Survival Of The Fittest

55

Body-searched, pockets emptied, daniel sat sandwiched between the two men in the consulate car, breathing in their tobacco smell, knowing there was no chance to break free. He feigned relaxation.

They drove him to the consulate, placed him in Zev Carmeli's office, and remained outside the door.

He sat wondering if Zev would show.

Feeling like an idiot for neglecting the obvious. How could he have not seen it? How could it have been any other way?

Denial, pathological denial.

Had Milo been intercepted, too? How far did this go?

Hopefully, it wouldn't matter, Alex walking into the date unprotected. Just a date with a crazy girl and back to the Genesee apartment.

More denial.

Alex was expecting full coverage, would behave accordingly.

He remembered the tranquil look on Baker's face, all those murders and the guy was taking in the sun, unbothered by life.

Guy like that, nothing would bother him.

He looked around Zev's office. Saw something that could help, pocketed it, and knocked on the door.

Dov opened it. “What?”

“Bathroom.”

“You're sure?”

“Up to you, soldier. I can piss on his desk.”

Dov smiled, took his arm firmly, and propelled him to a nearby unmarked door.

No need for another search, the first had been so thorough.

“Have fun,” Dov told him.

Once inside, Daniel urinated, flushed, turned on the faucet, took the cell phone he'd lifted from Zev's desk out of his pocket, and dialed a familiar number. Time for only one call- he hoped the phone was a normal line, not one of Zev's preassigned coded things.

Ringing. Good.

Pick up, friend, pick up, pick up…

“Hello?”

“Gene? It's me. I can't talk long. I need your help.”

Knocking on the door. Dov's voice, “Hey, you drown or what? How long does it take to pee?”

“Wait til you reach my age,” Daniel called out.

“Ain't that the truth,” said Gene.