Thanks again to MySoapBox for proofreading and offering some very good suggestions regarding this Chapter. If you like something, it's probably hers. If you don't, it's probably where I didn't take her advice.
CHUCK VERSUS THE BUY MORE BOMBER
Chapter 8
…If You Show Me Yours
Ari had just dropped his bombshell. "Moses Finkelstein is Mossad."
There was dead silence around the table. Finally it was Chuck who spoke up. "Wait a minute, you're telling us that Moses Finkelstein, Founder and CEO of Buy More, is a Mossad agent?"
Chuck, Sarah and Casey all looked at Ari Schwartz expectantly. "Ex-Mossad," Ari said. He took a sip of his tea and looked from one to another in turn, as if gauging them. "Moses moved to Israel as a teenager. He joined the Israeli Defense Forces and became a communications specialist. Because of his expertise in encryption, he was recruited by Mossad. He started as an analyst, but he had greater ambitions. He lobbied hard and was eventually sent to the academy to become an agent."
Sarah heard Chuck draw in a breath and glanced over at him. He was listening with rapt attention. What was going on in that mind of his, Sarah wondered. Was Chuck actually thinking about becoming an agent? Bryce had been right at Stanford, of course; Chuck was not cut out to be a spy. In fact, the very idea of Chuck being a spy filled her with dread. The world had enough spies; what it needed were more Chucks. Still, even if he wasn't a spy Chuck was part of 'Spy World,' as he called it. As what, Sarah couldn't say. He clearly wasn't merely an asset anymore; but he wasn't a spy either. Sarah blinked away her reverie and returned her attention to Ari.
"He was actually quite good as an agent. He quickly advanced from working menial cases as a communications specialist to bigger and more important cases. Eventually, he was assigned to the anti-terrorism unit; one of Mossad's most prestigious postings."
He took another sip of tea. Casey was no longer leaning back with his arms crossed. He had uncrossed his arms and was now leaning on the table, listening closely.
"Moses was assigned to the sub-unit which was investigating Red Jihad. But he approached the case differently than those who had been working it prior to his involvement. Instead of the traditional methods, Moses became intimately involved in their finances. It became something of a joke: the 'accountant spy.'"
Casey grunted. It was obvious what he thought of a spy who spent all his time looking at bank records instead of out in the field, chasing down the bad guys.
Sarah glanced over at Chuck who seemed fascinated. Sarah knew that he thought of all spies as James Bond/Jason Bourne types. The idea that you could take on terrorists without karate chopping bad guys obviously intrigued him. Sarah thought she could almost see the wheels turning in his head. Maybe she should introduce him to John le Carre's George Smiley.
Ari continued. "Eventually, they stopped laughing. By tracing their funds, he began to compromise individual cells. Then using intelligence obtained from those cells he began to attack the upper echelons. No one in Red Jihad knew who was causing them so much trouble, but they tried desperately to find out."
"In addition to taking out their leadership, he was also seizing their funds, making it impossible for them to finance any major operations. In desperation, Abdul al Fayed arranged for a huge 'loan' from backers in Saudi Arabia. Over two million dollars, American."
Casey whistled. Two millions dollars back in 1978 was a lot of money.
"But when al Fayed appeared at the Credit Suisse bank in Zurich, a Mossad team, headed by Moses, was there to grab him and spirit him out of the country to Israel. Unfortunately, Moses could not help gloating to al Fayed about his victory personally; so now al Fayed knew who 'the accountant spy' was. At the time it did not seem to matter so much because al Fayed was sentenced to life in prison."
"No firing squad?" Casey asked.
"They did not want to make of him a martyr," Ari replied. "Interestingly, the two million dollar 'loan' disappeared from the Red Jihad accounts. Moses retired from Mossad a hero, moved back to the United States and opened his first Buy More using his own personal financing."
"He took Red Jihad's money," Chuck said as realization dawned on him. "He knew everything about their accounts – how the money was transferred. He rerouted it to his own accounts."
