I took some constructive criticism for the end of the last chapter. Mac would not have been taken that easily, I guess I would agree. However, review episodes, EMBASSY and STAKER for how easily Mac can be taken, at least in the first couple of years. As badly as this character wants a child, and is finally pregnant, and on bed rest to protect this unborn child, I'm going with her newfound motherly instinct over Marine strength. Who's to say how anyone would act with a gun pointed at your unborn child. Work with me people…. CV
PS, Life has certainly gotten in the way over the past couple of weeks, and I am sorry this is taking so long between chapters. But hang in there, the end is near. And thanks for all your support! CV
Chapter 7
Webb Odyssey Pas Deux
Claire Vincent
Mossari's Compound
Somewhere in the mountains, Northern Iran
0613 local time
Amy slept very restlessly that night on the rug in the women's tent. She was worried about what to do next, and how to tell Clay the things she had found out about his father. She still believed there was more to the story. There had to be. She had to get back into Mossari's tent and talk to him some more.
When the sky lighted with dawn, she tried to eat a little something, but her heart wasn't in it. She decided to just go into the main tent, and wait to talk with him like everyone else did. The worst that could happen was that they would not let her inside. And she was not going to sit around here waiting for a summons.
As soon as it was feasible, she walked out of the tent, her face covered as always, and walked purposefully toward the main tent. No one bothered her or stopped her. She was admitted without question, and she took her place along the side, where she had respectfully waited the day before.
Mossari noticed her entrance, but did not acknowledge her in any way. So she waited.
After over an hour of watching everyone come and go exactly like the day before, Amy was beginning to feel as if she were being ignored. Mossari did not ever look at her during this time, and none of the other men paid any attention to her.
Finally, there seemed a lull in the stream of visitors, and Mossari finally looked her standing there. He said, very pointedly, 'I have nothing more to say to you.' Then he moved off toward the desk, dismissing her.
Amy was not going to be so easily put off. 'But I can't believe what you told me is the full story.' She said, stepping toward him.
'What I told you was the full story.' He stated flatly.
Amy looked at him in disbelief. What he had told her yesterday was…unbelievable, not possible. Though she never knew Neville Webb, the information Mossari had given her was, 'That's just not possible.' She said aloud. 'I can't believe he would have done that.'
'Did you know the man?' Mossari asked.
'No, but.' She started.
'Then how do you know what he would or would not have done?' he asked.
He looked down at the work on his desk, moving on to the next item.
Amy said, aloud to herself. 'How will I tell him?' thinking of Clay. How was she going to tell him this about his father? It will crush him.
Mossari looked up at her again. 'Tell his son?' Amy nodded. 'He came looking for the truth. The truth can hurt, he should of thought of that before coming here.' He said coldly.
'How can we believe you?' she challenged him. How could they really? He was an enemy to America, it could just be a big story to hurt them and get them out of here.
'I have no reason to lie to you.' Mossari answered. 'Whether or not I believe the American men have connections that could hurt me, this all happened so long ago, the truth can hurt no one anymore.' He said in his defense. 'Except maybe his son.'
He had a point there, Amy thought. Wasn't that Clay's argument all along to get the CIA to open his father's case files? It was so long ago; the information couldn't hurt anyone anymore. Maybe it could, thought Amy.
As Amy stood before him, trying to accept what he told her, he said. 'You and the Americans are free to go. You have your answer, and you are no threat to me at the moment. But I would advise you to leave quickly. My hospitality runs short.'
Amy nodded. Whether it was the truth of what had happened to Neville, it was the only answer she was going to get, and the threat to leave now and quit bothering him was clear. She had to go and find Clay and Harm, and they all had to start back to the village. She had to find a way to tell everything to Clay. It wasn't going to be easy.
Amy moved toward the tent entrance, when she heard men's voices outside arguing in English. In the next moment, Agent Stuart Billings entered the tent. Amy was startled when he looked right at her, then looked at Mossari. Billings looked back at her and said in English 'So, you made it here after all, Mrs. Webb?'
