Miami International Book Festival

Behind The Lies will be featured at the Miami International Book Festival on November 13th through the 15th. The book festival in its 26th year draws a gathering of over 100,00 book lovers, publishers, authors, media and other groups related to the industry.

Chapter Fifty-Four In the Prime Minister's Office

“Your response to the president’s suggestion, Jacob, is something I told him would arise. Personally, I agree with you. Realistically, I think we need to consider the pros and cons of his suggestions. The president has asked for an answer in two weeks. It may not be the answer he wants like to hear but, we’ll give him an answer. Before we go into further discussion on this matter, Ariel, have you picking up any new intel on what the president seems to think is going on?”

“As you already know, Yaakov, we have information that leads us to believe that Iran is planning a strike at Israel, and we also believe that they are planning on targeting the United States as well. It does sound as if the president has more information than we have to date. I do have to wonder if it’s accurate enough to make these kinds of decisions, but I suppose going ahead under those assumptions is better than doing nothing at all.”

“Yosef, what do you think about the president’s considerations?”

Chapter Fifty-Three Reporting To The Guardian Council

“So, Jibril,” says Ayatollah Fadil Ahmajid, the intimidating Supreme Leader, “What can you report to us regarding the Russian Kilo delivery and your surprise package from Russia?”

Jibril Atwan looks into the eyes of the five members of the Guardian Council, the real decision makers in Iran. Since Ahmajid hired him as a military advisor to the council, Ahmajid is someone he believes he can trust. The other five Imams look desperate for information to satisfy some sort of dreams they have. What these dreams are, he cannot know. Trusting them would be only for the fool-hearty, which Atwan is not.

“Ayatollah, members of the Council, I have just received word that the two Kilos we recently purchased from the Russians have completed their sea trials. At my insistence,” Jibril says, then takes a split-second to think, I might as well take credit for the idea, “We provided the Russians with Iranian crews to bring the Kilos back to Iran without any other foreign assistance. They will be leaving Russia four days from now, after they have been re-supplied.”

“How long will it take the two subs to reach Iranian waters from where they are located?” says Rahim Givon nervously.

Chapter Fifty-Two Packing the Goods

Vicktor points out the nine storage boxes containing the nuclear materials, staying as far from the boxes as he can. Then he takes them into another room, where they find the materials they’d ordered, plus an assortment of tools that they can use. Vicktor says, “I’ll be in the back office. Holler if you need me.”

“Good, Hamid, now we can work in peace,” Hussein says once Vicktor’s out of hearing. “First, check and see if any radiation’s leaked from the boxes?”

Dakham gets the hand-held Geiger counter from his briefcase and turns it on. State-of-the-art, it can detect the standard beta and gamma rays, and alpha radiation as well.

Scanning the storage box containing the nine small leaded boxes results in no radioactive readings. Either these leaded boxes are very good or we are getting a hose job on what’s inside. However, we have no choice but to take their word for it without the protective clothing to open one to make sure, Dakham thinks. Great planning. That I’d have to classify as a major oversight.

Hussein is thinking, I wonder if the guy Dimitri used to remove these materials had the proper gear, or is he dying of radioactive poisoning right now?

Getting National Attention

As a first time novelist I am experiencing the learning curve you must go through to get a good novel known nationally. While my publisher sent out five review packages none of them have been returned yet. I have learned they don't have to read them. What the heck you only spent good money to send them. With the number of very positive reviews I have on my website: www.joesmiga.com and the many exciting comments I am receiving about the book. I am taking the plunge next week, by investing into having Kirkus Discoveries Review, take a look at the novel and to send me a review. If this review is positive the novel will get national recognition. The first book signing I did and the Rotary and Kiwanis presentations are also encouraging as a number of books are being sold at each event. Wish me luck.

Chapter Fifty-One Early December

“Is everything all set for us to start degreasing the reducers and placing the lead containers inside?” asks Hussein.

“Yes – and no.” Dimitri says, his face a mask.

“What do you mean ‘yes and no’?” Hussein asks, shocked.

“So far we have removed nine of the material portions you are purchasing. I will need another week to remove the other two.”

“Why do you need another week, if you have already removed nine in two weeks?”

“Our regular man who does this became ill. We are looking for a substitute for him to finish the job. That person will arrive in three days.”

Just as he finishes his explanation, the wine steward returns to the table and all conversation ceases. “Would you like me to pour a sample for you to try, Dimitri?” he asks.

“Yes, I would.”