Ari nodded. "That is the conjecture, but of course there was never any proof. Besides, without funds, Red Jihad collapsed; al Fayed was in jail; and Moses was a hero. Better that the money go to one of ours, than to terrorists or back to the Saudis."
"And now that al Fayed is out, you think he's seeking revenge on the man who destroyed his organization and put him in jail," Sarah said.
"Yes," Ari confirmed, nodding.
Sarah heard Chuck mutter, too low for Ari to hear, "Is there anyone I know who's not a spy?"
"What was that Mr. Carmichael?" Ari asked.
"What? Oh, nothing. Nothing. I was just thinking that that was some pretty good spy work for an analyst."
Ari shrugged. "Moses started as an analyst. But he became a very good spy." His phone buzzed. "Ah. No rest for the wicked. I need to take this." He pulled out his phone and stepped into the other room to talk.
"Really?" Chuck said when Ari was out of the room. "Moses Finkelstein, Founder and CEO of Buy More, is a spy? And the Buy More was founded with money a spy stole from terrorists? You can tell me. Is Awesome a spy? Jeff? Lester?"
Casey snorted and muttered, "That'll be the day."
"Did you know any of this?" Chuck asked Sarah.
Sarah shook her head. "No. Mossad is probably the tightest lipped of the various spy agencies."
"Well, at least now we know it's not Fulcrum trying to flush out the Intersect," Chuck said.
Casey grunted. "Not so fast, Bartowski. Schwartz spins a pretty tale, but it could still be a Fulcrum operation – either alone or in concert with al Fayed."
Ari came back in the room, slipping his phone into his pocket as he did so. "My associates are reviewing the security footage from the different Buy Mores, but it will take some time. There is much footage to review and many potential suspects."
"So does Mr. Finkelstein know that you're Mossad? Does he know that you suspect that Abdul al Fayed is behind these bombings?" Sarah asked.
Ari nodded. "He called us immediately after the first bombing. He had been expecting al Fayed to make a move ever since he was released. He hired additional security and a former U.S. Special Forces sergeant as a personal assistant and bodyguard."
Chuck nodded. That explained Amelia Forbes.
"If al Fayed is active again, he may not simply stop at Moses Finkelstein, Founder and CEO of Buy More. Therefore, my superiors detailed me to come and head up the investigation. You already know, I take it, that Competition Securities is a front for Mossad?"
Casey nodded. "Of course we did."
"So I have, as you say, shown you mine," Ari said. "It is time for you to show me yours." He winked at Sarah.
Casey sat back and folded his arms again and Chuck squirmed a little. It was Sarah who spoke. "This substation was created because of an increase in espionage in the Los Angeles area. Especially with L.A. being a major shipping center. Agent Carmichael," she nodded to indicate Chuck, "established a deep cover some six years ago by accepting a job at the Buy More soon after he was recruited. He acted as point man and oversaw the construction and outfitting of this base, which is code named 'Castle.' Major Casey and I joined the operation approximately two years ago. We have had some success in thwarting a number of operations in the L.A. area."
"Including the elimination of a number of Fulcrum agents," Ari said.
"How do you know about Fulcrum?" Chuck blurted out. Casey glared at him and Sarah gave him a warning look. It was one of the oldest tricks in the spy book to throw out a theory as fact and see if the other side bit.
Ari shrugged. "Fulcrum has tried to recruit within Mossad, as well as other intelligence agencies throughout the world. Where their agenda coincides with ours, we cooperate. Where it does not, we… agree to disagree."
"You're saying that Israel cooperates with a rogue intelligence organization?" Casey sputtered. "With traitors and cowards?"
Ari shrugged. "Mine is a small country surrounded by many, many enemies who would like to see us driven into the sea. We cannot afford to be selective when someone offers us help. But be assured, we know that the United States is our greatest ally and supporter. We would not do anything to jeopardize that relationship. Our dealings with Fulcrum are strictly limited to actions against our common enemies."
"I don't suppose that you would be willing to turn over the names of the people you're dealing with?" Casey asked, somewhat sarcastically. "In the interests of better relations with your 'greatest ally and supporter.'"