Smaller Tent
Mossari's Compound
Somewhere in the mountains, Northern Iran
0927 local time
In the morning, Clay and Harm were awakened with a soft boot, poking them in the ribs. Their hands and feet were untied, and they were allowed to go out to use the latrine. When they came back to the tent, food had been left for them.
After they ate, Harm decided to test the waters, and strode out of the tent intending to walk down the dirt road that ran down the length of the compound. An armed guard stopped him four feet from the door. The guard 'politely' pushed him back inside, and placed himself outside the tent entrance.
'I guess we are still here for a while.' He said to Clay.
There was nothing to do but wait. They didn't know what they were waiting for. The guard either didn't understand enough English, or the little bit of Farsi Clay was trying to use, or he didn't want to answer their questions. Either way they were ignored.
The two men alternately paced the tent, or stood watching the comings and goings of people outside their tent, over the shoulder of the guard. This, he didn't seem to mind. So far, neither Clay nor Harm had seen Amy, or anyone else they recognized, and as time went on, Clay was getting more nervous.
Finally, Harm saw something. 'Oh, this can't be good.' And he nodded his head to bring Clay over to the door. 'What is it?' Clay asked.
'Isn't that our friendly neighborhood CIA agent, Billings?' Harm asked as Clay looked out the door.
'Great, what is he doing here? Besides making trouble for us?' Clay asked, as his heart began to beat just a little faster, and a little harder.
Mossari's Tent
Mossari's Compound
Somewhere in the mountains, Northern Iran
0928 local time
Amy was startled, as Billings came inside, but when Billings said her name, she looked genuinely frightened, then angry, that the agent had now blown her cover, just as she was getting out of here.
Mossari called to her in Farsi, 'Mrs. Webb? You are too young to be the wife.' He stated trying to place her relationship to the man they had been discussing.
Amy tried to calm her nerves and anger, and answered him, in Farsi, 'The daughter-in-law.'
'What are you two saying?' Billings demanded, looking at both of them.
Mossari answered him smoothly, in English this time, 'That is between myself and Mrs. Webb.'
The three stood there staring at each other, wondering who will or should make the next move. Billings broke first.
'Where are your husband and Commander Rabb?' he asked Amy.
She glanced at Mossari, but he simply looked at her with an open expression as if asking 'Yes, where are they indeed?'
Amy looked back at Billings and answered, 'I don't know where they are.' Which was the truth. She had seen them hours ago in a small tent. She really had no idea where they were this morning. She hoped not far away, she wanted to get out of here quickly.
Billings looked at Mossari, 'What have you been telling these people? What information did you give them?'
Mossari smiled as if talking to a young child who had to have everything repeated. 'That also is between myself and Mrs. Webb. It does not concern you or the CIA. Or at least the Agency you serve today.' Mossari smiled wider at his little joke. He seemed to be having a bit of fun, leaving Billings out of the loop. Deep inside, Amy was enjoying watching Billings' frustration grow.
'But, …' the agent began, but Mossari turned away, dismissing them both. 'I have nothing further to say to either of you. I encourage you to leave my compound now.'
Billings looked back at Amy who decided she didn't need to be told twice. She ducked out of the tent. Billings reluctantly followed her out.
Once outside, Billing grabbed her arm as she fixed her face scarf in place. 'Want to finally tell me what all of this is about?'
'You just don't take the hint do you?' she said. 'This is none of your business. It doesn't concern you, or the CIA or the war or anything.' And she pulled her arm away. 'We are leaving now. We will be out of the country as soon as possible, and you can forget all about us.' And she walked away; toward the tent she had last seen her husband. She didn't care what Billings did now, as long as he left them alone.
As she neared the tent, Clay and Harm were allowed outside. Clay asked immediately 'Is everything all right?'
Amy nodded. 'Yes, everything is fine. We are free to go.' In Farsi, she addressed the guard, saying Mossari had given them permission to go. He seemed to take her word, when another guard behind them gave him the 'high sign'. 'Let's get out of here. Do you have car or something? How did you get here?'
The three of them started walking toward the road that led down the hill. On their way they passed Billings as he was driving out in a jeep. He stopped beside them and said 'This isn't over Webb.'
