The night before, Eyal looking at the satellite images and saw where Annie had abandoned ship. He couldn't track her movements but guessed she made it to the edge of the great salt marsh. Now a phone call to an asset, an Egyptian friend, Akif Al-atrash the smuggler. There is a history with him and his wife's sister. When Eyal first joined Mossad with the Kidon he and one other agent rescued six young teenagers from an al-Qaida splinter group dealing in sex-slave trade. The family became one of the first valuable assets for Eyal, keeping tabs on sea and land movements along the Gaza Strip. Safe to say that Layla and Femi finding Annie in the swampy salt marsh was by no accident but the result of a carefully calculated directed search.
Early the next morning, Eyal touched down in Tel Aviv and made his way quickly to Mossad headquarters and Eliam Chodorow's office with coffee in hand waiting for his arrival.
"You are late this morning." Eyal greeting to his intel specialist.
"No, I'm on time and you are up mighty early this morning. When did you leave Rome?"
"A few hours ago and we need to do some work. Oh here, I brought you a gift - Starbucks coffee."
"You could have added something stronger to it. Thanks pal and now you have intel to share." Eliam taking the coffee and yes, Eyal had added something extra to the cup. Eliam taking a slip and smiled, "Now that is what I call a cup of coffee."
"I'm pretty sure I know the location of our missing girl."
"Maybe I should fill you in on what is happening around here. Your Nicole's true identity is now in full light around here and Rivka is ordering her found and brought to Mossad, like ASAP. She has been in touch with her CIA's counterpart..."
"Joan Campbell."
"Yeah, Joan Campbell and looks like the CIA also wants to find her first. Maybe a turf war over Annie Walker. Hell Eyal, this woman must be damn good as a spy."
"One of the best. Guess I need to go have a chat with Rivka before she sends out the troops." Eyal standing to leave, "I need to know when a certain fishing boat leaves the Smallfish Village sometime this evening and his course."
"Do I dare ask why?"
"Nope. I'll be back later." Eyal exiting Eliam's office and to the elevators leading to the top floor and Rivka Singer's office. He was sure she would be in, the woman being dedicated must sleep in her office as she is always there.
"Have you had breakfast, I'm famished and it was a long flight." Eyal poking his head into the office and seeing Rivka reviewing something on her computer screen.
"No I haven't and breakfast is on me because you have many answers to my questions." She looking up at the smiling Eyal and knowing it was only going to be breakfast - no answers but she was going to ask anyway.
Walking down the steps to the basement cafeteria and some of the best cooking in Israel, Rivka was silent, thinking her best approach to Eyal, the man she has come to respect for his spy-craft but a man very stubborn in his acceptance of orders and protocol. He had quit Mossad once because of Annie Walker and he could do it again and she knew it oh so well. When it came to Eyal Lavin and Annie Walker, he was uncompromising on all fronts.
Taking their seats after selecting breakfast from a variety of choices, Rivka was the first to speak. "You have heard that Annie Walker's cover has been blown wide open."
"Yeah." Eyal taking a bite of his breakfast salad.
"I'm sure you are well ahead of the normal route to rescue her since she jumped ship. My gut tells me that is why you are in Tel Aviv. Do you need my assistance?"
"You know me all too well Rivka Singer. Yes I do. I am going to be upfront with you Rivka. I'm pretty sure I know where she is and I'll be going after her. Let me read you in on my arrangement I have in place. It is in the hands of one of my Egyptian assets and involves the use and crew of one of our patrol gun boats." Eyal reads her in on his simple but effective plan to get Annie.
"Your plan is good, keep you asset clean by being turned back by Israeli for when there are prying eyes. I like it and as constantly as always your quick mind is so needed here at HQ." Rivka couldn't help but make another under-handed pitch to get Eyal into headquarters in OPE (operation planning & execution).
"Not anytime soon. You know my stand on that offer."
"Not anytime soon so the door is still open?" Rivka quickly picking up on Eyal's words as she knew he always selected them wisely.
"Maybe." Eyal half teasing Rivka but there might be some half truth to his answer.
"Tov." Rivka liked the 'maybe' answer. "I'll make the arrangements for the boat, give me thirty minutes. I would like to have a chat with her, see if she would be willing to join us." There it was, the best way to handle Eyal was to let him know the real reason to help get Annie back. A promise she had made to him back in Zürich when she persuaded him to stay with Mossad.
"I figured that was your reasoning for buying my breakfast." Eyal paused for a long time before he continued, "I made a promise to Annie at the start of all this Lexington mess that I would get her to California to see her sister. Her sister thinks Annie is dead and ... well I'm going to keep that promise. After that, I will tell her about your offer for a friendly chat but Rivka, it will be Annie's choice."
"I can't ask for any more." She looking away and then turning back to Eyal, "You have gone to great lengths to protect her and that is commendable. A one of a kind relationship with an American or any foreigner is, as you know is forbidden by Mossad. It could compromise your ability to act, but then I'm not saying anything you haven't heard before." Rivka was a little hesitant about asking the next question but she had to know. "Are you in love with her?"
"That's personal Rivka." Eyal looked down at his plate, yeah he knew why Rivka was asking and was there a chance he would leave Mossad to become an American to stay with Annie. Rivka's mind seemed to work at all times in the future and there might be some probability to her thoughts. Joan Campbell had also talked to him about joining CIA before she was so abruptly demoted and Arthur resigned. Now Joan was back in her powerful position and he was certain the offer was still on the table.
