Early morning found two spies on the road for their little mission to stop the French connection, nice play on words. They could have shared their intel collected from the mistress, Chantal Blanc with the French DGSE, their secret services but no... keep it simple and let the French belly-ache later. Yeah the suits at both MI6 and Mossad would have to extend the French their apologies and call in their operatives for a chat, the all too familiar heart-to-heart about cooperation between allies but all for nothing. It would be played out again and again as the word cooperation was just a word to throw around for political perception. This wasn't all just one-sided; the French were exceptionally good at playing the same game, especially on Israeli soil.
The skies were clear, a beautiful day and too bad they couldn't enjoy a quick break on the beach at Nice but duty first and maybe both men wanted to get the job done swiftly so they could return to their families for their down time.
"Haven't asked but how is your wife?" Lawrence slipping on his Starbuck's coffee and watching the passing scenery roll by. Eyal behind the wheel also indulging in his morning coffee.
"That is past-tense. We are no more now for nine years."
"Should I say I'm sorry?"
"No not really. Things were hard for us when I joined Mossad so she called it quits. We have a son, he is thirteen now and I get to spend a lot time with him when I'm in Israeli so that's lovely. Lady Fate may know more about life's future than we do, I'm happy now and life is good."
"Glad to hear that." Lawrence taking the last slip of coffee. "I got married eight years ago to a wonderful woman."
"Congratulation even being eight years late. Children?"
"Two little girls, five and three and they are the light of my life. Yeah life is good for me."
They fell silent to watching the road, each one thinking about their station in life and each pleased with what they have. Soon Landric Von Friedric-Kristiansen came drifting into Eyal mind. "Have some intel from Mossad about Von Friedric-Kristiansen the MI6 should have by now."
"What, I haven't heard."
"Our top target is a member of the Blue Moon Movement, the radical part of Golden Dawn if there is any such thing as a more radical part."
"Ouch. So it's Landric's anti-semitism belief the reason for his involvement with Al-Shabab." Lawrence speaking, looking at his empty coffee container.
"Accurate assessment."
Eyal and Lawrence were driving toward La-Calle-Saint-Cloud and their conversation now turned to the mission and planning when Eyal phone buzzed. It was Eliam with news that there had been an attempt on Kyril Davy life and he has gone into hiding.
"Would he have fled to Greece?" Eyal was asking Eliam... "I see, no we are on our way to stop the French connection and hope find a load of arms...I will need more updates... Fine and thanks, Shalom."
"News?"
"Oh yeah, a hit is out on Davy, he has gone into hiding and the presumption is the group that a shipment of arms do not get to and payment had not been received and Al-Shabab is sending a warning to Davy."
Lawrence couldn't help but smile as Eyal continued, "This would put pressure on him to delivery his outstanding orders. It is beginning to fall apart around Kyril Davy and our little French operation could bring his network to an end and maybe him."
"That's the plan." Lawrence smiling as he looked out the window, it is good when missions work out in a beneficial positive way.
Reaching La-Calle-Saint-Cloud, Eyal and Lawrence quickly found the warehouse. They collected some C4 Eyal had stashed away, and waited until late afternoon, when there was still sun light but people were rushing home from work and not too attentive for things happening around them. The lock on the warehouse door was easily broken, and the guys found a warehouse full of wooden crates - filled with weapons, automatic rifles, grenade launchers, mortars, anti-tank weapons, rockets and sniper rifles.
"Pay dirt, we have hit the jack pot. Laroche has stayed under the radar about his arms dealing or maybe he was just getting into the business - who knows but his shipment to Port Taulon-La-Seyne was going to be missed." Eyal looking around for the best places to place the C4.
"This is going to be one hell of an explosion." Lawrence setting the timing device. "We need to be long gone."
"You can say that again." Eyal placing the last of the C4 and finished running the connecting wires.
They waited until dark before blowing the warehouse, all the arms and ammunition sky-high. Damn they were getting good at these big booms - the explosion could be seen for miles. No time to cheer, they were off to Paris and the Societe Generale Plaza Bank building. They would make their diamond escapade first thing in the morning.
Late arriving in Paris and they back at hotel Paris Porte de Chatillon, Eyal welcome the comfort of a soft bed. Reclining on his back and staring at the ceiling his mind turned to Annie and their relationship. He starting to query some guilt feels he was having. Had he taken advantage of her isolation and her vast considerable need for companionship? The sexual aspect she had come freely to him but she was not a free person. Unable to return to her homeland, not to be in close contact with Danielle, the only family she has and she being held as a prisoner of sorts. A prisoner by her own choosing but still a prisoner and he was sure she had never considered the idea of not being able to return. His question and rightfully so was her turning to him the desperate move of a lost woman. Yes, he was sure of it. If she could return to the states without fear of prosecution and live a normal once more would she leave him behind? That question had to be answered. Returning to CIA would be completely out, they just don't forgive and forget rogue agents but there could be an abundant life for her in another field. He had promised to get her to see Danielle and he was going to keep that promise and whatever direction she would take, he would be content with.
Turning on his side and closing his eyes, once this mission was wrapped up neatly with a bow he would get Annie to California and maybe call in a big favors to clear her name. His feelings for her were growing, the wall of ice around his heart was melting but he was prepared for whatever her choice may be. That was going to be his next full-blown mission, clear the path for her to return to the states, it would be his gift to her - complete freedom.
Next morning came too quickly. It was raining which was good because they had the cover of raincoats and hats. Downing a hot cup of coffee, they were on their way for the last leg of their assignment.