Clay answered him, 'Actually it is, all over. See you in Washington some time Billings.' Having still not gotten the last word, Billings drove off in a cloud of dust.
Harm answered Amy. 'We had a jeep at the bottom of the hill. If it is still there, I guess we can get out of here.'
They walked down the hill, and were able to find the jeep, just where they had left it when Mossari's men had grabbed them the day before. All three climbed in, with Harm at the wheel, Clay beside him, and with Amy in the back, the started the return trip to the village.
Old home somewhere in Virginia
1347 Local time
Not long after he had picked her up, the man pulled over and blindfolded Sarah, apologizing that it was necessary. She had requested that he stop and let her eat something, or she would be sick but he refused. 'I'll fix you a nice lunch when we arrive at our destination. I promise.' She had also asked that he allow her to use a rest stop. She needed to stop, and hoped that a gas station or rest area with surveillance cameras would take their pictures, and give the authorities some help as to where they were going, maybe even ID her kidnapper. He was sympathetic to her situation, and after a few turns, the car stopped. The door was opened, and her blindfold taken off. They were on a dirt road, with no buildings in site. There was a tree nearby, and he walked her over to it, and held the gun on her around the trunk of the tree, giving her some privacy, but still covering her.
'You can't be serious.' She said. 'You expect me to just…. do it here in the tall grass?'
'This is the only chance you have Colonel. Take it, or hold it until we get to our destination.' He didn't talk cruelly to her, and handled her carefully when he led her back to the car, holding on to her arm. He retied the blindfold and started off down the road again.
It almost seemed as if he was reluctant to be doing this to her. Maybe she could use this to her advantage. She tried to engage him in conversation, but he only replied. 'I have to drive right now, Colonel. Please, let's not talk. I don't need the distraction.' After that he did not answer any of her questions or comments.
When they arrived, he took her out of the car, and led her to a building, telling her where to step, and helping her climb a few stairs with the blindfold still in place. She heard a creaking door open, and then more stairs, going down. The air was damp, and little dank smelling, but there seemed to be some fresh air coming in from somewhere. A door was closed behind her, and the blindfold came off.
They were standing in an old basement. The room was clean, but old fashioned with gray tile on the floor, light blue walls, and bright fluorescent lights in the tiled ceiling. There was a single bed with a threadbare green bedspread, a table and chairs, an armchair and a table with magazines and books stacked on it. There was a little kitchen cabinet with a sink and a dorm room size refrigerator under the counter to the left.
'Well, here we are Colonel.' The man said. 'There is food in the cabinets and 'fridge. Just help yourself. The bathroom is right through here.' And he pointed off the right. 'I hope you will be comfortable.' He said, as if he was some bellboy at a hotel.
'Comfortable?' Sarah asked. 'Why am I here? What are you doing? Who are you?'
'Now, now, don't get yourself all upset. Just call me Uncle for now. I just have to keep you here for a little while. You'll see, it will all work out.' The he turned and started to leave. At the bottom of the stairs was the door, he stopped here and turned around.
'Colonel, you will have to stay down here of course. But please make yourself comfortable. I will bring you meals, and there is good healthy food down here for you and your baby for in between snacks. Let me know if there is anything else I can get for you.' Then he turned and closed a large metal door, locking her inside.
Road back to village in Northern Iran
1217 local time
They had moved quickly to get as much distance between them and Mossari's men. They were not sure how safe they were, and distance seemed the best assurance.
The noise of the engine, and rough terrain made talking difficult, and they were all left to their own thoughts. Upper most in Amy's mind was how to tell Clay the story Mossari had given her on what happened to Neville, and whether she believed it or not. It all seemed to fit, answered a lot of questions, and he had no reason to lie, but it didn't make it any easier to believe.
Finally, Clay put his hand on Harm's at the wheel. 'Stop the jeep.' He said loudly. Harm pulled to the side a little, and parked the jeep, turning the engine off. 'Something the matter?' Harm asked.
