Eyal never felt all warm and cozy inside the CIA building in Langley, a hangover from his days with Mossad even though his wife is a well-respected employee, now heading up the Office of Special Projects. Kind of missing the flashing orange lights as he entered, announcing a non-cleared person in the building, he had to chuckle.
"What's so funny?" Annie hearing her husband with his low crackling chuckle.
"I'm no longer important enough to be announced with orange lights." Eyal walking with Annie, "Since I'm so free to move about in Langley, let's say hello to Auggie."
Auggie Anderson had been promoted to head up a larger department, Counter Intelligence and his office was on the same floor as their destination, International Overseas Operations.
"Good morning Auggie, I have a friend with me, Eyal."
"You call that Israeli a friend." Auggie extending his hand toward Annie's voice, knowing a hug was coming - that was Eyal greeting for him.
"You're just jealous. Good to see you Auggie and you still owe me several rounds of that damn cold American beer."
"How long have you lived here and not liking the American official drink." Auggie patting Eyal on his back and both stepping back to chat.
"Annie tells me you are adding to your family. Congratulation."
"Thanks. Trying to keep up with your collection of kids. Understand your youngest came through his surgery with flying colors and doing great."
They exchanged more bouts of friendly conversation, promised to meet one evening for their long overdue night of drinking and wished each other well. Eyal and Annie now on their way to meet with IOO's head. Joan's office was at the end of a long corridor leading past closed doors, yeah this is the CIA - closed doors.
"Morning Joan, thank you for seeing us."
"My door is always open to the Lavin duo. Please have a chair." Joan had put on a few pounds and cut her once long blonde hair into an incredibly chic jaw length bob. Gone were the sleeves dresses replaced with fashionable business wear, giving Joan the powerhouse image she was - a woman excelling in a man's world.
Annie started, "We have a problem that may involve the CIA. Eyal's son, Avi has put in an application to join the CIA."
"Great, that can't be a problem because we need a Lavin in our ranks." Joan smiling at Eyal, if only she could convince him to join also.
"Avi is with Military Intelligence stationed at a listening out-posting in Romania, part of the NATO East European quick deployment base. He is almost certain his roommate is trying to turn him. Let us fill you in on the details..." Annie and Eyal gave all the information Avi had relayed to Eyal.
"Interesting." Joan pulling a key board closer to her, "I want to take a look at his application." She typing a blocking code for top-level clearance people to use so no track for the searches is recorded. "Here we are." Joan reading the application and looking for key information.
"Birth place, Tel Aviv, Israel - Mother name, Haya (Hildesheim) Lavin - deceased - Father's occupation - Diamond Exchange Broker, self-employed, Languages - Hebrew, English, Greek, Russian, Arabic and French." Joan looking at Annie, "Very impressive with the range of languages, did you have a hand in that Annie."
"All Eyal's influence."
Joan continuing to read, "Outstanding achievements in his classes at Georgetown University - degree in International Affairs, good yes very good." Joan looking at Eyal with a smile, "Clean military record and Master Marksman level with rifle and hand gun - CIA couldn't ask for a better candidate. His application has passed the first two reviews and now in background investigation." Moving her keyboard out of the way, "You've raised a red flag or two. My speculation is we have a mole somewhere in the personnel department."
Eyal nodding his head, "My thinking also. His friend's name is Jess McGregor and attached to the British side of Avi's assignment."
"I'll run a check on him." Joan making a few notes. "What did you tell Avi?"
"To play the game. Maybe it is my old Mossad kicking in but I would like to find out where this will lead us."
"Oh crap Eyal. You know I can't authorize that, he is not a CIA asset."
Annie in her matter of fact customary way, "I can. My department can run it as a special project, make him an asset. Joan you know I've got the authority to follow leads that could turn into a full-blown mission."
Joan took her time in answering, "Alright Annie, you will have to run this close to the vest, almost off-book because I'm sure a mole will be following his application. We can't add any CIA agent for his backup as it will..."
"I'm his backup and contact." Eyal with a committed voice that wasn't asking permission but stating fact.
"You'll be working under your wife's direction."
"Hell Joan, I've done that for years." Winking at Annie, both knowing it was an equal partnership but for this, it would be Eyal's lead.
"Alright, let's see where all this takes us. If his application process is dropped this is all dead in the water but I don't think that will happen. Your son's credentials are too damn good for the CIA to pass up. Once he passes the background check I'll get a listing of potential candidates. Should be within a few weeks."
"Thanks Joan, I'll keep you verbally posted on our progress." Annie standing and Eyal following.
"You back in the harness again - how does it feel Eyal?"
"Like I was never unhitched. Thanks Joan."
Eyal and Annie reaching her office and closing the door, "You have any ideas about what's next?"
"My guess Annie is they will move a bit faster because Avi should be getting the call for an interview but still needs to get leave time from the military to return to the states. That could take a month, maybe more. You know as well as I do turning an asset isn't easy and could also take months. If Avi gets a call for an interview and they haven't turned him..." Eyal pausing for a minute, thinking, looking at his wife, "I mulling something over give me a second." Eyal standing, looking out at the bull pen, "All these people work for you?"
"No, only the ones in the first three work stations and the office next door."
"Long ways from that little green behind the ears Neshema I first met." Eyal turning back to Annie, "I have an idea, see how it falls on your ears."
