The PM answered "Haim, I have given you a lot of credit and ample leeway to solve the problem. I have also allowed you more time than I had initially allotted but I realize that the matter is very complex. If we handle this incorrectly we may find ourselves in an unwanted conflict with Iran. We have to discover who is behind this, what their motives are and provide irrefutable proof. I understand that you shouldn't rush to conclusions. You have put my mind at ease with regard to my granddaughter's fate — as long as the Iranians remain ignorant of the fact. If they do find out that I am her grandfather and use this to blackmail Israel I'll resign my office in order to avoid a conflict of interest between my official position as PM and my family".
Shimony was surprised by this bold statement, but as a true cynic he doubted if the PM would really step down from his high office because of something so sentimental. He knew that deep down in his heart the PM was not as hardened as the Steel Man, Stalin, but was no less determined to maintain his stronghold on the coveted job. So he tried to comfort his boss by saying "Sir, I hope that it never comes to this and that we bring all the captives safely back to Israel. I have great faith in David and his abilities to succeed in convincing the Iranians, and actually the whole world, that Israel was not involved in the sordid affair of murdering innocent, or not so innocent, Iranian scientists".
The PM was silent for a moment and then said "Well Haim, at least this time we are not guilty, but will the world believe us?" The PM hung up and called his most trusted consultant, actually the only person he trusted absolutely, his wife. "Honey, I need you here. Could you please come down to my study?"
She answered "As soon as I finish my glass of wine, or should I bring the bottle with me? After all, it is already quite late in the evening."
The PM's impatient reply was "Honey, come down now with the glass and bottle".
The PM's wife had already consumed a few glasses of wine so it took her some time to collect herself, find a couple of empty glasses and an open bottle of expensive red wine, usually only served at official dinners with visitors on the PM's A-list.
The PM looked at her as she entered his study and said "I hope you are in full control of your faculties because I need your advice on a very crucial matter". When she nodded he continued "I am not pleased with performance of Shimony on several matters. He failed me miserably with the US fiasco when he didn't manage to keep his own house, the Mossad, in order. Fortunately in that affair the Americans were as embarrassed as we were and didn't want to make a public issue of their own shortcomings in safeguarding their national security. Haim got away by firing his Deputy Director, Segan, and a couple of top operatives and now these two operatives were murdered in Berlin while working for Segan. This is related to the current situation with Iran and the fact that they are holding a dozen Israeli citizens, including Inbal, my own flesh and blood, in captivity and trying to hold the state of Israeli for ransom. Shimony doesn't know how to get them back safely. I am considering replacing him by someone I can rely on to carry out my wishes. What do you think about this?"
The PM's wife was now completely sober — there is nothing like shocking news and high level backstabbing to get out of the stupor induced by alcohol. She said "I never liked Shimony, he was always too independent. He never acknowledged that he owed his promotion to Mossad head to you. We need someone who would be grateful and indebted to you personally. Let's wait until this crisis is resolved one way or the other. If he fails then we can easily hold him accountable and replace him without any public fuss. If he succeeds than we'll make sure that you get all the credit and just commend him for following your guidance. Then offer him some job with a fancy title as a token of gratitude but make sure that it has no substance and appoint your man."
The PM looked at her with admiration and said "I knew I could trust you. Let's have a glass of wine and then go up to our bedroom."
The contest between Yonathan (Johnny) Shmaryahu, honorable Member of Knesset, and Zorik for the alpha-male position in the jail cell ended when Johnny broke down in tears, crying about his fate. Zorik, a natural leader of people in battle and in peacetime, assumed the position of the chief negotiator with regard to the interaction with the jailors. He had heard from Johnny and his companion about the meeting with Imam Mourtashef at the airport and the opinion expressed by the Imam on the root cause of the hatred of the Iranian people toward America and Israel — the Great Satan and Little Satan. Zorik figured that they were all pawns in a much larger game and hoped that a meeting with the Imam could clarify their position. He reckoned that Imam Mourtashef was very close to the religious leadership of Iran, probably even one of the senior leaders, and was in a position of authority. He had no idea of the meeting that took place at the office of the Senior Assistant of the Supreme Leader earlier that afternoon. He certainly had no clue that the Imam was in charge of the most sensitive clandestine operation of the Iranian regime that took place in the very same building where the Israelis hostages were held.
When the midday meal was brought to their cell Zorik asked for permission to talk to guard they had named Fatso, refraining of course from using the derogatory nickname. Half an hour later Fatso appeared with his whip and cruel smile and griped "What do you filthy dogs want?"
Zorik stepped away from the far wall of the cell, where all the hostages were squirming, and said "With all due respect we wish to speak with Imam Mourtashef".
Fatso was taken by surprise at this request and said "How do you even dare to mention the name of the Imam?"
Zorik said "We wish to learn about the true Islam from a high religious teacher". He saw the look on the face of his cell mates and understood they were no less astonished than Fatso by this statement.
Fatso growled and walked away without a reply. As soon as he left the cell the other Israelis asked him if he was out of his mind. Only Inbal understood that Zorik chose the only approach that had any chance of granting them a meeting with someone high enough in Iran's religious hierarchy that had some influence on their destiny. She defended her fiancé and managed to convince all the others that no one was really interested in getting a religious sermon from the Imam.
Later in the evening Fatso appeared with his whip and four other jailors that surrounded a man wearing the traditional garb of a senior Iranian cleric. The respectable looking man greeted Johnny and Oded by their names and then asked to be introduced to the other prisoners. Zorik stepped forward and started by introducing all the cellmates, giving a brief account of where they were captured. He said that on the whole their treatment was reasonable and they were all grateful for that. He added that they were innocent civilians and did not know why they were not released.
The Imam took his time, first looking at Zorik for a long moment and then at each of the other Israelis. His glance lingered for a while on Johnny and he noticed the swollen red eyes and realized that he was not the true person in charge although by all rights he should have been. He met Zorik's gaze once more and said something in Farsi that caused his bodyguards to leave the cell. Fatso tried to question the instruction but the Imam gave him a short order, and after bringing a chair for the Imam to sit on, he too left the cell. The Imam continued in English "Please sit down, all of you. We are a civilized people and mean you no harm. We know you are innocent bystanders who got caught up in a tough situation due to no fault of your own. We will hold you here until we can contact your government and negotiate the terms for your release".