'No.' Clay said. 'Amy and I are going to take a walk.' He stated, and got out of the jeep, looking pointedly at his wife in the back, and offering her a hand to get out. She reluctantly took it, and stepped out of the jeep, but she made no move away from the vehicle.
'If you two want to be alone, I can be the one to stretch my legs.' Harm offered.
They both said 'No' at the same time but for different reasons. Clay looked questioningly at Amy, and she continued. 'You don't have to go anywhere Harm.' Then she turned to Clay 'I want him to hear this too.'
'Amy,' Clay began. He wanted to talk to her about what Mossari had told her. He wanted the whole story, all the information she had now. He couldn't wait any longer, and he wanted to be alone with her when he heard it. 'Please, I just want to hear it alone…'
'Clay,' she said, 'I want an unemotional, unbiased opinion of the information, and Harm can provide that. And I don't want to have to go through it twice.'
'You want his opinion on what?' Clay didn't understand.
'Clay this isn't going to be easy; for me to tell you or for you to hear it.' She said.
'What can you tell me? He is already dead.' Clay reasoned. He was getting concerned. What information did she have for him that was so bad?
'Clay, it's just not going to be easy.' Amy said, and stepped away to gather her thoughts.
Both men waited expectantly. 'Just tell me.' Clay asked.
Amy turned and looked at both men. She had to start at the beginning, and just get through it all. The hurt could not be put off any longer. In the retelling, maybe she can tie things together to make some sense out of it, and find the holes. There just had to be another explanation.
Looking at Clay she began. 'Mossari confirmed that he was one of the student leaders that took over the US Embassy in 1979. When the situation began dragging out, and it looked like there was going to be a stalemate, the students got restless. They split up into three different groups. The first group wanted to keep the hostages alive, and use them to force the US and Western powers to recognize the revolution and new government under the Ayatollah Khomeini. They are the ones that eventually prevailed.'
Both men nodded, following the story. 'The second group, Mossari's group, wanted to trade the hostages for weapons to bolster the forces of the Ayatollah and defend them from any Western aggression. The third group, the loudest but smallest, Mossari described them, wanted to kill the hostages as an example to the West of what would happen to them if they tried to use force.'
With the background established, Amy had to push on to the tough part. 'Mossari's group was approached by contacts who represented, or so they said, a group of influential Americans interested in making a deal for the release of the hostages in return for arms for Iran. Mossari did not know who they were, only that they were 'influential' and had the means to make the deal.'
'They needed a middleman, someone in country, who had connections with the black market, and arms dealers, and the US. Someone who could move around easily in the Middle East, and especially Iran, who could get the arms needed, and deliver them.'
As Amy went on, Clay's face seemed to grow pale, and he began slowly to shake his head. 'No.' he said, but Amy continued.
'They used a CIA agent who had been in Iraq, working for the release of the hostages already, who was known to a few of the students, but not Mossari personally. Mossari said he never saw or talked to the agent, it was always one of the other students, used like a courier bringing messages back and forth.'
'No.' Clay said more strongly. Harm stopped looking at Amy, and watched Clay instead.
'The deal was going through, then something happened that put a stop to it. One of the Western contacts that was working the deal on the outside told the students all the arms were not being delivered because he had discovered some of the money had been taken off the top, and deposited into an account in a European bank. The students were being cheated.'
'No!' Clay shouted, but Amy kept talking right over him. She couldn't stop now; she had to get it all out.
Harm whispered, 'Oh, my God.'
'The student couriers caught your father and brought him to Mossari's men. He didn't tell me if it was at the US Embassy or where, but they held him for a few days, torturing him to get to the truth, and where the money or arms were. After a few days, when he refused to tell them anything, they shot him. They dumped the body out in the country, where he was found later. You know the rest.' She finished quietly.
'I don't believe it!' Clay shouted. 'It's a lie!' Clay's face was contorted with anger and anguish. 'My father would never do that!' and he stepped toward Amy ready to hit her or do something to make her stop saying all these lies about his father. Harm jumped out of his seat just in time to catch him and gave him a shake to get his attention. 'Clay, calm down. Amy didn't make this up! This isn't her fault!' and he kept a hold on Clay until he felt his body relax a little and the fury left his eyes.
