Another Trans-Atlantic flight, another being cramped in coach, another sleepless trip with crying babies and restless children and Annie not pleased with anything of it. She had requested a transfer to a European CIA station but the request had been denied, citing her value as a floating operative was critical to the DPD operations. Her response had been that 99% of her floating had been in Europe so why not be stationed there. She should have kept her mouth shut, suddenly she was getting low-level assignments, simple brush passes she hadn't had since her early days with the CIA. She mused that one of these days she would learn not to buck the system, but she didn't think it was going to happen any time soon. She also mused the real reason Joan wanted to keep her close to Langley or was it Auggie? Joan and Auggie had this bond, this working relationship as both would have long conferences about missions and assignments. It was quite evident Joan respected and depended on Auggie's advice.
Touch down at Ben Gurion Airport, it was night and the sky shown magnificently marvelous with the canopy of bright stars, a night for star-gazing and a touch of romance. Ha! Romance was completely out the window, the Auggie fling was short lived. He was a friend, a close friend but their brief encounter with romance just didn't feel right and both knew it. She had dated a few times but nothing clicked and finally she reconciled herself to the fact, spies can't have a love life, maybe one night stands but nothing serious, to many secrets.
Customs was a breeze and Liza Kingman had officially entered Israel. Joan's briefing about the mission made it dreadfully clear CIA was not involved in this mission, it is a Mossad operation and CIA not welcome. Her mission packet had everything to prove her identity, passport, driver's license, credit cards, membership card to the Philadelphia Art Gallery and the Historical Society of Philadelphia. Wedding rings and pictures of her husband and children, ready made family she has never met. At least they could have given her a better looking husband but what the hell. Her cover, a wealthy socialite from Philadelphia on a buying trip to purchase Israeli art work for a gift to the most recent expansion of the Middle-East Art exhibit.
Renting car, and not just any car but a Jaguar sedan, if she was wealthy by George she was going to be wealthy. Checking into one of the more plush upscale hotels in Tel Aviv for the night and dining on the finest food, Annie was playing the part. If accounting doesn't like it than they should have made her cover an art gallery employee on a tight expense account. All this pampering was to make up for her unpleasant oh so long flight across the Atlantic.
The next morning turned out to be a lovely day, perfect for her drive north toward the Sea of Galilee and crossing into the Golan Heights. Her instructions were simple, check into a hotel in Rosh Pina and wait for further instructions. Well maybe her punishment wasn't so bad after all; Rosh Pina a small picturesque town near the Sea of Galilee in the Golan region has many delightful cafes, art galleries and culture. A heaven for artist and Annie's cover was well thought out. She spends her days browsing galleries and buying a few art pieces. Three days had already slipped by and still no contact. Sitting in a quaint cafe enjoy some local wine from one of the vineyards in Golan Heights she muse about the first meeting with Eyal Lavin. In Zurich, she being fresh off the farm as the training camp was call by the CIA and he also being punished by running rookie brush pass. That was four years ago and their friendship had grown into trust and mutual respect. Being in his country she wonders where he was, he always telling her things are better in Israel. He was right, Rosh Pina being a charming place to visit.
That evening the call came, simple instructions and the time, the next afternoon. Annie terminating the call and her mind drifted back to Langley and when she was giving the mission.
Six Days Earlier: Auggie had been sitting on the edge of her desk going on about some buzz and new intel about the tension in Syria and al-Qaida beefing up their involvement with the rebels trying to overthrow the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Annie being polite and smile even if he couldn't see her face. She only half listened, they had been so inundated with intel it was getting harder and harder to filter through it to find what was true and what was false.
Her phone buzzed, "Annie I need you and Auggie in my office now." Joan wasn't one for friendly pleasantries.
"Morning Joan. You wanted to see us?"
"Of course I did, that's why I called. Come with me to the data viewing room." Joan picking up a folder from her desk and marching as the commander of a small army down the hall to a secure room filled with viewing screens and vast communication equipment. "We have little information about a splinter group funded by al-Qaida aiding the Syrian rebels but believe they have other motives."
