Packer could picture Langley’s predicament.
There was an element of humor in it; Peter Langley, long considered one of the best-connected and most articulate men in a city that thrived on connections and rhetoric, was finding himself in a situation he couldn’t talk his way out of.
“How much of this do I tell Spitz?” Packer asked.
“For the time being we tell him nothing. Assuming I can get this guy to cooperate and not wait until morning to let me out of here, I should be back in the States within twenty-four hours. Then we can put a story together and bring Spitz up to speed…”
Packer had already decided there was no need to tell Langley what Miller had learned about the real Taj Ozal; there was nothing he could do about it even if he knew. Even though he was closer to Ammash than anyone else involved, there was no way he could get through to Bogner. Besides, it was the only element of the entire affair Langley wasn’t aware of. Both of them had heard Mikos Asononkov reveal what he knew about the ongoing rumors of the Russian plot to assassinate
Baddour, and now he knew both Bogner and Ozal had been taken to Ammash. It wasn’t much, but Bogner was alive and they knew more than they had forty-eight hours earlier.
“I’ll call you as soon as I’m on the ground in Washington,” Langley promised before the line went dead.
It was the second meeting between Fahid and Ozal, and Ozal was aware that, like the first one, it was being conducted under the guise of an interrogation session.
Ozal had been awakened an hour earlier by two guards and instructed to get dressed. He was allowed a short time to eat, prepare himself, and again be escorted to Fahid’s quarters.
Fahid began by informing Ozal that everything was now ready. The people in Istanbul had been informed and they in turn would notify their comrades in Moscow.
“Our instructions are to proceed,” he told him. Then he reached into his desk and took out the 9mm Mk 2 automatic and a pair of gloves.
“Handle it carefully,” he said.
“You will note that it is somewhat tarnished with our friend Mr. Bogner’s fingerprints. We are fortunate. The cuts and abrasions on Mr. Bogner’s hands are still weeping. As a result, as well as his fingerprints, there will be both traces of his blood and the medication I had the nurse apply to his hand to promote healing.”
The man who was impersonating Taj Ozal was impressed. He reached into his pocket for his pen, inserted the barrel of the pen into the muzzle, lifted it from Fahid’s desk, and inspected it.
“It is loaded and ready?”
“All you have to do is aim and pull the trigger,” Fahid confirmed.
“When?”
“I have checked the general’s schedule. He plans to meet with you later this afternoon — perhaps early evening. During your meeting you will, of course, discuss why you have brought the Jade representative here to Ammash. You have rehearsed what you will say?”
“I am ready,” Ozal said, “Solkov has prepared me well.”
“General Baddour has developed the habit of holding meetings with visitors following the evening meal, a meal which both you and Bogner will be expected to attend. This of course will be your second meeting with the general and will provide you with the opportunity to introduce your colleague from Jade. I will be present at that meeting as well. The meeting, following dinner, will take place in the general’s office. When the opportunity presents itself, you will use the weapon I have just given you and you will shoot the general. You will fire two shots, no more. Then you will shoot me, once in the leg and the second shot should be to the left shoulder. Do you understand?”
Ozal was frowning, but he acknowledged his understanding.
Fahid continued.
“Both shots fired at the general must be capable of inflicting a fatal wound. I would suggest the chest and throat. As you fire the first shot, I will draw my own weapon in an obvious attempt to thwart your efforts. I will manage to get off one shot before you fire at me. After
General Baddour, you must kill Bogner. As soon as you have determined that he is dead, place the gun in his right hand. I will, of course, have Mr. Bogner’s nurse see that his bandages are removed prior to his meeting with the general. By then the general’s guards will have arrived — and even though I am wounded, I will manage to tell them what happened.”
“There will be enough time?”
“You must understand that the general is a man of habit. It is the general’s practice to lock the door to his office at all times. It is automatically locked from the inside and controlled by a small button on his desk. The doors are very heavy; without someone to unlock the doors for them, it will take the guards some amount of time to force their way in.”
“Do you have a sketch of the general’s office?”
“I have prepared one,” Fahid said as he unfolded the crude drawing.
“Study it carefully, so you will know where everything is located.” Then Fahid began to point.
“The general’s desk is here, and I will be seated across from him. You and the Jade representative will be sitting across the desk from the general.”
Ozal studied the drawing for several moments and handed it back.
“I know what to do,” he said.
“Good,” Fahid said.
“Now we must wait.” Ozal was aware that throughout their conversation, Fahid’s stoic expression had not changed. He called for the guards and instructed them to return Ozal to his quarters. The day when Ishad Fahid would assume control of the Northern Iraqi Military Force had finally arrived.
It was the first meeting between General Salih Baddour and the man who called himself Taj Ozal. Ozal waited while Fahid handled the introductions and the general took a seat behind a large, ornate desk in the middle of his spacious office.
“First, Mr. Ozal,” Baddour began, “I must apologize for what I am certain you regard as a lack of hospitality on your first visit to Ammash.”
Ozal searched Baddour’s face for some sign that would indicate he did not recognize him as the man he had met in Istanbul a full year earlier. So far there had been nothing to indicate that was the case.
“I must admit, Mr. Ozal, that I was somewhat surprised when one of your associates contacted me and informed me that you wished to visit Ammash.
I am sure you can understand when I say it is not usually in our best interests to indulge foreign visitors. Setting all of that aside, however, I do remember our brief conversation at the South African consulate. It is not often that someone approaches me at such affairs and introduces himself.
Perhaps I should also admit that when I inquired about your occupation, your most candid description of what you do for a living was what intrigued me.”
“I feel most fortunate that you recall our encounter, General,” Ozal said.
“As you have already indicated, our meeting was at best brief. Let me add to that, I accept your gracious apology. I understand your reluctance to allow just anyone to take up your time.”
Ozal was pleased with himself. The words had come easier than anticipated. Their initial encounter had gotten off to a good start — due mainly to the efforts of Solkov, who had spent hours carefully rehearsing him for his first meeting with the NIMF general. It was going well.
“I am also told,” Baddour said, “that you have already had conversations with Colonel Fahid, and it was his recommendation that I meet with you. He informs me that you are presenting us with an interesting opportunity.”
“Colonel Fahid is kind and I am grateful to him,” Ozal said.
“When I mentioned that Mr. Bogner was a representative of Jade, he indicated he would speak to you on our behalf.”