“Yes, sir”
“Baranov would naturally have a grudge against him” Murphy nodded. “If the Russians succeed this time the entire Middle East could fall. At the very least the entire region would become embroiled in an all-out war”
the president gathered up the photographs and STANDHOPE file and handed them back to Murphy. “You have my authorization, Roland. Make your call to Shamir. Let’s just hope that this doesn’t blow up too badly, because a lot of people will start getting killed”
Isser Shamir was an extremely early riser. Murphy knew that for a fact. The two of them went way back together, and when they’d both been promoted to head their respective secret intelligence services, they had continued their warm relationship. Shamir had even been Murphy’s house guest on a visit to Washington a few years ago. He was up every morning before five, making his own tea and then taking a long walk. Even so, Murphy held off calling until well after ten o’clock, making it after six in the morning in Tel Aviv. He wanted Shamir to be well rested and wide awake. He telephoned Shamir’s blind number. The director of the Mossad answered on the first ring, and Murphy would forever be left with the impression that the man had been waiting for the call. “Do you know who this is” Murphy asked.
“Yes” Shamir answered. “Let’s go over” In this instance, the Israelis were using American-made telephone encryption equipment, as they had begun to do nearly ten years ago, like the secret services of a half-dozen other allies. “Good morning, Isser” Murphy said when the switch had been made. “Can you hear me all right”
“Yes, just fine, General. How is the weather in Washington”
“It’s warming up” Shamir chuckled. “Here as well” There was no doubt in either man’s mind that they were speaking about the same subject, and it wasn’t the weather. “There has been another incident at En Gedi” Murphy said. “We were hoping for cloud cover, but then we cannot have everything. “I’d like to propose a trade” Murphy said, getting right to it. “Yes, I am listening”
“I will give you some information, and then you will give me something of equal importance” At this point there was no ironclad guarantee that McGarvey had been arrested, or, if he had that he was still alive. But all the signs pointed toward something happening out there at the same time Lorraine Abbott had said he was there. If there was one thing Murphy did not believe in, it was coincidences. “We always appreciate anything that you can do for us” Shamir said noncommittally. “You were aware, of course, of our recent troubles in West Germany involving a nuclear-armed Pershing missile. “Of course”
“We’ve just learned that the rocket had been reprogrammed. Its target, which it would have almost certainly reached had it actually been launched, was En Gedi”
“I see” Shamir said, and even in those two words Murphy could hear the man’s surprise.
“The man who stopped the launch, at great risk to his life, was one of our people”
“A true hero”
“His name is Kirk Megarvey. And at this moment he is there in Israel”
“Yes, we know this”
“We need him back in Washington, Isser”
“What is he doing here, General” Shamir asked pointedly. It was time now, Murphy thought. To every operation came moments of truth, sometimes so stunning they seemed, larger than life. “We know, Isser. He was sent to confirm “To spy on Israel, is that what you are telling me? Is that what you meant to say? Is that exactly your meaning now”
“Let’s stop screwing around” Murphy snapped. “Here is the deal”
“I’m listening”
“The Russians broke in out there and almost certainly know what’s going on. It’s the only reason they would have gone to such extraordinary lengths, to steal a Pershing and reprogram it. The operation is, we believe, being handled by Valentin Baranov, and he won’t stop, you know this. We also believe that he has an agent highly placed within the Pentagon. We would like McGarvey back here to find him. We would be willing, under the circumstances, to make this a joint operation. It would be to both our interests” The line was silent. “Do I make myself clear”
“Perfectly, General” Shamir said distantly. “I will have to take this up with my … superiors. I assume you have or will be doing the same”
“The president is waiting for a call from Mr. Peres, if it comes to that. But I believe we can handle this among ourselves”
“I will see what can be done” Shamir said. “But there will be at least one condition that we will insist upon. The NPT must be kept out of this. Completely”
“I don’t understand “Dr. Abbott was arrested earlier this morning by AMAN on a charge of espionage”
“Oh, Jesus Christ” Murphy swore softly. “If you say so” Shamir said.
The room was large, the bare walls and ceiling whitewashed, the flours tiled so that sounds seemed sharp and angular. McGarvey sat in a chair in the middle of the room. His five interrogators sat behind or perched on the edge of a long table, facing him. It was dawn finally and his head was splitting. He suspected they were in a Mossad safehouse somewhere in or near Tel Aviv. From time to time he could hear the sounds of traffic, and once he thought he might have heard a ship’s whistle from a long way off. Lev Potok got up and came over to McGarvey.
He had been the toughest of the interrogators, his face was now screwed up in a grimace of disgust. “You are an assassin, McGarvey, this much we know for certain. What we would like to know is who you planned on killing out there”
“No one” McGarvey said softly, relaxing, saving his strength. By now Lorraine Abbott would have realized that something had gone wrong and would have called the general. “Then what were you doing with an NPT identification badge and a gun? Can you tell me this”
“Not yet” McGarvey replied, giving the same answer he’d given all night.
It would be up to the Agency to decide what to tell the Israelis.
He had gotten the information they’d wanted. “Not yet” Potok said. “It is a bullshit answer. What does this mean”
“You’ll find out in due course” Potok suddenly swung around and slapped McGarvey in the face with his open hand, the blow rocking McGarvey backward, nearly tipping the chair over” Talk to me, you bastard, or you’ll never leave this room alive” Potok shouted. McGarvey shook his head to clear the fuzziness. He reached up with his right hand and touched his upper lip. His fingers came away bloody. “I’ll tell you this much” he said. “If you do that again, you won’t leave this room alive”
Potok wanted to come after him, McGarvey could see that much in his eyes. But there was something else there as well, and it wasn’t fear.
“Lev” one of the men at the table said gently. Potok turned away and went back to the table, where he hesitated for a moment, but then turned around again to face McGarvey. He leaned against the table.
We know quite a bit about you, McGarvey” the Israeli said, calm again for the moment. “For instance, we know that you once worked for the CIA, and that you were, until a couple of years ago, in retirement in Switzerland. What has happened since”
“I moved to Paris”
“Yes, and what were you doing in Germany just last week” McGarvey said nothing. Potok shook his head. “We have reason to suspect that the Pershing missile which you so valiantly disarmed was aimed at us. For that we thank you. We are not the enemy. “If you know or have guessed that much, then you know that I’m not the enemy either”
“Then why did you come to Israel, Mr. McGarvey? You came to spy, I think, and not to kill anyone. But why? Are you a free lance these days, or has the CIA rehired you”