Matthew Dunn - Spycatcher

Will moved closer, took the envelope, and unsealed it to remove a letter. He turned it over a few times and decided that it was not written on Iranian embassy stationery. The words were handwritten in a blue ink.

Dear Lana,

Of course you would not deliver to me the British man without being under my protection. I am reassured that you have taken such a stance. I am also grateful that you have sufficient confidence in my intentions to give me the man’s name. But hiding from him no longer serves any purpose. You must bring him near to you so that after you and I are reacquainted, I can make swift plans.

Contact him and tell him that you are scared. Tell him that you are sorry you left Paris without telling him you had done so. Tell him where you are staying in case he needs you.

I am closer to you than you may think. We will meet very soon.

Your dear friend,

Megiddo

Will read the letter three times before handing it to Lana. He watched her read and then look up. Her expression had changed, and she now seemed agitated.

“It’s him. It’s really him.” Lana extinguished her cigarette and immediately lit another one.

“You’re sure?”

She rocked back and forth a little. “I’m sure.” When she rubbed a hand over her mouth, the action smudged lipstick onto her chin. “What happens next?”

Will walked over and took the letter from her hand. “We’ll give him what he wants as well as something unexpected.”

He then gave her a new sheet of stationery and dictated her response to Megiddo. When she had placed the completed letter in the envelope, Will pointed a finger so that it was touching the document. “You need to take that to the Iranian embassy now.”

Lana nodded and placed her hand over his. She squeezed tight and said, “It’s funny. I’ve lived with years and years of hatred and a desire for revenge against Megiddo. That’s all that mattered to me. But now”-her smile faded, and she looked longingly at Will-“I wonder if that’s all that matters.”

To my dear Megiddo,

I did what you asked, but when I spoke to him, he sounded angry. He told me that he was in Berlin and had prevented you from doing something dreadful. He told me that you were playing games and that you were trying to mislead his people.

He wants to see me again, and he will be traveling to Croatia within the next day or so. He told me that I had now become important to him. He told me that he needs to know what you look like.

Please tell me what I should do. Please hurry and take me away from here.

Yours,

Lana

“Okay, so what’s this idea of yours, Harry?” Will had traveled to Oslo Airport merely so that he could spend a few moments with Lace in the transit lounge where he was now seated. He had come straight here after receiving an SMS from Harry as he was leaving Lana’s hotel. Harry was flying on to Helsinki, and Will intended to leave the Norwegian airport on the next available flight to Zurich.

Harry took a large gulp of his complimentary whiskey. “Human Benevolence Foundation. Have you heard of it?”

The name sounded familiar to Will. “A nongovernmental organization?”

“Yes. It’s Iranian and quite small. Not like some of the other Iranian NGOs and less obvious than the likes of Red Crescent, which we all know is a front for their intelligence services. HBF’s been in Bosnia for about three years and has been mostly building and rebuilding religious places. They seem”-Harry angled his head a little-“quite legitimate.”

“You think this is where Megiddo is working from?”

“I think it could be where he’s working from. I would not like to put it stronger than that.”

“Why do you believe he could be there?”

Harry smiled and swirled ice within his glass. “One of my other business interests is construction. We use a lot of subcontractor companies, and there’s a Bosnian guy who works for one of them who I’ve known for a long time. We go way back-before, during, and after the war. His own company has recently been awarded the contract to build a mosque in Sarajevo, with HBF money and according to their designs.” Harry waved one of his manicured hands in the air. “So my guy is working with HBF people. And there’s a man there. He’s midfifties in age, quiet, does nothing. My guy recognizes him.”

“Qods Force?”

“Yes.” Harry set his glass down. “At least he was when he was last in Bosnia during the war.”

“A name?”

“Nothing. My guy’s asked around to try to find out more.” He held up a finger. “Carefully, mind. He made it look as though he was just checking up on HBF to make sure they’re good for their money.” Harry dipped his little finger into his whiskey and then sucked the spirit off it. “Nobody knows anything about this Iranian man. It seems he keeps an extremely low profile, which is quite a difficult thing to do in a goldfish bowl like Sarajevo. And he seems to have no involvement or interest in HBF projects.”

Will thought through a few issues. “Why would your guy do this? Why would he try to check up on this man?”

Harry shrugged. “Because I asked him to.” He laughed. “Don’t worry, none of my people know about our arrangement.”

“Do you trust him?”

“Trust?” Harry sniggered. “You know my views on that word. But I can say that he and I have been through too much together for us to distrust each other.”

Will nodded his approval. “That’s excellent, Harry. I think your guy may have stumbled onto the Qods Force Western Directorate’s location. Maybe even Megiddo himself.”

Harry finished his whiskey, and for once the man looked quite fatigued. He checked his watch and then said, “Business beckons. My flight will now be boarding.” He managed a tired smile. “On price I’ve just lost a deal with the Russians, but I’m hoping to offload the same deal to the Finns.”

“Weapons?”

“Warships.”

Will leaned forward so that he was closer to Harry. “I have a request, but given the level you operate at, you may think it somewhat beneath you.”

Harry waited.

“If, and I only say if, I were to need guns for an operation in Bosnia,” Will asked, “would you be able to get them for me?”

“How many users?”

“Five men.”

“Special operations gear?”

“Yes.”

Harry smiled in earnest this time. “I can arrange such a thing in seconds, but surely a man of your standing would not have need for under-the-counter equipment?”

Will mimicked Harry’s shrug. “What you and I are doing has to be completely off the radar. Nothing can be official. You understand?”

Harry flashed his white teeth. “Absolutely.” He forced himself upright and grabbed his leather overnight bag. “When you need the stuff, just call me and I’ll arrange everything.”

Will stood and shook hands with his agent. As he did so, Harry pulled him closer to his body. All traces of his smile had vanished.

“My associate’s name is Dzevat Kljujic.” Harry’s words were clipped and quiet. “He lives on Bulevar Branioca Dobrinje in the west of Sarajevo.”

Will frowned. “You don’t need to tell me this. Your guy’s information is enough for me.”

“No, it’s not because there’s more.” Harry gripped Will’s hand tighter. “Yesterday morning Kljujic called me with an update. He said that he was still drawing a blank on getting information about this Qods Force man. But he also said that he managed to discreetly take a photograph of him.”

Will felt a rush of adrenaline course through his body. “When can you get hold of the shot?”