'But its treason.' Clay said, looking at his friend. 'Making an arms deal for those hostages would have been paramount to treason.' He looked over Harm's shoulder at Amy. 'My father would never have done that. Any of it.'
Harm let go but stayed close, to offer whatever support he could to his friend. Harm knew a little of how Clay felt, finding out that your hero of a father, was human after all.
'I'm sorry Clay.' Amy said. She didn't know what else to say, nothing would help, and she knew it.
Clay shook his head, and the pain came back into his eyes. He stepped away from both of them. 'I won't believe it. He would never have done any of that.' And he turned and started walking aimlessly up the makeshift road.
'Clay,' Harm said, but Amy stopped him. 'Let him go for now. Let him walk a little, it will help him think. We will follow him and pick him up in a few minutes.'
Harm wasn't sure that was such a good idea, but Amy seemed to think this was best. She came over and leaned against the jeep, feeling completely drained. Telling the story had been as hard as she expected, and it didn't seem to help to understand it any better.
Harm and Amy sat quietly for a few minutes, then Harm asked her, 'Do you believe it? You were there watching Mossari as he talked, do you think he was telling the truth?'
Amy thought for a moment, then said. 'I'm probably not as good as some people,' she emphasized the last part looking directly at him, 'in telling if a person is lying to me or not. But I think he was telling me the truth. The truth as he knew it.' She paused a moment. 'You of all people should know that people tell the truth from their perspective, their understanding. I hope we can really find out what happened, for Clay's sake.'
Harm kept pressing her. He was an investigator and a Lawyer, and couldn't leave it alone. 'But do you think Neville Webb could have tried to make such a deal, against US policy?'
'Harm, the policy of not negotiating with terrorists came out of the Iran Hostage Crisis. I'm not even sure the term terrorist existed until then.' Amy answered. 'And I didn't know Neville Webb, or what he would have been capable of anymore than you do. The only things we know about him is what Clay and Porter have told us.' Her voice held a note of anger, but Harm knew it wasn't directed at him personally. It was frustration coming out, and disappointment.
'Clay went over his files, the ones he could get his hands on, and we know from those that Neville worked for weeks before the Embassy take over to get as many people out safely as he could. It was like a personal affront to him that he didn't get everyone out in time. He was part of the group that helped get the women out after the take over. That is probably why the students knew him and were willing to negotiate with him, if they actually did work on an arms deal.'
She continued talking, trying to fit pieces together. 'He was there, back and forth between Langley and Tehran working on plans to get the hostages out safely. No plan was too stupid to consider. And he had the contacts on the black market, arms dealers, and he had the means to be the middleman for the students, Americans doing the buying, and the dealers. It fits.' She said, shaking her head at where everything they knew pointed.
'I don't believe a man who could do that could also raise a man like Clay.' Harm said emphatically.
'Harm, you know how it feels. Did you ever think for one moment in your search for your father that he would find another woman and have a son with her?' Amy asked.
'No, of course not.' He said. 'But I don't blame him.'
'OK, but for one moment, one minute, didn't you feel betrayed by him?'
Harm didn't answer this, but the look in his eyes was enough.
Amy understood it and said, 'Neville didn't betray his son or his wife, it looks like he betrayed his country. How many of us really know what kind of people our parents are, or were? Maybe he was that desperate, to make a deal with the students to get the hostages out alive. We'll never know.'
She was quietly thinking, then stood straight up as another piece fell into place. 'It also explains the cover up.' She said.
'What cover up?' Harm asked.
'At CIA, why he was given a star, but his name is not in the Book of Remembrance. And why all the files are sealed. There might be people at CIA who were also in on it. Neville died for his country, but did it for the wrong reason, and others don't want their part of it discovered. It also explains why they are trying to stop Clay from finding the truth. Who knows how far this could reach.' She said speculating.
A chill went down Harm's spine. Could what happened 25 years ago still be damaging enough to someone that they would try to hurt Clay or his family to keep it buried? Clay was threatened twice to stop his research. Who was so scared? And what were they willing to do? What had he gotten himself into this time?