followed the man outside to a bench that faced the street. It was a bus stop bracketed by a garbage can on one side and a newspaper dispenser on the other. The man sat first and, with his left hand, patted the seat next to him.
Will looked to check the area for others, and then sat.
“My country is taking a risk by approaching you,” the man explained.
“What is your country?”
“Israel,” the man said. “Call me Avi.”
“What’s this about?”
“You’re in danger,” Avi said with an expression that amplified the gravity of the statement.
Will shuddered as the cold Chicago air seeped into his flesh. “Explain.”
“Your secret is out,” Avi said. “Your files have been leaked. The videos, in particular, are quite revealing.”
The FBI had warned him that he’d be exposed eventually, but he didn’t expect things to be set into motion so quickly. Despite his training, he suddenly felt ill prepared for life on the run.
Avi continued, “We have known about you since your rather spectacular release from the Red Box, and we’d hoped the American government could keep a lid on it. A month ago, the Collections arm of our Mossad obtained documents indicating that Russia is now aware of your existence. Two weeks ago the same was discovered about China. And, yesterday, Iran.”
Will was convinced that the man had some information, but he was aware of how one could bluff with limited knowledge in order to obtain more. “Tell me, why am I in danger?” Will asked.
Avi’s expression revealed frustration. “You know why, and I know why, and now the rest of the world knows why,” he said. “They will kidnap you. Or kill you.”
“Why?” Will was aware of his value, but couldn’t understand the reason for such urgency.
Avi’s expression changed as if he’d just realized something. “There are the obvious reasons – your use as an intelligence asset, for instance. But you already know that.”
Will shrugged.
“But perhaps you are unaware of the other reasons,” Avi said.
The man seemed to be looking for recognition in Will’s eyes. He had no idea what Avi was talking about. “Other reasons?”
“Things that run deeper than geopolitical motivations,” Avi replied.
“I don’t know you mean.”
“We believe that there is some other purpose for you – for the program – other than espionage and war.”
“What is it?”
Avi shook his head. “We don’t know.”
Will’s phone rang. It was Agent Perry calling back, as promised. Will turned to the Israeli. “I have to take this.”
“Take precautions,” Avi said, and then stood and disappeared around the corner.
Will answered the phone. “Agent Perry, everything’s okay.” Will quickly explained what had just happened, but omitted the details that Perry wasn’t supposed to know.
“I’ll inform the agent heading your case,” Perry said. “In the meantime, get off the streets, and don’t stay in your apartment for a few days.”
Will ended the call and sat motionless in the cold. What the hell did the Israeli mean by things that "run deeper than geopolitical motivations”? What else was there?
He stood from the bench and went back into the restaurant. He’d explain it all to Denise over dessert. She was in danger just by being involved with him. But he knew it would be okay – he’d be gone soon.
11
Thursday, 7 May (10:52 p.m. EST – Detroit, Michigan)
Lenny Butrolsky pulled his baseball cap down low on his forehead, lifted his collar, and directed his face away from the camera in the elevator. He caught himself rubbing his right shoulder, a reaction he figured that was triggered by the sterile odor that permeated the hospital. For weeks, he’d been wearing antiseptic as if it were cologne. That phase was over now that the bullet wound in his shooting arm was mostly healed. He wouldn’t need it tonight anyway. This one had to look like natural causes.
He’d made three hits in the Detroit area in the
Will looked to check the area for others, and then sat.
“My country is taking a risk by approaching you,” the man explained.
“What is your country?”
“Israel,” the man said. “Call me Avi.”
“What’s this about?”
“You’re in danger,” Avi said with an expression that amplified the gravity of the statement.
Will shuddered as the cold Chicago air seeped into his flesh. “Explain.”
“Your secret is out,” Avi said. “Your files have been leaked. The videos, in particular, are quite revealing.”
The FBI had warned him that he’d be exposed eventually, but he didn’t expect things to be set into motion so quickly. Despite his training, he suddenly felt ill prepared for life on the run.
Avi continued, “We have known about you since your rather spectacular release from the Red Box, and we’d hoped the American government could keep a lid on it. A month ago, the Collections arm of our Mossad obtained documents indicating that Russia is now aware of your existence. Two weeks ago the same was discovered about China. And, yesterday, Iran.”
Will was convinced that the man had some information, but he was aware of how one could bluff with limited knowledge in order to obtain more. “Tell me, why am I in danger?” Will asked.
Avi’s expression revealed frustration. “You know why, and I know why, and now the rest of the world knows why,” he said. “They will kidnap you. Or kill you.”
“Why?” Will was aware of his value, but couldn’t understand the reason for such urgency.
Avi’s expression changed as if he’d just realized something. “There are the obvious reasons – your use as an intelligence asset, for instance. But you already know that.”
Will shrugged.
“But perhaps you are unaware of the other reasons,” Avi said.
The man seemed to be looking for recognition in Will’s eyes. He had no idea what Avi was talking about. “Other reasons?”
“Things that run deeper than geopolitical motivations,” Avi replied.
“I don’t know you mean.”
“We believe that there is some other purpose for you – for the program – other than espionage and war.”
“What is it?”
Avi shook his head. “We don’t know.”
Will’s phone rang. It was Agent Perry calling back, as promised. Will turned to the Israeli. “I have to take this.”
“Take precautions,” Avi said, and then stood and disappeared around the corner.
Will answered the phone. “Agent Perry, everything’s okay.” Will quickly explained what had just happened, but omitted the details that Perry wasn’t supposed to know.
“I’ll inform the agent heading your case,” Perry said. “In the meantime, get off the streets, and don’t stay in your apartment for a few days.”
Will ended the call and sat motionless in the cold. What the hell did the Israeli mean by things that "run deeper than geopolitical motivations”? What else was there?
He stood from the bench and went back into the restaurant. He’d explain it all to Denise over dessert. She was in danger just by being involved with him. But he knew it would be okay – he’d be gone soon.
11
Thursday, 7 May (10:52 p.m. EST – Detroit, Michigan)
Lenny Butrolsky pulled his baseball cap down low on his forehead, lifted his collar, and directed his face away from the camera in the elevator. He caught himself rubbing his right shoulder, a reaction he figured that was triggered by the sterile odor that permeated the hospital. For weeks, he’d been wearing antiseptic as if it were cologne. That phase was over now that the bullet wound in his shooting arm was mostly healed. He wouldn’t need it tonight anyway. This one had to look like natural causes.
He’d made three hits in the Detroit area in the
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