The steward pours a small portion in Dimitri’s wine glass, then stands back waiting for him to check its flavor. Dimitri knows how to sample wine. He goes through the whole process of holding it in various spots in his mouth and then swallows what he sipped, which Dakham finds amusing. He dares not make eye contact with Hussein or he knows he will laugh out loud.

The hovering wine steward seems to be taking all this using-wine-for-mouthwash business seriously, however, Dakham observes. When Dimitri finally swallows, the steward asks anxiously, “Is it satisfactory, sir?”

“Yes, my friend,” Dimitri responds warmly. “You can fill the glass and leave the bottle.” He does as asked, then withdraws. Dimitri picks up the conversation where it had been dropped.

“So, as I was saying, our man got ill. Sometimes such things happen in life. Another week is the latest we expect.”

Chapter Fifty After Thanksgiving

Headline on the front page of The Washington Post:

Israeli PM to meet with President Egan

Israel’s Prime Minister Yaakov Brumwell is flying in today to meet with President William Egan. White House press releases indicate the prime minister and the president will be discussing Israel’s latest proposal for a Middle East peace settlement with the Palestinians…

The president scans the article. Well, the press release should give us room to work in, the excuse we need to hold our meeting without a lot of second-guessing as to our agenda, he thinks after finishing the front page article while eating his breakfast.

Chapter Forty-Nine End of November

“Continue then,” says the president.

“Thank you, sir. This next image you see is of the tanker traffic coming in and out of the Persian Gulf. If we launch this strike, it is vital that we have complete control of the sea lanes inside of the Strait of Hormuz, that critical thirty-four miles. If we don’t, Iran could make a last-ditch effort to disrupt the sea lanes. They could sink enough tankers in the Strait that it would take decades to clear.

“I assume, Admiral Smith, that you and your staff have considered this matter and have a plan to see that we are successful?” says President Egan, turning to address the admiral.

Smith stands up at his seat, “Mr. President, the Navy’s plan is to coordinate time tables with the Air Force so we’re hitting them on all fronts at the same time. We see the Strait as our biggest challenge. We recommend attacking at a time when the Strait has the least amount of tanker traffic. There’s a window, between 2100 and 0500 hours that most tanker captains avoid the Strait, which isn’t the easiest thing to navigate, as you can imagine. Once in a while you get a die-hard who’ll attempt it. We would want to be able to plan against that eventuality,” Admiral Smith says, then pauses. Killing defenseless merchant mariners, he thinks. I just couldn’t let that happen.

“The Navy will have two squadrons of fighters over the Strait at any one time to deal with Iranian air craft or missile launches from those Chinese missile sites. However, we need to understand one thing. Once a battle starts, all of the greatest plans go to pieces. Then it’s up to the men and women fighting them to make them successful. Can we do this? We believe so. Is this going to be a cake walk? Hell no! This isn’t fiction, no military thriller.”

Chapter Forty-Eight Feedback Return

“More than zero would be a significant number in my book,” Proctor comments. “Any word from the CIA on that?”

“If they have anything, the director isn’t passing it down, at least not yet,” says Dave. “Walker told me they’d been told to share everything – but he didn’t sound like he put much store in that actually happening. Okay, you’ve helped me come up with several key issues to go in my report – and it only took us a couple of hours and three steak dinners to do it,” he joked, then quickly grew serious. “From here on in, I want you to keep your ears and eyes open for even the slightest hint of anything that might be going on over there, anything at all. I can’t say why, but I have a very bad feeling about this one.”

Ritter rises to leave, then hesitates, “Dave, you been around twice as long as I have. What are you suspecting?”

“This doesn’t leave this room, you hear? If they even end up with only two workable nukes that they can deliver from a sub, I can’t help thinking number one would be fired into Israel. And they’d come after us with number two.”

Proctor drops his feet to the floor and sits bolt upright. “You’re shitting me, right, Dave?”

“No,” Dave says quietly, shaking his head. “I’m not.”

Ritter sits back down and stares at Proctor. The thought of a nuke being delivered to a coastal city in the United States has clearly never entered either of their minds.

Chapter Forty-Seven Same Time in November

“Look Kamil, everything will work out,” Dakham says. He’s seen his partner like this many times before. “Once we get the uranium concealed and incorporate the false bottoms, no one will suspect a thing. Our departure will take longer than our first visit did, but you’ll see, everything will go well.”

“I wish I could be as confident as you are, Hamid. I don’t trust Dimitri. Who knows what can happen to us before we get back to Iran.”

“Come,” Dakham says and pushes Hussein towards the door. “No more negativity. Let’s get out of here.”

Leaving the building, they head around the corner and over several blocks to an area of numerous cafes. They do not notice the tail Atwan has placed on them.