less than an hour passed before Gideon’s phone rang. It was O’Connor.

  ***

  “You were right about the FBI,” Gideon told Deutsch when he popped into his office the next day. “I met with O’Connor in San Francisco yesterday. They gave me detailed information on Bill and Bob. I’m planning to summon them to my office in about an hour. Are you staying at the institute?” he asked with concern.

  “Yes, I’ll be in my office. Take it slowly and carefully.”

  There was nothing unusual in asking them to come in at the spur of the moment for a meeting, and as usual, they rushed over, curious. Gideon looked at them, took a deep breath, and began to speak slowly, selecting each word carefully.

  “This isn’t a regular work meeting,” he began. “I’d like to talk to you about a troublesome matter that’s been on my mind constantly for the last few days. We’re an intimate team of three, and the harmony between us is vital to the success of the research we’re doing.” He stopped for a moment and examined the two assistants, who were sitting up straight and tense. “I attach the utmost importance to the success of our research. I thought that you did too. I had hopes that you also considered it to be of the utmost importance.”

  “Wha-what’s the problem… Did, did something happen?” Bob stammered.

  Bill just lowered his eyes.

  “We’re seriously concerned that information on our studies has reached foreign hands. I gave the matter a lot of thought before I called you in, and I found no other way to deal with the matter than to examine the issue with you.”

  He looked at their faces. They were both pale. They didn’t say a word.

  “All of us here at the institute have signed a declaration of confidentiality. But above all, I felt that we were a team.”

  “We are…” Bill said weakly.

  “Are we? Is everything out on the table?” Gideon continued his attack. “Which of you knew of my meetings with Ryan Davis outside the institute and talked about it? Should I remind you which of you let it slip out at one of our meetings?”

  The two assistants didn’t say a word. Bob moved restlessly in his chair while Bill looked at him with pursed lips.

  “How did an important part of our research file leak out? Which of you is willing to talk?”
>
  “I’m sure… I would never consider doing such a thing…” Bob said, blushing.

  “I remember our talks when you first began working with me. Lately, I’ve been asking myself if you were honest with me, if you told me the truth—all of the truth.”

  “What exactly do you mean?” Bill dared to ask.

  “Let’s examine what the two of you have told me about your family histories. I’ll read a few lines of information about you that I received from reliable sources here. We’ll start with you, Bob.”

  Bob froze in his chair as Gideon began to read. “Robert Johannsen is from a family that immigrated to the United States from Norway. He graduated from MIT with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in physics, mathematics, and computer theory. His father was a well-respected accountant with a large company, and his mother was a high school math teacher. He is also a Harvard Business School graduate. His grandfather Per Johannsen was a fisherman who emigrated from Norway. He had a large fishing boat in the Lofoten Islands on the western coast of Norway. When he arrived in the United States, he opened a fishing boat repair shop in the Boston Harbor. The repair shop developed into a large factory that built yachts. His father, Robert, continued to be involved in managing the company that the grandfather founded.”

  Gideon stopped and stared Bob right in the eye.

  “Does that match what you told me, Bob?”

  “Yes, that sounds accurate to me.”

  “Bill. Let’s go over your story,” Gideon said quietly. “Are you listening?”

  “I’m listening,” Bill whispered almost inaudibly.

  “William Abrahams is the grandson of a Jewish family from Iran. The family was wealthy and influential before the ruler Reza Shah took power in 1925,” Gideon began reading aloud from the page he was holding. “His grandfather Raphael Ben-Abraham immigrated with the family to Brazil and used his bank accounts abroad and his safes full of diamonds and gold to reestablish his international trade company. Moshe Ben-Abraham, William Abrahams’ father, was sent to study economics at UCLA. He received American citizenship after completing his studies, and changed his name to Morris Abrahams. A large part of the Ben-Abraham family still lives in Iran.”

  Gideon stopped talking and tried to catch Bill’s eye. Bill, his face even paler, didn’t look up.

  “Is that what you told me, Bill?” Gideon asked stiffly.

  “Not exactly…” Bill whispered softly.

  “How did you know about my meetings with Ryan?”

  “Ryan himself told me…” Bill whispered, still not daring to look up.

  “And what about the research file?” Gideon said, trying to keep his cool.

  “He asked me… I didn’t think it would do any harm…” Bill whispered faintly.

  “Well, someone went to the trouble of installing a sophisticated worm in our computers, here at the institute. The worm is already waiting in our files,” Gideon continued tirelessly. “Do either of you know that? Were you involved?”

  “I don’t know a thing about it,” Bob said defensively. He looked at Bill who bowed his head and said nothing.

  “Excuse me for a moment,” Gideon said and picked up the phone to dial Deutsch.

  “Dr. Deutsch, can I have a few minutes of your time? It’s important.”

  After listening to Deutsch’s answer, he stood up and turned to Bill. “Please come with me to Dr. Deutsch’s office. It won’t take up much of your time.”

  44.

  Yoni was in his office when Gideon called.

  “Hi, Yoni,” Gideon said excitedly, “I have news!”

  “Yes?” Yoni said.

  “I’ll begin at the end,” Gideon said. “I discovered the leak at the institute—William Abrahams, one of my two research assistants.”

