Payback

80

Paul “Paolo” Servico was a member of the New Path’s ruling committee, by some accounts the number three man in the organization. He was also wanted in England in connection with raising money for terrorist groups.

He was worth capturing for several reasons, but kidnapping foreigners was expressly forbidden by U.S. law without prior authorization from the president. While he could say that Servico was merely taken in the course of an operation to free one of his agents, Rubens greatly preferred playing it straight and vetting the decision beforehand. So he called Hadash, who was on a plane en route to Japan from China.

“Will taking him compromise your operative, or your original mission?” asked Hadash when Rubens finished briefing him.

“I don’t believe so.”

“Hold on.”

As he waited on hold, Rubens couldn’t help thinking of Hadash’s decision to resign. It had utterly blindsided him. Surely it must be something personal; he’d have heard political whisperings. Nor was there any noticeable animosity between Marcke and Hadash.

But if it was personal, surely Hadash would have mentioned it. So perhaps it was a scandal that Rubens was somehow blind to. In that case, Hadash’s reluctance would make a great deal of sense.

George Hadash involved in a scandal? Impossible.

How ironic, Rubens thought, to have the machinery of one of the greatest intelligence agencies in the world at his fingertips and to be powerless to use it in this instance.

“Bill, the president would like to speak to you,” said Hadash. “I’m talking with him on another line. I’m going to connect us all.”

“Of course,” said Rubens.

“Billy, what are you proposing to do with Servico?” asked Marcke as soon the connection came through.

“Debrief him. Then turn him over to Peru or even to London. It is still remotely possible that he has information about the warhead.”

“Billy, your person comes first,” said Marcke. “But if you can get him without jeopardizing the operative or your mission, do it.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Find a safe place to confine him. But I don’t want this ending up on 60 Minutes. Determine whether he has anything useful or not; then we’ll arrange to turn him over to London. Or Peru, depending on the situation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Was there anything else?” Hadash asked Rubens.

“Not at the moment.”

“We’ll talk to you during the conference call,” said Hadash, and the line snapped clear.