Ari shrugged. "I do not have any names to give. And I will not give your names to Fulcrum, either. I only bring it up because I wish to ask: Is it possible that Fulcrum or some other organization is targeting the Buy More stores in order to eliminate this facility?"
"No," Casey replied.
Ari looked at him. "Short, Concise. To the point. And completely unhelpful. How do you know that Fulcrum is not targeting you?"
"We're not going to eliminate any possibility, at this point," Sarah replied, shooting Casey another warning glance. "But we will deal with any potential Fulcrum involvement. Mossad is not to get involved in any internecine struggles of American intelligence agencies."
Ari spread his hands. "Understood. However, if it is Abdul al Fayed, then you will let Mossad deal with him. Our way."
Chuck felt a shiver run down his spine at the way Ari said, 'Our way.' He had little doubt what Ari meant. If Abdul al Fayed was responsible, he had blown up two Buy Mores and killed dozens of people, including people Chuck knew personally. But could he condone the cold blooded murder of the man? It was Lieutenant Mauser all over again. At least this time it would not be Sarah pulling the trigger. Even so, no matter what the CIA and the NSA agreed to, Chuck was not going to hand a man over to be killed. He was almost positive he wouldn't.
To her credit, Sarah, with a glance at Chuck, didn't immediately agree. "We have to catch him first before we can worry about who gets to try al Fayed."
Ari raised an eyebrow at her choice of words. He knew that Sarah Walker was not so naïve. But perhaps this Agent Carmichael was. After all, he was only an analyst.
Chuck looked down at his watch. "Oh my gosh, I have to go open the store. Nice to meet you, Agent Schwartz. I look forward to working with you. Sarah. Casey." He gave each one a nod and then ran up the steps, two at a time.
Ari looked from Sarah to Casey and then back to Sarah. "Of course," he said, "Mr. Finkelstein must be informed of this operation."
"No," Casey said flatly.
Ari looked at him. "You are running a covert government operation which could potentially be endangering his very livelihood. He has a right to know."
"And his ripping off two million dollars from a terrorist is getting American citizens blown up," Casey retorted.
"Ari," Sarah cut in, "this is a highly sensitive operation in which the CIA and NSA have invested considerable time and resources. We cannot afford to have word of it leaked out."
Ari shook his head. "Moses Finkelstein, Founder and CEO of Buy More, would not leak the information. He is Mossad."
"Ex," said Casey.
"There is no such thing. When we take the oath, it is for life. Surely that is something even you can understand, Major."
Casey started to stand. Recognizing Casey's expression, Sarah quickly intervened. "Ari, please. Do not tell Mr. Finkelstein about the operation just yet. There haven't been any more bombs after the first two. Let's pool our resources and see if we can come up with something."
Ari glared at Casey before turning and giving Sarah a beatific smile. "Of course. As a personal favor to you, my dear," he said.
Casey rolled his eyes. "Oh brother."
Sarah ignored him. "If you can have your people send us all the raw surveillance feed, we can run it through our facial recognition software and see if we hit on anyone."
Ari considered for a moment and then pulled out his phone.
Jeff, Lester, and three Green Shirts were waiting for Chuck when he emerged from the Orange Orange and jogged across to the Buy More. Lester piped up. "You know, Charles, we're all familiar with afternoon delight, but I think that's suppose to take place in the afternoon."
"Is that even sanitary?" Jeff asked.
Chuck ignored them as he punched in the security code to open the doors.
The six of them filed into the store and Chuck noticed how nervous the three Green Shirts looked as they scoured the store for anything suspicious. He shook his head. Did they really think they would come across a big bundle with sticks of dynamite and an alarm clock stuck on top like in the old Bugs Bunny cartoons?
Jeff and Lester, on the other hand, ran to the back of the store to check on the chinchillas. Chuck made the rounds, getting the store ready to open. Not that he expected any customers. Still, there had been no bombing yesterday, so maybe a few brave souls would venture in. He idly wondered when the price cuts and media blitz of 'Operation Even More' would start.