  “You’re kidding! Where is he now?” Yoni couldn’t let things get out of control.

  “Don’t worry. As soon as I knew for sure, I took Bill to Dr. Deutsch. He called O’Connor and his people, and Abrahams is already in their hands.”

  “Can you tell me more? Who is this man? How did he get involved with the Revolutionary Guards?”

  “It’s complicated, and I don’t know all the details. I’m sure your buddies from the FBI will know what to do. In any case, I discovered that he’d hidden his Iranian origin.”

  “Did he admit anything?”

  “He admitted only to the fact that he was in contact with Ryan Davis and that he gave Ryan parts of the research file.”

  “Well done!” Yoni muttered. “I’m sure O’Connor will update me soon enough.”

  “Thanks, Yoni,” Gideon said. “And sorry for not letting you know earlier. I hope you understand.”

  “It’s all right, Gideon. The bottom line is what’s important. And don’t forget—it’s not over yet. We still have to find the leak at New Horizons.”

  Gideon sat at his desk trying to gather his thoughts. He felt drained, confused, but mainly, he felt lonely. Ryan and Bill had been arrested. Nurit wanted nothing to do with him. He thought of asking Yudke to meet for a beer, but he’d seen him not that long ago, and he’d promised Yoni not to reveal anything to him. And as far as work went, he’d have to get used to working with only Bob, who at least knew what he was doing, and no less important, he was trustworthy. He thought of walking over to Deutsch’s office but changed his mind when he remembered how exhausted he seemed to be.

  Yoni’s call interrupted his thoughts. “Hey, Gideon. O’Connor sends his thanks. He wants you to help interrogate William Abrahams. He needs someone with your security clearance and with your extensive knowledge of the algorithm and of Abrahams.”

  Gideon suddenly felt out of his league. “I’m not a police investigator, and just because I thought of checking out Bill won’t make me one.”

  “Don’t you worry,” Yoni assured him. “O’Connor only wants you to sit with his people during the interrogation to observe. You’ll be behind a one-way mirror. You’ll know better than all of us what to ask and how to interpret Abrahams’ answers during the investigation.”

  “I won’t have to confront him directly?” Gideon asked with relief.

  “No,” Yoni promised and suggested that Gideon come over to the consulate, and they’d drive together to the interrogation facility, the existence of which shouldn’t be mentioned.

  Gideon’s curiosity got the better of him. The emptiness he’d been feeling dissipated as the adrenaline took over on the familiar drive to San Francisco.

  The federal police’s interrogation room was in an innocent-looking building that gave no hint of its purpose.

  “Gideon! It’s great you could make the time to come over! Hi, Yoni,” O’Connor said. “We’re already questioning him.” He led them to chairs facing the glass wall.

  Gideon could see Bill Abrahams sitting opposite two interrogators. His lawyer sat to the side at some distance from his client.

  “What have you learned so far?” Yoni asked, feeling quite at home with O’Connor and his staff.

  “Just the basics,” O’Connor replied, “such as personal and family details, what universities he attended, and other formalities. It’s vital to have everything written down and authorized.”

  “Have you started asking how he became involved with the spy network?”

  “Umm, we’ve got to that, and with great effort, we extracted the story of Ryan’s—or should I say, Rustam’s—involvement in recruiting him.”

  “Meaning?” Yoni asked.

  “They used a typical sophisticated method that the Revolutionary Guards use to recruit people,” O’Connor explained. “Abrahams was a lonely student who arrived in Los Angeles, and Ryan took him under his wing and offered him a generous scholarship. Abrahams’ family could have easily financed his studies, but he insisted on being independent. So far, it seems innocent. A year went by, and when Abrahams h
ad grown accustomed to having a regular income of scholarship money, they used the stick.”

  “Which was what, exactly?” Gideon said, thinking of the investment company that tried to acquire the secrets to his algorithm.

  “The Iranians knew quite a bit about the members of the Abrahams family remaining in Iran. Ryan made Abrahams understand that he had to enter a new more binding stage of activity; otherwise, his family would be harmed… In any case, we’re at the point of asking him the practical questions. Where do you suggest we start?”

  “I suggest focusing on his area of expertise—computers.”

  “The interrogators can hear you in their earphones,” O’Connor said. “What’s the question?”

  “When did he start using his hacker talents for the Iranians?”

  The question was shot at Abrahams, who fidgeted in his chair.

  “We can’t hear you!” the interrogator shouted.

  “Um, R-Ryan convinced me by telling me they’d double my scholarship if I took another class. He knew I was interested in computer studies. I started taking more computer classes…” Abrahams answered weakly, looking fearfully at the senior of the two interrogators, trying to catch his attorney’s eye for encouragement.

  “Ask him about the worm he planted in the institute’s computer system. What was he aiming to achieve with it? Was it just for stealing data? Was he planning to activate it remotely in the future?” Gideon suggested.

  The senior interrogator nodded his head slightly and fired the questions at Abrahams.

  His lawyer tried to intervene and stop him from answering, but the senior investigator silenced him.

  “I-I… the intention was to get information on the studies being done at the institute. I wasn’t planning to damage the system itself.” Sweat ran down Abrahams’ face, and he tried to wipe it away with his hand. Neither of the interrogators offered him a tissue.