Adding more to water to the flowers Annie had purchased, Eyal had to pat himself on the back, being a little domesticated wasn't anything new but his small way of looking after Annie and hoping the flowers keep their freshness for her return. He remembered her picking flowers along the stone wall when they were in the country side, something he didn't know about Neshema and her love for flowers but it fit with her gentle side. Perhaps the sweet caring Annie was starting to emerge from her darkness, he could only wish.
Leaving the flat, Eyal drove to an obscured spot for his call to South Africa. The rain had started again but only a smoothing tap-tap-tap sound hitting the roof of the car, the rhythm sound that could calm the rawest nerves, therapeutic at least once more was welcome by Eyal. His nerves didn't need calming but he was worried about Annie and what news he would hear.
"Good afternoon Caleb, Eyal here and I understand you have information."
"Not good news Eyal and the intel is far from complete. Jahia is here with me, I'm going to let her tell you what she knows." Caleb Eaglesten handing the phone to Jahia.
"Hello Eyal. No time for exchange nice greetings. I met Nicole Cohen at Kyril Davy's estate the day before the funeral. I just assumed she was Mossad until only a few minutes ago or I would have done more. At the funeral as you should know, Kidon executed a successful hit on Landric. I knew of the hit in advance and both Bart Bittermann and Noah Drach were there to get me out. As we were leaving I saw Nicole with Kyril's two sisters running in another direction and we guessed to safety. Bart drove around the outside of the area when we spotted two men escorting Nicole to a dark SUV. Now thinking she was Mossad we just figured they were there as her back up. But now Eyal, I'm sorry, it was abduction."
"There is more?"
"Yes, but I don't know how helpful. Noah got a picture of the SUV and we are now working on improving the print for details. Also, the Johannesburg police are questing the sisters and we were able to get one of ours in the mix. Hold on a second and let me put you on speaker."
"Sure."
"Okay I'm here." Caleb joining the conversation. "The oldest sister, Marie Marwick is hiding something, some knowledge and she has quit talking, now wants an attorney. You know she goes by a pen name of Estelle Bruce Hathaway."
"Yeah, she was one of Nicole assets to get close to Landric. She also had a meeting with Joseph Nielson, the new head of Lexington Global while in London four days ago."
"Nielson was also at the funeral but vanished. I saw him talking to a couple of men just outside of the funeral home before we headed to the cemetery." Jahia leaning close to the phone.
"Did you watch him while at the gravesite?" Eyal wishing to know any reaction Nielson may have had.
"No, come to think of it, he wasn't at the gravesite. Pretty much knew what was going down with the abduction of Nicole and wanted his hands clean." Jahia paused for a second, "Have another question. What if it wasn't Nielson behind the taking of Nicole but someone else or some other group?"
"May well be but I don't think so. Way too much pointing to him. Somehow, somewhere she has been made as an agent hunting those with Lexington Global and very well been her trip to Florida with Kyril's sister."
"Another thing we got out of questioning the younger sister, Landric's wife is she wasn't upset at all about the untimely death of her husband. Only said she has been abused for years and had no feelings for his death. Now with that admission, both sisters have become prime suspects as ordering the hit."
"Well that should hold them in Johannesburg for a time longer. Really would like to know the extent of Marie's meeting with Nielson. I'm sure some sort of deal was made and Nicole being the prize."
"I'm going out on a limb here Eyal but the selfie Jahia took of her and Nicole - well with a little checking... She isn't Nicole Cohen but a CIA rogue agent rumored with the killing of Henry Wilcox." Caleb laying all his cards on the table.
"Yeah and also my trusted partner for many years. Now you understand why I said she being the prize for Nielson and Lexington Global. Can't only imagine what they might have waiting for her and it can't be pretty." Eyal hiding all his emotions, his anger and apprehension for Annie's security, now wasn't the time to have feelings but push them deep inside - turn to being the master spy he was.
Caleb knew the underlining meaning of Eyal's words in 'trusted partner'. "You have my word that we'll pull out all the stops to find her. If the CIA doesn't want her I'm sure Mossad would. Think I'll go have a talk with Marie Davy Marwick myself, I can be very persuasive and get the ball rolling for her arrest as a traitor to Israeli, that in itself should shake the Brit." Caleb going to use his power in influence to help a fellow friend and Mossad.
"They can't leave South Africa by any commercial way; try Serest Star Lines or private planes." Eyal's mind running in many directions.
"Already on it Eyal and yes there is a ship The African Star flying the Serest Star Lines banner leaving port today. Destination unknown. We can't stop it but sure can track it." Caleb making notes, "Do you still have your backdoor route to Langley?"
"What backdoor?"
"Don't fool with me Eyal, the rumors run wide through Mossad ranks. I was going to suggest now would be a good time to open the door."
"Already open. Keep me in the loop with your chat with Marie or Estelle or whatever."
"Well do my friend." And they disconnected. Eyal sitting there, wanting to hit something as the rage started to build - if only he had returned to France without going to Tel Aviv but there no need to rehash the past in hindsight.