He stepped over to the Nerd Herd desk and swiped his card to clock in. "I knew we should have left them in the home theater room," he heard Lester say. He turned to watch Jeff and Lester shuffling sadly out of the back of the store. "The Cage just isn't the right romantic atmosphere for getting freaky."
"Speak for yourself," Jeff replied.
Lester rolled his eyes. "I'm not talking about your assorted perversions, Moron. I'm talking about chinchillas."
Chuck shook his head. "No babies, huh? What is the gestation period for a chinchilla, anyway?"
"The gestawhat?" Lester asked.
"The gestation period," Chuck replied. "The time between conception and birth."
Jeff and Lester got confused looks on their faces. "Has anyone ever explained the birds and the bees to you guys?" Chuck asked.
"We're not raising bees," Jeff said. "I tried once but they all died. I think maybe I should have put some holes in the jar lid, but I was afraid all the honey would leak out."
"No… I… You know what? Never mind. But clean the chinchillas' cage. It's starting to stink."
That started an argument over who's job 'domestic maintenance' for the chinchilla ranch was. Chuck shook his head and walked off. Sometimes not having any customers was a blessing, considering his work crew.
Two hours and no customers later, the doors to the store opened and everyone looked up expectantly. Seeing that it was John Casey, they all went back to their video games (or in Jeff and Lester's case, planning what they were going to do with all the money from the chinchilla ranch).
"Hey, Casey, what's… whoa, whoa, whoa," Chuck said as Casey grabbed him by the arm and pulled him back toward the home theater room. "Hey, Casey, lighten up. You're hurting the Intersect," Chuck said when Casey shoved him in the room and closed the curtains.
"Can it, Bartowski. Look at this."
Casey held up a photo, clearly enlarged from a Buy More security camera. Chuck felt the nausea build and his eyes went slack.
Casey shook his head. You'd think the kid would have come up with a better expression for his flashes by now.
"Oh boy," Chuck said. "Hassan Nidal a/k/a the Postman. Known member of Red Jihad. Famous for sending letter bombs to prominent Israeli officials and political cartoonists. Last known location Beirut, Lebanon."
"Well he's here now. Schwartz's people pulled this off a surveillance feed from the North Hollywood branch. Let's go."
Casey grabbed his arm and pulled him out of the store. "Greg, you're in charge," Chuck managed to yell to one of the Green Shirts as Casey hustled him out.
Chuck, Sarah, Casey and Ari all piled into Casey's suburban. Sarah drove while Chuck and Casey changed into their FBI gear in the back seat. "We've alerted the L.A.P.D. and they're sending a team to the store, along with an L.A. County bomb disposal squad," Sarah said.
A few minutes later, Sarah skidded to a stop in front of the store. A single police car was sitting in front. The patrolman was standing next to his car, talking on his radio.
The foursome jumped out of the Suburban and ran over to him. Sarah flashed her FBI badge. "Have you evacuated the store?" she asked.
The patrolman looked at her. "I don't have any authorization to do that," he said. "You know how many bomb calls we've gotten in the last three days? I'm supposed to wait for a supervisor."
"There is a bomb in that store," Sarah hissed. She shook her head, exasperated, "We don't have time for this."
She turned and ran toward the store, Ari a step behind her. Chuck started to follow, but Casey grabbed him by the collar of his FBI windbreaker. "Uh huh," Casey said, "You stay here."
"But Casey…" he was interrupted by the sound of the building's fire alarm going off. The front doors opened and people started streaming out. From the number of people, this Buy More was obviously better staffed than the Burbank branch.
Suddenly Chuck was staggered by was a tremendous roar. The people running out of the doors of the store were scattered like so much chafe before a strong wind. The back end of the store seemed to rise up in slow motion as a single piece and then splinter and tear as bits of flames darted through the cracks. A fireball rolled out of the front doors and a larger torrent of flame shot out the crumpled back of the store.
"Oh my God," Chuck gasped, "Sarah!"