The Societe Generale Plaza Bank building was open and few people with umbrellas were scaring about, making their way for their morning coffee. The elevator ride to the six floor was almost empty - it would be an hour before most people would arrive at work. The sign on a plank above the suite number read "Prewitt Laroche, Investment Broker" - that was a chuckle. Eyal effortlessly picked the lock and they were inside. There was an outer office with a receptionist's desk and chairs, a table with magazines - the inter office was nicely furnished with expensive artwork hanging on the walls. There was huge bookcase behind the executive type desk, and chairs in front of the highly polished Brazilian Chestnut desk.
Lawrence quickly located the button that moved the bookcase to one side and revealed a good size safe. No need to waste time trying to pick the combination lock on the safe - just blow it. Boom - they were inside the safe. There were boxes, bonds and jewelry bags inside. Eyal and Lawrence quickly removed the items without looking at what they were taking and slipped out as fast as they had gotten in without saying a word.
They walked down the six flights of stairs and into the street. The morning rush hour had pickup in earnest the rain was coming down hard. Great cover for them as they walked to Eyal's BMW, put the collections from the safe in the truck, and drove out of Paris to a secure place that they could inspect the contents of the trunk.
They drove toward La-Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland where they joined up with a second MI6 agent and the three discovered what had been in the safe of Prewitt Laroche Paris office.
"Are you counting?" Lawrence asked Eyal.
"Looks like just over three million francs of bearer bonds."
They started to divide up the take, half for Mossad and the other half for MI6. All would come in handy for future missions and to the victor the spoils of war.
"Nice, two dozen pieces of diamond, ruby and emerald jewelry and several large antique sapphire and diamond rings." Lawrence tasked with diving the jewelry. There were diamonds, boxes of diamonds that they couldn't guess the value. The other MI6 agent and Lawrence took their share of bonds, jewelry and recovered stolen items back to London.
"Where are you headed now?" Lawrence asking Eyal.
"Home. Delivery of our take and a little down time with my family." Eyal securing his share and bidding farewell to Lawrence. "It has been nice and until next time."
"Yeah, next time. Take care my friend." Lawrence shaking Eyal's hand farewell.
Another mission complete and time to head home. Three days later, Eliam notified Eyal that Prewitt Laroche had been gunned on the docks of Port of Toulon-La-Seyne within hours of the Greek freighter with the Serest Star Lines had docked. He chuckled lightly, his side of the mission was totally complete and one major dent had been put into Kyril Davy's operations. As he turning on the street where Avi and Eyal's ex-wife life, he got a phone call.
"Hi Eyal, Jahia Jones here, remember from South Africa."
"How can I forget? Wonderful to hear your voice again. You have some good news?" Eyal being very pleased to hear her cheerful voice meaning she was well and safe.
"I surely do. Our good friend, Kyril Davy was found in one of his gold mines dead. Apparently he committed suicide."
"Nice. To do unto himself before they could catch him. Any other details?"
"Not at this time but I'll keep you posted."
"Thanks for the call and the next time I'm in Johannesburg or Pretoria how about dinner?" A charming Eyal being very sincere as he liked Jahia, her ability as a Mossad agent not to mention her personally.
"Sounds inviting. Was great working with you."
"And with you Jahia. Until then take care." Eyal and Jahia disconnected.
Now for quality time with Avi. There was a football game between two major leagues that afternoon and both Lavins were on their way to watch. A quick text to Annie, 'I'm with Avi today and will be back in three days.'
Late afternoon when Annie loaded with her arms full of groceries, wine and a beautiful bundle of fresh-cut flowers. She was feeling renewed and once more alive, no longer looking at her surrounds with the fear of total distrust but welcome strangers with smile. She was still mindful of people but not to the extent that even the little old woman selling flowers was on Nielson's payroll, an assassin looking to make his/her mark by doing away with Annie Walker.
Putting the food away, she opens the new bottle of wine, poured a glass and found a pitcher for her flowers. Softly singing to herself as she arranged the flowers and placed them on the chest next to her white charger figurine - she was without a doubt cheerful. It had been a good few days and she found a new place, a small two room flat in the Canal St. Martin section of Paris. Two great train stations in Paris are situated there, the Gare de l'Est and the Gare du Nord. The multi-cultural neighborhood has a great bohemian element which pulled her there plus a wonderful sunset evening with Eyal had been spent within a few blocks of her new living quarters.
Checking her text messages, Calder was short, 'Touch base with Hathaway' and from Eyal, he was with his son. Nice, that was twofold, his mission was successful and had to report to Tel Aviv and taking time to see Avi, she smiled and hoped one day she could meet the lad - not watching him from a distance.
Dialing Estelle Bruce Hathaway's number, Annie was hoping she had good news about Landric Von Friedric-Kristiansen. "Hello Estelle, this is Nicole Cohen."
"I have some very good information and can you meet me in London tomorrow. Timing is important. I'll be at the Stopover Cafe just inside Heathrow." Estelle's voice being chilled, definitely not the friendly warm welcome she had shown to Annie before.
"I'll be there." Annie and Estelle disconnected and Annie couldn't help but think something had gone dreadfully wrong.
A clear day in London when Annie's plane landed and she quickly found the Stopover Cafe near one of the main entrances to the congested airport. She must be early as there was no Estelle waiting for her, good she could take the time to make sure it wasn't some type of set-up, yes her distrust spy mode back in full swing. Sure, Estelle Bruce Hathaway may be a CIA asset but her family ties weren't anything but criminal. She found a nice table where they could chat without being overheard, Annie sat down, orders a cup of tea with a sweet roll and started her wait.