Baddour appeared to be at ease.
“I am curious, Mr. Ozal, just exactly how did your initial meeting with Jade come about?”
“Several weeks ago I was unexpectedly approached by a man by the name of Concho Banks, who sought me out because of my line of work.
He inquired if I could arrange to introduce him to you. He indicated he had heard about our meeting at the South African consulate.”
“Your reputation precedes you,” Baddour observed, and Taj Ozal knew that this would be the difficult part. He had to be onehundred-percent believable. The pieces, even the tiniest ones, had to fit like the pieces of an intricate puzzle for Baddour to believe him. Even if Baddour didn’t quite recall what Ozal looked like, he remembered the meeting.
“I indicated that I had met you only once and that you had graciously invited me to Ammash if and when there was an opportunity for us to mutually benefit from such a meeting. At the time I did not know why the gentleman desired such an audience, but when it was later revealed he was with the organization known as Jade, my associates and I redoubled our efforts to contact you.”
“And wisely so,” Baddour concluded.
“But you indicated you were contacted by a man called Banks. I am told our other guest goes by the name of Bogner.”
“Mr. Bogner was brought into the matter at the last minute,” Ozal admitted.
“It was explained to me that he is a weapons expert and comes prepared to discuss the Jade organization’s entire inventory.”
Then he added, “Mr. Bogner has also indicated an interest in opening talks relative to procuring some of your own weapons.”
“And this Mr. Bogner, he is who he claims to be?” Baddour pressed, looking at Fahid.
At that point, Fahid injected himself into the conversation for the first time.
“I personally have checked on the man’s credentials,” he lied.
“I am told he has been with the organization for a number of years and is quite competent to open discussions with us.”
Baddour leaned back in his chair.
“You will soon learn that I am a curious man, Mr. Ozal, and because of that curiosity I must ask what makes you think that the Jade inventory would include anything that would be of interest to the NIMF?”
It was the question Ozal had been waiting for and the one Solkov had cautioned him would be most difficult to answer. They had discussed it at length when Solkov learned that Bogner would be representing Jade.
“If you will forgive me. General.
It is not so much that Jade may have weapons or weapons systems of interest to you as what you have that would be of interest to them. I am told Jade can be quite generous when purchasing sophisticated weapons systems.”
Baddour smiled.
“I congratulate you, Mr. Ozal, you have done your homework. You are speaking of course of the weapons systems developed by our esteemed Dr. Rashid.”
“Many governments would be interested in the doctor’s work,” Ozal said, “providing you would be willing to sell such information.”
Baddour pulled himself back up to his desk and leaned forward. There was a noticeable change in the intensity in his voice.
“I have already indicated that I am extremely cautious, Mr. Ozal — and even more cautious when it comes to discussing the work of Dr. Rashid. Selling information is of little interest to me. Selling a fully developed chemical weapons systems to another government, however, may be of some interest. In that way I can control the amount of GG-2 any one government has in its possession. I’m certain you would agree there is a certain wisdom in such an approach.”
Ozal waited, and the intensity in Baddour’s voice gradually reverted back to its original level.
“On the other hand, I must confess that I am interested in Jade’s inventory for the simple reason the firm has chosen to also do business with the administration in Baghdad. Perhaps we can learn something from each other in our discussions.”
Baddour paused.
“At the same time I am assuming the Jade representative has in his possession copies of his inventory so that we can discuss this matter in detail.”
“That may not be possible, General. I am told most of our papers and personal effects were destroyed in the fire when our helicopter crashed,” Ozal said.
“A pity,” Baddour countered.
“Such documents would have made our discussions easier.”
From years of experience Fahid was aware that the meeting was coming to a close. He stood up and looked at Baddour, waiting for the inevitable invitation.
Baddour was still smiling.
“I would like to have you and Mr. Bognerjoin us for dinner tonight, Mr.
Ozal. Dr. Rashid will also be there. We can continue our discussion after dinner and it will give the Jade representative an opportunity to speak for himself.”
“Your invitation is most gracious,” Ozal replied.
Despite his long day, Bogner could feel himself getting stronger. For the first time in days he had been able to shower and shave. After breakfast, Major Mustfa Jahin, at Baddour’s direction, had surprised him with a visit and brought him clothes. The clothes were not unlike the service fatigues Bogner had been issued years earlier when he first joined the Navy.
There had been an abbreviated tour of the Ammash complex, and Jahin had even engaged him in a lengthy conversation that compared the lifestyles in their two countries. Late in the afternoon, Bogner was returned to his room in the compound’s hospital and the bandages were removed from his right hand. On balance, he felt better than he had in days. As he looked back over the day, he felt he had held up well and the fresh air had invigorated him.
Now, hours later, Bogner found himself sitting at a long dinner table while two women, both dressed in clothing similar to the attire worn by his nurse, busied themselves clearing away the dishes after their meal. Dr. Zilka Rashid had been sitting next to him throughout and had occasionally made a valiant effort at conversation. It was difficult for Bogner to understand Baddour’s chemical weapons expert because of the man’s limited knowledge of English. Fahid and Ozal were seated across from him, and Baddour, as Bogner would have expected, led most of the conversation from his place at the head of the table.
Thus far Baddour had proved to be a witty and charming host. At various times during the evening he’d reflected back on his days at Oxford and as the evening wore on, allowed himself to comment on a British lifestyle he considered to be both frivolous and decadent. Finally he said, “And now, gentlemen, I suggest we get down to the real purpose of the evening. I refer, of course, to the business that brings us together. You will excuse us. Dr. Rashid?”
Rashid looked relieved as he pushed himself away from the table, nodded politely in Bogner and Ozal’s direction, and left the room.
“I have become a creature of comfort”—Baddour smiled—“and I believe you will find the comforts of my office more accommodating.”
As they made their way from the dining room to Baddour’s office, Bogner found himself walking next to the general.
“I hope you will forgive me for not inquiring about your health earlier, Mr. Bogner.”
Baddour said, “but the mere fact that you are up and about would seem to indicate that you are feeling better.”
Through it all, Baddour’s English had been impeccable, and at times Bogner marveled at his engaging manner. The general led his party into his office, offered each of them cigars, saw to it that they were comfortable, and took his place behind his desk. He was looking both at Bogner and Ozal as he began.
“It occurred to me while we were at dinner that perhaps both of you gentlemen are still somewhat in the dark as to why the Northern Iraqi Military Force even exists. If that is the case, perhaps I can help you understand. If I could take you back to the summer of 1990, you would be viewing a scenario in which the Iraqi government was making certain demands on the government of Kuwait.