His dark hair, coffee-colored complexion, and coarse features, however, were a sharp contrast to Bogner. On the surface, Ozal appeared to be businesslike and somewhat ill at ease.
Their initial meeting took place in the middle of the Cankurtaran Banliyo railway station amidst remnants of the morning commute. There was a constant crush of people rushing to and from trains. Ozal’s only distraction appeared to occur when a particularly striking woman passed.
Banks handled the introductions, and Bogner and Ozal shook hands.
“I am told you are with Jade,” Ozal began. He was not smiling.
“When Mr. Banks called me and informed me that a representative of Jade would be joining us, the reason for Mr. Banks wanting to visit Ammash suddenly became more clear.”
“I take it then that you have heard of Jade?” Bogner said.
“Of course. I feel compelled, however, to express a certain amount of surprise that your firm is not already, how shall I say it, conducting business with General Baddour.”
Bogner was prepared.
“The fact that we are not is understandable when you stop to consider that we are already doing a certain amount of business with Abbasin’s people in Baghdad. I feel quite certain that any effort on the part of Jade to conduct business with General Baddour would be frowned on by the current president.”
“I understand the need for discretion,” Ozal said. He continued to keep up the conversation while he ushered them down a long marble corridor away from the crush of travelers.
“Mr. Banks informs me you are situated in Bucharest, Mr.
Bogner. I am familiar with your city. Do you like it?”
Ozal wasn’t wasting any time. The question had “This is a test” written all over it. Bogner had expected it and he was ready.
“I wish I could spend more time there. As it has turned out since we opened our office there, Bucharest has ended up being little more than a mailing address. In this job you live out of a suitcase. There are times when I have to check with the office to find out what city I’m in.”
Ozal appeared to be buying it. If he wasn’t, he was a good actor.
“And your family, Mr. Bogner, how do they like it?”
“No family, Mr. Ozal. Just me and a checkbook.
Jade likes it that way. It keeps things simple and it keeps expenses down.”
Their walk down the long corridor ended in front of a door marked pravist. Ozal knocked and the door opened. An attractive young woman in a dark blue tailored business suit welcomed them with a frown.
“Taj Ozal,” he reminded her.
“Forgive me, Mr. Ozal,” she said.
“How nice to see you again.” She was ideal for the job; her English was as impeccable as her attire and she had a deep, throaty voice.
“A convenience for those of us who travel,” Ozal explained.
“I use it frequently. You are familiar with our pansiyons, Mr. Bogner?”
Bogner looked around. If he hadn’t known better, he could have been in any one of the private executive clubs at any one of the larger airline terminals stateside. While he surveyed his surroundings, Banks and Ozal both busied themselves shedding coats and lighting cigarettes.
“Mr. Ozal,” the woman said, “the conference room at the end of the hall is available as you requested.
Just press the buzzer if you and your associates need anything.”
Again Ozal led the way, and moments later the trio was situated in a small, elegantly appointed combination meeting room and executive suite.
“Shall we get down to details, gentlemen,” Ozal said as he took a seat.
“We can start, of course, with when you wish to leave.”
“As soon as possible,” Bogner said.
“I have scheduled an important engagement in Belgrade in three days.”
“Three days,” Ozal repeated.
“Then there is a matter of some urgency to consider.”
“The introduction is the important thing,” Bogner said.
“I will be satisfied if I can meet General Baddour and show him an example of our inventory.”
Ozal nodded.
“I feel certain he will be most eager to meet a representative of Jade. And you will be accompanying us?” Ozal asked, turning to look at Banks.
“He will,” Bogner answered.
“It will be my colleague’s responsibility to maintain the ongoing relationship with General Baddour after our preliminary meeting. It is standard Jade practice for each client to know personally the Jade representative they are dealing with.”
Ozal’s expression did not change.
“Very well then, it is settled. We will leave tomorrow.” Ozal held up his hand in a gesture of caution.
“Perhaps I should warn you, we have a journey of considerable distance ahead of us… as your Mr. Banks probably already knows. We will catch an early morning flight to Diyarbakir and then travel by car to the small village of Simak. We should be there by late tomorrow afternoon or early evening.
It will, of course, depend on the weather.
The weather can be quite unsettled in the high country this time of year.”
“When we reach Simak, we are not far from the Turkish-Iraqi border,” Banks explained.
“Then what?” Bogner pressed.
“We will charter a helicopter to fly us to Ammash,” Ozal said.
“Chopper? Why a chopper?” Bogner asked.
Ozal continued to smile.
“If you will forgive me, Mr. Bogner, it would be, I judge, quite difficult to get you and your colleague past the NIMF guards.
You will pardon me if I say so, but they will regard you with suspicion despite your citizenship papers and passports. To be fair-complexioned and fair-haired in this part of the world is often a decided disadvantage.” Ozal paused, lit another cigarette, and exhaled slowly.
“And even if that were not the case, we will find it advantageous to travel by air. In northern Iraq, the roads are less than desirable, and even though Ammash is quite modern, it is also quite isolated. When you speak with the general, you will soon learn that he prefers that matters remain that way.”
“Very well,” Bogner said.
“What time tomorrow?”
“You are staying at the Hotel Empress Zoe?” Ozal asked.
“We are,” Banks confirmed.
Ozal stood up.
“Very well then. I will leave you gentlemen to make your preparations. I will call you this evening to confirm our flight time.”
Both Bogner and Banks stood up. The three men shook hands and Ozal left. As soon as the door closed behind him. Banks turned to Bogner.
“What do you think?”
Bogner stifled the inclination to smile.
“Did you tell him we were staying at the Empress?”
Banks shook his head.
“Then ask yourself how the hell he knows where we’re staying. And ask yourself why the hostess here at the club didn’t recognize him. You heard him say he uses this place frequently.”
Banks shook his head again. He had missed it.
For the second time in three days the two men were meeting in the back of the smoke-filled cafe.
Unlike during their previous meeting, the bull-like Solkov was the first to arrive, and he had already eaten his fill by the time Doronkin made his way across the crowded room.
Doronkin, mindful of Solkov’s strange habits, continued standing until his comrade invited him to sit down. When he did, Solkov slid a bowl of half-eaten berries across the table at him.
“Have some. Comrade, they are quite good,” he mumbled.
Doronkin declined and waited for the man to finish. Finally Solkov prodded him.
“Well, do you have news for me?”
“We leave tomorrow. We will be in Simak by tomorrow evening. There, as you suggested, I will arrange for a helicopter to fly us to Ammash.”