Ch 14, Team Work

Teresa was ushered through a long winding corridor after going through a metal detector and having her purse searched. The Mossad headquarters were no joke. She had never been in a facility of such size and importance, so she walked slowly and looked around. Avi had issued security passes for all of them for the first floor, where most visitors were ever allowed.

The accompanying officer finally stopped in front of a door and knocked. Teresa heard a voice respond and once the officer opened the door and let her pass in, she was greeted warmly by Samara Volkova Moshe and introduced to Anat Moshe, who both switched to English immediately.

"The substances recovered at the scene are both fertilizer and chemical waste", Anat Moshe held a report and passed it on to Teresa. "My brother was briefed that they still can't say what process exactly generated this specific chemical waste…a process that they have either in this facility or in some other one in Israel. It's baffling!"

"And the chemical lab had not offered any better clues because so far all they could link it to was the legal production of fertilizer", Samara added.

"I understand your lawyer suggested that you could try to void the sale of the land in Thailand if you could prove the seller didn't disclose known facts…like the land being polluted?" Anat asked.

"Yes, Kelly Anne is an American lawyer…and she is looking into whether this even possible in Thailand", Teresa said: "But for that to happen, we need to first locate the seller…and he is gone missing."

"I saw his goons chase Chicho, Marcel and your husband in London…I'm certain his team is on the run because they have things to hide. So, we called you here to work on a game plan because I understand you are the person who will be making the final decision to replace Lancaster… or not…in the resort's development, right?" Anat waited patiently.

"It's me…and my husband. I own the Venture Cap…but I have him assessing the risks and I…ahh", Teresa was looking for words as Anat took over: "Fair enough. I understand the men went with my brother to see how the interrogation of the two Blackridge operatives would go…behind a mirror obviously."

"The interrogation has moved on in a positive direction!" Samara lifted her eyes from her cell and shook her head: "There's an update loaded…So, one of the men is actually a Palestinian born in Jerusalem to a mother who is an Israeli citizen…So, we don't have to recognize his British citizenship. We treat him a local…"

As Teresa looked at her askance, Samara continued: "There's different rules for Israelis vs. foreigners. The UK embassy cannot do zilch to interfere and provide him with assistance. He has to talk, else…", she didn't finish.

"What will happen to him?" Teresa asked cautiously.

Anat had pulled out her phone to see her updates and responded: "After some decent 'treatment'…if he wants to play hard to get…he'll be tossed in prison…If he cooperates, he'll get a deal…I'm sure my brother will use his ingenuity to get him to talk!"

The meeting had lasted some more time and they had even called Kelly Anne to check if her research on Thai law had given any results. So far, there have been no developments.

They discussed the possible methods of tracking Lancaster, maybe even involving Interpol. Anat assured Teresa that Mossad had enough material to be lawfully engaged in the search for the owner of the facility where chemical waste was recovered and that no part of their assistance would be considered or would look like doing favors for friends.

Half an hour later the men joined them as the interrogation had been given a break.

"Wilson started talking!" Avi announced with a vibrant tone. "He sounds very English, just as his name…but the UK isn't going to ask for any leniency or …an extradition as his mother carries an Israeli passport…he is from the Occupied Territories…and dealing with them is this Agency's mandate!"

"He was pretty quick to grasp the complexity of his situation!" Chicho added with a smile.

The man had described the Blakeridge security business as a group of 15 trained men, with military or mercenary experience. Three provided constant protection for Lancaster; another three were assigned to the silent partner, who resided in the UK countryside. Two were in hospital as Anat had run them over with her car in London a few days ago; two were held by Mossad, while the third one, who had blown up Avi's SUV, had escaped.

The man had confirmed that there were operatives in Brazil and in India whose job had been to tail Marcel's investigators, but he had no idea if they were still at play.

By the time Avi had given the group all the details, Marcel's cell rang, and his expression couldn't hide he had received bad news.

The last two days felt like a rollercoaster ride! They would take a step ahead, and the mood would lighten up, and then circumstances would force them to take two steps backwards! Teresa was sure Marcel's upset face had to do with the missing investigator in Fortaleza.

