The Increment: A Novel - By David Ignatius Page 0,132

had been successful in his mission at the Ardebil Research Establishment, or that had he failed? And the Iranians: How long had they known that this operation was coming at them? Had the operation been compromised from the beginning? Harry hated to admit that possibility; it shamed him. But with so many dead bodies, he could not exclude it.

And what was Kamal Atwan’s role? That was the part of this story Harry understood least. He had been the essential facilitator of every transaction in this process. He had acted with the assurance of a man running his own intelligence service, and he had delivered everything he had promised. But the end product had been a disaster. What had Harry missed? What could have helped him to foresee the disaster that had befallen his team when it took his agent, Karim Molavi, back into Iran? Had he killed the boy, through his own inattention?

Harry let Adrian sleep for two hours and then woke him up. He brought a cup of black coffee with him back to the aft cabin.

“We need to talk, brother,” he said. “Wake up.”

“I’m busted up, Harry,” the British officer answered groggily. “I loved that woman. I took some pills. I need to sleep. Let’s talk in London.”

“Get up.” Harry handed him the coffee. “I mean it. I need some answers before we land. This whole thing is going to blow, and I want to know what the fuck has been going on.”

Adrian groaned and took the coffee. He knew that Harry wouldn’t leave him alone until they talked. The American had a pliable exterior, but he didn’t bend on things that mattered. The British officer wobbled back to the aft lavatory, decorated in a plush red fabric. He brushed his teeth and splashed some water on his face. When he emerged, Harry made him finish the coffee and then gave him a second cup.

“Is this plane bugged?” began Harry. They were sitting next to each other in the aft compartment. The bed had been packed away.

“Fucked if I know,” said Adrian. “Probably.”

“Then talk in my ear, and I’ll talk in yours. This is for us, not your business partner.”

Adrian winced. “Ease up, Harry. I’ve got my whole career coming down on my head. If this comes out wrong, I’m destroyed.”

“So what? My career is wrecked, too. Worse than that, maybe. Talk in my ear so no microphone can pick it up, and we’ll do fine.”

Adrian nodded. Harry leaned toward the other man’s head and spoke in a whisper.

“Jackie called you to tell you she was coming out another way. Right? You told me she called.”

“Correct,” he whispered. “She said we should go to Kalat. She made me repeat it.”

“What else did she say?”

Adrian paused and closed his eyes, then leaned back toward Harry and whispered again.

“She said she had lost the two boys. She said Karim was with her, alive, and they were coming out.”

“What else? Did she explain? Did she say what had gone down in Mashad? Why there was a change of plans?”

“Nothing. It was a short conversation. She was afraid it would be insecure. She wanted to get off the phone.”

Harry pulled back. His eyes were flashing. He spoke loudly, almost in a shout.

“I don’t believe you, Adrian. That can’t have been all. Tell me the goddamned truth. What else?” He grabbed the other man by the collar and pulled his head toward him.

“Nothing,” Adrian croaked.

Harry slapped him hard across the face.

“You are a lying piece of shit, Adrian. Tell me the truth. It was an operational call. It was routed through London. You think we can’t intercept and decrypt that? You’re out of your mind. I’m going to find out anyway. The only question is whether I’ll have an ounce of respect left for you. Now tell me the truth, you stupid, selfish prick.” He slapped him a second time.

Tears were streaming from Adrian’s eyes. Not from the blows, but from a deeper anguish. He knew precisely what Jackie had said. Her accusing words would burn in his mind until the day he died. He put his head on Harry’s shoulders. Harry could feel the wet of his tears through his shirt.

“Here’s what she said. ‘What the fuck is going on, Adrian?’ She wanted to know what had gotten screwed up, so that the ops plan had turned to shit. She said she didn’t know if they had succeeded or failed. She was frightened and angry. I could hear it in her voice,