Meanwhile, Udi asked David quietly "How did you know that he had a fear of dentists?"
David answered "You don't have to be a rocket-scientist, as the Americans are fond of saying, to know that many people have dental phobia. Nowadays a more appropriate term is used post-traumatic stress disorder caused by previous traumatic dental experiences. Regardless of the exact term, most people who grew up a few decades ago, or even today in areas where modern dental care is not available, shudder when they hear a dental drill near them. This guy, Alan Ross, grew up in rural Iran as Ali Rashid, so it stands to reason that he has developed dental phobia." Udi was impressed and then David added "While he was still unconscious I took a look at his teeth and saw that he had not been to the dentist in quite a long time — so from there on it was simple logic…"
David was pleased with the video recording. It actually contained two parts. In the first short part that was filmed with Ross facing the camera he stated his name and his position in the Foreign Office as well as a few details about his childhood in Iran and his original name. In the second part Ross was filmed as a dark silhouette on a bright background so he would not be recognized and he gave a full account of his meeting with Segan's organization, without giving his name, and of the actions that were taken to fulfill the contract. Only after some prompting by David, who remained off camera and his voice was distorted, did he mention the opposition groups in Iran that provided him with operational information. It took some more prompting to get to admit that the funding for the whole operation was given by the Saudis. There were two points he refused to discuss, no matter how much "persuasion" was deployed — whether the action was approved by the Foreign Office and what were the final goals of the project. David was not very happy with Ross's obstinacy regarding these points but reasoned that even without an explicit answer to these questions the video was convincing. In his view, every analyst could figure out the second point and no one would be able to prove the involvement, if any, of the British FCO.
He decided that he would show the second part at his upcoming meeting with the Imam at General Koliagin's office and use the first part only if he had to do so to convince them that it was not a just a bogus video. He considered getting Segan on video to confirm Ross's statement but knew that it was a formidable task, and in any case, it would be difficult to persuade skeptics that it was not another fabricated confession.
David returned to Tel-Aviv with the two video clips. He had instructed Yehuda Tobias to release Alan Ross in the afternoon and to make sure that he wouldn't be able to locate the safe house or identify any of the Mossad agents that were involved in his kidnapping. In fact, the only one Ross got a good look at was Mata and she was already on a plane back to Israel accompanied by David early in the morning. In any case, he doubted if Ross would report the incident to anyone. He thought that Ross would have to go into hiding and disappear from sight because the Iranian intelligence services would surely place him at the top of their "most wanted" list as soon as they figured that he was behind the elimination of their nuclear scientists. David wasn't sure what would happen to Segan once his own part in the operation became known. Probably, he reckoned, Segan would be out of business. David felt a little sorry for him — after all, he was a badly misguided patriot. He may have caused a lot of damage to Israel and directly to several Israeli individuals but his deeds have certainly impacted the Iranian nuclear program and perhaps also the stability of the regime. He may have meant well but didn't consider the consequences.
One thing still troubled David — who was responsible for the murder of Sam and Ruby? He wasn't sure if the Iranians did it, or perhaps Segan or even Ross. At this point he was quite certain that Julia didn't do it but a shred of doubt still lingered in the back of his mind. He decided that if he could spare the time he would return to Berlin and try to discover the truth.
David entered Shimony's office and the old man rose from his chair and hugged him warmly. David said "Here's the video. Ross admitted everything and confessed that he was the one who hired Segan's firm. However, he held back on two points. He refused to say whether the Foreign Office knew and approved the contract and what the final goal of the operation was. I am under the impression that the FCO was in the dark and he worked for someone else on his own initiative and that the objective was to destabilize the Mullah's regime. If the second part is correct then he was probably working, directly or indirectly, for the opposition factions in Iran. From his confession and Segan's disclosure it looks as if the funding was by the Saudis. I believe that their failure to purchase a nuclear weapon from Pakistan prompted them to make sure that Iran did not possess a nuclear device. This coincides with our own policy and that of the rest of the civilized world and even of Russia and China who are not too happy to see a nuclear Iran on their doorstep. So I think that it is in everybody's best interest to pretend that this never happened."
Shimony was impressed by David's analysis of the situation. "David, you did a great job. Now I have another mission for you. General Koliagin has invited you and the Imam to another meeting in Moscow. He indicated that the Iranians are more flexible — probably they are beginning to have their own doubts about our involvement in the operation against their scientists. You now have more evidence to prove the point. So go there and do whatever you can to get them to release the hostages. You know that the PM has a personal interest in this and has authorized you to act and make far reaching promises if necessary. The meeting is set for the day after tomorrow so try to rest a little and prepare for it."
Chapter 17
The meeting in Moscow, hosted again by General Koliagin, started with a much friendlier atmosphere. Imam Mourtashef even smiled when he entered the conference room and agreed to shake hands with David. Koliagin looked at his two guests with inbred suspicion and wondered what was going on. The two dire enemies that had previously treated each other with evident animosity now behaved as if they were old friends. He opened "Honorable Imam Mourtashef and admirable Mr. Avivi I am glad to welcome you here once again. I am sure that reaching an agreement between your two countries would serve the interests of your governments as well as those of Russia and the region. I am not so sure that some dictatorial regimes, especially those that benefit from the conflict between your two countries would take a similar view. I can already see that you two have come here today ready to reconcile your differences."
The Imam nodded "Yes, the democratic government of the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to listen with an open mind to the representative of the Zionist Entity."
David expected some acerbic rhetoric of this kind and showed no emotions when he said "I tried to tell you at our last meeting that Mossad and the Israeli government had no involvement in the elimination of the Iranian nuclear scientists. I now have a video testimony from the person who instigated the whole affair and a written testimony from the head of the firm that carried out the contract. I'll screen the former in a few minutes and meanwhile you can see copies of the testament I mentioned." He gave each a document that was based on Segan's account of the contract that his firm received and carried out. It only provided scant details about each of the assassinations but there was no doubt that the essential elements were correct, and even some unpublished details attested to the authenticity of the testimony.