"He was a personal friend of mine!" Marcel almost hit the desk with his fist. "He moved down there and got married and…had a family…and now they have found him dead…shot in the head…like my guy in Goa…I sent these men to their death!" He was getting more wound up as he talked.

Everyone exchanged worried glances when Marcel said: "I'm flying there right away…I just have to see what flight I can get on…I need to see his wife personally and then take a look at the land myself."

Teresa heard herself say: "I'm coming with you!" as both Marcel himself and James looked at her instantaneously.

She cleared her throat and added: "You can't do everything alone…I mean you'll have to contact the lab he hired for the soil testing…then talk to the police…"

"Yeah…I guess I'd be glad if you come with me…if anyone comes with me…but it might be dangerous. Blackridge's men might still be there!" Marcel waited for James as he knew where any opposition might come from.

"Then you'll draw them out!" Chicho said squinting as if making serious plans. "I was thinking going to Goa myself to see how far the other investigator got before they got to him…because there's been no developments in Bangkok as per the lawyer."

"And we'll work the angle from here, " Anat said. "I have faith that we'll get a possible location for Lancaster…once we make an 'offer' to Wilson…a signed offer whereby he'll get concessions if he talks."

"I'm not letting you go alone to Goa!" James broke his silent stare. He spoke directly to Chicho looking him in the eyes. "You may need assistance!" James felt his throat dry as he noted Chicho's pleasant expression while catching a quick glance at Teresa's blank face.


The men went back to the interrogation wing, but James told Avi that he'd join them later. He had a visitor's pass and after three days at the facility, he knew it and the area around very well. He took Teresa out to a nearby restaurant that was already slowing down from the lunch crowd.

They were mostly silent by the time they were seated.

"Please don't be mad!' Teresa said and looked at him imploringly. She couldn't bear the thought of disagreements. So, she said shily: "Coffee?"

He made a helpless face and said: "Cerveza!"

Teresa didn't know if she should smile or not, but as her head felt heavy and her chest felt tight, she said: "Tequila then!" And her smile caught on his face as he lifted his arm to signal to the waiter.

Once they ordered drinks and some food, and the waiter had left, James said: "You think you can do this your own way?"

The words rang a bell in Teresa's head and his expression and tone were amicable enough, but she knew him well to be able to read the signs of worried discontent under the surface. Before she had come up with a response, he said: "I can't let anything happen to you…and I'm not certain Marcel's skill set is up to date to protect you!"

"They will not be after me…nobody knows about me!" she tried to argue.

"If Blackridge is still there, they will be after him…and this will put you in danger!" came the logical answer.

Teresa knew he was right, but Marcel had grown up in the gangster life, so she wasn't sure she agreed with James's estimation, so she said so.

"I know you're trying to keep me safe…I actually have known that …since the 1st day we met, you've been trying to keep me alive…and safe!", she looked at him trying to read his face.

"This sounds like something I said once!" James mumbled with half mouth and looked away, Pote style.

Teresa shook her head reassuringly and ventured a tiny smile.

"I see why you'd be remembering it now!" he kept mumbling.

Their drinks arrived and after each one took a sip, they fell silent for a minute. Teresa's hand found his and held it. Then she locked her fingers with his, while her thumb slowly made circles on his palm: "Todo va a salir bien, mi amor! Cree me!" (All will be all right, love. Trust me!)

A little later after having eaten her lunch she said: "I have an idea…I will ask Samara to check out any other companies who have sold land to Lancaster…to see if they're involved in the production of anything that may produce waste …if their manufacturing process generates any toxic stuff …as I have the feeling Lancaster isn't just looking for polluted land!"

James looked at her briefly as he was taking cash out of his wallet to pay: "I've been thinking kind of the same…the woman we spoke to in London…she said Lancaster finds companies with problems…but I have the suspicion he finds companies and creates the problems for them!"


Teresa couldn't believe James had agreed that she'd go to Brazil with Marcel. Convincing him had been way easier than she had imagined, so when her son Tony told her he was 'tagging along' with Dad and Chicho, all she could do was hug him tight and say: "Cuidate y portate bien!" Obviously, the boy had expected a more difficult conversation with his mother and wasn't quite able to hide the sparkle in his eyes.