"Let me have it, I'm open for any suggestions." Annie taking a seat behind her desk.
"Once we get the intel on this McGregor, find his weaknesses and use them to our advantage. Maybe we can push things along a little quicker, rush them into making mistakes and leading us to the mole and who this McGregor working for. This may also be far-reaching, don't rule out MI6."
"You're right. How about we head out to our favorite restaurant for a power lunch and plan our tactics." Annie picking up her clutch and pushing Eyal out of the office door.
Four days have gone by since Avi and Jess outing and Avi was fast recovering from Joyce as he had bigger concerns to occupy his mind. He had received a brief call from his father that Jess was on the MI6 watch list so feel good about his gut feelings were paying off. Eyal had briefed him about Jess background - a staunch Irish Catholic from Belfast, Northern Ireland, his father had been a member of the IRA killed in 1993 by UDF - part of the Ulster Resistance. His profile reflects an extreme dislike for the British and their allies. In addition, Jess had been brought up on rape charges but dropped. Well Avi knew a little more of what he was dealing with, both Eyal and Avi were sure the CIA application was the key, so what Avi had written in the application, Jess would know, down to the last detail.
It was late afternoon, close to time for his shift to end.
"Hey Avi, what go grab a few suds after work." Jess had turn from his work station and bumping Avi's chair.
"Good, we'll do that." Avi wishing he had some prior training in covert ops because he was now winging it. His father's words ringing in his ears to play the game. Thankful his father was only a phone call away and with the last conversation, Avi knew a little more of the game playing for his part.
The bar not far outside the military compound was filled with military and hookers. Loud music playing and generally a rowdy place. Jess and Avi found a booth and shortly two women dressed in near nothing came easing over to them looking for some action.
"Not tonight girls - we are just drinking." Jess in his best Romanian brushed them off.
"Thanks." Avi looking around at the people in the bar, "I must be the only American in here tonight."
"Little home sick?"
"Not at all, just making conversation." Avi was trying to open the door for him to step in and he did.
"I've never been to America; tell me what it's like."
Jess took the bait now if Avi could only deliver the right amount of putting down his homeland, "I don't know, never really gave it much consideration... It's okay I guess."
"Just okay." Jess now pushing for more.
"Yeah well, some things that aren't right, you know political stuff. I did my college studies in International Affairs and there are other countries doing a better job." Avi taking a slip of his beer, "But on the other hand there some great places to visit. If I were you I would try to make the trip."
"I read things about America, everyone owns and carries a gun."
"Oh that is bull-shit. Yeah, we have the right to own guns but not everyone has one. I would say most people don't." Avi defending his country and knowing it was the right move, Jess was no dumb dud by any means and maybe threw out the misconception of gun ownership to see Avi's reactions.
"So tell me more. A lot of crime, mass school shootings and such." Jess still after Avi's view of the US.
"I would say so. Always on the news about a shooting someplace. Not sure why, could be the high rate of unemployment or just a bunch of crazy people wanting to make a name for themselves. That's where some other countries have it over the US." Avi looking over his shoulder at some scuffle starting in the bar. "Well maybe not every country. Looks like a fight is about ready to go down."
"You want to pick sides." Jess ready to throw a few blows just for the hell of it.
"Hell no man. Why jump in when we don't know why."
Two fairly good size men quickly broke up the disagreement and marched the fuming combatants out of the bar. Business back to normal and Jess back to drinking and more questions about America.
"What made you join the military?"
"Sense of duty I guess. Maybe hoping I could use my education somehow. At least I got my commission and once my tour at this post is over I can try for a transfer to a military attachment at some embassy."
"Used the military to get out of the states?"
"Never through about it in those terms. I don't know - maybe." Avi downing the rest of his beer.
Two NATO attached Greek soldiers who knew Avi came into the bar passed by the booth where Avi and Jess were sitting and spoke to Avi - of course in Greek. Jess set and listen not understanding anything being said and hoping Avi wouldn't invite them to join. After an exchange of a few more words, they moved on to find some female companionship for the night.
"You speak Greek?"
"Sure, it's like my second or third language. My grandmother is Greek." Avi raising his hand for another round of beer, "You know we have five days down time coming, any idea what you are going to do?"
"Thinking about going to the beach. I hear the beaches along the Black Sea are great. I know a guy that can get us a room in Mamaia for four days for nothing - he owes me a favor. I've already spoken with him and it is all set for us."
"I do like your therapy treatments, let's go." Avi raising his beer mug to Jess.
The next day, Avi work shift ended early and he was back in his room resting on his bunk when Jess came in cursing to no end.
"Got freaking transfer orders today. I have been resigned to another NATO post in Turkey." Jess throwing his orders against the wall.
"Hey Turkey is not so bad."
"Oh hell no - just on the border with Iraq - freaking no man's land - I've been there. You ever try to seduce a woman covered all in black? Damn it sucks. What the shit - damn it to hell I hate this..." Jess was furious and went on for hours about being transfer and how it was messing with some of his plans. "I've got to make some calls." And stormed out of the room.
Avi smile, yeah it's working. Eyal had told him they were going to put pressure on Jess to speed up the recruitment of one Avi Lavin - Papa still has the pull. Now the real fun should begin or the nightmare.