Hammer of God

CHAPTER 2

General Meir Shavit was the head of Metsada, the Special Operations Division of the Mossad. Short and grizzle-haired, he had served his country for over fifty years in both military theaters and dedicated intelligence services. He could even boast an apprenticeship under the fearsome Ariel Sharon in the infamous Unit 101 — Israel’s very first Special Forces command.

Though the Mossad was classed a civilian bureaucratic security operation, Shavit’s Metsada was the most structured and professional. It was also the deadliest, responsible for assassination, paramilitary operations, sabotage, and psychological warfare. Metsada was Israel’s fist, and Shavit was its brain.

Shavit spread the photographs out on his desk like a hand of playing cards. His stubby finger came down on one with a circle of red around a flat roofed building.

“In here, Addy. That is where we believe the bomb originated.” He looked up at his niece, his eyes yellowed from years of smoking. “There are no traces leading in, only ones leading out.”

Adira Senesh nodded, looking at the building, memorizing every stone, crack and piece of rubble in the streets surrounding it. Noting access points, exits, and potential danger zones from surrounding buildings.

“A bomb factory.” She knew it must be fortified. “They must have landed a helicopter on the roof. Dropped the components or completed device in that way.”

Shavit grunted. “I think yes. They received it there, and then someone, one person, somehow walked it to Soran.” He sat back. “Impossible.”

“Not impossible.” She remembered one man who could do it. And if he could… She stood at attention, waiting for her orders.

“The American Central Intelligence Agency has combined with the Iraqi National Intelligence Service and the Iraqi Army. But none of them can safely enter Mosul while it is under the control of Hezar-Jihadi. And what good is a spy agency when every informant they pay, the terrorists pay more to send them wrong information or entrap them.”

His fingers drummed for a moment. “Addy, we cannot wait for our answers. We must know what’s in there.” He breathed wheezily for a few moments. “Be our eyes in there, Addy.”

“And if we find something?” she asked.

Shavit seemed to hold his breath, and looked up at her with rheumy eyes. “Then destroy every atom of it.”