This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. As fiction, the characters are not bound by the usual dictates of modern society. Unsafe sexual practices can be undertaken with impunity only in the world of fantasy. In reality, it is both your obligation and your right to play safely, sanely and healthily. I hope you enjoy my work, and if you have any comments, or ideas that may inspire new work, please feel free to contact me - all e-mails will be answered to the best of my ability.
End of Chapter 47
Joseph thought for a few seconds then said, "O.K. Pick up the head instructor from the Army school at the base. Tell him we need him and one of his most trusted American non-Muslim Arabic-speaking colleagues and get them here this morning. Make sure they have top-secret or at least secret clearance."
"OK, but this had better be big."
"Believe me, Bill, It is!"
Chapter 48.
It was about 4 PM when Joseph and the two translators were finishing up their work.
"There, I think we are all in agreement as to what these documents are saying," Joseph said as he sorted and numbered each page. "I would like to thank both of you for your work. I'm sorry, but this work is so secret and so sensitive that I'm afraid for the time being and for national security reasons you are going to have to be placed under FBI protective custody. I assure you that it will only be until this situation is resolved." Then he said to Steward, "Will you please arrange for their confinement. And see to it that it is as pleasant as possible."
"I'll have them checked into a first-class hotel."
After Steward had made the arrangements necessary and the two translators had been escorted out, Joseph turned to Bill and said, "Well Bill, was I right about this being big? The only thing we don't have is the exact time and date. I think we can both make a good guess as to when, but guesses are dangerous. One thing is for sure though - It is a typical multi-prong Al-Qaida operation."
"It sure looks that way, and that camp is where it is all being planned and from where it will be executed. I remember you had suggested, at the time, that we get an agent in there. You were right. No need to tell me 'I told you so'. I could kick myself for not doing it. Now I think we better notify 'Homeland Security' and have them raid the place." said Bill's boss, Mr. Cook. "This is too big for us to handle alone."
"Hold on a minute, Steward," Joseph said. "This is my operation and you can't just go in there and arrest everyone. We could have the lawsuit of all lawsuits on our hands. What happens if you bust-up the place and find nothing! THESE PEOPLE ARE NOT STUPID. If 9/11 taught us anything, it was that they are not idiots. How do we know that all this is not just another way to test me? Perhaps Allie and the Emir are on a little fishing trip. Maybe it's the Emir's way of seeing if I can be trusted and he and Allie are just waiting to see if I take the bait. No! The only thing that will happen if we do it your way is that my cover will be blown and these three years of work will go down the sewer. Another way is needed. What about the second part of this plan? The one where they are going to blast the hell out of that Mosque on the Temple Mount and blame the Mossad. That could start a real shooting war. Perhaps we could work it from that angle. We would have to warn the Israelis and coordinate our actions with them. Like it or not, the Emirate will try to convince the world that this was all some vast Zionist plot. Why would any Moslems want to blow up one of the three holiest Moslem religious sites?"
"Let the Israelis worry about themselves," Cook said. "We don't owe them anything. They do a good job looking out for themselves."
"Thank God they do! But, I'm afraid we do owe them something. At least I know I do! I owe them my life as well as my position as future Emir. The fact that they, at the request of our government, did not kill Fazzi when they had the opportunity, made it possible for me to become his adopted son. We at least owe them the courtesy of informing them of the danger they face. Then, as you said, they can take care of themselves."
"Well, I'm in charge here. And until I hear otherwise we will do it my way!"
Cook said angrily. "We raid the camp!"
"Sir, with all due respect, you are not in charge. I was there when the President placed Joseph directly in charge of this operation and ordered us to support him! Not the other way around," Bill corrected Cook.
"I received no such orders," said the director "and until I do...."
With that, Joseph picked up his cell phone and dialed a number and placed the cell on 'speaker phone', then said to Cook, "I repeat, this is my operation." The telephone rang a few times and then a voice on the other end came on and said, "Mr. Benson, The President is eating now, he will be right with you."
Then, after a split second, in a voice that was unmistakable. "Yes, Mr. Benson, you have something for me?" The President asked.
Joseph made his apologies for interrupting his dinner and gave him a quick rundown on the situation telling him what he intended to do. "Sir, this is one of those times I was telling you about the last time we met. I want you to inform the Newark director, Mr. Steward Cook, that this is my operation and I'm in charge."
"Put him on the line."
Joseph handed him the phone, "The President would like to talk to you."
The President talked to Cook for a few minutes and then, red faced, Cook handed the phone back to Joseph.
"Ok, I told him that you are in charge and that you are operating directly for me and in my name. For conformation I told him to call the Federal Director. Do you want me to contact the Mossad or do you have a plan?"
"Sir, if you would alert them, it would help clear the way. I think I have a way to notify them myself. However, your calling may speed up things and I think speed is of the essence here."