Auggie spoke up, "We have got a lot of chatter but can't verify the intel"
Joan smiled at Annie "Yes, I have a job for you."
"Really? I would have never guessed." Annie sarcastic remark slipped out quickly before she thought. Too late, Joan shot her a fire laden dagger of a stare. She should be use to Annie's outspoken ways but wasn't, Annie needed to learn respect.
"Yes. I need you to meet an asset we have turn recently and he has some information on Qumar's operation. I just need you to get what he has and bring it back. It's in the form of a flash drive."
Annie's sat up a little straighter at the mention of Qumar. "Joan isn't that the group Mossad has been working on and pretty much told CIA to stay out?"
"It is and when did the CIA start taking orders from Mossad. This intel is vital to us as well as Israel. We want to know what motive or goal Qumar has. The confluence of events confronting Israel with the complex reality of a civil war just across the border and Hezbollah has join with the Syrian forces against the rebels backed by al-Qaida. The Hezbollah has vowed in recent weeks that it would facilitate attacks on Israel through the Golan Heights and of course both sides are hostile to the Jewish state. If this happens the US and Great Britain have little choice but aid Israel and diminish any chance of peace talks."
"The peace talks have already stalled." Auggie pointing out.
Joan continue without acknowledging Auggie's comment. "And the most effective rebel force, Qumar is made up of radical Sunnis aligned with al-Qaeda while many of the other militias are led by self-identified Islamists. To make matters worse, the United Nations peacekeeping force that has patrolled the buffer zone for forty years is at risk of disintegrating."
"Things grew even more troublesome for Israel last week after hours of fierce battle at the Quneitra crossing, the only crossing between Syria and Israel and Syria took control but only briefly thanks to the swift action of IDF Sayeret Matkal unit." Auggie shifting in his chair wishing he was at his desk with more information at hand as he spoke.
"So you see why this intel in so critical and we need our hands on it. Hope you can bring it home." Joan now turning away for the screens and addressing Annie.
Annie nodded her head "Me too Joan and thank you trusting me with the mission." Annie trying to sugar coat her misstep but what she really was doing is making it worse. Joan is no dumb blonde and saw right through Annie attempt. Three words would have work perfectly, I am sorry.
Leaving the viewing room, Auggie taking Annie's elbow, "By the way Annie, you will be running silent, Mossad has superb eavesdropping capabilities and you are deep cover, not even a call to home base.
Well that was the assignment, a relative straight forward exchange, what could wrong. She would never leave Israeli soil. Had she forgotten Zurich and that simple brush pass in the airport that didn't happen as planned.
The Golan Heights region is hilly but really a basaltic plateau only the mountains were of the lighter color lime stone. Fertile land and climate for growing wine grapes and some of the finest wines come for this area. Being mostly rural, the drive was easy and Annie taking in the sights passing a few Israeli settlements until she reached Avnei Eitan, the little settlement where she was to meet her contact. It was close to the buffer zone and the encampment of Qumar on the Syrian side.
Find the little cafe where they were to meet she entered and took a seat at one of the tables. The place was almost empty and the table she had chosen gave her a clear view of the door. Ordering wine she sat and waited. Annie silently went over the recognition codes wondering who and not for the first time, who comes up with these dumb codes. Some creative writer for some TV spy show or maybe that was an entire department devoted to nonsense phrases. Perhaps Auggie just pulls them out of the air. Shaking her head deciding not to think about it anymore and enjoy the wine and watch the door.
Annie looked at her watch noticing her contact was over thirty minutes late and just how long should she continue to wait. She order another glass of wine and as it was being served she heard the bell over the door ring. There she saw a tall man dress in jeans, a dark Kurta shirt and his head wrapped. He heading towards her and sitting at the table across from her.
"Hello my friend. Such lovely weather we are having today."
"Yes, but thought I saw..." Annie stopped her rehearsed response when she saw two other men enter the cafe. Something about them, her six sense kicking in and she knew something was dead wrong.