After Ruby and Sam were dismissed Shimony told the legal advisor to stay in his office for another moment. The councilor knew what Mossad head wanted and said that Segan would have to go with a laconic public announcement that he retired from his job for personal reasons. He said that Segan would probably start his own security firm but Shimony said that whatever he did he would not be able to remain in Israel. The councilor said the government would have to assure the Americans that this was a rogue operation that was not sanctioned or authorized by Mossad and that the PM was unaware of this. Shimony doubted that this would placate the Americans but the councilor assured him that they did not want to have the breach of their security publicized. He added that as long as the thumb drive was returned quietly, and the technology safely retained, the Americans would probably be satisfied with a secret reprimand. Naturally, Segan, Sam or Ruby should never enter the US if they wanted to avoid prosecution and imprisonment.
Chapter 8
A few months after the great fiasco in the US, Segan established a security firm. Its main office was located in Berlin and there were branches in Madrid and London. He mainly employed former soldiers that had served in Special Forces units in the UK, US, Germany, France and Russia, as well as Israel. Most of them had been dishonorably discharged and forced to leave the service of their country and often even their country. Segan didn't care about the exact circumstances of their compulsory retirement and was satisfied with their willingness, in some cases almost desperation, to do anything for the right price. The main service he provided was personal security, namely bodyguards, but his employees were often used as enforcers and debt collectors. A few of his select customers contracted his firm for "special functions" that was a euphemism for removal of competitors and elimination of competition. These tasks were usually handled by Russian ex-KGB (or FSB) commandos or "soldiers of fortune", and sadly, their victims were "unfortunates", no witticism intended. He preferred to employ ex-Mossad or Israel Security Agency (ex-ISA) personnel for the more delicate contracts that involved finesse and subtlety rather than brute force. As a true Israeli patriot he had only one rule — never accept a contract that was against the interests of Israel.
One day Segan received a phone call from a man with an upper-class British tone of voice who identified himself as Alan Ross and asked for a private meeting. Segan recognized the accent and after looking at his schedule said that he would be in London at the end of the week. However, Ross said that he was already in Berlin and would be glad to discuss a large contract over dinner that evening. Segan said he already had a dinner appointment but could make himself available after dinner and suggested that they meet at Allan's breakfast and wine bar. Alan Ross laughed when he heard the name of the place but then saw that it was highly recommended by TripAdvisor and agreed to meet there at 9:30 pm. Alan said that he would recognize Segan, which already rang an alarm bell for the experienced ex-Mossad man, but he made no comment on that.
Before the meeting Segan asked his secretary to look up if there was any information on the web about Alan Ross. A few minutes later she said that it was a common name and she couldn't be sure which one was the contact. Segan shrugged and said that in any case this was probably not the man's real name. As was his habit whenever he was about to meet a stranger he was escorted by his two most trusted employees, Ruby and Sam who were now working for his firm. According to their standard modus operandi they entered the wine bar 30 minutes before Segan and took a corner table that overlooked the crowded room. They ordered coffee and cake and settled down to watch the patrons. They also checked both the Damen and Herren restrooms and when they were sure that no ambush had been set up they sent a short text message to Segan in Hebrew that all was clear. Segan walked in and took a table across the room from his two agents. Shortly afterwards a middle-aged man wearing an expensive looking suit with a striped silk tie, and even more expensive hand-made leather shoes, approached Segan's table and introduced himself as Alan Ross.
After going through the usual niceties they got down to business.
Ross said "You realize, of course, that Alan Ross is just the name I have adopted for this meeting. I used to work for British Intelligence, MI6 actually, and am now a consultant at large".
Segan asked "I figured that out, but who are you serving as a consultant?"
Ross gave a vague answer "I am merely a messenger sent on a mission that would be lucrative for all involved, as well as in line with your main interests".
Segan asked "How lucrative?" and when he heard the eight figure sum he nodded but enquired again "Who exactly is your employer?"
Once more Ross avoided a direct answer, saying "Please, first listen to the description of the mission and then decide if you really want to know about the employer". Segan's curiosity was reflected in his eyes, so Ross continued "The target is the Iranian nuclear program. My employer believes that if this program is obliterated the world would be a better place, safer for the Middle East and everywhere else. The public annihilation of this reprehensible effort of the Islamic regime to obtain an atomic bomb would bring about its downfall. This will enable the peace-loving, liberal forces in Iran to gain power, install a true democracy and exterminate the Mullah's regime and their supporters".
Segan swallowed twice and took a deep breath before responding "The progressive countries in the free-world have been trying to do this for years. How do you expect me, with my small firm, to succeed where the CIA, Mossad and British Intelligence have failed? They had innumerable funds, support of the international community and backing from the most powerful countries on Earth".
Ross just smiled and said "It is all a matter of timing. This is like Judo — you use the strength of your opponent to throw him to ground. When he comes charging at you all you have to do is use his own momentum to bring him down. After the nuclear deal the opposition in Iran is ready to make its move. All that is needed is the trigger, the match to ignite the fuse, the sign that the regime is vulnerable and ready to be toppled down".
Segan was unconvinced "How do we light the fuse when we don't even know that there is a fuse?"
Alan Ross bent over and whispered in Segan's ear for a few minutes. Then he rose from the table and said that he would let Segan sleep on it for a few nights and would call him the following week when he was in Berlin again.
After Alan Ross left, Segan signaled to Sam and Ruby to join him at his table and gave them a brief summary of the intriguing conversation. Sam's immediate reaction was that something didn't seem right with the questionable mission that Ross had proposed. Ruby was even more skeptical and suggested that they should not even consider the project. She said that she thought it was some kind of test and not a genuine proposal, perhaps even some "sting operation". However, Segan was blinded by the eight figure sum that had been discussed and said that he would not reject the idea outright and was determined to meet with Ross again to hear his specific plan of action.