Need to fill Auggie in on the new information and knowing there was no easy way to break the news that Annie has been kidnapped by Nielson. The conversation went about the same as it had with Caleb and Jahia, no emotions only two professionals working a problem. Eyal knew Auggie had feelings for Annie and would always have them; she too had earned a piece of his heart even if a romantic relationship was out of the question. Eyal wasn't sure how Auggie view him but as long as Annie was in trouble they would work together, the same as when she was in Russia.
Now all Eyal could do was wait until more intel could be gathered. Waiting was not one of Eyal greatest abilities but nothing else to do. At least he could go and have a nice meal, some fine wine as he didn't know when the next time would present itself.
Rome, yeah that would be the place to wait, back on his almost home turf. Eyal had speculated Annie was alive and most likely on the freighter The African Star somewhere at sea or an outside chance she was being held some place in South Africa but that was unlikely. He had reached Paris and it being late evening Eyal decided to check into a hotel for the night. The hotel Paris Porte de Chatillon was his standard place to stay while in Paris when not trying to grab a few hours in hot pursuit of someone.
He enjoyed his times in Paris but not tonight, memories of Annie and their second time fate lead them to meet here in Paris. Her sneaky way with the red hand bag to make contact with their target. She was still a green newbie to the spy world but determined. So very thankful for her coming after him when he was taken and both formed an unspoken and unbreakable bond during that short escapade. Visions of them together came back to him, sitting in the bar having drinks. The way she tilted her chin when looking at him, the sparkle of life dancing in her eyes and her smile, her beautiful warm smile. They breaking the unwritten rule with spies and talked about each one's family - Annie's sister and his marriage break-up. Yes, there is a very special bond between them, a trusting bond beyond just friendship...
Buzz...Buzz...Buzz, his phone dancing on the night stand. Eyal reading the caller ID - Caleb Eaglesten.
"Got some news for you." Caleb voice was steady without any sign of cheerfulness or sadness. "Jahia went to the police to answer any questions and while she was there she saw Joseph Nielson. She told the police about Nicole Cohn what she had seen happen to her. A reported abduction and giving a description of Nicole but no picture. One thing for sure, this country is very good at covering their airports with security and especially any private planes. Train stations about halfway and of course little in the way of roads. We have check surveillance footage from the main airports and she doesn't appear on any, but we have no coverage of small or private airports."
"How about port surveillance? Mainly any of Davy's ships."
"Very lacking at the ports and you already know about The African Star. We can't board her before she sails. We got tracking on the ship and will know something once she underway... Hold on..."
Eyal shifting his position to sitting up on the edge of the bed, his gut telling him that Annie is on that ship and as long as Nielson was in Johannesburg Annie would only be a prisoner.
"Eyal you still there?"
"Yeah. What is going on?"
"Two things, The African Star sailed thirty minutes ago still designation unknown. Second, Joseph Nielson has booked a flight to London. He leaves in the morning."
"London..."
"My guess a stopping off point. I really think Nicole is on that ship."
"I think so too. We can't pick up Nielson when he lands in London, I'll make those arrangements. Any other news, how about Marie and your interrogation of her?" Eyal working the problem with his friend.
"She was frantic to get her battered sister away from Landric that she made deals both Nielson and Nicole. Her story is believable. She and Nicole had gone to a charity event in Florida where a man name Sebastian Tombs had become suspicious of Nicole, taken a picture and give it to Nielson for a check and Nicole was recognized as being CIA. It was Joseph Nielson that contacted Marie when Kyril's death became known. He want Marie to find a way to bring Nicole to the funeral and in exchange for her assistance, he would get Landric wife away and in hiding. Marie also made the same deal with Nicole, get rid of Landric and get the wife, her sister free."
"So now how is the police taking this new information?"
"They checked and can't find any traces of one Nicole Cohen being with the CIA or even in existence for that matter and now she is wanted for questioning in the death of Landric. Rivka knows of this latest development and will sit on it until Nicole is found. Mossad will not let Nicole or even the sisters take the rap for Landric hit, you know how Mossad has ways."
"Very well. Oh yes, very well indeed. Thanks for the update."
"Eliam should be getting in touch with you as soon as the ship has filed its port of destination." Caleb and Eyal exchange a few more words before both disconnected.
This picture is much clearer now, checking his watch, still early and he called Lawrence Carter, his MI6 partner for this mission.
"Hope I'm not calling too late." Eyal being happy Lawrence sounded wide awake when answering the phone.
"Not at all. Just watching so dumb dancing program on the telly with the wife. You know being the nice husband and all that."
"We have a target on the move, Joseph Nielson will be landing in London tomorrow."
"On our side of the pond, great news. Give me the flight number and time we'll have eyes on his ass."
All the information given and then Eyal fills in the blanks with all hopes Lawrence would also get MI6 tracking. Finding Annie would not be top priority for MI6 but stopping Lexington Global and Joseph Nielson would as it is an ongoing mission for MI6.
"I'll see if we can't get some tracking on that ship. Now you want to tell me why Nicole is so important to Joseph Nielson?"
"Let's just say she was instrumental in the demise of one of Lexington's top leaders."
"Good enough for me. I'll keep you posted on Nielson's movements. Good night Eyal."
"Thanks Lawrence and good night."
Not much else to do but get some sleep. Eyal last call was to Auggie with the latest intel and any news for him but nothing. Sleep would slowly come to Eyal and his last thoughts were of Annie.