"You are very fond of her and I'm sorry to intrude." Rivka half smile at Eyal.
"Yes I'm very fond of Annie, she has become a dear and close friend but I'm I in love with her... truly Rivka I can't answer that because I myself don't know."
To most everyone at headquarters Rivka Singer was one hell of a woman to deal with, a leader with a lot of clout but with Eyal... it was just different. The man was as hard on himself for making mistakes, harsher to him as she could begin to dish out and he rarely made a blunder. She would have love for him to come in headquarters to work but that wasn't Eyal's make-up but she was starting to see a change in him, being a desk jockey maybe out of the question for now but there was hope for the future. Saving lives and he being a spy was his way of service to others rather in the field or at headquarters. The sad part, no one would ever know how important Eyal's actions were to the security of Israel. She considered Eyal Lavin an equal, a leader.
"Speaking as a woman who has been there a couple of times, just open up your heart and the answer will be clear. But until then, don't do anything foolish." Rivka letting some of protective guard down.
"Like join the CIA. That my dear boss will never happen. I'm Israeli to the core and besides I have a son here that needs a father even if part-time." Eyal drinking his coffee and glad their working relationship had come this far although he was still a bit guard himself.
"Tov. Go about your business and we shall talk more later." Rivka finishing her meal and standing to leave Eyal. She patted him on his shoulder, "Take care, I don't want to come looking for you again."
The Mediterranean at night was eerie, mysterious in many ways with only the stars and a half-moon covering the sky. A few thin clouds drifted across the sky catching a paranormal grayish light from the moon, adding to the ghostly feel of the night. There was a bit of chill to the wind as the fishing boat churned its way through the swells of the sea. Annie standing on the bow of a decent size fishing boat looking out into darkness, she was on her way to Israel. Akif, Layla's brother-in-law was happy to help; there was an adventurous way about him Annie thought, a man eager for the stimulation of a clandestine venture. He was delighted for the excursion and eager to head out to sea. Still not sure if she was dealing with friend or foe but so far things were going right, so Annie had to put her trust in them - at least for the time being. Akif had picked her hand cuff locks with ease, either a criminal or spy would have that skill. She felt someone approach her and turned to see Akif and another man walking toward her.
"Dark night, hope you are not scared." Akif with his broken English speaks Annie.
"No I'm fine. Enjoying listening to the water hid the side of the boat. The air smells fresh out here."
"I like this night sailing, it has a feel of freedom. We have radar with a good guiding system and running lights but as we get closer to Gaza and Israel it will be a different story. The Israelis cover the coast line with patrols and we will have to run in total darkness. There has been some heavy fighting in Gaza but now a temporary stop between the Hamas and the Israelis. Hope it holds. "
Annie had to half chuckle to herself - total darkness she was use to. "You taking me to Israel is not putting you in harms-way, is it?"
"I make this run quite often. Have a friend Israel that likes the Egyptian cotton and carpets. The fishing business isn't that profitable."
Well now that is the answer, he is a smuggler but cotton and carpets can't be on the hot item list for the patrol boats to inspect. Annie guessed there was more but now wasn't the time to become the great spy - she had to get to her own freedom.
Twenty minutes later and some small talk, "We are off the Gaza coast and time for you to go below deck. There will be eyes on us." Akif looking to the starboard side of the boat as if he could see land but that was nothing but darkness.
"It is dark..."
"Night vision, who knows how advance the gadgets are around this area. Please, we don't need for anyone to see a woman standing on deck." Akif being especially stern in his delivery, Annie had to get out of sight. "The Hamas, a Palestinian faction isn't all that happy with Egyptian boats off their shore, something to do with a peace treaty between Israel and Egypt and closed borders. Neighbors can't get along in this area of the Mediterranean. Going below deck is for your safety, there is a compartment behind the third bunk, if we are boarded, please hid there."
"You are right on all accounts." Annie wanted to remain topside but she would obey and go below. As she stepped down into the lower part of the boat, she felt a chill of fear creep up her back but brushed it off. It was something about being out on the water with no place to run that made her shiver, no exit point for an easy escape and she wasn't in control...she was totally at the mercy of this Egyptian captain.
There were bunks and a gallery, a small fold-down table and three chairs. Sitting at the table, she turn out the dim light and set in total obscurity, watching out of a small porthole at the blackness of the sea. An eerie ghostly feeling slowly sweeping over her, the many times she would be in a dark alleyway or building waiting for the crack of gun fire or all hell break loose. They were the times she hated most, the uncertainly of the incident and what would the aftermath would be... would her cold body be on the ground surrounded with her own blood. Those images had never been part of her until the fateful night she went dark, the shooting in the elevator and hearing the gun fire exploded - ringing through her head. Her nightmares were filled with an out-of-body image, her looking down on a very dead Annie Walker. She shook her head, trying to clear her mind of such thoughts and convince herself everything was going to be fine... but still.
It seemed like forever when off to the starboard came the flash of a signal light. Annie's heart stop for a second and then started to race. She found the hiding place behind one of the bunks, it was a concealed compartment and she guessed used for contraband of sorts. She had to twist sideways but made it in the close quarters, closing the panel to just a crack, letting her see part of the interior of the cabin. The engines stopped and she could feel the gentle rocking of the boat. Next was the sound of a thump, like another boat had come along side and once more her heart found its way to her throat. She could hear shouting but couldn't make out what was being said. She waited what else could she do. More voices, beam of a light carved into the dense darkness of the cabin and then footsteps, yes she could make out there were at least three people, men she presumed.