Satan's Spy (The Steve Church saga Book 2), André Gallo [ebook reader color screen .txt] 📗

I understand that Thérèse volunteered you.” He smiled slightly. “Tell me, what is the thing that is most likely to go wrong?”

“The moment of truth will be when I meet SENTINEL. There is no plausible cover,” Steve said looking away from his father and at the director. “This will be a black operation. I don’t know what kind of surveillance Canadian businessmen get in Tehran. If caught together, there’s damn little plausible cover story that would get this Canadian out of trouble. That works for SENTINEL as well.”

Deuel looked around, “Thérèse?”

“Steve will have help,” she said. “We agreed to send Kella, who was with Steve when he took al Khalil down. She’ll handle the communications. Steve will have absolutely nothing with him that could be construed to be spy gear. Plus, Kella’s communication device will be concealed.” Thérèse briefly met Steve’s gaze. “Further, she’s not going to be handling the agent so there won’t be any reason for anyone to suspect her.”

Deuel’s eyebrows bristled, “I do remember Kella. What I don’t know is that she’s a CIA officer.”

“She’s not,” Thérèse replied.

In a lower voice, as if concerned that members of the Fourth Estate were listening, Deuel said, “More fuel on the fire on the outside-contractors issue. Wait ’til the press gets hold of this. Are you now a contractor with a big salary?” Deuel looked at Steve.

Thérèse stepped in. “Neither Kella nor Steve is being paid, sir.”

Deuel smiled, “Steve, I thought you’d be a tough negotiator. You’re a pussy cat.”

“Government pay is not worth the accounting requirements, sir,” Steve replied with a grin. “Besides, West Gate will continue to pay me.”

As they all got up, Thérèse said, “One more thing. We received a signal from SENTINEL last night—a phone call to a controlled number in Basra, an area where al Quds is very active, to the tune of over three million dollars a month. He’s ready for a contact.”

Deuel looked at Steve with raised eyebrows. Steve said, “I’m good to go, sir.”

Marshall heard his son’s reply and looked at him with a grim smile. It was the only possible answer. Marshall then looked at Deuel in a reminder of his commitment.

He pushed the thought to the back of his mind that Steve, like Yazdi, was also a Knight, nimble in the early moves of a chess game, but often sacrificed for an advantageous exchange.

 

11. Tehran: Hotel Tehran, Chamber of Commerce Breakfast

Speaking English with a heavy German accent, Steve’s breakfast companion on his right said, “I’ve been here a year and there’s no end in sight. I came by myself at first thinking this would take four or five months. My wife will join me next month. The bureaucracy is difficult. It’s going to take a long time for the Iranian workers to be able to meet minimum standards.”

Hans Brauer represented a German tire company owned by a larger American firm. He lowered his voice, “There’s always someone looking over your shoulder. They even follow you around sometimes. I just noticed but maybe they are watching for long time. Just like East Germany.”

Steve, aka Christopher Breton, had landed at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport a few days before and was living his cover, fitting in with the foreign business community, such as it was. He turned to the man on his left, an Iranian,               “What ministry are you with again?”

Wearing shaded glasses that he pushed up on a thin nose, the Iranian said, “Yes, my name is Ali, Ali Pakravan. I have been with the chamber of commerce for many years. I help foreign investors meet the right people. I have many friends and much family in important offices. Perhaps I can help you?”

They exchanged business cards.

Steve, in business mode, explained his reason for his Tehran visit, to interest large Iranian companies in controlling their energy expenses. “We have our own in-house patented technology that we sell to other companies. Our main product is to survey large manufacturers where temperature control is key and then make recommendations for improvements. We often make the follow-on installations ourselves. We have privileged relations with companies in Europe, the United States, Australia, and Japan, wherever we find the expertise and innovation to keep us in front. A large percentage of our business is related to large computer rooms that need to be kept at a constant cool temperature.”

“If you don’t mind, I will talk to my uncle. He is a member of the Majlis, that’s our parliament, and has important connections.”

“That’s great. You can find me at the Esteghlal Hotel.”

“Very good hotel, Mr. Breton. I hope you stay in the West Wing, the traditional section. By the way, what do you think of our election?”

“All I know is that there is a political campaign going on but, frankly, I’m not following it. I don’t know anything about your country’s politics.”

The last thing Steve needed was to get involved in a heated political discussion with someone who probably would report every word to some bureau somewhere in the security apparatus. Besides, the candidates were already pre-approved by the system or they couldn’t run for office. In a way, the Iranian theocracy was very much like the atheistic communist regime of the old Soviet Union.

Before boarding the plane in Washington, Steve had discussed the wisdom of being in touch with the Canadian Embassy in Tehran with Radu, and separately with his father. Finally, since a normal Canadian businessman would check in, Steve decided that he would also. The CIA would not reveal to the Canadians that Steve was on a CIA mission. As he made his way toward the exit at the end of the breakfast, Steve ran into Charles Mulcahy, the Canadian Commercial Attaché.

“Christopher, I’m glad that you made it. A bit tedious but it’s necessary to make contacts, don’t you think?”

“Absolutely! Thanks for the